My Dear Confreres,
Fraternal greetings to each one of you in the name of the Lord!
“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”
– Pope John Paul II
Easter also called ‘Pasch’ or ‘Resurrection Sunday’ is a festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is the culmination of the Passion of Christ preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting and penance. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection or rising of Christ to Heaven, which is the foundation of Christianity. In fact, in the weekly reckoning of time, Easter Sunday recalls the day of Christ’s Resurrection.
Rightly, then, the Psalmist’s cry is applied to Easter Sunday: “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Ps118:24). This invitation to joy, which the Easter liturgy makes its own, reflects the astonishment which came over the women who, having seen the crucifixion of Christ, found the tomb empty when they went there “very early on the first day after the Sabbath” (Mk 16:2). It is an invitation to relive in some way the experience of the two disciples of Emmaus, who felt their hearts “burn within them” as the Risen One walked with them on the road, explaining the Scriptures and revealing Himself in “the breaking of the bread” (Lk 24:32,35). And it echoes the joy – at first uncertain and then overwhelming – which the Apostles experienced on the evening of that same day, when they were visited by the Risen Jesus and received the gift of His peace and of His Spirit (Jn 20:19-23). Those who have received the grace of faith in the Risen Lord cannot fail to grasp the significance of this day of the week with the same deep emotion which led St. Jerome to say: “Sunday is the day of the Resurrection; it is the day of Christians; it is our day.”
It is Easter which returns week by week, celebrating Christ’s victory over sin and death, the fulfilment in Him of the first creation and the dawn of “the new creation” (2 Cor 5:17). It is the day which recalls in grateful adoration the world’s first day and looks forward in active hope to “the last day”, when Christ will come in glory (Acts1:11; 1Th 4:13-17) and all things will be made new (Rev 21:5). Easter celebration is also wholly illumined by the glory of the Risen Christ. It is the festival of the “new creation”. As St. John writes in the Prologue of his Gospel: “Through Him all things were made, and without Him was made nothing that was made.”
And today we are the stewards of the new creation, created by Jesus Christ through His Passion, Death and Resurrection. We are expected to protect the new creation, free from all kinds of pollutions, indifferences and selfish motives. As Abdul Kalam says, we are the creators and transformers. It is in our hands to create a paradise or a hell. And as stewards of the ‘New Creation’, we need the weapons of Love and Mercy and should stay with Christ always as said by Pope John Paul II. Christ should be at the very heart of our life if we wish to be the protectors of the ‘New Creation’. “Do not be afraid! Open, open wide the doors to Christ!”
I therefore would strongly urge everyone in the words of Pope John Paul II to rediscover the Easter Sunday: Do not be afraid to give your time to Christ! Yes, let us open our time to Christ, that He may cast light upon it and give it direction. He is the one who knows the secret of time and the secret of eternity, and He gives us “His day” as an ever new gift of His love. The rediscovery of this day is a grace which we must implore, not only so that we may live the demands of faith to the full, but also so that we may respond concretely to the deepest human yearnings. Time given to Christ is never time lost, but is rather time gained, so that our relationships and indeed our whole life may become more profoundly human.
The greatest deception, and the deepest source of unhappiness, is the illusion of finding life by excluding God. Therefore, it is Jesus that we seek when we dream of happiness; He is waiting for us when nothing else we find satisfies us; He is the beauty to which we are so attracted; it is He who provokes us with a thirst for fullness that will not let us settle for compromise; it is He who urges us to shed the masks of a false life; it is He who reads in our hearts our most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in us the desire to do something great with our lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow ourselves to be ground down by mediocrity, the courage to commit ourselves humbly and patiently to improving ourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal. Thus we can be the Easter People celebrating the ‘New Creation’ at every moment of our life with Jesus, staying with us.
May the Lord bless you on the auspicious day of Easter,
and May it be a new beginning of greater Prosperity,
Success and Happiness.
Wish you all
A Blessed Easter and Grace-filled Days ahead!
