PROVINCIAL CIRCULAR

 

Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales
SOUTH WEST INDIA PROVINCE
Website: www.msfssouthwest.org   e.mail:  msfsmys@dataone.in,   msfsmysore@yahoo.com
Circular MK/12 24 January 2008

 

 

My dear Confreres,  

Today we are celebrating the feast of our heavenly Patron St. Francis de Sales.  It is in fact a blessing that we are dedicating Vinayalaya as our Provincial house on this day.   This ceremony is an opportunity for us to come together and praise and thank the Lord as a family.  Coming together and living together is the heart of Salesian way of religious life.  It is possible only when we possess the Salesian virtues of docility of heart and gentleness in our attitude towards others especially towards our own confreres and communities.   I wish you all a happy feast of our Patron. 

 

Dedication of Vinayalaya as Provincial House

 

The dedication of Vinayalaya as Provincial House will take place on the Feast of St. Francis de Sales at 6.00 p.m. His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, the Archbishop of Bangalore has consented to preside over the Eucharistic Celebration and to bless the new facilities of the Provincial House in Vinayalaya. Vinayalaya was at first a Philosophate, then a Theologate and now the Provincial House. It has always been a house where confreres from all the provinces found a home.  Now this house is formed as the mother house of the Province and I hope it will become a vibrant spiritual centre. It will continue to serve as a house where all confreres from the Congregation will be welcomed.

Visitation to Chad-Cameroon Mission

 

On the 27th of Jan 2008 I will be flying to Yaoundé to reach there on 28th  night.  Fr. Erudayaraj will be accompanying me on this missionary journey. Fr. Sathish Abraham will also be coming with us to be in the Chad-Cameroon Mission. In my absence Fr. Johnny Kanjiramparampil will be the Provincial Vicar. I will be back on the 20th February 2008 .

 

 

Fr. Thomas Cherukatt, We thank You

 

In the General Chapter 2007 Fr. Thomas Cherukat was elected as the Assistant General which obliges him to take up his residence in the Generalate in Rome. I would like to make use of this opportunity to express our heart felt gratitude to Fr. Cherukat as he will be leaving the Province in February 2008 as he has now to be available for the service of the entire Congregation. Pioneering Mission and Overseas Evangelization have always been at the heart of the Missionary concern of Fr. Thomas Cherukat. During his tenure as Provincial he made a contract with the Archdiocese of Bangalore to take up the Kolar Mission for pioneering evangelization for 40 years. Similar contracts were signed with the dioceses of Bellary and Belguam and we took up the Missions of Koppal, Kuknur, Mundargi and Savanur. He sent the first Missionaries to the Philippines. No wonder that Fr. Cherukat, moved to Chad- Cameroon Mission as soon as he laid down his office in 2000 after nine years of dedicated service as the first Provincial of the South West Province. Since the moment he reached Chad Cameroon mission in November 2000 Fr. Thomas worked untiringly to make this mission a success story. With his indomitable spirit and single minded devotion he built up the mission which now extends beyond the boundaries of Bero Mission in Chad. Today the mission is proud to have a house of its own in La Feuillette, the present Scholasticate of ours in Ngyoa in Yaoundé. He has entered into agreement with the Archdiocese of Yaoundé which has handed over the responsibility of St. Josephine Bakhitha Parish in Ekoum-dum and further taken up the Parish of Ekkekam III in the diocese of Obala. The ministry to over 5000 catholic students of the university at Ngaoundere in North Cameroon and the dedication of the Fathers who do this ministry adds definitely another feather to the cap of Fr. Thomas. He has entered into contract with Bishop of Ngaoundere to take care of the Pastoral needs of the parishes of Bini-Dang, Mbe Karna and Berem. Fr. Cherukat with his initiatives and enthusiasm for the mission has formed leaders who will realize the dreams of MSFS in Central Africa for tomorrow. We wish him God’s choicest blessing for the important ministry which he is going to take up as a full timer. 


