Dear Confreres,
Fraternal greetings to each one of you in the name of the Lord!
OUR FOUNDER
PETER MARIE-MERMIER
The political disturbances in France, especially the French Revolution had its impact in the spiritual realm too as it left the people in a deep spiritual crisis and indifference towards their religious duties. Sensing the signs of the time Fr. Mermier took upon himself the task of a spiritual renewal in his people by preaching parish missions. This special apostolate in turn gave rise to a community of preachers gathered around Fr. Mermier. His firm missionary zeal was amply clear from his slogan “I want missions.”
Peter Marie Mermier was born on 28 August 1790 at Vouray in the parish of Chaumont en Genevois, in Savoy. The French Revolution had badly affected the Church in Savoy and many priests left the country while a few went in hiding. Peter’s parents, who were fervent Christians, risked their lives and property by welcoming the priests. Between the age of four and ten Peter had the rare privilege of assisting at the Mass celebrated secretly in the house. The faith and courage of his mother and of those daring priests motivated him to make a decisive choice for the Lord.
The revolutionaries had closed Churches and schools. So Peter Mermier had his primary education by his own mother. Peace returned to Savoy in 1800. He did his secondary school studies as a boarder in Melan. In 1807 he was received at the major Seminary of Chambery. He was fervent at prayer, a hard worker and with thoughtful regard for his fellow students. He was ordained priest on 21st March 1813 at the age of twenty-three and a half. His first appointment was at Magland as Assistant Parish Priest to Canon Desjacques. As a young priest he was a tireless worker. He taught the little ones by day and continued his theological studies by night. After three years he was asked to teach at the college of Melan and be Prefect of Discipline. The Arch Bishop of Chambery appointed him Parish Priest of Le Chaterlard in 1819, at the age of thirty
Fr. Peter Marie Mermier was an austere priest of unbounded zeal. But most of the people were indifferent to Catholic Faith and practices due to the influence of Jansenism, Gallicanism and French Revolution. With a view to enliven the people in true faith he contacted Joseph-Marie Favre who gave missions in the diocese of Chambery with great success. They met in 1821 and it was very significant for Fr. Mermier as he fell in love with the apostolate of Parish Mission. In the same year they, with the help of a few diocesan priests, dedicated themselves exclusively for this task. They went from parish to parish staying from 4 to 6 weeks in each parish. They prayed, preached and motivated the people to build up their faith. It was a wonderful opportunity for solid religious instruction and reconciliation.
Mgr. de Thiollez, Bishop of Annecy, appointed him spiritual director at the major Seminary in 1823. But in 1826 the Bishop permitted him to dedicate himself entirely to the mission. Gradually a small group of missioners were formed. In the meantime Fr. Peter Marie Mermier sensed the irreplaceable role of the parish missions, the necessity of a religious Congregation of Missioners and the meaning of the patronage of St. Francis de Sales.
Peter Joseph Rey became the new Bishop of Annecy in 1832. He allowed the missioners, at that time six in all, to move to a house in La Roche in June 1834. On September 29, 1836 Bishop Rey gave provisional approval for their rule and they were known as Missionaries of Annecy. They set up a motherhouse in Annecy at a place called La Feuillet on August 8, 1837. It became a house of prayer and study. It was the house where the young religious received their formation in the apostolic and Salesian life. The civil approval to the new religious society from the Duke of Savoy came on October 15, 1838. It stated that the Missionaries were approved under the title of St. Francis de Sales. On October 24, 1838 Bishop Rey issued an official document giving canonical approval to the Congregation founded by Father Peter Mermier known as the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales.
Fr. Peter Marie Mermier founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales for parish mission, foreign mission and education of the youth. His missionary zeal impelled him to ask the Holy Father for a mission abroad and accept a vast mission territory in India when the Congregation was in its infancy with just eleven professed members. As regards education he opines that one has to be a mother to the pupil by one’s tenderness and a father by one’s prudence. He accepted the management of the college of Avian in 1856 and the college of Melan in 1857. In Chavanod he came into contact with Claudine Echernier who wanted to live a humble recollected life devoted to the apostolate of the poor in 1837. This resulted in the founding of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod for the education of the needy girls. They had to work in the poorest and lowliest circles in the country.
Between 1828 and 1857 Fr. Mermier himself conducted ninety missions. He considered sermon as the chief means of proclaiming the word of God. He adopted carefully prepared simple preaching. He spoke with faith and conviction using a fatherly tone of voice marked with a kindly understanding of sinners like St. Francis de Sales. He guided the missionaries to live a life of pleasing and kindly charity in their apostolic ministry and daily relationship. He considered devotion to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows to be an eminent Salesian devotion.
