Dear Confreres,

 

The New  Year 2010 has dawned. It is our firm faith that God comes to us  as certain as the dawn.  He comes as the Rising Sun. In welcoming the New Year  let us welcome God walking with us , revealing to us His ever-loving presence and plan for us.

 

Soon we will celebrate the Feast of our Patron St Francis de Sales, whose spirituality as lived by us in all apostolates and works reveals the visible identifying mark of every MSFS. Intense and passionate love of God  transforms us. Such love transforms all our loves and purifies them from the dross of selfishness and greed. A Fransalian  growing in salesian spirituality is a fransalian in whom the brilliance of God’s love shines through assiduous practice of virtues which are typically salesian. I invite you to reflect with me on one important salesian virtue from among so many:

 

SIMPLICITY: Salesian simplicity is a single focus in life. It is an undistracted concentration and direction of energy on a single purpose. It is the direct and pointed search for happiness and joy in doing God’s Will alone. It is increasing and intensifying and purifying desire to love God alone in all things and all things in God. Simplicity is passion and fascination for God as the only priority of my life. St Francis de Sales expresses it thus:

 

“Study to attain holy simplicity; look straight before you, and do not dwell upon all those dangers which you tell me you foresee………… Keep ever before you a firm intention of serving God always and with your whole heart and then “take no thought for the morrow”  , only strive to do your best today. When “tomorrow arrives it will have become “today” and then it will be time to take thought for it. In all such matters, we must have absolute trust and confidence in God.” (Letter to a Young Lady, On the right use of High Aspirations  (802) )

 

Such simplicity invites us to a nobility of living , asking us to jettison overboard  the piles of collected  complexities and inanities . Simplicity renders us loving and lovable, trusting and trustworthy. It sharpens our intellect to know the real Truth. It enlarges our hearts to love truly and sincerely. It renders our hands supple and spontaneous  in extending them in service wherever it is needed . In salesian simplicity  there is purity and ecstasy of joy. It makes life an exciting adventure to our eternal destiny. Through the intercession of St Francis de Sales may God bless us with this gift of simplicity.

I wish you a Happy Feast  of St Francis de Sales.

 

I: CONVOCATION OF THE  JOINT MEETING OF ALL PROVINCIALS AND THE GENERAL CURIA BETWEEN TWO GENERAL CHAPTERS

 

Our Constitutions envisage a meeting of all the Provincials and the General Curia in the intervening time between two General Chapters.  In its meeting of November 2009, the General Council gave its consent to the Superior General convoking the said Meeting.

 

Therefore, I hereby convoke the Joint-Meeting of all the Provincials and the General Curia to take place  from  15th November to 20th November 2010 at Vinayalaya, Bangalore, India .

 

The theme of the Joint-Meeting is: Together Today towards Tomorrow as one Fransalian Family: Focus on Community for Proactive Mission.

 

The following are appointed as the Steering Committee:

Fr Mathew Kozhuppakalam, Provincial of SW Province, Convenor of the Committee

Fr Noel Rebello, General Councillor, Vice -Convenor

Fr George Parampukkattil, General Councillor

Fr Abraham Vettuvellil, General Councillor

Fr Thumma Mariadas, General Councillor

 

 

Sub-Themes:

Emphasis :  (1) Provinces with Diminished Numbers, Missionary Thrust

                        (2) Focus on Personnel Planning/Link with Formation    

                        (3) Drawing benefits from tested approaches and models

                        (4) Salesian Spirit                  

                        (5)  Fransalian Heritage

                        (6) Responsive Formation – Formal and On-going to meet the above

 

First four days:  Mission, Education, IMRM, Stewardship, Formation

Fifth day         :  Being MSFS in the World:  The ‘Global context’

Sixth day        :  Being MSFS in India/Africa:  Obligations of History

 

Objectives    

A.  Mid-Term Evaluation  and Action Plan till XIX General Chapter, 2013:

    Based on  (1) Statement and Action Plan of XVIII GC, 2007,  and

                      (2) Imperatives set by New Governance

 

B.  Orientation for a Missionary Vision and Elaboration of a Mission Culture

 

Other concerns  that will be attended to by this Meeting:

(i) Towards meaningful and effective celebration of the 175 years of the Congregation in the Year 2013

(ii) An agreement on plan of promotion of activities, programmes , prayer and devotion for the beatification of our Founder, Fr Peter Mary Mermier .