MISSION SANGAMAM ARRANGED AT SFS SEMINARY, PUDUKKOTTAI
In order to conclude the Year of Consecrated Life for Mission in a meaningful way, the Mission Forum of our Province, in its last meeting held at our Provincialate on 19th January, 2016, decided to organize a day to bring together the representatives from our parishes to evaluate the pastoral activities of our confreres and help to march forward into the future with renewed spirit and new vitality. It is decided to conduct the evaluation through a questionnaire prepared by experts in pastoral activities. A core team, comprising Frs. A. Edward, the PCIC of Mission, S. Alexander, P. Johnson Jeyabal, S. Soosai Raj, S. Sahaya Wilson and S. Prem, is appointed to organize it. The Mission Sangamam, the first of its kind to be arranged in our Province, is scheduled to be held at SFS Seminary, Pudukkottai from 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., on 22nd April, 2016.
NB: Confreres working in parishes are kindly requested to attend the Mission Sangamam together with five representatives from the parish without fail.
Fr. S. Soosai Raj
FOCUS ON OUR MISSION IN BRAZIL
Brazil is rich not only in its biodiversity but also in its religious background. The dominant religion of Brazil historically was and still is Christianity. Brazil possesses a rich spiritual society formed from the meeting of the Roman Catholic Church with the religious traditions of African slaves, indigenous people and immigrants. But in the recent decades its religiosity is shaken by a deeper threat from the fastest growing secularism and inclination towards materialism. This fact has sped up greatly the decline of vocation to priesthood in Brazil in general. Our Province in Brazil is not an exception to this.
When lack of vocation, and death of few confreres in sequence came as real threats to the future of the Province in Brazil, our General Council came forward with a concrete suggestion to the Provinces in India to help the Brazil Mission with ten missionaries in accordance with the request of Rev. Fr. Gilberto, the erstwhile Provincial of Brazil Province and the South-East Province volunteered to take up the challenge.
Accordingly, the first three missionaries of the SE Province, namely, Frs. AJR Benedict, S. Eldin Bernard and F. Justin arrived in Brazil in the year 2011, followed by Frs. G. Jagannathan and D. Arockiaraj in 2013 and Frs. F. Daniel Raj, J. Stephen Dass and S. Jose Devasahayam in 2014. From the moment of their arrival, the missionaries look at this Province as their Mother Province and contribute to the growth of the Province. Their presence in the Province has certainly made a significant impact on the life of the Province. Some important aspects are the following:
- The lack of community life makes the personal life of the confreres and progress of the Province stagnant. The added number of the missionaries facilitated to form communities in all the parishes. The emphasis of the Superior General on this aspect during his visit, the continuous effort of the Provincial and the collaboration of the members, keep the spiritual and community life healthy.
- We have surprised the locals by our ability to adapt to the host culture within a short span of time, because generally, inserting one into the host culture leads to a total personal disorientation, i.e., impaired awareness, especially regarding time, place and personal identity. But love wins them all. The nature of the geographical structure of Brazil and vast dioceses with a few priests have caused many dioceses to have parishes with many substations, for example, Christ the Redeemer parish, situated in the northern part of Brazil, has 36 substations with its farthest substation being 85 km away from the parish. The parishes in Tanguá (Rio do Janeiro) and Caçador (Santa Catarina) have 10 and 24 respectively. The distance, poverty, misery, tiredness and a constant challenge from various denominations of the Protestants only increase our ardent desire to do the mission of rendering our spiritual service to the people of God with immense joy and love. Our prison ministry in the diocesan level, youth ministry, mission in the remotest areas, participation in the diocesan programmes and projects, visiting the sick in the hospitals and at home and attending to the spiritual needs of the people without preference and selfish motives are well appreciated and recognized here. As a result, the Bishop of Caçador offered us two more parishes in his diocese.
- We also serve the Province in its administration in various capacities. Fr. S. Eldin Bernard is the Admonitor and the Councilor in charge of Mission and Fr. G. Jagannathan is the Bursar of the Province. Our Province is progressing slowly and steadily under the leadership of the Provincial and the collaboration of the members. The MSFS have a scope and bright future in Brazil.
