Ordination at Unteshwari - By Prasad Bhai

To view the Ordination ceremony:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhbCg6fF5Co&feature=player_embedded

Report:

Over 2300 laity, 84 sisters, 93 priests, and 2 bishops got together to ordain Kamlesh Kantilal Raval SJ and Kiran Dahyabhai Gohil (orig. Umreth ) of the Gandhinagar archdiocese. Their appointment places, Bhiloda and Deesa respectively, made a good chunk of this melo gathering on the sand-lawns of Unteshwari on 27^th. December ’11 at 10.30 am.

Many played their part well in this collaborative achievement: Sr. Binita of Kalol St Ann’s got the entrance dance done; Deesa parish supplied two Chatris for thesamaiyu and two backdrop banners of Jagprakash Isu blessing the two deacons; Mandali Raju SJ guided the Sanman Vidhi of garlands/shawls/sanmanpatra and the release of ‘The History of North Gujarat Mission Vol. II’ ed. Jose Panadan SJ.; Mandali Gariz Bapu arranged sponsors for the bountiful five-course meal; Sandhya Vishram’s Sr. Jyotsna coordinated the choir of Unteshwari youth while Sr. A. Mary arranged the samaiyu baheno; Madhurya Bhavan sisters supplied the impeccable vestments and over-all needs for the Rite and Mass; the Gujarat SJ supplied the Provincial, Socius, and Kamlesh; The Ahmedabad diocese supplied Rev. Bishop Thomas  and Kiran; The Gandhinagar archdiocese supplied the acolytes, a V.G., and Rev. Archbishop and hopefully some of the expenses; Kantibhai and Champaben Raval and Dahyabhai and Susheelaben Gohil offered their sons; Unteshwari parish filled in the blanks; and God, our beloved Bapu, smiled on everything with UPS, water, goodwill, and plentiful outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The happiest man on earth was Gariz Bapu who quoted Pope Benedict XIV to explain why there is greater joy in one priest’s ordination than in thousands of converts. After three professed sisters, this first ordination from the Ravals mahor maryu on the rooting of the N. Guj. Church.

The next day, 28^th. Dec. at Kalol, the same sisters-priests, diocesan-jesuits, N. Guj.-Kheda coworking was repeated. The first mass and the lipsmacking lunch were the fruit of days of hard work of Kalol parishioners with Velankanni, James Savari and Alex Thannipara. The day’s celebrations had three parts: the samaiyu from gate to Church; Kamlesh’s Mass with Archbishop Stanny and Fr. Provincial Changa sj,; and the sanman of all – the ordained, the ordainer, the 12 priests, and the 14 sisters present. The faithful faithfully rendered,”Bolo Isu Bhagwanki Jai, Unteshwari Mataki Jai, Satgurudevaki jai” the number of times over twice the number of those sanmanned. The ceremony ended with a long line of gifts and greetings of those dear to Kamlesh. Kiran’s full troupe attended but had to leave before 2 pm to reach Umreth in time for his first mass at five pm. May Our Lord keep blessing Kamlesh and Kiran on the long road of priestly ministry they have just begun.

Bishop Francis L Braganza, SJ - By Fr.Vincent Saldanha

Bishop Francis L Braganza, SJ

(1922 - 2011)

            Born in Bandra on January 1922 to Leo and Sophia Braganza, Francis was the fourth of ten children five of whom (two boys and three girls) were chosen by the Lord to be religious. Francis and his brother Joe joined the Society of Jesus to work in the vineyard of the Gujarat Mission to ‘till it and it keep it’ in 1938. And did he do it with a vengeance! Ordained On November 1951 he was sent to Columbia University (USA) to do his post graduate studies. He promptly returned to Gujarat to start St Xavier’s College with two other companions. As Joe said “in addition to full-time teaching he was Vice-Principal of the College, warden of the hostel, supervisor of the laboratories, taxidermist, official photographer, hockey coach, chauffeur, handyman and trouble-shooter, to say nothing of his priestly ministries.” But then he had ‘other sheep to tend’ and ‘vineyards to work in.’ So, in 1956 he was appointed Rector of Rosary School, Vadodara, and then became the Vice Provincial of Gujarat from 1962 to 1967. From 1967 to 1970 he was Assistant to the then Superior General of the Society of Jesus Fr. Pedro Arrupe. He spurned the offer become the Bishop of Jamshedpur and returned to the College as Principal from 1970 to 1980. Then he was appointed Bishop of Vadodara in 1987. In 1997 upon reaching 75 he promptly resigned as Bishop.

            He then returned to his first vineyard - St Xavier’s College. He kept himself busy looking after the finances of the College Society for a number of years. He was all of 80 when he took over as the first Director of XICA (Xavier Institute of Computer Application). But during all that time you would find him pottering around the garden of the Xavier Residence helping snails and slugs meet their messy end, turning a leaf inside out to dispatch a caterpillar or worm, or to feel the texture of leaf and flower (to say nothing of the lettuce and the celery, the broccoli and the parsley, the brinjal and the lady finger), speaking to himself or attempting to sing to the plants, keeping the monkeys and peacocks away from the fruits of his garden with a clap of his hands, his stick or his airgun. Often there was a running battle between him and them each trying to outmaneuvre the other. Francis couldn’t sit idle and so kept his mind and heart alert doing sudoku in the warmth of the rising or setting sun.

