FROM THE PROVINCIAL'S DESK - August

FROM THE PROVINCIAL'S DESK

My dear friends in the Lord,

On 7 August as our Parsi sisters and brothers celebrate their new year, we celebrate bi-centenary of the Restoration of the Society of Jesus. In our Province we will celebrate this occasion with a seminar on Restoration on Monday, 18th August. On this day, we will also felicitate the Jubilarians of the Province. The Church has once more trusted us and restored our Society. Now it is up to us to keep living up to that trust. We need to reflect on the circumstances and reasons for suppression in order to learn lessons from that and make sure that history does not repeat itself. We also need to reflect on the circumstances and reasons for restoration and learn lessons for future.

We have been entrusted with a legacy. We are called to be stewards of God's Kingdom. Unfortunately, some times, some of us, seem to forget this basic truth and behave as if we are the owners, or sons of the owner, rather than stewards. This 'son of the owner syndrome' at times leads to unnecessary tensions. We need to reflect on our attitudes to ensure that we are not caught off guard behaving in a manner unsuitable to a steward. Gandhiji understood this Gospel ideal well and used the term 'trusteeship' to express it. Attitude of ownership is likely to lead to arrogance whereas attitude of trusteeship or stewardship is likely to lead to an attitude of service. Such an attitude will engender respect for all our co-workers and that is bound to lead to greater collaboration. One cannot collaborate with the other whom one does not respect.

To realise our vision and mission through concrete action plan as envisaged in the SAP process, we need many and good vocations. Four of our novices, Bhadagi Jayanti, Murmu Christopher, Parmar Hitesh and Pereira Jipson will pronounce their first vows in Belgaum on 31st July. One more novice, Fernandes Patrick will pronounce his vows on Sat 30th August in Sneh Jyoti, Sevasi. He has opted to be a temporal coadjutor. Since there is only one, Alwyn Macwan who has joined the novitiate this year, we have sent him to Belgaum to the common novitiate of the western region. We pray for many and good vocations, especially as temporal coadjutors. 'Each one bring one' would be an appropriate motto to put into practice.

On 6th August, the feast of Transfiguration, we remember bombing of Hiroshima and on 9th that of Nagasaki and pray that we never ever go down that path of mass destruction. On 9th we also celebrate Quit India Day as well as International Day for Indigenous people. Jay Adivasi!

As we celebrate Rakshabandhan on 10th, we pray in a very special way for gender justice.

As we celebrate the Assumption of Our Lady, we pray through her intercession for true in-dependence for our country.

On 17th we rejoice with our Hindu sisters and brothers as they celebrate Janmashtmi. On this day we celebrate Justice Sunday and pray that we participate actively to establish God's Kingdom, based on justice.

On 29th we remember Jains who celebrate Samvatsari and Hindus as they celebrate Ganesh festival.

May this month of festivals lead us to rejoice with all wo/men of good will and actively participate in building God's Kingdom of love, peace and joy, based on justice for all.

A. M. D. G.