 

II: SOME DECISIONS  BY THE SUPERIOR GENERAL AFTER THE GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 2009

 

The General Council Meeting of November 2009 took place at Guwahati after the Meeting of the Indian Provincials.  These two important meetings reviewed and assessed the life of the Congregation  especially in the Regional Sector of India where we have six Provinces. I wish to communicate to you some decisions which the Superior General has taken on the advice and consent of the General Council:

 

1.  Establishment of Provincials of India Forum (PIF).

The Indian Provincials used to meet to address many issues that affect them jointly  and in which their collaboration is needed for joint ventures. We felt that  a time had come to establish them into a Forum with a Chairman who could have a formal status in the  Congregation to address issues of common inter-province concern that  affect the life and mission of the Congregation. PIF will function under definite terms of reference that will be given to it and as per the requirements of the MSFS Constitutions and General Directory. I am happy to inform you that the Forum has already been constituted by a Decree of the Superior General. The Forum will meet in the coming months and propose the name of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman to be appointed by the Superior General.

 

2.  Understanding and Formation of Local Religious Community in our Congregation

Booklet on “Local Community“: The 18th General Chapter 2007 has insisted that Fransalians are called to be missionaries in and through a religious community. Community-based apostolates is one of the very important goals the General Chapter has asked us to focus on. In view of implementing this orientation of the General Chapter, there has been an insistent demand from the members to give clarity on the understanding of a local community and its functioning from the point of view of the MSFS Constitutions, General Directory and the Canon Law. After almost one year of study and reflection the General Council prepared a draft  which was studied twice by the Provincials in India. And now with the consent of the General Council I have endorsed the same as a Provisional Document on Local Community to be studied and implemented by all in the Congregation. The next General Chapter will review it and give its definitive orientation .

 

Booklet to be studied and implemented

You will have a copy of this document in your hands by the end of January 2010. Please ensure that you read it. Each Province is asked to organise the collective study of the same at the Apostolic Community level. The services of the  General Councillors will be available to those Apostolic Community that need animation of this study in their meetings. In case of need, Provincials will please contact any of them sufficiently in advance.

 

Types of local communities that can be established

The document indicates the number of ways in which we can be organised into local communities. It is up to each Province to see what kind of local community to which every confrere should be assigned.

 

Role of the Local Superior

The document also stresses the pivotal role of the local superior and the way he should function, animate and inspire. The health of a Congregation depends on vibrant local communities, under the discerning, fraternal and animating  guidance and leadership of local superiors. The formation of local superiors needs also to be a priority in our Congregation. Already efforts are on by way of leadership seminars and training sessions conducted by experts through the programmes of Resource Mobilisation General Sectretariat. Another important development is the Formation of Local Superiors Forum in each Province that enables the Provincials to liaison with them to ensure smooth governance of the local communities.

 

3.  Ongoing formation on Community Life:

In order to further deepen our understanding and reflection on community, the General Council based on the proposal of the Provincials, decided that the Secretariat of Innovative Ministries and Resource Mobilisation will organise with the collaboration of the Provincials constitution community retreats as a continuation of the constitution-growth retreat.  Each Provincial will suggest two names of confreres who would form part of the preaching team.

 

4.  Overseas Mission Orientation Course:

Provinces sending confreres for overseas missions will have to ensure that the confreres attend an over-seas Mission Orientation course that will be organised by the IMRM Secretariat. The Secretariat will prepare the contents and components of the course  by May 2010 and the dates of this course will be announced thereafter.

