Good Relatioships Promote happiness!!!!!!!!!!!

Next year I am going to complete 29 years of my Priesthood in the Capuchin Franciscan Order and I had a very satisfying and contended ministry. Wherever I have been the Lord has used me to the fullest and I have given my best to be a fitting instrument of the Lord. I have had pastoral, formation animation and also guiding the friars for about 15 years as an animator in the province and as General councillor of the Order. The most pastoral work that I enjoyed was counselling and guiding the faithful who have relationships problems in their marital status. 

 I have come across many couples as well as religious who have good relationships between the spouses and community members were the most happy and healthy people to hang around with. The influence that they exuberate is tremendous. Their body language is very positive and have less health issues. These men and women are satisfied with themselves, family, members, friends and society at large. They eat well, sleep soundly, eating healthy food and do not cross any physical, moral and emotional boundaries. They wear a million dollar smile and go about because they enjoy satisfying relationships, dialogues, arguments, better comphrension and understanding the other which leads to great happiness.  These people have better social connections and good number of friends. They go around as missionaries of happy and satisfied lives, they don’t preach but just witness to the inner joys and happiness. 

We need a quality of life which will depend on how well we are connected with other people and environment in which we live. The quality of life is important than what we possess which does not grantee happiness. People who are happy have less tensions, anxiety, depressions and anger. They are spiritually, physically and emotionally healthy people. They promote supportive relationships in the community and society. They become great motivators of happy and satisfied lives. 

These satisfied people understand the true meaning of life and so they create a social support through their exemplary lives. They are ready to listen, care for the others, step out to help others in the crisis of life. Being non-judgmental and non-critical people, they always promote and motivate to handle conflicts and stress of everyday life. These happy people have tremendous energy which attract many people to them. 

Twin Celebrations at Pimpri Friary, Pune

 The Feast of St. Anthony is celebrated with a lot of devotion and piety every year at Pimpri but this year due to Corona Virus....no celebration of feast was conducted with the physical presence of the parishioners.....the friars conducted for 9 days online live novenas and yesterday once again a solemn Mass was celebrated and live telecast to the parishioners. 

 Fr. Benhur Patil, our new rector was the main celebrant for the festal Mass

 Our fraternity from La Verna joined the festal celebration....five of us joined the fraternity of Pimpri

 Second celebration was the birthday of Fr. Amrut Fonseca, the parish priest.....we anticipated the celebration .......we wished and prayed for him during the Mass...

 Fr. Amit D'Britto, newly ordained friar proclaiming the word of God.....he was under lockdown at home...now he is at Pimpri till he gets permit to travel to his fraternity

 I was the preacher of the day....all about st. Anthony.....love to preach about our own beloved friar....the pride of belonging to the Franciscan Order gives me more enthusiasm and energy to preach about our elder great brother...

Recollection and Inauguration the New Academic Year 2020-21

Friday evening we began our recollection on the theme " Capuchin Vocation and its challenges" and concluded it with the Holy Eucharist on Saturday before Lunch. The talk was in the morning at 9am given by me followed by the sacrament of reconciliation. The blessed sacrament priests are neighbours who were invited for the same.

 Today we officially inaugurated the academic year with the solemn eucharist presided over by Br. Wilson D'Souza. He was delegated by the provincial minister to receive also the vows of 5 brothers of the second year...they renewed their vows for another one year in the hands of Br. Wilson

 Brother Godfree introduced the theme and the significance of the feast of Holy Trinity

 Br. Roshan proclaiming the first reading

 Br. Suhas proclaiming the second reading

 Br. Benhur, the rector announcing the Gospel of the day

 Br. Wilson delivering homily on the occasion

 5 brothers renewing their vows.....for one year

 Br. Lipton prayed the prayers of faithful....prayed for all the needs of the society, church, order and province

 we have 16 brothers from 1-4th year of Theology....5 are yet arrive as they are stuck due to lockdown...

 It is not the complete community......but by end of June we should have....

 selfie moment........brothers cutting home made cake by the brothers.....we rejoiced with them...

Br. Benhur Patil is the New Rector at La Verna Theologate, Pune

Br. Benhur Patil, who was Novice Master for six years and then he completed his doctorate in Franciscan spirituality in Rome, Italy. He served for one year in the Province of Assisi after his studies in Rome. The appointment as a Rector is a blessing to our Theologate as he is an experienced formator and has good experience in animation of the fraternity. 

 Previous day of the Pentecost Feast we had an Holy Hour and we prayed for the coming of the Holy Spirit upon New Rector and the Fraternity.

 On the Feast day of the Pentecost we celebrated Mass in the evening and the new rector celebrated the solemn eucharist and four of us con-celebrated with him.

 I was privileged to break the word of God.....spoke about the awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit who is indwelling Lord.....how he guides and animates us.....

 Br. Benhur took over as the new rector from 1st June.....Let us pray for him

 Most of the brothers have reached to La Verna...another five yet to reache....they are held up in various fraternities of the Province due to lockdown....we are hoping to have them soon...

 Three brothers from Katta `novitiate who professed themselves on 2nd of May 2020 have been brought here for few days....from here they are supposed to proceed to Post-novitiate program in Karnataka.

 We thanked Br. Amrut Fonseca who was asked by the Provincial Council to look after the fraternity during the Month of March, April and May. He did a wonderful job as an interim guardian of the fraternity. Br. Wilson D'Souza thanked him for his service. He provided lot of provisions to our house and even went to Vasai along with two Brothers Godfrey and Brian to bring fish...these days we are enjoying good quality and variety of fish....thanks Br. Amrut for your love and concern

 The Fraternity celebrated my birthday which was on 8th May....they all prayed and wished me....Br. Benhur spoke few words in appreciation of me....

 We congratulated Brothers Julies and David who made their final commitment during the lockdown in two different places....also three brothers who made their simple commitment in Katta...