I greet you with the peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the compassionate love of our Blessed Mother, the joyful optimism of our Patron, St. Francis de Sales and the missionary zeal of our Founder, Servant of God, Fr. Peter Mermier.

 

The news papers are full of news on women’s reservation bill. The Times of India is asking: these men win battle, will they win war? Why are male MPs opposing the bill tooth-and-nail?

 

Big loss of seats! This one piece of legislation will crack up the entrenched structures of power throughout the land. And yet we are at the bottom line of the world! Lesson for Lent.

 

And right now I am just back from a Lenten talk by Fr. Noel Molloy O.P. He spoke about Mother Francis Rafael, an English nun, who spoke about difficulties in prayer. She said that prayer is business and not pleasure. There is a why, when and how of prayer. Unless we are motivated we do not go to do something. What are the motivations of prayer? Jesus prayed. Prayer was important to Jesus. Like the body has its needs, so the soul too. However, we have no difficulty in knowing our body’s needs. But not everybody knows from personal experience the needs of the soul. Special persons live at the level of satisfying the needs of the soul. Jesus, our Guru, entered into long periods of prayer, transfiguring prayer, anguish-prayer, agonizing prayer and thanksgiving prayer. Whole nights spent in prayer. So too prayer is at the heart of the life of a priest, religious. Prayer is characteristic of Jesus. Prayer makes God real. What is the main ministry of priest and religious? -Simply to be a living witness of God.

 

When more and more people are drifting away from the reality of prayer, the priest in prayer shines. The proof of the existence of God is the way the priest lives. The very way of priest’s life is a living proof of the reality of God. However, unless our own faith in God is deep, we cannot be prayerful. We speak to God. And in all real prayer God speaks to the heart. We should have fixed times of prayer. Not when I have time; but I must make time for prayer, if not he will die. The best time for prayer is early morning. And the best posture for prayer is kneeling. Where? -In front of the Eucharist. Where there is a priest, there is a tabernacle. Importance of using a book, while in prayer is practical. Using vital phrases/ sentences from the Bible repetitiously, one elicits love of the Lord. Beautiful thoughts for Lent! High time to be back to the basics! Discipline. Perseverance. Wish you a fruitful continuation of Lent.

 

APPOINTMENTS BY THE SUPERIOR GENERAL:

Fr. Agnelo Fernandes our Superior General through his communication on 18th February has made the following appointments with the consent of his council:

1. Fr. Mario D’Souza is appointed Chairman of the Provincials of India Forum & of the Governing Body of Suvidya College, Bangalore.

2. Fr. Simon Paicatt is appointed Vice-Chairman of the Provincials of India Forum. Congratulations, Fathers.

 

CHANGE OF NATIONALITY BY CONFRERES IN THE CONGREGATION:

(For the MSFS Confreres only: Please check your personal copy for details)

 

MY VISIT TO EUROPE:

From 11th February to 1st March I visited all our eight confreres in Germany and Switzerland. The detailed report is in the Easter edition of Tarang. (dated 31-3-2010).On 22nd and 23rd February, there was the meeting of all the MSFS with all the Indian msfs Provincials. It was a unique opportunity to meet all the confreres and share with one another our urgent concerns of community life. The need of establishing local inter-province neighbourhood communities was felt intensely. So the whole gathering was at it.

 

NEWS FROM:

• Bela Vista, Mozambique:   The celebration of our patron’s feast coincided with a decade of ‘our pioneer’ Fr. Mathews Kodamullil in Mozambique. He was the main celebrant with all the Fransalians in Maputo Archdiocese with him.  (Fr. Stephen Soares, msfs)

• Matola, Mozambique: Brothers Aajo, Jins, and Jijo have begun their theology classes from 11th Feb 2010 at the Seminario Teologico Interdiocesano de S. Pio X along with Bros. Rajesh, Henry and Manoj. There are 5 candidates in the Minor Seminary studying at the Seminario Cristo Rei  da Matola and 1 Novice at the MSFS Novitiate at Kibaha, Tanzania and two pre-novices in Kenya.

• A decade of service in Mozambique is a time to give thanks to the Lord for all his blessings. A thanksgiving celebration will be held on 18th April 2010. The Mission of Mozambique can be summed up in the words of Our Lord “the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few.” On behalf of all our confreres in Mozambique I request you to pray to the Lord of the harvest that he sends labourers into his harvest. Many more mission stations and dioceses in Mozam-bique are waiting for our presence. We thank all those who have directly or indirectly contributed for the Mission. (Fr. Alex Tigga, msfs)

• Suvidya College is recognized by University of Mysore as an Institute of Excellence for its academic excellence thanks to committed faculty, great infrastructure and Research-friendly Library and Campus and affiliated to Mysore University and offering MA in Philosophy titled as Masters in Contextualized and Transformative Philosophy [MCTP] from June 2010. We congratulate the faculty for the unique honour bestowed.