Fr. S. Jose Devasahayam
REV. FR. PROVINCIAL’S VISIT TO GRAMMICHELE, ITALY
After having visited two of our parishes, Giumarra and Castel di Iudica in Italy, Rev. Fr. A. Dharmaraj, our Provincial along with our confreres, Fr. A. Jayaseela Rajan, Fr. A. Jeyaraj and Fr. H. Ebin Christopher, arrived at Grammichele at 9.00 a.m. on 29th February, 2016. The parishioners of St. Ann’s Church, Grammichele gave all our fathers a warm welcome and we celebrated Holy Eucharist with them. Fr. Ebin Christopher presided over the celebration and Fr. Provincial gave a short message on “You are the beautiful temple of God.” The people were overwhelmed with abundant joy for having participated in the sacred meal together with all of us. They too expressed their happiness over our presence in the diocese of Caltagirone.
Fr. Suvakkin Johnson, Msfs
MERMIER MISSION PREACHED AT NALATTINPUTHUR
The Parishioners of Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Nalattinputhur witnessed and received great blessings as they participated in the six-day Mermier Mission preached in their parish from Sunday, 31st January to Friday, 05th February. It was preached and animated by Rev. Fr. A. Jeyakumar and his team from Chennai. During the six days, from 9.00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., fathers visited all the houses in the parish as well as those in the substations and prayed for the people. People who were in need of counselling and spiritual guidance were given the same. From 6.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m., there was Praise and Worship, and Holy Eucharistic Celebration, followed by Preaching and Adoration. On the third day, people were administered the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Almost all the parishioners attended this mega spiritual event and experienced divine touch in their lives.
Fr. I. Jone Gragori
DIACONATE ORDINATION AT TEJAS VIDYA PEETHA, BANGALORE
20th February, 2016 was a day of joy and jubilation for the two provinces – South-East and South-West, as they witnessed the great event of the Diaconate Ordination of seven brothers of which five were our Msfs confreres and two Benedictines. And among the five Msfs, two belong to our South-East Province, namely, Bro. S. Arockiam and Bro. M. Joseph Anish Kumar. All of them were ordained deacons by His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Michael Miranda, the Bishop of Gulbarga, Karnataka. In his homily, the Bishop very aptly stressed on the duties of a deacon and he exhorted all of them to be more vibrant in their future ministry.
The event was graced by more than 70 priests, and a good number of religious, relatives and friends. Fr. George Kootinal, the Rector of S.F.S. Minor Seminary, Pudukkottai, was the Provincial Delegate from our Province. The day was made more colourful by the graceful presence of Fr. A. Edward, the PCIC of Mission of our Province and more than 15 of our confreres from the communities of Provincialate, Alangayam, Vaniyambadi, and Minor Seminary and fathers studying in Dharmaram and I.I.S. The Eucharistic celebration was followed by a short felicitation for the newly ordained deacons and the celebration came to an end with a fellowship meal.
Bro. D. Britto
Many Congrats & loving wishes to our dear Dns. S. Arockiam and M. Joseph Anish Kumar!
ANNUAL DAY CELEBRATION AT S.F.S. MATRIC. HR. SEC. SCHOOL, PUDUKKOTTAI
With great excitement and jubilation, on 26th February, 2016, S.F.S. Matric. Hr. Sec. School, Pudukkottai, celebrated its Annual Day in its premises. The school was illuminated and well decorated with balloons and banners. As the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and other important VIPs arrived, they were escorted by the Management, Teachers’ Representative, Animators along with SPL and ASPL. They were received on to the stage with a flower showering dance by the students. The Chief Guest of the day was honourable Mr. S. Ganesh, IAS, the District Collector of Pudukkottai and the Guest of Honour was Rev. Fr. C. Sebastin Raj, the PCIC of Education and Admonitor of our South-East India Province.
The programme began with a prayer song led by the school choir. The students welcomed the gathering through our traditional Bharathanatiyam. Rev. Fr. A. Arul Francis, the Principal, introduced the Chief Guest, Mr. S. Ganesh, IAS and Guest of Honour, Rev. Fr. C. Sebastin Raj to the audience and honoured them with bouquets and mementos. He also welcomed each and every one who was present at the function. The tiny tots of the school delighted the audience with their charming dance performance.