            Francis had a very sensitive heart. He felt very deeply for the poor, the clergy, the religious sisters and, above all, the Society. He suffered with those who suffered and rejoiced with those who rejoiced. Wherever he went and whatever he did, Francis cared for the people who were under his charge - as a Jesuit, an educationist, a bishop. As Bishop he “organised a network of health centres headed by sisters belonging to various congregations, and proposed schemes to NGOs for their assistance. He also helped and encouraged sisters to start mahila mandals, and saving and lending schemes. He set up a gratuity fund for primary school teachers and catechists, and a group insurance policy for the priests of te diocese.” He would meet well-wishers and troubled souls giving them a patient hearing or a earful, monetary assistance or spiritual advice as required.. He passionately guarded both his garden and the confidential matters people shared with him. He was indeed a man for others - a man for the people! He went about his work quietly and efficiently, with a sense of purpose and commitment and with a deep love for the Lord. He left us suddenly and yet quietly with his boots on to meet his Lord and Master on December 21, 2011.

            He was with us on a mission, and - God knows - he accomplished it with a passion. He taught us to live life with dignity, to face the many worldly cares with serenity. He taught us to find solace in prayer, that there is untold strength in brotherly care. And as we miss his presence among us, we salute him and his legacy as fellow human being, Jesuit and friend.

Fr. Vincent Saldanha, sj    

Bishop Francis Braganza Passed away

We are sorry to inform you about the passing away of Bishop Francis Braganza around 10.00 a.m on Wednesday 21 December 2011 at Xavier’s residence in Ahmedabad. The funeral will be held on Thursday 22  December 2011 at 4.00 P.M in the Rosary Church Baroda. - Socius.

Bio Data of Bishop Francis Braganza

Bishop Francis Braganza tells his own story

Kindly click on the link given here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lr6ADa3FS1M

Born:29-01-1922 at Bandra Mumbai

Entered SJ:28-05-1938 at Shembaganur

Ordained as Priest:21 November 1951.

Responsibilities Held:

Professor at St.Xavier’s Ahmedabad 1956-1961

Rector at Rosary, Baroda 1961- 1962

Vice Provincial of Gujarat 1963-1968

Assistant to the General: 1967- 1970

Principal of St.Xavier’s Ahmedabad 1970 – 1980

Bishop of Baroda 1987-1997

Emeritus Bishop: 1998-2011

Spiritual Exercises In Gujarati Part -3

Spiritual Exercises In Gujarati Part -3

કામમાં વ્યસ્ત રહેતા લોકો માટે ધ્યાન (રીટ્રીટ) ભાગ -૩

આપણું સદ્દભાગ્ય કહેવાય  કે સમાજમાં અમુક કુટંબો છે જે આપણને પ્રભુના પ્રેમની પ્રતીતિ કરાવે છે. પ્રભુના બિનશરતી પ્રેમનો અનુભવ કરવા માટે  નીચેના વીડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરશો

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GWEQdgS3jHg&noredirect=1

વહાલા શ્રધાળુઓ

  ઈશ્વરે આપેલ દસ આજ્ઞાઓમાં પ્રેમની આજ્ઞા સર્વોપરી છે. દરેક આજ્ઞા પ્રથમ દ્રષ્ટિએ  જોતા એવું લાગે કે તે નકારાત્મક છે છતા, જો ઊંડાણથી તેની ઉપર ધ્યાન દોરીએ તો ખ્યાલ આવશે કે તે સર્વ પ્રેમનોજ  પંથ બતાવે છે.

  આ બધીજ    આજ્ઞાઓથી કહી શકાય કે ભગવાન આપણી સ્વતંત્રતા ઉપર પ્રતિબંધ મુકવા માંગતો નથી, ઇસુનો પંથ બિનશરતી પ્રેમનો પંથ છે કારણ પ્રભુ ઇસુ પ્રેમ નો અવતાર છે, પ્રેમ સ્વરૂપ  પરમેશ્વર માણસો ઉપર કેટલો બધો પ્રેમ રાખે છે એ માણસો જોઈ શકે , સ્પર્શી શકે ને અનુભવી  શકે એટલા ખાતર  જ  ઇસુ આ દુનિયામાં આવ્યા હતા. કૃશ ઉપર મરણને ભેટીને તેઓ  સૌ માનવીઓ પ્રત્યેના પોતાના અપાર પ્રેમનો પુરાવો આપ્યો હતો અને પોતાના શિષ્યોને એવી આજ્ઞા અપાતા ગયા કે  " મેં જેમ તમારા ઉપર પ્રેમ રાખ્યો છે તેમ તમારે પરસ્પર પ્રેમ રાખવાનો છે "


(માથ્થી ૨૨: ૩૭-૪૦ )નું પઠન કરવાથી વધુ અનુભૂતિ થઇ શકે.

