1. Congregational Retreat at Poondy, Tamilnadu:
The congregational retreat began on 7th October and ended on 12th October, 2017. The retreat was held at Poondy Matha Shrine, Pondy, Tamilnadu. The participants were the General Curia, the Provincials and the members of the retreat team. The theme of the Retreat was “Consecrated life for Mission.” The main focus was on the title “walk the way, live the grace.” The retreat was well preached with lots of depth of spirituality. The retreat team won the hearts of all the participants. The team really received the heartiest congratulations and the appreciations of all the eminent participants of the retreat.
In the name of our Province, I express my deepest gratitude to the General Curia, Provincials of India Forum, Provincial of East Africa, Dibrugarh Regional Superior and all the participants of the retreat for having given us the chance to organize the retreat at Poondy Matha Shine, Poondy, Tamilnadu.
2. PIF – PEA meeting with general curia
A Joint Meeting of General Curia, Provincials of India Forum, Provincial of East Africa, US Vice Provincial, Dibrugarh Regional Superior took place at MSFS Provincial House, Trichy from 14th to 16th October 2017. It was really an experience of collective responsibility and discernment. Such a meeting once again showed the need, the joy and the effectiveness of working and collaborating together. The main concern was seeking and obtaining clarity on different aspects of religious life.
3. The Report of the Regional Indian Mission Forum Meeting – 2017
The Regional Mission Forum Meeting was held on 26th and 27th September at Vinayalaya, Bangalore. The Councilors and the Secretaries of Mission forum of each Indian province attended the meeting along with Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, the General Councilor of Mission and the resource person. The meeting began with the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. At the outset of the meeting, Rev. Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, the General Councilor of the Mission gave an orientation about the important concerns of the mission in our Congregation and introduced Fr. Philip Thomas of North East India Province, the animator and the resource person of the day. Fr. John Peter of Nagpur province was selected to be the secretary. Then the sessions began. On the first day four sessions were held.
Fr. Philip Thomas based his talk on enlightening on the question, “Who Is a Pastor?” and what are the skills and competencies of a pastor. He presented Jesus as the Supreme Pastor of all time. During the various sessions, the mission reports of each province was presented, discussed and evaluated. Fr. Agnelo insisted on the Regional Forum objectives such as the Role of PCIC, Working as unity and as mission collaborators. He also insisted on maintaining the records of the Action Plan of the General Chapter, Provincial Congress, Provincial Chapter, Reports of Superior General, Assistant General, Minutes of the Province Forum Meetings and so on.
On 27th September, the resource person was Fr. Benny Kootanal, the provincial of South West Province. Fr. Agnelo welcomed and introduced the resource person Fr. Benny. In his address, Fr. Benny emphasized the aspect of “Missionaries being ‘in the zone.’ He beautifully presented the challenges and the joyful result of being in the zone. Fr. Kanikkai Nathan, the councilor in-charge of the Mission of South East India Province thanked Fr. Benny Kootanal on behalf of the Regional Mission Forum.
During the sessions, Fr. Agnelo displayed the action plan of the General Chapter 2013, and an evaluation was done as to how far the plans are actualized in the respective provinces. Some concrete proposals of General chapter of 2019 and other proposals of the forum such as Pastoral leadership, Inter-Religious Dialogue, Moral issues, Liturgy, Counseling, Ecology, Health Care, Human Rights, Bible Sunday, Church Teachings and instructions of Pope, etc. were discussed and evaluated. Finally Rev. Fr. Agnelo thanked everybody for the active participation and for the inputs shared. The meeting came to an end with the lunch, where Fr. Stephen Xavier thanked the provincial of South West and the Provincial House Community, on behalf of the Regional Mission Forum for the hospitality, care and accommodation.
Fr. Stephen Xavier