"When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break them, but bend them with gentleness and time."
If you want to assist at Mass, with devotion and with fruit, think of the sorrowful Mother at the feet of Calvary.
"Bad temper, sadness, a certain bitterness of heart when the will consent to it, could be called the eighth capital sin, so hurtful is it for ourselves and for those with whom we live."
Deacon Desidério João Deveriasse
was ordained a priest in the parish of Nossa Senhora das Graças in Vila
Ulonguè, Mozambique. The ordination was conducted by Rt. Rev. Diamantino
Antunes, Bishop of Tete.
The Dhyanashram community marked its 25th anniversary and the first profession of the 25th batch of brothers. The event was a joyous occasion filled with gratitude and thanksgiving.
Fr. Alexander Tigga, MSFS: Celebrated his Silver Jubilee on 13 May 2024. He was ordained on 13 May 1999. At the time of his jubilee, he was serving as Parish Priest at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Patagonia, USA.
Deacon Samir Minj, a native of Kunkuri, Chhattisgarh, was ordained a priest on May 2nd, 2024, at the Assumption Church, Ramsama. The ordination ceremony was presided over by Rt. Rev. Emmauel Kerketta, the Bishop of Jashpur.
Deacon Minj, who completed his theological studies at J.D. Pune, has served as a deacon at the Sacred Heart Church, Bhusawal. His ordination marks a significant milestone in his journey of service to the Church.
Congratulations to Prakash Bhavan! Their outstanding performance in the 1st PUC exams is a testament to the hard work and dedication of their students and faculty. Well done!
1st PUC RESULTS @ SFS COLLEGE, BENGALURU
Aryan Tigga - 77.33%
Manjit Barla – 77.83%
Anup Lakra – 78.50%
Kamlesh Kujur – 86.50%
Milan Kujur – 91.33%
We have 2 distinctions and 3 High first classes. Congratulations to the dean, teachers and students of Prakash Bhavan.
Brothers Clement Rajesh Leonard and Lambert Ekka were ordained deacons at Tejas, Bangalore.
Fr. Aneesh Velutheppilly MSFS
was ordained a priest at Infant Jesus Church in Kizhakumbagam, Kerala by His
Lordship Mar Jose Puthenveetil.
Deacon Abin (Jacob) Eruliyil, a member of the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit, will be ordained a priest on January 6, 2024. The ordination ceremony will take place at Merciful Jesus Church, Anappanthy, and will be officiated by Most Rev. George Njaralakatt, the Emiritus Archbishop of Tellicherry. Deacon Abin has served as a deacon at St. Joseph’s Church, Ambapani, and has completed his theological studies at Oriens Theological Institute, Shillong.
Deacon Biraj Minz, a member of the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit, will be ordained a priest on January 21, 2024. The ordination ceremony will take place at St. Joseph’s Church, Behrinbasa, and will be officiated by Rt. Rev. Dr. Vincent Barwa, the Bishop of Simdega Diocese. Deacon Minz has served as a deacon in Baradurgapur, Jharkhand, and has completed his theological studies at Oriens Theological College, Shillong.
Deacon Aneesh Devassykutty, a member of the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit, will be ordained a priest on January 14, 2024. The ordination ceremony will take place at Infant Jesus Church, Kizhakumbagam, and will be officiated by Rt. Rev. Jose Puthenveetil, Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi-Faridabad. Deacon Devassykutty has completed his theological studies at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
Deacon Jagadish Tete, a member of the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit, will be ordained a priest on February 10, 2024. The ordination ceremony will take place at St. Peter’s Church, Raidihi, and will be officiated by Rt. Rev. Bp. Kishore Kumar Kujur DD, the Bishop of Rourkela Diocese. Deacon Tete has served as a deacon at SFS Church, Kandor, Jharkhand, and has completed his theological studies at J.D., Pune.
Deacon Nevin Tete, a member of the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit, will be ordained a priest on January 28, 2024. The ordination ceremony will take place at St. Mary’s Parish, Kahupani, and will be officiated by Rt. Rev. Bp. Kishore Kumar Kujur DD, the Bishop of Rourkela Diocese. Deacon Tete has served as a deacon at Seraikela and SFS Church, Bano, and has completed his theological studies at Tejas Vidya Peetha, Bangalore.
Deacon Roshan Minz, a member of the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit, will be ordained a priest on January 21, 2024. The ordination ceremony will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Behrinbassa, and will be officiated by Rt. Rev. Vincent Barwa, the Bishop of Simdega Diocese. Deacon Minz has served as a deacon at St. Mary’s Church, Jalna, Maharashtra, and has completed his theological studies at Janna Deepa, Pune.
ordinations 2022
Founder's Day Celebration September 30 2020
On 30th May during the Eucharistic celebration in Dhyanashram chapel, Fr. Benedict De Souza, the Novice Master handed over the cassocks to the four novices of Pune Province and six novices of Nagpur Province. Due to the corona pandemic, the pre-novices had not reached the novitiate so their initiation ceremony had to be postponed to a later date. Fr. P.M. Joseph preached the retreat for the novices and prepared them for their first commitment. The much-awaited day, 31st May was the happiest day for the ten novices, as all of them made their First Profession. Due to lockdown the local religious and clergy of the Diocese of Varanasi could not be present for this happy occasion.
The solemn
Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Rt. Rev. Eugene Joseph, the Bishop
of Varanasi. As the Provincials could not be present Fr. Benedict De Souza, the
novice master was delegated to receive the vows on their behalf. The
concelebrants were Fr. Roselin Raja, Fr. Francis Vyagappan, Fr. Anson Kaliyath,
Fr. Barnabas Xalxo and Fr. P.M. Joseph. Fr. Anson gave the welcome speech and
Fr. Barnabas read the Gospel. In his homily Fr. P.M. Joseph highlighted the
theme of the day - Called to Heal and to be Healed. He made many references to
the spirituality of Saint Francis de Sales and the missionary spirit of Fr.
Peter Mermier. He challenged us to live as a community of brothers and to
sweeten the community in which we will be appointed. He also invited us to lose
and dissolve ourselves in order to make the community lively and vibrant. Then Fr. Benedict De Souza received the vows of the newly
professed, presented each of them with a cross, congratulated and warmly
received them into the Fransalian Family. After communion Bro. Bimal Tirkey expressed words of gratitude on behalf
of the newly professed. The candidates and the sisters of St. Ann’s of
Providence added solemnity to the Eucharist by their melodious singing. The
Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod blessed the novices by their presence. After
the Holy Banquet there was a photo session. Then all trooped down to the
refectory for a short felicitation program which was followed by breakfast. It
was indeed a joyful day which we will always cherish. Bro. Sudeep Barla & Bro. Mario Jude
Andre
28th May 2020 was a day of great joy and God’s blessings for all the
members of the MSFS Congregation. Our dear Bro. Ruben Gilbert along with seven
of our brothers; four from South-West India Province and three from South-East
India Province made their final commitment to the Lord. Thus they were given
the privilege of serving God as finally professed members and bringing them a
step closer to His altar, in their preparation for the priesthood. The theme
chosen for the liturgical celebration was ‘To Live Jesus as Fransalians
Forever’. Rev. Fr. Benny Koottanal the Provincial Superior of South-West India
Province presided over the Eucharistic celebration and received the vows of our
brothers. Rev. Fr. Henry Jose Kodikuthiyil, the Rector welcomed the gathering.
The presence of Rev. Fr. Binu E. the Councillor in Charge of Formation (SW) and
many of our confreres who had come from our neighbouring communities, added
great joy to the day. After the liturgical celebration our newly finally
professed members were felicitated and all enjoyed the sumptuous meal in a
spirit of joy and fellowship. Dn. Amit Tirkey
MSFS
As a generation of people, never before have we confronted an
emergency of this proportion and nature. COVID-19 can be characterized as a
pandemic. It’s a war-like situation. The civil administration, the government
is trying to handle it on a war footing. At a time like this no nation is fully
prepared to handle a situation of this intensity. The richest nations in the
world are trembling under the onslaught of the virus. In India for the kind of
population and the concentration of population we have, we don’t have a medical
system and the resources to provide for everybody for months. Those directly
affected and particularly the poor will have to be reached out to with tangible
help. Corona restrictions have badly affected daily wage earners. These are times
when only a kind gesture can healthe wounded not just words of compassion.
The strategy was first to give input on the pandemic and to control its spread by adopting hygienic living and by maintaining social distance until the pandemic is eradicated. Secondly, the Fransalians in Nagpur distributed ration-kits sufficient for a month. The relief work was extended to 731 families spread over 8 days. The areas covered for relief work included: GattiKhadan, Ganga Nagar, Sandeep Colony, Pardi, Sadar, Mariam Nagar, Tulsi Nagar, Bokhana, Nimkheda and Murli village under Katol Tehsil. The work was done with financial help from Fransalian Education Society, Nagpur, St. John’s High School, St. John’s Public School, St. Francis de Sales School, Nimkheda and the MSFS Provincialate. This help would not have been possible without the help of volunteers. The Fransalians networked with the Archdiocese, SMMIs, and Dominicans for this relief work, for without their help and guidance we would not have achieved this task. The Apostolic Community members were a constant source of inspiration and were ready to help for relief work as sharing is the only way to express love in a tangible way. Fr. William Anthony
On account of the Covid-19 pandemic
the whole world is in fear and anxiety. This deadly virus has claimed many
lives. Lakhs of migrants who had no jobs
and no food decided to use whatever means possible to reach their homes. Many
of them walked for days and nights and in the bargain many also lost their
lives. Due to the long lockdown many people in their own home towns lost their
jobs and had no food. To the question, “Where is God?” as the vast poor of
humanity suffers, came the inspiration that God is in us, inspiring us to do
something to alleviate them from their present suffering.
Responding to this inspiration the
Bara Durgapur Mission Team consisting of the MSFS fathers and brothers, and the
CSC sisters began Covid-19 Outreach Ministry on 21st March 2020. Trusting in
God who hears our prayers, we carried the Blessed Sacrament and a statue of Our
Blessed Mother to all the 52 villages of our mission. We recited the rosary on
this spiritual journey. We stopped at every village in an open space prayed for
the people and blessed them with the Blessed Sacrament and holy water. We also distributed pamphlets informing them
about the Do’s and Don’ts, in order to keep themselves safe from the Corona
virus.
Once the lockdown was declared by the
Government people started facing difficulties for their survival. We sent
messages to Friends of Fransalians, benefactors, our relatives and dear ones
requesting for some financial help for the needy families of our Mission. We
started on a small scale by helping the neighboring needy people with the small
contributions we received. But as funds began to pour in we were able to reach
out to 2200 families. Of these only around 400 were Catholic families. Each
family was given a grocery kit containing rice, dal, salt, chilli powder,
spices, potato, onion and cooking oil. We provided meals to around 400 children.
Around 2200 families in 58 villages were conscientized about the ‘Do’s and
Don’ts’ so that they are not affected by the deadly virus. We are grateful to
God for helping us to reach out to so many families through the generosity of
many kind hearted people. May God bless them and may He protect each one of us.
Fr. Joseph Kailamangalam MSFS
An invisible virus has become invincible and it has deepened inequality globally. Inequality in turn worsens its spread. The pandemic is widening social and economic divisions that also make the virus deadlier. The poor, the needy and the migrant workers have lost their livelihoods. In this context, we recall Jesus’ command to His disciples, “You yourselves give them something to eat.” (Mark 6/39).
It clearly means, working to eliminate the structural causes of poverty and to promote the integral development of the poor. It also calls for small daily acts of solidarity in meeting the real needs which we encounter in the present times around us. As true Fransalians, SFS School, Janakpuri, under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Anthony Amaladoss and with the kind support of Fr. Albin and Bro. Abin, donated 150 packets of non-perishable edible items like wheat flour, dal, sugar and oil to migrant labourers in Gurgaon, to the poor parishioners of SFS Church, Janakpuri, to poor families of section E students of our school, to rickshaw pullers from Janakpuri, Vikaspuri and Hastal, to the domestic workers of the school and to some sick and jobless people. We thank the ex-students of our school who actively took part in this charitable activity. We understand that giving is an act of grace and no one has ever become poor by giving. Mrs. Ponnammal
By doing this
relief work, we experienced a different sort of joy in our lives, as there is a
much more joy in giving than in receiving. At this time of crisis we were able
to help 368 very poor families that are residing in twenty-one villages of
Kandor Mission Parish. For us it was a great honour to be able to help them to
overcome their sufferings. It also helped us to have a deeper meaning of our
call to priestly ministry. I take this opportunity to thank the sponsors from
Pinzberg Parish, Germany, for having extended their generous help to our people
during this time of Covid-19. May God bless them and their families for their
support and care for the poor and the needy.
