Friday, January 18, 2013

On way to India

After two weeks of Definitorial Meeting this evening i am heading to Andhra Pradesh for the extraordinary chapter of the Province. The definitorial meeting was a good learning experience for all of us, as we had various decisions to make and share our views on various situations in the Order. General Minister with his six years of experience is helping the definitory to move in a right direction.
I will be in Andhra Prades for 5 days and then i fly to Mumbai for the Ordinations in our Province. I also attend the CCMSI meeting to be held at Lucknow and will be back in Rome by first week of February.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Violence against women

These days the newspapers and other media of communications are full of stories which speak of a brutal violence against women. There are strict laws already existing in India but somehow they are not taken seriously. Some important personalities in Indian society speak that the imitation of western culture is responsible for this violence. We totally reject this argument. What we need is to change our attitude, our mind-sets, behaviour and mentality towards women. The women are mothers, sisters, daughters, wives etc, how can we treat them this way. They too are created by the same creator and are equal with men. They should be treated with highest respect and honour. The sick mind of men who have lost control over their senses and emotions need to be treated. Hope the Church will preach on this topic and pray for the women who have played a big role in our society and who continue to play. God bless the efforts of the Government, Church, NGOs and other religious organization.
I am posting a beautiful letter of Cardinal Oswald Gracias. It is worthy reading and reflecting upon.

Letter of Archbishop of Mumbai

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

posted Jan 10, 2013, 9:17 AM by the Examiner   [ updated Jan 10, 2013, 9:18 AM ]

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Feast day of General Minister

On 13 January the entire college and Curia gathered together to thank the Lord for the gift of Br. Mauro, General minister who celebrated in anticipation his feast day - St. Mauro. The feast incoincided with the feast of Baptism of the Lord. The new Church was full of friars who were singing and thanking the Lord for a good Leader and Brother Mauro. The choir sang beautiful hymns in Italian and Latin. General Minister himself preached an inspiring homily connected Baptism with St. Mauro. 
The friars and friends gathered in the refectory to wish and celebrate his feast day with a symptous Italian lunch. The Vicar General expressed sentiments of appreciation towards Br. Minister and the various language groups sang Happy Feast day song for Mauro.
Today is the actual day of his Feast day. The Curia is celebrating with joy and happiness the feast of the Capo of the Order. Br. General celebrated the Eucharist this morning thanking the Lord for his patron saint and also thanking the Lord for the gift of Br. Wellheimus who is celebrating his Birthday. The General minister in homily said that with Obedience miracles and wonders happen. He narrated an incident from the life of St. Mauro and St. Benedict about the vow of Odedience.
Let us pray for his good health and animation of the Order
We continue our Definitorial meeting till Friday.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Definitory Meeting

Since Monday we are having our meeting in the Curia itself. It is good be together discussing and listening to one another.  Yesterday Br. Juan Maria who is repsonsible for the the Capuchin clositers spoke and presented a brief report on his activities among the Clairsts. The number of sisters is dwindling here in Europe but it is increasing in Latin America. There are decisions taken and also some mid term report of various provinces been discussed. 
Today Br. Helmut who is the secretary for the Missions presented a very informative and interesting power point on his activities and work. He gave us a clear picture on the various activities in the Order taking place. He expalined the changing face of Missions and Missionaries. The course held at Brussels for the missionary is being organized well and very well accepted and appreciated by the participants. 
Then we had Brothers Tomas who was repsonsible for information department is changed and in his place Br. Marek is nominated. They both explained the various activities of the department and we suggested certain things which could improve the services of the department. 

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Feast of Epiphany

Feast of Epiphany bring to close all the Christmas celebrations. Today we remember the visit of three Kings with their gifts to Child Jesus. They represent all of us in presenting the gift to Jesus. The  feast of manifestation invites us to undertake a journey to search, seek and find HIM. Those who search and seek, find HIM. If the Kings had not to leave their homes they would have been able to see Child Jesus. They left with fiath and finding Jesus their faith becomes solid and strong. Let us leave our comfort zones to search the ONE who gives meaning to our life and Existence. In this year of Faith, let us search and seek the true meaning of Faith and its significance for our Human and spiritual life.
Tomorrow we begin our General Definitory meeting, the first in the New Year and 3rd one after the General Chapter. All of us here in the curia getting ready for the meeting. we request you to pray for us.
God bless and have a wonderful SUNDAY and Happy Feast of EPIPHANY

Friday, January 4, 2013

New Year and New Vision


Its almost a week into new Year 2013 and our resolutions and dreams for the years must be well on track. We have planned to be faithful to all our resolutions and see a very happy end. 
One of my friends sent me the following email message and i like it very much. I hope it will help us to be faithful to our promises and dreams. 

Contentment is not possessing everything but giving thanks for everything you possess.


Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old fellow who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.' After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.

He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this.... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years.

It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit.

So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time.  I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing, too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times.

Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't. So we need to pray,Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify You.''


If you stare at this barn for a second you will see Who will help us stand straight and tall again. Do you see HIM?

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Happy New Year 2013

Before Christmas, there was a fear lurking in the hearts and minds of millions of people about the end of the world "Maya". many were disturbed and perturbed so had recourse to all kinds of spiriutal help and even access to Gurus. My belief and faith prompted me that it is the Creator alone who knows the time when the world is going to come to an end. But nothing happened. we celebrated Christmas with pomp and religious fervour. The families came together and shared their joys and sorrows with one another and i strongly believe that the world will go on because the Creator is Loving and Compassionate.
we have already entered into new Year 2013 with lot of hopes and expectations. It will all depend how we are going to be conducting ourselves. Not just going on living but live with a difference. Expect and dream what we want to do with our precious lives. We can expect wonderful results from life if we are going to burn our energies toward achieving the goal. May there be peace, joy and prosperity throughout the world. May all discord among us be done away with.
Happy New Year 2013