The Jesuit community of the
Retreat House was a relatively stable community with a team
committed to realize the vision of offering programmes that
promote holistic health and growth. Now the uses of the place
as well the programmes offered by the team have expanded
considerably. Keeping its growing needs in mind, the community
had proposed to raise a floor and make more rooms available.
This proposal was accepted by Fr. Paul Vaz, the provincial at
that time. Thanks to Fr. George Ribas and others, funds were
raised. But unfortunately, due to land lease not being renewed
and later lease rent being raised irrationally by the Govt.
the project had to be put on the back burner and a case was
filed. The result of the case has given us interim relief but
the Govt. with low funds at its disposal, is likely to come
out with another proposal to raise the lease rent. Meanwhile,
the effort of raising funds has been going on.
At its recent Synods (Vasai/Mumbai) the Bombay Archdiocese
decided to set up a family cell in each parish because of the
increasing family related problems. Similar concern was
expressed at our last Province Assembly. When the Retreat
House community discussed the priorities of the assembly, it
accepted family apostolate as one of its priorities. The 8th
Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’
Conferences (FABC) held in Daejeon, Korea, 17-23 Aug.2004
stated “As pastors of the Church convinced of God’s unfailing
love, we bishops will look for every opportunity to promote
the good of families. We commit ourselves to strengthen Family
Ministry…. so as to assist and accompany all families,
especially those in dire need, on their journey towards
fullness of life…. As builders of communities, we appeal….to
all people of good will to join us in strengthening the family
as the focal point for the promotion of a civilization of love
and a culture of life.”
While the problems exist, there is also a lack of trained
personnel to help families with their problems. Family cells
in parishes lack programmes and resources to deal with the
growing challenges to family life.
The Retreat House proposes to build a centre that will
train professional and para-professional counselors through
professional supervision. The centre plans to prepare
programmes to help the family cell members as well as treat
clients with problems. The centre will make available
resources as well as training in English and Marathi. It plans
to cater to the needs of 4 Dioceses – Pune, Mumbai, Vasai and
Nashik. The centre will be manned by p rofessionals – lay,
clerics and religious. It proposes to set up facilities that
will offer supervision through one-way mirror and
video-recording. It will also have facilities for participants
to stay if necessary.
Considering the growing importance of Vasai, we looked at
four locations as possible sites for building the centre – two
sites in Manickpur, and one each in Nala and Gaas. Finally,
after weighing the pros and cons, we felt Gaas will be the
best place to set up the centre. Though initially there will
be problems of commuting, travel to Vasai will be much easier
when four railway tracks are in place, and in a matter of 5-10
years it will be what Andheri is today.
The Jesuits of the Retreat House, in keeping with the
pioneering spirit of the Jesuits, would like to set up this
centre and offers an opportunity for the Bombay province to
break new grounds to respond to changing realities in an
effective way.
Events
Family Service and Resource Centre