Bon Voyage

At last Fr. Sathish Vellaramkunnel completed all the legal formalities and his Visa is ready.  Fr. Sathish will be leaving for Chad- Cameroon mission on 27th January. Feeling the need of missionaries in the mission Fr. Sathish volunteered to go to the mission.  Chad-Cameroon experienced unprecedented growth and we hope that Fr. Sathish will contribute his best for the further growth.  We wish him all the Best.


Fr. Mathew Thudianplackal

Fr. Mathew has now a new home in Mermier Bhavan Community. He had a heart attack after which he underwent an Angioplasty in Narayana Hrudayalaya. He is happy to take up his residence in Hebbagodi. He feels quite good and at home there. He has been staying since 2001 in Katherine Nivas in Vidya Nagar with the Seva Nilaya sisters. I thank Sr. Pauline and community very specially for having taken care of Fr. Mathew for so many years with love. Fr. Mathew has been a good friend of them and for them especially when they started their house there.

 

Chennai Province

The General Chapter 2007 unanimously decided to raise the Chennai Region into a Province. The new Province will be formally inaugurated on 24th January 2008 .  We wish that the new Province with its young provincial and dynamic members has a great future. We also congratulate them and wish God’s choicest Blessings on all of them.

 

Congratulations to Fr. A. Lawrence

Fr. A. Lawrence is appointed by the Superior General as the first Provincial of Chennai Province. Congratulations and best wishes to him.

 

Congratulations to Fr. Francis Thadathil

The Superior General has appointed Fr. Francis Thadathil as the new Provincial of North-East India Province. Fr. Francis is supposed to take charge on 24th January 2008 . But as he is still in the US he will assume his office only in the month of February. Congratulations and best wishes to him.

 

Fr. George Valliamthadathil back home for ministry

Fr. George Valliamthadathil returned to India at the end of December after completing successfully his Masters in “Theology and Ministry”. For a few months he will be assisting Fr. Aloysius Kuzhupillil to organize the Mother of Sorrows (Syro-Malabar) Parish at Hebbagodi. He will do this ministry till June after which he will receive another appointment. With his vast experience in the Syro-Malabar Community of Bristol in England he will definitely be able to form a vibrant Syro-Malabar Community at Hebbagodi.

 

Fr. Mathew Kalam

Fr. Mathew Kalam has been on a sabbatical leave for six months and has attended a number of refresher courses and retreats and is now ready for a new appointment. He found this time very useful, rewarding and enriching.

 

Fr. George Choorapuzha

Fr. George Choorapuzha is on a sabbatical leave. He has requested time for prayer and wants to do some retreats, refresher courses and seminar for six months.  

Prateeksha – De Sales Boys’ Home, Mundargi

 

With the construction of an additional wing to the SFS School at Mundargi we have created enough facilities for the functioning of the school.  On the first floor of the newly constructed wing a Boys’ home has come into existence. It was with the help of Fr. Tomy Mullasseril and the parishioners of Obermaessing, Untermaessing, Grosshoebing, Koenigstein and Edelsfeld that we have such a home in Mundargi.  We are very grateful to all those generous persons who have contributed towards the construction of the building. The construction was started by Fr. Aloysius and continued by Fr. Jabamalai. Fr. A. Jabamalai completed the building in record time. I would like to express my deep felt thanks to them.  Now Fr. Jabamalai is trying very hard to get permission for the high school and to rectify the records regarding the permission of the building etc. He started the home for boys already in June 2007 and now the 5 boys can be proud of having their own facilities. In the course of time we will be able to accommodate at least twenty to twenty five boys in the house. We can be sure that the new home will serve the need of some needy children especially of North Karnataka . The home will be inaugurated at the end of February  2008.

