Dear Confreres,

With a fresh resolve and fervent aspirations in our hearts, we have just stepped into the year 2010. The very first day of the year marks two celebrations: The World Day of Peace and the Solemnity of the Mother of God. 

Pope Benedict’s message for the celebration of the World Day of Peace 2010 launches the theme, “If you want to cultivate peace, protect Creation”. It addresses a series of crises, which according to the pope, are “ultimately also moral crises” that “call for a lifestyle marked by sobriety and solidarity, with new rules and forms of engagement” and a concerted effort for the protection of “creation through a better internationally-coordinated management of earth’s resources”. However, the Pope passionately advocates “a model of development based on the centrality of the human person”, for he firmly believes that “our duties towards the environment flow from our duties towards the person”; and “when ‘human ecology’ is respected within the society, environmental ecology also benefits”.  He concludes the message with a fervent appeal to everyone not only to become aware of the profound link between the protection of creation and peacemaking but also to cultivate a society of peace by caring the creation of God.  

By the celebration of the Motherhood of Mary, the Church presents the Virgin Mother as our icon and model of peace. Mary’s disposition, attitude and response to persons and to the circumstances that surround her life are characterized by serenity, awe, gratitude and of profound respect for the plan of God. Despite the violence of all forms, in every human heart there is the longing for peace. As missionaries and ‘men on mission’, we shall strive to create an atmosphere of peace in our hearts, and with everyone in our communities and in the working places. I wish everyone a grace filled New Year!

January 24: The Feast of Our Patron

Every year, the Church celebrates the feast St. Francis De sales on 24th January. The day is very special to us, the Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales. Our Constitutions clearly states that our charism can unfold in us only by studying St. Francis De sales, imitating his virtues, and forming his method of guiding people our own (cf.#9). The people in our mission centres longs for spiritual sustenance. We do have the spirituality of St. Francis De Sales to satiate their hunger. The best way to celebrate the feast of our patron each year would be striving to master some of the qualities of our Patron. Our Patron has been a great collaborator with laity and others. In this year, let us take special steps to improve on our collaboration with all those join forces in the mission. I wish everyone a very happy feast of our beloved patron. May he continue to guide our journey of religious commitment!

The Republic Day of India

Silver Jubilarians of the Year: Fr. Johny Kuttikottayil and Fr. Varghese Chettupuzha 

Fr. John’s assignments and the centres of work:

           Centres                                                          Designation                                            Duration

1. Savio Parish, Tungjoy, Manipur        Diaconate                       1984        

2. Savio Parish, Tungjoy, Manipur        Asst. Priest                      1986

3. SFS Church, Kangpokpi, Manipur    Parish Priest                   1987

4. SFS Bhavan, Sreenagar, Guwahati   Bursar                              1988 – 1990

5. Don Bosco, Bhandari, Nagaland        Parish Priest                   1990 – 1993

6. SFS Seminary, Ghaspani, Nagaland In charge                         1993

7. Ka Syiem Jingsuk Church, Amlarem                                          Parish Priest      1993 – 1997

8. Holy Redeemer Retreat Centre, Umroi                                      Administrator   2005 – 2007

9. Mittenweg – 11, Assling, Germany   Associate Pastor           2007 - ....

Fr. Varghese Chettupuzhakaren

Fr. Varghese was born at Kuriachira, Kerala, on 10th February 1957, as the fifth child of Francis and Rosy Chettupuzhakaren, from St. Joseph’s Church, Kuriachira, in the diocese of Trichur.  After the completion of his studies in June 1974, he joined the S.F.S. Seminary at Ettumanoor, Kottayam, Kerala. He joined the novitiate at Salesianum, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in 1978 and made his first religious profession on 10th June 1979. Thereafter he pursued his philosophical studies at St. Peter's Pontifical Institute, Bangalore. His one year of practical training was at Vinayakumar Estate, Chokad.  In June 1982 he was sent for his theological studies at St. Peter's Pontifical Institute, Bangalore. He made his perpetual profession at Mermier Nagar, Hebbagodi, Bangalore on 5th June 1984. He was ordained deacon on 27-01-1985 at Vinayalaya, Bangalore by Rt. Rev. John Mulagada, Bishop of Eluru. On 3rd November 1985 he was ordained a Priest at St. Joseph’s Church, Kuriachira, Trichur, by Rt. Rev. Joseph Kundukulam, Bishop of Trichur. Fr. Varghese will be completing the silver jubilee of his ordination on November 3, 2010.