Fr.
Kamil Tete MSFS
“Be shepherds with the smell of the sheep, in
the midst of your people like Jesus the Good Shepherd.” [Pope Francis]
From 14th-16th March a seminar was organized at
the Provincialate, Nagpur, for priests of our Province who were ordained from
2015-2020. The theme was Leadership
Through Discipleship. Rev. Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy of Vishakhapatnam
Province was the resource person. Nineteen young priests participated in the
seminar. These three days were indeed a time to renew, refresh and reassess our
mission and ministry in the light of the pressing concerns of leadership. With
his wealth of experience as a formator, parish priest and administrator in
various capacities, Fr. Thumma was able to inspire and guide the participants.
He posed a number of probing questions concerning one’s life and ministry in
the larger context of the leadership crisis we face today. He shared about his
own enriching life experiences that moulded him into taking up various
leadership roles in the Congregation. He also briefly touched upon ones Core
Identity and Role Identity. At times we tend to forget our core identity and
focus more on our role identity. We should not forget that we are priests and
religious who undertake different roles in institutions as assigned to us by
our authorities. “A leader is best when people barely know that he exists. When
his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they say: we did it ourselves.” [Lao Tzu]
All of us youngsters found the seminar very profitable, especially as some of us have already assumed leadership roles in certain areas and many others would soon be adjusting our feet in the shoes of our seniors, who would be moving ahead and leaving vacant posts for us to shoulder. Being well prepared always helps to easily adjust into the new leadership role that certainly would be quite demanding of our time, energy, patience, cool, calm and quick thinking in order to make the right decisions. We are sincerely grateful to Fr. Thumma Mariadas for all the input sessions and the practical skills he passed on to us. We are thankful to the Provincial Administration for arranging the seminar and a special word of appreciation to the Provincialate Community who took all the pains to make our stay a comfortable one. Despite the scare of the corona virus it certainly was a joy to be together with our companions. We enjoyed each other’s company; all the jokes and fun filled moments and especially the volley ball matches at St. John’s High School. We return to our missions feeling more confident to carry out our responsibilities and assume bigger roles as and when it is demanded from us by our Province, Congregation and the Church. “Things have a price and can be for sale. But people have a dignity that is priceless and worth far more than things.” [Pope Francis]
Fr. Anto Varghese MSFS
9th – 11th March were happy days at the Provincialate for the senior confreres of Nagpur Province,
who had assembled for a seminar, as part of their on-going formation programme.
The animator of the seminar was Fr. Binu E. MSFS of the SW Province. With a
spirit of joy and anticipation of what was in store for us, the members
gathered together. On 9th at 9.00 am the inaugural function was held
in the conference hall. Fr. Binu was introduced and welcomed with a bouquet by Fr.
Provincial. In his inaugural address Fr. Muthuswamy welcomed all the senior
confreres, all those ordained in 1995 and before, and wished them a relaxing
and enjoyable time together.
Then Fr. Binu took over and there was
no looking back. The time table was well planned to suit the needs of the
senior confreres. Four inputs sessions each day, interspersed with a lot of
time for asking questions, group discussions and personal sharing of
experiences connected with the topics. The beautiful pictorial PPTs, the
interactions, interventions, clarifications, personal sharing and other
activities kept the members alive and active. Fr. Binu with his vast knowledge
of Psychology and Clinical Counseling experience dealt with each topic very
systematically. There was a lot of clarity and explanation, with many examples
from his experience as well as from the Bible. The sessions were very
interactive and he got the participants involved by asking a lot of questions
and clarified all their doubts. Many practical points for daily living were
also shared. What also kept us all going on, bright and healthy, was the
humourous interventions and sharing by some of the confreres, leading to bursts
of laughter. After all, Laughter is the Best Medicine.
Though at times it was a bit tiring as all had to adjust to a new time table schedule, at the end of two and a half days all felt re-energized, renewed, wiser and looked forward to a brighter, healthier and happier life ahead. We resolved to count our blessings and be a blessing to all those we come in contact with. We say a big ‘Thank You’ to our Provincial Fr. Muthuswamy for organizing such a wonderful programme. We thank the Provincialate Community for taking good care of us and providing us good nourishing meals. Our special thanks to Fr. Binu for the enriching and growth promoting sessions. God bless all of you.
Fr.
Melroy Almeida MSFS
The Social Department of St. Charles Seminary provides free tuition for school going children who cannot afford private tuitions in their locality. One of its eight centres is St. John’s High School, Mohan Nagar, Nagpur. Rev. Fr. Melroy, the Manager of the school contacted our in charge, Fr. Dilip OP and it was decided to join the MSFS Fathers in this noble work. This wonderful collaboration for the good of the poor children living around the school began from November 2019 and went on till the end of February 2020. Having been to this beautiful, peaceful, clean and well-disciplined temple of learning, St. John’s High School, from Monday to Friday, from 4.00 to 5.30 pm for four months, which provides an ideal learning environments to the poor children, gave me many unforgettable, enriching and joyful learning experiences.
First of all I
was deeply touched by the welcoming attitude, hospitality and the brotherly
care shown by the MSFS Fathers of the community, that is, Fr. Melroy, Fr.
Patras, Fr. Viswas and Fr. Telesfor. I could see in them Salesian zeal,
interest and love for the children, especially in shaping them to become good
human beings. The very act of providing snacks everyday to the students showed
their eagerness in bringing more children to the supervised study centre, as
well as their generosity, love and care for the children. I felt at home with
the priests as they were approachable and understanding. This attitude in fact
permitted me to express my creativity in teaching the children in a better way.
I experienced a lot of joy in sharing my knowledge with the children who were very receptive, respectful and disciplined. The children who came to the centre were from 1st to 8th standards. I was touched by their approach towards me. The students all well behaved and expressed their talents, especially through singing, dancing, drawing, etc. whenever needed for different programs and class activities. I felt very happy and proud when our Centre, out of eight different tuition centres, won the Runners-up trophy during the Children’s Meet–2020 held at St. Charles Seminary campus. I was very happy to hear the praiseworthy comments from the Fathers and Brothers who were present for the competitions and the program. St. John’s High School Tuition Centre’s Christmas program was well organized and the best. I not only taught the children but also learnt a lot from them, especially the virtues of helping, supporting, working hard, expressing talents, taking initiative, etc. I am grateful to God and my formators for this unique and enriching opportunity that was given to me and my co-seminarians who worked together at the centre. I also express my heartfelt gratitude to all the Fathers of St. John’s High School for their support, guidance, brotherly care and love and the freedom given to me to use my talents and help the children. I also thank the children for teaching me various things by their attitudes and deeds. At the end I say; “All for the Greater Glory of God.” Bro. Lourdusamy 2nd Year Theology, Archdiocese of Gandhinagar
25th
February 2020 was a day of great joy and excitement for the Management, Staff
and Students of S.F.S. High School, Bara Durgapur as they had the Annual Parents’ Day for the first time.
The cultural items were based on the theme: From Darkness to Light, to
pass on the message to the members of the Santhal Tribe to move from their
backward way of life to something new and different.
The students of K.G. to 8th filled with joy and
enthusiasm were ready to perform action songs, cultural dances, latest film
dances and skits. They were dressed in appropriate costumes and performed with
zest and confidence on a well decorated and spacious stage, in front of a huge
gathering of dignitaries, parents, well-wishers and friends. The parents were
most excited to see their children performing on stage for the first time and
kept cheering them from beginning to the end.
The Chief Guest was Mr Lobin Hembrom MLA. The Guests of Honour
were Mrs Manju Hembrom, Member of N.C.W, Mr Suresh Malto, the Sarpanch, and Mr
Nicholas Murmu the Pradhan of Bara Durgapur. The Chief Guest was very happy to
present medals to the winners of Sports and Cultural items held during the
year. Members of the Green House were literally in the air to hold and behold
the Winner’s Trophy. In his message the Chief Guest earnestly pleaded with the
parents to help lead their children from darkness to light, by sending them
regularly to the School to be moulded and guided. He also said that they will
have a brighter future being in the hands of those running Mission
Schools. He appreciated the MSFS
Fathers, CSC Sisters and the Teachers for maintaining a good standard in the
School and also for the enjoyable and meaningful annual day program. In
response to the Manager’s request he promised some financial help from the MLA
fund to help put up a compound wall to protect the children from stray animals
that come daily into the School compound. All the Guests and the Parents Heartily Congratulated the Management, Staff and Students for the colourful
and thought-provoking program. Fr.
Joseph Kailamangalam MSFS
The Karuna Mata Church is located in
the middle of a dense forest, around 41kms from Sambalpur. Fr. Deepak Baa is
the fourth priest and second MSFS priest of the parish. Archbishop John Barwa,
who hails from the same parish, in spite of his ill health and busy scheduled
made it a point to come all the way from Bhubaneswar to ordain Deepak. The
Archbishop and Bishop Congratulated Fr. Deepak and reminded him to be ever
faithful to his priestly duties. In his homily, the Archbishop urged the people
to pray for the priests as their ministry is very challenging and demanding.
Rev. Fr. Muthuswamy especially thanked Fr. Deepak’s parents, family members,
the parish team and all the parishioners for the well-organized programme.
A cultural
programme was put up by the parishioners and the school children. Fr. Deepak
expressed his gratitude to all those who guided him during his formation
period; especially the Provincials, formators, his companions, family members
and friends. Delicious food was served to all as the youth continued the joyful
celebration with their vibrant dances to the latest songs played by the DJ. As
we Congratulate Fr. Deepak, we also assure him of our prayers for a fruitful
and joyful ministry in the Vineyard of the Lord. Fr. Bijay Kerketta MSFS
Members of the Mission Forum gathered
in the Provincialate on 20th and 21st February for their
annual meeting and sharing. Twenty confreres from our different parishes and
mission centres attended the meeting. On the 20th the program began
with half hour adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, conducted by Fr. Joseph
Kailamangalam. The forum members then gathered in the conference hall for the
welcome ceremony. Fr. George K. the Convenor of the Mission Forum welcomed the
members. Fr. Peter Dominic the Secretary introduced and welcomed the resource
person, Rev. Fr. Danty Joseph of Udaipur Diocese, Rajasthan. He was welcomed
with a bouquet by our Provincial Rev. Fr. Muthuswamy.
Fr. Danty began his talk by presenting
the incident of the Samaritan Woman at the well. Jesus asked her to give him a
drink. (Jn 4\7) Every priest is like this Samaritan woman and Jesus asks each
of us for a drink. What a miracle it is to sit beside the well? Our life
becomes beautiful. The Spirit of the Lord working in and through me brings
about a wonderful transformation. I need to be in the presence of the Lord like
being present in the sunlight and receive His light and warmth. Even though we
may not have a rope or a bucket, the Lord still asks us for a drink. He knows
that ultimately He Himself will make necessary provision and take care of us.
Fr. Danty conducted three sessions during which he shared a lot of his personal
experience in the mission field as well as certain aspects from Canon Law. Fr.
Sandeep Tirkey expressed thanks to him for the inspiring sessions. At 6 pm the
members assembled for presentation of the reports of various centres.
On the 21st the members
were present in the chapel for Morning Prayer and Mass. It was the First Death
Anniversary of our dear departed confrere Fr. P. C. Paul, a pioneering
missionary of Nanded district. The confreres of Mermier Sadan also joined in
praying for the dear departed. Soon after breakfast confreres visited the grave
of Fr. P. C. Paul and prayed for the repose of his soul. After returning to the
Provincialate, the forum members’ continued sharing about their centres. At
12.30 Father Provincial addressed the gathering. He shared about the important
task entrusted to the local community and asked them to work more dedicatedly
and diligently to bring up the Centres and strengthen the faith of the people.
He also reminded the parish priests to promote Fransalian Associates and give 2
or 3 names from their Centre, who are interested in Salesian Spirituality and
help us in our mission. The meeting concluded with Fr. George giving his
concluding remarks and thanking each member for their presence and contribution
during the meeting as well as in their centres of work. After lunch the
confreres left for their mission centres with renewed enthusiasm. Fr.