"તારે તારા પ્રભુ પરમેશ્વર ઉપર તારા પુરા હૃદયથી , તારા પુરા જીવથી અને તારા પુરા માંથી પ્રેમ રાખવો .... ને તારા માંનાવ્બંધુ ઉપર તારી જાત જેટલો પ્રેમ રાખવો. સમગ્ર શાસ્ત્રનો આધાર એ બે આજ્ઞાઓ છે "                     

વધુ મનન ચિંતન માટે ઉપરનો  વિડીયો નિહાળશો, આજ ભાગ માટે  વધુ મદદરૂપ થતા પાયાની બાબતો અગામી ભાગમાં રજુ  કરવામાં આવશે.

સાર :

"પ્રેમનો પંથ''  By Fr.Lawrence Dharmaraj s.j આ  પુસ્તકના અનુવાદક રેવ. ફા. ઇસુદાસ ક્વેલી એસ. જે.નો ખુબ ખુબ અભાર.    

આપ સર્વે તરફથી જે મોટો પ્રતિસાદ આ શ્રેણી માટે મળ્યો છે અને  તમે દરેકને ઈ-મેઈલ કરીને  આ શ્રેણી ના ભાગીદાર બનાવ્યા છે તે બદલ BBN  હૃદયપૂર્વક અભાર માને  છે       

The Golden Jubilee of Arrival to India: Fr.Lawrence Dharmaraj and Fr.Civiac

 The Golden Jubilee of Arrival to India:

19 December 2011, deserved to be engraved in letters of Gold and need to be displyed on every Jesuit noticeboard of our province, as it marks the occasion of the golden arrival of our three Spanish Jesuits to India: Fr Dastis Luis, Fr Civiac Joaquin and Fr Inaki Bereciartua.

THE FOUR  DREAMERS - by Fr  Civiac J

It was a windy  and cold morning when  4 young   Jesuits of Castilla Oriental, Spain, were  boarding the  French ship  “Laos” on their way to India.The name of those dreamers were: Fr L Dastis ( already a priest) and  the  Scholastics  I Berechi, J Civiac and L Imaz ( later on left the Society) .  Fr L Dastis was of course, the  Superior. The harbour was Marseille, France. That day was  8 December  1961, the feast of the Immaculate Conception - a most propitious day to start a new life.

The “Marseille-Bombay’s”   11 days journey  was uneventful. Young French  Air-Force officers were with us. They were going to Vietnam. They knew for sure that France was  fighting there a losing  war and that perhaps some of them would die there  for nothing. I was impressed by their sense  of discipline and self-sacrifice.

December 19 was  our day of arrival. It was a splendid morning. Countless  ships were in the harbour. Mumbai  gave us the feeling that it was a  metropolis without  end. All the passengers were on the deck. The silence was absolute: The loud-speakers  of the Laos  were informing  that  the first Indian planes had started that very morning,  bombing military targets in Goa and Diu…!

Fr Fabrat and Br Abril with their perennial smile were waiting for us. According to Br Abril the Customs Officer that would    check   our luggages was a good friend  of him . Our personal luggage, as it was the  rule in those days, was minimum  to say something. But  with us, and I still ignore why in my name, were coming about 40 boxes.

By  09 O´clock  all those 40  cases  were already in the huge Customs  Hall. Only   then our Customs Officer appeared. He was singing  loudly in Spanish “Cielito  Lindo”, --“Beautiful little Heaven—“,one of  my favourite old  Mexican songs. He greeted us  in  Portuguese. We were amazed   and  happy to be  in his hands. Br Abril gave him the list of things contained in  every box and disappeared from the Customs Hall. Mean while Fr Fabrat was our Guardian  Angel.

We were enjoying our first Indian tea,when  we heard through  the loud speakers of the Customs Hall: “Mister  Civiac…!”  We looked at each other. It was our Customs Officer! He seemed  to be pretty  upset.This time he was talking English  and loudly:  “In which language of the world, tape-recorders  and medicines are called by the same word…?”  Aparently list and objects in the containers were not always agreeing.  Neither Fr Fabrat nor me knew what to reply. About  6 or 7 times more  I had to hear that morning  that  “Mister Civiac”  and always with the same  caustic remarks. What was left of  “that good friend of Br Abril”,of his Portuguese  and  of “Cielito Lindo…”?

Meanwhile a Mother Superior appeared there to welcome us. Some of the cases were for them. When talking   with  us she realized that she had forgotten her bag  in  one of the shops. And in the bag  were  some dollars. She  simply smiled: “That money is for the poor”. She didn´t  say a single word more and left to search for the bag. One hour later she was back   with the  bag and the money. She smiled  again: “This money is for the poor.!”  It was  more than obvious  that the Divine Providence was  in  the pocket  of that M.Superior

Br Abril appeared at last when most of the  containers  had been  already  checked up. He didn´t comment  anything about  the  repeated “Mister Civiac”  and  consequent remarks that he himself had to hear too once or twice  more. All the same his  smile had disappeared. He had brought with him several trucks  to take the cases to Anand. After paying the  Customs duties  his smile was  back again:  The Customs  duties had been  as low as possible and  the  whole of “Mister  Civiac” as he knew by now from the Customs Officer himself, had been only a “natak”, a comedy as he had  to  translate for us.

