Circular- June 11, 2010

Dear Rev. Fathers and Brothers,

Warm and prayerful greetings from the Provincial House!

The celebrations of the Year for Priests, with the theme: “Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests,” which began on June 19^th last year are formally ending today. The theme of faithfulness reminds us of many things: Faithfulness to our baptismal consecration, religious consecration and priestly consecration, the three of which are essentially related to our vocation as religious priests totally committed to Jesus Christ. In order to deepen our faithfulness as priests, many programmes were conducted at various levels. I hope that all of you have participated in one or more such programmes and are really enriched and encouraged in your faithfulness to Jesus Christ as our friend and guide. Let me mention some practical points, which can help us to deepen our friendship with Jesus:

1)      If Jesus is our friend we would like to spend more time with him as it is the case with all human friendships. Prayer, being the most efficacious way of entering into and nourishing the friendship with Jesus, let us become more faithful to the observance of our prayer schedule given in our Holy Constitutions. (Cfr.esp.C9-16 and D1-15)

2)      A friend will always seek to know more and more on the other.  Bible is the most important source, which gives us authentic information and knowledge about God and Jesus Christ. We are reminded in our Holy Constitutions that we are obliged to read the Bible, especially the Gospels, meditatively in order to “attain the excelling knowledge of Jesus Christ.” (Cfr. C.13) Let us be more Christ centred and Word oriented in our religious life and formation, as it has also been recommended by our last General synaxis.

3)      Real friends will be only delighted to speak and communicate about the other. One can do this through his or her words and actions. If Jesus is our friend we take interest to speak about him to whomsoever we come across with through the different apostolic activities like schools, colleges, other institutions of learning, social apostolate, other specific ministries etc. The entire chapter II of our Constitutions and Directory give us detailed guidelines to do this and grow in the friendship with Jesus.

4)      Good friends feel bad at the slightest pain inflicted on the other. Let us ask ourselves honestly: Do I feel disturbed if I offend Jesus in thoughts, words and deeds? Are we sensitive enough to hear our own conscience accusing us if we offend him. Do I feel the need of approaching him and ask for his forgiveness if we hurt him? How frequent are we in receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Rev. Fathers and Brothers, much more than observing a set of rules and regulations, our faithfulness as priests demands our personal commitment to Jesus Christ, who called us. I am sure that the celebrations of the year for priests have brought us more committed and nearer to Jesus Christ. Let these commitment and nearness give us more strength to live our priesthood more faithfully also in the days to come.

I would like to share with you some news items concerning our Province:

1)      Rev. Frs. Mathew Thenamkalayil, our Vicar Provincial and Rev. Fr. Jose Mundadan are still at our house at Aluva. They are taking rest and on the way to cure. Recently, the doctor who examined Fr. Mathew found out that though the radiation has caused the expected shrinking of the prostrate gland, his bladder has been affected. Perhaps, he needs an operation. Our Dr. Fr. Padayatty is in contact with Fr. Mathew and the doctors concerned. Fr. Mathew needs complete rest. Please continue to pray for him.

2)      Rev. Fr. T.A. Antony, who is in Kerala for his holidays and and some dental treatment, met with a minor accident while he was travelling in a bus from Bangalore to Kerala. He suffered a fracture of collarbone. Please pray for him.

3)      Six of our brothers, Bros. Ajo Thelappilly, Binoy Vazhayil, Jomon Thekkekudiyil, Jayin Kalamparambil, Tomy Appanchira and Ajomon Parasseril will be doing the final profession of their religious vows on July 16^th at the Provincial House. Rev.Fr.Tom Mundadan guided their course at Jaiharikhal from May 24 to 30^. Rev.Fathers Thomas Kochumuttam and Naiju Kalambukatt will be jointly preaching a retreat for them from July 8^th 6.00 pm till July 15^th morning. Please pray for these six brothers, especially in these days, that they become deeper and stronger in their faithfulness and commitment to Jesus Christ.

4)      Many of our scholastics are beginning their new academic year in these days. Let us prayerfully remember them and offer our prayers for them.

