Dear Confreres,
Greetings of the season.
The rays of blessings are being showered upon us and the doors of 2008 are wide open to continue our life with a renewed enthusiasm and invigorated spirit.
Many of us burned the effigy of the old man with the failures of the past year and renewed ourselves with resolutions for the New Year. It could happen that we find ourselves at the cross roads where past year habits come in conflict with the New Year resolutions. It is then St. Francis de Sales would call us to live in the present moment with the spirit of optimism. We just celebrated Christmas where God gave his only Son as a gift for each one of us for the New Year. God’s gift of his Son to us at this season is a special expression of his overflowing love for you and me. God’s expression of such abundant love for us cannot be contained in us but should continue to overflow through acts of love and compassion for the fellow human beings, especially for Oblates through acts of love and charity for our confreres in our communities.
God unfolds the mysteries of his love and of our life in different ways. For us Oblates during the past year this unfolding happened in manifold ways such as the visit of our new Superior General, Fr. Aldino, a new Indian leadership, Chandra’s ordination to priesthood, perpetual profession of Brs Rayappa and Mathias, Fr. Josef’s return to the Indian Mission, the gift of a property in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh and the new appointment of Fr. Shaju as General Councilor. We also share our joy with Fr. Baiju for his well-appreciated ministry as a teacher in Wilmington. We can be proud of these blessings.
No child grows up without facing moments of difficulties. So too we had our moments of difficulties and worries during the past year. The greatest of which was the decision of Fr. Sebastian to leave India in the month of August last year. It was a time of worry and pain. It was equally painful to see our Philippines project to be closed for the time being. We render our heartfelt appreciation and gratefulness to Fr. Josef and Fr. Bruzily for their openness and generosity to work in the Philippines. We are happy to have Frs. Josef and Bruzily back in the region.
With these few lines of gratitude for His multiple blessings, which I experienced in 2007, let me share with you how things are moving in the mission.
We are at the threshold of celebrating two major events in our congregation; feast of St. Francis de Sales on the 24th of January and the Centenary celebrations of the death of Fr. Brisson on 2nd of February.
- Feast of St. Francis de Sales: It is an event, which invites each one of us to recommit and rededicate ourselves to live the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales. The virtues of Gentleness, Charity, Patience, Humility and Love of SFS should prompt each one of us, followers of SFS, to live them in our lives. I wish when we celebrate the feast of SFS this year we make a special resolution to make those virtues part of our living in our communities and in our personal lives. Wish you a very Happy Feast.
- Centenary Celebrations of Fr. Brisson, our Founder: This year we are celebrating the 100th death anniversary of our beloved founder Fr. Louis Brisson. It was, and still is, he who is our inspiration and model to live our Oblate way of living. His invitation to live and spread the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales by faithfully practicing the Spiritual Directory is the road map for each Oblate to live his life. It was his desire that each Oblate reprint the gospel in his life and thus the people can see the “Saviour walking again on earth”. Therefore you and I are called to “Live Jesus”. This year, as we are celebrating his 100th death anniversary, it would be apt that each one of us makes a special resolution as individuals and individual communities to deepen our knowledge in the writings and teachings of Fr. Brisson. I think that would be a special tribute from our part to our beloved Founder. I wish you all a very Happy Feast. On February 2nd Fr. Josef, Fr. Fred and myself will participate in the celebrations at Troyes.
- I also add here what I received from Fr. General on Father Brisson’s Cause. Father Brisson`s Cause - On October 2nd the members (Cardinals and Bishops) of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints met in Rome, and the heroism of the virtues of the Servant of God, Fr. Louis Brisson, was discussed. Basically the Congregation asked for more information on the Cause, especially regarding to the relationship between Fr. Brisson and Bishop Cortet. Specifically more information about Bishop Cortet`s ministry and about Fr. Brisson’s last years were requested. Sister Madeleine-Thérèse, the Postulator, is working on these issues. Let us continue to pray for the beatification of our Founder.
- We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done. (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807 – 1882). Dear Fr. Shaju, this is a tribute to you as you leave for Rome. You were leading the Samarpanaram community for the last three years. Your service, dedication, sincerity, understanding, readiness for dialogue, your concern for the Spiritual and Salesian growth of our brothers and the unique sense of humor is very much appreciated. Your ardent love and desire for a ministry in India resulted in the birth of Brisson Bala Bhavan. Your presence, mature thoughts and reflections were important in our discernment and decision making process. Thank you for all that you have been to us and to the community of Samarpanaram. Though you are going away, you are very much part of Indian Mission. I wish you all the best for you new assignment as General Councilor and for your doctoral studies. Thank You. We will miss you. Fr. Shaju has already assumed his responsibility as General Councilor, he will stay at our Generalate in Rome and will do his studies at Salesianum, Rome.