Fr. Varghese’s assignments and the centers of work:

Centres                                             Designation                                     Duration

1. Vinayakumar Estate, Chokad                                     Regent                                               June’77-May ‘78

2. Catholic Church, Jonai                                     Asst. Priest                           One year, 1986

3. Catholic Church, Tungjoy                               Asst. Priest                           One year, 1987

4. Catholic Church, Purul                                    Asst. Priest                           1988-1990

5. Catholic Church, Tening                                  Parish Priest                                    1991-1994 May

6. MSFS Novitiate, Chabua                                 Novice Master                                1995- June ‘99

7. Catholic Church, Vredendal, S. Africa                     Parish Priest                                    Nov ‘99- 2002

8. Vinaya Bhavan, Thamarassery, Kerala                    on the Staff                          2002- 2003

9. St. Francis de Sales Church, Silapathar       Parish Priest                                    2003 - 2007

10. Generalate Rome,                                House Superior & Administrator          2007 - 2009

11.VDM Rome,                    Local Superior of MSFS Local Community in Rome             2009 - ….

Both these our confreres are great stalwarts enthused by commitment to mission and holiness of life. They are appreciated for their great contribution to mission through their hard and tireless work. They enrich the Congregation, our Province and the Church at large with their individual gifts and talents. Their dedication and selfless services in every place they have worked and are presently working win everyone’s appreciation and gratitude; above all, they are persons of God possessing authentic spiritual maturity. We raise them to the Almighty God and pray that they continue to be beacons of light to all they come in contact with and serve through their ministry. We wish them a very fruitful journey down memory lane and accompany them with our prayers and encouragement in their onward spiritual journey as priests.

Four New Priests in the “Year of Priests”

The Province is blessed with four new priests in 2010. Kerketta Pratap (Jan 5), Tirkey Solomon (Jan 7), Silanand Soreng (Jan 9) and Avilhou Stephen (Jan 12) were ordained in the presence of a large crowd of people at their own respective home parishes. It was indeed a privilege and joy for me and Fr. Emmanuel Mappilaparampil to participate in the ordination ceremonies of these confreres. A number of other confreres were also present at the ceremonies. It is heartening to watch how such occasions bring the local communities together; help them rise above barriers of religion, local politics and share moments of joy together. Through various rituals and cultural expressions, the ordinary village people demonstrate the significance of Catholic priesthood and the esteem with which they look up to their priests.  Authentic living of our priesthood is the best gift we can offer to our people.  As we welcome these confreres for pastoral ministry in the Province, let us assure them of our continued support and prayers.  With the consent of the Council, I am very glad to assign them for their first year of priestly ministry to the following communities:

• Fr. Kerketta Pratap is appointed associate priest at S.F.S Church, Fundakfang, Tripura in the diocese of Agartala with effect from February 15, 2010.

• Fr. Tirkey Solomon is appointed associate priest at Holy Rosary Church, Purul in the archdiocese of Imphal with effect from February 15, 2010.

• Fr. Soreng Silanand is appointed associate priest at Ka Syiem Jingsuk Church, Amlarem, Meghalaya  in the diocese of Jowai with effect from February 15, 2010.

• Fr. Avilhou Stephen is appointed associate priest at Christ King Church, Gogamukh in the diocese of Tezpur with effect from February 15, 2010.

Relationship with our Collaborators: Campus Meeting

The year 2009-2010 has been earmarked in the Province for initiating a fresh focus to close collaboration with our collaborators in the missions. I have seen already some efforts made here and there by our confreres. I congratulate each of them for their creative responses. However, much more is desired. I call upon everyone to display tangible steps in the promotion of a distinctive style of ministering to people and conducting our leadership role. Collaborative leadership is to become an accepted style in all our undertakings. The success story of each mission is clearly linked with the stories of collaborative efforts of everyone. Moreover, by our religious call, we profess to live in communion and collaboration with others. Even though our community life may be fraught with many difficulties, the mission has to be carried out in close association with others.   Acknowledging the contributions of others and appreciating the generous offering of the individual talents is essential to collaborative style of leadership. Campus Meetings with the immediate and significant collaborators (religious women working in the parish) is of crucial importance to the effective planning and implementation of all the programs. I request every superior of the community to hold at least three Campus Meetings in a year.  The reports of these meetings shall be filed and maintained in each local community. Campus meetings provide the immediate collaborators an opportunity to propose, plan, implement and evaluate all the programs of a mission. It also ensures the participation of everyone; encourages the individual to involve completely, and guarantees knowledge on all matters of the mission life and ministry to the team of collaborators. It shall be a joy for all the superiors of the communities to use campus meetings as a tool for effective collaboration with the religious women of our parishes. I am sure this endeavor will bring much effectiveness and success to our mission.

The Blue Book- the New Mass Register 

A new Mass Register, with relevant details pertaining to mass intentions and other matters, has been already dispatched to the confreres of the Province. If any confrere who is residing in India has not received this book, please inform the Provincial secretary at the earliest. The mass register will be sent to confreres who are working or studying abroad. I request every confrere in the Province to use the New Mass Register by entering all the details starting with January 1, 2010. The Register has been prepared for a period of five years.