The Chief Guest was requested to honour the teachers, who served the institution for more than 10 years, with golden rings. Mrs. Kalaimani, who received the Best Teacher Award from Tamil Nadu State Government and the students, who brought laurels to the school in the Board Exam, were also honoured. The result of group activities was announced and Blue House was declared the Winner of the Year and Red House runner-up. The Chief Guest addressed the gathering with his eloquence and he appreciated the school for its academic excellence.
Proficiency certificates and prizes for the meritorious students were distributed by the Guest of Honour, Rev. Fr. C. Sebastin Raj. He, in his speech, appreciated the school for its tremendous efforts put in for the well-being of the students. The Principal gave the school annual report on video presentation. Students from each class made the evening so enjoyable with their colourful dance, song, and drama and received a big round of applause.
Rev. Fr. Vincent, the Vice Principal, proposed the vote of thanks. Thus, the programme ended at 9.10 p.m. with the National Anthem.
FOUNDATION-STONE LAID FOR DE-ADDICTION COUNSELLING CENTRE IN DHARMAPURI
“This is the day, the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Ps118:24)
05th March, 2016 marked another step forward in the history of Social & Innovative Ministries in South-East India Province, as on the same day, foundation-stone was laid for the De-addiction Counselling Centre at Sogathur, Dharmapuri, Tamilnadu, South India.
With the earnest interest and the tireless efforts of Rev. Fr. A. Dharmaraj, the then Superior and Parish Priest of Vaniyambadi, because of his love for the expansion of MSFS Presence in Tamilnadu and the wholehearted support and help of Rev. Fr. Mani Panthalani, the then Provincial of Vizag, in March 1995, 5.18 acres of land was purchased at Sogathur, Dharmapuri. We salute and express our deepest sentiments of gratitude to them. Thanks also to our Fathers in Vaniyambadi and Alangayam communities who were taking care of the land.
On Saturday, 05th March, 2016, at Salesi Nagar, Sogathur, there was a festive atmosphere. At 11.15 a.m., Fr. C. Sebastinraj welcomed Rev. Fr. A. Dharmaraj, the finder cum founder of the place, and the Provincial of South-East India Province with profound gratitude and love recalling the past history of the place. Fr. C. Sebastinraj also extended a cordial welcome to each of our confreres who had come over there taking time and trouble to grace the occasion.
The fathers who enriched the occasion with their prayerful presence were Fr. S. Deivasakayaraj, the PCIC of Formation, Fr. A. Edward, the PCIC of Mission, Fr. M. Nicholas, the Provincial Bursar, Fr. L. Basker, the Provincial Secretary, Fr. Joy Mampally, the Rector of Suvidya College, Frs. A. Maria Selvan and Lawrence from Suvidya, Fr. David, the Rector of Salem Seminary, Fr. S. Antony (Germany), Fr. A. Edmund, Fr. L. Arul Sundaram, Fr. A. Christu Raj, Fr. M. Victor, Fr. A. Michael,Fr. S. Amirthanathan, Fr. P. Anantha Raj, Fr. S. Simon Prabhu, Fr. D. Johnson, and Fr. B. Francis Xavier. Indeed, it was an inter-province participation on the occasion.
Fr. C. Sebastinraj thanked the Almighty for His benevolence and for the mission entrusted to Fr. Peter Mermier, our Founder, under the patronage of St. Francis De Sales, our Patron, to commence relevant and innovative ministries. It was pointed out that it was an Exodus Experience with regard to the ministry at Dharmapuri. It was also emphatically affirmed that this is the ministry of the Province; hence, every member is invited to be part of it so as to become an enabler and facilitator for the ministry of sobriety.
As the Word of God, praying Psalms and intercession marked the Divine presence of Almighty, Rev. Fr. A. Dharmaraj, the Provincial Superior blessed the building sight amidst the holy band of our confreres and laid the foundation stone by invoking God’s blessing. All the fathers present took turn to bless the foundation-stone with prayers and showering of flowers. Angelic hymns filled the air and the atmosphere was nourished with the heavenly showers of blessing and spiritual vibration. Thanks to each of you, dear fathers, for your prayers and blessing.
