Dear confrere!
The first reading of last Saturday touched me in a special way. One can read there “Elijah’s word is burning like a torch”. What a beautiful picture for a word being spoken. I am called to speak words that become torches, light. A torch helps me to dispel the darkness, helps me to find the way, helps me to find, what I have lost. A torch helps me to overcome my fears and allows me to walk courageously. A torch gives reassurance, comfort. Having a torch I can also be seen, found, followed. A torch also attracts, calls, becomes a point of reference. What about the words I speak? Is my word a torch? And then, I remembered the feast we are preparing for. The WORD incarnate: Jesus, the Christ has become THE point of reference, he calls, he attracts. HE gives reassurance, comfort. HE helps me to overcome my fears and allows me to walk courageously. HE dispels the darkness, helps me to find the way, helps me to find, what I have lost. Thank you for your many good words, which have become and still are torches in my life! Happy Christmas and the WORD be with you in 2006.
Before the WORD becomes flesh in 2005, I want to update you on a few recent developments.
1.) In our last advisory board meeting we have approved Br. Chandra Sekhar’s request for perpetual vows in our community. I am delighted to inform you that he will offer himself totally to God in our community on the feast of St. Francis de Sales, that Samarpanaram will celebrate on Saturday, January 28th 2006 at 11.00 AM.
2.) In the same advisory board meeting we have also approved Br. Balaswamy Dande’s request for admission to Holy Orders. Another encouraging moment for us as Region and as Congregation. Pending the approval of the Bishop of Kannur Br. Balaswamy Dande will be ordained deacon most probably on April 8th 2006 in Salespuram. But I will get back to you on that.
I don’t want to hide the fact of my immense gratitude to God for the gifts of these two confreres of ours. Their “YES” to God’s call is an encouragement, a light, and a torch. We thank God for the many gifts they are offering to our Congregation.
3.) Fr. Bruzily’s time in Mudhur is coming to an end on January 20th 2006. From then onwards he is transferred to Salespuram. His assignment is however to look for and find a suitable place for our community of theologians in Mangalore. He has time for that until the end of February. After that I have requested the Bishop of Tellicherry to assign him as assistant parish priest to a parish in his diocese until the month of May. I hope that the bishop will oblige. Fr. Mathew is looking into this.
4.) Fr. Reji’s time in the Archdiocese of Tellicherry is also coming to an end. He is transferred by the end of February to the community in Salespuram. From there he will be entrusted to take over from Fr. Bruzily and get things ready in Mangalore. As soon as he can he will then move to Mangalore to set up the space that we are going to rent in Mangalore (furniture, bank contacts, paper work, etc.).
Thank you to these two Fathers for setting up our community in Mangalore.
5.) In our last meeting we have also decided to set up a school team that will look more specifically into Madikeri as well as other areas still eligible. Fr. Reji will lead that group of three. With him Fr. Shaju ad Fr. Xavier will offer their service and time on that team. They will receive from me a more specific letter as to what is expected from them.
6.) Our last General meeting urged us to form a team in charge of developing a formal formation program. Fr. Mathew has consented to lead that group. Fr. Maichael, Shaju, Fred, and I will join him. The goal is to present to the General Meeting in 2007 a formation program for approval. Here again thank you to all the confreres for joining on this effort important for the region. A separate letter of mine will specify the work of that group.
7.) We have decided to establish one more team. This team should initiate the discussion around the novitiate, its possible location and the necessary infrastructure deemed to be essential for a smooth running of the novitiate. Fr. Vincent has consented to lead that team. Fr. Fred, Mathew and Xavier will join him. The first in depth discussion with all is expected to take place at the General Meeting in 2007. A separate letter will specify their scope of work.
I take the opportunity to thank all of you who share your time and vision in various teams. With that you enable the region to grow and I appreciate your constant contribution to that.
Let me add in short what has been discussed at our last advisory board meeting.
1. Approval of minutes of former two advisory board meetings
2. Welcome of Fr. Xavier as advisory board member
3. Personal reflection on the General Meeting – Sharing
4. Br. Chandra Shekar’s request for perpetual vows
5. Br. Dande Balaswamy’s request for higher orders
6. Request for support from the Mission Chablais Fund
7. Mangalore and the next steps
8. School team and scope of responsibilities
9. Formation program team and scope of responsibilities
10. Novitiate team and scope of responsibilities
11. Personnel: discussion about the upcoming academic year
12. Timings of perpetual vows
13. Timings and location of deaconate
14. Visit of Fr. John Dolan (see last newsletter)
15. Visit of Fr. Jim O’Neill in February and March – Scope of work for him during his visit
16. Vocation Promotion
17. CRI Meeting – promotion of gender equality
18. Approval of installing a flexible partition between TT Hall and the other hall in Samarpanaram (approx. 45.000, - Rupees)
19. Next meeting scheduled for Saturday February 25th 2006 in Samarpanaram
We are at present enjoying the visit of Ingrid and Christian Mitterecker from Austria. They are performance artists (www.amal.at ) and on a world tour visiting projects they have helped to fund with their art and hard work. They have helped to raise funds for St. Sara’s School and are now adding our hostel, Brisson Bala Bhavan, to their long list of projects. We thank them for their work with children and extend a hearty welcome to them.