 

5.  Code of Ethics for the Congregation:

The Holy See expects every Congregation to have its own code of ethics  for the entire Congregation and also specific code of ethics for particular countries depending on the expectations of the civil law of the place. The Superior General with the consent of the General Council has decided in principle that this code of ethics  both universal for the Congregation as well as particular for specific countries, will be formulated  with the close collaboration of the Provincials. We expect to have to it ready  by the end of the year 2010. Once promulgated  every confrere will have to give his undertaking after reading it and abide by it.  It will be for the next General Chapter to review it and make it a definitive document of the Congregation.

 

6.  Strengthening Financial Accountability and Transparency in the Congregation

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

 

7 DVD on the Life and Mission of the Congregation:  I met the Convenor of the DVD committee, Fr Jijimon Konthananickal. After critically evaluating the terms of reference that the Committee was given and also the practical implications of the same  based on the objectives, the General Council after discussing with the provincials decided as follows:

• (i) Each Provincial will immediately constitute a DVD committee for its own Province  and with its help bring out a DVD on the life and mission of the Congregation in that particular Province.

• (ii) Each Province will get this province DVD ready by  Nov 2011 and submit one copy to the Generalate.

• (iii) The Generalate using the various DVDs of the Province will publish  a DVD of the entire Congregation which will be more general and  touch on overarching religious and missionary concerns of the Congregation by  November 2012.

In view of this decision, the committee that the Superior General had constituted for this work will not function as a committee henceforth. However, since the committee represented  a vast spectrum of confreres who showed keen interest in this work and had the skills and abilities, they can still be used by the Provinces for the project. I thank sincerely the Committee for preparing the preliminary draft for the DVD. This is a very handy and useful draft which the Provinces can use, with modifications, in their work.

 

7.  Formation of the community of  General Councillors in India.

After evaluating the functioning of the General Councillors dispersed in so many places, it is becoming more evident that their presence in one place will be more effective for them to live as a community as well as for the Superior General to delegate to them to do collective work.

 

After deliberation in the General Council, I have taken decision in principle that  the General Councillors will form a community. The place will depend on the availability of a house that is vacant in a Province that is ready to place it at the disposal of the Generalate. The search is on for a good location so that the General Councillors could move to the place and establish a community of their own.

 

III: SACERTODAL SILVER JUBILEE OF FR VARGHESE CHETTUPUZHA

 

Fr Varghese Chettupuzha, the local superior of our MSFS Rome Community, completes 25 years as priest on 3rd November 2010. Our community will join in a thanksgiving Mass in June 2010 to thank God for his priestly services he has rendered in the Church .

 

 Fr Varghese’s 25 years were spent in challenging mission stations like Tungjoi, Purul and Tenning in North-Esat India Province. During the period of his services, Purul and Tenning Missions were just started and needed close and minute pastoral attention. He rendered services as a formator and novice master for three years in our Chabua Novitiate, Assam. He was one of the first confreres who went to South Africa and worked in Vredendal. Later he was appointed to Silapathar Mission, Assam to coordinate and organise the various apostolates in that vast mission. From March 2007 Fr Varghese has been serving at our generalate, as the superior of our house, and now as the local superior of the house at Via del Mascherino.

 

There is special quality of sincerity in his dedication and commitment that makes him dependable and generous. His fraternal, caring and personal ways endear him to all who know him.

 

He values all the talents of  heart, mind and body God has blessed him with and places them at the service of the community. We cherish the presence of such a confrere amidst us and assure him of our respect, esteem and gratitude. May this Silver Jubilee unfold to him the mystery of God’s love for Him and may it be the affirmation of our admiration for a confrere whose life inspires. I offer him our  Heartiest congratulations.

 

IV: APOSTOLATE FORUMS AND THEIR WORK

 

We have 5 apostolate forums: Mission, Education, Formation, Innovative Ministries and Resource Mobilisation and Stewardship Forum. They are organised at the level of each Province and at the Regional level (for example India , Africa, Western world).

 

What are the major works of these Forums in the next three years?

