What is F.M.W ?

F.M.W. provides various training programmes/experiments:-

1. Orientation Days: Orientation programmes are essential to the F.M.W. members. They aim at initiating the members into the F.M.W. way of life and are organized at the beginning of every academic year. Ongoing orientation programmes for the members are also organized at various levels to help them embrace the F.M.W. way of life.
2. Weekly/monthly Meetings: The weekly/monthly meetings cultivate among the members skills like careful listening, reflection on issues and concerns, and voicing their ideas and viewpoints. Opportunities are provided to the members to chair discussions. These meetings also develop among members social awareness through social analysis. The weekly/ monthly meetings also take care of the members’ step by step training to enhance their personalities and inculcate in them Mary Wardian virtues such as sincerity, justice and freedom. They also become aware of human rights, social responsibilities, need of protecting the environment and also having a right relationship with the whole cosmos.
3. Camps: One/two camps are organized with the aim of fostering love for one another and the art of group living. They also provide platform for various awareness programmes and character formation.
4. Social Service Activities: Social service is an essential aspect of F.M.W. At regular intervals the members visit orphanages, homes for mentally and physically challenged children, homes for the aged and centres for the destitute, etc. They work with organizations that are concerned about the welfare of such less privileged sections of the society. These exposure programmes immensely help the members to get to know the social situation around them.
5. Prayer Hours: It creates a place for us to discover and develop a relationship with God. Developing a deep spirituality is an integral part of F.M.W. training programme. The members are led to an experience of God who, though invisible is very much present to them. Living as members of F.M.W. is a response to God’s challenging invitation to join hands with Him in establishing peace and harmony in creation. This requires a holistic vision coupled with personal prayer and reflection.
6. Celebrations of the special days of Mary Ward, St.Ignatius and festivals of Nepal etc. are common expression of the depth, joy and richness of the faith we share.
7. Creativity: The members are given opportunities to develop their talents and abilities through various activities such as creating collage and creative chart papers, training in drawing, music, dance, cooking and others.
8. Review of the day(Examination of Conscience) is a daily time of reflection to find God in our experience and an aid to start discovering the threads that make up the tapestry of the lives of everyone.
   There are five key steps in this reflective prayer which many people choose to use at the end of each day.
   1. Be still and become aware of God’s presence asking Him to enlighten you.
   2. Look back over the day with gratitude; thank God for the gifts you have received today. What comes to mind?
   3. Pay attention to your emotions. Talk to God about any strong feelings you have experienced.
   4. Choose one feature from the day and pray with it. Think of something you can be proud of today and thank God for it. Or maybe there is something that you could have done differently.
   5. Look forward to tomorrow; invite God to be with you throughout the day and help you hear His message for you.
9. Connect with different cells of F. M. W. International.
10. Awareness Activity in collaboration with various clubs of the school.
11. Fund raising programmes.
12. Establish connectedness with like-minded Institutions to make global networking a reality.
13. Pilgrimage: Pilgrimages are at the heart of our culture and tradition. Pilgrimage to holy Places is an integral activity of F.M.W.
14. Projects: The F.M.W. members will take up short-term projects in the school and in their family circle. Such projects can be with the aim of improving the social conditions or to improve the environment.
15. Group Obligation To sustain the ideal of commitment to God for others, an annual renewal of promise is recommended, along with regular participation in activities promoting spiritual and personal growth and development. Regular meetings are recommended. The member should seek to build and promote bonds of love and trust through mutual sharing with one another, especially at the meetings and gatherings conducted by the F.M.W.
16. Formation A new member must remain in formation for at least one year prior to taking the promise for the first time.
17. Guidelines for the members:
    1. It is essential that the members of F.M.W. grow in intimacy with God through their daily personal prayer. This implies spending at least 20-30 minutes in silence and personal prayer.
    2. The members are expected to cultivate respect and love for every person. Moreover, they are to develop special love and concern for the poor and the needy and try to help them in whatever way they can. Social service is an essential aspect of F.M.W.
    3. The members are encouraged to meet the spiritual guide - a C.J. animator, regularly to discuss various issues that affect them, talk about difficulties and problems that disturb them, and seek guidance, which will eventually enable them to stand on their own feet.
    4. No failure and criticisms can disappoint F.M.W. members. They consider every failure as a stepping stone for new learning that eventually leads to success.
    5. A good reading habit is very important for the members of F. M. W. They should read about the life of Mary Ward, St.Ignatius andbooks on personality development, to mention a few. They should read about the achievements of great people; read about the happenings in the world; read religious books, literature, newspapers, and magazines. Let what they read challenge them, positively disturb them, comfort them and direct them.
    6. The members of F. M. W. make their love of God visible in their effort to live a life which is authentic and sincere. They will have to make effort to stand by truth. Negative criticisms are to be avoided.
    7. The members will promote justice and truth in their social milieu.
    8. The members will live in true freedom by referring everything to God.
    9. The members will find God in creation and will promote and find love in every creation.
    10. The F.M.W. units are to celebrate Mary Ward Week creatively and meaningfully.
    11. The members will cultivate Mary Ward’s values in their daily lives.
18. The Pronouncement of Solemn Promise A prayerful ceremony is organized on the occasion of the Solemn Promise. The ceremony includes the following steps:
     
    1. Lighting of the F.M.W. lamp by the Spiritual Animator.
    2. Song/Bhajan
    3. Opening Prayer: O god we have gathered here before you on this auspicious day. We thank you for calling us to be members of F.M.W. We dedicate ourselves to work with you and to make our vision and mission alive. We are about to make our solemn promise as formal members of the F.M.W. movement. Today we commit ourselves to your service and to that of our country. We ask you to shower upon us your plentiful graces so that we may grow serving you and our beloved Motherland. Accept us as your collaborators, as we join you to labour for a better world.
    4. Readings from the Scriptures
    5. Prayers: Some intercessory prayers relevant to the occasion.
    6. The Animator addresses the gathering:
       I welcome all of you to witness these auspicious moments on the life of the members of F.M.W. I am proud of them as they have committed themselves to become spiritually enlightened individuals who will be responsible to make this world a better place to live in. The promise taking ceremony is a manifestation of their desire to continue to grow in the spiritual path and serve God and this country. Now I call upon the General Secretary to begin the official proceedings.
    7. The General Secretary: The following members………….(calls their names), who have been approved by the Animator and the Council and who wish to take their Solemn Promise will please come forward.
    8. The Approved members come forward and stand in rows around the lighted lamp.
    9. Preparatory Questions:
       1. Spiritual Leader: Do you promise to abide by the spirit and guidelines of F.M.W.?
       2. All: I promise
       3. Spiritual Leader Do you promise to devote time everyday in personal prayer and to be an example to others at home and in school/College?
       4. All: I promise.
       5. Spiritual Leader: Do you promise not to allow anything except sickness or unavoidable circumstances to keep you away from attending the regular F.M.W. meetings?
       6. All: I promise.
       7. Spiritual Leader: Do you promise to strive earnestly to rise above all odds , to spread your positive influence on all people and to devote yourselves to the service of God and humanity?
       8. All: I promise.
       9. Spiritual Leader: Then take a step forward to make your promise.
    10. The members of F.M W who are going to make the Solemn Promise take one step ahead as a symbolic gesture. They recite the following promise together.