Please remember in your prayers our deceased confreres of the last months.
Mathias Zinnöcker, OSFS died on September 10th, in his 71st year, the 47th year of his religious profession and the 41st year of his priesthood, Austria - South Germany.
Joseph A. Baird, OSFS died on September 21st, in his 67th year, the 45th year of his religious profession and the 37th year of his priesthood, Wilmington-Philadelphia.
Hans Wicki, OSFS died on October 2nd, in his 79th year, the 58th year of his religious profession and the 53rd year of his priesthood, Switzerland.
On December 1st 2005 Fr. Fiorelli wrote, that the consideration by the Holy See of the Cause of Father Brisson had reached an important moment. “A week or so ago the Cause was formally reviewed, and all but two of the Cardinals voted in its favor. We now have until January 15, 2006 to present documentation that, hopefully, will change these two "suspensive" votes to "affirmative" votes.
Now is the time for all of the members of both Oblate Congregations to storm heaven on behalf of our Founder to whom we owe so much. Would you, therefore, please urge the confreres of your Province or Region to pray earnestly for this intention during the next six weeks?” he continued.
Please do so fervently.
I do not want to conclude my letter without once again thanking God for the past year. Many good things have happened indeed, in small ways and in bigger ways. I do not want to forget to thank you personally. It is because of your hard work, your energy, and your enthusiasm for Saint Francis de Sales and our Congregation that we have grown.
A year cannot pass without mistakes, wrong words and actions, and pain created. I apologize if I have created any of those for you and in you.
For the year 2006 I recommend to your prayers in a special way the 18th General Chapter and its focus: “Always be united, in heart and in action, with our entire Congregation.” We have received the book of proposals from Fr. Shaju. Now is the time to reflect on them. At our General Meeting in May, these proposals will be the main focus of our discussions.
Many of you are on or going for holidays these days. Please do not forget to put some effort of yours into the promotion of vocations. You are the best promoters if you are witnesses of our life at home, address young man, encourage them, keep in touch with them. Thank you for everyone who gives some of his time for that purpose. It is for the good of the Congregation. Thank you.
At the brim of a new year, it is appropriate to keep looking beyond, beyond boundaries, beyond obstacles, beyond sufferings, beyond struggles, beyond joys, beyond success. The year 2006 brings us one year closer to our final goal, our ultimate joy: the union with God. May you have broad personal visions that enable you to see yourself within the vision of the community aiming at your last goal!
Once more a blessed Christmas and a New Year 2006 full of hope and fulfillment!
Your brother
Fr. Sebastian
PS: Find an updated version of our addresses and phone numbers attached.
DeSales-Oblates in Asia
Addresses and Phone numbers - December 2005
Name |
Address |
Phone |
Baiju Paul Puthussery |
Wills Hall Oblate Residence
2755 Station Avenue
Center Valley, PA
18034-9568 USA |
001-610-282-3300 Ext-2227
Mobile: 001-267-221-2149 |
Balaswamy Pasala |
Catholic Mission
Barpeta Road
781 315 Assam |
03666-26 07 24 |
Bruzily Vettukallamkuzhyil |
St. Mary's Church, Mudhur Post, Uduppi District
Karnataka 576 233 |
08254-28 91 00 |
John George Kadavumkandathil |
St Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary
Jeppu
575 002 Mangalore |
0824-243 70 56 |
John Sankarathil |
Provincial Residence
Thaddäusheim
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
Sonapahar, Riangdo
Nonstong-via
793 113 Meghalaya |
03654 – 26 32 34 |
Rayappa Reddy |
Don Bosco School – Catholic Church
Boko, Kamrup
781 123 Assam |
03623-28 22 47 or
Mobile Rector: 09435190474 |
Reji Choorakunnel |
Little Flower Church
Chandanakkampara PO
670 633 Kannur |
0460-22 15 617 or
944 – 78 23 683 |
Salespuram |
Vallithode
Kiliyanthara PO
670 706 Kannur |
0490 - 24 20 856 or
0490 - 24 21 067 or
944 - 73 64 763 (Mathew) or
944 - 73 52 556 (Maichael) |
Samarpanaram |
Hosur Road
Chandapura PO
560 081 Bangalore |
080 - 78 32 450 or
080 - 78 31 608 or
9845 - 68 98 73 (Shaju) or
9845 - 17 50 47 (Fred) or
9880 - 32 98 27 (Sebastian) |
Vincent Kumar |
St. Mary’s Basilica
Shivajinagar
Bangalore 560 051 |
080 - 22 86 54 34 or
944 – 80 29 839
|
Xavier Manchu |
R.C Mission
Vissannapeta
521 215 Krishna District
Andhra Pradesh |
08673 - 27 14 69 |
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