Dear confrere!
Greetings from Salespuram. I do hope this letter finds you in the right spirit for celebrating Easter soon.
In front of the first cottage in Salespuram, this means right in front of my window, there is a wonderful fig tree. You may know fig trees quite well. I don’t. So when I took a closer look I discovered something surprising for me. The fruits of the fig tree were at a place where I didn’t expect them at all. Not in the tree, not under the leaves, not where you would usually look for fruits, but very close to the soil on the trunk of the tree.
Since I made this observation I have been using this fig tree for my prayer. I am called; you are called to look for the fruits at places where you least expect them. I like this thought. It is my Easter reflection, an invitation for you, to sharpen your senses and to look in yourself, in others, in situations and events as well, for fruits where you least expect them. Not much to add to this thought; the cross bears the unexpected fruit of life. Happy Easter!
Before I make known to you some of the recent decisions I want to share with you the news that the Lord over life and death has called home to him a few people that are close to us. We share the sorrows of the DeSales Oblates of the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province who have lost one of their deacons, who was to be ordained priest in May, in a car accident on March 10th. Dear confreres, in this difficult moment we are with you, with Eric and with his family in prayers and thoughts. Br. Dennis, one of our novices, mourns over the unexpected departure of his Father, who passed away after a heart attack on March 7th. Br. Joe Wilson, one of our +1 candidates, lost his Father after a longer fight against cancer on February 16th. Please remember the deceased and those who mourn for them in your prayers.
Let me now share some of the new assignments for the coming year.
- Fr. Xavier Manchu osfs was at my request appointed by the Bishop of Vijaywada to RCM, Vissannapeta, 521 215 Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, Phone: 08673 27 28 34.
- Fr. Maichael Eattathottu osfs is appointed to Salespuram from May 24th 2005 onwards. He will assume the responsibility as treasurer of the community.
- Fr. Mathew Mukkath osfs is assigned to Salespuram from April 1st onwards. He will be the Dean of Studies and in charge of one batch.
- Fr. Mathew Mukkath osfs is appointed Vocation Promoter of the region from April 1st 2005 onwards.
- Fr. Vincent Kumar osfs will end his pastoral year in May 2005. He is appointed to Samarpanaram from that time onwards. He will start his studies at Montfort College some time in August.
- Deacon Bruzily is appointed to the Diocese of Belthangady for his deaconate from April 10th onwards. The Bishop has assigned him to St. Mary's Church, Mudhur Post, Uduppi District, Karnataka 576233, Ph: 08254 289100.
- I am appointed from April 3rd 2005 onwards to Samarpanaram and will assume the responsibilities of treasurer, Assistant Novice Master and Director of Hostel.
You may find one or the other unexpected fruit in that list.
A few more things:
Fr. Mathew Mukkath osfs was elected unanimously as fourth member of the advisory board. Fr. Mathew has accepted his new office and I welcome him back on board.
We have decided to send Br. John George and Br. Albert for their theological studies to St. Joseph’s Seminary in Mangalore. They have applied and should be accepted soon formally. They will be staying with the other seminarians and are entrusted fully to the formation team there. I have been appointed as liaison to these two brothers for the coming year. I am happy about this development. It opens new opportunities for us and I hope it is the beginning of a new phase for our theologians.
The renovation work for the hostel in Samarpanaram has started by now. The first step is to renovate the present structure (cowshed). This should be finished by the beginning of June. We count on accepting a maximum of twelve boys for the academic year 2005-2006 with the criteria that we agreed upon at our General Meeting in October. Once I am in Samarpanaram I will be able to fill you in more exactly on this our first apostolate in India.
We expect the visit of Fr. Bernard O’Connor osfs, the President of the DeSales University in Allentown, along with Fr. John O’Neill osfs at the beginning of April. We are looking forward to their visit and welcome them wholeheartedly.
Dear confreres, may the Risen Christ touch your heart and enable you to see the unexpected! Once more! Happy Easter!
Sebastian
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