Fr. C. Sebastinraj
HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS
We extend our hearty congratulations to Fr. S. Arockia Christu Raj for successfully completing his MTh Studies in Spirituality from IIS, Bengaluru.
LIVE IN PROGRAMME ARRANGED FOR THOSE ORDAINED IN 2010 – 2015
A two-day Live in Programme for the batches ordained in 2010 – 2015 is arranged at Kolli Hills from 4th to 5th April, 2016. This Programme of coming together and living together will enable the participants to share their experiences, insights and challenges in their ministry and help to evaluate it. Hence, I strongly urge all the Confreres belonging to the above-mentioned batches to attend this Programme without fail.
ON HOME HOLIDAYS FROM ABROAD
| Fr. R. Mathias (USA) | From 28th March to 21st April , 2016 |
| Fr. A. Jeganathan (WI) | From 01st April to 01st June, 2016 |
| Fr. S. Simon Raja (Germany) | From 04th April to 03rd May, 2016 |
| Fr. P. S. Joseph (Germany) | From 20th June to 04th July, 2016 |
| We wish them a good time with their dear and near ones | |
NEW CONTACT NUMBERS
| Rev. Fr. Noel Rebello, GC | +91 703 289 5032 (Hyderabad Number)
+91 845 203 2567 (Mumbai Number) |
| Fr. A. Santhiyagu | +91 763 973 4089 |
EASTER MINISTRY PLACES OF SCHOLASTICS – 2016
| S.No | Name | Place |
| 1 | Anish Kumar M | Ammapatti |
| 2 | Antony Raj S (Jr) | Ravusapatty |
| 3 | Arockia Doss S | Othaiyal |
| 4 | Arockiam S | Kadayal |
| 5 | Ashir Johnson S | Thavasimedai |
| 6 | Berin C | Kanakkanpatti |
| 7 | Jaya Kumar D | R. S. Nagar |
| 8 | John Britto A | Perungozhi |
| 9 | John Peter L | Vaniyambadi |
| 10 | Merry Benzer G | Nalattinputhur |
SECOND PROVINCIAL CHAPTER OF SOUTH-WEST INDIA PROVINCE
Rev. Fr. Benny Koottanal, Msfs, the newly appointed Provincial of South-West India Province, has convoked the Provincial Chapter from 11th to 15th April, 2016. The theme is: Forming Committed MSFS Rooted in Community Life for Prophetic Ministries Today. Let us pray for the success of the Provincial Chapter.
FIRST ORDINARY REGIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE NEW REGION OF NORTH-EAST INDIA PROVINCE
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Mappilaparambil, Msfs, the first Regional Superior of the New Region in North-East Province has convoked the First Ordinary Regional Assembly from 13th to 15th April, 2016. The theme is: Frontier Fransalians in Northeast India: Formed in Compassion, United in Mission. Let us pray for the success of the Regional Assembly.
PROMOTION TO THE ORDER OF PRIESTHOOD
The Provincial Council, which met at the Provincialate on 25th January, 2016, has promoted the following Deacons of our Province to be ordained Priests:
1. DN. K. DOMINIC SAVIO
Dn. K. Dominic Savio hails from Michael Puram, Villupuram (Dt), Tamil Nadu. His parents are Mr. S. Kulandai Yesu and Mrs. K. Paulin Mary. He has one elder and one younger brothers. He had his schooling at St. Michael’s High School, Michael Puram. He began his Minor Seminary Formation at S.F.S. Minor Seminary, Pudukkottai in 2004 and had his Novitiate at Salesianum, Visakhapatnam. He made his First Profession on 10th June, 2008. He pursued his Philosophical and B.A. studies at Suvidya College, Bangalore.
