The UFLA Get-Together was held with great joy and spiritual fervour, bringing together the members to strengthen their faith, unity, and commitment to the Franciscan way of life. The programme began with an inaugural prayer, invoking God’s blessings upon the gathering and all the participants.
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The UFLA Get-Together was held with great joy and spiritual fervour, bringing together the members to strengthen their faith, unity, and commitment to the Franciscan way of life. The programme began with an inaugural prayer, invoking God’s blessings upon the gathering and all the participants. This was followed by the Eucharistic Celebration, presided over by Rev. Fr Antony Raj, OFM Cap., as the main celebrant. The celebration was a moment of grace and gratitude, renewing the members’ commitment to live their vocation with love, faith, and compassion. A significant moment of the celebration was the affiliation ceremony, during which 21 members made their Permanent Affiliation and 8 members made their Temporary Affiliation in the presence of Rev. Sr Rita Vas, the General UFLA Coordinator. This solemn occasion marked an important step in their spiritual journey and expressed their willingness to deepen their relationship with God and faithfully live the charism and spirituality of St. Angela Merici and St. Francis of Assisi.
The ceremony was a beautiful expression of unity, dedication, and belonging to the UFLA family. It inspired all the members to grow in prayer, strengthen their bonds of fellowship, and reach out to the poor and needy through compassionate service. The gathering renewed the spirit of the UFLA members to remain rooted in God’s love and to become joyful witnesses of faith through their words and actions.
Prior to the get-together, a quiz competition based on the UFLA Handbook was conducted at the unit level. The members who secured first and second places from each unit participated in the zone-level quiz competition based on the same handbook. The winners were awarded prizes during the get-together, appreciating their knowledge and encouraging them to deepen their understanding of UFLA and its mission.
A meaningful and enriching session on Amoris Laetitia, the Church document on love in the family, was taken by Rev. Sr Rita Vas, the General UFLA Coordinator. Her inspiring talk helped the members understand the importance of love, care, understanding, and compassion in family life. The session was both enlightening and motivating, encouraging the members to put these values into practice in their families and communities.
The afternoon cultural programme was a colourful and memorable part of the gathering. We also commemorated 800 years of the Transitus of St Francis of Assis. The members presented creative and wonderful performances that reflected their talents, enthusiasm, and team spirit. The programme added joy and vibrancy to the entire celebration.
A special moment of appreciation was the recognition of Sr Florine Menezes for her dedicated service as a UFLA animator for 14 years. Sr. Jenifer Pinto was also honoured for having the highest number of permanent affiliated members in Udyagiri Unit. Their commitment and leadership served as an inspiration to others. Two UFLA members also shared their personal experiences, expressing the joy, spiritual growth, and sense of belonging they experienced through their association with UFLA.
The programme concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all who contributed to the success of the gathering. The singing of the UFLA Anthem brought the celebration to a meaningful close. The get-together was truly a day of faith, learning, recognition, creativity, and renewed commitment to the UFLA mission of living God’s love through prayer, fellowship, and compassionate service.