 

Prateeksha – Max Blank De Sales Boy’s Home, Ulickal

 

Mr. Max Blank has an industry in Germany for making classic oven for heating and is a close friend of Fr. Tomy Mullasseril. The friendship between both of them found expression in the construction of Max Blank De Sales Boys’ Home in Ulickal. A substantial sum for the construction of the same has been put at the disposal of the province by Mr. Max Blank. We thank him, his family and his firm for having taken up this project. We have at present 16 boys in Ulickal and let us hope that some of the boys passing through the portals of this institution will have a great future.  The building can offer a home for more than 25 boys who can definitely get a quality life and education in this home. I would like to thank Fr. Thomas Puthussseril and Fr. Anil Thondampallil who supervised the work and got the building completed. Fr Anil is involved in the Counseling ministry too wants to make this home the best, opening up hope for few children who otherwise would not have such chance of quality education. Although the home will be complete within two to three weeks the inauguration will take place only in June to facilitate the coming of the representatives of the Max Blank industry.

 

Melanie and Horst on a visit to India

 

Melanie and Horst Buehler-Weiss were on a visit to India from the 13th December 2007 to 3rd January 2008 . They together with the parishioners in Gosheim in Germany support three of our seminarians. They are close friends of Fr. James Manjackal. They stayed in many of our communities and are full of praises for the Salesian Hospitality of our confreres.

 

On Holidays

 

Fr. James Manjackal and Fr. K.V Joseph were on holidays in the month of December 2007. Frs. Joseph Kuzhuppil and Fr. Joseph Mullakara are now with us. Fr. Sunny Paul came for a few days to pay last respects to his diseased brother. Fr. Thomas Mekkat arrived just a few days ago. Frs. Francis Kizhakkethazhe and Binod Puthenpurackal are expected soon. We are just happy to have all of them with us.


Transfers and Appointments

 

 

Designated for Studies

 

 

Congratulations to:

 

 

Congratulations to our New priests

Text Box:

George Rosario was born of Mr. Kanakaraju Siddaiah and Mrs. Susheela on 09.08.1979 at Doddaagajanur.  After SSLC  he joined our Seminary at Sudhirvana in 1997 and after a year moved to SFS Seminary, Ettumanoor.  He made his first religious profession on 11.06.2000 at Sannidhi, Mysore .  He completed his philosophical studies (B.Ph.) in Suvidya College Bangalore.  After a year of regency at Mermier Bhavan Community, Hebbagodi he pursued his theological studies in St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore and was ordained a priest on 29. 12. 2007 at St. John the Baptist Church , Doddagajanur by Rt. Rev. Amalraj  bishop of  Ootty Diocese.

   
Text Box: Reji Mutthukattil was born of Mr. Chandy and Mrs. Thresiamma on 03.02.1977 at Udayagiri.  After SSLC he joined our seminary at Sudhirvana in 1997 and after a year moved to SFS Seminary Ettumanoor.  He made his first religious profession on 11.06.2000 at Sannidhi, Mysore .  He completed his philosophical studies (B.Ph) in Suvidya College .  After a year of Regency at Vinayakumar Ashram, Chokkad he completed his B.Th. in the Pontifical Institute Mangalapuzha, Aluva.  He was ordained a priest on 31. 12. 2007 at St. Mary’s Church, Udayagiri  in the Archdiocese of Tellicherry by Rt. Rev. George Alencherry, Bishop of Thuckalay.  
   
Text Box: Jino Plathottathil was born of Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Rosamma on 13.07.1979 at Muttuchira.  After SSLC he joined SFS Seminary Ettumanoor in 1994.  He made his first religious profession on 07.06.1998 at MSFS Novitiate, Chabua.  Later he did his Philosophical studies in Suvidya College Bangalore.  He did regency at S.F.S Seminary, Ettumanoor and completed MBA in Mysore University .  At the completion of theological studies in St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute he was ordained a priest on 22. 01. 2008 at St. Xavier’s Church, Mannarappara, by Most Rev. Joseph Perumthottam, Archbishop of Changanacherry.
   
