Sunday, October 30, 2016

Heritage Program for English speaking Friars from Asia, Africa and Gulf - International Formation commission

 Every Friar in the Order Longs to attend this ongoing formation program...which is organised by the General Formation council.....it has been a big success every year....as it is well organised by the friars responsible like Brothers Charles and Jaime.....they do a lot of planning and organising.....this year the group was big but they saw that every one was made comfortable and had a good experience of the Franciscan tradition and roots. They visited all the Franciscan places and also some of the Capuchin historical places.....
 CCMSI prepares its participants well in India itself before they come to Rome.....they are informed about the importance and value to live our Capuchin Charism....

Br. Jaime is a big hit among the young friars....he has a charm and with his deep knowledge and ways of communication catches everyone's attack.....Charles Alphonse is another Friar who has given his heart and mind for the Formation programs....long live their plans and projects of formation

Friars will definitely go back with rich experience to live in deep communion with the St. Francis and Capuchin spirituality

Earth quakes again in Italy






It has been happening very often. Many keep asking why so often. Those affected knows the fear. You can see the images and photos on the TV where people demonstrate a terrific fear and fright after the quake. Many have lost lives, many are rendered homeless in Italy where earth quake has hit. It is sad to see people losing all that they have in a fraction of seconds. You know the gravity of a tragedy till you are affected and hit by it. It is easy to express our emotions and feel bad for the people who are affected by the earth quake. 
This morning, we were Celebrating Mass in our General Curia chapel....presided over by Br. Charles Alphonso....the introduction to the Mass was over and we began praying the morning prayer.....and there we see the lamps all dancing....the chapel vacillating and dancing....all filled with fright and fear....some said that we must run away.....some said that is not so strong....but fear was seen on the face of all.....we were praising the Lord in the Psalm and we continued praising him....for few minutes it lasted and then it stopped....but we saw our lamps and the Crucifix continued vacillating for the entire mass,,,,,i said to myself.....that the Lord is indicating something to us....the lamp vacillating .....the light shining brightly.....today India is celebrating the festival of Light....but here in Italy the Light was going out.....but the Lord is great....this time no human causalities.....but destruction of property is huge....the TV channels are updating with information....many villages are on the hill....
Let us pray and ask the Lord to be with the people...

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Bernihaat Friary, Parish and School, Meghalaya

After the Last Supper it was Jude who asked Our Lord why he chose to reveal Himself only to the disciples. He received the reply: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:22f) The New Testament Epistle of Jude was written by “Judas the brother of James,” which could refer to either Jude. In any case, we commemorate on this day (1) Simon the Zealot, one of the original Twelve; (2) Judas of James (also called Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus), also one of the original Twelve; and (3) Jude (or Judas) the brother of James and author of the Epistle, without settling the question of whether (2) and (3) are the same person.

 This place is heaven on earth....all around hills and a river flowing by....but it is polluted area as there are many factories around.....the friars live on the top of the hill, still the dust and air is affecting all...
 The friars have got 72 villages to look after which they do it faithfully....practically they are out in the villages....for Marriage, Baptism and funeral.....the farthest village is about 53km......besides pastoral ministry they have a school for all the tribes of Meghalaya and boarding too.....


The Epistle of Jude is a brief document addressed to the Church, and warns against corrupt influences that have crept in. It has some obscure and baffling references to old Jewish traditions, but it includes a memorable exhortation to “contend for the faith once delivered to the saints,” and an even more memorable closing: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding great joy, to the only wise God, or Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.”
In popular usage, St Jude is often prayed to as the patron of lost causes, the “saint of last resort,” the one you ask for help when all else fails.Maybe this is because his name reminds hearers of Judas Iscariot, so that people were inclined to try one of the other apostles first, making Jude  “the saint of last resort,” the one whom you ask only when nothing else seems to help!

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Initial Formation House, Shillong

 The future Capuchin presence in the 7 states of North East looks very bright and promising....In this formation house there are 43 brothers in Initial stage of formation....they belong to 3 delegations and one Custody of Assam.....the house is full of life...they are young and full of life....you can see that they are waiting to rock the North Eastern states where the Church is very vibrant and active....

 They are talented young ones.....speaking to them in class...they had volleys of questions for me regarding the Order....i saw their hunger and thirst to be the Capuchins....they all come from very good Catholic backgrounds....pray for their perseverance and also support them....... 

 It was a joy to speak to and listen to them.....while speaking to them they reminded me of my days as a director of the Initial formation.....where the numbers were same....you remain young and ever green in their company....they challenge you to be fit and ever new with new thought and ideas....