Who can imagine  a more fitting introduction to our new Indian way of life?. To start with we had been  taught  the first  practical lesson about  Indian psychology. Then the Lord had shown us through that M.Superior,  that His Divine Providence   would  be as much part of  our daily life as the  tea at  10 O´clock   or the bargaining  when shopping. Besides that on that day  I had learnt my first Gujarati word…”Natak.’

A Brief Biodata

1.Fr.Dastis Luis

Fr Dstis. was Born and brought up in a family with a long and rich tradition of sturdy catholic faith, vibrant piety, deep devotion and abundant vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

He hails form a very deep religious city-Zaragosa, a city closely linked with great saints in Jesuit history such as Joseph Pignatelli, Francis Borgia and Aloysius Gonzaga.

In Anand he succeeded in combining the coldness of the numbers-keeping accounts and the Zeal and enthusiasm for pastoral work. Later on as a pastor in the places such as Gothada he had shown contagious faith, great courage, constancy, perseverance, determination and enthusiasm.His life as a Jesuit and his work as a missionary are certainly examples that younger Jesuits would want to emulate.

At present he is in Zaragoza, Spain.

2. Fr Joaquim Civiac

It  was in his childhood, from his mother, who was a young widow, that Civiac learnt to face life with grit and determination.

Civiac is not only a multi-linguist, including Greek which he taught as a regent and still keeps fresh by reading the New Testament in Greek daily, he is a ‘citizen of the world’ a native of Spain who has been of service in India, Italy, France and the USA.(California).. riding through unexpected tracks. His first appointment as a young priest was to Milan, for the magazine Missioni.He spent a year (October 1997 to November 1998) in Milan and Paris. He returned to Gujarat for his tertianship. In Ahmedabad, under the direction of the illustrious Fr Conget, he went to the Gujarat Vidyapith for 10 months as a resident student of Gujarati.

 He was then sent to Anklao, on one of those proverbial “stop gap” appointments—which ended up by his being there for over 12 years (1971-1984). Afetr five years of break in Spain and Califonia, he returned to Gujarat, spending few months first in Khambhat, then Vadtal, till he was appointed to kathlal in June 1996.

 Now he is happily serving in the Khambhat mission.

3. Fr  Inaki Bereciaartua

He is  fellow citizen of Master Inigo from whom he seem to have inherited the spirit of indomitable commitment to the mission of Christ. He spent 40 years of dedicated service in the Dediapada Mission. Now this has grown into 3 different mission centres with their education institutions, hostels for boys and girls, convents and a beautiful church and a shrine for Mother Mary at Korvi. Added to these, is the actual economic and social development, result of the various projects related to cattle farming and milk cooperatives that he initiated. At presnt he has moved to a small mission centre ‘Nani Singaloti’ which is the offshoot of the Dediapada mission.

GOLDEN  CONGRATULATIONS!!

Golden Jubliee of the Unai Mission:- By Fr.Joseph Parmar

Golden Jubliee of the Unai Mission:
By Fr.Joseph Parmar

It was Rev Fr Francisco Zubeldia who began this mission by making trips from Surat by way back in 1959. 

Fr Albert Innurategui bought a piece of land and set up a small hostel-cum-residence called Jivan Jyot Kumar Chhatralaya at Khambhalia(1962), a village hardly a kilometer away from today’s developed Unai town.

The relief operations during the drought stricken years from 1964-67 helped, Fr Albert (1964-67) to emerge as a real Hero and the friend of villagers. Many of the small ‘kachcha’ roads built during those years are still afresh in the memories of the aged here.

This altruistic nature of the missionaries and their endeavours in education through primary schools and  boardings have become a living example of the True disciples of Christ for our people. Fr Francisco Gabbare (1967-68), though did not last long, did contribute through his lively example as a dedicated missionary. His mortal remains at Unai remind us of his dedicated service.

Fr J M  Navarro (1969-79) was another great man in building this mission through his ever enthusiastic nature. From here he penetrated the thick forests of the South Surat District and reached the doors of the Dangs District. He even began Milk cooperatives in some villages of Dangs operating from Unai. Indeed he was a visionary who could look into the future for his people!

Fr Ignas Galdos (1980-2001), with the experience of Zankhvav Mission, he consolidated this mission. With his incessant efforts, he shifted the Khambhalia Primary School to Unai and thus began a new chapter in this Mission. Today, Vidhya Kiran High School (1983), is one of the few who competes for the first rank in the Navsari District. The Jivan Jyot Kumar Chhatralaya and the  Vedruna Niketan Kanya Chhatralaya cater to the needy students from Sagbara Taluka to Songadh and from Uchchal to Nizar talukas of the newly created Tapi Distirct.

