An 11-day live-in seminar attended by 145 members of the Divine Word Society in India helped them revive a family spirit and zeal for their mission, several participants said.

The program that ended Feb. 26 was an “opportunity” to strengthen community and spiritual life, said Father Ajit Kumar Toppo, a tribal priest from Orissa.

Father Toppo said the seminar was “a soul searching exercise” which helped emphasize that “mission activities are not individual shows” but family ones.

The seminar also asserted that “differences and individualism should not come in the way of mission.”

Brother Herbert Raich said the program offered members the opportunity to open up to confreres and accept differences.

The Australian missioner stressed that it is important for members to “reconcile before the sun goes down,” quoting from Saint Paul.

He said the seminar only provided an opportunity but it “is up to the members” to make use of it.

Father Jomon Alackal from Kerala, southern India, said the opportunity to share personal experiences, visions, tensions and individual differences will help revitalize community life.

Source: Seminar helps Divine Word priests revive family spirit (UCAN)

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