Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Today Closing of the Pastoral visitation of 3 Provinces in Kerala


For last two months I have been in Kerala conducting visitation of three Provinces. I landed here on 1st of July and today I wind up the visitation. It has been great and rich experience of Capuchin Brotherhood. It was a time of renewal and strengthening the Capuchin brotherhood, spirituality and Charism. It was a time to listen, to be with the friars and encourage them to live the Capuchin charism. The pastoral visitation opened before me the tremendous possibilities and potentialities of our Indian Provinces. The provinces are gifted with multi talented and gifted young friars who are just willing to explode the areas of spirituality and various ministries.
The friars welcomed me in the name of the General Minister and much more in the person of our Father and Founder St. Francis. The friars during the visitation followed the age old and good traditions of the Capuchin Order. It was very heartening to see some of the senior friars kneeling and seeking my blessing. The personal moments with the friars was a rich and never forgetting experience. I carried out the visitation not just mere an obligation but holy duty towards the friars who have got the need and desire to speak and to be listened. It is very easy to write a letter or circular and it is another great thing to meet and see friars in person. The visitation according to me is a great fraternal service to the Order and brothers. During the visitation it is just not only the time to admonish and encourage the friars spiritually but to know their hopes and aspirations. It is wonderful experience to hear about their prayerful and spiritual experiences in their growth as Capuchins. Speaking and dialoguing with the friars opens you up to a different reality and world altogether.
My main focus was the “friar”. It was to hear and listen to him. I had no ready-made answer and solutions but was able to speak to their hearts with the words of St. Francis, through the talk and prayer service and Eucharistic celebration. I was able to remind the brothers fraternally about the Capuchin charism, commitment and the Holy Constitutions. The friars were reminded about their promise to observe faithfully the Gospel, rule and constitutions. The common dialogue was very useful wherein I communicated many happenings and events in the Church and Order. The friars were recommended to live with the Capuchin spirit and charism and make holy and lasting impressions where we go. I urged the friars to progress in all the areas of our commitment, prayer, fraternal life and vowed life.
The visitation time was to encourage the friars to live fraternal bonds sincerely and genuinely in the fragmented and broken world. I tired to promote a message as to how each one of us could be a sign of union and unity, to create schools of communion among ourselves in spite of our differences and up bringing. The friars must feel accepted and loved, understood and encouraged by the others. The secrets about each one have to be maintained and honored. The name of the Order and province should be the top priority on the list of all friars. The good of the fraternity to be promoted with all the talents and gifts received by each one. If one is not able to do good, one has no right to do bad and inflict pain on others.

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