Live Jesus !
Samarpanaram, February,2005

Dear confreres!

Greetings from Samarpanaram. Yes, I am now in Samarpanaram and have been for the past week since circumstances required it. Though I miss my community in Salespuram, I am allowed to discover how much our brothers here in Samarpanaram have grown. I can rediscover their qualities and enjoy the time with them. They support the community and I am grateful for having them as brothers.
Many things have happened since my last letter, and many things are about to happen.

• The community of Samarpanaram has been struck with the untimely death of our driver Raja. I commend him as well as his family and relatives to your prayers. His departure on the eve of the Christmas celebration in Samarpanaram had paralyzed the community. I urge each and every one of you to deal appropriately with the circumstances around his death. Every one may choose another way: counseling, spiritual direction, etc. Do not leave the matter within you without addressing it. There are enough means that can help us to overcome grief, anger and anxiety. Please make use of them.
• The visit of our Superior General with his Council and Fr. Aregger has been a blessing to us. I thank all of them for coming over here to experience first hand our life. I applaud both communities - Salespuram and Samarpanaram - for making our guests feel so welcome. They have come back to me via email acknowledging how much warmth and care they have experienced while here. This acknowledgment belongs to you: candidates, postulants, novices, scholastics and Fathers, and in a special way to Fr. Baiju and Fr. Shaju, the Superiors of both communities. Their guidance and care was reflected in well organized and beautiful celebrations and time spent together. I feel humbled to be allowed to have you all as my brothers. Once more thank you. Since then I have come to know that Fr. Aregger has suffered a major heart attack and has undergone an operation with 5 to 6 bypasses. The operation went well and Fr. Aregger is already recuperating. Please keep him in your prayers. Fr. John Sankarathil, who had planned to reach India these days has postponed his plans. As soon as I know more I will update you on his arrival. Fr. John, know that you are always welcome.
• The celebration of the perpetual vows of Br. Balaswamy Dande on January 24th was uplifting for all of us. It is always good to be reminded by our young confreres of our dedication and our mission. The feast of St. Francis de Sales was an appropriate time to receive Br. Balaswamy into our Congregation. Bala, I thank you for your step and I am looking forward to your creativity and commitment as DeSales Oblate. Our total dedication to God is based upon God’s desire for our own heart. Saint Francis de Sales says: “God asks for your own heart. Give it to him such as it is. For ah, are we not aware that everything that is remitted into His divine hands is converted into good (cfr Rom 8:28)? Is your heart of the earth, vile, and filled with filth? Still, do not fear to remit it into the hands of God. When God created Adam He took a little clay from the ground and then made of it a living being (Gen 2:7). Is your heart well disposed? Give it, such as it is, for this is what the Divine Goodness asks. He desires only what we are and what we have.“ Bala’s perpetual vows reminded me of God’s desire for my heart, for your heart; not any heart, not a perfect heart, but my heart, your heart. Encouraged by Bala, let us give him our hearts again.
• Fr. Josef left us on January 28th. His long service to the Indian community, his permanent search for a betterment of the community, his determination to grow as a person and as an Oblate, his availability for services as well as his love for life are already deeply missed. His farewell gift to the community was a Japanese calligraphy, which he had one day received in Japan from a monk. He left it with us as a wish. It has four symbols on it: Wind – be fast like the wind; Forest – be slow like the forest takes time to grow; Fire – be fierce like the fire; Mountain – be strongly reposed within yourself like the mountain. Josef, your wish is our mission. I will hang this picture into Fr. Shaju’s room. It may help him in his ministry as the new Superior of the Samarpanaram community. Josef has already started to settle in the Philippines. His new address:

Parish of St. Sebastian
C.M. Recto Avenue
4217 Lipa City, Philippines
Tel: +63 917 922 4332; e-mail: koeltringer@osfs.at

Josef, you know that you are missed. You also know that your mission in the Philippines is a great one. God bless you. Thank you. Keep in touch.

• One of the consequences of our driver’s death is that Fr. John Dolan has required to be permitted to return to the States. I have given him this permission. He will leave us on February 21st. Fr. John Dolan gave five years of his life to the Indian Project and I would like to acknowledge in gratitude these five years. As Master of Postulants, Master of Novices, Master of Philosophers, Director of Deacons, and as Treasurer of Samarpanaram he has contributed much to the growth and development of our community in India. In the name of Oblate India and from the bottom of my heart I thank Fr. John Dolan. Though there have been challenging times I do recall many precious moments of nurturing and forming together the present and future of the DeSales Oblates in India. God bless you. Thank you. Stay in touch!
• At my request, Fr. Xavier Manchu has consented to replace me for time being in the Salespuram community. I would like to appreciate Fr. Xavier’s willingness and promptitude in accepting my request. I know that he longs to start his ministry in a parish and is eagerly waiting for that. It will be substantiated soon. Fr. Xavier, I am very grateful for your availability and flexibility.
• Fr. Reji Choorakunnel was ordained on December 27th, 2004, and has now already assumed his parish ministry in the Archdiocese of Tellicherry, 40 kms from Salespuram. His address is:
  
  Christ the King Church
  Vilakannur
  Naduvil PO
  670 582
  Phone: 0498/ 22 50 343
  I wish you all the best in your new ministry, Reji.
  
  
• The Archbishop of Bangalore, Bernard Moras, has consented to ordain Br. Bruzily to the order of deacon on April 5th 2005 at 5:30 PM. I am looking forward to this celebration in Samarpanaram, which will give us the opportunity to meet our new archbishop as well. Please, do come if possible.

My dear Oblate brothers, I leave you for now. Let us continue to work together on fulfilling Fr. Brisson’s vision. Please remember our deceased confreres in your prayers!

May God be praised!

Sebastian

DECEASED Oblates 2004

 

1. Fr. Hermann Stenzer osfs, French Province

78 years, 48 years professed, 44 years of priesthood

1. Fr. William O. Seelaus osfs, Wilmington/Philadelphia Province

79 years, 61 years professed, 53 years of priesthood

1. Fr. Karl Simon osfs, German Province
   81 years,, 53 years professed, 48 years of priesthood
2. Fr. John Foley osfs, Toledo/Detroit Province
   74 years, 50 years professed, 45 years of priesthood
3. Fr. Konrad Greisberger osfs, Austria/South-German Province

72 years, 49 years professed, 44 years of priesthood

1. Fr. Otto Heißig osfs, Austria/South-German Province

78 years, 56 years professed, 52 years of priesthood

1. Fr. John Gavin osfs, Wilmington/Philadelphia Province

73 years, 53 years professed, 45 years of priesthood

1.      Fr.Giuseppe Chiminello osfs, Italian Province

71 years, 52 years professed, 45 years of priesthood

 

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