The Religious Sisters have been the second-in-command along with their Jesuit missionaries or pioneers  since the beginning of the Mission. The Vedruna Niketan Sisters have remained a constant support through their services to womenfolk, dispensary, etc. Truly, the Unai Mission is the fruit of the dedicated and combined efforts of the committed disciples of Christ –the Priests, the Sisters, the Catechists and a whole hoard of well wishers of the institute in and around Unai. As the Mission celebrates its Golden Jubilee of its inception may the Good Lord reward the generosity of these men and women in His own gracious measure!

JESUIT DIAMONDS FROM SPAIN - By M. Diaz-Garriz SJ

JESUIT DIAMONDS FROM SPAIN

By M. Diaz-Garriz SJ

Introduction

The Italian steam-ship Ugolini Vivaldi weighed anchors at the Bombay harbour in the early hours of 21 December 1951.  On board were 12 young Jesuits from the Province of East Castille (Spain) bound for Gujarat: Francisco Zubeldia, Juan G. Jordana, Luis M. Moreta, Isudas Cueli, Luis M. Zavala, Salaberria, Manuel Diaz-Garriz, Ignacio Galdos, Juan J. Morondo, Joaquim Bandres, Pedro Nagore, Jose A. Arroyo.

This year we celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the arrival of these missionary diamonds to our land and soil.

Backdrop

The Spanish Jesuit province of Castille was established by St Ignatius himself.  On 16 July 1948 it was divided into East Castille and West Castille, when it counted more than one thousand members. The Castille Province had been sending missionaries to China from the beginning of the 20th century. At the end of World War II (1939-1945), when China became independent of Japanese occupation, the Jesuits were looking forward to a very bright future in the Chinese missions. Unfortunately, under their legendary leader Mao-Tse-Tung the Chinese communists had started a long and bloody civil war. The continuous advance of the communist troops made it impossible for new missionaries to enter China.

Under these circumstances Fr J. B. Janssens, the General of the Society of Jesus, directed that the newly established East Castille Province should take up missionary work  in Gujarat, which was dependent on the missionaries of the Bombay Mission who were sent from the province of Aragon (Spain).

Spanish Missionaries in Gujarat

The first batch of six Jesuits (all of whom had previously received the formal appointment to China) arrived in Ahmedabad city in February 1949.

Since there were no direct international flights from Europe to Asia at the time, the Jesuits had to change flights several times on their itinerary: Madrid-Rome, Rome-Athens, Athens-Karachi, Karachi-Ahmedabad. The 6 pioneers are: Hilario Azpitarte, Miguel Angel Urrutia, Ignacio Ordonez, Jose Luis Lopetegui, Ramon Eizaguirre and Felix Ilarraz. Of this group, only Fr I. Ordonez is still happily with us.

The second group that came to Gujarat comprised of 22 members. They came by plane in November of that same year, 1949. Accompanying them was the Provincial of East Catille, Fr Fernando Arellano. On that flight with them was the first bishop of Ahmedabad diocese, Edwin Pinto SJ, who had chosen to be consecrated in Zaragoza, Spain, as a symbol of solidarity with the large number of Spanish Jesuits working in Gujarat. Bishop Pinto had been nominated in May 1949 as the first bishop of the newly established Diocese of Ahmedabad, separated from the Archdiocese of Bombay.

The third batch programmed to arrive during the year 1950, in fact was slightly delayed and arrived in India by boat in January 1951.

The diamond jubilarians

The fourth batch is that of this year’s jubilarians.

The 12 Spanish stalwarts from the East Castile Province appointed to the then Ahmedabad Mission, had to first cross the international Bridge between Spain and France at Irun on foot. The European Union did not exist at that time and the international frontiers were taken very seriously. Boarding a train at Hendaya, they travelled the whole length of France to arrive at Genova in Italy 36 hours later.

They left Spain by crossing on foot the international Bridge between Spain and France at Irun. The European Union did not exist at that time and the international frontiers were taken very seriously. They received a warm welcome from the Jesuit community in Genova. On 1 December 1951 they embarked for India on the Italian Steamer Ugolini Vivaldi. On the feast of St Francis Xavier the vessel docked for a day in Naples and the travellers were allowed to go on land and spend the day with their Jesuit brethren there. Then en route the 21-day voyage, the ship had stop-overs at Alexandria, Egypt and Karachi, Pakistan. They finally arrived in Bombay on 21 December 1951.

The group proceeded to Vinayalaya, the Jesuit Noviciate-Juniorate of the Bombay province. The rector, historian Fr Jerome Aixala, joyfully welcomed these very important reinforcements for the Gujarat Mission. He also informed them about a very significant event that had taken place on the feast of the Patron of the Missions, St Francus Xavier, in Anand, Gujarat: the ordination to the priesthood of the first-ever Gujarati priest Fr Basil Lalabhai Parmar!

Brief biodata

(Note: The names are listed according to the order in the photo, from left to right.)

1. Francisco Zubeldia

Born 20-10-1919. Joined SJ 19-9-1935. Ordained 30-7-1950. Died 26-1-2000.

Pioneer of the South Gujarat Missions (Vyara, Mandal…)

Rector of Anand Community.

Parish Priest in Surat.

Secretary to the Baroda Bishop, Rt Rev Francis Braganza and Diocesan Procurator.

