JP/27: 05 January 2005

My Dear Confreres,   THE DEADLY TSUNAMI   We are still under shock and deeply grief stricken at the toll of life by the deadly Tsunami. The tragedy has struck many South-East Asian countries. No one knows for certain the extent of disaster caused by Tsunami. The increasing number of deaths reported in the papers is alarming. I have heard many asking ‘why is it that such a thing has happened?’  Holy Father tells us ‘God has not abandoned us by the devastation of life caused by Tsunami. He is still with us and stands by us and asks us at this hour of grief to practice his law of ‘love your neighbor as yourself’.  Hence let us come to the aid of those who are affected by this devastation.

In this Circular.... Solidarity An Appeal Suggestions   Ordinations Philippines Appointments African Mission Feast of SFS

Our concern for the affected brothers and sisters   We need to understand the depth of agony experienced by our brothers and sisters in the affected area in various countries and also in our country. Families have been totally destroyed, parents have lost children and grand children, children have lost their parents and grand parents, many have lost one of the parents, many lost their life-partner, houses have been totally routed, villages have been destroyed, churches brought to the ground, many have lost their means of livelihood. We cannot describe the devastation and the agony of the people exhaustively. This is the time to express concretely our love and concern for the suffering. As a province community we need to be awakened utmost to the sufferings of our people in India. There are a lot of relief measures taken up by different voluntary, secular and religious organizations, government and non-government agencies. A lot of money is being collected; much talk is done about relief measures and rehabilitation programs. As a province community we have to involve in the building up of the life of these brothers and sisters who are affected. The collective-social conscience of the province must be impelled to come to the aid of these brothers and sisters. Hence I exhort every confrere of the province and other provinces to consider the sufferings and the needs of these affected brethren as a personal need, a personal concern and come forward to help generously. Let us help them till it hurts us so that we too will be able to experience their pain as our pain.   For the urgent attention of the confreres of the province   In consultation with the Provincial Council I have had a meeting of the FIDESIndia in Mysore and entrusted the responsibility of swinging into action our assistance to build up the lives of these brethren. It has been decided that the Province should come forward to help the Tsunami-affected brothers and sisters in some concrete way. Taking into consideration the relief measures extended now, it has been proposed to concentrate on rehabilitative programme. Hence I have appointed a committee consisting of Confreres Shibu Thundathil (convener) Benny Valiyaveettil and Johny Kanjiramparampil to visit the affected areas to have a Bird’s eye-view of the situation, to have a first hand and direct experience of the present state and sufferings of the people and propose to us in what concrete ways we can be of assistance to them. We can be involved directly or through net-working with other agencies. We will soon constitute an implementation committee under the auspices of FIDESIndia. The rehabilitation programmes will be initiated through FIDESIndia.   We need to organize a lot of money for the same. Any amount of money will not be sufficient to restore the affected people into good human living. The momentum of sensation created and sentiments aroused through media is bound to come down. It is then that we have to swing into action with a missionary-commitment and vision to rebuild the lives of these brothers and sisters. We have to make maximum efforts to contribute for their welfare though apparently a lot of money is being collected, donated and help announced.  Please do not think that our contributions are not necessary as a lot of funds are coming in from national and international agencies. It is a gospel imperative to help those in need. We do not know yet how many people in our country have been uprooted in life physically, psychologically, geographically and struck with the sudden loss of their loved ones.   I propose the followings: All the confreres must make personal effort to make sacrifices in their personal expenditure and save that amount for the victims of Tsunami. Every community/centre/institution must make sacrifices in their normal expenditure and save the money. The community must decide to abstain from certain normal expenditures, introduce fasting, take on to more simple food for a period of time and other concrete measures according to your life-situations.  Avoid all unnecessary celebrations. Save much money from the unavoidable/important celebrations such as Feast of Saint Francis De Sales, annual excursions, school anniversary celebrations etc. It is enough that we have good, meaningful liturgical celebrations of the feast of our patron and offer only a simple meal to our invited guests wherever it is customary to invite others. All our educational institutions must make conscious efforts through the parents and children to collect substantial fund. Awaken the social conscience of the public and the children. They will definitely contribute generously. It very much depends on the heads of institutions. Hereby I am asking the Principals and Correspondents to take the necessary steps in this regard immediately even if you have to get hurt in the process of eliciting funds. The anniversary celebration of the schools can be arranged as Benefit-show encouraging people to contribute to help the victims. The parents and public will understand us rightly. Kindly solicit fund from your relatives, friends and other associates. I request all the confreres of the province in India and outside India to make conscious and conscientious efforts to organize people and collect funds. I extend this request to all the confreres of other provinces, in India or outside India to help in the rehabilitation programme if they are able to feel the pain of this tragic situation. I assure you and take the responsibility for the best use of the money collected for this purpose.  You will be intimated of the details of programme taken up. It is important that you give full details of your address when you send the help.  