Text Box: Francis Ekka was born of Mr. Theophile Ekka and Mrs. Carmela Kisputa on 06.06.1977 at Mahuadaur in Chattisgargh.   After SSLC  he joined Divyajyothi seminary at Latapara in 1997 and after a year moved to SFS Seminary Ettumanoor.  He made his first religious profession on 11.06.2000 at Sannidhi, Mysore .  He completed his philosophical studies in Suvidya College . After a year of Regency at MSFS House, Mundargi .he pursued his theological studies in St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute.  He was ordained a priest on 14. 01. 2008 at Catholic Ashram, Kodousa, by the Bishop of Ambikapur, Rt. Rev. Dr. Patras Minj.
   
Text Box: Victor Kujur was born of Mr. Silvanus Kujur and Mrs. Kalista Ekka on 30.04.1978 at Jamdara.  After SSLC  he joined Divyajyothi Seminary at Latapara in 1997 and after a year moved to SFS Seminary Ettumanoor.  He made his first religious profession on 11.06.2000 at Sannidhi, Mysore .  He did his philosophical studies in Suvidya College .  He did one year regency at St. Antony’s Church, Kadisenahalli.  At the completion of theological studies in St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute he was ordained a priest on 16. 01. 2008 at Catholic Ashram, Jamdara, by the Bishop of Ambikapur Rt. Rev. Dr. Patras Minj.
   
Text Box: Ekka Sunil Kumar was born of Mr. Linus Ekka and Mrs. Sebastiani Tirkey on 21.12.1978 at Godhanpur.  After SSLC he joined Divyajyothi seminary at Latapara in 1997and after a year moved to SFS Seminary Ettumanoor.   He made his first religious profession on 11.06.2000 at Sannidhi, Mysore .  Later he did his philosophical studies in Suvidya College .  He did one year of regency at MSFS House, Koppal.  At the completion of theological studies in St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute he was ordained a priest on 17. 01. 2008 at Bedag Ish Matha Church , by the Bishop of Ambikapur, Rt. Rev. Dr. Patras Minj.
   
Text Box: Prashant kumar was born of Mr. M. Arulappa and Mrs. Arogya Mary on 14.04.1978 at Karahalli.  After SSLC he joined our seminary at Sudhirvana in 1996 and after a year moved to SFS Seminary Ettumanoor.   He made his first religious profession on 11.06.1999 at Sannidhi, Mysore .  Later he did his philosophical  studies in Suvidya College . He did regency at Kadisenahalli and Savanur.  At the completion of theological studies in St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore he was ordained a priest on 22. 01. 2008 at St. Judes Church, Karahalli in Bangalore Archdiocese by Rt. Rev. T. Anthony Swamy, bishop of Chickmagalur.

 

 

Let us Pray for:

 


Focus on MSFS Mission and Apostolates

Focus Gokunte

The Gokunte missions belong definitely to the annals of the history of MSFS Mission in India . The MSFS started its presence in Gokunte way back from the time of Fr. Joseph Panjackil. Of course he found a catholic community there. Fr. Joseph C. was appointed by the Archbishop as Parish Priest in June 2005.  Fr. James Thomas has already done a wonderful work of establishing the Salvation Hill, a hill of prayer dedicated to Jesus the Saviour. A large statue of Jesus the Saviour looms over the hill. Quite a number of people find it a place of spiritual solace and comfort and they come from various parts of Karnataka and some even from Andhra Pradesh. With the help of Judy, an Australian benefactor, Joseph has been able to build 8 houses for the poor. Three more houses are being constructed.  We have established a project called  “Sunshine Gokunte” for the overall and integral development of the village. This project runs under the aegis of Fides India . The long term vision is to make Gokunte a model village. A number of houses have been repaired by giving them 430 bags of cement.  A new stage was constructed and a new tube well bored with plenty of water. Gokunte is poised for catching up with the development taking place elsewhere in the country. Four families have built good homes for themselves seeing that for quality living a good house is a must. Alcohol consumption has drastically been reduced. 50% of the people are farmers and they depend on paddy, ragi and groundnut cultivation. 

