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OSFS INDIAN MISSION
NEWSLETTER

 
 

Live Jesus !
Samarpanaram, July 5th,2005

Dear confrere!

Greetings from Samarpanaram! The academic year has started almost everywhere by now and I want to reach out to you before leaving for Europe.

Let me begin with a word of public congratulations:

I am delighted that Aneesh K. Jose, Asish, Balaswamy G., Jobish, John Gali, Lalson, Paulraj and Sleeva have commenced their novitiate on May 29th. They being the treasure of our Congregation I recommend them earnestly to your prayers.

I wish also to congratulate all who renewed their vows on May 30th. Brothers Chandra, John George, Balaswamy P., Mathias, Jayaraj, Bineesh, Shijo, Rayappa, Bijesh, Christhu Raj, Jomy, Jose Paul, Mandoz and Prasad. Your fervent desire and energy brings life to the Region. Thank you for that.

Of course the biggest celebration was the celebration of the first vows of nine of our brothers. In the presence of the families of our brothers and of Fr. Jim Greenfield and Fr. Kevin Nadolski, who had well prepared the brothers in retreat,  Balaprasad, Biju, Dennis, George, Jijo, Johnson, Joseph Babu, Stanislas and Thambi made their first commitment as Oblates of St. Francis de Sales on May 31st 2005. Their example and dedication is a challenge for all of us, who have been living an Oblate life. We gratefully accept that challenge and rejoice with our brothers about their vocation and decision. Thank you!

I would like to take the opportunity to welcome also in our community in Salespuram our newcomers. 20 young men have decided to start their year of Orientation in Salespuram. Though the heavy monsoon seems to be challenging them health wise, I surely do hope and pray for perseverance in their vocation. I wish a good start as well to our +1 brothers and postulants.

Let me now give you some more information:

  1. Br. Pasala Balaswamy has been assigned for his year of Regency to Catholic Mission, Barpeta Road, 781 315 Assam.
  2. Br. Rayappa has been assigned for his year of regency to Don Bosco School, Boko Kamrup 783 123 Assam.
  3. Br. Mathias I. Kumar has been assigned for his year of regency to Christ the King Church, Sonaphar, Raindo, Nonstong-via, 793 113 Meghalaya.
  4. Bala, Rayappa and Mathias are working during their year of regency in the North-East of India (Assam and Meghalaya) with the Salesians of Don Bosco. They have left Samarpanaram on June 1st and have reached safely Guwahati after 60 hours of train. They are now all three working in parishes, schools and hostels. I know that they will enjoy any form of contact from you.
  5. Br. Jayaraj has been assigned for his year of Regency to Salespuram. He will not complain about letters either.
  6. The start at the hostel has been successful. Six children, Dileep, Prasanth, Sebin, Maninkandan, John Britto and Pradeep have brought new life into our property. The renovation of the former cowshed, now Brisson Bala Bhavan has been completed successfully and the hostel has become a new home for these children. Just take a look at Manikandan doing his homework and you know he enjoys life in Brisson Bala Bhavan. Fr. Shaju is overlooking very well his new area of ministry.
  7. Br. John George has started his studies in Mangalore. Though his start was challenging, he now enjoys St. Joseph’s seminary. Deacon Bruzily helped him to get settled the first day and since then John George is fully involved in the seminary life. On the weekends he goes to a parish of the Diocese of Belthangady.

Please remember in prayer and mass our deceased confreres:

Thomas W. Kelley, OSFS died on May 21st, in his 82nd year, the 63rd year of his religious profession and the 56th year of his priesthood, Wilmington Philadelphia.
Nicholas C. Diienno, OSFS died on June 2nd, in his 93rd year, the 69th year of his religious profession and the 62nd year of his priesthood, Wilmington-Philadelphia.
JAMES P. FINNEGAN, OSFS died on June 12th, in his 77th year, the 56th year of his religious profession and the 47th year of his priesthood, Wilmington-Philadelphia.
JOSEPH E. WOODS, OSFS died on July 2nd, in his 88th year, the 68th year of his religious profession and the 65th year of his priesthood, Wilmington-Philadelphia.

  • I formally invite all of you to attend our General Meeting 2005. It will take place from Saturday October 29th to Sunday October 30th 2005 in Samarpanaram. I request all perpetually professed members living in India to be present for that meeting. I also formally request all of you to come forward with any proposals you wish the General Meeting 2005 to discuss. Together with the advisory board I will work on an agenda. Please submit to me in writing until October 5th 2005 any matters you wish to be discussed by the General Meeting. One point of the agenda will be the election of the advisory board for the coming two years and the election of one delegate and an alternate to the General Chapter 2006.
  • At our last advisory board meeting following decision has been taken: “After the year of orientation at Salespuram, the formators may ask a brother to go for his +1 and +2 studies in any other group than ‘Humanities’. For this purpose the brother may be asked to come to Samarpanaram to study for his +1 and +2 at SFS College in Hebbagoddi, if the group is not available in Ben Hill.”

