Sunday, July 31, 2016

Mary Matha Friary and Church, Mandadam

 This friary has about 14 acres of land....the friars were cultivating paddy for number of years.....supplying rice of the minor seminarians and the old aged home at Joseph Thamby's place....for last three years they are not cultivating as the government has issued a notice all the farmers not to cultivate....as the whole place comes under development plan....this is going to be the new capital of Andhra Pradesh state.....the friars are knocking every door to save the land.....it is beautiful......it can be a source of income for the charitable and social works which the province runs...pray hard.....

 The friary....simple dwelling for the friars....there are 3 friars ....a parish with 250 families but spread out in 4 villages....the friars go round to the villages for pastoral ministry....the people are poor and now that they dont have any farm work, still worse.....no work no money......Catholics are effected most.....

 About 100 people come for Sunday Mass....along with Sisters of Assisi congregation,,,,,they help friars in the pastoral work......they have a small dispensary....
 The sanctuary is simple but powerful drawings on the wall invites you to pray.....

 After the mass the priests stands at the main entrance and all the faithful come to receive blessings....small, young and old....all queue up for the blessings....lay your hands upon us...
 A social centre .....which also served for some years as postulancy house......for one it served as an office for a company.....the province needs to plan something....May be a junior college....need of the palce....

 The friars and sisters collaborate very well.......
 Returning from the friary we were caught in traffic.....45 minutes....look at the cycle puller....he is happy and singing all along...not bothered of traffic jam or the weight that he is carrying....he takes life as it comes.....what a lesson for all of us....

Friday, July 29, 2016

Spiritual way of seeing things: Why we SHOUT when angry?


“Do you know why we SHOUT when angry? A Hindu sage who arrived at the Ganges River to take bath found a group of family members shouting in anger at each other.

He then turned to his disciples, and asked, “Why do people shout in anger at each other?” The disciples thought for a while.  Then one of them said, “Because we lose our patience, we shout.”
“But, why shout when the other person is just next to you?  Could you not express what you want to say in a soft manner?,” asked the sage.
Some disciples gave their answers but none satisfied the sage and the other disciples.
Finally the sage explained, “When two people are angry at each other, their hearts grow distant. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the louder they will have to shout to hear each other. Compare this to two people in love.  They don’t shout at each other but talk softly, because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small.”
He continued, “When they love each other even more, they do not speak, a mere whisper will suffice. And when they have ultimate love for each other, even a whisper is not needed.  They have only to look at each other to communicate their feelings. That is how close two people can become when there is love.”
He looked at his disciples and said, “So when you argue do not let your hearts grow distant; watch your tongue – do not say words that distance each other, or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you cannot find the path to return.”
- fwd: a n dass Takend from ICAN

Bala Yeshu Ashram and Church, Thullur, AP

Capuchins have been working here for more than 45 years and have done a lot of work for the people...beginnings the friars have built houses for the poor.....got involved in social work and today also the friars continue to do the same....but due to economic constraints they are not able to do much....people's over all economic condition has improved a little bit.....the friars have about 6 substations which they faithfully serve....every Sunday morning from 6-10am they go out in the villages for the Masses and then return to the main church where there are about 200 families....
 This place is historical place as there are many historical connections with Buddhism....Amravati is the place where they have stupas and some temples dedicated to Buddha......
 The friary and Church is on the main road....this place Thullur is going to become the New Capital of Andhra Pradesh....there is a lot of work going on....development and as a result the government is taking over the lands from the people....many have lost their lands where they would cultivate grains and vegetables......all the lands are under the custody of government.....our friar has already lost good amount of land...for road widening .......the government is now asking them to hand over 14 acres of land.....pray hard that the friars succeed in retaining the land which will be asset for the future development of the province.
 Franciscan sisters....who run a school but also collaborate with the friars....

 Young friar showery......
You see the work of road widening....

 Visited one museum run by the government....all about the history of Buddhism here in this part of the state....








Thursday, July 28, 2016

Joseph Thamby Friary, Autupallay

The friary is named after servant of God Joseph Thamby....there are four friars who are fully dedicated to the pastoral service of the pilgrims.....the faithful keep coming every day...the friars have about 10 nearby villages where they render their pastoral services every sunday....the pilgrims are well looked after....friars guide them spiritually....
 These are four friars....Guardian Brother Innahia, Ramesh, Marian and Francis......work hand in hand....

 There are 3 congregations of Sisters who render their services to the shrine,,,,,,,they look after the church and the tomb of Joseph Thamby....religious article stall is run by the sisters.....some are in charge of the sacristy.....
 Today is the feast of St. Alphonsa......these sisters belong to the Congregation of St. Alphonsa....i celebrated the feast Mass and grand breakfast....

 The friar run home for the aged....there are 40 of them who stay in the centre and about 35 come three times from the near by villages for meals......some of the old are not cared for at home.....some of them are abandoned.....the friars along with sisters care for these unfortunate who have slogged and worked hard for the family but last few years ...rejection.....they are very happy and contented here....they needs are well looked after...
 The sisters have began a small school...here...



Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Servant of God Joseph Thamby....Autopalli

It is silence that attracts this shrine.....surrounded by a big village and yet you don't hear....you can hear the birds chirping .....the coconut trees all around....the fields of paddy....rice is the main food here....the monsoon is on but very little rain fall so far....farmers awaiting anxiously.....many come to the shrine to seek the intercession of Br. Joseph Thamby.....
 The whole campus looks and adorned.....church, grotto, home for the aged....guest house....shrine....
 The house where Br. Thamby lived
 The friary where four friars live....they are all busy during the day....they have to attend to the devotees who come during the day....
 During the month of January the devotees are more and many of them stay for two or three days....
 There are about 45 old men and women who are looked after by the fathers and sisters.....some of them are abandoned by the families.....sick and old.....

 The sky is full of clouds.....it looks like today we will have good showers.....praying.....hard....
 The shrine....it is only 7am but the devotees have already started coming.....