Memorable Events in the Month of October

My Dear Confreres,

Greetings of Peace and Joy to you all! The month of October comes to us with many memorable reminders of the spiritual treasures of the Church. We celebrate the feasts of three great women saints: St. Teresa of Lisieux, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. These saints have left lasting imprints on the spiritual, mystical and missionary dimensions of the Church. In October this year, the Vatican will add yet another woman to its list of saints with the canonization of Blessed Alphonsa of Bharananganam, Kerala. Although the official declaration of the first Indian woman to sainthood comes at a time when Christians are being perversely pursued by fundamental groups, the canonization ceremony on October 12, 2008, will remain a watershed for the two millennia old Church in India. Regardless of the persecutions, Christians of India can rejoice and still hold on to the principles of non-violence and love.

Memorable Events in the month of October

On October 24, we celebrate the Foundation day of the Congregation. For a Congregation like ours, which is steeped in missionary spirit and life, the day of foundation shall be a moment of grace, calling us to return to the roots of our Congregation, its history, tradition and spiritual legacy. They offer significant pointers to our continued journey and ardor for missionary dynamism.

Every year, the Church celebrates the last Sunday of October as Mission Sunday. Church is never tired of proclaiming the missionary call to the world. Through our homilies and other programs, let us strive to educate people more on their mode of participation in the mission of the Church. It is an opportune moment for us to catechize people on the implications of their Baptism. Let us also inculcate in them the sense of sharing their talents and goods for the missionary works of the Church.

October is also a month that has been traditionally set aside to Marian devotion in the Church. It is the month of the Holy Rosary. Marian devotion forms a vital element of Fransalian spirituality. The innumerable homilies on Mary preached by St. Francis de Sales, our Patron, speaks volumes on his devotion to the Mother of the Lord. Our Founder, blessed Peter Mermier’s devotion to Mary is also well known. Fransalians are also “Marians”. Mary has an indescribable role in our priestly life and ministry.

In The Office of Peter and the Structure of the Church, Hans Urs von Balthasar, places Mary and her fiat as the model, par excellence, for all forms of offices and ministries in the Church. According to him, leaders, mystics and missionaries- all must be “Marians,” if they are to be of genuine service to the body of Christ. Like our Blessed Mother, we must all acquiesce to the divine purposes, realizing that our lives are not about us, but about the mission of God. As we journey on, it is imperative for us not to miss these spiritual perspectives and ecclesial moments; we need to think with the Church and Congregation as we share our missionary journey with others. It is my prayer and wish that we make these moments special not only for ourselves, but also for the faithful whom we serve in our parishes.

In Accordance with the New MSFS Governance Explanation

In his introduction to the New MSFS Governance Explanation, Very Rev. Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, the Superior General, writes: “It is my firm belief that together we can do much for the Mission of the Lord. The better organized we are, the more chances there are of talents, resources, time and energy being fully utilized.” The Superior General advocates “a change of mindset” in the way of administering the Congregation; and the need for a “systematic planning, coordination and collaboration” in our missionary ventures. He also recommends certain clarity on the “knowledge of one’s own role and the role of the others” in order to become effective and fruitful in the ministry. Further, he appeals for a “close link between Superior General and Provincial” and campaigns for the setting up of a “mechanism for monitoring and accountability” among all. The document offers guidance for effective organization of our life and ministry. I request all the confreres to study the New MSFS Governance Explanation. The animators of the apostolic communities are requested to take this document for the study and discussion in one of the meetings before the end of the year 2008.

Five Forums and a Commission in the Province

As required by the New MSFS Governance Explanation, I am very glad to establish the various forums in the Province. The members of the Province are distributed among the five forums and a Commission with the hope that such a grouping will help us organize our life and ministry for the better. The New MSFS Governance Explanation provides also for the establishment of core team for each forum whenever the members are too many. As such, the core team for each forum also has been constituted.

1. Mission Forum, Province (MF-P)

THAIKHO Simon (Vice Chairman)
MUNDOLY Jose (Convener & Secretary)
PUTHUMANA Mathew (Core Team Member)
PATTIMACKEL Kurian (Core Team Member)
CHAKKALACKAL Joseph(Core Team Member)
MAROTTICKATHADATHIL Cherian (Core Team Member)
SHANGPLIANG Genes (Core Team Member)