 Sisters and Brothers participate in the Eucharist....there are the postulants of FCC sisters...they too have a close by Formation house
 The friars in the formation fraternity....there are two post novices one from St. Fidelis and one from Andhra Pradesh......
 Here are the future Capuchins....pray one Hail Mary for them......

A young Goan Capuchin Missionary Br. Agnelo Colaco dies in Mexico.......

It came as a dreadful shock of the news of our young friar Agnelo Colaco from St. Anthony's Province Goa. He was working in our Mexico mission since one and half years. He was 40 years old and passed away early morning of 25th of October. Father Angelo was such a generous and loving friar that he would not say no to anyone anytime when asked of him. He was very generous with his time for the people. In his few years as a Capuchin priest he did marvellous work. He was good in Konkani preaching in Goa. I have known him to be a self-sacrificing young friar from the formation period.He was very much loved by his companions in the formation time and he was very friendly with all. I remember that every time i visited the formation houses in Karnataka where he finished his priestly studies would always come and wish me. He would smile and enquire about me and the province. The brothers like him because he was always ready to render a helping hand.After his ordination he was placed with Br. Nichalau in a farm house close to Mapusa where the Capuchins are working for last 10 years. He worked hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder in order to develop the farm. From there he would also go round for Masses and preaching. 
 Agnelo attended the opening talk of my pastoral visitation in Navelim, Goa


 Friar Agnelo and Friar Marcus....before leaving for Mexico .....

I met him last in the month of November 2016 while conducting pastoral visitation of Goa Province. It happened just before he and Marcus left for Mexico as missionaries. Agnelo was very excited and enthusiastic to be a missionary in the land of Americas. He was well prepared mentally and spiritually. While sharing with me he said that he lost his parents very early in his childhood and he was brought up by his maternal aunty and uncle. He grew up under them. He worked hard in order study and fulfil the dreams of his adopted parents. I remember of having told him that he must learn Spanish well if he wants to do something for the people of Mexico. The last i heard about him from Br. Hugo, our general councilor for Latin America saying that two friars from Goa are doing well and they are well inserted into the Mexican reality and culture. And this morning we hear about his sudden death. We cannot forget Agnelo for what he was to the Order. He died of massive heart attack in Mexico. 
The Provincial and Friars of Goa Province are mourning the death of a young friar.....It is not easy to accept the death....this is a second friar dying in Mexico from Goa. We assure our prayers for soul of Br, Agnelo and prayers and condolences to the entire province of Goa.....


Tuesday, October 25, 2016

New Presence of the Capuchins of Assam, Jaintia Hills at Nongpoh, Meghalya


The friars have taken up a new mission place which was looked after by the diocese priests from very far off place....they would come on occasion for the mass....the friars willingly accepted this mission which has about 6000 catholics....spread over in 8 villages....a lot of work,,,,at the moment there are two friars who are assigned and three sisters who are helping the friars
 
People are very simple and they depend on monsoon .....they cultivate paddy.....some vegetables....very strong in Catholic faith.....

This Church can accomodate about 800 people ....on Sunday they have two masses....fully packed...now that the priests are available the attendance for the sacraments has increased....praise the Lord

One of the sisters is a medical doctor,,,,she is a big blessing for the poor people....otherwise they would have to go to town for the treatment.....

Parishioners are so excited about the presence of the friars and sisters that they have agreed to donate some land for the use of them.....God gives to the generous souls

A small parish school...which has got a new lease of life with the presence of the friars.....the numbers have gone up since june 2016.....everyone wants to come to school.....i addressed them and asked them to continue school and not leave in between...only education can change them and the villagers


Meghalaya is a mountainous area....you have to climb of mountains....the weather is very nice...now it is winter....and it gives you a feeling of being in Europe....sometimes it can be very cold.....

Friars Tomy and Biju accompanied me.......

Capuchin Theological Study House, Shillong

The interiors of the house.....there is a refectory enough for 50 friars.....well furnished.....
Store room for provisions.....
Kitchen.....big enough for the friars purpose....
Washing place......
The building from different angles.....looks mighty but very simple....they had difficulty in finishing it,,,but God's providence and big helping hand from the general curia saw it completed
Wow, great sanctuary with lovely and adorable altar
Last evening i spent some time with the brothers sharing about the Order
There are 12 Theology students....3 for Arunachal pradesh and res for Assam....
This new Capuchin Theology house was inaugurated in the month of August 2016.  It was a dream for the North Eastern Capuchins to have a Theologate for themselves so that the friars from the places get formed in their own land The project was sanctioned by the General economic solidarity. It began with Br Bastian, ex-custods and completed by New Custos Br. Mathew.