                   

His very special and personal apostolate was the Explanation of the Act of Contrition to non-Catholic students. In this personal ministry, he was able to visit  several hundreds of schools and  High Schools and to contact no less than 400 thousand students of the upper  classes.

2. Br Juan G. Jordana (partly hidden by his own cap)

B. 27-12-1919. SJ. 27-3-1947. D. 26.5.2004.

He was a medical Doctor and Dentist and practised his profession for many years in our houses of Anand and Loyola Hall.

Went back to Spain for health reasons in 1982.

3. Luis Maria Moreta

B.10-12-1927. SJ. 26-9-1946. O. 24-3-1961.

Founder of the Ankleshwar Mission.

Assistant Director, Ankleshwar Technical.

He has had a special charism to deal with Youngsters.

4. Isudas Cueli

B. 24-12-1930. SJ. 3-9-1949. O. 24-3-1962.

His name is inseparable from that immense achievement of his, the Sampurna Bible…                           He was PCF for several years and for many more years spiritual Director of many of our Scholastics.

5. Luis Maria Zavala

B. 21-1-1914. SJ. -. O. 1944. D. 4-5-2000.

He joined the Society after being for several years a diocesan priest and personal secretary to the Bishop of Vitoria.

He began as assistant parish priest in Anand. Then parish priest of Mehendabad/ Khatlal. And then for many years assistant at Petlad. Everybody called him the Pavitra Father. He was a gentle saint, a living example of simple piety and union with God.

6. Salaberria

He left for Spain barely one year after his arrival.

7. Manuel Diaz-Garriz

B.  26-5-1932. SJ. 6-7-1949. O. 24-3-1962.

Pioneer in N.G. He thanks our Blessed Mother who inspired and helped him to build Unteshwari.

Assistant Parish Priest of Mandali.

For the last thirty years he has taught Church History in Newman Hall and Sevasi.

8. Ignacio Galdos

B. 31-7-1931. SJ. 3-9-1949. O. 24-3-1962

Founder of Zankhvav, Unai and Bardipada.

Pioneer of inculturation in the field of Adivasi culture in South Gujarat.          

Parish Priest of Bardipada.

                   

9. Juan J. Morondo

B. 25-9-1928. SJ. 7-9-1947. O. 24-3-1961

Taught for 50 years in St Xavier’s – Loyola Hall

Best Teacher Award, Ekalvaya Life –Achievement Award

Harward university (USA) Award for Ideal Inspirer of young talents

Respected as Guru by His Holiness Acharya Tejendraprasad Pande, Supreme Head of the Swaminarayan (Kalupur).

Inmensely dear to his innumerable old students.

At present he is at Javier (Xavier’s Castle in Spain).

[Fr Valentin Oteiza, Director of the Gujarat mission Secretariat in Spain. He had accompanied the group up to Italy].

10. Br Joaquim Bandres

B. 23-8-1929.  SJ. 8-5-1946. D. 14.6.2008

A trained infirmarian who spent years of humble and dedicated service to ours and to the poor people of the surrounding areas in Nadiad and Anand. He was specially dear to our own scholastics in Premal Jyoti. He went back to Spain on medical advice due to a heart condition.  

11. Br Pedro Nagore

He was a specialist in agriculture. His first and only appointment was at Anand.

For health reasons he was compelled to go back to Spain after only 5 years in India.

12. Jose A. Arroyo

B. 28-9-1931. SJ. 14- 9 -1949. O. 24-3-1962

He was an eminent professor of Psychology at St Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, and an equally eminent Sports Master. He also taught at XLRI Jamshedpur.

He spent many years as professor in several Jesuit Institutions in the US.

Presently he resides in Salvador College, Zaragoza, Spain.    

Fr. Mathew Kochupura Passed away

. 

Fr.Mathew Kochupura

Born : 03 March 1954

Entered SJ:31 August 1976

Ordained: 15 May 1989

Died: 11 December 2011

We regret to announce the sudden demise of  Fr.Mathew Kochupura (Guj) 57/35,  on 11 December 2011 in Mandali, at 1.30 P.M. The funeral will be held on 12 December in the College Church, Ahmedabad  at 4.00p.m.

Thanksgiving _ Spiritual Exercises in Gujarati Part- 2

Thanksgiving _ Spiritual Exercises in Gujarati Part- 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgSTZFS9-bA

ઉપરના  વિડિઓમાં  આણંદમાં થયેલ અકસ્માતમાં ચમત્કારિક રીતે બચી ગયેલ વ્યક્તિની પ્રભુ પ્રત્યેની લાગણી પણ રજુ કરવામાં આવી છે. આગામી ભાગમાં લાંબા સમયથી કોમામાં રહેલ યુવતી અને તેના પ્રત્યે માતા-પિતાનો અગાધ  પ્રેમ રજુ કરવામાં આવશે.

