Spring 2017 ASHA NIKETAN CHENNAI The Gift of Welcome One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn't as individuals. In January & February, we welcomed several guests for extended visits including: Usha (Ramesh s sister), Gregory (former community leader), Garry and Terry (Garry was also a former community leader), and Juliette & Veronika (International Volunteers with Asha Niketan Kolkata). In autumn, we welcomed six people to share life with us in community: Selvaraj (Andhra Pradesh), Sukanta (Asha Niketan Kolkata), Swarnalatha (Andhra Pradesh), Manikandan (Tamil Nadu), Marie (France), and James (USA). In March, we welcomed Sasikumar as a Residential Core Member and Srinivasan as a Day Worker Core Member. We also welcomed Rajeevan, our National Leader, for an extended visit.
Being a Sign of Hope In a divided world, L'Arche wants to be a sign of hope. Its communities, founded on covenant relationships between people of differing intellectual capacity, social origin, religion and culture, seek to be signs of unity, faithfulness and reconciliation. ~ Charter of the Communities of L Arche In honor of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we worked together to design a banner and host a rally in our neighborhood. Friends and members of our governing council joined us. We formed a human chain on East Coast Road, some community members held our banner, and others held signs with quotes from Jean Vanier. Several people greeted us during the rally to ask who were and what we were celebrating. After our event, we returned to Asha Jothi for special snacks. Later in the day, a group from our community attended an event sponsored by Nandavanam (a local NGO that supports children and adults with intellectual disabilities). The theme of the gathering was for people with and without disabilities to create artwork together.
We Experience Unity in Celebration We are made for communion and celebration, for the joy and blossoming of every person. As a community, we celebrated the following holidays: o Deepavali We had a prayer service, lit crackers, shared a delicious dinner, and exchanged gifts sponsored by Ms. Usha Venkataraghavan. o Christmas We enjoyed having Mass in the community with Fr. John (Saint Anthony s) as our celebrant and brothers from Sathya Nilayam leading us in music. Marie (our volunteer from France) sponsored a fried rice dinner, and we exchanged gifts that her family sponsored. On Christmas Day, we acted out the Nativity Drama and ate a big lunch together. o New Year s We had an extended prayer time to express gratitude for the blessings of 2016 and share our hopes for 2017. After praying together, we had a bonfire and offered each other hugs and chocolates. o Pongal Pongal is the annual harvest festival in Tamil Nadu. We prayed, sang songs, danced together and ate sweet pongal. o Republic Day With Ms. Bharathi Gopalakrishnan as our master of ceremonies, we celebrated Republic Day by dressing up and wearing India Flag pins. Mrs. Usha Venkataraghavan, Mr. Krishnamurthi, and Lalitha all gave speeches. o Mr. Barathan s Birthday Every year, community members go out for lunch on February 28 th in remembrance of Mr. Barathan (Ramesh s father). With the support of Jean Vanier, Mr. Barathan established Asha Niketan Chennai in February 1975. In addition to sharing a wonderful meal, we all enjoyed dancing together.
Visiting with Faith Communities as a Faith Community A growing community must integrate three elements: a life of silent prayer, a life of service and above all of listening to the poor, and a community life through which all its members can grow in their own gift. On November 27 th, members of Asha Niketan Chennai were invited to attend a worship service at Gurukul Lutheran Theological College lead by Professor Livingstone Arputharaj. Professor Livingstone had experience working in L Arche in the United Kingdom for two years. During the worship service, James and Professor Livingstone shared about their experiences within L Arche, and Gopi sang a traditional Tamil devotional song. Some children who were present offered each member from Asha Niketan Chennai a red rose, and we sold various items from our workshop after the service. We also joined the seminarians for dinner. Asha Niketan Chennai has preserved a long lasting relationship with the Sathya Nilayam Brothers. On December 3 rd, community members attended a dinner and drama with the brothers. The brothers
later joined us to celebrate Christmas on December 24 th. On February 2 nd, seven members of Asha Niketan Chennai attended the final vows of Brother Michael Selvaraj. Making Known Our Gifts Using our gifts is building community. Enjoying Kanyakumari We have to help each other keep alive the personal interests which help us to relax and recreate us. During our holiday in Kanyakumari, we embraced a boat ride, went to the beach, enjoyed sunsets, rested at a Jesuit retreat house, visited churches & temples, went shopping, and saw the Thiruvalluvar Statue. Growing in Awareness If community is belonging and openness, it is also loving concern for each person. In other words we could say it is caring, bonding, and mission. These three elements define it. In addition to serving as assistants, Sangeetha, Nadhiya and Jayaseelan are also students. Sangeetha has been attending computer classes, Nadhiya is studying Special Education, and Jayaseelan is studying English. We were very successful at selling our handicrafts at local churches in the six weeks before Christmas. Hosting these sales was another way we were a sign of hope within our neighborhood and a great opportunity to promote the Mission of L Arche: o Make known the gifts of people who have intellectual disabilities, revealed through mutually transforming relationships; o Foster and environment in community that responds to the changing needs of our members while being faithful to the core values of our founding story; and o Engage in our diverse cultures, working together toward a more human society.
