Circular FT/15 ------November 10, 2009

Dear Confreres,

Greetings of peace to you! The month of October with its devotional focus on praying the holy Rosary has concluded. With delight, I have witnessed and participated in the fervent prayer of children in our hostels and village communities. Our confreres also have been participating, leading and organizing such devotional practices in the parishes. I am very glad to note that in most of our parishes, the month is well organized with excellent programs to help people grow in devotional life.

We have already entered the month of November. In many parts of the globe, Winter season has begun. Here at the Provincialate, it is a busy time with a number of meetings that have significance to the life of the Congregation. Please keep the participants of these meetings in your thoughts and prayer.

The Visitation of the Superior General

During this October, I had the privilege of accompanying Very Rev. Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, our beloved Superior General on his visitation to the Province. Personally, I cherish the moments of our conversation, sharing of jokes and laughter, celebrating the Eucharist, attending functions, meeting with people, children and religious. His simplicity and unassuming manner speak volumes of his interior life and close communion with God. His interaction with people has a natural flow; it is simple, yet profound and carries instant accessibility. His ability to speak to the little children in easy language the profound truths and values of the Gospel is something which I have come to notice with enormous admiration.

Through the long hours of listening to stories of individual confreres, and keen attention to their personal concerns, Father General has gracefully manifested his love for each confrere. Amidst the busy schedule of travel and engagements,he found time to meet with most of the members who reside in the Northeast. His visit has been a blessing to all of us. In his visit and personal meetings, each of us senses the spiritual support and care of a loving father. On behalf of the province, I offer him our heartiest gratitude, love and affection. Thank you dear Father General for your encouraging presence with us! For your warm and loving words of encouragement, we thank you. We cherish every moment of your interaction and stay! We appreciate all that you are to us! And we assure our prayerful support and cooperation.

Visit to Southern Africa region

In September, I had the opportunity to visit the Southern African Region of our province. The visit to most of our centers and the participation in the Regional assembly has given me firsthand understanding and experience of the reality of life and ministry in the Region. As you know, the Region can boast of having two houses of the MSFS. These houses, (the one in South Africa purchased in2008, and the other in Namibia purchased in2009), were acquired for the various needs of the Region. Currently, Fr. Babychen Arackathara resides at the Fransalian house in South Africa and continues to serve as chaplain to prison ministry in the archdiocese of Cape Town; the house in Namibia is expected to serve as the Regional house, which may also provide for the stay of scholastics who may be sent to the nearby seminary. Currently, our confreres work in 11 centres (4 in South Africa, 5 in Namibia, 1 in Kenya, 1 in Austria). Fr. Alex Varickamanthottiyil is doing German course at Max Mueller Bhavan, Pune, in view of pastoral ministry in Europe. A few of the confreres have returned to India due to health reasons. The Region is divided into apostolic communities. Due to distance and other factors, the members are grouped into three apostolic communities:

1. South African Apostolic Community. Fr. Baiju Mundackal (Animator), Fr. Babu Kudakkachirakkunnel (Secretary), Fr. Job Karikkampally, Fr. Babychan Arackathara, Fr. Philip Mangat and Fr. Thomas Vanderkunnel.

2. Windhoek Archdiocese Apostolic Community. Fr. Lukose Perumannikala(Animator),Fr. Paul Dotaomai (Secretary), Fr. Jose Mamalasseril and Fr. Joseph Kunjaparambil

3. Keetmanshoop Diocese Apostolic Community. Fr. Saju Thalayinakandathil (Animator),Fr. Joseph Illickal (Secretary),andFr. Augustine Parampuzha.

I sincerely thank the confreres, who continue to minister to the communities entrusted to their pastoral care. I also take this opportunity to thank Fr. Joseph Kunjaparambil for his leadership and guidance to the confreres of the Region.

