When the North East Province was erected in 1991, a formation house was needed for the candidates.
The first house in Muzaffarpur, where the sisters had lived from 1950 to 1976, was converted into a teachers’ hostel. In 2001, this house was converted into a house for candidates. Sneha Sadan (‘House of Love’) was founded in 2002 with the aim of providing basic training to young girls who wish to join the congregation. These girls who join in the pre-candidature phase are looked after in Sneha Sadan now. This period lasts up to ten months, during which the pre-candidates learn English, pray, study the Bible and get to know the Congregation. Candidates who continue their studies spend their holidays here and come for retreats. A pre-postulancy program is also run here.
It is gratifying to see and hear the eagerness with which the young women take this first step into the community, even if it is a great challenge for some of them to learn the English language.
I also had the opportunity to visit the other communities in Muzaffarpur and some of the cultural sights in the neighbourhood.
