Almost all our communities in India were represented.  We were privileged to have Sr. Marian, our Superior General and Sr. Sandra, our Vicar General, with us for this celebration.  Saturday, the 16th dawned bright and clear in this monsoon season and there was an atmosphere of excitement in the air as jeeps began arriving from Sadam and Lolay, Siliguri and Kalimpong.   

Bishop Stephen Lepcha, of Darjeeling and Bishop Thomas of Bagdogra diocese (where the new regional house is situated) concelebrated with 20 Priests.  The Cathedral was filled with Sisters from other Congregations, friends of many faiths, parishioners and staff of our institutions in Darjeeling, Lolay and Sadam, all gathered to celebrate this joyous occasion. 

The Prabhat Tara Hostel students danced the celebrants to the sanctuary. In her introduction Antoinette (Provincial Indian Province) traced the history of Loreto in the Darjeeling Region which goes back to 1846.  Marian then made the formal announcement of the inauguration of the Loreto Darjeeling Region after which  the choir burst into a joyous “My Soul rejoices in God my Saviour; my spirit finds its joy in God, the Living God”. Marian congratulated the Province on this significant and courageous step which she viewed as initiating an expression of our communion.  She presented the strengths and the shadows of this move with great clarity and insight and reminded us that we, IBVM, Loreto are called ‘to seek ways to claim more fully the richness of our intercultural, international reality’ as an Institute.  She advised us to move forward more than ever confident in God’s unseen goodness – entrusting the outcome of this new venture to Divine Providence”. 

Bishop’s Stephen’s commentary on the Readings (Rom 12:1-8 and Luke 1:39-56) began with a word of appreciation for the timely advice given by Marian in her address, even as he declared that Loreto was “Mother” of the Church in Darjeeling, because it was with the Loreto nuns that the Faith came to the hill areas 161 years ago.  He said, “I feel it is God’s loving invitation for the Congregation to focus and concentrate their ministry and mission in this region …  Yes, it is indeed a new beginning of much closer and compassionate pastoral care towards the people of this region.  On behalf of the diocese of Darjeeling I  would like to assure my support of and collaboration with the Loreto Sisters in their acceptance of God’s plan…” 

At the Offertory the six communities of the Region offered prayers and a symbol representative of their area – Panighata Community who works with Tea Garden families brought tea leaves, Lolay offered ginger, the cash crop of their area.  Sadam presented an orchid - their people’s livelihood centers around the cultivation of flowers, while Dharan brought a tree, their symbol of growth,  Loreto Darjeeling carried a book symbolizing education for all, Champasari’s symbol of nurturing new life was water. The board, with the names of the Sisters who had worked and died in India from 1841 was garlanded.

The Special Ritual of Anointing and Blessing took place after the concluding prayer. The members of the region walked on to the sanctuary and Monica made her commitment.  Marian anointed the members with the oil blessed by Bishop Stephen, while Sandra read “An Anointing Psalm”: “Anoint them with the oil of integrity, O God. And the seal of your sanctifying Spirit …The entire congregation extended their hands in blessing and Bishop Stephen read a solemn final blessing and we went forth to the singing of “May we be a shining light to the nations …” and thus ended what was experienced as a celebration of great solemnity.

Those who did the preparatory work were not forgotten.  Appreciation was expressed to the Sisters and staff of Loreto Convent, St. Teresa’s, the College Hostel and Prabha Tara Hostel.  Students from our two schools on campus formed the choir, the Church decor and the rink decorations were done by our teachers and the lunch for 500 was prepared by our staff. A special item on the menu was the pork curry, a ‘must’ at all celebrations in the hills.  In this case Panighata had reared the pig and brought it up ready for the table the day before!

To the left we are giving you a glimpse of the Loreto Sisters who were present.   

It was indeed a day to remember.  Sunday was exodus day – and those of us still on the mountain relish the memory of this day.