 

(1) PROGRAMME OF IMPLEMENTATION: A RESPONSE TO VISITATION BY THE SUPERIOR GENERAL/ASSISTANT GENERAL 

 

Each Province Forum:

Beside what the Provincial and the Provincial Councillor in Charge (PCIC)  indicate and direct, it is necessary that the Programme of Implementation chalked by the joint meeting of the Provincial Curia and General Curia after visitation of the Superior General/Asst General of the province is studied, implemented and monitored.

 

There will be a comprehensive evaluation once during the coming three years of the Programme of Implementation under the guidance of the General Secretary.

 

(2) ONE MEETING OF REGIONAL FORUM DURING THE NEXT THREE YEARS

 

Each Regional Forum

The General Secretary will  convoke at least one meeting during the next three years of the Regional Forum to share common concerns and evaluate. They can also plan an animation and formation session for the members of that forum in all the Provinces, as is done by the Education Forum.

 

(3) VISION MISSION PLAN OF EACH CENTER IN THE PROVINCE

 

The following work is to be completed  by 2011.

 

1. Under the direction and guidance of the Provincial through PCIC, each Center will prepare a short and long term Vision and Mission Plan of each Center. An outline of what aspects to be taken into account while preparing Vision Mission Plan is given to each Provincial.

 

2. The PCIC along with the members of his forum will study, modify, add to, the plan of each center of his Forum.

 

3. The Provincial with all the PCICs and all the Secretaries of the Forums will make a second study and modify all the Plans  in staggered  sessions. The guidance of the General Secretaries, if necessary, could be asked for.

 

4. The Provincial with the consent of the Council approves the Vision Mission Plan and retains it in the office for the reference of future administrations,  with a copy to the Generalate.

 

V: VISITATION OF AUSTRALIA

 

The Superior General visited Australia in mid August 2009. There are 9 confreres engaged in pastoral ministry belonging to the Province of Visakhapatnam and Pune. Two in the Archdiocese of Sydney, two in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. In the Diocese of Paramatta another two confreres render their service in pastoral ministry and youth ministry, while in the Diocese of Broken Bay we have three confreres  in pastoral ministry. One of the confreres, while attached to the Diocese of Broken Bay, serves in Wilkenea Forbes Diocese, a missionary diocese that is adopted by Broken Bay Diocese and serves the aboriginals from Australia.

 

The Church in Australia is very active and shows vibrancy. Their parochial school system with a heavy bent on religious and Christian formation of the students, funded in a large  measure by the government, is indeed an outstanding example of healthy Church-state relationship. The nostalgia of having celebrated World Youth Day in Sydney evokes in the people happy memories of an event well-rendered and well-accomplished. People come from different ethnic backgrounds and Australia is still looked at as a destination for prosperity and good jobs by many in the world especially by the Asians and of the Far East. Those coming from Asia still retain their religiosity and are proud to display their traditional attachment to devotion and family values. But to survive in Australia one has to work hard and adapt to the new Australian reality.

 

While the Bishops well-appreciate our confreres for their ministry and generosity, they would like to have confreres who live in communities and exercise the charism of the Congregation. The Congregation needs to address itself whether it would like to have a long term vision of our presence in this area which would be community based or should it be a short term vision of assisting dioceses which are in need of priests to carry on parochial ministry .

 

While the confreres await the establishment of an  Inter-Province Apostolic Community, they are happy to function as one. They meet at regular intervals, keep in touch with each other, organise at times a common retreat. Thus they make effort to project a united image of Fransalians in Australia and give witness to it.

 

VI: VISITATION OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA

 

While on visitation of Australia in  mid-August 2009, I also visited for  8 days Papua New Guinea, a country which is to the northern eastern tip of Australia. It consists of many islands, the main one being the part of the big island of Guinea half of which belongs to Indonesia. Three confreres of Visakhapatnam, and one confrere of South-West Province, have been  rendering various services in the Diocese of Vanimo for the last 4 years. Vanimo is  a new diocese that was erected  almost 10 years ago. Its shepherd and Bishop is an enthusiastic and committed Italian PIME missionary committed to nurture and train local vocations and clergy. Vanimo is along the north-eastern cost of PNG, almost on the border with Indonesia . The Diocese has one indigenous priest and 17 priests from different Congregations who help the Bishop to build up the Diocese.