Our Sad Farewells I am struck by how sharing our weakness and difficulties is more nourishing to others than sharing our qualities and successes. Entrusted with Leadership Authority is there to help the freedom and growth of individuals. It is a work of love. It is beautiful in Asha Niketan communities, that so many individuals are recognized as community members. Whether someone has lived in a community home for decades, or someone comes as a day worker, or he or she is engaged through outreach program, all members are valued and part of our Identity and Mission. In October, we were saddened to learn that Manikandan had passed away. We regularly visited with Manikandan and his family as part of our outreach program. It was also a challenge for us to say goodbye to Kopkia at the end of December. She had been a residential core member with us for ten months; due to some emotional concerns, it became clear she needed to reside in another setting. Kopika is currently living with her family in Sri Lanka. In June, Anthony Xavier accepted the role of Community Leader for Asha Niketan Chennai. The group photo (above) includes new leaders of L Arche communities from all over the world. Xavier met these leaders and Jean Vanier in October while attending a New Leaders Formation in Trosly. Xavier felt very touched as Jean Vanier expressed, I am stepping down, and I trust you all to carry L Arche forward.
Embracing Our Solidarity The same sense of communion unites the various communities throughout the world. Bound together by solidarity and mutual commitment, they form a worldwide family. ~ Charter of the Communities of L Arche Refuge within the Ark Unity is founded on the covenant of love to which God calls all the community members. ~ Charter of the Communities of L Arche Peter and James visited Asha Niketan Kolkata in February. Before joining Asha Niketan Chennai, Peter was a Day Worker Core Member in Asha Niketan Kolkata. There, he learned how to make various handicrafts, and he has preserved relationships with community members in Kolkata for over 40 years. Every year, Peter makes the trip to visit the community and also spend time with his family. Amudha was accepted for a three month solidarity exchange with L Arche Arnprior (Canada). She received her visa in March, and her experience will be from April 6 th July 4 th. On Monday morning, December 12th, members of Asha Niketan Chennai awoke as usual to embrace their baths and morning routines. While anticipating some heavy rain from the forecast, we did not expect to endure a continuous downpour and 130 KMPH winds throughout the day. We lost electricity and lived without power and plumbing for three days. Our entire garden was wiped out, and nearly every fruit tree fell. The boundary wall
behind the prayer room collapsed, and our day programs were suspended for two weeks. We managed to overcome obstructions on the roadways and remain dedicated to procuring necessary groceries, drinking water, and water for bathing each day. All thirty residential community members took up residence in Asha Jothi. After ten weeks, members of Prem Jothi were able to return home. We have made progress in addressing our immediate needs. With the support of L Arche International and generous donors, we are hopeful to rebuild this summer and mitigate future concerns before the next monsoon season. We are very grateful for the unity we experience with so many communities and friends throughout the world. Thank you so much for your generosity and support. With Love and Prayer, All the Members of Asha Niketan Chennai 1/288 East Coast Road, Kottivakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu India 600 041 Telephone: +91 044 24487798 Email: chennaiashaniketan@gmail.com