Peter Dominic MSFS
“You
did not choose Me, but I chose you and I appointed you to go and bear fruit.” [Jn
15/16]
19th February 2020 was a historical and joyful day for Deokaran Daffai village, Birmitrapur Parish, Rourkela Diocese, Odisha. One of their very own, Sujit Minz was ordained a priest for the MSFS Congregation. He is the first MSFS priest from this parish although the parish had already given eighteen priests to the Church. Rt. Rev. Kishor Kumar Kujur, the Bishop of Rourkela ordained Dn. Sujit. Fr. J. B. Muthuswamy, Provincial of Nagpur Province, Fr. Johnson Gonsalves, Rector of Fransalian Seminary, Pune, a number of MSFS and OFM confreres, priests of Rourkela diocese, nuns, dear ones and the lay faithful were present for the sacerdotal ceremony and celebrations.
In his homily, the Bishop preached about God’s call and vocation to the priesthood and religious life. He thanked God and the parishioners as Sujit was the nineteenth priest from their parish. He also thanked the parents of Sujit, Mr Helerian and Mrs Emilia for offering him for God’s service. During the felicitation programme, Fr. Muthuswamy thanked the Bishop for ordaining Sujit. He also thanked Sujit’s parents and dear ones. A cultural programme of dances was put up by the parishioners. This was followed by a sumptuous meal for all. Next day Fr. Sujit offered his First Thanksgiving Eucharist together with his family members, dear ones, MSFS confreres working in Odisha and Jharkhand, a few local priests, nuns and the lay faithful. Nagpur Province expresses its gratitude to God for blessing us with one more priest to work in His vineyard. Fr. Hilarus Tirkey MSFS
On 15th and 16th
February 2020 the members of Social and Innovative Forum had their meeting at
the MSFS Provincialate, Nagpur. All assembled in the conference hall where Fr.
Patras Tirkey the Councilor in Charge welcomed the resource person Fr. Herald
D’Souza, OP, the Provincial Fr. J. B. Muthuswamy and all the participants.
Fr. Herald said we are living in
challenging times. We come across different types of people. Many are neglected
and marginalized; their living standard is bad. Seeing their condition one
thinks of doing something for them. If one feels inspired to do social work one
has to speak about it to the authorities and to his community. One’s work will
require many years of preparation. He was inspired to set up the home for
orphan boys to bring them happiness and make a difference in their lives.
Areas of social work: Supplementary
educational support; Youth empowerment through sports and games; Family
counseling; Child guidance; Projects in slums; Training for UPSC exams; Women
empowerment; Livelihood vocational training; Life-skill education.
Initial challenges and problems faced:
Governmental regulations; Detailed documentation record of inmates; Difficulty
in raising funds; Corruption in getting government funds; Misunderstanding that
Christians get a lot of money from abroad; Lack of cooperation from the Catholic
community; False allegations of making money in the name of charity.
Important tips: Keep good relation
with donors; Deal diplomatically with government officials and police
department; Have good contact with neighbours; Involve right people in the organization;
Have a qualified person in the particular field; Finally trust in God’s grace
and continue the good work despite the obstacles one faces.
Fr. Rijo thanked Fr. Herald for the
inspiring and encouraging talk.
Highlights of
Reports by Members:
Panderpali: Boys boarding having 60
students studying in the mission school. Medical camp held for parishioners.
Fransalian Technical School,
Aurangabad: Training for fitter, tuner, printing trades. Start new projects in
Bidkin; it is developing as an industrial zone.
Fransalian Vidya Niketan, Khamgaon:
Need more focus on Inter-Religious Dialogue; farming, boarding for students;
have courses in electrical, plumbing, etc. Start a school. Continue spiritual
services in Buldana and Christian colony at Rajura.
St. John’s High School, Nagpur: Supervised
evening class for poor children in collaboration with brothers from St. Charles
Seminary; celebration of festivals like Diwali, Dusshera, Christmas.
Bara Durgapur: Basic education; hostel
for students.
On the 16th Fr. Cyriac’s
mission work in Vijapur was highlighted by a P.P.T. The activities of Face
India of North East Province were shared - adult literacy, medical camps, flood
relief, tuition for drop outs, community development, etc.
Proposals from M.D.O: 1] Centre for
differently abled children; Vocational training centre for dropouts in tribal
mission centres. 2] Schools to admit all poor students in the vincity of 2 kms.
3] Institutions and parishes need to have Inter-Religious gatherings on special
occasions, to have good relations with people of all religious traditions and
share our MSFSness. 4] Stop use of plastic; plant more trees in our compounds;
increase greenery and reduce air pollution.
The last session was taken by Fr.
Provincial. Suggestions were discussed and proposals were made for future
implementation. He requested to pray for the Superior General’s intentions;
form Fransalian Associates; write history of our institutions; pray for the
cause of our Founder; train confreres to write projects; start renewal centre
for the faith formation and parish orientation programs.
Fr. Selbestar Xalxo proposed the vote
of thanks. He thanked Fr. Provincial, the Provincialate community and all the
forum members. He wished them the very best in their ministries. After lunch
the members left for their missions. Fr.
Selbestar Xalxo MSFS
The Nagpur Province Formators’ Forum
meeting was held on 10th and 11th of February 2020. The
meeting began with the lighting of the lamp by our Provincial, Fr. J. B. Muthuswamy
and a few of the participants. Fr. Daniel then read the Gospel passage from Mt
5/14 - You are the Light of the World. Fr. Lalit gave s short reflection
calling on the formators to be lights of the world. Fr. Paul intoned a hymn and
the short prayer service concluded.
Fr. Lalit then extended a warm welcome
to Fr. Muthuswamy and all the formators and confreres present for the meeting. Fr.
Muthuswamy began with a welcome note to all the participants and made them
aware of the difficult task they are handling - the formation of our
seminarians. He highlighted the message given by our Superior General after his
canonical visit to our Province. He also informed us that the Graded Syllabus
for the Pre-Novitiate and the Novitiate is ready and called upon the formators
to be aware of the new way of formation that the whole Congregation has
adopted.
After his address different reports
were read by the members followed by discussion and exchange of ideas:
Formation Forum Meeting 2019; Regional Forum Meeting 2019; Inter-Province
Vocation Promoters Meeting 2019; Minor Seminaries of Mannarkkad,
Latapara; Vocation Promotion; Novitiate; Formators Forum of Nagpur Province
with the General Curia of 5th Dec 2019; PC-GC focused plan 2019
A few important suggestions:
i. Short-listing a few members for
Formation Courses.
ii. Begin Higher Secondary studies for
seminarians in Nagpur.
The Provincial once again addressed
the members and complimented them for the difficult task that they are
fulfilling on the behalf for the Province and the Congregation. He reminded the
members to begin saying the prayer for the Extra-Ordinary General Chapter 2021
and to continue the prayer for the Glorification of Fr. Peter Mermier. On
behalf of the forum members Fr. Daniel thanked Fr. Provincial for his presence
and interventions; Fr. Lalit the Councillor in charge of Formation for
organizing the meeting; the Provincialate Community for their hospitality and
all the members of the Formators’ Forum for being present and for their lively
participation in the discussions. The meeting ended with a prayer and a group photo of the participants. Fr. Lalit Tigga MSFS
The
Fransalian Education Forum of Nagpur Province organized a meeting on 1st
and 2nd of February 2020 at MSFS Provincialate, Nagpur. It was
meticulously organized by Fr. Amaladoss Anthony the Province in charge for
Education and Fr. Nobit the Secretary of the Education Forum. The meeting
commenced with welcome speech by Fr. Nobit. A floral welcome was extended to
all the dignitaries. This was followed by invoking God’s blessings and lighting
of the lamp. The resource person was Dr.
Jesudoss Jeyapaul.
He animated the first two sessions on Kinds of Leadership:
1] Head Leadership – Scary Boss. He is a man of perfection who can never tolerate imperfection. In
reality we should always look for progression and not perfection.
2] Hand Leadership - Secluded Boss. He tries to bring improvement in the institution like an autocrat.
3] Heart Leadership – Serving Boss. Gandhi’s leadership was a heart leadership. It is also known as
democratic leadership.
In
other words: Autocratic; Democratic; Transformational; Serving.
He
also emphasized on Eagle Leadership
which has the following characteristics:
1] Certainty: Seeing from a high altitude.
2]
Clarity: Having a focused vision. A
vision based on social benefits.
3]
Creativity: Having fresh and
innovative thoughts. Need to shift
from methodological to pedagogical. Decentralize power to empower the staff.
Execute a work culture. Make optimum use of technology.
Challenges faced by Principals: Handling high voltage
parents; Handling remedial classes; Staff Training - Skill based and subject
based training; Proper collaboration and communication. “Smile and lead because
great leaders smile.” [Eric Burn]
Character: Attitude
determines Altitude; Honesty is very important;
Change Over:
Rebirth of an eagle is its specialty- Need for Time Management and Management; Transformation and
Transfiguration.
The
third session was animated by Fr. Jacob
K. the General Councilor in charge of Education. He presented the following
points: Foundational Apostolic Charisms of the Congregation;
Mermier’s
Educational Vision and its implementation in MSFS schools; certain pertinent
questions for today; Mermiarian adage on education of the heart. In conclusion
Fr. Jacob added that Mermiarian insights of educational apostolate were born
from his intense experience of the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales. It is
important that MSFS educators infuse the spirit, outlook and approach of Fr.
Mermier in the apostolate of education.
Using
P.P.T.s the Principals then presented brief reports of their schools. Many
major and minor developments have taken place. Various curricular and
co-curricular activities were conducted; our students were doing well in
different fields and bringing laurels to the school.
The
fourth session was animated by Fr.
Anthony Amaladoss. He praised everyone for their presence for the meeting
and for their dedication to the education ministry. He also appreciated all
those who worked hard and obtained affiliation to CBSE and ICSE. He presented
the statistics of our schools and pointed out how we are progressing and
increasing our standard of performance. He spoke about our contribution towards
Kerala flood relief fund and FEF-R.
Fr. Muthuswamy in his address urged the principals and others to take their ministry seriously as a huge amount of our income is spent for education, need to start a work culture in the schools, develop needed infrastructure, keep a record of staff performance. Our presence makes a difference. He thanked Fr. Amaladoss Anthony and Fr. Nobit for taking the trouble to organize the seminar. At the end a brief evaluation of the two days seminar was conducted. The participants appreciated and expressed their satisfaction about the seminar. Special thanks to Fr. Rijo for arranging the resource person. The meeting concluded with the vote of thanks given by Fr. Christuraj. Fr. Nobit. K MSFS
On 4th
January 2020, Frs. George and Melky, along with Frs. Henry and Jins embarked
from Maputo for the new mission endeavor in the Diocese of Gurue. We reached
the capital of the Province, Quelimane and stayed overnight to complete the
procedure of emigration. The following day we left for Mocuba and did the basic
shopping. On the 6th we started our journey to Muliquela by a car given for use
by the Afro Drill, a company of Mahindra Automobiles and reached the mission
station by 4.00 pm. It was raining when we reached. The resident priests welcomed
us and Frs. George and Melky were accommodated in the Parish house while Frs.
Henry and Jins were accommodated in the Convent.
On 8th
January 2020, the Pioneering Priests Frs. George and Melky along with Frs.
Henry & Jins and accompanied by the present Parish Priest Fr. Pedro
Esquadro went to pay a courtesy visit to the Apostolic Administrator Bishop
Germano Grachane. We reached the Bishop's House around 11:30 am and after some
tea and snacks we were taken to the Bishop's Office. The Bishop, along with his
Curia, Fr. Augostinho, the in-charge of Liturgy, Fr. Luciano, the treasurer,
Fr. Francisco Cunlela, the VG, and Fr. Tonito, the VC, welcomed the Fransalians
with great love and joy. The joyfulness was very well felt since we are just
the third Men Religious Congregation to be working in the Diocese. Being a
Vincentian himself, in our conversation, the Bishop exhorted us to be another
St. Francis de Sales. Fr. Henry requested the Bishop to let the present PP and
APP be with Frs. George and Melky for a short period to introduce and get
acquainted with the local officials, the Sub-Stations and the Pastoral Council
Members of the Parish. After the meeting and a photo session we were given a
grand reception and lunch served with the cutting of the cake by Bishop Germano
Grachane and Frs George and Melky.