 

Judy and the sunshine Gokunte members take special interest in the children. The 15 boys in ours boys’ home are now sponsored by them. The boys are well dressed and taken good care. 16 girls of St. Ann ’s Girls’ Home in Gokunte are also being sponsored.

 

Rskshanagiri has brought about a spiritual revival in Gokunte. Lots of people come on Friday and Sunday to Rskshanagiri for personal prayer. On Fridays the various groups of the parish with 35-40 people conduct Rosary on the hill and pray for various intentions of people.  Every last Sunday of the month 250-300 people from various religions gather on the hill top for the Eucharistic Celebration. For effective pastoral ministry the Parish is divided into  6 groups and they conduct the Sunday Liturgy by being available to give  introduction to the Mass, Readings , Intercessory prayers and Singing. The Sisters of St. Ann of Bangalore help in the Church activities like taking Catechism, house visit etc. They also conduct the school in Gokunte.

 

We hope that some of the programmes that we have envisaged for Gokunte for the near future will soon become a reality like:

 

  1. Stations of the Cross for Rakshanagiri
  2. A Holy Bible for each family:  140 bibles
  3. A crèche for preschool children
  4. A tuition centre for children

 

- Reported by Fr. C. Joseph. 

Thank you Joseph for your dedicated service and for what you are and what you do.

 

Focus Ulickal

 

The  Ulikal parish is entrusted by the Bishop of Kannur for a term of 25 Years starting from 2003. The parish comprises of 60 families of which most of them are Scheduled Caste and poor who go for manual labor to make their living. The Church has 5 acres of land. Including the faithful from other parishes (Syro- Malabar) around 60 to 100 persons attend daily mass.

 

Ulickal has a substation Called Mattani where there is no place to conduct liturgical services. There are 15 Families staying in the area and once a week, Mass and other prayer Services are offered there.  Fr.Varghese Puthuparambil who served the Parish from 1998 to 2006 bought five (5) cents of land to build a church and now we have applied to the diocese for financial assistance to construct a small chapel. Fr. Thomas Puthusseril is now the Parish Priest and got the Grotto at the entrance of the Church repaired.

 

In 2004, Fr. Varghese Started SFS Boys’ Home with 5 Children and year after year increased the number of inmates.  In 2006, Frs. Thomas Puthusserry and Anil took charge as parish Priest and assistant Parish Priest respectively.  At present there are 17 inmates, 8 of them are in Upper Primary School, 8 in High School and one in Plus one.  We are now constructing a   new Boy's Home with the support of Mr. Max Blank, a personal friend of Fr. Tomy Mullassery. We hope to get the building ready soon. 

 

Fr.Anil, the director of SFS Boy's Home is also the Regional Director of ‘KAIROS’ Diocesan Social Service Society and its Ulickal Unit Community Organizer.    He renders Counseling Services like Free tele-counselling, Family counselling etc. at the centre.  There are twelve Self-Help groups, under diocesan Service Society which function here to empower people in different ways.

 

Our future plan is to strengthen the service of family Counseling Centre , thereby we will be able to foster the physical and mental health of people by Conducting different training Programmes like Personality Development, classes on Parenting Skills,Youth oriented Programmes, Awareness programmes on health, hygiene Aids etc.

 

-Report by Fr. AnilThondampallil

Thank you Fr. Thomas and Anil for the wonderful work you do

 

Praying with our Patron

 

Lord, I am yours,
and I must belong to no one but you.
My soul is yours,
and must live only by you.
My will is yours,
and must love only for you.
I must love you as my first cause,
since I am from you.
I must love you as my end and rest,
since I am for you.
I must love you more than my own being,
since my being subsists by you.
I must love you more than myself,
since I am all yours and all in you.
AMEN.

from "Treatise on the Love of God"


Yours Sincerely,

 

 

 

 


Fr. Mathew Kozhuppakalam msfs

Provincial



   
sgmsfs-2af-3  12th January  2008


FROM THE SUPERIOR GENERAL

TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION

 

 

SALESIAN YEAR 2008

Theme : Through Salesian Little Virtues at the Service of God’s Word

 

My Dear Confreres,

 

I greet you with joy and wish you  a blessing filled New Year. 