New Councilors of the Regional Administration

The Regional assembly was very well organized and conducted. The deliberations were of quality and demonstrated sincerity and earnestness of the members on matters concerning their life and ministry in Africa. The statement of the assembly and the action plan bear witness to their commitment to the Gospel. At the Fifth Session of the assembly, the following confreres were elected to the Regional Council: Fr. Philip Mangat and Fr. Jose Mamalasseril . I congratulate them and wish them every success. I take this opportunity to thank sincerely the former team of Councilors, Fr. Job Karikkampally, Fr. Babychan Arackathara, who have given their service to the Regional administration.

The Acts of the Southern Africa Regional Assembly

The Provincial Council in its meeting held on November 7, 2009 has approved the Acts of the Regional assembly, which was held at Windhoek, Namibia from September 15-17, 2009.I am very happy to present the Acts of the Assembly for the information of everyone in the Province. Let us support all the confreres who are currently rendering pastoral service in the continent of Africa.

Statement of the Regional assembly 2009

“We, the members of the Southern African Region, of the North-east India Province of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, gathered for our Third Regional Assembly from 15 to 17 September 2009, at the MSFS Regional House, Windhoek, Namibia. Having reflected on the theme FRANSALIANS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES, COMMITTED TO THE RENEWAL OF THE CHURCH IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, we resolve to commit ourselves to the renewal of the Church in Southern Africa:

  • By giving authentic witness to our Fransalian identity through personal renewal, community and personal prayer, spiritual readings and attending recollections.
  • By strengthening the communities with more personnel and equipping ourselves to address the pastoral and social needs of Southern Africa. In particular, we resolve to make an attempt to renew the local Church by forming Fransalian Mission Preaching Team.
  • By striving to become more effective in our pastoral and social outreach, through learning the local culture, language, customs and traditions, which shall assist us to respond adequately to the social and religious challenges of our ministry.
  • By fostering local vocations through active involvement in youth ministry and personal witness of the Gospel we make efforts to implant the Congregation.

As Fransalians, we recognize our role in the renewal of the local Church especially by walking in the footsteps of St. Francis de Sales in close collaboration and relationship with the Province and the local Church.”

Action PLAN OF the Assembly

  1. Spiritual Renewal and Personal Preparation
  1. Personal Renewal through community prayer, personal prayer, spiritual readings, recollections and Fransalian devotional practices (L.Com)
  2. Organize Seminars and workshops to learn local language, culture, customs and traditions (R. Adm)
  3. Experts to be invited to speak on African Culture and tradition (R. Adm)
  4. Each one to personally devote time to learn language and culture through personal reading (L. Com)
  5. A library in the Regional house with relevant African Literature (R. Adm)
  1. Formation and Strengthening of Local Community
  1. Constitute Local Communities (P. & R. Adm)
  2. Strengthen the local communities with more personnel (P. Adm)
  3. Appoint more members to the communities (P. Adm)
  4. Assign qualified and experienced members to the Region for Seminary Formation and Training, Youth Ministry, Family and Pastoral Counselling, and Management of Social Projects (P. Adm)
  5. Give options to the Scholastics to study and work in the Region (P. Adm)
  6. Promote local vocations (R. Adm)
  7. Publish reports of the special events taking place in the Region in the Newsletter of the Province (P. & R. Adm)
  8. Plan each mission centre with a clear vision (R. Adm)
  1. Specialized Ministries
  1. Establish Fransalian Mission Preaching Team
  2. Identify personnel from the Region or from the Province (P. & R. Adm)
  3. The local community shall collaborate with the team (L. Com)
  4. Take up innovative ministries like Youth ministry, Marriage and Family Apostolate
  5. Give opportunity to the members of the Region for specialization in the field of youth ministry and family apostolate (R. Adm)
  6. Involve trained lay leaders in these ministries (L. Com)
  7. Train more lay leaders for these ministries (L. Com)
  8. Address the social issues like poverty, alcoholism, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, teenage pregnancy, crime and violence with more earnestness and with Fransalian spirit (L. Com)
  9. Create awareness through preaching, seminars and workshops (L. Com)
  10. Visit and counsel the victims (L. Com)

Let us support our confreres to work towards the goals they have set for themselves.

