Silver Jubilee Vote of thanks

at Philma Celebration: 25 years of journeying under the shadow of His Wings

I am here to share sentiments of gratitude at the close of this jubilee celebration
Now my heart resonate with gratitude and it over flows in this 8 letter word thank you, just a
thank you seems too small to encompass the vibrations of my heart at this point in time, but
could there be a bigger hearted one ! so I bow my head in gratitude to the almighty and before
each one of you who made this day a touch stone memory for me, the external grandeur of this
day will slowly fade away but your thoughtfulness will be part of me forever, forgive me if I
sound too personal even though I stand on behalf of others too. One day a teacher came to her
class and as part of the thanks giving assignment asked her first graders to draw something for
which they were grateful. Eddie was a timid boy he had just drawn a hand. The whole class was
so captivated by the sketch some said it might be the hand of God who protect us while others it
may be the hand of the police man who guards us or the milk man who give us milk. In her
enthusiasm of finding the class so responsive teacher had almost forgotten Eddie himself, now
she bend down to him and asked “hey Eddie what did that hand mean for you he whispered
Teacher it is yours! Well today at the end of this Eucharistic celebration if Jesus asks me to do a
thanks giving assignment for my 25 silver years , I will need many manila papers to complete my
assignment because I have to draw many hands that played a significant roles in the journey of
my life.
When my sisters of the Province asked for the theme for my jubilee I said “25 years of
journeying under the shadow of His wings!. When I turn back to my religious life I am treasuring
it as a journey in love with Jesus. My journey was comprised of a variety of circumstances,
situations, and experiences. Experiences of joy and sorrow, elation and disappointment, the
expected and unexpected, and good and bad. It was a journey, with valleys, mountains,
zigzagging paths, caves, cracks, holes, obstacles, and bumps. In spite of the obstacles, bumps, and detours,
the journey is a good one because Jesus was there to navigate my journey, always showing me light
when I was tumbling and protecting me under the shadow of his wings. So colourfully I draw
His outstretched arms at first in my thanks giving canvas. Then I paint the caring hands of my
parents who brought me up with love and care and ignited in me ardent faith, and the loving
hands of my brother and sister who taught me to be a good sister.
As a teenager I set out on this journey not knowing well where it is leading me to but the lord
brought always surprises on my way and greatest of all that was bringing me to the port of St
Anne’s congregation now all what I am I owe to the SAB family, of course with due
acknowledgment to my family of origin. Gratefully draw the guiding hands of my sisters in the
congregation who were torch bearers of my journey. Looking at the altar of the Lord I paint
gracefully all the hands of the priests who blessed me, anointed me, nourished me through
spiritual banquets as spiritual directors, my professors and friends. Now very specially for this
heavenly Eucharistic celebration, for all of you who celebrated today’s mass for us. I have
always experienced the prayers and blessings of the angels who are born in heaven very specially
my beloved father and the dear departed sisters of my congregation friends and relatives
It is said that people come to your life either for a reason, or for a season or for a life time. In the
past 25 years journey, there were people who came to my life for a reason when I needed a help
they were there like an angel and their mission accomplished they are gone away from me. Still
I remember them gratefully. There were people who came to me for a season they were there
with me for a particular period of time they were very much part of me but now I m not in touch
with them yet I praise god for them. Now when I look around me I see mostly people who will
be with me for a lifetime so I need whole life time to draw your hands.
Life in Manila in this “ pearl of the orient” added a significant mile stone in my life perhaps this
was one of the most difficult or challenging phase of my life when I had to face too many
unexpected situations. I need to Paint in golden paint the hands of Philma family, those who are
present here and those who are gone from here but were very much part of me, I do miss them
all. Thanks for being with me and helping me in every way possible. It is said Life's journey is
always easier when you hear a friends footsteps beside you. Yes I could not only hear your
footsteps, but feel you were walking along with meThere are times when everything was not ok
and I needed someone to whom I could say “I am not okay” it hurts I am glad that there are
people around me to hear when I say “I am hurt” When I look back at those moments, I am glad
there were shoulders to lean on to say “It’s okay” and to wipe my tears .At times when I did
something good there were few special people to say “You have done well”“You are the best”
for simple things . In my life there are people to both celebrate and cry with me. In no way I
claim there were no struggles in our friendship sure there were but it is said "When someone
hurts us, we should write it down in sand, where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away, but
when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever
erase it.
So I not only paint your hands but engrave it in stone oh not in stone but in my heart. if I have to
personally thank each one of you I have volumes oh ! No I have to thank for a life time .even
though I don’t mention your names I am sure you can feel my vibrations. You were my angels
perhaps without you and those who were part of Philma family I wouldn’t be standing here
today. This day was another surprise. Thanks to the Present captains of Philma family. Every
detail was well planned with inspiring Eucharist, melodious choir, delicious meal thoughtful gifts
special thanks to frs Joshi, Alex ,Vinoy and Srs Silvi and Lis and special thanks to Fr Sebastian
for his special support and the most inspiring homily and for engraving the special words on the
memento Once again painting your hands beautifully may I role up my canvas. Thank you..

