OSFS INDIAN MISSION

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OSFS INDIAN MISSION NEWSLETTER


Live Jesus ! Samarpanaram, September,2004 Dear confreres! It has been two weeks since I’ve returned from the meeting of Major Superiors and from my holidays at home and I would like to reach out to you. My parents and my family are keeping fine and they are conveying regards to everyone. Let me now fill you in on some new developments in the Region you might be interested in. When I returned to India I found a very enthusiastic group, namely all philosophers, who had been using their one-week break to support Fr. Vincent in his parochial ministry. Though we saw each other for only a few minutes after one day at Shivajinagar, I could feel a healthy tiredness (15 hours work), and much more happiness after a long day of work with and for the people at Shivajinagar. For three days the philosophers along with John Dolan and Deacon Xavier helped to distribute communion, John listening to confessions. I admired the brothers’ and John’s enthusiasm for the ministry and am very happy about this project. With the novices I had the opportunity to spend a few moments watching pictures from Salespuram. As we remembered the past year, I was happy to see all nine of them in good spirits, some of them still growing physically, all of them growing spiritually. The absence of their Novice Master didn’t seem to upset them too much. I enjoyed their free way to speak out. Of course I also met also all theologians: Chandra, Bruzily, Bala Swamy and Bosco. While three of them were doing well, Bosco came to see me and informed me about a personal struggle he had since a few months and that he was thinking to leave. As I write this letter to you he already decided to leave us and I am sad about it. I especially experience it as painful since he didn’t give us any hint of what the reason may be. However, he remains in our prayers, he must by now have left Samarpanaram. He will try to finish his studies, more is not yet known to me. I also met Deacon Xavier in Bangalore. His ordination date has been finalized for November 22nd in Guntur. Xavier and Reji are both in Bangalore for a two months’ course in Dharmaram for Deacons. Reji called me up from Bangalore and is in good spirits. As you already know his ordination will be on December 27th. I had also some time to spend together with Fr. Josef, which I always cherish. The Superior General and his Council have decided in Fockenfeld at the last meeting to start a new foundation in the Philippines. Fr. Josef has been entrusted with this duty. I absolutely support this move and find it good. Josef is also happy. The sad part about all this is that Fr. Josef will leave us by January 28th 2005. But I believe that our Indian Region is quite ready to assume the responsibilities that Josef was in charge of. I kindly ask you to pray for Fr. Josef and his new assignment within the Congregation. Of course this means that during the next months I have to find the next superior for Samarpanaram. I have not yet finalized my decision, and I will inform you on time. I am happy to announce to you, that the next General Council meeting will take place in India. We expect the Superior General, Fr. Lewis Fiorelli, and the other Councilors, Fr. Mark Mealey, Fr. Konrad Esser and Fr. Leoclides Dalla Nora from January 15th to January 26th. Along with them we are also expecting the Superior of the Swiss Community Fr. Franz Aregger. While they are here we are going to introduce formally the new Superior of Samarpanaram, Fr. Josef will be sent off and Fr. Fiorelli and his council will celebrate with Samarpanaram and Salespuram the feast of St. Francis de Sales. I have not been in touch with Fr. Vincent but I know he was very busy for the feast at Shivajinagar. Albert and John George have attended some classes for regents in Chennai. As of what I hear Albert enjoys his regency. Fr. Ceresko will prolong his contract with the SVD for one more year. After that he will be discerning together with Fr. Josef how to organize his future. I am grateful that he has been waiting patiently for this foundation in the Philippines. It gives me a good feeling to know that Fr. Josef doesn’t have to go in completely unknown land. Fr. John Sankarathil has been busy this summer in learning German in order to be able to communicate in a better way with Fr. Aregger and his surroundings. He is in frequent touch with Fr. Aregger. Though not living under the same roof, they support each other fraternally which I appreciate. I have had a talk with Fr. Maichael over the phone. He is keeping busy. His parish priest is in some difficulties unrelated to Maichael. Maichael enjoys being in the field of parish ministry. Fr. Josef in the middle of August visited Fr. Mathew. I talked with Fr. Mathew over the phone. He enjoys the course and has already many ideas how to do things differently in our own formation. I am looking forward for this enriching dialogue. Here in Salespuram all seems to go on smoothly. I feel Fr. Baiju is very balanced, clear, busy, attentive and enjoyable. He knows what he does and does it well. A few difficult decisions had to be made in my absence but he remained calm and did what had to be done. Of course I felt better knowing that Fr. Shaju had been in Salespuram for two weeks to replace me in my absence. Br. John George assumes his responsibilities very well and the three of us along with the brothers enjoy so far a good mutual understanding and community life. This should be enough for today. Three things I want to close with. A little reminder of things to come during the next months! October 2nd and 3rd 2004 Advisory board meeting in Samarpanaram October 30th and 31st 2004 General Meeting of all professed Oblates living in India in Samarpanaram November 22nd 2004 Ordination of Deacon Xavier December 27th 2004 Ordination of Deacon Reji An angel or a person In Fynn’s book “Mister God, this is Anna,” Anna says at one moment being asked what the difference between an angel and a person would be. “The difference from a person and angel is easy. Most of an angel is in the inside and most a person is on the outside!” I immediately understood that you and I can be angels too. I wish you the strength to become a more and more interior person. By becoming this you will be an angel for those you are working with and for; may be not perceived as such by others, but well aware of the interior treasure God has laid within you! The Meeting of Major Superiors in Fockenfeld In his newsletter Fr. General spoke already a lot about the issues we dealt with. I enjoyed the meeting. It is good for me to have an opportunity to express my doubts, my questions. It is especially good for me to meet so many competent confreres who help us to keep in focus. Many confreres offer themselves generously for the Congregation and in a special way for us in the Missions. Please keep them in your prayers as well. Every province and region has its own challenges, but nevertheless everyone also manages to look beyond its own border. To belong to a widespread family helps me to learn to look at things from different perspectives. What always becomes clear at these meetings is that we are all fond of the Salesian heritage. I do hope that it is this Salesian heritage that keeps you growing as an Oblate! Fraternally yours Sebastian TOP \| HOME