 

The Diocese considers the services rendered by our Fathers precious and necessary: One is the Spiritual director of the Major Seminary and Minor Seminary. The other is the Rector of the Minor Seminary which is also a High School. The other two confreres give pastoral services in “bush” parishes. Bush Parishes are missions in the deep interior of the country.

 

Christian faith in most communities was introduced to them about 50 years ago. The situation is of primary and first evangelisation that needs patience, faith-catechesis, constant contact with the missionaries, developmental work for the people who are poor, although the country is rich in natural resources.

 

The country is indeed a veritable natural paradise with exquisite natural places of beauty and grandeur. Lack of proper roads, thick subequatorial vegetation make short  distances look long .

 

Our Visakhapatnam Province went to PNG on an experimental basis for three years to respond to the need of the local Bishop to support him on account of acute shortage of priests. Now it is time for the Province to engage in good discernment and clarify the focus of our long or short term presence in PNG and if necessary, evolve a missionary vision  and strategy for the Congregation ‘s presence in PNG.

 

VII: VISITATION OF THE NORTH-EAST PROVINCE

 

Each Province–community by living religious and missionary life in a given area contribute to the strength of the life of the Congregation. And so does the Province of North-East India, serving the  local Churches in  the seven states of the North-East, in West Bengal and in the Southern-Africa Region through 150 confreres and 215 professed  students. I visited the Province from 9th October to 31st October 2009 and it has been a very assuring experience to know that the Province continues to retain its missionary vitality.

 

The Province is actively engaged in pursuing the new governance in the Congregation as it is visible through the enthusiastic participation and focused meetings of the apostolic communities and the Forum Meetings. Formation of local communities with local superiors is consciously pursued.

 

The people in most part of the North East India are receptive to the Gospel as in the Gospel they find the secret yearnings hidden in their cultures and traditions satisfied. The Province encourages the confreres to be faithful to the well-tested and effective  visit of the missionary to all the villages. The village-visit serves as a link between the pastor and the flock; an occasion for deepening catechesis in faith; an opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist and other Sacraments.

 

The Province is very much aware that the faith-catechesis is to be supported by efforts in education and socio-developmental works that bring benefits of improved quality of life to the people. The Province has sent confreres for training in the field of education and social and developmental works so that they  contribute to an integral development of the Christian communities. The Province offers the facility of a university college education at Along to the tribal students of Arunachal Pradesh. The college which was opened 4 years ago is slowly responding to the needs of the youth by offering them relevant courses.

 

The traditional apostolate of faith-formation and renewal of faith has vast scope in the North-East.

 

The Province is in the process of forming Retreat and Spiritual Animation Teams and develop such centres in the Province. The present centres of Renewal at Umroi in the Archdiocese of Shillong and  the Renewal Centre at Kaying in Arunachal Pradesh are in the process of being strengthened with personnel. The Province openness to such centres elsewhere  would definitely contribute to the needs of the Church in course of time.

 

The social situation in some states is worrisome, as under-ground groups threaten peace, and security of the people .But our confreres believe that the presence of the Church and its works in such situations has a healing  effect and possibility  of holding out the hope of reconciliation and peace  to all men of good will.

 

The confreres have their own challenges of living religious  life, lack of means of financial support to undertake projects  and develop centres entrusted to the Congregation, the long distances that make communications difficult. The Province has passed through one phase of its initial growth and now poised to address the organisation and orientation of the new phase, ever faithful to the religious, missionary and salesian heritage of our Congregation.

