GENERAL CHAPTER 2007 sgmsfs-af-24: 24 January 2007

 

General Chapter 2007

 

General Chapter is an event among events in the history of a Congregation. It is a precious and irreplaceable opportunity to give a clear and focused direction to the Congregation. It is a united bold proclamation of 1229 MSFS to remain firmly obedient to God’s Word, to His Vision and to the gift of Missionary and Salesian charism as given to our Founder, Fr. Peter Mary Mermier. Through it we regain our Passion for Christ and Passion for Humanity. We look outwards and not inwards.  We commit ourselves to the poor and to those who need us rather than those whom we need for our satisfaction. We determine to get imbued with the apostolic and missionary spirit radiated through the Gospel.  We let go our defences, our securities, our fears, and our personal plans and listen to God who wants us for Himself and for His works among His people. No doubt our Constitutions describe the General Chapter as “a forum that collectively reads the signs of the times and discerns the working of the Holy Spirit. It functions as an agent of systematic planning for the effective carrying out of the mission of the Church, in willing obedience to her teachings and in fidelity to the Charism of our Congregation (Const. 191).

 

To make it such an event, the cooperation and collaboration of each one is needed. That is why during the past one and half year you were given opportunity to meet in prayer and fellowship of apostolic communities, local communities or province communities. You had the opportunity to share your deep-felt convictions, your suggestions and your perceived thoughts for the growth of our Congregation.  All that you shared becomes now the humus or resource on which the capitulants will discuss and deliberate in depth and allow God’s Spirit to lead them to decisions and orientations. Your preparation does not end there.

 

Your participation in the General Chapter is needed.  You participate when daily you deepen your faith and trust in God by your unfailingly and irrevocable decision to be faithful to your personal prayer through which you contribute to the collective fire of passion for God of the entire Congregation.

 

You participate when you read reverently, attentively Our Rule of Life, Our Constitution and convincingly say to yourself “I will be what I have read and so help me God.”

 

You participate when you remain close to the capitulants by praying for them, offering them your personal concern for the good of the Congregation and your suggestions which perhaps you did not give earlier.

 

You participate when  you prepare your heart and mind and your entire being to accept the decisions and orientations of the General Chapter and energise yourself to implement with zeal and enthusiasm  its decisions and orientations under the leadership of your superiors.

 

Let me share with you some of the salient features of the Preparation for the General Chapter 2007, as discussed during the meeting of the Pre-Capitular Commission and the   Meeting of the General Council in January 2007.

 

The List of Capitulants

 

The List which was given to you earlier had to be revised, on account of appointments in the Congregation of the Provincials and also on account of revising the list of the invitees for the General Chapter. Here is the updated list:

 

Ex-officio

1. Agnelo Fernandes, Superior General

2. Emile Mayoraz, General Councillor

3. Augustine Mangatt, General Councillor

4. Gabriel  Amirthanayagam, General Councillor

5. Thomas Cherukat, General Councillor

6. Claude Morel, General Bursar

7. Kurian Aranjaniyil, Procurator General in Rome

8. Lindsay Hendricks, Provincial of Brazil

9. Thomas Olickal, Provincial of East Africa

10. Martin Griffin, Provincial of  England

11. Jean Paul Fournier,Provincial of Franco-Swiss

12. Joseph Pulloppillil, Province of Nagpur

13. Abraham Mullenkuzhy, Provincial of North-East India

14. Mario D’Souza, Provincial of Pune

15. Mathew Kozhuppakalam, Provincial of South-West India

16. Thomas Perumalil, Provincial of Visakhapatnam

Delegates

1. Bruno Rodrigues,  Brazil Province

2. James Panthalany, East Africa Province

3. Johnson Kallidukkil, East Africa Province

4. Andrezej Marszewski, English Province

5. Yves Carron, Franco-Swiss Province

6. David Paul, Nagpur Province

7. Joseph Pottemmel, Nagpur Province

8. George Parampukattil, North-East India Province

9. Francis Thadathil, North-East India Province

10. Joseph Kunjaparambil, North-East India Province

11. Noel Rebello, Pune Province

12. Terrie Pinto, Pune Province

13. Abraham Vettuvelil, South-West India Province

14. Jacob Parapally, South-West India Province

15. Thomas Kalariparambil, South-West India Province

16. Simon Paicat, Visakhapatnam Province

17. Thumma Mariadas Reddy, Visakhapatnam Province

18. Henry Joseph, Visakhapatnam Province

Invitees:

1. Lawrence Amalraj, Regional Superior of Tamilnadu-Pondicherry Region

2. Hector Valdes, Superior Chile Mission

3. Augustine Tharappel, Representative of American Mission and Coordinator of Fransalians in USA

4. Jose Karickal, Coordinator of Fransalians in Germany-Austria-Holland.

5. Jolly Chakkalakkal, Rector Suvidya College

 

Dossier of Study Material and other Information to the Capitulants

 

The Pre-Capitular Commission will send to all the capitulants dossier of study material in the month of March 2007. The Secretary of the General Chapter will also give other instructions of the Organisation of the General Chapter 2007.

 

The General Chapter will be conducted under the Provisions of the New Constitutions:

The new Constitutions will come into force from the commencement of the General Chapter 2007. Each of you will be given a printed copy of the Constitutions by the Provincial or through arrangement made by the Superior General. My sincere gratitude to Fr. Thomas Kalary who willingly and joyfully undertook the work of supervising the printing of the Constitutions. We thank Fr.  Kalary for giving the Constitutions elegant, dignified and inspiring look.

 

Chapter of Elections

 

Elections will be conducted during the General Chapter for the office of the Superior General, Assistant General, 4 General Councillors and General Bursar.

 

Recapturing the Theme of the General Chapter 2007

 

The Theme has been summed up in the words of our Founder:

Following Jesus the First Missionary and Leader in every Mission

 

The Chapter aims at reawakening in every MSFS Passion for Jesus the First Missionary whom our Founder took as his leader. This is the tap-root of our Missionary Congregation. Fire is extinguished and darkness and confusion reigns when we lose sight of Jesus, when we are not in union with Him in every thought, word and deed at every moment of our life.

 

The Chapter also strives to build up mission consciousness :

of joyful availability  for the works of the Lord,

of missionary leadership in administration at all levels,

of mission realisation through all the apostolates of the Congregation,

of taking and making decisions that are infused with expressed objectives of realising mission of the Lord.

 

The Sub-themes during the General Chapter for the renewal, prayer and reflection of the capitulants:

(Local communities and individuals are requested to take the same themes for your Eucharistic celebrations and reflections during the days allotted for the sub-themes)

 

Sub-themes

20th May and 21st May:

Recollection of one day:

Walking with Jesus ( Jesus on the way to Emmaus)

Stay with us Lord

 

Themes on other days:

22nd May 2007:       The Good Samaritan

23rd May 2007:        Jesus, the servant-Lord of the Universe (Jesus washes the feet of His disciples)

24th May 2007:        Jesus multiplies the loaves

25th May 2007:        Jesus, the Good Shepherd

26th May 2007:        St.  Francis de Sales “Chablais Experience”

28th May 2007:        Salesian Virtues: Knowing, Doing and Becoming God’s Will

29th May 2007:        Salesian Virtues: Gentleness and Humility

30th May 2007:        Salesian Virtues:  Joy, Hope and Optimism

31st May 2007:        Salesian Virtues: Humanness and Personal Attentiveness

01st June 2007:       Salesian Authenticity: Ecstasy of Action.

02nd June 2007:      MSFS- model of an administrator in the Constitutions

03rd June 2007:       Communication: ”Proclaim the deeds of the Lord “

04th June 2007:       Commitment: My eyes are fixed on you, O Lord.