 

PRESENTATION OF THE SALESIAN   YEAR 2008

 

Hearkening to the directive of our 18th General Chapter,   let us celebrate 2008 as Salesian Year. This year marks the completion of 400 years of the publication of the great spiritual classic, The Introduction to the Devout Life (ITDL) written by our Patron, St. Francis de Sales. It has perennial appeal that takes the human heart to God  and makes God the heart of all our relationships and  endeavours.

 

The Church also dedicates this year to the “Word of God”.  In the month of October the Church will gather in a synod of Bishops to reflect on the theme “The Word of God”.

 

God’s Word is alive and active. When seized by God’s Word, gathered by it and sent forth, we are transformed and become instruments of regeneration of a new society according to the mind and heart of God.

 

God’s Word is power.  God’s Word is Truth. God’s Word is strength. God’s Word is healing and comfort. God’s Word is our Light. God’s Word is a revelation who God is and who we are and what we have to do.

 

In the life of St. Francis de Sales,  the Word of God was supreme and his book ITDL was a humble attempt to  guide honest seekers of God how to live by His Word  and to respond to the call of  holiness and integrity of life that God’s Word addresses to every human being. ITDL rightly takes Philothea from being a listener of God’s Word to a doer of God’s Word.  The fertile ground of the human heart for God’s Word to take root is a heart that is steeped in the virtues which St. Francis de Sales  calls the Little Virtues. They are humility, gentleness, patience and simplicity. Their littleness is their greatness of urgent need of these virtues at every moment of our lives. Without them, so called big virtues, like courage, valour,  martyrdom, almsgiving can be tainted  and sullied, unworthy to give perfect praise to God.

 

I am glad, therefore, to declare 2008 as the Salesian Year with the theme “THROUGH SALESIAN LITTLE VIRTUES AT THE SERVICE OF GOD’S WORD”.

REASONS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CELEBRATIONS

 

1.  Personal renewal of our identity

The celebrations are a simple and yet poignant reminder to every MSFS to be proud of his Salesian identity and heritage and which alone gives him a unique and recognizable place and space in the galaxy of missionaries,  priests and religious working in the vineyard of the Lord.

 

We will therefore commit ourselves to constant reading, and reflecting on, Salesian literature, especially ITDL, Love of God (LOG),  Conferences by St. Francis de Sales  and Letters of St. Francis de Sales.  We will have personal programme of interiorisation and personalization of the Salesian virtues especially the lowly virtues of humility, patience, gentleness and simplicity. We will read everyday personally and collectively  a short passage from ITDL during this Jubilee Year and complete two readings of the Book.

 

2.  Sharing Salesian Spirituality with others

We cannot keep to ourselves the good that we have.  Salesian spirituality is too good to be kept to ourselves. We share it with others  by the witness of our life and by our efforts to disseminate it in various possible ways and forms.

 

We strive under the guidance of our superiors where possible to translate ITDL in local languages and to preserve a stock of them in our communities and offer them to lay-people on occasions of their weddings, anniversaries, jubilees. In each of our parishes or institutions we form a study cell or prayer-cell of interested Salesian group and guide them,  meeting them at least once in 15 days. Where possible and feasible in our homilies  and talks we make reference to Salesian teaching or enlightenment. We display Biblical and Salesian inspirational quote on our public and community notice-boards for the inspiration of those who read it. There is a wealth of catch-phrases and sentences of delightful inspiration in ITDL.