I request and exhort all the superiors, principals, parish priests and those in various offices and who are able to organize financial assistance from people to swing into action for this most deserving human cause. Please do not hesitate. Your personal- social-conscience can ignite and awaken the collective social conscience of those entrusted to our pastoral, ministerial care and stewardship to come to the aid of a human situation most unexpected, tragic and cruel.     ORDINATIONS Hearty Congratulations and Prayerful wishes. Dn. Baby Elanjimattathil will be ordained priest on 6 January 2004 at St. Joseph’s Church, Mandapam, Kasargod Dt. Kerala. Dn. Roji Kuttivayalil will be ordained priest on 8 January 2004 at Holy Cross Church, Elangoi, Kottayam Dt. Kerala. Dn. Binoy Kuzhuppil will be ordained priest on 10 January 2004 at St. Theresa’s Church, Malappuram, Ayamkudy, Kottayam Dt. Kerala Dn. Joshy Mangalath will be ordained priest on 11 January 2004 at St. Joseph’s Shrine, Velupadam, Trichur Dt. Kerala. Dn. A. Johnson will be ordained priest on 14 January 2004 at St. Joseph’s Church, Agarakottalam, Tamilnadu. I extend to all our new priests Hearty Congratulations and Prayerful wishes. The entire province-family looks towards their ministry and life with much hope and expectation and assures them our loving and prayerful support.   A New Mission in the Philippines   I am happy to inform you that the Bishop of Imus, is entrusting the congregation a new pastoral centre in Molino. This is divided from the mother parish of St. Nino De Molino, in Cavite. Establishment of an independent pastoral centre is a necessary step to erect an independent parish later on. I did visit the place during my visit to the Philippines in June 2004. Since then the province has been in contact with the bishop and the parish priest of Molino. Our confreres have been rendering pastoral service to this centre and mother parish since many years. Fr. Tito Puthuparampil resides in the parish of Molino as he is doing his Masters degree in Psychology. It has been the personal interest of the parish Priest, Fr.George to entrust us this pastoral centre as he is really inspired by the pastoral service of our confreres. He is a very good friend of Fransalians. The Pastoral Centre will be officially entrusted to us on Sunday, 30 January 2005. I thank all our confreres in the Philippines and especially Sunny Punnakuzhiyil, Tito Puthuparampil and Jinu Pathiyakam for their selfless service and missionary commitment that has fetched us this new foundation from the diocese of Imus. The Bishop is very appreciative and supportive of our efforts and mission in the Philippines.   Appointments Fr. Jinu Pathiyakam is appointed Priest In Charge of the New Pastoral Centre in Molino with effect from 23 January 2005. He is appointed Superior of our newly formed MSFS community in Molino with effect from 30 January 2005. Fr. S. Arokia Jayaaraj is appointed assistant Priest In Charge of the Pastoral Centre in Molino with effect from 30 January 2005. Fr. Joseph Pattarkalayil is appointed a member of the staff and procurator of MSFS Formation House, Silang Cavite and Vocation Promoter in the Philippines with effect from 23 January 2005. Fr. Jimmy Parayankuzhy is appointed Assistant Parish Priest at St. Joseph’s Church, Bagong Silang and  Assistant Vocation Promoter  in the Philippines with effect from 23 January 2005. Fr. Tom Kanat is appointed Superior of our newly formed MSFS Community in SFS Technical Training Institute, Kolar, with effect from 1 February 2005. Fr. Biju Palamkunnel is appointed Programme Director of SFS Technical Training Institute and Procurator of MSFS Community in Kolar with effect from 1 February 2005. Fr. Conrad Sebastian is appointed Correspondent of SFS Technical Training Institute, Kolar with effect from 1 February 2005. African Mission   Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, our Superior General will be making his visitation of the African Mission of the province from 5 February 2005 to 25 February 2005. He will animate the Constitutions retreat for the confreres of African mission. I extend to Fr. General a hearty welcome to Tchad and Cameroon, our missions in Africa.   Fr .A. C. Arokianathan, Scholastics Boban Elanjimattathil and Lakra Giridhari will leave for African mission on 3 February 2005.  I extend to them our deep sentiments of love, prayers and solidarity as they set out on a new mission. I thank them sincerely for their generosity and commitment to the mission of the province.   Feast of Saint Francis De Sales 2005   A major celebration of the congregation and the province in the month of January is the feast of our patron Saint Francis De Sales. Usually we do have good celebrations in our communities. I propose that this year the expense is kept to the minimum and the money be set apart to help the victims of Tsunami-disaster.   My dear confreres, as we join in the pains and sufferings of our brothers and sisters who are devastated by the deadly Tsunami let us make every effort to do whatever we can in reaching out to them and extending all possible helps.  Let us express our love and concern for them by evolving certain definite programmes to build up their lives and future.  Let our Christian charity find its expression in the genuine sacrifices that we make on the individual as well as community level.  I wish you all a grace-filled New Year and a happy feast of our heavenly patron, St. Francis De Sales.   With Prayerful wishes Yours sincerely   Fr. Jose Parappillil MSFS Provincial         St. Francis de Sales says...   I find no blessing without burden in this world.  Be grateful for trials and tribulations, as they force us to have recourse to the heavenly consoler!  When all is going well, we forget God; only in adversity do we seek Him for comfort.  God sends us afflictions, but nothing comes from the divine hand that is not useful to those souls who fear him.  Be happy if they come and receive them with a heart filled with filial love, because God sends them with a heart that is paternally concerned with your perfection.  He wishes to purify and refine His Holy love in you. Think often about the duration of eternity and do not get upset about the mishaps of this transitory and mortal life…….  To love one’s neighbour does not mean merely to wish them well, but also to do them all the good that is in our power to do.  Charity binds us to love not only what is good for ourselves, but also what is good for our neighbour.         With Prayerful wishes Yours Sincerely,   Fr. Jose Parappillil MSFS e-mail: jcparappilly@yahoo.com   | Back to Provincial Circulars