• MSFS Provincialate, Nagpur, held the annual gathering of ‘Friends of Fransalians’ on 17th January 2010 with Fr. Mickey Dalgado, msfs, the founder animator, as the main celebrant along with Fr. A M Sebastian, msfs, the Provincial and Fr. Pius Gonsalves, msfs, present animator, as concelebrants at the Eucharistic Celebration. A short programme was prepared by Bro. Ashishi and his fellow scholastics and Bro. Wilson Godad regaled the gathering with anchoring words for each item. (Fr. John Carvalho MSFS)

• St. Francis de Sales School, Janakpuri: Eight students and a teacher took part in the Republic Day Parade on the tableau of Central Public Works Department with flowers in their natural colours depicting the effects and solutions of Global Warming. The tableau showcased the teacher educating the students to grow more trees and to keep the environment eco-friendly, clean and green so that all live in harmony with nature.  (Mrs. Monica Kapoor)

• SFS, Janakpuri, was presented the ‘School Management Award 2009’ for outstanding contribution in the area of educational planning, school management and administration on the occasion of the World Management Congress by the Global Open University, Nagaland and the Confederation of Indian Universities, New Delhi.

• The ‘Manav Ratna Samman’ for Education was awarded to the Principal, Fr. Melroy Almeida, msfs, for his contribution in the field of education and sports and for encouraging environmental, spiritual, cultural and social activities in the school.

• A New Life Has Come to Badnera is visible from the active participation of the faithful in Church activities. Cleaning and painting of the Church has made the faithful to take part in the prayers services. The blessing of a new grotto gave an impetus to the faithful which was witnessed by the Clergy of the Diocese.

• 20th December 2010 is a day to be remembered in the history of Badnera Mission for inter-religious gathering organized at which many important leaders of Badnera Town like politicians, different religious personnel and government officials were present.

• Door-to-door Carol Singing was organized and a visit was made to all the protestant homes. Our parishioners created history by singing carols in the Police Station for the first time. Police Inspector R.N. Ghule and his team were deeply impressed and they augmented our supply of sweets with two packets of candies for distribution. The Inspector visits the parish occasionally and has promised to extend his kind help any time.

• The new born baby, SFS Nursery and KG School, is growing up with its own difficulties. Parents were very happy to witness their children giving speeches, singing songs and performing dances at the Parents’ Day organized for them. Thus, with hope, we look forward for a good response from the people around.                                                            - Fr. Bosco

• Holy Redeemer Church, Nimach - Women’s Day: Ratlam Deanery of Jhabua Diocese organized Women’s Day in our Church with the theme ‘Empowerment of Women.’ There were 90 women participants. The day began with praying of rosary at the grotto in front of the church and moved in procession to the altar. The rosary was recited for the intentions of all priests as this being the year of priests.  The Eucharist was well animated with introduction and gospel sharing. In his homily, Fr. Oscar exhorted them to follow the example of Our Lady and to be bold and tech-savvy. Different groups presented their reports at the interaction bringing their life experience, struggles, and disappointments. Issues like gender bias, rejection and domestic violence were discussed. Nine women portrayed nine brave women of Indian history to the applause of one and all. The participants were given the sense of being empowered in discovering God’s plan for them.

• St. Francis de Sales School, Nimach: The first phase of SFS  School, Girdoda, Nimach, stands completed. It’s a dream come true after more than a decade since the arrival of the Fransalians.  The pulse of the province which was aiming at stability, standard and strength in our schools has come to a moving a phase with the completion of it certainly is a dream come true, the aspirations of the entire Nimach catholic community who were waiting for a change in the field of innovative education and creative formation of young minds. The New School would meet the demands of collective formation and responsible leadership in the Indian society – ‘the New School’ has become the talk of the town. From the initial tantrums of getting permission for land to the switch over of delivering expectations, we have tread long path of planning, organizing and executing. At every stage there has been a high level consultation of expertise to make the foundation strong, with no stone unturned. Now that the keys of ‘the HOPE’ have been handed over from the builder to the moulder, we hear the echo, ‘go down on your knees, keeping your eyes above and hopes alive.’ Thanks galore to all the pillars of SFS, Nimach; Fr. Jacob who was associated with the school and has nurtured it, Fr. Oscar who carried out the construction with rapt care and Bro. John. The New Academic Year to begin on 1st April, with few students on the roll, it is going to be a struggle to impart quality education only which will fetch SFS glory and honour. A grand felicitation ceremony would be planned few months later for all the honorary contributors and well-wishers. - Fr. Issac John MSFS