KIZHAKKEVEED Joseph
VELLARAMKUZHY Augustine
NEENDUKUNNEL Sebastian
MANASRAYIL Sabu
PANTHANAZHYVADAKKETHIL Sunny
MANDA SANGMA Bernard
TOPPO Kusumkant Samir
BARA Nicholas
PATTARKALAYIL James
KULLU Sudhir John
VELIYATH Benoy
VAZHEPARAMBIL Mathew
VARAPADAVIL Thomas Paul
POONTHURUTHIL Shiji Mathew
CHAKALAMURIYIL Varghese
POU Stephen
PLATHOTTATHIL Jojan Jose
VANISSERY Varghese
MURIANKARIYIL Mathew
PANII Paul
ANAKALLIL Tomy Alex
KALLAKULAM Jobin Thomas
NONGBAK Areng Clean
KUNNUMPURATH Johnson Mathew
MANGHATT Philip
KANIYAMMATTEL Joy
MAMALASSERIL Jose
PERUMANIKALA Lukose
VANDERKUNNEL Thomas
KARIKKAMPALLY Job
KUDAKKACHIRAKUNNEL Babu Joseph
VARICKAMANTHOTTIYIL Alex
THATTAPRAMBIL Salu

2. Innovative Ministry Forum, Province (IMF-P)

1.MATTATHIL Jacob ( Vice Chairman)

2.KURIKILAMKATTU Joby Mathew (Convenor & secretary)

3.BARMAN John (Core Team Member)

4.EZHANIKAT Shaibu Mathew (Core Team Member)

5.SORENG Corbinus (Core Team Member)

6.PULIYILAKAT Joseph (Core Team Member)

7.VETTUKATTIL George (Core Team Member)

8.KUTTIKOTTAYIL John

9.KIZHAKUMPURATH Philip Thomas

10.VELICAKATHU Joy

11.MANALEL Devasia

12.KARONDUKADAVIL John

13.MATHIRAMPUZHA Jimmy

14.MARAYIKULAM Stephen (Jr.)

15.CHETTANIYIL Jose

16.PUTHENPURACKAL Abraham

17.KONTHANANICKAL Jiji

18.KERKETTA Athnas

19.KIZHAKKETHALACKEL Regi

20.BARA Cornelius Constantine

21.MATHIRAMPALLIL Aji Cherian

22.DIO D. Jacob

23.NARZARY Ronesh (Luke)

24.POOVATHINKAL George

25.POOTHANKUNNEL George

26.PAZHEVEETTIL Joseph

27.ARACKAL Thomas

28.PEETHURUTHEL Francis

29.NELLIANY Pius

30.BELO Francis

31.PEKADANKUZHIYIL George

32.ARACKATHARA Babychan

33.THALAYINAKANDATHIL Saju

34. TOPNO Anil Francis

35. KURISUMMOOTTIL Philip

36. ILLICKAL Joseph

3. Formation Forum, Province (FF-P)

POOVELIL Francis ( Vice Chairman)
MAPPILAPARAMBIL Emmanuel (Convener & Secretary)
MULLENKUZHY Abraham (Core Team Member)
THAZHATHUKUNNEL Joseph (Core Team Member)
KUZHUPIL Sebastian (Core Team Member & Coordinator of Vocation Promoters)
PANTHANMACKEL George (Core Team Member)
THENGANAKUNNEL Jose (Core Team Member)

CHETTUPUZHA Varghese
AERATHEDATHU Thomas
UPPANTHADATHIL Emmanuel
MANICKATHAN Varghese Paul
OTTAPALLIL Mathew
HRINII Mark
KANNAMANGALATHU Joseph
PEZHUTHUMMOOTTIL James
THAILE Jacob
CHAVARANAL Martin (Santosh)
KAVUNGAL Lukose
CHIRATTOLICKAL Gracious
PARAMPUZHA Augustine
D.R. Paul
MUNDACKAL Baiju
PUTHIYIDATHUCHALIL Jacob
PURAYIDATHIL Philip
HEPUNI John
BAROWA Carlos (Vocation Promoter, Upper Assam)
POOVAKULATHU Jude (Vocation Promoter, Khasi Hills)
KAREKAT Dominic (Roy) (Vocation Promoter, Manipur)
BAMHINGBE Joseph (Vocation Promoter, Arunachal Pradesh)
BOLWARI MARAK Peter (Vocation Promoter, Garo Hills)
TIRKEY Milkius (Vocation Promoter, Lower Assam)

4. Education Forum, Province (EF-P)

MOONNANAPALLIL Tomy (Vice Chairman)
PARAYANIYIL Roy (Convener & Secretary)
KHAKHA John Bosco (Core Team Member)
KUNNEL George (Core Team Member)
KAIPPALLIL Kuriakose (Core Team Member)
KULANGARA Augustine (Core Team Member)
KARIPADATHU Jose (Core Team Member)

