CROSSROADS - DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM

Cross-roads DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM – 2013
24th May – 1st June, 2013

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” – Matthew 5:16 Crossroads, the DTP for the campus students was a blessing beyond measure. It all started off with the intention of building leaders for Christ in the campus and be genuine witnesses for Him. And it turned out to be a lot above our imagination.

Crossroads had 15 participants from across 4 colleges from Bangalore. After a lot of struggle in getting venue for Crossroads, we were able to get St. Theresa’s Novitiate in Whitefield. With the sisters being there for the constant help, we had a very good environment for the DTP!

The first three days (25 th – 27 th May) the DTPians attended a silent growth retreat which was handled by Alex Njavallil with the help of Cherian Ramapuram, Sunsun Jose, Rinu Thomas, Liza, Zacharias Njavallil, Jude Francis and Mathew being the key resources. Fr. Roy and Fr. Joy were present during the retreat to help us with confessions and Holy Mass and the Final Anointing Prayer.

The retreat was backed up with a 4-day training which highlighted true Christian relationship and fellowship (which dealt with the understanding of Me and God, Me and the world and failures in relationships) the call for evangelization, the know-how of being evangelists and the Church’s opinion on new evangelization. This was a two- day ordeal which was handled by Dony Peter. It was a very Question- answer based session which led to a lot of interaction and opening up from the participants. There were two Evangelization outreaches to Forum value mall and Phoenix mall respectively.

The third day was completely mission oriented. We headed out to Svanthana, run by Daughters of St. Camillus which houses children with special needs, arising out of physical conditions that include being mentally and physically challenged. A session by the Superior of the Novitiate on the need for having a personal mission helped the DTPians to have a clear idea of mission and the dire need of missionaries for the Mother Church. There was a workshop on music ministry and an orientation on adoration during the day. Jacob Jose handled the concept of living by faith, gifts and talents and Theology of the Body the succeeding day.

The final day concentrated campus ministry and an interaction with Jose Sebastian gave clear ideas our responsibilities and roles we are called to play enlightened the new disciples of Christ. An open discussion with the key leaders of the region and the national campus team and a couple of sessions on the dream of the ministry by John Joseph and Shastha on how we can be a part of it lead to finding avenues where we could contribute in building His Kingdom.

All of this wouldn’t have happened without the 24-hr intercession we had during the entire DTP. For most of us volunteers, it was getting out of our comfort zones and working for the Lord. Rather than trusting in our capabilities, it was being prudent to the call of the Holy Spirit and being available for the Lord. We could see the Lord working through us and sharing His Love in the process and making us believe through all the trials and troubles that ‘He is always in Control.’

God Bless!!

Sebastian George
General Coordinator
CrossRoads - 2013