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 

30^th  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

“No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away.”

Rev. Fr. Michael Bosco D’Souza lovingly known as Fr. Mickey, 84 years, left for his heavenly reward at 11.00 pm, on 21^st November in Mermier Sadan, Nagpur. Months of pain, suffering and incapacitation he bore with patience and total trust in God. To those who met him he never complained about his predicament and had the inner strength to face them cheerfully.

Rev. Fr. Michael D’Souza was born on 29^th September 1935 to Mr. Bernard and Mrs. Isabella at Dabul, Mombasa, Kenya. He was baptized on 12^th September 1935 at Dabul and was confirmed      on 16^th December 1944 at Goa.

1941-47: Primary and secondary education at Holy Cross School Bastora, Goa.

1955: completed his secondary education at SFS School, Bastora.  1958-59: Minor seminary at St. Charles, Nagpur.

1959-60: Novitiate. First Profession on 26^th April 1960.

1960-62: Philosophy at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune.

1962-63: Regency at St. John’s High School, Nagpur.

26^th April 1963: Final Profession.

1963-1966: Theology at JDV, Pune.

4^th November 1966: Ordained a priest at Fransalian Seminary, Pune.

He worked at the following places:

1967-75: St. Joseph Technical School, Nagpur.

1976-78: Diploma in Technical Education in Germany.

1979-86: St. Joseph Technical School, Nagpur.

1987-90: Principal, Fransalian Technical Institute, Aurangabad.

1991-93: Priest in charge, St. John Evangelist Church, Cidco, Aurangabad.

1994-98: Administrator, St. Joseph Technical School, Nagpur.

1997-98: Superior of the Technical Community.

1999-2005: Novice Master of the newly started Novitiate of Nagpur Province, Varanasi.

2006-13: Assistant Parish Priest, Sacred Heart Church, Bhusawal.

24th September 2016: Celebrated his Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee at Nagpur.

2014-19: Mermier Sadan.

Fr. Micky was a spiritual man, very human in his approach and very hospitable in nature. He was very hard working, punctual and was always ready to be at the service of the Congregation and people. Lack of experience never deterred him from assuming new responsibilities. His contribution to the establishment of St. John the Evangelist Church, Aurangabad is well known to all. He was the first novice master when Nagpur Province started the Novitiate in Varanasi. His love for football and his exploits on the football field is a known fact. He had special love for the poor. As a technical person he spent most of his life to impart technical skills to the students both at Nagpur and Aurangabad. The decision of the Provincial Administration to draw the curtains on St. Joseph Technical School, Nagpur brought him immense pain and even tears to his eyes. He was very fond of ice cream and chocolates and he would do anything to procure a chocolate even when he was bed-ridden. He was very creative and used to spend maximum time to make rosaries and religious articles. He also wrote many religious skits, dramas, inspiring talks and conducted motivational classes. Last year he made beautiful stars for all the members of Mermier Sadan and gifted it to them for Christmas. He had been keeping indifferent health for the last six months and he bore the pain and suffering without much complaint except occasionally yelling ‘Mummy’. He lived his religious life cheerfully and kept nothing for himself. He loved life in mission just like our Founder. He joyfully welcomed the difficult periods of religious life and inspired the novices by sharing the same with them. He also regularly prayed for vocations. He treated all confreres with love and affection.

On 22^nd November at 3.00 pm, our Superior General Rev. Fr. Abraham Vettuvelil presided over the Requiem Eucharist which was also concelebrated by thirty priests and attended by many religious, friends and well-wishers of Fr. Mickey. His mortal remains were then taken to the cemetery at Seminary Hills and laid to rest.

Fr. Provincial thanked the Mermier Sadan community, especially the local superior Fr. Emmanuel for taking loving care of Fr. Mickey during his illness. He also acknowledged the caring service rendered by Mrs. Jessy and the Fransalian communities of Nagpur for assisting whenever their services were needed. He also thanked the Provincialate community and its superior, Fr. William Anthony for making necessary arrangements for the funeral.

Let us thank the Lord for the gift of Fr. Mickey to the Church, the Congregation and the Province and for all that he did for the people of God. Let us offer this wonderful confrere of ours to the Lord and pray that God out of the fullness of His love and compassion may grant him eternal life in His Kingdom.