Dear confreres!
Hearty Greetings from Salespuram! Since Fr. Josef and Fr. Shaju came for the meeting of the advisory board the sun has been showing itself quite frequently. And so I write to you on a rather sunny Sunday morning.
The other day, while being taught English, Jobins, one of our +1-students, dropped a book on the floor. He picked it up, touched it with his hand and made the sign of the cross. I questioned him about his motivation to do this. He said: “My parents taught me to respect books."
This story is still with me. Most of us have frequently to deal with books. Those in the parishes habitually open inspirational books to prepare themselves to proclaim the Good News. Those in formation open on a daily basis books, prayer books, study books. The novices open probably more frequently than others the “Spiritual Directory” and the “Constitutions.” All of us open daily the book of books the “Bible”. Seeing Jobins showing respect towards his English Grammar book, I started to think on how I am dealing with books. How do I open them? How do I respect them? Respect of books is not merely an outer attitude. When I open a book I can open myself too to allow a holy exchange between the book and me. A book can transform me. Now, don’t worry, I don’t want to sell any book. I just want to encourage you to rethink your attitude towards books. The “Live Jesus” prayer while opening a book can help me to become more aware of the precious moment I am going to have in opening myself to what I read. The books we read will lead us to be written in the book of the living one day.
As the new academic year has started everywhere I come to share with you some information. Thanks be to God Fr. Maichael and Deacon Reji have recovered from their chicken pox and are both now working in their respective parishes. I add a list of all addresses to this letter at your convenience.
Fr. Mathew has left Salespuram and has now reached Pune where he will be attending a 10-months course for formators and counselors. We wish him a good start.back to the other side of a student’s life, behind the desk. Our regents Albert and John George have reached their respective places. John George is already very active here in Salespuram, while Albert busily teaches and looks after hostel boys in Chindamani. You will also notice that Deacon Xavier has been transferred along with his parish priest to another parish.
As Fr. Mathew is going for higher studies his term on the advisory board comes to an end. Since he had been appointed by me, he can be replaced by someone I appoint. After talking with the advisory board I decided to appoint Fr. Fred Smuda, our Novice Master, as new member of the advisory board. He has accepted his appointment. We welcome him in this new ministry wholeheartedly. I hope his insights will help us to make good decisions.
At the last meeting of the advisory board here in Salespuram we reached a few other decisions.
“GENERAL MEETING of ALL PROFESSED MEMBERS living in INDIA”
will take place on
October 30th and 31st 2004 in Samarpanaram.
I require all priests, deacons and perpetually professed members living in India to make necessary arrangements to ensure their participation at the meeting. All temporary professed brothers may also attend this meeting, though they will have no right to vote, they are encouraged to participate in the discussions and have the right to speak. The final agenda for the meeting will be discussed by the advisory board at our next meeting on October 2nd and 3rd. So far following areas will be covered in one way or the other at the meeting:
- Formation Program
- Financial Situation of the Region and financial matters
- Theologate
- Apostolate in India (School, Youth Center)
- General Chapter 2006 (Proposals)
If there are any other matters you want to be discussed at the meeting, please inform me until October 1st 2004. I will then discuss this with the advisory board and formulate the final agenda. The meeting will also be an opportunity to meet each other, to pray some time and to renew our bonds as Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.
- We have decided that we will not give financial help to those who decide to leave or are asked to leave the Congregation.
- We made preliminary talks about the assignments of the next academic year. I have been entrusted to talk with the concerned confreres.
- Br. Balaswamy Dande was granted permission to become lector and acolyte. Congratulations!
Let me add a few more information:
- I have asked Fr. Shaju to be the member of the preparatory commission for the General Chapter 2006 for Oblate Asia. In September he will be writing to you inviting you to formulate proposals that you may think worthy to be discussed by the General Chapter 2006.
- Fr. Josef and I will be attending the meeting of major superiors at the end of July in Fockenfeld. One major issue will be the restructuring of the Congregation. Please keep our meeting in Fockenfeld in your prayers.
- The date for the ordination of Deacon Reji has been finalized for December 27th 2004.
I greet all confreres, especially Fr. John Sankarathil, Fr. Ceresko, Fr. Mathew, Fr. Vincent, Fr. Maichael, Deacon Reji, Deacon Xavier, Br. Albert, Br. Santhanam and of course also all in Samarpanaram and Salespuram! May God bless and protect you!
As I finish the letter the rain settles in again. We await anytime a visit from Bangalore!
Fr. Sebastian Leitner osfs
Attached: List of Addresses of all confreres of Oblate Asia and list of birthdays.