05th June 2007:       Thanksgiving: “I thank you Lord, with all my heart “

                                                                                “Bear fruit that will last”

 

 

Input Talks

Mission in Scripture

Mission in the Church

Mission  and  St. Francis de Sales

Mission and Fr.  Mermier

Mission in our Constitutions

Missionary Formation: Initial and Ongoing

MSFS Formation: (all the stages)

MSFS Formation: ( ongoing)

Position Paper  based on the collated Report of the reflections and suggestions of the members of the Congregation

 

Understanding the mission- situation of the Congregation and Evaluation

 

This will be done through Reports submitted by the Superior General, the General Bursar, the Procurator General in Rome, all the 9 Provincials, and Missions under their charge, 2 Missions under the Superior General and 2 Inter-Province Apostolic Communities under the Superior General.

 

To give an in-depth insight into the socio, cultural and ecclesial situations in the different continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, North America, South America where the Congregation is working, there will be interactive sessions among the members based on an overview of the situation given by an animator.  

 

The understanding of the situation and evaluation of our presence in these areas will assist us with insights as to how we can be more effective as MSFS in the future.

 

Understanding our Apostolates and their evaluation

 

This will be done through panel discussions and interactive sessions focusing on:

Apostolate of Evangelisation

Education and Youth Apostolate

Preaching Missions and Pastoral Renewal

Salesian Spirituality

Social Apostolates and Specialised Ministries

Formation Apostolate

 

Future Expansions and Planning

 

A growing Congregation needs to consolidate and expand. Both the processes have to go hand in hand depending on the availability of personnel. There will be a session/ sessions to indicate to the Congregation where the future expansions could take place and what kind of preparation is needed for the same.

 

Financial Resource Planning of the Congregation and Implementation of the new-set up of the General Administration.

 

The capitulants will have an opportunity to contribute to the proposals for financial resource planning of the Congregation and implementation of the new set-up of general and provincial administration and their coordination.

 

Inter-Province Ventures and Programmes of Animation and Renewal

 

Inter-Province ventures like Suvidya College, Bangalore, India and Lumen Christi Institute, Arusha, Africa will be taken up for further strengthening the objectives for which they have been started. MSAF (Mission Superiors of Africa Forum) will indicate to the General Chapter its functioning and its accomplishments.

 

The Programmes of Animation and Renewal, like the Salesian Recollections, the Constitutions Retreats, the Update and Renewal Seminars will be comprehensively evaluated and new directives are expected to emerge for the same or for new programmes.

 

Study and Passing by Vote of the General Directory of the Congregation

 

The Final Draft of the General Directory has been submitted by the Drafting Committee consisting of Fr.  Joseph Pottemmel (Convenor), Fr.  Antony Mookenthottam, Fr.  George Puraidam and Fr. Armind Nazareth. It is the result of the diligent and painstaking work of the Committee and of each and every one of you who studied the draft twice in your meetings and submitted your proposals and recommendations. The entire Congregation rejoices in the accomplishment of this work and which will be further studied by the General Chapter and endorsed by it as the General Directory of the MSFS. Our sincere and hearty thanks to the committee and to all of you.

 

Your propositions and suggestions

 

Your propositions and suggestions sent to the Secretary of the General Chapter through the Provincials will be collated and according to the nature of their importance will be studied for a follow-up, if necessary.

 

Statement of the General Chapter and Action Plan

 

The General Chapter will function in such a way that it will gather the mind and the conviction of the capitulants through a Statement of the General Chapter as a document of Inspiration to each and every member. There is also expected to emerge an Action Plan of concrete implementation to be attended to by the General Administrations, Provincial administrations and Local Administrations.

 

General Chapter will be a spiritual and fraternal event:

• The members will live as a community of the Congregation from afternoon of 19th May 2007 to the noon of 5th June 2007.

• Early morning will be devoted to personal prayer, meditation, Eucharist.

• The close of the evening will bring us before the Eucharistic Lord in adoration. We will also pray the Rosary.

• There will be time for fraternal informal exchanges, recreation and sharing.

