A three-day vocational programme titled “Come and See”, organized by St. Martin’s Minor Seminary in Jaffna to encourage vocations within families, was held from the 28th to the 30th of August.
The programme was organized under the guidance of the Rector of the Seminary, Rev. Fr. Selvaratnam.
The first day included an introduction to the programme, experience sharing by seminarians, the Holy Rosary, a vocation discernment session by sisters of the Congregation of the Holy Family, and a session on the positive and negative effects of communication media conducted by Rev. Fr. Anton Stephen, Director of the MARAINATHI Catholic Media Centre of the Diocese of Jaffna. The day concluded with Holy Mass and a fellowship gathering.
On the second day, a special Holy Mass was presided over by the Bishop of Jaffna, Rt. Rev. Dr Anton Ranjith. This was followed by a vocation guidance session by Rev. Fr. Vijendran, Oblate of Mary Immaculate, a special vocation programme by seminarians, talks on vocations by Rev. Fr. Quinson Fernando and Rev. Fr. Dineshan of St. Francis Xavier Major Seminary, Columbuthurai; and Eucharistic Adoration.
The final day began with Holy Mass presided over by Rev. Fr. Thayaparan, Rector of St. Francis Xavier Major Seminary. It was followed by group discussions, a session on “The Role of the Family in Fostering Vocations” by Rev. Fr. Manuvelpillai David, Director of Ahavoli Family Services Centre, the screening of a short film titled “A Day in the Seminary”, and experience sharing by participants.
Around 90 students, including seminarians, participated in the three-day programme, which aimed to help students discern their vocation and encourage families to nurture vocations.