In spite of his old age Fr. Mermier took over the Parish of Pougny as priest-in-charge on 26 June 1857. Even in his old age he retained a lively and curious mind. His last years were a time of purification and edification. He fell seriously sick in Pougny and was taken to La Feuillet. His eye-sight and thinking capacity weakened. As he was a little better he took up a pilgrimage to Our Lady of La Salette in July 1859. He suffered a fierce attack on June 6, 1860 and became fully blind. Meanwhile the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars approved the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales as a congregation with simple vows.
On 10th August 1862 Fr. Peter Marie Mermier had a fall, which caused a double fracture of his right leg. He left for his heavenly abode on 30 September 1862.
Let us imbibe the spirit of Our Founder Servant of God
PETER MARIE-MERMIER
Wishing you all Happy Feast
May God bless you!
CONGRATULATIONS
TWENTY FIVE YEARS JOYFILLED PRIESTHOOD OF REV. FR. ANTHONY DHARMARAJ, MSFS, THE PROVINCIAL OF SOUTH-EAST INDIA
We the MSFS family of South-East India Province is indeed glad and thankful to God for the precious joy filled priesthood that God has bestowed on our beloved provincial Rev.Fr. Anthony Dharmaraj. It was a day of thanksgiving to God. The Msfs confreres, Rev. Fathers, Rev. Sisters, brothers, the parents and relatives of the silver Jubilarian and the well wishers of Rev. Fr. Anthony Dharmaraj gathered at our Provincialate at 10:30 am.
The celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist presided over by the silver Jubilarian Rev.Fr. Anthony Dharmaraj began with an entrance dance performed by the Holy Cross Sisters. Fr. Jacob Parappally broke the word of God and exhorted the whole Congregation to become another Christ in our words and deeds. He said that it is a real blessing for a priest to be at the service of the lord for twenty five years. He admired Fr. Dharmaraj for the wonderful talent of attracting everyone with a smiling face. He said that truly he is a blessing to our congregation and in particular to our South-East India province.
The Holy Mass was then followed by a Short felicitation programme. Fr. Kanikkai Nathan coordinated the felicitations. Our joy was doubled with the presence of the Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Antony Devotta, Trichy. The programmes begin with a Bharadha Naatiyam, a welcome dance performed by Fr. Jeyaseelan and his troupe from Kalai Ulagam. An official welcome was extended to the silver Jubilarian, Bishop of Trichy, Fathers, sisters, well wishers and in particular to the parents and relatives of Fr. Dharmaraj.
The felicitation speech was delivered by Rev. Fr. Joy Mampally, the rector of Suvidya College, Bangalore. He highlighted the aspects of priesthood and how it has to be lived joyfully like the Jubilarian. From the Msfs family Rev. Fr. Ignacimuthu gave the felicitation speech in which he acknowledged and appreciated the parents of the Jubilarian for their willingness to offer their son to God. He also said that the twenty five years of joy filled priesthood of Fr. Dharmaraj to some extend depended upon the home background, the way he was brought up by his parents in Christian faith and belief.
Wonderful dance performance of the students of SFS School, Pudukkottai added colour to this spectacular event. The Msfs family honoured the Jubilarian, bishop and the parents of Fr. Dharmaraj with shawls. Rev. Fr. C. Sebastin raj, the Admonitor of our Province presented a memento to Fr. Dharmaraj.
Our beloved Provincial Rev.Fr. Anthony Dharmaraj, the Jubilarian expressed his heartfelt thanks to one and all. It was followed by an official vote of thanks proposed by Rev. Fr. Deivasakayaraj. Then the choir was invited to sing the felicitation song along with the cutting of cake. Finally, the celebrations came to an end with a fellowship meal.
Fr. Santhanam
ANNUAL RETREAT 2016 – I
THEME OF THE RETREAT: LOOK AT JESUS AND BE RADIANT (PSALM 34:5)
We the members of South-East India Province had our annual retreat at Poondi Madha Retreat Centre, in the diocese of Kumbakonam from 18th September to 23rd September 2016. The spiritual event began at 9pm on 18th September. Rev. Fr. Joseph a totally blind priest from the Redeemtorist congregation was the retreat preacher. Though he had no light in his eyes his inner eyes were full of sight and filled with God’s power he could open the many eyes which were spiritually blind.
The focus of the retreat was to look at Jesus and be radiant. St. Jerome rightly said that ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ. Time and again throughout the retreat he emphasized upon the importance of the word of God and the assistance of the Holy Spirit to understand the word of God.
The retreat came on end with the anointing of the Holy Spirit of the participants followed by an evaluation of the retreat. Fr. A. Edward thanked the Almighty for his manifold blessings and the preacher for his dedicated preaching and the entire audience for their whole hearted participation in the retreat.