 

The host of the General Chapter

 

The host of the General Chapter 2007 will be the Rector, Staff and Students of Suvidya College. They have been already preparing the house to welcome the capitulants and to provide all that will be necessary for the smooth functioning of the General Chapter. We all value and cherish their service to the Congregation.  

 

Organisers of the General Chapter 2007

 

The Pre-Capitular Commission, consisting of Fr. Abraham Vettuvelil, Fr. Thumma Mariadas,  Fr. David Paul and Fr. George Parampukattil along with the Secretary of the General Chapter, Fr.  Mario D’Souza, are responsible to organise the General Chapter 2007 under the direction of the General Council. The salient features of the preparation that I have placed before you is the result of their care and comprehensive attention to details with a view to focus on the main theme of the General Chapter. We  appreciate all that they have done up to now  and which enabled me to keep you abreast of all the preparations so that you too become a part of the dynamics of the way God’s Spirit will lead  us forward.

 

                

 

 

VISITATION OF NORTH-EAST PROVINCE sgmsfs-af-24: 24 January 2007

 

The Visitation of the North-East Province took place from 13th October to 21st November 2007. The contribution that this Province makes through the commitment of its members to direct evangelisation especially in Arunachal Pradesh is a fact, which every MSFS can be proud of.  True to the directives given by the Provincial Chapter,  the Province during the last  one and half years have made a concerted effort  to establish new centres at Along, Basar, Yimkiong besides the already existing centres at  Kaying, Tato and Pasighat, with the assistance of communities of Reverend Sisters. Hope of the light of faith in Jesus can be seen in the hearts of new catholic communities. They have their hopes, aspirations and expectations. The Province is investing men and resources to respond to the needs. Fresh grounds have been opened placing tremendous challenge on the Province to provide material and human resource to this region that welcomes faith in Jesus. 

 

The Province has also launched into education of the college going youth and through a long process of discernment, and with a weightage given to strengthening the fledgling missions in Arunachal Pradesh  they have  taken a decision to start a college at Along,  the district headquarters of  West  Siang District. The foundation of the college building was blessed by the Superior General on the occasion of the visitation.

 

Three centers of Bhowlaguri, Chapar and Bashbari have been taken    in response to the urgent needs of the local Church in Bongaigaon Diocese in Assam.  The tenacity of our missionaries to cope with situations of fragility and uncertainty with patience and faith urges us to streamline our understanding with the local churches that need our collaboration.

 

A team of two confreres have started a new mission centre in the Diocese of Agartala, our first presence in Tripura Diocese of the North-East.

 

The Province is very conscious of ensuring that there are at least two confreres at every center and that the two centres which are at a far distance as in Sikkim and Galsi in West Bengal get a presence of a neighbouring community in their future planning.

 

Our missionary engagements which are so many and so diverse demanding physical and spiritual stamina, have made the confreres to value more and more their community and fraternal life, a life of prayer and brotherhood and interaction through meetings and dialogue. I was glad to attend the Meetings of every apostolic community that spent time in one hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, a written Report on each center and exchange of concerns and suggestions at the province level and at the Congregation level.

 

                

 

VISITATION OF NAGPUR PROVINCE sgmsfs-af-24: 24 January 2007

 

The visitation of Nagpur Province followed that of the North-East Province from 22nd November 2007 to 20th December 2007. The Visitation was arranged in such a way that I got the opportunity to visit the confreres in their apostolic communities as well as meet each of them personally.

 

The Province has a novitiate house of its own on the outskirts of the city of Varanasi. St.  Joseph’s Technical Institute, Nagpur (SJTI) desiring to redefine its apostolate in the context of the changing scenario in the technical world has developed the prime land through shopping complex on Sadar Road, Nagpur and put up a functional building for its use. In the same campus, adjacent to SJTI, Vidya Sadan, which was the scholasticate of the philosophers, is now converted into the Provincialate House. Both these institutions were blessed by Archbishop of Nagpur and inaugurated by the Superior General on 18th December 2006.