Annual Retreats in 2010

The arrangement of two relaters in a year has been very helpful to all of us in the Province. The Salesian Retreat of 2008 and the Constitution Growth Retreat of 2009 have been attended by the members of the Province.  As in the previous years, in 2010 also we shall hold two retreats, which will ensure the participation of all in the retreats arranged at the Province level. The first retreat will be held in July (between 5-12th July), and the second retreat in October (between 2-9th Oct). The exact dates will be announced as soon we get the confirmation from the preachers. However, kindly mark these dates in your calendar for reference and planning your programs.

The Death of Rev. Fr. A. GABRIEL MSFS

In the sad demise of Rev. Fr. A. Gabriel on the 10th of January 2010, the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS) have lost one of their beloved confreres, who was a renowned biblical scholar, an excellent professor of theology as well as philosophy, a visionary, a fine humane person and a simple fransalian. We, the members of the North-East India Province of MSFS offer our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to Rev. Fr. Lawrence Amalraj, the Provincial of South-East India Province of MSFS and all its members. The whole Congregation mourns over his death. Most of the confreres of the North-East India Province were his students or beneficiaries of his intellectual resourcefulness, who fondly remember him as someone who challenged them to aim and think high as well as to act creatively and constructively. He is someone, who always talked about and has taken steps to initiate a certain ‘intellectual culture’ in the Congregation. His efforts to reach the bible and biblical themes to the ordinary people and to his students are commendable. Now we hope his spirit will continue to inspire more and more confreres towards the vision he had for the future fransalians. May his soul rest in peace!

Fransalian Education Forum - Regional

Fr. George Parampukattil, the General Secretary for Education informs that Fransalian Education Forum- Regional has scheduled a seminar for all the confreres engaged in the apostolate of Education from 3-7 May 2010 at Nirmala Institute of Education (B.Ed college Campus Althinho, Panjim, Goa.

Arrival: May 3rd evening; Departure: May 7th evening      

Theme: Emerging trends of Modern Education

Animator:  Fr. Maggi Murzello of St. Andrews’ College, Mumbai.

For more details please contact Fr. George Parampukattil.

St. Joseph’s Parish, Manikbond, entrusted to the Congregation

At the request of Rt. Rev. Stephen Routluanga CSC, the bishop of Aizawl we had sent our confreres to serve the community at Manikbond for one year. Fr. Stephen Marayikulam (Jr.) was sent to the mission. Fr. Jacob Thaile joined him later. At the end of the stipulated term of one year, Bishop proposed that the diocese is willing to entrust the mission to the Congregation if it is in favor of accepting the offer. After study, reflection and discernment, we agreed to take up the centre for pastoral ministry.

The Centre is served by two communities of religious women: Sisters of Charity (SCG) and International Missionary Association (AMI). The parish has a number of villages and they belong to various tribes. There exists a school, boarding for boys and girls, and a parish church. The parish is also serving the people through social work, which is linked with an NGO.  On 27 December 2009 in the presence of the parish community, the Bishop has installed Fr. John Bosco Khakha as the new parish priest.  Fr. Abraham Puthenpurackel, who has completed his Master’s Degree in Social Work, has been assigned as the Director of Social work. Our confreres have already done a good ministry during the past one year. Moreover, during the holidays, brothers from MSFS Study House, Shillong also have contributed to the growth of the people. The experience and expertise of our current team of confreres at Manikbond will strengthen the good work that was begun by the first team of confreres.  I sincerely thank Fr. Stephen Marayikulam (Jr) and Fr. Jacob Thaile for their service to this community.

The Blooming Fransalian: Newsletter from the formation houses

The Blooming Fransalian is the Northeast India Province formation Newsletter. The Formation Forum, with a view to share the news from all our houses of formation, has already launched this new project. It is a joint effort of the formation personnel of the Province. Fr. Emmanuel Mappilaparambil is the chief editor of the Newsletter. I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all our formation personnel for their wholehearted service to the Province; and in particular for their common effort in this venture. The first issue of the Newsletter has been dispatched. The newsletter aims to connect our seminarians with all the confreres, friends and benefactors.

Transfers and Appointments

Studies, Courses and Update Programs

• Fr. Stephen Marayilukam (Jr) for German studies at Goethe Institute, Trivandrum with effect from January 3, 2010

• Fr. Joseph Bamhingbe for B. Ed studies at St. Mary’s College, Shillong with effect from Jan 30, 2010. He shall be a member of the MSFS Study House Mowroh.

• Fr. Genes Shangpliang, Fr. Shaibu Ezhanikat, Fr. Mathew Vazheparambil, Fr. Tomy Anakallil and Fr. John Barman are also designated for pursuing course/study programs.

