Golden Jubilee celebration - Fr Ronald Saldanha

Golden Jubilee celebration

The closing ceremony of the 50 Years of Vyara and Mandal Mission was held on the 5 February at Bandarpada (Maria Doge). The celebration started off with the procession of Our Lady and culminated with the felicitation of Fathers and Sisters of Vyara-Mandal Mission. Fr Joel Pais representing the Bishop read out the opening note of the bishop and thanked all the pioneering Fathers, Sisters and the faithful of the Mission. In the past 50 years the mission has seen a tremendous growth in all aspects. “Now it is the time that the faithful to take up the responsibility and own the Church and the Mission,” was the message of the main celebrant of the Eucharist, Fr I. Galdos.  The Eucharist included Adivasi rituals like the Beda-Bedi (Reconciliation) and the Jamin Vidhi (Presence of the Universe at a religious ceremony), and the like. After the Eucharist, the new Grotto of Our Lady, beautifully designed by Fr Kishore was blessed. The 5000 faithful who were present for the function went up to the mountain with incense sticks (agarbatti) and coconuts to pray for their personal intentions. (Ronald Saldanha) 

Vijaynagar, Sabarkantha Dist - (SAR News) - Fr. Paul Varghese

Vijaynagar, Sabarkantha Dist - (SAR News)

 Through the initiative of the Principal, Fr. Vincent Vaghela, SJ an exhibition of all 40 books of Fr. Varghese Paul was held in the premises St. Mary’s High School at Saroli, Vijaynagar on February 22, 2012.  “In the past we have met authors and read their books. But today we have the rare privilege of not only meeting the author Fr. Varghese Paul but also visiting the exhibition of all his 40 books in our school premises,” said the Principal, Fr. Vincent Vaghela.

The students visited the exhibition classwise. Then they interacted and took photos with the author.Later Fr. Varghese Paul addressed the students and staff personnel giving the “Message of Best Wishes” especially to the 10^th and 12^th standard students preparing to appear for their board examinations.

Quoting Abraham Lincoln’s letter to the headmaster of his son’s school “to teach him that it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat”, Fr. Varghese spoke about cultivating values in life and becoming a man / women for others as Jesus Christ who lived and died for others.

Delhi News

Congratulations!

Fr Francis Gonsalves has been appointed ‘Professor’ of Theology by the POSA with effect from February 2012 after obtaining the nihil obstat from the Congregation of Catholic Education (CCE), Rome.

Spirituality of the Heart - By Hedwig Lewis SJ

Spirituality of the Heart

By Hedwig Lewis SJ

Ignatius never uses the expression ‘Heart of Jesus’ or ‘Sacred Heart’ in his writings, but he reveals the essence of these terms in his personal devotion to the humanity of Jesus, as is evident in his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The Spiritual Exercises contain key directions for the fundamental attitude needed to develop a spirituality of the heart subservient to Christ.

Ignatius speaks of acquiring “intimate knowledge” (SE 2; 104) of Christ, a “logic of the heart”. Ignatian “indifference” entails freedom of the heart that is brought about by an awareness of our sinfulness, by our total surrender to God’s will (Jesus at his Baptism), a personal attachment to Jesus poor and humble (SE 167). True and deep freedom of heart is to live united with Christ and like Christ, which includes renunciations and sharing in his sufferings. Through unconditional love, we offer our “undivided heart” to God in the service of the Eternal King (SE 97-98).

Fr Pedro Arrupe in “Rooted and Grounded in Love” (1981) reminded us of the perennial relevance of the Sacred Heart to Jesuit life, as “the centre of the Ignatian experience”.

Further reading: A. Pieris SJ, The Heart of Jesus Spirituality and the Prophetic Mission to the Poor:  http://www.aopsl.org/doc/sh-pieris.htm

New Wine, New Wineskins - Fr. Arockia Dass

:New Wine, New Wineskins : 

On 15 January 2011 at 9.00 a.m.  in a special Eucharistic Celebration officiated by the Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes and concelebrated by the Provincial, Fr Raj, Fr Francis Parmar and others the letter from ‘Congregatio pro Gentium Evangelizatione’ appointing    

Fr Joseph Valiamangalam, the Rector of Gujarat Vidyadeep Regional Seminary (GVD), Sevasi, was read out and then Fr Joseph Valiamangalam made his Profession of Faith committing himself to the post of Rector and to the duties and responsibilities of GVD.  