Oblates in Asia
Addresses and Phone numbers June 2004
Name |
Address |
Phone |
Albert Anandaraj |
S.F.S. Highschool
M.G. Road
Chintamani 563 125 |
Residence 08154 45 25 06
School 08154 45 34 78 |
Anthony Ceresko |
Divine Word Seminary
PO Box 073
Tagaytay City, Cavite
4120 Philippines |
0063 46 413 1253 |
John Sankarathil |
Seminaire Diocesain St. Charles
Ch. Cardinal Journet 3
Fribourg
CH 1752 Villars sur Glane
Switzerland |
0041 26 42 63 300 |
Maichael Eattathottu |
St. Thomas Church
Thankamani P.O.
Kattappan
Idukki 685 515 |
0486 82 75 240 |
Mathew Mukkath |
National Vocation Service Center
Institute of Spirituality and Counselling Psychology
Post Box 3005
Matchwel Road, Sainikwadi
Pune 411 014 |
020 27 03 09 18 or
27 03 61 25 |
Reji Choorakunnel |
St. Thomas Forane Church
Erattayar
Idukki 685 515 |
04868 27 60 86 |
Salespuram |
Vallithode
Kiliyanthara PO
670 706 Kannur |
0490 24 20 856 or
0490 24 21 067 |
Samarpanaram |
Hosur Road
Chandapura PO
560 081 Bangalore |
080 78 32 450 or
080 78 31 608 |
Santhanam |
SFS Minor Seminary
Kovilpatty Road
Thirugokarnam
622 002 Puddukottai |
|
Vincent Kumar |
St. Mary’s Basilica
Shivajinagar
Bangalore 560 051 |
080 22 86 54 34 |
Xavier Manchu
|
R.C Mission
Yadlapadu (Post)
Guntur 522 233 |
08647 27 65 30 |
Birthdays of Oblates in Asia – June 28th 2004
January |
|
Dennis – Novice |
01.01.1985 |
Vincent – Priest |
11.01.1976 |
|
|
February |
|
Baiju – Priest |
09.02.1972 |
Mandoz – Philosopher |
09.02.1985 |
Mathias I. – Philosopher |
25.02.1980 |
|
|
March |
|
Jomy – Philosopher |
11.03.1985 |
George – Novice |
22.03.1986 |
Christu Raj – Philosopher |
23.03.1980 |
Josef – Priest |
26.03.1960 |
Alfred – Priest |
30.03.1938 |
|
|
April |
|
Bruzily – Theologian |
02.04.1978 |
Reji – Deacon |
26.04.1975 |
|
|
May |
|
Joseph Babu – Novice |
03.05.1985 |
Rayappa – Philosopher |
03.05.1981 |
John Sankarathil – Priest |
07.05.1965 |
Maichael M. – Priest |
15.05.1971 |
Sebastian – Priest |
16.05.1966 |
|
|
June |
|
Shaju – Priest |
09.06.1971 |
Jinesh – Philosopher |
10.06.1982 |
Johnson M. – Novice |
19.06.1984 |
July |
|
Biju – Novice |
02.07.1985 |
Jose Paul – Philosopher |
09.07.1984 |
Majeesh – Philosopher |
26.07.1983 |
|
|
August |
|
Albert – Regent |
09.08.1981 |
Bineesh – Philosopher |
16.08.1983 |
Anthony Ceresko - Priest |
20.08.1942 |
|
|
September |
|
John Bosco – Theologian |
08.09.1976 |
Prasad - Philosopher |
08.09.1983 |
Bala Prasad – Novice |
12.09.1985 |
Balaswamy D. - Theologian |
14.09.1972 |
Stanislas – Novice |
21.09.1982 |
John George – Regent |
26.09.1978 |
Bhasker – Philosopher |
29.09.1979 |
Shijo – Philosopher |
29.09.1982 |
|
|
October |
|
Jayaraj – Philosopher |
12.10.1978 |
Tambi Joseph – Novice |
18.10.1983 |
Siju – Philosopher |
21.10.1980 |
Chandra - Theologian |
22.10.1979 |
|
|
November |
|
Bijesh – Philosopher |
12.11.1982 |
John Dolan – Priest |
18.11.1966 |
Jijo Thomas – Novice |
23.11.1985 |
|
|
December |
|
Balaswamy P. - Philosopher |
02.12.1981 |
Xavier – Deacon |
05.12.1974 |
Mathew – Priest |
17.12.1973 |
Priests 11
Deacons 2
Theologians 4
Regents 2
Philosophers 16
Novices 9
Postulants 15
Candidates 34
TOP | HOME