He did his Regency at S.F.S. Industrial School, Adappakkaran Sathiram, Pudukkottai, and Theology at Vijnananilayam, Janampet, Eluru. He was ordained a Deacon by his Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Murray Chatlain, the Archbishop of Keewatin, Canada, at M.S.F.S. Study House, Janampet, Eluru, Andhra on 25th January, 2015. At present, he is doing his Diaconate Ministry at Vaniyambadi in the Diocese of Vellore. He will be ordained a Priest by his Lordship, Rt. Rev. Dr. P. Soundara Raju, the Bishop of Vellore, at St. Michael’s Church, Michael Puram, on 19th April, 2016.
2. DN. L. JAYA RAJ
Dn. L. Jaya Raj hails from Viriyur, Villupuram (Dt), Tamil Nadu. His parents are Mr. A. Lourdu and Mrs. L. Theres. He has one elder sister and five elder brothers. He had his schooling at Adaikala Annai Hr. Sec. School, Viriyur. He began his Minor Seminary Formation at S.F.S. Minor Seminary, Pudukkottai in 2004 and had his Novitiate at Salesianum, Visakhapatnam. He made his First Profession on 10th June, 2008. He pursued his Philosophical and B.A. studies at Suvidya College, Bangalore.
He did his Regency at Kolli Hills, and Theology at Vijnananilayam, Janampet, Eluru. He was ordained a Deacon by his Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Murray Chatlain, the Archbishop of Keewatin, Canada, at M.S.F.S. Study House, Janampet, Eluru, Andhra on 25th January, 2015. At present, he is doing his Diaconate Ministry at Othaiyal in the Archdiocese of Madurai. He will be ordained a Priest by his Lordship, Rt. Rev. Dr. Sebastianappan Singaroyan, the Bishop of Salem, at Our Lady of Refuge Church, Viriyur, on 20th April, 2016.
3. DN. A. WILLIAM
Dn. A. William hails from Kalladithidal, Sivagangai (Dt), Tamil Nadu. His parents are Mr. C. Anthony Samy and Mrs. A. Kulandai Therese. He has one younger brother and one younger sister. He had his schooling at St. Antony’s High School, Kalladithidal. He began his Minor Seminary Formation at S.F.S. Minor Seminary, Pudukkottai in 2004 and had his Novitiate at Salesianum, Visakhapatnam. He made his First Profession on 10th June, 2008. He pursued his Philosophical and B.A. studies at Suvidya College, Bangalore.
He did his Regency at Bashbari, Kokrajar (Dt), Assam, and Theology at Oriens Theological College, Shillong. He was ordained a Deacon by his Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Dominic Jala, SDB, the Archbishop of Shillong, at M.S.F.S. Study House, Shillong on 14th May, 2015. At present, he is doing his Diaconate Ministry at Kadayal in the Diocese of Kuzhithurai. He will be ordained a Priest by his Lordship, Rt. Rev. Dr. Susaimanickam, the Bishop of Sivagangai, at St. Antony’s Church, Kalladithidal, on 23rd April, 2016.
4. DN. C. MARTIN KUMAR
Dn. C. Martin Kumar hails from Agarakottalam, Villupuram (Dt), Tamil Nadu. His parents are Mr. N. Chinnappan and Mrs. C. Gnanasaundary. He has one elder sister and one elder brother. He had his initial education at R.C. Middle School, Agarakottalam and High Schooling at Adaikala Annai Hr. Sec. School, Viriyur. He began his Minor Seminary Formation at S.F.S. Minor Seminary, Pudukkottai in 2004 and had his Novitiate at Salesianum, Visakhapatnam. He made his First Profession on 10th June, 2008. He pursued his Philosophical and B.A. studies at Suvidya College, Bangalore.
He did his Regency at S.F.S. Matric. Hr. Sec. School, Pudukkottai, and Theology at Vijnananilayam, Janampet, Eluru. He was ordained a Deacon by his Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Murray Chatlain, the Archbishop of Keewatin, Canada, at M.S.F.S. Study House, Janampet, Eluru, Andhra on 25th January, 2015. At present, he is doing his Diaconate Ministry at Ammapatti in the Archdiocese of Madurai. He will be ordained a Priest by his Lordship, Rt. Rev. Dr. Sebastianappan Singaroyan, the Bishop of Salem, at St. Joseph’s Church, Agarakottalam, on 25th April, 2016.