 

VIII: ONGOING FORMATION OF PROVINCIAL CURIAS OF SIX INDIAN PROVINCES

 

The Assistant General and the Superior General conducted  two day sessions for the Provincial Curias of the Provinces of  Nagpur, North-East India, Visakhapatnam, Pune, South-West India, and South-East India in their own Provinces. This exercise was asked for by the Provincials and their administrations as an exercise in clarity of roles and their functioning; understanding of religious administrative processes at the service of the life and mission of the Congregation. I am glad to note that all the Provinces welcomed  the sessions and benefited from them.

 

Henceforth, annually two-days will be set apart when such ongoing formation will be available to new provincials and their new teams from all the Provinces, if possible along  with inputs by professional people in religious/secular  administration .

 

IX: PRIESTLY ORDINATION IN FRANCO-SWISS PROVINCE AMONG 54 PRIESTLY ORDINATIONS OF IN THE CONGREGATION

 

On 17th January 2010, Bro Raphael Mercier, of Franco-Swiss Province will be ordained a priest  at St Mauric de Thorens les Glieres. It is an occasion of special  joy to the Franco-Swiss Province and to the entire Congregation as we have the ordination of a confrere from France after a long time. We thank God for the work of His Spirit in the life of Bro Raphael. This ordination reminds us that  young men in the West retain capacity  and sensitivity to respond to the call of Jesus to be spiritual leaders of His people. Let us remain united in prayer for the youth in the West that they may have the courage of responding to God’s call. Let us never cease to pray for religious and priestly vocations .

 

In this academic year 2009-2010 the Congregation rejoices as it witnesses the Priestly Ordination of  55 confreres:

• Franco-Swiss Province :        1

• Visakhapatnam Province:     8

• Nagpur Province:                  7

• North-East Province:             4

• South-West Province:           13

• East Africa Province:             3

• Pune Province:                       10

• South-East Province:             9

Each of them is a sign of hope and new possibilities for the Mission of the Lord. I take this occasion to thank very sincerely each and every vocation promoter and formator in the Congregation for their generosity to accompany our scholastics in facilitating the right dispositions in the formees to surrender themselves to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. As we rejoice with our new priests let us together commit ourselves to live our MSFS way of life as enshrined in our Constitutions  in a way that it generates witness and ever ready service to the Mission of the Lord. While congratulating each of the newly ordained, let us accompany them with light of Christ and the joy of a true missionary as they begin their first journey of priestly ministry .

 

X: RESPECTFUL GRATITUDE  TO OUR DEAR DEPARTED

• The deaths of our dear departed two young confreres, Fr Anil Francis Topno of Southern Africa Region, (North-East Province) and Fr Georgekutty Puthiyidom of Chad–Cameroon Mission (South-West Province) have shaken us up. In intense grief  they unite us in prayer for them  and they invite us to continue the work of their commitment to our vocation. I  pay my humble, and grateful respect and esteem to these two confreres who had  gone overseas to carry on the Mission of Christ.

• Along with them we had the passing away of our senior confreres in the last year  having completed their mission in life: Fr Freddy Monteiro, and Bro Joseph Carvalho of Nagpur Province and Fr Anthonioz Fernand of Franco-Swiss province. We thank God for their life and their services. May they rest in the Peace of God.

• Maria Denier, one of the faithful  and generous benefactors of the Congregation died on 8th December 2009 at the age of 82 years in Wadenswil, Switzerland. She was buried in Wadenswil cemetery, on the outskirts of Zurich on 15th December 2009. I prayed my respects to her mortal remains and attended the funeral to thank the family-members for this lay missionary to our Congregation. A simple woman of strong faith and deep love for priests initiated a movement of benefactors in Switzerland and in Lichtenstein  that have helped so many seminarians in India and Africa to complete their formation. Besides, her love for the poor in our missions in India and Africa has been experienced by so many. Those of us who knew her, will agree that she was a holy woman who showed an example of  selfless deeds and attention towards others. We thank God for this benefactor and for all other departed  benefactors who like her where source of strength and example to us . May they rest in God’s Peace.