• Social Service Centre, Khamgaon

• The fourth job oriented 5 month short course on electrical wiring, fitting and motor winding ended on 31st January 2010 with 100 poor unemployed youth from remote areas given training. The students paid Rs. 1000/- for this entire residential course. On completing the course they were given a free tool kit and certificate. At the felicitation programme to the out-going students they expressed their gratefulness of becoming electricians. God has blessed them to earn and support their family members. ‘यह सब येसु का  कृपा से हम को मिला . Some college students, who were present, after hearing the experience shared by electricians, requested the Director to keep one more batch for the same training. The Director has agreed for a 3 months crash course for the same training. Admissions are on for the needy and unemployed youths of our society.    - Fr Joseph Kailamangalam,  msfs

• Neunkirchen Am Brand, Germany

• The Parish of St Michael and St. Augustine Church has 4500 practicing Catholics with 5 sub-stations at Großenbuch, Rödlas, Rosenbach, Honings and Schellenberg. I am involved in most of the activities of the Parish like Mass, Funeral service, Baptism, Confessions, different group meetings like Kolping Group, Pilgrim Group, Youth Group, Altar Servants Group, Singers Group, Men’s Group Women’s Group and Seniors Group. Fr. Peter Brandl is the Parish Priest and I assist him in the celebration of the Eucharist and in the administration of the Parish.  - Fr. Solomon Sahayaraj, msfs

• St. John’s High School, Nagpur

• Road Safety Week was celebrated by the students with lectures by personnel of the Police Traffic Department on measures on road safety to be taken by pedestrians and drivers of 2-wheelers and 4-wheelers. A rally was also taken out by RSP students and Std. IX students on Road Safety Awareness.   - Hitavada.

 

 SEMINARS IN THE MONTH OF MAY 2010 ORGANISED BY FRANSALIANS:

A.  In the Year of Priesthood, the Rector and the Staff of Tejas Vidya Peetha, are organizing a Theology Update Programme from 10th May 2010 to 14th May 2010 at Vinayalaya, MSFS Provincial House, Bangalore. The course fee is Rs. 1,500/- inclusive of registration fee Rs. 200/-, board, lodge and course material. Registration is latest by 30th April 2010 by sending Rs. 200/- by M.O. or DD to “The Registrar, Tejas Vidya Peetha, Kumbalgodu P.O., Bangalore 560 074.

 

B.  Salesian Seminar and Retreat for Scholastics who will be making their final vows:    

      The Salesian Seminar 2010 commences on 2nd May 2010 evening with the Holy Eucharist and will end on 7th May 2010 noon with the Holy Eucharist.   

      The Salesian Retreat will commence on 8th May evening and end on 30th May 2010 with breakfast. The Retreat will be held at Mananthavady, Kerala. Brothers are to take with them the Holy Bible, Breviary, Introduction to the Devout Life, Treatise on the Love of God, Formative Biography of SFS. In addition, they are to take bed-sheets, bathing towels and toilet articles.

 

Appointments for Diaconate Ministry during April 2010:

 

Name                                    Place

Dn Saiju Vettukallel          Bhusaval                  

Dn Ranjit Tirkey                 Sini

Dn Amal Bandanadam    Jalna                         

Dn Anand Kullu                 Ambapani

Dn Ignathi Kshirsagar      CIDCO, A’bad                    

Dn Stephen Ekka                Raidihi

Dn Sojan Maraikulam       Nimach                    

Dn Robin Parapuram        Khamgaon

 

A Hearty Welcome to:

-   Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Marc to the Missions of Jhajjar & Himayatnagar.
-   Sisters of the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales to the Mission of Seraikela.
-   Sisters of Helpers of Mary to St. Mary’s School, Kothari.

    Thank you Sisters. Wish you all the best and God’s blessings.

 

-   Fr. Charles Porimattathil, Fr. Joseph Pottemmel and Fr. Lalit Tigga to India for holidays.

 

We Pray For:

Fr. Peter Chakkulikal of South East Province who died on 10th March, 2010

Late Mrs. Tarabai, mother of Bro. John Ruptake.

Fr. Jose Parampukattil is recuperating from an operation of kidney stones.

Late Mrs. Gracy, the elder sister of Very Rev Fr Simon Paicatt, Provincial of Vizag.

Fr. Philip D’Souza is directed to Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, for further investigations.

 

STATUS 2010 and “Local Communities as Constituent Units of the Congregation” are being sent to each community. Congratulations to the compilers and the author.

 

Reminder from Provincial Administration

All Houses, Parishes, Seminaries, Schools, Institutions are to send their budget by 20th March latest. Budgets have to be approved during the Council Meeting (26th March). Please send Community Accounts by 15th April. If you cannot get it audited, please send the draft including Opening Balance (Cash, Bank, FD), Major Expenditures, Closing Balance (Cash, Bank, FD) as on 31st March 2010. Other Audited Statements (School, Institution, etc) are to be sent by 30th June 2010.

 

Fr. Jacob Karamakuzhiyil will be the Vicar while I am away in Mozambique.