VOTE OF THANKS “Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul” Every
celebration is an experience, the external fades away, and the internal lingers and echoes in the most
depth of our hearts. We are reminded that jubilees are milestones on the journey of life and reminders
of God’s fidelity all through. Today our hearts are filled with Gratitude and joy that over flows within us
as we recall the path, Sr. Glory have travelled, in these 25 years in our Institute. We thank the Almighty
for accompanying her in marvelous ways, all through these years and keeping her safe, healthy and
productive in His vineyard. She experienced the hand of God in joys sorrows, in good time and in had
times. She has served the Lord in the best way possible keeping the charism of the Institute. She by her
very life tried to spread the fragrants of God’s Love, Compassion, Mercy, Joy and healing to people in
India, Italy and here in Nazareth too. Thank you dear Sr. Glory for your committed life, committed
service, above all your fidelity to your God who called you by name. “Gratitude is the memory of a heart
that will recognize the good done” We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to you dear Rev.
Msg GiacintoBoulos Marcuzzo our beloved Bishop, main celebrant of today’s Eucharistic .Celebration of
the feast of Baby Mary and the silver jubilee .For the devout and solemn Eucharist, for the thought
provoking sermon and above all for your valuable presence. You were kind enough to accept our
invitation, in spite of your entire busy schedule. Your presence is a special blessings and honor to our
institution,. Maria Bambina is smiling at you, and we pray that Maria Bambina may fill you with her
miracles as we celebrate her miracle day tomorrow. Thank you dear Bishop A word of thanks to our dear
fathers who con- celebrated and joined in praying for the sisters of Maria Bambina ,specially for Sr.
Glory. Your presence brought more Solemnity in today’s celebration. Thank you dear fathers. (
“Gratitude is the sign of noble souls”) We owe our special thanks to our dear brothers of St. John of God.
Our priore,(Br. Christopher,) Br. Thomas and Br. Bony. They are our real brothers, loving, caring and
ready to support and help us at any time. .Thank you dear brothers.. A special thanks to all the religious,
sisters, brothers, consecrated persons, and all the other friends and well-wishers who are present here,
thank you for taking time off to come here to share our joy. May Maria Bambina bless each one of you
and your dear and near ones. Love includes every one and excludes none. So we thank in a very special
way our direction, administers, doctors, staff and all the employees of our hospital ,for the cooperation,
support, collaboration, understanding which we receive always. I am proud to say that we work as a
team, with a family spirit. A big thanks to all . Our special thanks to our choir, they are the hospital
employees, and they take great pain to come together after the duty hours to have their singing
practice. It shows their commitment, spirit of sacrifice, devotion, but above all their love for the
institution for which they work. It is said the one who sings, prays twice. Yes your melodious singing
raised our hearts to God and I am sure, Sr. Glory felt that, as if she is in the heaven, with the choirs of
angles. Thank you and May Maria bambina continue to bless all of you. Our hearts sing a song of
gratitude…… A note of thanks to all those who are present here today.. You have been a source of
strength to us through your prayer, sacrifice, support and various other kinds of help We thank all our
well-wishers and all those whom Sr. Glory has served and hold dear. You too have played a unique role
to make her life meaningful and beautiful in the sight of God. For this we remain ever grateful to you,
dear friends.. My thanks will not be complete if I do not acknowledge my dear community sisters, each
one of them with great love reached out to make this day a great one. THANK YOU DEAR SISTERS .For a
religious, community is her home and we are a gift to each other. And it is there we are called to grow.
And dear Sr. Glory is a gift to our community, we are proud of her 25 years of faithfulness to God. Thank
you dear sisters and a special thanks to Sr. Gloryfor allowing God to work in you and through you. By
chance anyone to whom we owe our gratitude has been not mentioned, I say a big thank you. May Mary
our mother bless us all, on Her great Birth day. Thank you one and all. Sr.Aleya Kattakayam