XI: NEW PLACES FOR COMMUNION IN OUR CONGREGATION

 

Suvidya College completed the much needed new Chapel  as a rememberance of the 25 years of its establishment and it was blessed and inaugurated on 24th October 2009, the Foundation Day of the Congregation. I thank the Governing Body of Suvidya College, the Rector and the Staff for completing this work and providing a spacious place for communion with God as one community.

 

The new Province of South-East India Province completed their Provincialate house at Trichy, Tamilnadu. It was blessed and inaugurated by the Most Rev Bishop Anthony Devotta of the Diocese of Trichy on 6th December 2009. The new Province has a  house of the Congregation meant for the Provincialate community and a space for communion and meetings for the members of  the Province. My hearty congratulations to the Provincial, Fr Lawrence and to all the members.

 

 

XII:  TRAINING AND FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES  BY THE  SECRETARIAT  OF RESOURCE MOBILISATION

 

The year 2009  was a special year of opportunities for our confreres from different Provinces to get training and formation in leadership. There were three seminars organised by Fr Abraham Vettuvellil, the General Secretary  with assistance and animation by Rev Charles Gravestine of USA. The first one was of 6 weeks  with the focus on “Clinical Pastoral Education Programme” held at Vidyashram Aluva, Kerala  from 4th October to 13th Nov 2009. The second one was one-week programme for community superiors  held at Aluva from 15th Nov to 20th Nov 2009 and the third one repeat programme for community superiors held at Nagpur from 22nd Nov to 27th Nov 2009. I have met a number of confreres who attended these seminars. It was indeed heartening to know from them how useful these seminars have been for them. They have been exposed to skills, new information and discovery of self-worth and self-discovery which will enable them to provide gospel-leadership in the place they are. I am very thankful to Rev Charles Gravestine and Fr Abraham for this well appreciated and valuable service to the Congregation.

 

XIII:  UPDATE AND RENEWAL SEMINAR AT CHARIS BHAVAN, KERALA

 

The Committee to organise  update and renewal seminar for all the confreres of the Congregation, under the leadership of Fr. Henry Jose Kodikuthiyil, is faithfully at the service of the members by offering yet another seminar  from 5th January to 11th January 2010 at Charish Bhavan, Kerala. Fr Henry informs me that it is for all those who are above 40 years. Such seminars are  good investment in our personal and pastoral growth. I thank each of you who will participate in this Seminar and carry seeds of renewal with you . We are indeed grateful to Fr Henry and the Committee for their joyful and generous dedication to the task assigned to them

 

XIV: “STATUS” BOOK OF THE CONGREGATION

 

Soon the new  Status Book of the Congregation will be available for your use. The delay in getting it printed beyond the usual time of publishing the new edition is due to factors beyond our control.

 

Fr Philip Vadakodiyil, the former secretary of the Superior General and the IIS Institute has been very helpful to the Secretary, Fr Ebin Christopher, in getting the data computed, printing the Status and despatching it. I thank very sincerely  Fr Philip, Fr Ebin Christopher and IIS Institute in rendering this valuable service to the Generalate.

 

In case you do not get any material that is published and sent by the Generalate to you, please contact the Secretary, Fr Ebin Christopher on his email (ebinchristopher@gmail.com). He will check the distribution chart and the responsible person  for distributing, and ensure that you get your  copy.

 

XIV: CONCLUSION

 

The New Year is young indeed. Sowing in good deeds, in kindness, love and fidelity through our ministry and witness of life is our responsibility. Fruits will follow, because He gives the fruit. So ”let us be patient and wait for our advancement. Instead of fretting over so little achieved in the past, let us bend all our efforts to doing better for  time to come…….. The ploughman will never be taken to task for not tilling his fields for not sowing the seeds.” ( Love of God, Bk 9, Ch 7 ). Once again I affectionately greet you and wish you the joys of the Feast of St Francis de Sales.

 

Yours devotedly,

 

Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, MSFS

Superior General