On 12th
January 2020, we officially took over the Our Lady of Fatima Parish in the
solemn Eucharistic Celebration presided over by the Delegate of the Bishop Fr.
Francisco Cunlela. Frs. Henry,
Jins, Melky, George, and the Diocesan clergies Frs. Pedro, Santos, Miguel and a
Franciscan Minors Priest who is the native of Muliquela were present to witness
the ceremony. The faithful participated in a large number to welcome the new
missionaries who would be their PP and APP. The Radio representatives were also
present and took an interview of the PP. Before the homily, Frs. Henry, Jins,
George and Melky were introduced to the Congregation present and after the
homily Fr. George, the PP had an elaborate religious ceremony in tune with the
tradition of the Diocese of Gurue. Fr. Melky, the APP was then presented by the
Fr. George the PP. After the Communion the faithful in large number, with
joyfulness and love, offered their little but generous offerings for the New
Missionaries.
On behalf of the
Diocese Fr. Francisco Cunlela thanked the MSFS and Fr. Pedro presented the
report of the Parish. Fr. Henry thanked the congregation present and the
Diocese for having welcomed and confided in the MSFS the pastoral responsibility
of the Parish. A snap was taken to cherish the moment soon after the mass. The
faithful, walking and singing, accompanied Fr. George to the Convent for the
Lunch. The dancers, few youth and parishioners partook in the Lunch.
The diocese of
Gurue not only was happy to receive us but also went out of the way to provide
us with basic and necessary food grains, bedsheets and toiletries. Yes, God
loves the cheerful giver and he blesses them for their generosity for they give
from their little. Fr. Georgekutty
MSFS
The Annual Province Retreat December 2019 was preached by Fr. Jacob
Parappally MSFS. The Animation titled: ‘Centering on Christ and Becoming
Human’, was a God given opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and
with one another as a Fransalian Family. For our prayer, reflection and
mediation Fr. Jacob shared with us his reflections from Rom 12/2–18. During the
three talks every day, he began each talk by reading some relevant verses from
this passage to put us in the right perspective of theme of the day. He
inspired us to go to the Basics as given in the “Call of the General Chapter
2019”. When one is ‘Renewed at the Mind”, then one can think differently, think
positively and can take decisions to be holy and effective as Fransalian
confreres. Each day had a theme for one’s reflection, prayer and meditation.
Fr. Jacob began by calling on us to discover the Core Identity although we may
have many “Identifications”. One is made in the image of the Trinitarian God,
with the Transcendence of the Father dimension in order to go beyond oneself;
to be inclusive in our life and ministry as religious. One is to become present
of the Holy Spirit, who is the subject of our prayer, to grow in intimacy with
the Lord. One has to actualize the capacity, where in we are allowing God to
make use of us, because we are not created perfect but we are created to be
perfect. One’s Trinitarian identity is Christic co-identity, in that we are
Christ in our own way. One has to ask what Jesus would do in that particular
situation. Our prayer has to make us to become Christ: Live Jesus.
We were made aware that we are anointed by the Spirit at our Baptism,
Confirmation and Ordination. Therefore, we have to break the boundaries of
society and become aware of the bondages that we have. One has to shun
passivity and negativity and be proactive. We have to become aware that we are
interrelated and inter-connected. So every encounter is transforming.
Fr. Jacob went on to inspire us that the Trinity is the source and model
of our Community. One has to become sensitive to the prejudices that we have
against one another. To be born in a particular culture is not one’s choice,
but we need to go beyond and transcend our limitations. He stressed on our
encounter with God and challenged us so that our liturgical activities lead us
to God Experience. That in turn will lead us to an “Incarnational Leadership”
to be evolved in one’s life and mission. One has to be warned that the power
that we get is not for domination; authority comes from the essence of one’s
being.
Fr. Jacob with his expertise in Christology and with the natural ability to present matters in his most convincing and interesting style kept every participant of this retreat alert and awake. At the end, time was given to the participants to clarify their theological confusions and doubts. He called on us to be effective in our ministry and to be credible witnesses in our life as we go back to our place of presence. Kudos and thanks to the organization team of the Nagpur Apostolic Community, especially the Provincialate Community for make all the minute and personal arrangements for the annual retreat. Fr. Benedict De Souza, MSFS
Jesus walked on the earth 2019 years before yet He continues to be the most influential person in the world even today. Jesus was a human being like all of us but His life and message makes him stand apart from many others, who also made an impact on society. Christmas can take us back to the delusions of our childhood days wherein we can recall to mind the pleasures of our youth. Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred and we are better throughout the year for having in spirit become a child again at Christmas-time.
The Christian community can't even imagine their existence without the
celebration of Christmas. 25th
December is important both for homes and churches worldwide. The meaning for
Christmas is to recognize Christ's birth. The essence of celebration lies in
the fact that we want the people to know that the world can be made a peaceful
and a better place to live and grow. For the faithful of SFS Church, Sini, the
joy of Christmas was doubled as we had our very own Shepherd Rt. Rev.
Telesphore Bilung with us to celebrate the Christmas midnight mass. He made the sacrifice of not celebrating
Christmas Vigil Mass in St. Joseph Cathedral and came to Sini. He brought a big
cake along with him which we all enjoyed.
"Christmas is the beginning of an all true classic story that contains
all the right ingredients- Love, Joy, Peace, Celebration, Salvation,
Recognition and Good Will. That little Baby in the manger is none other than
God Himself and He entered into human history to provide the solution of our
problem of Salvation." Fr. Emil
Tirkey MSFS
The much awaited annual sports day of St. John’s Public School was held on
20th December 2019 with great zeal, excitement and frolic. The theme of the
sports day was Ebullience - the quality of being cheerful and full of energy.
Colonel Ajit Handa a retired army officer was the Chief Guest of the function.
The day began with a short prayer service followed by a glittering opening
ceremony of the lighting of the torch by the Chief Guest. The spectators
witnessed the Inter-House March Past, a highly competitive event. They marched
to the stirring music of the school band. This was followed by the Oath Taking
Ceremony by the house captains.
An energizing display of the Welcome Dance by the students of 1st
and 2nd set the mood for the rest of the events that followed. Once
the races began, the air was filled with cheering and tons of encouragement for
the young athletes. Students from 1st to 10th competed in
events like book balancing, basketball dribbling, bursting the balloon, jumping
hoops, slow cycling and racing. The highlight of the day was the group folk
dance competition between the three houses. It was the most awaited and the
most competitive event that soared to the sky.
Blue House emerged as champions of the year 2019-20. The day was filled
with sportsmanship, enthusiasm and memories to cherish. The Chief Guest in his
message highlighted the importance of sports in school life. It will keep alive
the desire to exercise regularly in order to keep oneself fit. The Principal Rev. Fr. Bosco informed the
parents and the entire gathering about the school recently obtaining CBSE
affiliation. In his message he thanked the teaching and non- teaching staff for
their cooperation and support and encouraged the students to keep up their
sportsmanship spirit. Fr. Bosco. P. MSFS
St. Charles Seminary is committed to the cause of less privileged children living in slums and at the periphery of the city of Nagpur. We provide free tuition for the school going children who cannot afford private tuitions in their locality. We likewise organize various outreach programmes for their mental and physical development. St. John was one of the centres where we could organize Christmas program with the help of Rev. Fr. Melroy, the manager of the school, Fr. Patras Tirky the Principal, Fr. Viswas, the Vice Principal, Fr. Telesphore and other staff members on 20th December 2019.
It was a day of learning and enjoyment for the children. Br. Lourdusamy S.
the leader of the centre and Bro. Ohma helped to make the event colourful. The
children put up various entertainment programmes, such as dance, skit, based on
social theme, Christmas carols, speech. The parents of the students were
present to encourage the students and to celebrate Christmas as a family. This
Christmas program added more joy and happiness to the students as it was a
platform for them to express their talents on the stage.
Prior to the Christmas celebration, there were few competitions conducted for the students such as memory test, tables (maths) test and drawing competition. The winners of these competitions were given prizes. Rev. Fr. Dilip, the Director of Social Department of St. Charles Seminary gave the Christmas message and appreciated and encouraged the students for their wonderful performances. Rev. Fr. Viswas appreciated Bro. Lourdusamy for taking the tuition classes regularly and for preparing the students for the colourful event. To add more colours to the program and to make the students to be more aware and to know about Christmas, the brothers from St.Charles Seminary sang carols, performed a skit and a dance. Few parents of the students were very happy seeing their children on the stage. The program was ended at 5.30 pm with the delicious refreshment provided by the management and staff of the school. It was a day of joy and happiness for everyone. We, the students of St. Charles Seminary remain indebted to Fr. Melroy, Fr. Patras, Fr. Viswas, and Fr. Telesphore for giving us the opportunity to share our joy. Bro. Lourdusamy. S
On 14th December, 2019 St. John’s High School celebrated its Annual Parents’ Day. The theme of the program was Anubandham, which means attachment. The purpose of the program was to pass on the message that it is high time to understand that relationships cannot be maintained online or on Whatsapp. One has to come out of one’s comfort zone and find time to create Anubandham. Students from classes 1 to 9 presented various mesmerizing dance dramas based on the theme, bringing out the positive and the negative aspects of relationships. They left no stone unturned to make everyone realize their own drawbacks. The performance of the students left the audience spellbound. The anchors too did a great job in keeping the show going. The school captain Ved Rewatkar proposed the vote of thanks. Mr. Chinmay Pandit, DCP Traffic Branch, Nagpur City was the Chief Guest of the function. In his message he congratulated the students for passing on an important message for the good of society. He wished them the very best in their studies and other activities. He also advised them on how to live in good relationships and make our society a better place to live in. The best students were also given awards by the Management. The program was witnessed many priests and religious working in different schools of Nagpur. The entire football ground was filled with parents and many ex- students, enjoying the program and applauding the performers. All went home with a beautiful message fully satisfied that their wards were gaining a lot from whatever they are taught in St. John’s High School. Fr. Patras Tirkey MSFS
"No education can be completed without art and creativity playing a
central role in the child’s life.” St. Francis de Sales Sr. Sec. School,
Badnera celebrated the Decennial Jubilee with great pomp and show. The theme of
the decennial celebration was PRAYANAM - the journey of 10 years.
On 30th November the
school celebrated the Annual Parents’ Day. Mr. Rahul Athawale, Senior Police Inspector,
Amravati was the Chief Guest, and Rev. Fr. Mathew Karickal, Principal of Mount
Carmel School, Akola was the Guest of Honour. The parents of our young
Fransalians witnessed the program which began with a prayer dance followed by
the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. school provided a platform wherein the
Pre-primary children presented Jalwa,
We believe that when a child's social and emotional needs are met, he can
participate fully in the wide range of learning opportunities provided by the school.
To bring forth their innate talents the
Remix Dhamaka and Hollywood Fusion in dance form. The students of 1 to 9
performed different dazzling dances like - Bollywood Fusion, Spanish, South
Indian and Koli dances. The scintillating performances created a visual feast
for the audience. It displayed the innocence and joyfulness of childhood.
The Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour applauded the efforts that the students and especially the tiny-toddlers had put into their performances to make it such a grandiose attainment and wished them God’s blessings for a better and brighter future under the able guidance of their parents and the teachers. They also congratulated the entire team of the Management and the Staff for the hard work put in to make the event a roaring success. The parents appreciated the efforts made by the school to bring forth the students' hidden talents and help in developing their personality. The program concluded with the singing of the National Anthem. Fr. Peter Kujur MSFS
30th November 2019 was one of those significant days to be marked in golden letters of the Fransalian Seminary history because five of the third year theologians, Bros. Anbarasu, Karbinus, Parmachand, and Surjit of Pune Province, and Bro. Sanjay of Nagpur Province were ordained Deacons. The community along with the parents of the brothers who were to be ordained had a special adoration in the morning for the out pouring of the Holy Spirit. At 10.00 am the solemn Eucharist celebrations began by the introduction of the Deacons. The ceremony was officiated and the Deacons were ordained by Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Dabre the Bishop of Poona. Along with him Fr. Jayaseelan the Provincial of Pune Province, Fr. Kulandai Raj, the delegate of the Nagpur Provincial, Fr. Tony Pream the Councillor in Charge of Formation of Pune Province and Fr. Johnson the Rector of Fransalian Seminary were at the altar. The occasion also was graced by the MSFS priests from far and near, Rectors of the Seminaries, Professors, Religious Sisters and Brothers, Benefactor, Fransalian Associates, Family Members of the Deacons, riends and well-wishers. Fr. Rector formally welcomed the gathering and Dn. Sujit thanked all present on behalf of the five Deacons. After the Eucharistic celebrations the guests were welcomed to the well-arranged quadrangle for a short felicitation program and a fellowship meal arranged by the Fransalian Seminary community. During the program the Deacons were felicitated by the community as well as by their family members in their own traditional way. It was a day to rejoice to have five more dedicated to the service of the Lord. Dn. Sanjay Lakra MSFS
“Theatre is a mirror, a sharp reflection of society.”