Live Jesus !
Samarpanaram, September,2004

Dear confreres!

It has been two weeks since I’ve returned from the meeting of Major Superiors and from my holidays at home and I would like to reach out to you. My parents and my family are keeping fine and they are conveying regards to everyone.

Let me now fill you in on some new developments in the Region you might be interested in.

When I returned to India I found a very enthusiastic group, namely all philosophers, who had been using their one-week break to support Fr. Vincent in his parochial ministry. Though we saw each other for only a few minutes after one day at Shivajinagar, I could feel a healthy tiredness (15 hours work), and much more happiness after a long day of work with and for the people at Shivajinagar. For three days the philosophers along with John Dolan and Deacon Xavier helped to distribute communion, John listening to confessions. I admired the brothers’ and John’s enthusiasm for the ministry and am very happy about this project.

With the novices I had the opportunity to spend a few moments watching pictures from Salespuram. As we remembered the past year, I was happy to see all nine of them in good spirits, some of them still growing physically, all of them growing spiritually. The absence of their Novice Master didn’t seem to upset them too much. I enjoyed their free way to speak out.

Of course I also met also all theologians: Chandra, Bruzily, Bala Swamy and Bosco. While three of them were doing well, Bosco came to see me and informed me about a personal struggle he had since a few months and that he was thinking to leave. As I write this letter to you he already decided to leave us and I am sad about it. I especially experience it as painful since he didn’t give us any hint of what the reason may be. However, he remains in our prayers, he must by now have left Samarpanaram. He will try to finish his studies, more is not yet known to me.

I also met Deacon Xavier in Bangalore. His ordination date has been finalized for November 22nd in Guntur. Xavier and Reji are both in Bangalore for a two months’ course in Dharmaram for Deacons. Reji called me up from Bangalore and is in good spirits. As you already know his ordination will be on December 27th.

