FROM THE PROVINCIAL'S DESK
My dear friends in the Lord,
On Sat 13th September, a little after
midnight, Fr. S. Amalraj answered the call to be in the Company of Jesus in
heaven. We pray for his departed soul. We have a number of sick in our midst. Besides
their own community, the Province Infirmary at Jeevan Darshan, Premal Jyoti,
St. Mary's Nursing Home and St. Xavier's College communities are taking care of
some of them. I express my gratitude to these communities for taking care of
the sick of the Province.
It is true that we have a Province
Infirmary to take care of the sick and the aged. The Province will go out of
its way to ensure that all the sick and the aged are taken care of in the Province
infirmary. However, the primary responsibility of taking care of the sick and the
aged members of the community lies with the community. To the extent possible,
the sick and the aged should be cared for by the community. But there comes a
time when an active community cannot physically take care of the sick and the aged.
That is the time to ask the Province to take care of them. I'm sure, the sick
and the aged would prefer to be cared for in and by their own communities, to
the extent possible.
The sick and the aged, even when sent
to the Province Infirmary, still remain members of their particular community.
I'm sure all members of the community will want to and do go out of their way
to keep in touch with the sick and the aged of their community through phone
and visit when possible, in the infirmary or the hospital. They will do well to
mention them in their daily prayers both at individual and at the community
level. I'm sure most of us do this, but it is always good to keep reminding
ourselves of our grateful duty towards the sick and the aged of our
community.
In the understanding of the Society,
we work as a community under a Superior. Directors of Works, including PP who
are not also Superiors also work under the guidance of the local Superior.
Keeping this in mind, communications regarding matters of the community and its
ministries should come through the local Superior. When the local Superior
signs any such documents, what he is saying is that he has followed due process
of consultation and he takes complete responsibility for the communication. This
is a help we want to provide the community to discern together, find God's will
and follow the same.
October, the month dedicated to Our
Lady and recitation of the Rosary is also the month of festivals. We remember
the Father of the Nation, Gandhiji and pray that we all follow the path of
ensuring that the benefits of freedom go unto this last.
To help us remember this and put into
practice, Oct 2 to 8 is celebrated as Joy of Giving Week, now also called,
Dan-Utsav. I encourage all to give of their very best and encourage others to
do so.
Gujarat celebrates Navratri, the
festival of fertility, dance and joy. May the Lord grant plentiful crops and
give us the spirit of sharing the goods of this earth with all. May Dashera be
a festival for us to overcome evil with good.
On 6th, our Muslim brethren celebrate
Bakr Id, remembering the willingness of our Patriarch Abraham to sacrifice his
only son. May this celebration lead us to sacrifice our very selves for the
Greater Glory of God.
On 8th of this month, Archbishop
Stanislaus Fernandes completes 75 years. I urge all to remember him very
specially on this day.
On behalf of the Province, I extend
our greetings to Bp Thomas Macwan as he celebrates his birthday on 14th.
Fr. General will be present for the
JCSA Meeting to be held in Phesama, Nagaland. Kindly keep the JCSA and the
whole Society in your prayers.
At the end of October, the Province
will host the national JEMAI Convention. Do pray for all our indigenous people
and all those who work among them.
I wish you all a Happy Diwali, the
festival of lights. May we keep our lamps burning and enlighten the path of
all.
Do say a special prayer for our
Coadjutor Brothers as we celebrate the feast of St. Alonso Rodrigues.
A. M. D. G.
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