My dear brothers
As usual time is running by fast!
We welcome back in India Fr. Josef who already started to work in Salespuram.
Fr. Josef, Deacon Mathew and myself returned safely from Europe on August 11th. We attended the meeting of Major Superiors in Fockenfeld. The main theme of this meeting, which was very well led by Fr. Josef, was the Missionary Spirit of the Congregation in general as well as the final establishment of the Chablais Fond. I add to your reflection and for your personal work the questions we were distributed at that meeting. May be you can discuss in one or the other way with each other these questions.
The way discussion was done in Fockenfeld was very uplifting. Though we could express our differences, we opened up a lot and enabled each other to leave the meeting in good spirits, knowing that a lot of good had been done, had been started, had been continued. Of course we are going step by step, day by day, but this meeting left me with the confirmed knowledge that our Congregation continues to walk, to search, to change. There is no stand still and this is good.
What I could also sense at the meeting is a large willingness throughout the entire Oblate world to continue to support the Missions, especially us in India. However it seems that a certain limit has been reached, the generosity can also not give more than it has. This requires from us a responsible dealing with received funds as well as a clearer reflection and planning on how to continue to grow in India and by which means.
In addition to these questions from the meeting of Major Superiors to reflect upon, I come to you with some homework to be done by the Professed Members of the Oblates in Asia. The homework is two folded.
- I think it is time to formulate for Oblate Asia a so-called “Mission Statement”. What is a “Mission Statement”? A “Mission Statement” should state briefly (3/4 of a page) what the Goal and Purpose for the OSFS Presence and Ministry in Asia is. Thus, please give three or four important points that you think should be included in such a "Mission Statement" for the OSFS in Asia. Please don’t confuse “Mission Statement” with our missionary activity! While the missionary activity could be a part of a “Mission Statement”, it does not focus exclusively on it! Please submit your three or four important points until October 3rd 2002 in writing at my desk. I will then forward the collection of our “Three or Four Points” to Fr. Ceresko who promised me to formulate for us a common “Mission Statement” based on our input, which he will do hopefully until November 8th 2002.
- The Perpetually Professed Members of Oblate Asia residing in India are called to meet from Friday, November 8th 2002 until Monday, November 11th 2002 at Samarpanaram. These four days will be dedicated to four different areas of reflection.
a) “Mission Statement”
- Future within India
- Missionary Effort
b) Budget and financial situation
c) Formation Program
d) Year 2003/2004 – Immediate Future
Though this Regional Meeting is limited to its Perpetual Members residing in India I would like to encourage all other Fathers and Professed Brothers to participate in our discussions by submitting in writing what ever they deem appropriate to be considered in any of these four areas – comments, remarks, guidelines, hopes, and fears. The deadline for these contributions is November 3rd 2002.
Finally let me also invite our Novices and Candidates to participate in this process. They may as well feel free to do this homework and submit their contributions to the given dates.
Thank you for working together on our future in India, in Asia.
We expect Fr. General’s visit to India at the begin of October. He will arrive in the night from October 8th to October 9th in Bangalore. After visiting Samarpanaram he will proceed to Salespuram to be there for the Inauguration on October 12th. He will leave India again on October 14th in the afternoon. We are looking forward to his visit and appreciate the time he is spending with us in India.
I will be leaving India on October 14th together with Fr. General, attend the 75 years Celebration of the Oblates of The Netherlands Province and then accompany Fr. General at his request for his canonical Visitation of the French Province. I will be back in India on October 31st early morning.
Keep our Region, our benefactors and our friends and relatives in your prayers! Keep Br. Thomas’ Mother who passed away on Friday August 23rd 2002 and his family in your prayers as well!
Always yours in our holy founders!
Fr. Sebastian Leitner osfs
TOP | HOME