 

3.  Making Salesian spirituality our way of life

The purpose of writing ITDL was to help ordinary lay people how to contemplate and experience love of God in the humdrum of daily chores of one’s life St. Francis de Sales

underlines that contemplation of God and  its highest type is possible  while one is busy in the affairs  of the world.

 

As sons of St. Francis de Sales,  we are called to be artisans of this beautiful and integrated and harmonious way of living action through contemplation and contemplation in action. We will undertake exercises that restore the balance by daily fidelity to our meditation, patient and gentle ways of dealing with ourselves, others and things; and living in God’s presence all the time  and thus observing the simplicity of life and checking on unbecoming  motivations.

 

GLIMPSES INTO THE INTRODUCTION TO THE DEVOUT LIFE

 

1. Why did St Francis de Sales write the  book ?

 

a. To ‘Live Jesus’

ITDL  were notes of spiritual advice St. Francis de Sales  gave to his counselees  or directees  and in particular to Madamme Louise de Charmoisy. Organised and systematised to guide a person in his spiritual quest, this immortal spiritual classic  has stood the test of time. When an honest seeker is given this book,  his oft remark is :“Why did you not give this book earlier to me?”

 

The purpose of the book is well summed in the phrase, Live Jesus.  The devotee is to live by God’s Word in such a way that Jesus reigns in his/her heart and he/she becomes like Jesus. The basic Salesian principle: Love transforms; You become what you love is operative on every page of ITDL till one can say with zeal and passion like St. Paul : “Now I live, not I, but Christ lives in me.“ Live Jesus.

 

b. To Teach the Art of “Live Jesus” through the Salesian Pedagogy of Transformation

 

Throughout the book one can sense the Salesian pedagogy of transformation at work, so subtle, so powerful, yet so unobtrusive  and unostentatious.

 

Transformation into the person of Jesus is a process of integration and harmony “He chose us in Jesus Christ before the creation of the world and destined us in love to be His sons through Jesus Christ.” (Eph 1: 4-6)

 

i. Harmony and integration has to take place at the level of contemplation and action.

ITDL guides gently a soul  to know what contemplation is and what holy action is and slowly teaches the art and skill of being contemplatives in action and activists in contemplation. The gift of prayer  from God transforms into an art of praying under the guidance of St. Francis de Sales. The breadth and depth of understanding of what prayer is, unravels the contemplative depths of prayer in Salesian spirituality.

 

Ø      Prayer is opening and exposing : opening and exposing our understanding to God’s light and our will to the warmth of His love;

Ø      Prayer is purification: purification of our understanding of ignorance and our wills of sinful attachments;

Ø      Prayer is satisfaction: satisfaction of the emotions of the heart and of good desires in  bearing fruits;

Ø      Prayer is looking at God, being filled with Him, till we resemble Him

Ø      Prayer is listening and speaking to God;

Ø      Prayer is sitting close to God : absorbing His goodness and love as through osmosis action;

Ø      Prayer is union with God;

Ø      Prayer is loving : total  and utter selfless surrender to God’s Will.

 

 

The virtue of humility disposes us to remain open to God’s action in us and through us in concrete acts of love. Simplicity enables us to have no motive to do good but of pleasing God alone and in doing things the way it will please Him. Gentleness,  the art of grace-filled and graciousness of presentation and acceptance of others and self, hastens good actions and their quality. Patience refuses to despair with temporary failures and goads us on to keep trying and hoping till the end.

 

Living in the Presence of God facilitates the process of integration and harmony from moment to moment. Living in God, Recalling God to mind, and Returning  to God is  the perfect blend and picture of integration of prayer and action.

 

ii. Harmony and Integration takes place at Interiority and Exteriority Level of a Person.

‘Begin with the interior and the exterior will take care of itself’ was the frequent advice St. Francis de Sales gave to his counselees. The exterior has the power to reveal authenticity when it reflects the truth from within.

