Maria Christine Hochleitner, Director General of our secular institute, visited India from 29.1. – 7.2.2015. She flew to Mumbai on 29.1.2015 together with an interpreter. She was met at the airport by Ms. Adelaide, the regional assistant for India. Adelaide had wonderfully organised the whole stay, including domestic flights, together with the unit and group directors, beforehand.
In Mumbai Josephine had organised meetings with all of the members. Grace and Shamala also belong to this unit, the report on their first vows can be read on this homepage under the heading “news”.
The next stop was Jaipur. It was much colder here than in Mumbai! Maria Christine was well looked after by the director of the group, Muriel, and met the whole group in a convent opposite the bishop’s house. After a long car ride, which was adventurous by European standards, with cows on the motorway (!), Jaipur finally emerged on the horizon.
The visit made it possible to get to know the country and its people and to understand the needs of each member. In personal talks the apostolate of each member becomes apparent, be it work in the slums or educating children, who could otherwise not afford an education or a different apostolate… the members of the secular institute act where they live.
The next flight went to Ernakulam via Mumbai. Stella is unit director in Ernakulam, she looks after the members and also the hostel. 20 women live in the hostel, some of them students.
At the end of the visit a day in Mumbai remained. Another meeting with the members of the unit was scheduled in the Divya Jyoti Convent – a convent of sisters – and mass celebrated together with the Jesuits. Then the return flight left India for Vienna.