5. DN. A. CHINNASAMY YESURAJ
Dn. A. Chinnasamy Yesuraj hails from Kovilanur, Cuddalore (Dt), Tamil Nadu. His parents are Mr. C. Amala Pushpa Raj and Mrs. A. Sagaya Mary. He has two younger sisters. He had his initial education at R.C. Middle School, Kovilanur, and Middle Schooling at R.C. Nicholas Middle School, Settipatty, Omalure and High Schooling at St. Paul’s Hr. Sec. School, Salem. He began his Minor Seminary Formation at S.F.S. Minor Seminary, Pudukkottai in 2003 and had his Novitiate at Salesianum, Visakhapatnam. He made his First Profession on 25th August, 2007. He did his first phase of Regency at Rose Hill, Visakhapatnam. He pursued his Philosophical and B.A. studies at Suvidya College, Bangalore.
He did his second phase of Regency at S.F.S. Mission Centre, Tenning, Nagaland, and Theology at Oriens Theological College, Shillong. He was ordained a Deacon by his Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Dominic Jala, SDB, the Archbishop of Shillong, at M.S.F.S. Study House, Shillong on 14th May, 2015. At present, he is doing his Diaconate Ministry at Kodungal in the Archdiocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore. He will be ordained a Priest by his Lordship, Rt. Rev. Dr. Sebastianappan Singaroyan, the Bishop of Salem, at Our Lady of Carmel Church, Kovilanur, on 26th April, 2016.
WELCOME BACK
Fr. A. Charles Michael Raj, who is doing his pastoral ministry in West Indies for the last 2 years, comes back to the Province for good on 08th April, 2016.
We extend him a hearty welcome.
ET US PRAY FOR THE DEPARTED
- P. D. Varkey of Vizag Province, aged 88, expired on 22nd February, 2016.
- Kurian Chempalakunnel of Nagpur Province, aged 78, expired on 16th March, 2016.
- William D’Silva of Nagpur Province, aged 63, expired on 21st March, 2016.
May I request those who have not fulfilled the suffrages to do the same at the earliest. (Const. No.118; General Directory No.98)
- R. Sundara Mary, aged 87, the Mother of Fr. R. Mathias (USA), expired on 08th March, 2016.
May their souls rest in peace!
MY PROGRAMME
| March | |
| 28th – 31st | Scholastics Meet at Provincialate |
| April | |
| 02nd | Annual Day at SFS School, Kelambakkam |
| 03rd – 05th | Ongoing Formation for the Junior Priests at Kolli Hills |
| 12th – 14th | Provincial Council Meeting at Provincialate |
| 19th | Priestly Ordination of Dn. K. Dominic Savio at Michael Puram, Villupuram |
| 20th | Priestly ordination of Dn. L. Jaya Raj at Viriyur, Villupuram |
| 22nd | Mission Sangamam at SFS Seminary, Pudukkottai |
| 23rd | Priestly Ordination of Dn. A. William at Kalladithidal, Sivagangai |
| 25th | Priestly Ordination of Dn. C. Martin Kumar at Agarakottalam,Villupuram |
| 26th | Priestly Ordination of Dn. A. Chinnasamy Yesuraj at Kovilanur, Cuddalore |
| 30th | Blessing & Inauguration of New Church at Nallapitchanpatti, Sendurai |
| May | |
| 04th – 27th | Triennial Mandatory Meeting at LCI, Arusha, Tanzania |
| 31st | First Profession in Visakhapatnam |
| June | |
| 10th | Blessing & Inauguration of New Extension of Friendly Home at Janathapuram, Vaniyambadi |
| 12th – 14th | Suvidya College, Bangalore |
Yours Fraternally in Christ,
Rev. Fr. Anthony Dharmaraj, Msfs
Provincial Superior
SALESIAN THOUGHT
To love the sufferings and trials for the love of God is the summit of charity. In this there is nothing lovable but only God’s will. (TLG, Book – IX, Ch.2)