PARAMPUKATTIL George
PALLICHANKUDIYIL Mathew
MATTAPALLIL Siby
THARAYIL Saji
THAYILKUZHITHOTTU George
KANICHERRY Biju Kurian
THUNDATHIL Augustine Joseph
CHOTTAKARA Michael Jacob
KUNNAPPALLY Thomas
MUTHADATHU Roy
OVUNG Philip Mhonchumo
VADAKKEPERINCHERIL George
KELAMKUZHACKAL John
CHENNALA Daniel
KOCHUPARATHANATH Thomas
PONVELIL Abraham
PRAKUZHY Varghese
PARANKIMALIL Peter
EDAKAZHIKAL Thomas
KATTATHARA Antony
AVITTAPALLIL Antony
THEKKEL Tomy

5. Stewardship Forum (SF – P)

NIRAPPEL Thomas (Vice Chairman, Convener & Secretary)

KUNJAPARAMPIL Joseph
PAREDOM Sebastian
EDACHERRY PAUVATH John
MARAYIKULAM Stephen (Sr.)
CHAKALECKEL Davis
KOLLLATHUVAYALIL Thomas
EDATTU Mathew
OLICKAMALAYIL Thomas
OVELIL Kurian
THEKKEL Jose
PUTHIYAKULANGARA Saji
PATTON Samuel

6. Justice and Peace Commission, Province (JPC-P)

MATTATHIL Jacob (Councilor, Innovative Ministry & Vice Chairman)
POOVATHINKAL George (Member, Innovative forum & Convener & secretary)
KUNNEL George (Member, Education forum)
KAVUNGAL Lukose (Member, Formation forum)
VAZHEPARAMBIL Mathew (Member, Mission forum)
PAUVATH John (Member, Stewardship forum)

The Conveners of the Forums and the Commission

I request the conveners of all the five Forums and the Commission to call for a meeting of their respective Core team members on or before December 1, 2008. The Conveners shall prepare an agenda in consultation with the Vice Chairman of the respective Forum. The agenda of the meeting shall be submitted to the Chairman prior to the start of the meeting. The report of the meeting shall be submitted to Chairman within seven days after the conclusion of the meeting. Irequest everyone’s cooperation in taking new steps in the governance of the Province.

The Northeastern Regional CRI Assembly

The 27th Annual CRI Regional Assembly was held at Pastoral Centre, Shillong from Sept 6-8, 2008. The theme of the Assembly was “Identity, Rights and Duties of Religious in the Church”. Religious personnel, as all know, have always played a pivotal role in the evangelization of the northeast people. Through a variety of apostolate and ministries, the religious still continue to enrich Church’s mission in the northeast. Local units of CRI are active in all the dioceses of the region, and it is extremely important for all our confreres to make the local unit of CRI vibrant with our active involvement. Let us not isolate ourselves from our fellow religious working in the area, and the women religious who collaborate with us in our own parishes and institutions.

Northeastern Pastoral Conference

Shillong has been a venue also for the Northeastern Pastoral Conference held at Cathedral Hall from 8-10 September 2008, with the theme: “Challenges of faith formation in Northeast India today.” The conference has brought together bishops, priests, religious, catechists and lay leaders of three archdioceses and twelve dioceses of the region to pray, share, and deliberate on a number of issues concerning faith formation. Paradigm shifts are taking place in the perception of catechetical ministry today. Therefore, there is a growing need for all of us to become aware of these shifts and to involve ourselves more creatively in the faith formation of our village communities.

The Conference particularly reiterated the need for a greater focus on family catechesis, which is the most vital source for renewal of Christian life. All of us are invited to give a fresh focus to family catechesis. I request the animators of the apostolic communities to discuss the topic and make action plan for giving a fresh focus to family catechesis from October 2008 to August 2009. A report of the various activities done by each apostolic community for faith formation of the family shall be sent to the Provincial office by August 1, 2009. I request all the animators of the apostolic communities to take note of this requirement and the deadline for the report.

Meeting with Archbishops and Bishops

I had the opportunity to meet with all the archbishops and bishops who were present for the conference. But during the past months, I also had personal meetings with Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong, Archbishop Thomas Menamparambil of Guwahati, Bishop Vincent Kympat of Jowai and Bishop John Thomas of Itanagar, with whom discussion on many issues of pastoral ministry was held, particularly in relation to our service in their dioceses and archdioceses. All of them have expressed their gratitude and appreciation of our confreres who work in their respective dioceses. Let us be fervent in our religious commitment and involvement in pastoral ministry.

Meeting with Major Superiors of Women Religious

I also had the occasion to meet with a few of the major superiors of women religious who collaborate with us in our missions. There is a greater urgency for us to acknowledge the contribution of women religious as well as to foster good pastoral relationship with them. Today, in all circles, there is an increasing awareness on issues of gender equality and justice to women. I request all the confreres to become aware of the way we treat women in general and in particular women religious who collaborate with us in our missions. Please do not hesitate to make improvement wherever the relationship is not right and just. More positively, let us make effort to recognize the richness that women religious bring to pastoral ministry and the gift of their skills in furthering the growth of the mission.