Fr. K. Dominic Savio
BLESSING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE AT NACHIARKOIL
16th September, 2016 was a joyous day for the parish of Nachiarkoil which witnessed the blessing of the foundation stone. Fr. Anantharaj extended a warm welcome to Rev. Fr. Antony Dharmaraj, the Provincial of South-East India Province to lay the foundation stone for the parish office and it was blessed by Rev. Fr. Agnelo Fernando, the general councilor for the mission in the presence of Msfs priests , parish council members , village heads and well wishers. After the programme the parish priest thanked everyone for their presence and prayers.
Fr. Anantharaj
NEW CHAPEL INAUGURATION AT KUNNATHUR, MARIAPURAM PARISH
The Annai Velankanni Madha Alayam at Kunnathur, (Under Mariapuram Parish) was blessed by Rev. Bp. Thomas Aquinas and Opened by Rev. Fr. A. Dharmaraj, Msfs on 4-9-2016 at 6PM, in the presence of faithful and people. This Chapel was a long awaited need of the faithful and the people of Kunnathur. Since it is ANNAI VELANKANNI MADHA ALAYAM, every passer-by also pray and benefit. On 4th September 2016, after the blessing and opening of the chapel, there was a short felicitation and prayers to all the dignitaries, well-wishers and sponsors. At the end of the programme everyone was served a fellowship dinner. This spiritual celebration went on well until 8th morning of September 2016, with a FEAST MASS celebrated at 8.30AM. Thanks to the Coimbatore Diocese, South-East India Province of MSFS and all donors and people. God Bless Us all through the intercession of AVM (Annai Velankanni Madha).
Fr. Pilavendran
BLESSING OF THE NEW CHAPEL AT CHATHRIAM
The SFS industrial school at Chathiram celebrated the blessing and dedication of its new chapel and two renovated guest rooms. Rev. Fr. Dharmaraj, the Provincial graced and presided over the blessing and opening of the chapel, the rooms and the kitchen accompanied by Fr. Edward, Msfs, councilor in-charge for Mission. At this auspices moment we gratefully remember and thank late Rev. Fr. Dominic, Msfs, the visionary and the founder of the industrial school. Sincere thanks also to Fr. Dharma raj, the Provincial and His council for their support and encouragement.
Fr. Benjamin
FORMATION FORUM MEETING
Pope John Paul II describes seminary formation as,
“A continuation in the Church of the apostolic community gathered about Jesus, listening to his word, proceeding towards the Easter experience, awaiting the gift of the Spirit for the mission.”
The Church continues to place the highest value on the work of priestly formation, because it is linked to the very mission of the Church, especially the evangelization of humanity: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19).
Keeping in mind the value and the importance of the priestly formation and to increase the quality of the priestly formation we convoked the first Formation Forum meeting of this academic year on 09th, September,2016 at 09:00 am at the Provincialate. As the saying goes, “Every moment is the start of the next big things in life” we started the moments of the meeting with a Prayer-filled and Grace-Filled half an hour of adoration, conducted by Rev. Fr. Arockia Selvam. Good many of the members of the formation forum participated in the meeting in the presence of Rev. Fr. Antony Dharmaraj, Our Provincial and Rev. Fr. Deivasakayaraj, the Councillor in charge for formation. The discussions of the meeting were based on;
- Graded Formation in all the stages of formation
- Common Syllabus in all our formation houses
- Human Formation
- The Postulants programme in our minor seminary
We concluded the meeting at 01:00 pm by singing a Hymn to our Mother Mary.
Thanks to all the participants.
“God always calls his priests from specific human and ecclesial contexts, which inevitably influence them; and to these same contexts the priest is sent for the service of Christ’s Gospel” (Pastores dabo vobis, no. 5).
Fr. Sheen
EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP FORUMS MEETING
The members of the Forum arrived at the venue in the early morning of the day. It was our Provincialate at Nagamangalam that the meeting was held and we started the day’s program with prayers of Adoration and thanksgiving after the breakfast at 9 a.m. Rev. Fr. C. Sebastin Raj the Admonitor and Councilor in charge of Education Forum led the prayer service in which good number of the Forum Members participated. Rev. Fr. Amirtha Rajan the Secretary of Education Forum welcomed Very. Rev. Fr. A. Dharmaraj -The Provincial of South East India Province, all the participants and especially the new comers to the Education and Stewardship Forums and after which a silent homage was paid by praying for the departed souls of our confreres of our Province more especially for late Rev. Fr. Dominic Savio who was a member of the Education Forum. The Key-note address and Orientation thoughts were given by Fr. C .Sebastin Raj and the actual discussions began thereafter based on the selected points given to the present members concerning our SFS Schools in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. The important points that were discussed:
- New Initiatives and Creativity
- Review on Centralized Text- Books/Distributor (Dealer)
- Minority Status
- Critique-New Education Policy of Indian Government
- Conferrers: Role and Responsibility
- Tri-dimensional Relationship
- Language: Significance and Expectation
- Local Challenges
Rev. Fr. Nicholas the Bursar of our Province welcomed Very. Rev. Fr. A. Dharmaraj-Provincial of SEIP and all the Participants
Few Highlights of the discussions in the Stewardship Forum are as follows:
- Original Land Documents are to be submitted in the province and the same is to be registered in the local Punchayat
- Pan-Card number is to be registered in the Bank
- If School and Parish communities are attached then only for maintenance and stay of the working conferrers in the institute money can be spent from the school
- If the expense exceeds Rs.20, 000 then the permission is to be sought from the provincial and a third signatory is also insisted upon.