A glorious feather was added to the crown of Gyan Mata Vidya Vihar School, Nanded on 29th November 2019 in the form a grand auditorium, a long awaited dream of the school. Rev. Fr. Abraham Vettuvellil, Superior General of the Congregation of Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, on his official visit to the Fransalians of Nanded, along with Rev. Fr. Muthuswamy, the Provincial Superior, blessed and inaugurated the newly constructed auditorium & dedicated it to the school.
The school organized a grand welcome with a cultural extravaganza for the Superior General & the Provincial Superior. The children in colourful costume accorded magnificent floral welcome, followed by blessing & inauguration of the auditorium at the hands of the Superior General. Cultural programme began with lighting of lamp, honouring Mother Mary, St. Francis de Sales & Fr. Peter Mermier, followed by singing & dancing by students on the new stage.
Fr. Abraham Vettuvellil, in his speech, appreciated the School & the
Province for all its efforts in providing the best infrastructure &
facilities to our students and congratulated the school Management, staff &
students for being blessed with the new auditorium. Fr. Muthuswamy highlighted
the need for the holistic development of students and this auditorium would
help the students in a greater way in their progress & development. Fr. Provincial thanked and felicitated the
architects, engineers, contractors & others who contributed towards the
construction of this magnificent auditorium. Besides the staff & students,
the members of the School Management Committee & PTA were present at the
inaugural ceremony. The exuberant appearance of the auditorium is highly
appreciated by all. The Management, staff, parents & students thank the
Provincial Administration, the former members of school Management & others
for their initiative & support in making GMVV Auditorium a reality. Mrs. Sandeep Kaur
The Regional
Formators’ Forum meeting was held on 25th November 2019 at the MSFS
Provincialate, Nagpur. It began with the lighting of the lamp, a bhajan and the
reading of a passage from the Gospel. The theme was Jesus is the Universal
King. This was followed by a short reflection by Fr. Lalit Tigga.The PCIC for
Formation from different Provinces who participated were - Fr. Manoj
Pathipallit of Visakhapatnam, Fr. Tony Prem Anand of Pune, Fr. George
Vettukattel of Guwahati and Fr. Lalit Tigga of Nagpur. Also present were the
secretaries Fr. Ramesh of Pune and Fr. Benedict of Nagpur.
Each PCIC presented a brief report on the implementation of the Call of the General Chapter on Formation as well as matters concerning formation programmes in their own Province. Fr. Suresh Babu, the General Secretary for Formation presented the new syllabus for the Pre-Novitiate and Novitiate stages of Formation, which he said has to be implemented from the academic year 2020. The matter regarding Ongoing Formation for Formators and other confreres, both at the Province and the Congregational levels was also taken up for discussion. The meeting ended with a short prayer. Fr. Lalit Tigga MSFS
On 23rd November 2019 St Francis de Sales School, Bamra was all
lit up and the ground of the school was decked up. SFS School Bamra which began
on 18th March 2019 with 120 students in the Pre-Primary and 156 students in
classes 1 to 5, had the First Annual Parents’ Day. The ground was filled with
curious parents and well wishers. The students kept the audience spell bound.
Parents and well-wishers were eager to see the children of the first Mission
School in this area perform on the stage - anchoring, delivering speeches,
dancing and acting.
The Pre-Primary children taught the audience some life skills like good manners through their speech, acting and dance. The Primary children entertained the parents with Bollywood numbers from the early days to the present. The parents didn’t realise how three hours of their time was spent. The program began at 4.30 pm in the traditional way of welcoming the Chief Guest Rt. Rev Kishor Kumar Kujur the Bishop of Rourkela Diocese and the Guest of Honour and the Founder of the School Rev. Fr. Jacob Karamakuzhyil MSFS All appreciations for the Management, Staff and Students for the hard work put into it to make this first program a grand success. Fr. George Kurickal MSFS
Fransalian Agency for Social Care and Education (FAsCE India) of the North East India Province is an NGO working among the tribals of North East Region. It mainly focuses on empowerment of women, education of the young, community mobilization and health care. I joined this organization in June 219.
This year due to excess rain the Brahmaputra plain was flooded. The surrounding areas were badly affected. Many people had to take shelter on the railway tracks. A slum of migrant laborers close to our locality, had most of the houses half submerged in the flood waters. For me it was a different experience all together to get into the shoes of a social worker cum relief agent. After having made an immediate assessment, FAsCE India team reached these helpless people with essential relief materials. Those who are badly affected were almost five hundred and fifty families. Some of the places were difficult to reach as the roads were submerged by the water from the overflowing rivers and communication services were fully cut off. After the waters had subsided we promptly conducted two medicals camps as part of post flood relief. All types of contagious diseases had affected the people. Those living in poor conditions always become victims of these infectious diseases. It was really painful to see the people, especially mothers with babies, standing in long queues for hours to get medical assistance. It was an eye opener for me to get to know the reality of life, especially of the neglected and the marginalized. There is a large section of people who are voiceless, sidelined and unheard. The real meaning of service can be found in this reality. We need to organize, lead and uplift them. A social worker needs to be always ready to be at the service of others, come what may. Like Jesus he should to be prepared to serve than wait to be served. “Remember a servant is not greater than his Master.” Fr. Anto Thomas MSFS
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning,
studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to
do”
The Annual Parents Day of St. Francis de Sales Sr. Sec. School, Janakpuri, New Delhi was held on 16th November 2019. The Chief Guest for the day was Mr. Sanjay Kumar, IAS, Joint Secretary (Institutions), Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The Guest of Honour was Rev. Fr Abraham Vettuvelil, MSFS, Superior General. It was a culmination of the toil, sweat, planning and diligence of the Management, staff members and students who took care of all aspects of the program. Innovative ideas ensured it was not just a ‘program’ but a work of passion, zeal and dedication - a cultural feast. The theme based on ‘NAVRAS’ which means ‘Nine Rasa’ or ‘Emotions. It was effectively used by our talented teachers to bring out the essence and amalgamation of each emotion or ‘Rasa’.
The Introductory Dance and Finale looked like a beautiful tapestry. The dances were impressive and the emotions were gracefully and splendidly brought out. The Finale dance was electrifying and well-coordinated. The visual effects were marvellous as it enhanced the stories through animations, videos, quotations and pictures. The acoustics, lights and special effects were spectacular. The commentary brought out the essence of the theme “Navras”. The school choir enthralled the audience with their soulful rendition at one time and energising performance at other time.
The program began with the prayer dance by the tiny tots aptly titled ‘Beatitude’. The primary section also brought out the emotions ‘Love and Beauty’ through the story ‘The Coat’, while ‘Wonder and Surprise’ was depicted through the famous fairy tale ‘The Beauty and the Beast’. ‘Valour’ was presented with a real life story of a well-known chieftain of Tamil Nadu hitherto unknown in the capital. He was brought alive to highlight his valiant fight against the British East India Company - a perfect tribute to an unsung hero. Overall, the acting of the main characters was commendable considering the tender age of the actors.
The secondary and the senior secondary brought out the emotions –Laughter, Fear and Sorrow as well as Anger. Humour was projected well on stage with a relevant issue of inflation. It evoked the desired laughter from the audience. The plight of the elderly in our society struck a chord and left the audience speechless. The senior secondary dealt with the anguish of the youth with issues like nepotism, violence and treatment of women. The whole concept, acting, dances and effects were thought provoking and left a deep impact on the audience.The Chief Guest and Guest of Honour praised the performances and called it ‘mesmerising’. ‘Navras’ was indeed a kaleidoscope of drama, dance and music coupled with an emotional saga that left an indelible imprint on the young and old. Congratulations team S.F.S. for the cultural extravaganza of the year.
Ms. Sabita Mahanand & Ms. Deepti Thapar
On 15th November 2019, the Vice-Promoters of
the Cause of the Founder from India gathered for a day-long session at MSFS
Provincialate, Guwahati. Fr. Francis Poovelil, the resource person provided
inputs on ‘Fr. Mermier, a Person Moulded and Groomed by the Holy Spirit’ and
‘Prophetic Vision in Fr. Peter Mermier.’ An important aspect of the meeting as
requested by Rev. Fr. Yves Carron, Assistant Superior General and Postulator of
the cause of Fr. Mermier, was to discuss on identifying the witnesses from
India who have a basic knowledge of Fr. Mermier, who are aware of his
reputation of sanctity, his virtuous life and his intercessory power in their
life. The following decisions were made for immediate implementations at the
initiative of CFT vice-promoters from every Province.
Issac John MSFS
I reached Rome on 1/9/2019 and did the admission formalities and a short
course of Italian. In the first week of October the classes started in the
University known as Angelicum. Among the many universities in Rome, this is the
only university which has courses conducted in English and Italian. For the
first one month I stayed at the MSFS house which is very close to the St.
Peter’s Square in Rome. Then I shifted to the Generalate of the Congregation of
La Salette Fathers, as student-confreres are not expected to stay in the MSFS
house in Rome. The new accommodation is 45 minutes travel by public transport
from the University. I am the only Indian student among the many
student-priests residing here. The MSFS confreres in Rome come together for
monthly recollections, birthdays and other celebrations just like our Apostolic
Communities coming together in India. Travelling here is easy as there are
plenty of public transport facilities and an annual ticket that each student
has permit him unlimited travel by bus/tram/train anywhere in Rome for one
year. There are professors from 30 countries and students from 90 countries in
my university. On reaching Rome, I was surprised to see that even the Superior
General cooks and washes since there are no domestic staffs. In the University
there are professors in their 90’s who are still teaching and students in their
60’s attending classes with me. I look forward to an enjoyable stay in the
Eternal City and to do well in my studies.
Fr. Wilson Abraham MSFS
On 11th November 2019 St. Francis de Sales Sr. Sec. School, Girdoda, Neemuch celebrated its 5th Annual Parents’ Day with fanfare based on “SAMANVAY” - The Complete Harmony. The school was decorated elegantly and a grand stage was set up with professional sound system. Mrs. Bhavya Mittal, CEO (Upper Collector) was the Chief Guest and Mrs. Gracy Lakra, Principal, KV-2, was the Guest of Honour. The talented students presented mesmerizing cultural events such as dances and plays in the form of skit cum dance. The cultural show began with a welcome speech given by Arjun Khichi, the Head Boy of the school. Rev. Fr. Christhu Raja, the Principal gave a short history of the school and read out the Annual Report. The Chief Guest in her address mentioned about the importance of choosing a hobby in one’s life, because our hobbies add meaning to our life. She shared about her own hobby, gardening. The Guest of Honour in her address said that we need to understand the value of time in our lives. Time once gone will never come back; so the need to make use of each and every opportunity that comes our way. All the parents and invited guests enjoyed the cultural evening. It was a well-organized program. Kajal Mali, the school Head Girl proposed the vote of thanks. The cultural evening ended with the Grand Finale. Mrs. Lakshita Sharma
9th and 10th November 2019 were joyful and
memorable days for the people of St. Peter’s Church, Raidihi. Rev. Fr. Abraham
Vettuvellil, our beloved Superior General and Rev. Fr. J. B. Muthuswamy, our
Provincial visited Raidihi Mission. They were solemnly welcomed and taken in
procession from the main gate to the Presbytery, accompanied by traditional
drum beats. The formal inauguration of the Silver Jubilee Year of St. Peter’s
Church, Raidihi, was held on 10th November 2019. Rev. Fr. Abraham Vettuvellil
lit the lamp and declared open the celebration of the Jubilee Year. Then one
representative of the Parish Associations joined in lighting the lamp. The
theme of the Jubilee Year is: Let Us Keep Burning the Light of Faith (Biswash
ker Diya ke Jalaeke Rakhab). The choir along with all the faithful present
joyfully sang the hymn of Faith which was sung, when the Parish was inaugurated
25 years ago. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Rev. Fr. J. B. Muthuswamy
and the homily was preached by Rev. Fr. Abraham Vettuvellil. He asked the
faithful to pray for the departed family members who were at one time a part of
the Parish and had contributed to its growth. In his homily he highlighted
about the true meaning of life. He said we should not be afraid of death or worry
about our imperfections. There was a short felicitation program after the Holy
Eucharist. The Parishioners expressed their gratitude to the MSFS for their
great service to the Mission. The main attraction of the felicitation program
was a Sambalpuri dance by the Primary students and a traditional Oraon dance by
Jhareinmal Mandly. The programme ended with Fr. Abraham blessing all present
and wishing them a joyful Silver Jubilee celebration. Fr. Bijay Kerketta MSFS
9th November 2019, the progressive mission of Mozambique added another feather in the history of Mozambique Delegation as it joyfully welcomed the newly ordained deacons, Bro. Linus, Bro. Moises and Bro. Poomagan. The order of diaconate took place in St. John the Evangelist Church, Malhangalene, during the solemn Eucharistic Banquet which was presided over by Rt. Rev. Francisco Chimoio, the Archbishop of Maputo, in the presence of 30 priests, many religious and faithful. In his homily, the Archbishop exhorted the newly ordained deacons to be honest, prudent, zealous, enthusiastic, punctual, devout and sincere in exercising their pastoral ministry. He reminded the faithful that the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few and so to pray for the newly ordained deacons and all the priests that they may be faithful and fruitful in their ministry.