 

The Province lives in great hope of welcoming every year a number of newly ordained priests so that the paucity of personnel from which it has suffered for a long time will not be a matter of anxiety in the service of the mission of the Lord.

 

Circumstances and situations of a few mission centres   have been evaluated and are getting a studied attention of the Province to redefine their objectives, or modify them or to find alternate solutions that are feasible. The Province has opened 4 schools to respond to the educational needs of the people in an area which is predominantly non-Christian at Sini, Saraikela, (Jharkhand State), at Tuman and Kinwat (Maharashtra State)

 

The members of the Province are engaged in pastoral ministry to small groups of migrant catholics to towns and cities, in 3 big tribal parishes, and in two urban parishes. The animation and care of these groups of catholics takes on a new significance in so far as in strengthening their faith and quality of life the local church can serve as leaven in the society.

 

In their evaluation of their collective religious life confreres are determined to commit themselves to prayer-life, community life and to greater availability to the mission of the Lord.

 

                

 

 

VISITATION AND THEREAFTER sgmsfs-af-24: 24 January 2007

 

It is customary for the Superior General to present a Report on his Visit to the Province in the form of Observations and Recommendations. I have done so in great detail to each of the Provinces I visited.  I thank each and every member of the North-East and Nagpur Provinces for his openness and hospitality.  I am deeply grateful to the Provincials, Fr.  Abraham Mullenkuzhy and Fr. Joe PM for organising an effective programme of my visitation to the Provinces and for personally accompanying me on my journeys.

 

                

 

 

VISITATION OF THE SUPERIOR DELEGATE TO CHILE MISSION sgmsfs-af-24: 24 January 2007

 

The Superior Delegate of the Mission of Chile, Fr. Emile Mayoraz, visited the Mission from 18th to 27th September 2006. From the Report he has shared with me and the General Council, I wish to give you important developments in our Chile Mission.

 

The two Parishes in Lebu and Los Alamos in the Archdiocese of Conception have been given back to the Archdiocese. This has enabled the community of our Chile Mission that  consists of 5 Priests (4 from Chile  and one from India), 2 to-be-deacons, and 3 professed confreres  to re-organise themselves in such a way that the local communities of the Mission are not too distant from each other.

 

On 20th September 2006 a new community house has been blessed in El Bosque.  It is not very far from our Formation House at Maipu. The property with a chapel which served as a sub-station of the parish is a gift from a benefactor to our Congregation. The Chapel is named: Chapel of St.Francis de Sales. The Benefactor, Mr Joaquin Gandarillas, has contributed to the building of the community house which will serve as the novitiate. Fr. Hector Valdes, the Mission Superior along with two scholastics, will stay in the House. There is also an understanding that the family of Mr Gandarillas, will build a school and hand it over to the MSFS to run it.

 

In the Archdiocese of Santiago, a new parish of “The Ascension of the Lord” is proposed to be taken up by the MSFS at Pudahuel, initially for a period of 5 years. The Parish has 70,000 inhabitants out of which 47,000 are Catholics.

 

At present, the priest confreres are engaged in various pastoral and animation ministries: chaplaincy of schools, chaplaincy of some convents, pastoral ministry at the National Sanctuary of Maipu, retreats and spiritual direction.

 

In the near future, two of the perpetually professed Brothers, Bro Marco Sanhueza and Bro Fredi Navarrete will be ordained deacons. I extend to them on behalf of the entire Congregation our prayers and heartiest wishes on being ordained as deacons .

 

The Mission of Chile had to face a lot of testing time collectively and individually. We thank God for taking care of this Mission through its ups and downs and for giving us new hope and new commitments to serve Him and His people in Chile.

 

There is an urgent need to promote good and solid vocations to our MSFS way of life so that the initial seeds sown will root our Congregation more firmly into the Chilean soil.