 

 

iii. Harmony and Integrity through Service of God and Service of the Neighbour.

Beginning from instructions on teaching how to praise and worship God in prayer, and sacraments  St. Francis de Sales teaches his counselee how  to engage in compassionate and just actions. He  teaches the art of praising and worshiping God in service of neighbour and to draw forth  from such service new energy,  enthusiasm and motivation to praise and worship God perfectly.

 

2. What is ITDL about ?

 

It is about Holy Life (Devotion)

Holiness or devotion, according to St. Francis de Sales, is the love of God; but not love as such but special way of understanding and living the love of God. When love enriches us it is called grace. When love strengthens us to do acts of love,  it is called  charity; when love grows to such an extent that it makes us do good more carefully, more frequently, and promptly it is called devotion. It is the spiritual agility and liveliness to do good.

 

What ensures that love makes us do good promptly, frequently and carefully is the humus of humility, patience, gentleness and simplicity.

 

3. For whom is Devout Life ?

 

It is for All

All are called to holiness. All are called to the highest degree of holiness. All are called to the highest degree of holiness in the given circumstances of their life and vocation. There is no need to run away from the world. Be in it and transform it where it needs to be transformed, or be inspired by it and come closer to God. Love God in everything and everything in God. See God in your heart and you will see every heart in God: these are some of the inspiring messages one gets as one reads and reflects the spiritual classic.

 

 

HOW SHALL WE CELEBRATE THE JUBILEE ?

 

 

 1. At Inter-province, international level

 

a. Presence and Participation at the International Seminar on ITDL at Indian Institute of Spirituality, Bangalore

The Indian Institute of Spirituality (IIS),  on the occasion of the Jubilee, is organizing  a special seminar on ITDL in the month of May with the purpose of drawing on the wealth of Salesian reflection existing in the different Salesian families. The resource persons will be renowned scholars of international Salesian repute. The Seminar will be thrown open to all especially to the members of Salesian families.  I urge each Province to depute  a few of their confreres to attend this world gathering. Their presence and participation will be an ongoing Salesian impact on the life and growth of the Province.

 

b. Forming a Core Group of Salesian Spirituality Animators in each Province

Each Province will make use of this occasion to ensure well-trained and Salesian human resource group of at least 5 persons within the next 5 years ensuring that they undergo learning experience of Salesian spirituality through MTh or doctoral studies at the IIS or elsewhere. This priority will have to be given a place in the yearly personnel planning of each of the Provinces.

 

 

2. Province-level

 

a. Detailed Programme by each Province

Detailed Programme of celebrations of the Salesian Year will be undertaken by each Province/Region. As agreed in our meeting of regional Provincial Forum ( India ) each Provincial will appoint a committee to work out the modalities of the celebrations in each Province.  I request the Provincials to submit a copy of the same to the Superior General  to enable me to share the same with the entire Congregation.

 

b. Steps to be Taken towards Formation of Fransalian Associates.

The General Council endorsed the proposal of Indian Provincials:

 

Ø      to identify groups of Friends of Fransalians in each of our centres/institutions  and to assign to them an Animator or Salesian Guide or Director and inform the General Secretary of Innovative Ministries and Resource Mobilisation  within one month after the declaration of the Salesian Year;

Ø      to name these groups as “Fransalian Associates”;

Ø      to prepare a draft of the constitutions for these Fransalian Associates through the General Secretariat of Innovative Ministries and Resource Mobilisation  and approve the same at the Joint Meeting of Regional Forum of Indian Provincials and General Curia and other Provincials, in November 2008.

 

c. Conclusion of the Salesian Year at the Apostolic Community Level

Each Province is to plan the conclusion of the Salesian year on or around 24th January 2009 . It is recommended that the conclusion takes place at Apostolic Community level.

Please note : Provinces/Regions/Missions  which are small in number, especially in the West,  will work out a programme of celebrations of the Salesian Year  keeping in mind their local situation and exigencies.