I had also some time to spend together with Fr. Josef, which I always cherish. The Superior General and his Council have decided in Fockenfeld at the last meeting to start a new foundation in the Philippines. Fr. Josef has been entrusted with this duty. I absolutely support this move and find it good. Josef is also happy. The sad part about all this is that Fr. Josef will leave us by January 28th 2005. But I believe that our Indian Region is quite ready to assume the responsibilities that Josef was in charge of. I kindly ask you to pray for Fr. Josef and his new assignment within the Congregation.

Of course this means that during the next months I have to find the next superior for Samarpanaram. I have not yet finalized my decision, and I will inform you on time.

I am happy to announce to you, that the next General Council meeting will take place in India. We expect the Superior General, Fr. Lewis Fiorelli, and the other Councilors, Fr. Mark Mealey, Fr. Konrad Esser and Fr. Leoclides Dalla Nora from January 15th to January 26th. Along with them we are also expecting the Superior of the Swiss Community Fr. Franz Aregger. While they are here we are going to introduce formally the new Superior of Samarpanaram, Fr. Josef will be sent off and Fr. Fiorelli and his council will celebrate with Samarpanaram and Salespuram the feast of St. Francis de Sales.

I have not been in touch with Fr. Vincent but I know he was very busy for the feast at Shivajinagar.

Albert and John George have attended some classes for regents in Chennai. As of what I hear Albert enjoys his regency.

Fr. Ceresko will prolong his contract with the SVD for one more year. After that he will be discerning together with Fr. Josef how to organize his future. I am grateful that he has been waiting patiently for this foundation in the Philippines. It gives me a good feeling to know that Fr. Josef doesn’t have to go in completely unknown land.

Fr. John Sankarathil has been busy this summer in learning German in order to be able to communicate in a better way with Fr. Aregger and his surroundings. He is in frequent touch with Fr. Aregger. Though not living under the same roof, they support each other fraternally which I appreciate.

I have had a talk with Fr. Maichael over the phone. He is keeping busy. His parish priest is in some difficulties unrelated to Maichael. Maichael enjoys being in the field of parish ministry.

Fr. Josef in the middle of August visited Fr. Mathew. I talked with Fr. Mathew over the phone. He enjoys the course and has already many ideas how to do things differently in our own formation. I am looking forward for this enriching dialogue.

Here in Salespuram all seems to go on smoothly. I feel Fr. Baiju is very balanced, clear, busy, attentive and enjoyable. He knows what he does and does it well. A few difficult decisions had to be made in my absence but he remained calm and did what had to be done. Of course I felt better knowing that Fr. Shaju had been in Salespuram for two weeks to replace me in my absence. Br. John George assumes his responsibilities very well and the three of us along with the brothers enjoy so far a good mutual understanding and community life.

This should be enough for today. Three things I want to close with.

A little reminder of things to come during the next months!

October 2nd and 3rd 2004       Advisory board meeting in Samarpanaram

October 30th and 31st 2004    General Meeting of all professed Oblates living in India in

Samarpanaram

November 22nd 2004                  Ordination of Deacon Xavier

December 27th 2004                   Ordination of Deacon Reji

An angel or a person

In Fynn’s book “Mister God, this is Anna,” Anna says at one moment being asked what the difference between an angel and a person would be. “The difference from a person and angel is easy. Most of an angel is in the inside and most a person is on the outside!” I immediately understood that you and I can be angels too. I wish you the strength to become a more and more interior person. By becoming this you will be an angel for those you are working with and for; may be not perceived as such by others, but well aware of the interior treasure God has laid within you!

The Meeting of Major Superiors in Fockenfeld

In his newsletter Fr. General spoke already a lot about the issues we dealt with. I enjoyed the meeting. It is good for me to have an opportunity to express my doubts, my questions. It is especially good for me to meet so many competent confreres who help us to keep in focus. Many confreres offer themselves generously for the Congregation and in a special way for us in the Missions. Please keep them in your prayers as well. Every province and region has its own challenges, but nevertheless everyone also manages to look beyond its own border. To belong to a widespread family helps me to learn to look at things from different perspectives. What always becomes clear at these meetings is that we are all fond of the Salesian heritage.

I do hope that it is this Salesian heritage that keeps you growing as an Oblate!

Fraternally yours

Sebastian

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