Remembering with gratitude the Generosity of our collaborators

The Focus 2009-2010 emphasized the importance of collaboration. This period is also an occasion for us to recognize the collaboration of many people in our common mission.People have been supporting our missions in many ways. In every mission, we can find several individuals who share with us their varied talents for the growth of the missions and support of our ministries. Through my visits, I have been personally touched by the example of ordinary people who make innumerable sacrifices to support our missions. Some people do this out of their love for the Church; others because of their admiration for the service we render to people. What would be the state of our missions without the sacrifices of so many people? As you know, we also receive monetary assistance from a range of sources: government, non government agencies, and local communities, contributions from individuals, tithes, collections and through social work programs. We need to appreciate the generosity of these people.

A Special thanks to Our Confreres abroad

Individual benefactors and funding agencies from abroad have also supported us. We need to appreciate their generosity in trusting us with their resources. Perhaps, not too many of us may know that the benefactors who support us have come through the personal contacts of our confreres who have worked/ studied and are working/studying in Europe. Particularly, the confreres in study have labored hard, made travels, and carried out holiday ministries to get funds for the various needs of the Province. Fr. Saji Puthiyakulangara, Fr. Benoy Veliath and Fr. Mathai Ottapally have made many sacrifices to organize fund raising programs with the help of people in the parishes.Several projects have been sanctioned due to their personal contacts. On behalf of the confreres of the province, I want to acknowledge their many personal sacrifices and thank them all very sincerely.

The story of our confreres assigned to the parishes is no different. They too are very generous in saving all that they can and pool together the savings to the common fund of the province, which becomes the main financial source for the province. Their salaries are sent to the account of the Society. They also try to get friends to support our ventures. Thank you dear confreres! Our missions are manifestations of the sacrifice and generosity of many people. Your special role in that story is acknowledged and appreciated!

From the Mission account of Fr. S.L. Paul

The Province has received a generous contribution from the mission account of Fr. Paul Sankoorickal. We appreciate the foresight of Fr. Paul in starting a mission fund from which he has been supporting many a venture of our provinces. The Mission account has been closed and the amount has been distributed among some of the provinces. I also take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to K. Hansen who has judiciously distributed these amounts according to the wishes of Fr. Paul. I had the opportunity to meet with Fr. Paul and K. Hansen during the summer 2009. Currently, Fr. Paul resides at a Nursing home in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Let us keep in our prayers and remembrances. Thank you dear Father Paul for your contribution to the Province! Your love for the missions of Northeast India will always remain an inspiration to all our confreres, both young and old.

Perpetual Profession

The generosity of hearts continues to be manifested! The applications of the following confreres for perpetual profession was accepted and approved by the Superior General: Borogaon Alois, Hasda Sudhir, Kaduthanathu Lijeesh Mathew, Kumbattu Praveeen Johny, Mannachamkuzhiyil Shijo Paul, Palatty Jijesh Paul, Plakoottathil Sanish. Very Rev. Fr. Agnelo fernandes, the Superior general received the vows of these confreres during the Eucharistic celebration held on 12th October 2009, at MSFS Study House, Shillong. We congratulate the confreres for their courageous step and appreciate the generosity of their hearts.

Promotion to Priesthood

Provincial Council has also approved the application of the following confreres to the Order of priesthood: Deacon Avilhou Stephen, Deacon Kerketta Pratap, Deacon Soreng Silanand, and Tirkey Solomon. Their ordinations will be held in the month of January 2010. Please pray for these confreres as they prepare for this sacred event of ordination.

Congratulations

Fr. George Panthanmackel has been re-appointed as Consultant to IGNOU for another period of six months beginning with October 2009. We wish him all the best.

New Publications

1. The scholastics at MSFS Study house has brought out the latest edition of The search, the house journal. The thrust of the issue is Land and Nature from the tribal perspectives of northeast. The theme is very timely, more so at a time when ecological concerns have generated intense discussion on various forums across the Globe. We thank the staffs who motivate the scholastics to delve deep into the culture of northeast India. Congratulations to all who are involved in the project! Keep up the desire to learn more and do research on the richness of the northeastern people and their culture.