Besides all the MSFS confreres of Mozambique Delegation, our ever ready and helpful benefactors, well-wishers and friends, the Vice-Provincial of the Vincentians, the Regional Superior of the SVD and the Minister of Work and Social Security were also present for the liturgy. We also expressed gratefulness to God as we got our first deacon from Mozambique. Fr. Henry, the Delegation Superior, on behalf of the MSFS and Bro. Linus, on behalf of the newly-ordained deacons, thanked the gathering for having graced the occasion with their presence. The celebration ended with all joyfully participating in the agape.
Bro. Amit
Baa MSFS
The Annual Province Retreat October 2019 was animated
by Fr. Jacob Parappally MSFS. Titled; ‘Centring on Christ and Becoming Human’,
the days of the retreat were grace filled moments to be with the Lord. Imbued
by the exhortation of our Heavenly Patron that “I am nothing if not human,” all
the reflections shared by the preacher were based on the passage from Rom 12:
2-18. In fact, he invited everyone to waste our time in the presence of the
Lord so that we may be transformed and thus be able to transform the world.
Fr. Jacob made it very clear that the renewal of our
mind is the first step towards transformation. When one has the right thoughts
in the mind one can develop the right feelings and thus it results in right
actions. Therefore, what is expected from each one is to change the perspective
with which one approaches one’s life. While
clearly
distinguishing between the Core identity which is Christophony or
aham-Christasmi and Role identity as assigned by our superiors, he stated that
our role identity in the mission must fulfil our core identity by reflecting
the Christic character. The very core identity of each exhorts us to become
more Christo centric. The role identity invites us to pro-active by breaking
all the shackles of conditioning, such as genetic, social, psychological, etc.
and thus become more humane in our encounter with others. Discovering the
direction of our self, particularly articulating the personal mission
statement, and growing from dependence to independence and finally to
inter-dependence are the major hurdles in becoming Christo centric in today’s
world.
Having been created in the image and likeness of the Trinity, we are by our very nature communitarian and we are expected to imitate the Fatherly dimension of transcendence, the Son dimension of transparency and the Spirit dimension of immanence. Such interiorization of Trinitarian dimensions enables us to encounter God and thus transform our lives. Recognizing the Spirit within us in the depth of inner silence, one can also experience the absence of God in one’s life and the realization of such absence gives us the realization of presence of God, just as St. John finds the presence of the Risen Jesus in His absence at the empty tomb. God through sacraments and prayer invites all of us, to have an encounter with Him and to let our lives become a God experience for the other. Similarly, prayer must be an openness, spontaneity or candidness, which ultimately lets us to grow from formality to a personal intimacy with God. The preacher concluded the retreat exhorting all to engage in an Apostolic Adventurism with proper discernment, to become more relevant in the context of Indian society.
Fr. Jacob with his expertise in Christology and with
the natural ability to present matters in his most convincing and interesting
style kept every participant of this retreat alert and awake. With specific
themes for each day’s talks and time for adoration made the days of prayers and
reflections more devotional and meaningful. At the end time was given to the
participants to clarify their theological confusions and doubts. I pray that as
envisaged, all the participants of this retreat may centre themselves on Christ
to become more human and thus be more effective ministers of Christ in one’s
own respective apostolate. Fr. Anson
Abraham MSFS
An educational institution in Kandor mission,
Jharkhand was a long cherished dream of the Nagpur Province. The people of this
place too had the same dream. 21st October 2019 was a joyful and memorable day in
the history of Kandor mission. At 10.30 a.m. we began the Inauguration Ceremony
with Holy Mass. Sr. Anupa Kiro FCC welcomed all the guests. Holy Mass was
presided over by Rt. Rev. Julius Marandi, the Bishop of Dumka Diocese. Bishop
Julius in his introduction appreciated the fast developing work being done by
the MSFS in Kandor Mission and he thanked especially the Provincial and Fr.
Francis V. MSFS, who came all the way from Germany to be present for this
event. The Bishop also said that as the number of students is increasing every
year a new school building was very much needed. This school will definitely
provide the best education to the underprivileged children and help especially
the Santhal children to have a bright future.
Then the school building was inaugurated by Fr.
Provincial. He cut the ribbon at main entrance of the school and unveiled the
plaque. The ceremonial lamp was lit by
Bishop Julius, Fr. Provincial, Fr. Francis V. and the other invited guests. The
ground floor was blessed by Bishop Julius and the first floor by Fr. Francis V.
in the presence of students, staff, religious, priests and the faithful. This
was followed by a cultural program. The school community then welcomed the
special guest by presenting them with a
rose flower. The entire program was well organized by the teachers and
students.
Fr,
Kamil Tete proposed the vote of thanks and honoured all the guests by
presenting them with a shawl. The architect Mr. Parag Date, the contractor Mr.
Amit Patre, and Mr. Neetin Zanwar BPO of Borio Block, Jharkhand were specially
honoured. The Kandor Community acknowledged, appreciated and expressed sincere
gratitude to God, to the Provincial Administration and especially to Fr.
Francis, Mrs. Martina Kamp and all the parishioners of Pinzberg Germany who
financially supported us to build the new school building. Fr.
Kamil Tete MSFS
On 10th October, St. John’s Community
celebrated with joy the Golden Jubilee of Mrs. Laxmi’s dedicated service in St.
John’s kitchen. All members of the MSFS Apostolic Community of Nagpur, the Holy
Cross sisters and the near and dear ones of Mrs. Laxmi joined in praising God
for this great milestone of her life of service.
The Thanksgiving Mass was held at St. John’s
Chapel. The main celebrant was Fr. Melroy and the homily was preached by Fr.
Muthuswamy. In his introduction Fr. Melroy shared a dialogue between Fr.
Mermier and Mrs. Laxmi, a true daughter of his, who served his sons for the
past 50 years and spent many years working with his daughters.
Fr. Mermier smiled and said; “Laxmi you are doing a very noble task. God bless you
and your family members.”
After the mass Mrs. Laxmi was welcomed to the
dining room by showering of rose petals. Fr. Vishwas was the M.C. for the
felicitation program. After the words of welcome, Mrs. Laxmi cut the cake and
all sang congratulations to her. She was felicitated with a shawl by the
Provincial and given a bouquet and a gift by the community members. As soup and
snacks were being enjoyed on the screen was shown glimpses of her life of
service. Mrs. Laxmi in her choked voice expressed her gratitude to the members
of St. John’s community for organizing such a meaningful program. Fr. Telespore
gave the vote of thanks and all enjoyed the delicious meal.
Mrs. Laxmi is a person of strong faith and
ardent in her commitment. Her perseverance and total dedication to her mission
in the kitchen is greatly admired by all. Alfred Lord Tennyson in his poem “The
Brook” wrote; “Men may come and men may go, but I go on forever.” Mrs. Laxmi
can rightly say; “Fathers and brothers will come and go but I will go on
serving, till the Lord desires.” May God bless her with good health and true
peace and joy, as she continues on her life’s journey of loving, dedicated
service in St. John’s kitchen. Fr.
Melroy Almeida MSFS
A religious community is a group of persons living together, knowing and
loving one another. This is the earthly version of the Kingdom of God. Jesus
said to His disciples, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest for
a while.” (Mk 6:31) In the context of the return of the seventy-two, this call
of Jesus could mean that He was calling his disciples for some rest, after the
completion of the mission entrusted to them. On the other hand we can also say
that Jesus was asking His disciples to gather at a lonely place so that they
could possibly evaluate their Mission Experience. Whether they had fulfilled
the original mandate they were sent to accomplish.
In the light of this need, the members of the Mozambique Delegation
gathered at Casa Fransaliana, Matola, Mozambique, for the Colloquium-2019, from
22nd - 25th September. It was a gathering to assess, to evaluate, to straighten
the curves and to re-dedicate ourselves to the ‘Mission Mozambique.’ The theme
of the Colloquium was ‘MSFS ON THE THRESHOLD OF HOPE FOR A PROGRESSIVE MISSION
IN MOZAMBIQUE.’ The assembly began on 22nd evening with the introductory and
recollection talk given by Fr. Henry, the Delegation Superior. The key-note
address was delivered by Fr. Joseph Puliyilakat, of the Southern-African
Region. The total number of participants was 19. We were happy to have the
guiding presence of the Provincial, Rev. Fr. J.B. Muthuswamy. A well-planned schedule
was prepared for the smooth flow of the Colloquium. Each day had a theme in
line with our MSFS Constitutions.
Fr. Petrus Tirkey, the outgoing Delegation Superior shared his report.
This was followed by reports of the four forums - Mission, Formation, Education
and Social-Innovative Ministries. Then the collated report of the questionnaire
and the financial report were presented. For the first time, the election of
the Councilors/Advisors and Bursar of the Delegation was held by secret ballot.
A special session was held to reflect and discuss on the Call of the General
Chapter-2019. On the last day of the Colloquium, Founder’s Day was celebrated.
A few benefactors of the Delegation were also present for the festive meal.
Martin Luther King Jr. once said; “An individual has not started living
until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to
the broader concerns of all humanity.” As a community of Jesus’ disciples, we
the MSFS in Mozambique, have decided to carry on the vision and mission of
Jesus actively in accordance with the decisions of the Colloquium-2019. To
those who ask the question, “Is there any hope for progress in Mozambique
Mission?” our answer is a resounding Yes. In Christ there is always hope. A
hope for progress echoing in the hearts and minds of all the members of the
Mozambique Delegation. Fr. Melky MSFS
“How
much better it is to get wisdom than gold; to get insight rather than silver!”
(Proverbs 16:16).
29th August 2019 is a day to be written
in the historical annals of the Parish School of Ambapani, as it saw the new
light of hope for a bright future in the form of new structure; the extended
school building. It is a dream come true of so many. The occasion started with
the lighting of the lamp by all the dignitaries - Fr. J.B. Muthuswamy, the
Provincial of Nagpur Province, Miss Suchita Bilung, the Sarpanch of Bamdera,
Fr. Lalit Tigga, Fr. Bijay Kerketa and Fr. Sandeep Tirkey the Parish Priest of
Ambapani. Fr. Sandeep formally welcomed and introduced the guests and presented
each of them with a shawl and a bouquet. What brought more colour to the event
was the Cultural Program put up by the children of the school. It was
appreciated by all. Fr. Provincial in his message encouraged the children to
study hard, dream big and have clarity of vision. The program ended with a
fellowship meal. The members of Ambapani mission express their sincere thanks
to Nagpur Province and the Provincial Administration for the interest shown in
the development of the mission; especially of the school, which would certainly
benefit the children of the place. Fr. Sandeep Tirkey MSFS
We were overjoyed to reach Mozambique after our long stay in Tanzania.