Let me also give you in short what was discussed at the last advisory board meetings:

  • Advisory board meeting April 4th 2005
      1. Support of proposals of Fr. Ceresko to the General Chapter 2006
      2. Decision on proposal of Fr. Shaju to the General Chapter 2006
      3. Grill for the novitiate was granted
      4. Transfer of bike from Salespuram to Fr. Xavier in Andhra
      5. Fencing for Salespuram was granted
      6. Naming of the hostel was discussed
      7. The maximum number of guests per brother for first profession is eight
    • Advisory board meeting May 21st 2005
      1. Evaluations and admissions to novitiate, renewal of vows and first vows: Albert left the Congregation, Bhasker and Siju were not approved
      2. Br. Santhanam from Puddukottai has left the Congregation
      3. Update on Fr. Vincent’s assignment
      4. One computer granted for Salespuram
      5. Financial report 2004-05 was presented and discussed
      6. Newcomers from all states will spend their first year in Salespuram, irrespective of their state of origin. The schooling thereafter will be decided after their first year of orientation, some may study for +1 and +2 at SFS College in Hebbagoddi. Consequently no more reserved seats for anyone after +2.
      7. Bruzily’s ordination date is tentatively set for October 12th 2005.
      8. Report of Fr. Baiju concerning school
    • Advisory board meeting June 25th 2005
      1. 2 Computers and exterior painting of main building in Samarpanaram were approved.
      2. Discussion of separate Degree and Philosophy studies – decision pending.
      3. Discussion of +1 and +2 studies other than in humanities and decision.
      4. Exchange of situation in Salespuram
      5. Exchange of situation in Samarpanaram
      6. Exchange of result of Vocation Promotion
      7. Update on the situation of Fr. John Sankarathil
      8. Br Chandra Shekar was permitted to receive the minor order of acolyte.
      9. Bruzily’s Ordination fixed for October 12 2005, assignment of Bruzily after ordination was discussed
      10. Discussion of School – Creation of a “School team to investigate more concretely premises and possible locations and other related matters. Team: Baiju, Mathew, Vincent, Reji and Bruzily
      11. Salary scheme for internal jobs was discussed and approved
      12. The date for the next General Meeting was set for October 29th to October 30th 2005
      13. Discussion and planning for the academic year 2006-07: transfers, options, and visions - exchange
      14. The next advisory board meeting takes place on October 8th and 9th 2005

Finally let me tell you that though Fr. Vincent and Br. Mathias met with a severe bike accident on May 31st, they both suffered only little injuries. Let us give thanks to God for protecting both of them. Keep wearing your helmets. Let us continue to pray for each other! At last find as usual the newest list of Oblates in Asia.

Yours in our Holy Founders

Fr. Sebastian Leitner osfs


DeSales-Oblates in Asia

Addresses and Phone numbers - July 2005


Name

Address

Phone

Anthony Ceresko

Divine Word Seminary
PO Box 073
Tagaytay City, Cavite
4120 Philippines

0063 46 413 1253

Balaswamy Pasala

Catholic Mission
Barpeta Road
781 315 Assam

03666/260 724

Bruzily Vettukallamkuzhyil

St. Mary's Church, Mudhur Post, Uduppi District
Karnataka 576233

08254 28 91 00

John George Kadavumkandathil

St Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary
Jeppu
575 002 Mangalore

0824/243 70 56

John Sankarathil

Provincial Residence
Thaddaeusheim
Hauptstrasse 40
CH 3186 Duedingen
Switzerland

0041 26 493 11 36

Josef Koeltringer

Parish of St. Sebastian

C.M. Recto Avenue

4217 Lipa City, Philippines

0063 917 922 4332

Mathias I. Kumar

Christ the King Church
Sonaphar, Raindo
Nonstong-via
793 113 Meghalaya

 

Rayappa Reddy

Don Bosco School
Boko Kamrup
783 123 Assam

03623/282 605

Reji Choorakunnel

Little Flower Church
Chandanakkampara PO
670 633 Kannur

0460 22 15 617 or
9447 823 683

Salespuram

Vallithode
Kiliyanthara PO
670 706 Kannur

0490 24 20 856 or
0490 24 21 067 or
9447 35 25 56

Samarpanaram

Hosur Road
Chandapura PO
560 081 Bangalore

080 78 32 450 or
080 78 31 608 or
9845 17 50 47

Vincent Kumar

St. Mary’s Basilica
Shivajinagar
Bangalore 560 051

080 22 86 54 34 or
9448 029 839

Xavier Manchu

R.C Mission
Vissannapeta
521 215 Krishna District
Andhra Pradesh

08673 27 28 34 or
9866 25 13 24

 

 

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