Dear confreres,
Greetings from Salespuram.
Let me share again with you some excitements and other things!
We have a wonderful tree in front of our house. It is a rose-apple tree. When you look at this tree from outside it is a normal tree, not a special one, but if you walk under it and look up, it is full of beautiful pink flowers. And this pink color can also be found on the mud around the tree after the tree looses its petals. This tree is inwardly beautiful and some beauty can be found around it. Today is the day of our renewal of vows. We try to be beautiful inwardly by becoming aware again of what we dedicated our life to: God only. And I can see around each one of you some of your inward beauty. Thank you for trying to be a better Oblate today!
I visited three Minor Seminaries and was absolutely happy to see the progress of the brothers. They are a big hope for our Congregation already. I hope to be able to visit the two seminaries in Andhra in January, when I come back from the General Council Meeting in South Africa. But anyway, brothers, let us continue to remember each other in our prayers!
Fr. Josef Koeltringer and Fr. Anthony Ceresko met each other at the end of October to evaluate our possibilities to start in the Philippines. There seem to be a lot of opportunities, but there are also major challenges (money, personnel) to overcome. When I think about our two Fathers in the Philippines I keep thinking of Saint Francis de Sales and his cousin in the Chablais. I hope that challenges will only help us to grow in faith and strength. Let us also pray for our Congregation, for us, that we may have that “Chablais Spirit” that enabled Francis de Sales to persevere in difficulties and finally succeed in bringing the Love of God to the people of the Chablais – to the people of the Philippines.
On November 25th Mother Aviat, Foundress of the Congregation of the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales, will be canonized in Rome. Many Oblates will be there for this great occasion of receiving a new recognized Saint into the Salesian family. I congratulated in our name Mother General of the Oblate Sisters and Fr. Smuda represents our Region in Rome. I add at your convenience a biography of Mother Aviat, which I found in the Internet. Let us rejoice about this happy occasion. I remind you at the same time that Fr. General asked us to continuously pray for the beatification of Fr. Brisson, our Founder.
On December 8th we will have a great celebration in Samarpanaram, since Br. Mathew requested perpetual vows and was allowed to commit himself entirely. My joy is sincere and deep. In Mathew we have a good example of an oblate who tries to give himself to our Congregation as he is. In his request for admission Mathew wrote that he would like that trough him people may see and discover God. With that sentence he touched the bottom line of our spirituality. Through us people shall discover God’s love for them. In the name of Oblate Asia I thank Mathew for his decision. It is a kind of boost for us as we are still growing as Oblates. Mathew, welcome!
And how are things over here!
Well, today they lay the tiles in Cottage 2. The carpenters are working on the windows and doors of Cottage three, the electricians are working on the condutes in the kitchen, the masons are plastering the entrance hall of the main building. Other carpenters are preparing the centering of the Community hall (almost finished) and Chapel building (just started). Concreting of the community building’s roof should be done on Saturday. The concreting of the flat roofs of Cottage 4 and 5 has been completed. Slowly we are moving to an end. The tiles-shop treats me very well (Cool drink, Father? Yes! Please sit Father! No!) when I get there, usually I explode because of them not keeping up the time promise. Some things are really funny. The carpenters fixed a door with the handle at almost knee level and really thought I would accept this! Of course they had to replace it. And then I pray for patience every day! What else can I do!
The climate at present is wonderful. The mornings are fresh, a nice brise is coming, God has given us a wonderful place to stay and I have plenty of occasions to thank the Lord.
Our candidates are keeping fine. Meanwhile three have decided to leave us. Some prevented me to make a decision. Some took a very sudden decision, which left me disappointed, but then, I guess it is in the Lord’s hand. Not one of them was asked to leave. The others are still delightful, full of energy and life, eager to learn and very normal for their age (this is meant as compliment). We get along well, I try to provide some guidance, I correct here and there, but they are a blessing and one more reason for us to thank the Lord, every day. As I write these lines they are practicing for a volley ball game against a minor seminary near by. I hope to be also selected in the team! Yes!
Let me say a few words about vocation promotion. All scholastics and brothers from the minor seminaries are going home for holidays. I request you to inquire in your village, in your surroundings, if there might be “one” boy qualified and interested to join our Congregation. Last year’s experience shows me that nothing can replace the personal contact. If you seek to get in touch with one boy only, who might be interested to join after 10th or after +2, please tell him to write to me and keep in contact with him. Don’t forget that we together are responsible for the growth of our Congregation, not only the Vocation Promoter.
Finally let me share with you that miracles still do happen. I had been waiting for five months for a file cabinet. It was somehow impossible to get one at a reasonable price. And on Tuesday the miracle happened. They brought the file cabinet! Praise the Lord!
Fathers, Brothers, you are all in my prayers!
Always yours
Fr. Sebastian Leitner osfs