5)      Six of our young candidates are doing their pre-novitiate course at Najibabad under the leadership of Fr. Tom Mundadan. They will be proceeding to their Novitiate at Bhanpuri, Jagdalpur Province on June 22^nd. The Novitiate will commence on September 08. We wish them all the best and God’s blessings for a successful novitiate.

6)      As last year, the new candidates for our province are having their “come and see” programme at Jeevas, Aluva. They are expected to reach our Study House at Najibabad on July 04.

7)      The students of our schools came out of their ICSE Board exams with good results. My hearty congratulations to the students, the local management, the principal, the members of the staff and the parents for their wonderful achievement.

8)      A new convent building was blessed at Nathewaly for the LST Sisters on 10-06-10. His Excellency bishop Dominic Kokkatt CST, the founder of the LST Congregation, was the main celebrant. Hearty congratulations to Fr. Jose Padayatty, Brother Pauly Pudussery and the LST Sisters for their hard work! Let us remember with prayerful gratitude the Missio Aachen and the Diocese of Augsburg for their generous financial help for the construction of the convent.

9)      The construction of the new school building at Champawat is nearing completion under the leadership of Fr. Mathew Pedikkat. It will be blessed on June 24^th by His Excellency Antony Fernandes, the Bishop of Bareilly. Rev. Fr. Jose Kuriedath, our General Councillor has kindly consented to be present on the occasion.

Some Appointments and Transfers of our Rev. Fathers:

- Fr. Varghese Kanjirakombil; from St. Joseph’s Study House, Meerut to Mariashram, Jaspur.

- Fr. Jimy Kallupalathinkal; from Anugrahalayam, Aluva to the Provincial House.

- Fr. George Palimattam; from Anugrahalayam, Aluva to the Provincial House.

- Fr. Tom Mundadan; from the Provincial House to St. Joseph’s Study House, Meerut.

- Fr. Vinod Padinjarekaithackal; from Mariashram, Jaspur to Carmel Ashram, Champawat

- Fr. George Palachuvattil; from the Provincial House to Anugrahalayam, Aluva(From July 01^st onwards, he will be also the vocation Promoter of the Province.)

- Fr. Bino Palaty; from the Provincial House to Mariashram, Jaspur

- Fr. Jim Manakkatt: Assistant Rector, St. Joseph’s Study House, Najibabad.

- Fr. Biju Karukappilly: M Th Studies at DVK, Bangalore. (Reserved by Rev.Fr.Prior General for the Samanvaya Theologate.)

- Fr. Denny Madavana: Reserved by Rev. Fr. Prior General for PTC, Bhopal.

- Fr. Sijo Muthanatt: Service offered to the Catholic Diocese of Bijnor. Presently he is serving the diocese as the Secretary to the Bishop.

The Regents are assigned as follows:

-          Provincial House                     – Bros. Tomy Appanchira and Ajo Parasseril,

-          Maria Bhavan, Nathewaly      – Bro. Ajo Thelappilly.

-          Sanjo Bhavan, Ghaziabad       – Bro. Binoy Vazhayil.

-          Chavara Sadan, Nagina          – Bro. Jomon Thekkekudiyil.

I take this opportunity to remind you all about the Zonal gatherings which have to be conducted regularly. The Zonal co-ordinators are hereby requested to take special interest to organize the Zonal gatherings regularly. If communicated well in advance I will be only happy to attend them.

Many of our houses/ centres are punctual in submitting the monthly statements regularly. I thank them and appreciate them for it. But a few of the houses/ centres are not doing it regularly. Please take care to abide by our Provincial Statutes, esp. article no. 73, in this regard.

You are also fraternally reminded about the articles 14, 15 and 16 of our Provincial Statutes and are requested to abide by the spirit of those articles, which are put under the most important aspect of our life, viz., “Religious Vows and Community life.”

May I conclude by reminding you once again on the theme of celebration of the year for Priests: “Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of Priests.” May God, who called us to follow His Son, help us with His grace to be faithful and personally committed to Him in our life and ministry as true CMI religious and priests.

Fr. Varghese Vithayathil CMI

Provincial.

Najibabad, 11-06-10.