- On 2nd of January, Fr. Josef Koeltringer was introduced to his office as Superior of Samarpanaram and Master of Scholastics. Thank you, Fr. Josef, for accepting this responsibility, to lead the community of Samarpanaram.
- Fr. Chandrasekhar is appointed as Assistant Parish Priest of Cathedral Church, Phirangipuram in the diocese of Guntur. He will assume his ministry from 15th January to 31st May 2008. Thereafter he will get another appointment in the diocese of Guntur. I hope and pray that he will take this appointment in good spirit and work earnestly in the parish relying in the strength of God. Find his address and phone number in the attached list.
- Our land in Eluru is well protected now; the fencing work is completed and is given in lease for cultivation for six months. I wish to thank Fr. Xavier and Fr. Chandra for looking after well all the work there.
- I would like to bring to your awareness the dates for our annual retreat. Our annual retreat will be for all of us together (Fathers and scholastics) from Sunday, April 20, afternoon, and will end on April 25, noon. Fr. Ken McKenna, from Toledo-Detroit Province has agreed to guide us in these five days.
- This year we will have our General Meeting on May 31st and June 1st in Samarpanaram. I invite all the confreres to send the proposals or matters that you would like to discuss in the general meeting before March 31st.
- Fr. John Sankarathil is in India for his holidays. He is using this opportunity to undergo some treatment and is recuperating.
- Please note down following important dates:
- January 24: Feast of St. Francis de Sales
- February 2: Centenary Celebrations and Major Superior’s Meeting in Troyes.
- February 17: Advisory Board Meeting
- April 20 – 25: Retreat for Fathers and Scholastics.
- April 26,27,28: Advisory Board Meeting
- May 31st, June 1st: General Meeting
I close here and greeting all the confreres belonging to our region and living outside our communities: F. Baiju, Fr. John, Fr. Bruzily, Fr. Chandrasekhar, Br. Jayraj, and the communities of Salespuram, Samarpanaram and Bliss.
- Please remember in prayer and mass our deceased confreres:
1. 12th December, 2007: Bro. Florian Frank [Austrian Pr.] 75 / Eichstätt - Farmer, In maintenance work.
2. 1st January 2008: Bro. Hilarion (Hans) Dingjan [Dutch Pr.] 77 / Boekel - Cook, In maintenance work.
- PS: Find an updated version of our addresses and phone numbers
- Addresses and Phone numbers:
Samarpanaram Tel.: 0091 80-(2) 78.32.450
Hosur Road Fax: 0091 80-(2) 78.32.550
Chandapura PO
560 081 Bangalore India
Salespuram Tel.: 0091 490-24.20.856
Vallithode Fax: 0091 490-24.21.067
Kiliyanthara P.O.
670 706 Kannur Dt. India
Sacred Heart Church Tel.: 0091 (0) 9448-83.43.37
62, Richmond Road
560 025 Bangalore India
St. Francis College Tel.: 0091 8812.22.54.21
Eluru 534 475
Janampeta, West Godawari Dt. India
Bliss - OSFS Study House for Theologians Tel.: 0091 824.24.14.395
Seminary View, 1st Cross Fax: 0091 824.24.14.391
Jeppu
575 002 Mangalore India
Brisson Nilayam Tel.: 0091 (0) 9440-423.094
Ratnalakunta Road
Vijayarai PO
534 475 West-Godawari India
Infant Jesus Cathedral Tel: 0091 8641 25.72. 25
Phirangipuram P.O. Mob: 0091 (0) 9440 423. 094
522 529 Guntur Dt
Quilo-Quilo Tel.: 0063 917 922 4332
Balete 4219
Brgy Makina
Batangas Philippines
Vettukallamkuzhyil, Bruzily |
Thaddäusheim Tel.: 0041 0264-9250.90
Hauptstrasse 40 Fax: 0041 0264-9250.91
CH-3186 Düdingen Switzerland
St. Anthony of Padua Tel.: 001 302-421-3700
901 North DuPont Street Fax: 001 302-421-3709
Wilmington, DE 19805 United States
Curia Generalizia Tel.: 0039 06-58.12.389
Via Dandolo, 49 Fax: 0039 06-58.35.769
I-00153 Rome Italy
- PPS: Visit our homepage on www.osfs-india.net for the latest pictures and news.
Fr. Mathew Mukkath osfs