 

I thank Fr. Emile Mayoraz, the Superior Delegate, Fr. Hector Valdes, the Mission Superior and all the confreres of our Chile Mission for their faith in the mission entrusted to them and their abiding commitment to go ahead trusting in God and His Plan for our Congregation in Chile.

 

                

 

PASTORAL PRESENCE OF MSFS IN ITALY sgmsfs-af-24: 24 January 2007

 

The Bishop of Caltagirone Diocese in Sicily, Italy invited our Congregation to work in his Diocese by offering pastoral services at the Shrine of Maria SS. Del Ponte. It is a shrine frequented by many devotees and tourists. I thank the Provincial of Visakhapatnam and the Regional Superior of Tamilnadu-Pondicherry Region for sending two conferes in response to the invitation and in accepting the mission on behalf of the TNPY Region.

 

Fr. Jayaseela Rajan and Fr. Rayappan John Britto arrived in Rome on 14th November 2006. Fr. Kurian Aranjaniyil, who had made all the arrangements for the initiation of the confreres into the Diocese accompanied the two confreres to the Diocese on 21st November 2006.

 

The two confreres are at present studying the Italian language and are being gradually introduced to the pastoral situation where they will be working in the future. We heartily welcome Fr. Jayaseela Rajan and Fr. Rayappan to Italy. We sincerely thank the Bishop of Caltagirone for his personal and fatherly care and attention towards our confreres.

 

                

 

MEETING OF THE INDIAN PROVINCIALS AND GENERAL COUNCIL sgmsfs-af-24: 24 January 2007

 

The Meeting took place on 3rd and 4th January 2007 at Suvidya College. The major concerns we dealt with were connected with inter-province projects.  

 

Mission Institute, Lumen Christi, at Arusha:

We discussed the different ways in which the Indian Provinces and of East Africa Province along with the other Provinces can help by way personnel and resources of   making the Mission Institute at Arusha functional, now that it is poised to be operational very soon. Concrete proposals have been made. Through dialogue with concerned provincials these will be made known to you once they are finalised.

 

Confreres in USA

The Provincials and General Council have once again reiterated the need for all the confreres to be organised as one unit of the Congregation. The details of the understanding and decision will be made known first, to the confreres in USA. Once the preparation is completed, I will share with you the modalities of the arrangement.

 

Secretariates at the level of General Administration and Provincial Administration.

To prepare a Draft to be presented to the General Chapter for the implementation of the Secretariate of the Missions and Pastoral Ministries, Secretariate for Education, Secretariate for Formation, Secretariate for Resource Mobilisation and Innovative Ministries, both at the level of General and Provincial Administrations, the Forum examined a Draft on the same prepared by the Committee for the Drafting of the General Directory and made their suggestions and modifications.

 

                

 

SUVIDYA COLLEGE sgmsfs-af-24: 24 January 2007

 

During my visit to Suvidya College on 2nd January 2007 I had the joy of attending the Governing Body Meeting of Suvidya College and also a meeting of the Governing Body with the Staff of Suvidya College.

 

It was a good occasion for me to express the importance of this Institution to the entire Congregation and to express the Congregation’s gratitude to the Rector and Staff for their generous and committed accompaniment of our students in their formation.

 

It is also a good opportunity for me to share with you some information about the growth of this Institution and the challenges that it faces.

 

There are 300 students on its role, 200 resident MSFS students of our 5 Indian provinces and 100 non-residential students of other congregations. It is the biggest Institute of Philosophy in India and perhaps in the world. The Governing Body and the Staff of Suvidya College have slowly built up over the years good infra-structure of lecture halls, administrative wing, residential facilities etc. A curriculum of Philosophy that has been chalked out is one of the best and when, presented to various universities, draws compliments and appreciation. The confreres on the staff are very competent in their area of disciplines of knowledge. Many of them are sought after by other seminaries and institutions.

 

The greatest challenge the Institute faces is the challenge of providing more competent confreres to cater to the formation of needs of such a vast number of students. With this in place, I am sure the personal accompaniment of the formees will enable our Institute to give to the Church and to the Congregation batches of students that will be a source of strength for the Mission of the Lord.