• Fr. Babychen Arackathara for a two-month long course on Restorative Justice Programme, starting from 2nd May 2010 in Canada, which has been sponsored by an organization in Canada.

Hearty Congratulations to

• Fr. Ronesh Narjary who secured first division for B. Ed Examination held under Manipur University, Imphal.

• Fr. Abraham Puthenpurackel who secured first division for the Master’s Degree in Social work from Bangalore University.

Warm welcome to our confreres

We wish a very hearty welcome to all our confreres working abroad who have come for home visits: Fr. Joy Velicakathu, Fr. Sabu Francis Manasrayil,  Fr. Sunny Panthanazhivadekethil,  Fr. Job Karikkampally,  Fr. Thomas Vanderkunnel ,  Fr. D. R. Paul, Fr. Augustine Parampuzha, and Fr. Joseph Illickal. We wish them all a happy time with their families and friends. Some of them have already visited the Centers in the NE and others will be making brief stopovers to some of the Centres at least prior to their return.

Renewal Program for the Young Priests of the North East Province

The much awaited renewal program for the Priests of the North East Province ordained between the year 1994-2002 was held at MSFS  Provincialate from 12th January to 16th January 2010.  Rev. Fr. Francis Poovelil, the co-ordinator of the programme proposed welcome to everyone. In his introduction, he highlighted the importance of such a program, especially in the context of the Provincial Chapter 2008, which strongly recommended renewal programs for the confreres of the Province. Moreover, he stated that the vibrancy of the Province has a lot to do with the renewal of this group of confreres who form 35% of its membership.

Animated by Rev. Fr. Jose Parapally msfs, the program touched upon the stark realities of life and ministry of the confreres; and directed them to see the shadows to be overcome and the strengths to be built upon by everyone. The program was well arranged with a variety of sessions and activities. I thank Fr. Poovelil, who despite his ill health got everything ready together with the rest of the members of the Provincialate community for the first ever animation for this group of confreres in the Province. I also thank the confreres who made many sacrifices to be present for the program, which is indeed a sign of the commitment that each member has for the Province’s mission.

With three programs, the animation of large group of our confreres has been already completed.  The Formation Forum is expected to organise yet another renewal program for the rest of the confreres at some time in the near future.  The Mission calls for the best in us and for the sake of the Mission, we all need to be fine-tuned.  I pray that the programs assist us in becoming more generous with our total gifts and truly committed to the mission entrusted to our loving care.

Five more Class Rooms added to S.F.S. School, Yingkyong

A temporary school building consisting of 5 classrooms was blessed and inaugurated by Fr. Jacob Mattathilany, the V.G of Itanagar diocese on 15th November with a solemn Eucharistic celebration. The parents of the school children, Church leaders and local leaders were also invited for the occasion. Fr. Augustine Thundathil, the P.P. of St. Joseph Parish, Kaying was the guest of honour. Fr. Augustine Kullangara and Fr. Antony Avittapallil from Aalo and Fr. Antony Ettikattil from Pasighat were also present to solemnize the occasion. Sisters from Pasighat and Basar also came to help out in the arrangement of the program. Reception of the Sacraments of First Holy Communion for 12 children and 25 Confirmation added more meaning to the solemnity of the occasion. After the mass, a beautiful cultural program was presented by the school children to mark the event of the day.

Let us Remember our Sick Member

• Yunai, the mother of Fr. Pou Stephen, who is seriouly ill and has been admitted to hospital at Imphal.

• Let us pray for the departed

• N. V. Mathai Neendukunnel, uncle of Fr. Sebastian Neendukunnel, aged 82, died on 15th December 2009 at Poozhithode, Kerala.

• Bibiana Barwa, mother of Fr. Kusum Kant, who passed away on 21st Jan. 2010, at Chandidad Village, Jashpur Nagar, Chhattisgarh.

Conclusion

I express my gratitude to all the confreres of the province for their committed service to the mission of the Church, which is carried out through our religious life and ministry. We bow our heads in praise and thanks to God who has led us to various places and people of the region and elsewhere. No doubt, God has accomplished his work through us in varied ways and each day I thank God for the gift of you all to the Province.

Each year, at least we give the semblance of embarking on a new journey with new dreams and resolutions. Truly, we all hold many expectations for our people, places and ministries and strive to accomplish great things for the good of our communities. Let our resolve be firm in this year; and not to succumb to the onslaughts of problems and difficulties that come on the way.  As a Province community, we want also to achieve many targets. Formal establishment of religious communities in the Province, and the formulation of a vision and mission for each parish are two important projects for us to complete. Let us cooperate together in these ventures.

With sincere prayers and wishes,                                                                                 

Yours fraternally,

e-mail: frantv270208@hotmail.com / fthadam@gmail.com