At the end Very .Rev. Fr. A. Dharma Raj congratulated all our confreres who worked hard to produce good results in the last academic year 2015-16 especially for the 10th and 12th standard He also thanked the participants (especially Correspondents, Principals, Procurators, and Teachers of our schools) for the commitment and tireless service towards education of the children. Rev. Fr. C. Sebastin invited the confreres to celebrate our beloved provincials Silver Jubilee of His Priestly Ordination Anniversary Day at our Provincialate. And with a short prayer the meeting came to an end by 1:30p.m and all the members had their lunch after which they dispersed to their respective ministry places.
Fr. M. Simon Prabu
APPOINTMENTS
Fr. A. Edward on the Staff S.F.S Seminary, Pudukkottai
Fr. I. John Gragori Parish priest Kodungal
NEW E-MAIL ID
Fr. Sebastian Gnanapragasam – sebastiangnanapragasam777@gmail.com
BON VOYAGE!
Fr. S. Arockia Charles left to Dominica (West Indies) for his pastoral ministry on 19th September.
Fr. A. Maria John Franklin left to Dominica (West Indies) for his pastoral ministry on 19th September.
Fr. P. Maria Pushpam left to Austria for his pastoral ministry on 28th September.
We wish them all the best and assure them of our prayerful support for the success of their ministry in abroad.
ON HOME HOLIDAYS FROM ABROAD
Fr. Stephen Dass (Brazil). – From 14th September to 20th October, 2016.
We wish him a good time with his dear and near ones.
LET US PRAY FOR THE DEPARTED
- George Clement Anthony of Pune Province, age 23, expired on 29th august 2016.
- Fr. Annem Joji Reddy of Vizag Province, aged 33, expired on 31st August, 2016.
- Fr. Sayu Cheruvil of Nagpur Province expired on 1st September 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)
May their souls rest in peace!
NEW ADDRESSES
|
Fr. Michael Selvans, |
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| Fr. Victor Mariasusai, MSFS Fichtheimer Str. 2 D-94405 Landau a.d. Isar Cell. Nr. 015144956229 Fest Nr. 09951/59440 |
Fr. P. Joseph Sebastian MSFSRathausstraße-10 94072- Bad FüßingHaus Number- 08531 3107334 Handy Number- 01624371329 |
MY PROGRAMME
| OCTOBER | |
| 5 to 8th | PIF-PEA – A Joint Meeting with General Curia at Visakhapatnam, AP |
| 9th | SFS Study House, Eluru, AP |
| 10th th | Hyderabad for the Generalate Inauguration |
| 12th | Friendly home II Unit Inauguration at Vaniyambadi |
| 24th | Institute Day, Suvidya College, Bangalore |
| 26th | Silver Jubilee Celebration, Salem |
| 27th | Vailankanni |
| 29th | RS Nagar, Chennai |
| NOVEMBER | |
| 1st | Feast of All Saints |
| 2nd | All Souls day |
| 4th | Kadayal |
| 6th | Ravusapatty |
| 7th | Sendurai |
| 14th- 19th | Guwahati / Shillong |
| DECEMBER | |
| 2nd | Provincial Forum Meeting at Bangalore |
| 3rd | Suvidya College Governing Body Meeting at Suvidya, Bangalore |
| 8th | Fr. Gabriel Memorial lectures at Suvidya College, Bangalore |
| 26th | Priestly Ordination of Dn Arockiam |
| 27th | Priestly Ordination of Dn Anish |
Yours Fraternally in Christ,
Rev. Fr. Anthony Dharmaraj, Msfs
Provincial Superior
SALESIAN QUOTE
“The many troubles in your household will tend to your edification, if you strive to bear them all in gentleness, patience, and kindness. Keep this ever before you, and remember constantly that God’s loving eyes are upon you amid all these little worries and vexations, watching whether you take them as He would desire. Offer up all such occasions to Him, and if sometimes you are put out, and give way to impatience, do not be discouraged, but make haste to regain your lost composure.”
― St. Francis de Sales