 

The Institution also is in the process of starting a faculty of Master of Philosophy and to affiliate it to the University of Pondicherry. The block to house MPh students has already been constructed.

 

Negotiations are on with the De Sales University of   the Oblates of St.   Francis De Sales in USA to see how to affiliate the Bachelor of Philosophy Course with this University. The advantage will be that our ecclesiastical degree of B.Ph will also have secular value and more widely accepted by different universities in the world. This arrangement will also provide the facility of exchange of professors between the De Sales University and our Institution.

 

One of the plans that is still to materialise is the construction of the Institute’s Library.

 

Since the term of the Chairman of the Governing Body, Fr. Thomas Perumalil, came to an end, on the advice of the Governing Body I have appointed Fr. Mathew Kozhuppakalam as the new Chairman of the Governing Body.  I express my gratitude to Fr.  Thomas Perumalil for guiding the Institute during the last three years and I wish God’s blessings on the work of the new chairman, Fr.  Mathew Kozhuppakalam.

 

This Institution because of the excellent facilities it has, hosts various meetings, seminars and conferences. It has hosted two General Chapters and the third one will be hosted in May 2007. It has been the venue of the 3 of the Update and renewal Seminars. Over a decade, it has hosted General Council meetings, Indian Provincials Meetings and many other meetings of inter-province nature. Indeed the Institution is used maximally by the Congregation for its life and growth. I pay my respects and gratitude to the entire staff and students of this well-loved house of the Congregation.

 

                

 

FOURTH UPDATE AND RENEWAL PROGRAMME OF THE CONGREGATION sgmsfs-af-24: 24 January 2007

 

The Fourth and the last in the first set of series of Update and Renewal Programmes, took place at Suvidya College, Bangalore from 8th to 12th January 2007. Thirty-three confreres participated. The group consisted of all those who were ordained priests/perpetually professed from 1973 backwards. This group consisted largely of our well beloved senior confreres blessed with age, wisdom, grace, experience, contentedness, sense of humour and happiness. The Organising Team under the leadership of Fr. Henry Jose provided very relevant renewal and update inputs through the expert resource personnel mostly from our Congregation. Fr. Abraham Vettuvelil gave 3 in-depth talks on Aging and True Self; Fr. Noel Rebello and Fr. Antony Mookenthottam on Salesian Spirituality; Fr. Shibu Jacob on Evangelisation through Emancipation: An Experience  from our Social Apostolate; Fr. A. Rayappa on Canon law Update; Fr. Jacob Parappally on Christology; and Fr. A. Gabriel on God Experience in the Bible.

 

Some of them met each other after more than 30 years. Some of them met each other for the first time. But this was not a barrier for communication but an incentive to know, to learn, to appreciate and to affirm their common brotherhood as MSFS.

I thank Fr. Henry Jose and his team, along with the Suvidya College staff and students for the excellent organisation of a compact programme of renewal which made ever participant happy and worth the effort of being there.

 

                

 

CONCLUSION sgmsfs-af-24: 24 January 2007

 

As I conclude this long letter, I invite you to listen attentively to what our Patron St.  Francis de Sales tells us, urging us through the use of his inimitable imagery, to focus on essentials and remain rooted there, to produce fruits that last: 

 

“Gardeners prune away the leaves of certain plants, in order to let all the sap and juices go to the formation of fruit; rather than to mere exuberant foliage. And in like manner, it is well to hinder the mere multiplying of wishes, lest the soul should rest in them, and neglect to produce  those results, of which the smallest, when practical and real, is worth all vague impossibilities. God requires a faithful  fulfilment of the merest trifle given us to do, rather than the most ardent aspirations for things to which we are not called” 

( Letter to a Young Lady, 793 ).

 

With warm fraternal greetings,

Yours devotedly,

 

Fr Agnelo  Fernandes, MSFS

Superior General

E-mail: agnelofern@gmail.com