કામમાં વ્યસ્ત રહેતા લોકો માટે ધ્યાન (રીટ્રીટ) ભાગ -૨ 

વિષય- આભાર

આજે પ્રભુનો કેવી રીતે આભાર માની શકીએ તે માટેના પાયાની અને મદદ થઇ શકે તે માટેની  સામગ્રી
ઈશ્વરે બક્ષેલી તમામ શક્તિઓ તેમજ ભેટોની કદર કરું તેમજ તેનું સાચું મૂલ્ય પારખું એવી આજે મારી ઈચ્છા છે. મારી જીવન ની યાત્રામાં સર્જનની આ બધી ભેટોને તે પોષતો રહે છે.

જેમ કુંભાર ઘડાને આકાર આપ્યા કરે છે, જેમ ચિત્રકાર કુદરતી સૌન્દર્યને ચિતરવામાં પીંછી ચલાવ્યા કરે છે, તેમ મને સોળે કળાએ ખીલવવા તે સતત કાર્યશીલ રહે છે.

વધુ મદદ  માટે નીચે આપેલ  શાસ્ત્રપાઠોનું  વાંચન કરી શકાય.

ઈર્મીયા ૧૮ : ૧-૬ ( કુંભાર નો ઘડો )
ઉત્પત્તિ ૧ : ૨૪ - ૨ : ૩ (સર્જનલીલા)

ટેકારૂપ મુદ્દાઓ:

-  કુટુંબનો ફોટો આલ્બમ લો અને એમાં કંડારાયેલી પ્રત્યેક પળોને   માણો ને ઈશ્વરનો આભાર માનો      

- પોતાની જીવન ગાથા ઉપર દ્રષ્ટી  નાંખવી, તેમાં રહેલ અનેકવિધ શક્તિઓની નોંધ કરી એમની  કદર     
   કરવી 
- જીવન ગાથામાં વિસરાઈ જવાયેલ મધુર સ્મરણોને ફરી તાજા કરી શકાય 
     

વધુ માટે વિડિઓ નિહાળો તેનાથી વધુ મદદ મળી શકશે. 

 આ સુંદર શ્રેણી ને સફળ બનાવવા માટે રોમિકા જોન્સન , એકતા પરમાર અને કપીલાબેન આર પરમાર તથા રમેશ યોહાકીમ પરમારના BBN  આભારી છે.

આ શ્રેણીના વિડિઓ યુટ્યુબ  ડાઉનલોડરથી  તમારા માટે  ડાઉનલોડ કરી શકાશે.

E-Retreat in Gujarati based on Spiritual Exercises Part- 1

E-Retreat in Gujarati based on Spiritual Exercises Part- 1

વિડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરી હવે તમે  જાતેજ પ્રભુમય થઇ  શકો છો

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIlkaMQBgzE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIlkaMQBgzE

સિદ્ધિઓ  મેળવ્યા પછી પણ કંઇક રહી જાય છે ? કંઇક ખાલીપણું લાગે છે?  એવું તો શું છે કે આત્મા ને શાંતિ નથી ?   આવો, ધ્યાન ધરીએ અને ચકાસણી કરીએ કે તે શું છે.

   ધ્યાનનો પહેલો દિવસ 

ઇસુ મારી કાળજી કાયમ માટે રાખે છે, ભલે આપણે  આપણી અને બીજાની કાળજી અને પ્રેમ રાખવામાં ભૂલી જતા હોઈશું પણ ઈસુની કાળજી અને પ્રેમ કાયમ માટે રહે છે. મોટા ભાગે આપણે પોતાનું અને બીજાનું મૂલ્ય પગારના આંકડાથી, ડીગ્રીના હોદ્દાથી અને કામની સિદ્ધિઓથી આંકતા હોઈએ છીએ. આપણે  કોણ છીએ તે ભૂલી જતા હોઈએ છીએ. આપણે ભગવાનના સંતાનો છીએ અને આપણી કિમંત અમૂલ્ય  છે.
     
   આ અઠવાડિયા દરમ્યાન આપણે આપણી સાચી વાસ્તવિકતાનો આત્મસાદ કરીએ તો કામની ગુણવત્તા,  દિલમાં શાંતિ, કુટુંબમાં પ્રેમ, નોકરીઓમાં પ્રગતિ સાંધી શકાશે. ભગવાનના સંતાનોને શોભા આપે એવી રીતે રહીએ ત્યારે આપણી અનુભૂતિમાં અને કાર્યમાં ગુણવત્તાભર્યા પરિણામ આવશે.

 કામમાં  વ્યસ્ત રહેતા લોકો માટે ધ્યાનના આ પ્રથમ દિવસે ઈશ્વરના મારા માટેના અગાધ અને અંગત પ્રેમ અને કાળજી હું ફરીવાર તાજગીથી અનુભવવા માંગું છું.