On 16th August we reached Mozambique and we were warmly welcomed by Fr. Petrus
Kullu and the community members. The next day was a momentous day as the
members of the Mozambique Delegation
gathered for the installation of the new Delegation Superior. Before
dinner Fr. Petrus, the outgoing Delegation Superior, officially welcomed each
of us with a bouquet of flowers. We felt very much enriched by the affectionate
love and care given to us by all the fathers and brothers. The next day was a
great occasion; all the members of the Delegation along with the friends,
well-wishers and benefactors witnessed the installation of the new Delegation
Superior, Fr. Henry Clement. We too were introduced to those who were present.
The following day Fr. Henry invited us to participate in the Holy Eucharistic celebration at two sub-stations of Bela Vista parish. The parishioners gave us a cordial welcome. These people are materially poor but they are very rich as human beings. The warm welcome that we received from them was an unexpected experience for us. After the Eucharistic celebration we visited our community members at Bela Vista and Katembe. Although it was just the beginning of our life in Mozambique, we felt at home because of the love that we received from every member of the Delegation. Bros. Lona C. & Clement L.
My long-awaited Canonical Visitation to Germany and
other European countries took place in the months of June and July. I had been
reading reports of such visitations by former Provincials as it was my first
visit to our confreres in Europe. On 15th August I
touched down on German soil at Munich airport.
After immigration clearance when I reached the arrival area I was joyfully
received by Fr. Michael Raj, the Delegation Superior. We travelled for little
over an hour to reach immigration clearance when I reached the arrival area I
was joyfully received by Fr. Michael Raj, the Delegation Superior. We travelled
for little over an hour to reach Fr. Michael’s
residence. After a day of rest, I along with Frs. Michael Raj, Anish
George and Robin Xavier flew to Rome to be present for Fr. Domy’s doctoral
defence in Canon Law. He did very well in the defence of his thesis. Many confreres and some of his friends were also present. He was highly
appreciated by the three professors on the panel and they awarded him 89 out of
90. After the doctoral defence a short felicitation program was organized to
rejoice at the success of Fr. Domy. I was given the honour of felicitating the
professors.
After my trip to Rome, l returned to Germany where I met most of our
fathers who are working in different parishes. I had the joy of staying with
them for a day or two with the exception of Fr. Marianus Kujur. There are two
local communities in Germany; one in Bamberg Diocese and the other in
Regensburg Diocese. Fr. Rajesh Lugun is the Local Superior of those who are
working in Bamberg diocese. The other members are Frs. Vincent Chettiar, Ashok
Anthony, Pradeep Tirkey and Robin Xavier. I spent a day with each one of them, listening
to them about their life and ministry. All the members then came together for a
common community meeting at Fr. Ashok Anthony’s place. We had a very meaningful
sharing. Their concerns were discussed and they were encouraged to grow in
their lives as religious priests and fully involve themselves in their pastoral
ministry. I went around the places of our fathers who are working in
Regensburg Diocese. Fr. Anish George is the Local Superior of
Regensburg local community. The following members work in this diocese; Frs.
Michael Raj, Marianus Kerketta, Marianus Kujur and Charles Porimatathil.
Then I travelled to Switzerland and Fr. Francis V. took me to the important tourist
centres in Zurich. I also had the joy of meeting some of our friends and well-wishers who live in Liechtenstein.
Many of them financially contribute for our Province projects. Switzerland is
certainly one of the most beautiful places in the world and so it is not
surprising that this tiny country attracts innumerable tourists throughout the
year. I then moved to Rome and spent two days going around the Eternal city. I
visited the four Major Basilicas in Rome and also made a pilgrimage to Assisi.
Then I returned to Germany and we drove to France to visit our Mother House. We
spent a day going around the city of Annecy and saw the places which are
connected with our Patron and our Founder. Our confrere of the Mother House
then took me to Chavanod, to the Mother House of the Holy Cross sisters. On my way back to Germany I had the joy of meeting the confreres
of Franco –Swiss Province who had assembled for their annual retreat. I was fortunate
and very happy to meet Fr. Emile Mayoraz, our beloved former Superior General.
He is in a home for senior citizens and is well looked after. We spent some
time with him, received his blessings and resumed our journey back to Germany.
Here I had the honour of meeting the Vicar Generals of both Bamberg and
Regensburg dioceses. They were highly appreciative of our fathers’ dedicated
service and wished to continue our collaboration with them. I sincerely thanked
them for their concern and constant support for all our confreres ministering
in their dioceses. I also had a very enriching meeting with the Delegation
members of GAH and discussed with them the Call of the General Chapter 2019.
The members shared about their lives, ministry, daily challenges and the policy
of the Congregation regarding the term of ministry in developed countries. The
new initiative of the General Chapter about the possibility of starting local
communities in developed countries was discussed and there was a meaningful
exchange of views on this new proposal. Fr. Michael Raj made the necessary arrangements
to have this meeting in his place. For me it was a wonderful experience to meet
all our confreres working in Europe. I would like to thank all of them as they
took a lot of trouble to make me to feel at home and even cooked tasty Indian dishes suitable
to my taste buds. On behalf of the entire Province I sincerely thank all of
them for all that they are doing for the development of the Province. I pray to God to
bless them with good health. May they all enjoy true fulfilment as they whole
heartedly minister and serve in the Vineyard of the Lord.
I am happy to
inform you all that Fr. Henry Nedumkallel will be the New delegation Superior
of Mozambique delegation. I wish him all the very best and congratulate him on
behalf of Nagpur province. Let's pray for him so that the spirit of the Lord
may accompany him to carry out his new responsibility.
Fr. Muthuswamy
An Update Programme for those who were
ordained between 1995 & 2009 was held from 25th to 27th July 2019 at MSFS
Provincialate, Nagpur. There were 24 participants and the resource person was
Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Philip Thomas MSFS of North East Province. Provincial Fr. Muthuswamy
and former Superior General Fr. Agnelo Fernandes were present for the inaugural session
held on 25/7/19 at 9 am in the conference hall, which began with a short prayer
service and lighting of the lamp, followed by introducing the speaker of the
day by Fr. William Anthony, and welcoming the dignitaries with bouquet of
flowers. The update programme which was well appreciated and enjoyed by the
participants was concluded with a photo session followed by Lunch on the 27th
July 2019 along with the confreres from all msfs communities in Nagpur
Apostolic community. Fr. Shijumon proposed vote of thanks.
Fr. Wilson
Abraham
SFS School
at Bamra, was formally inaugurated on 22nd July 2019. Our
invited guest arrived from 09.00 am. Students lined up outside the gate and
welcomed the guest and parents. Inaugural Ceremony began with lighting of the
lamp by his lordship Bishop Niranjan Sualsingh of Sambalpur Diocese, MSFS
Provincial Fr. John Britto Muthuswamy MSFS, Fr Agnelo Fernandes MSFS and other
specially invited Guest, followed by a prayer dance put up by the students of
Classes 1 to 3. The School Community then welcomed officially the Chief
Guest, the Guest of honour and the special guest by presentation of Bouquets.
Bishop Niranjan Sualsingh conducted the prayers and blessed the school followed
by the Inauguration of the School by cutting the ribbon at the main entrance of
the school and unveiling of the Plaque by Rev. Fr. Provincial John Britto Muthuswamy which
marked moments of History for SFS School, Bamra. Students of Classes 4 and 5
entertained the audience with their spectacular performance through a cultural
dance depicting life of Rural Odisha. The entire Program was well moderated by
the student leadership squad and teachers played their role at the background.
Fr. Jacob
Karamakuzhyil
The Pre-SPA (Salesian Programme Annecy) was conducted in the Nagpur
Provincialate from 4th to 11th July 2019. The participants of the programme
were: Fr. Badugu Thambi Raj (Visakhapatnam), Fr. Ashihe Andrew (North-East),
Fr. I. S. Jesuraj (South-East), Fr. A. Prashant Kumar (South-West) and Fr. Jijo
Punchayil (Nagpur- Mozambique). It was animated by Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, Fr.
Melroy Almeida, Fr. Philip K and Fr. Issac John. The inaugural programme began
with a short prayer service. The hymn to the Holy Spirit put all in the mood of
seeking the Wisdom of God, launching into the deep and thirsting for the
unknown. This was followed by the lighting of the lamp by Fr. Agnelo F, Fr.
Patras Tirkey the Provincial Vicar and Fr. Melroy.
Fr. William formally welcomed all the participants to the city of
Oranges and the second home of the MSFS in India by offering them a bouquet
each. Fr. Patras exhorted the participants to live up to the expectations of
the Congregation. “There is so much to see, so much to learn, so go with an
open mind.” This was followed by an overview of the programme given by Fr.
Issac. The participants were made aware of the objectives of Pre-SPA,
expectations during SPA and commitments to be made after SPA to spread Salesian
Spirituality. The inaugural Eucharist was celebrated by Fr. Agnelo on 5th July.
He exhorted the participants to discover the treasures in Salesian Spirituality
and Mermierean Heritage.
The programme was spread over eight days with four Salesian conferences each day. Various aspects related to the Congregation were touched upon during these conferences. Fr. Agnelo enlightened the participants on the Missionary Spirit of the French Missionaries; the Spirit of Evangelization, Salesian Spirituality, etc. The participants were able to journey with him through the missionary legacy of the Congregation. Fr. Melroy dealt with Fr. Mermier; his Missionary Legacy and the Virtues of Mermier. Fr. Issac highlighted various aspects related to St. Francis de Sales; a comparative study of Salesians personalities, etc. Fr. Philip enlightened the participants about Salesian literature, especially the Treatise on The Love of God. The participants were taken to many MSFS historical heritage sites in and around Nagpur. Visiting the Kamptee church evoked a nostalgic feeling in them. The concluding Eucharist was celebrated by Fr. William. The participants honoured the resource persons and others with a gift as a sign of their gratitude. The Pre-SPA program helped to create within the participants an awareness of Salesian spirituality. They were convinced that SPA will help them to rekindle their love for the Church by learning about St. Francis de Sales and Fr. Peter Mermier. Fr. Isaac John MSFS
The Pre-SPA (Salesian Programme Annecy) was conducted in Nagpur Provincialate from 4th to 11th July 2019. The Participants of the Programme were: Fr. Badugu Thambi Raj (Visakhapatnam), Fr. Ashihe Andrew (North-East), Fr. I. S. Jesuraj (South East), Fr. A. Prashant Kumar (South West) and Fr. Jijo Punchayil (Nagpur - Mozambique) and was animated by Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, Fr. Melroy Almeida, Fr. Philip K and Fr. Issac John. The inaugural programme began with a short prayer service. This was followed by lighting of the Lamp by Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, the main resource person, Fr. Patras the vicar of the Provincial and Fr. Melroy. Fr. William formally welcomed all the participants to the city of Oranges and the second home of the MSFS in India by offering them a bouquet each. The programme was spread over eight days with four Salesian conferences each day. Fr. Agnelo enlightened the participants on the Missionary spirit of the French Missionaries, the spirit of evangelization, Salesian spirituality, etc. Participants were able to journey through the missionary legacy of the congregation with him. Fr Melroy dealt with Fr Mermier and his missionary legacy, the virtues of Mermier, etc. Fr. Issac highlighted various aspects related to St. Francis de Sales, a comparative study of the Salesians personalities, etc. Fr. Philip enlightened the participants about Salesian literature, especially the Treatise on the love of God.
Fr. Issac John
Fr. Domy Thomas, after completing his Licentiate in Canon Law in St. Peter`s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore, joined the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome on 5th September 2016 to do his doctorate in canon law. During the first academic year itself he successfully completed the prerequisites required and simultaneously also studied Italian and completed B2 Level in Italian. The title of his Research was, Juridical and Pastoral Importance of Prenuptial Investigation: A Study of CIC Canon 1067 and CCEO Canon 784 with Special Reference to India. His hard work and determination helped him to complete the research work within three years and he submitted the thesis by the end of April 2019 to the university for approval. He got his thesis approved by 20 May 2019 and his Defense was scheduled for 18 June. Just like Fr. Domy I was also excited and nervous as I was attending a doctoral defense for the first time. Around 40 people were at the venue to witness the defense. The presence of Fr. John Britto Muthuswamy, the Provincial, Fr. Thumma Mariadas, Fr. Michael Raj, Fr. Anish George and other confreres from the MSFS community in Rome was a great encouragement for him. Many of his companions, friends and relatives in Rome also attended the defense. Congratulations Rev. Dr. Fr. Domy Thomas! Wishing you all the very best in your future ministry.