The Summer Ministry of Our Confreres

The confreres working abroad have always been vigilant to seek benefactors who support our developmental work in the parishes. During summer, some of our confreres are permitted to make mission appeals in various parishes. In summer 2008, Fr. George Parampukattil, Fr. George Thayilkuzhithottu, Fr. Jacob Dio. D, Fr. Thomas Aerathedathu, Fr. Saji George, Fr. Benoy Veliathu and Fr. Mathew Ottapally have made mission appeals in some parishes of America and Europe. Through their efforts, more funds have been mobilized for the various needs of the Province. I wish to acknowledge the services of our confreres and sincerely thank them for their sacrifice and generosity.

Junior Priests (1-5 years of ordination) Meeting cum Seminar

A Meeting cum Seminar for all the junior priests is scheduled to be held at MSFS Provincialate from Jan 14-16, 2009.Fr. Abraham Vettuvelil, the General Councilor, will be the main resource person for the three –day program. All the junior priests who have completed one to five years of ordination are the participants of this program. At an appropriate time, Fr. Francis Poovelil, Councilor in charge of Formation will send more details. All those expected to attend this program are requested to mark the dates and be present for it without fail.

Recollection and Half yearly Evaluation for the Regents

This year we have 12 regents in all: msfs (4), OSFS (4), SCJ (2) Heralds of Good news (1) and a seminarian from Alleppy diocese. We thank them for their service to our missions. An evaluation cum recollection for all the regents will be held at MSFS Provincialate from December 14-16, 2008. I request the superiors of the communities to make sure that regents are made free to attend this program as part of their on-going formation. Fr. Francis Poovelil will be sending out the details later.

Perpetual Profession

The four confreres, Avilhou Stephen, Kerketta Pratap, Soreng Silanand and Tirkey Solomon, who were promoted to perpetual profession, made their permanent commitment to the Lord on 30th September 2008, at MSFS Study House Shillong. We congratulate them for their daring step and thank God for the gift of these confreres to the Congregation. Let us all assure them of our continued support and prayers.

Fr. George Parampukattil sets up his Office in Delhi.

On 28, August 2008, the students and staff of SFS College Aalo bid a tearful farewell to Fr. George Parampukattil, the first Principal of SFS College Aalo in Arunachal Pradesh. As General councilor for Education, Fr. George is required to set up his office in Delhi. At this juncture, we gratefully remember the 33 years long service of Fr. George, who always carried out his responsibilities with commitment and love. As he is called to serve the entire Congregation in the role of the General Councilor for Education, we wish Fr. George God’s blessings and accompany him with prayerful support in all his ventures. His new address is: Vinay Sadan,C – 1/102, Pankha Road, Janakpuri, NEW DELHI – 110 058, Tel: 001 25555754 (direct) / 001 25555753.

Re-integration of Fr. Paul Thekkineth

Fr. Paul Thekkineth who was working in Chile for many years had taken exclaustration for three years. The period of Exclaustration comes to an end in November. His request letter was favorably considered by the Provincial administration and plans are underway for the gradual re-integration of Fr. Paul to the Province. He has already made necessary preparation for returning to the Province. We look forward to his return and welcome him back to our midst.

Mission Abroad

Fr. Job Karikapallil and Kurian Ovelil, the silver Jubilarians of the past year are making a visit to Europe. They will be also participating in the mass at St. Peter’s on the occasion of the beatification of Blessed Alphonsa, on October 12, 2008. We wish them safe travel, a very pleasant experience and a happy return.

Fr. Jospeh Thazathukunnel, who was working in Germany, has returned to India on September 15, 2008. After a brief home visit and medical treatment, he will be reaching Guwahati toward the end of October. He is designated to be appointed Director of novices from June 2009. From November 2008 to April 2009, he will be in preparation for assuming the charge by attending courses and making visits to formation houses.

Fr. Sunny Panthanazhyvadakkethil has been changed to a new parish. His address is:St. Martin, Birmensdorf, Am Wasser 11, CH 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland, Tel. 0041447371360. We wish Fr. Sunny all the best in his ministry.

Fr. Sabu Francis Manasrayil ventures into the diocese of Hildesheim in Germany. We wish him all the best as he takes up the ministry in a new place. His address is: P. Sabukuttan Francis, Burgstraße 6, D-31028 Gronau, Germany. Tel. 0049 (0)5182. 2080. Mob. 0049.(0)1624389964