આ માટે મદદરૂપ થઇ  શકે તે માટે નીચેના પાયાના મુદ્દાઓનો સહારો લઇ શકાશે  

મારા જીવનરૂપી ઘડાને આકાર આપવા માટે ઘણો બધો કાચો સમાન એમને એમ પડ્યો છે : એ કાચો સામાન મારા સબંધો હોઈ શકે અથવા મારામાં રહેલી વિવિધ સુષુપ્ત શક્તિઓ કે કળાઓ હોઈ શકે.આ બધી ચિંતાઓમાં ગળાડુબ   એવો હું એ સત્ય ને માણવા આજે  ઈશ્વર સમક્ષ આવું છું: હું ઈશ્વરનું અજોડ સર્જન  છું . હું ઈશ્વરનું  વહાલું સંતાન છું

 પ્રભુ આપણાં દરેકની સંભાળ રાખે છે તે અનુભવવા માટે  આવો થોડીવાર ધ્યાન ધરીએ અને નક્કી કરીએ કે હું પ્રભુ સાથે કેવી રીતે રહી શકું અથવા મારા કામના સમયે પણ હું કેવી રીતે તેમને મારી પાસે રાખી શકું કેવી રીતે હું તેમની  સાથે રહી શકું તે ધ્યાન ધરી તપાસીએ. વધુ માહિતી માટે ઉપર આપેલ સુંદર વીડિઓ નિહાળશો..

વિડિઓને  સુંદર બનાવવા માટે BBNની આણંદની  ટીમ , રોમિકા જોન્સન, એકતા ફિલિપ તથા કેની મેક  અને નડિયાદ સેન્ટ આન્ના સ્કૂલના સિ. સુનિતા, સિ. શારદા અને સિ સુર્યાનો ઉત્તમ ફાળો રહેલો છે.

     "કામમાં વ્યસ્ત રહેતા લોકો માટે ધ્યાન ( રીટ્રીટ )" નામની પુસ્તિકા જે  રેવ. ફા. ધર્મરાજ લોરેન્સ એસ. જે. ની મહેનત અને રેવ ફા. રાયમુંદ  ચૌહાણ એસ જે ના ભાવાનુવાદ છે તેનો ઉપયોગ કરી ખાસ આપનાં માટે દર શનિવારે (નાતાલ સુધી) રજુ કરીશું.

The Season of Advent - Fr.Jerry Fernandes s.j

The Season of Advent

The Latin word “Adventus” means “The Coming”. The Catholic liturgical year ends with the feast of Christ the King. And now the Church celebrates “Advent”, preparing herself for the coming of Jesus, that is, in a state of a “Grace of Waiting”. Very much like the Earth in winter longing for the arrival of Spring, we await our Savior. Advent is not a penitential season like Lent, it is more a happy and optimistic anticipation of the coming of Jesus in the world and in our hearts.

The origins of the season of advent began in the early church when Christmas and the feast of the Epiphany (3 Kings) were celebrated together.  In fact, in the early church, the feast of Epiphany (the Glorious Manifestation of God to the whole world symbolized in the 3 Kings) was more important then the feast of Christmas. Later for some centuries, the church kept advent on a fixed date, November 11^th since it was also the feast St. Martin of Tours.  It is only recently about 1000 years ago that December became the season of Advent.

The liturgy of the Sundays in advent stress on different aspects of waiting for Christ and that is why the colours of the vestments keep changing from purple (a deep longing for the redeemer) to crimson rose (a symbol of strong hope like the early rays of the Sun at dawn) to white which is a time of grace to change one’s life and turn to God, the Light of the World. At this stage it is interesting to note that till December 16^th the early church waited for the 2^nd coming of Christ at the end of time. The final lap of waiting in advent is from December17th to 24^th which is the last week preceding Christmas that the liturgy focuses on God coming in the form of flesh and blood through Jesus to enter human history.

But what does advent mean to us in our daily lives?  Advent is a time for cultivating and respecting the Sacrament of waiting.  Waiting is a common experience in life. We stand in queues and wait, we wait for a phone call from our loved ones, and we wait for the dawn to come after a cold, dark night. There is also a sense of certitude that even if the night is dark and lonely we are sure that the dawn will come.  And therefore with faith and hope we wait for the God of Love who rules our lives to bring a light at the end of our dark tunnels of our life experiences.

Sri Lanka- Juniorate - Gavit Kishore

Sri Lanka- Juniorate

At the end of October the Juniorate in Sri Lanka finished its first term. The juniorate was opened on the 4^th of July. Fr Provincial celebrated the Holy Eucharist and Fr Oscar (Bom) The junior master introduced the syllabus in his Lectio Brevis. We are 8 juniors from different provinces. Two are from Bangladesh, one is from Bombay, one from Gujarat and four from Sri Lanka. Fr Aloy Vanderwall is our spiritual director and also takes the scripture class on Wednesdays. Fr Oscar our junior master has drilled us in English grammar, composition, phonetics, textbook & public speaking. At present we are even tackling Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Besides we also have had classes on the History and Spirituality of our Society.

On August 26, the province inaugurated its Golden Jubilee year. The juniors were part of the liturgical committee and prepared beautiful hymns under the guidance of Br Patrick. The next three days there was a province assembly where all the Jesuits of the Province came together and shared their views and difficulties about the past especially during the war. On October 26 & 27 when people were celebrating Diwali & New Year in India, we too, celebrated it with our First Term Examination. On the 27^th evening we began our Triduum. Fr Lasanta guided us in the Triduum, and on 31 Oct., feast of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez we renewed our Vows. (Gavit Kishor)