Fr. Robin Xavier MSFS
It is
a joyful occasion for all of us as Bro. Sanjay Lakra of Nagpur province made
his final profession on 07th June 2019 and fifteen
brothers from the different provinces renewed their vows for one more year. The
solemn Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Rev. Fr. Jayaseelan, the
Provincial of Pune Province. The concelebrants were Fr. Binu E, Fr. Johnson,
the Rector, Fr. Anthony Samy, the Vice Rector, Fr. Noel Rebello, Fr. Jerson,
Fr. Daniel Bara the delegate of Nagpur Province and priests from the Pune
Apostolic Community. The theme for the celebration was ‘Called to Love and
Serve.’ After the mass there was a short program to felicitate the perpetually
professed brothers and all those who renewed their vows. The celebrations came
to an end with a fellowship meal.
Bro.
S. Pradeep Jerald
On 30th May 11 novices, 5 of Pune Province and 6 of Nagpur Province were initiated into the Novitiate at a simple but solemn function in Dhyanashram Chapel, in the presence of Fr. John Britto Muthuswamy, Provincial of Nagpur Province, Fr. Toni Prem, the delegate of the Pune Provincial, Fr. Benedict De Souza, the Novice Master and Fr. Barnabas Xalxo and Fr. Stephen Soares of the Novitiate Formation Team. Texts from the MSFS Constitutions were read and prayers were recited.
Bro. Sourav Topno
MSFS
It is a joyful occasion for all of us as Bro. Amit Tirkey made his final
profession on 28th May 2019 at the Indian Institute of Spirituality, Bengaluru.
There were all together 11 brothers from the provinces of South West, South
East and Nagpur. They made their final commitment in the presence of Rev. Fr.
Benny Kottinal the Provincial Superior of South West India Province and the
formation councilors. It was a joy to have the presence of many of our MSFS
confreres, religious brothers and sisters and the family members of the
perpetually professed members.
Bro. Ruben MSFS
On 18th May 2019 at the Delegation House in Matola, Brothers Linus Joseph, Moisés Goma Supaida and Poomagan Sensus Lass made their Final Commitment to the Lord, during the Holy Eucharist celebration which was presided over by Fr. Petrus Kullu, the Delegation Superior.
Bro. Vishal Barse MSFS
7th May 2019 was a day of great joy and cheer and the Ludeg Parish of Jashpur Diocese, Chattishgarh had a festive look. On this day Roshan Tigga was ordained to the priesthood by Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Kerketta D.D. Bishop of Jashpur. In his homily the Bishop preached on the three vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. He further emphasized that these vows should form a priest in his noble selfless service to the universal Church, to God as well as to the entire society. The Provincial, Fr. John Britto Muthuswamy, many MSFS confreres, priests and religious graced the occasion. Parishioners from the different villages of Ludeg parish presented an entertaining cultural program during which Fr. Roshan was warmly and joyfully felicitated.
Fr. Lalit Tigga MSFS
It was a day of
great joy for the people of Ramsama Parish, Kajrah when they witnessed the
ordination of Deacon Rajendra Toppo along with other two deacons, belonging to
the Jesuits [MP] and from the Diocese of Indore. They were ordained by Rt. Rev.
Emmanuel Kerketta, DD, the Bishop of Jashpur. In his homily the Bishop exhorted
the ordinandis to be faithful to their responsibilities as priests. There was a
felicitation program after the Holy Eucharist. Around 70 priests and many
sisters attended the ordination. Fr. John Britto Muthusamy, our Provincial,
attended the ordination.
Fr. Bijay Kerketta MSFS
At
this juncture quite fittingly goes the theme “I have come to do your will” the
motto chosen by Fr. Anto Deepak for his ordination to the priesthood. The
ordination ceremony took place on 4th May in his parish. He was blessed and
ordained a priest by Rt. Rev. Dr. Antonysamy Peter Abir D.D, the Bishop of
Sultanpet Diocese, Palakkad. Present for the ceremony was Rev. Fr. John Britto
Mutuswamy the Provincial of Nagpur Province, many MSFS fathers and brothers of
different provinces, fathers and sisters working in the diocese, his parents,
relatives and villagers.
Fr.
Peter Thomas MSFS
May God grant eternal
rest to Fr. Armind Nazareth who died on 2nd May at the age of 91 in Belgaum,
Karnataka. He was the Provincial of the erstwhile undivided province of
Maharashtra Goa Province of which Nagpur Province, at that time, was a part. On
behalf of all the confreres of Nagpur Province I salute with great honour and
esteem Fr Armind, whose legacy in many
respects, continues in our Province. We the MSFS who knew him and worked with
him admire the integrity of his life marked with simplicity, joy, gentleness
and excellence. With felicitous decorum and respectful dignity he worked
untiringly and generously as an educator, a formator, a provincial, a general
councilor and above all as a pleasant and supportive confrere in communities to
which he was assigned. Outstanding are some of his precious contributions to
the life of the Congregation. After the Second Vatican Council, Father Armind
played a significant role in preparing then, the draft of the Revised
Constitutions. He was a joint -translator with other confreres of the two Salesian classics , ‘The Treatise on the Love
of God ‘ and ‘The Introduction to Devout Life’. A person of the caliber of Father Armind
reveals a profound truth: vocation as MSFS, when lived to the full, is indeed a
tremendous source of joy for oneself, and a transformative blessing and memory
for generations to come. May Father Armind rest in peace.
Fr. Muthuswamy
Deacon Manu Joseph
MSFS was ordained to the priesthood by His Grace George Njaralakattu,
Archbishop of Talassery, on 27th April 2019, at Holy Cross Church,
Vellariyanam, Kannur. The ordination of Deacon Manu was a milestone as it was
the first ordination in the newly built church. The Archbishop in his message
pointed out the status and responsibilities of a priest in the church. Rev. Fr.
John Britto Muthuswamy MSFS, the Provincial, addressed the gathering and
congratulated Fr. Manu on behalf of Nagpur Province.
Fr.
Anson Kaliyath MSFS
23rd April 2019 is a red
letter day in the annals of S.F.S. School, Neemuch. On this day at 5: 00 pm the
blessing and inauguration of the newly built St. Francis de Sales Adoration
Convent and the School Building Extension took place at the hands of Rt. Rev.
Dev Prasad Ganawa SVD, Bishop of Udaipur, in the presence of Fr. Muthuswamy,
Provincial of Nagpur Province, and Sr. Agnet SABS, Provincial of Jyotiremei
Province. This was followed by the Holy Eucharist. The parishioners together
with the dignitaries, invitees and well-wishers gave thanks to God for the
endeavours of our missionaries.
Mission Forum Seminar at MSFS Provincialate, Nagpur.
Social and Innovative Ministry Forum Seminar at MSFS Provincialate, Nagpur.
On 18th of February, bro. Santhosh Kumar is Ordained as Deacon. Lets wish him all the best in his ministry.
Education Forum Seminar at MSFS Provincialate, Nagpur.
Superior General: Very Rev. Fr. Abraham Vetuvellil MSFS
Asst. General: Rev. Fr. Yves Carron MSFS
General Councillors:
Fr. Johnson Kallidukkil MSFS,
Fr. Suresh Babu MSFS,
Fr. J. Stephen MSFS,
Fr. Jacob Karamakuzhiyl MSFS.
Formation Forum Seminar at MSFS Provincialate, Nagpur.
Bangalore 3 December, 2018
(CCBI): His Holiness, Pope Francis has appointed His Excellency Most. Rev.
Elias Gonsalves (57), until now Bishop of Amravati, Maharashtra as the new
Archbishop of Nagpur. This ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on
Monday, 3rd December, 2018, at noon local time, corresponding to 16:30 hours,
Indian Standard Time.
Most Rev. Elias Gonsalves, was born on 4 July, 1961, in Chulna
Village, Vasai Road, Thane, Maharashtra. He studied at St. Pius X Seminary,
Mumbai and was ordained priest on 1 April, 1990 in Vasai, for the Archdiocese
of Bombay. He has a B. A. in History and Economics, from Bombay University
(1982), he did his studies in Community Based Development and Leadership, from
St. Francis Xavier University, Coady Institute, Canada, and studies in
Counselling.
He was Assistant Parish Priest at Nandakhal, Vasai (1990-1991)
and Sandor, Vasai (1991-1997); Youth Coordinator for South Vasai Deanery
(1993-1996); Priest in-charge at Roha (1997-2004); Priest in-charge at Panvel
(2005-2008); Assistant Director and then Director, Centre for Social Action,
Mumbai (2008-2012); Director, Sarvodaya Centre for Capacity Building, Mumbai
(2009-2012). He was elected Bishop of Amravati on 11 July, 2012 and ordained on
29 September, 2012.
Dear Friends,
Wish you a very happy feast of our Heavenly Patron St. Francis de Sales. May he intercede for all of us.
May this festive season sparkle and shine, may all of your wishes and dreams come true, and may you feel this happiness all year round. Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Deacon Vinayanand Katru is ordained as Priest. May God bless his Family and his Priestly Ministry.
On 10th of November Bro. Rajendra Toppo was ordained as Deacon.
Congregational Retreat for the first group concluded today. Let's thank God for all his Blessings.
Theme: "Walk the Way; Live the Grace"
Fr Superior General Inaugurates St. John's Public School, Nagpur and Fr. Jerome Pinto, Administrator of Nagpur Archdiocese joins as Chief Guest
Fr. Superior General Kick Starts Mermier Football Tournament of St. John's high School.
Fr. Superior General meets Provincial Curia of Nagpur Province.
Name List
and Dates of Ordination:
Deacon
Aneesh Devassykutty - 14th January 2024
Deacon Biraj
Minz - 21st January 2024
Deacon
Roshan Minz - 21st January 2024
Deacon
Jagadish Tete - 10th February 2024
Deacon Samir
Minj - 2nd May 2024
Miss. Maria,the cousin of Fr. Rajesh Jayaseelan who passed away on 15th August 2018.
Mr. Patras Minj, the father of Fr. Vincent Minj who passed away on 24th August 2018.
Mr. Anthony, the uncle of Fr. John Peter who passed away on 02nd September 2018.
Mrs. Chandrakala Torne, the aunty of Fr. Vishwas Torne who passed away on 08th September 2018.
Mr. Dasaiah, Aged 62 the father of Fr. Amal Raju Bandanadam who passed away 06th February 2019.
Mr. Samikannu, Aged 70 the Uncle of Fr. John Peter who passed away on 3rd February 2019.
Mrs. Lilly Pushpam, the aunt of Fr. Gijo Francis, who passed away on 21st December 2018.
Mrs. Anna Joseph, the mother of Fr. George Kurickal, who passed away on 22nd December 2018.
Mr. Joseph Pandit, the uncle of Fr. Anil Pandit, who passed away on 31st December 2018.
Fr. Paul Pallikunneth MSFS, passed away on 21st February 2019.
Mr. Cyril Fernandes, the husband of Lavina, who passed away on 20th January 2019.
Mr. M J Simon, the father of Fr. Philip Mallaparambil, who passed away on 30th
January 2019.
Mrs. Rebeka kullu, the aunt of Dn. Deepak baa, who passed away on 17th February 2019.
Mr. Abraham Kindo, the uncle of Fr. Deepak Kindo, who passed away on 14th
February 2019.
Mrs. Pitchaimuthaiammal, the aunt of Fr. Peter Paul, who passed away on 20th
February 2019.
Mr. Sunny Adackappara, elder brother of Fr.
Wilson Abraham, passed away at the age of 56. Died on 6 May 2024
Copyright 2024 MSFS Provincialate, NAGPUR. All rights reserved.
Fr. Manoj Tirkey
Fr. Agnelo Fernandes 
Fr. Joseph Kailamangalam
Fr. Allen Gonsalves 
Fr. Sandeep Tirkey 
Fr. Sylbestar Xalxo 
Rev. Fr. Abraham Vettuvelil
Rev. Fr. Johnson Kallidukil
Rev. Fr. Stepehn J.
Rev. Fr. Jacob Karamakuzhyil
Fr. Saji George Puthiyakulangara
Rev. Fr. Jose Cheriyanthara