2. Our parish, Ka parish Jongi, isa parish directory of SFS Parish Umwahlang in the diocese of Nongstoin. It is a work that has been initiated by the parish team and completed in collaboration with catechists and leaders of the parish. It is a great achievement for a new parish like Umwahlang, which the province took up in 2008. Perhaps, this may be the first Parish directory ever to be publishedin the whole of Northeast. Our confreres, Fr. Nicholas, Fr. Santhosh Charavanal and Fr. Ashihe Andrew deserve applause for their initiatives. Indeed, in partnership with our collaborators, we can achieve greater things for the good of the mission. Our parish, Ka parish Jongi is a testimony to such collaboration. Well done dear confreres, Congratulations!

3. Jisuna Ring’mitelachi, hymns for praise and worship is a publication by St. John’s Parish Siju, in Garo Hills. Fr. Saji Kaipallil deserves applause for this venture. The book provides hymns in Garo language for prayer and worship. Congratulations to the Parish team of St. John’s Siju.

4. Themes for Personal Improvement is a compilation by the Fransalian Education Forum (Regional) under the leadership of Fr. George Parampukattil , the General Secretary, Education. The book contains a series of reflections, which can be used for giving practical tips to students on a variety of topics. Hearty Congratulations to everyone involved in the project.

Meetings at the Provincialate in November

A series of meetings are scheduled here in the Provincialate during the month of November. We welcome all the participants of these various meetings to Northeast and in a special way to Guwahati, the gateway to Northeast India. The details are as follow:

  1. Nov 8, 2009: Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, our Superior General and Fr. Thomas Cherukat, the Assistant General will meet the Provincial Curia of the Province
  2. November 9-10, 2009: General Curia meets the Provincial Curia of Northeast India Province
  3. November11-14, 2009: The Indian provincials meet the General curia.
  4. November 15-18,2009: The General Council continues to meet here at the Provincialate.

Let us pray for the success of all these meetings.

New Provincial administration of Visakhpatnam Province

The Province of Visakhapatnam had its Provincial Congress from September 22nd to 25th of September 2009 with the theme “Let us be True to our Fransalian Missionary Charism”. The Congress elected the following members to the Provincial Administration: Frs. George Kottam, Chinnappa Reddy, P. Inna Reddy, Suresh Babu and Fr. Jose Chirayath as the Bursar. We offer our prayerful support to Fr. Simon the Provincial and his new administrative team.

New Provincial administration ofSouthwest Province

The South West Province Congress, which began on 5th Oct., with the theme “Faithfulness To Christ for a Revitalized Community on Mission” has electedFrs. Kurian Aranjaniyil, Kurian Karickal, Jose Kumblolickal, Santhosh Kumar to the team of councilors and Fr. Benny Marangolil as the Bursar. We offer our continued support to Fr. Mathew Kozhuppakalam, the Provincial and his new team of Council members.

Update and Renewal Programme (UDRP) Group II January 2010

An update and renewal programme of Group II is being organized at Charis Bhavan, Athirampuzha from 5th to 11th January 2010. 31 confreres from the Northeast Province are in Group II. The letter of invitation and the registration form are sent to those confreres in Group II. The letter has all the details for your information. Kindly fill in the Registration Form and send it to Fr. Henry Kodikuthiyil . Thank you for your cooperation.

Intensive Course on Sacraments of Reconciliation and Confirmation:

Christ King Church, Gogamukh organized a Three-day programme from 24th-28th Sept 2009 in preparation forthe first Holy Communion and Confirmation. In all, 200 participants from differentvillages of the parish attended and it was animated by Fr. Milkius, Sr. Ancita, Sr. Hema and a team of four Touring catechists. The sessions, packed with religious action songs, catechism classes, rosary, adoration, holy mass and religious films, helped the participants to know the importance of sacraments and receiving them devotedly. The participants will receive the first Holy Communion and Confirmation on the feast Christ the King. The parish Sabha is also scheduled from 20th-22nd, November 2009. About 3000 Catholics are expected for the celebration. The preparation for the feast is on full swing. Kindly pray for the success of this event in the parish. (Fr. Milkius Tirkey Parish Priest)