Santvana Community of disciples committed to strive together to follow the Lord in the PATH OF LOVE, with a mission to be incarnated in the culture of the people, to build the kingdom of God through PRAYER and PROCLAMATION of the Word

1. WELCOME TO SANTVANA COMMUNITY OF DISCIPLES

2. SANTVANA - A Community of disciples

3. SANTVANA To “make disciples of all nations”

4. The Beginning

5. In 1989 while Fr.Dheeraj Sabu IMS. was serving in the I.M.S. Retreat Center in Alleppey, Kerala, he received a mandate from the Lord to go to north India to preach the Gospel and to prepare the laity for evangelization . The Beginning

6. Initially he began a ministry known as ‘ Suvishesha Kahalam’ (Trumpet of Good News), aimed at motivating Christians for evangelisation The Beginning

7. Then in 1992 in collaboration with Jesus Youth, he organised mission expossure programs in North India for a group of young men. The ministry now came to be known as ‘Preshit 2000’. The Beginning The Jesus Youth team with Fr. Dheeraj

8. In December 1994 with a group of young people who joined him, the team pitched its tent in Varanasi. Since then the team was called “Santvana” and gradually the team developed into a lay missionary community. The Beginning 1st Center in Varanasi

9. Three major factors that contributed to the formation of Santvana Community 1. Catholic Charismatic Renewal in India 2. The Call of Pope John Paul II for a new evangelization 3. The Charism of The Indian Missionary Society.

10. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services has contributed much to the formation of this Community. Most of its members and supporters are from the Charismatic background and from Jesus Youth , a Charismatic Missionary Youth Movement. Catholic Charismatic Renewal in India

11. The Call of Pope John Paul II for a new evangelization “ Look to the future with commitment for a new evangelization, one that is new in its fervour, new in its methods and new in its expressions” (Pope John Paul II)

12. The Constitution of IMS upholds that “ Sharing in the mission of the church, this Society has pioneering evangelization as its specific aim and the reason for its existence.” The Santvana Community has drawn inspiration from the constitution of the IMS. The Charism of The Indian Missionary Society

13. The Constitution of IMS enjoins to involve the laity as collaborators in the apostolate. “ Art.18. Moreover, we instill in this community an awareness of its missionary responsibility towards the whole Church so that one day it will be ready in its turn to pass on the message of salvation which it has received from others.” “ Art. 19. Conscious of the role and potentiality of the laity in the building up of the Christian community we shall endeavor to involve them as our collaborators in the apostolate…”

14. C anonical Approval On 7th July 2003 the community receives canonical approval As an Association of the Faithful from Vincent. M. Concessao, Archbishop of Delhi.

15. The Sanskrit word ‘ Santvana’ means consolation. Our loving Father’s most beautiful gift through which He consoles the humanity (gives santvana), is the salvation through Jesus Christ. Through the prophet Isaiah God says, Console, console my people. .” (Is 40,1) Hence we seek to bring this Good News of salvation to every strata of humanity.

16. A disciple of Christ is one who has heard the master’s call (Mt 9,9) and have responded to it by following him. “Being a disciple means a sharing in a fundamental experience made and communicated by the Master. DISCIPLES

17. It means being caught up in the vision of the Master, being on fire with the fire of the Master” Disciples are expected to become like the Master, to represent Him in the world today and to “ make disciples of all nations” Mt.28, 19 DISCIPLES

18. Being a community of love and bringing out the beauty of brothers and sisters living together in harmony is itself a mission and a challenge. COMMUNITY

19. For the members of Santvana, the community is the nursery of love where the members learn the alphabets of love and learn to walk in the path of love, “PREM MARG”. A community of disciples who live in love is the sign of the kingdom of God, a sign by which the world will recognize the disciples.

21. THE NATURE OF THE COMMUNITY The Santvana Community of Disciples, is an association of faithful consisting of both married couples with their children and single women (lay missionary sisters), single men (lay missionary brothers) and priests consecrated to the Divine Master as disciples. Members of the community commit themselves to lead a common life, in a spirit of simplicity, sharing of the material goods with a common vision, work together to build the kingdom of God.

22. Consecrated singles Families with Fr. Dheeraj

23. “ Santvana is a Community of disciples committed to strive together to follow the Lord in the PATH OF LOVE, with a mission to be incarnated in the culture of the people, to build the kingdom of God through PRAYER and PROCLAMATION of the Word.” The Vision statement

26. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament By organising Perpetual Adoration the Community makes the healing and consoling presence of the Lord available to people.

27. Prayer of Intercession Prayer can change the flow of events, and often it is the only means that can bring this about. Considering the power of intercession the community engages itself in fervent intercession in order to bring divine consolation and blessings for the church and for the entire world.

28. Catholic Enquiry Centers One of the specific apostolate directed to leading people to Christ is Catholic Enquiry Center. It is a ministry of seeking the seekers. Santvana has a special commitment towards the apostolate of CEC. We are trying to form more animators for this ministry.

29. A Stall during X'mas mela Distributing the leaflets A bible class for the seekers Correspondence with the seekers

30. School of evangelisation (Kerygma course) It is a ministry of high priority for the community. Objective To equip the faithful for evangelisation

31. Pro-Life Ministries Prolife activities and awareness building especially against the evil of female foeticide is a major concern, along with programs with an emphasis on woman and child health .

32. Counselling Services Our counselling services are extended to those who find life burdensome and see no meaning in it, to those who are bogged down by guilt and other negative emotions, those having problems in their social life, personal life and the like. Most of those whom we serve through counselling are teenagers, youth and couples.

33. Retreats and conventions Retreats and convention are a means by which we build up the faith of the believers and bring divine consolation and healing to the people of God. Intercession retreats, Marrage encounter retreats,Discipleship formation programs, Leadership formation programs etc. are our special focus.

37. WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH COMMITMENT To promote a Catholic way of presentation of the Gospel, bold yet non-threatening, presentation of the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit, with cultural relevance and sensitivity to people of traditional local cultures as well as to the post-post-modern global culture .

41. And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2) A great task ahead

42. OUR PRAYER: THY KINGDOM COME