In the same Eucharist Fr Provincial announced,  Fr Francis Parmar, the Dean of the GVD-Theologate. 

Thank you Fr Raj for your invaluable service to GVD as rector and best wishes to the newly appointed.!   

By Fr.Arockia Dass

Campaign for human rights - Fr Cedric Prakash

Campaign for human rights

Fr Cedric Prakash led a campaign on Change.org – the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change – telling Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to release Arun Ferreira who was re-arrested after he was released from Nagpur Central Jail last November. Ferreira was released from the Jail on 3 January.

Cedric’s campaign received coverage from the Times of India, Hindustan Times, DNA and other major news outlets. “With minimal resources and support, Cedric used his campaign on Change.org to gather support from close to 6,500 people from all over the world,” said Change.org campaigner Tamseel Hussain. “Change.org empowers anyone, anywhere to start a campaign on issues that matter to them, and it has been incredible to watch Cedric mobilise thousands to release Arun Ferreira.”

Walks for your Body and soul - Fr. Lawrence Dharmaraj s.j

Charitable city walks for good causes

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

Ahmedabad: After winning the Sabarmati Marathon and Vadodara Marathon, the Kenyans returned to do it again at the ‘10th Annual Motif Charity Walk’ in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The 10-kilometer-run held as part of the charity walk was won by Kenneth Koros from Kenya who clocked 31 minutes. The first runner up in the category was Phillip Bor, also from Kenya, who covered the 10 kilometers in 31 minutes and 13 seconds. 

While Kenneth Koros took part in the Vadodara Marathon this year to stand at twelfth position, Bor participated in the half marathon category of the Sabarmati Marathon-2012 and was ranked sixth. 

Young children and elderly people equally dared the morning chill to take part in the fund raising event. 72-year-old Premshankar Pandya from the city won the senior citizen’s category of the walk. He said, “I run around 10 to 15 kilometers everyday. I have never taken any kind of medicine until today. It keeps all negativity away from my mind.” “The people are very warm and welcoming in India. It feels good to come to this country,” said Koros. While Koros was in taking part in Indian marathons only this year, Bor has been coming here for years. Talking about his experiences of visiting countries to take part in marathons, Bor said, “I visit various countries to take part in the marathon, but I like India the most. The people are good and the climate here is just like Kenya.” 

Over 7,000 people took part in the charity walk, organized in two categories — 5 kilometers and 10 kilometers. As crowd thronged the starting point at the campus of Gujarat Technical University (GTU), musical bands moving around on movable platforms, continued to stimulate the already enthusiastic runners and cheering audience. A total of Rs 49 lakh was raised this year through individual registrations and Motif’s contribution of Rs 10 lakh. The event was also sponsored by 47 companies this year.

This Year's  beneficiary NGOs:

- Ahmedabad Women's Action Group (AWAG)

- Avbodh  Knwoledge Foundation Ltd

- Menaben Charitable trust

- Unteshwari Mata Maria Trust. ( Fr. Girish Santiago)

Congratulations to Fr Girish and to the people of Unteshwari!!

By Fr.Lawrence Dharmaraj s.j

Fr.Muthu Passed away -

Fr. Muthu  of Baroda Diocese (Earlier he was a Brother in the Society of Jesus – Guj ) died of heart attack on Sunday and his funeral is on 8 Feb –  Wednesday at Zaroli at 10.a.m.

Adivasi cultural Fete at Shakti, Songad - Fr. Xavier manjooran

 Adivasi cultural Fete at Shakti, Songad

“I am impressed by the gathering of today and I feel proud to witness the expression of Adivasi culture through the Adivasi pooja and  different  dances, singing and use of variety of indigenous musical instruments of my Adivasi community” was the spontaneous  reaction of Dr. Vikaram Choudhary, Associate professor of Arts and Science college Bardoli who was one of the main guests of the occasion. This summarizes the Cultural fete organized by Adivasi Mahamandal, Adivasi Sarvangi Vikas Sangh, Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre at SHAKTI Songad on 21^st-22 Janaury 2012.

Adivasi cultural fete was an occasion to revive, encourage and strengthen the Adivasi culture and identity. More than 10, 000 people from all over Gujarat and Mharastra were present for the occasion in which many took part in several competitions like drums, bow and arrow, “gilol’, adivasi traditional dress of different communities, folk dances etc.

The fete was also an occasion to increase awareness through handbills and CDs about Adivasi rights  and to give information about Right to food, Employment guarantee, Gramsabha,, PESA act and the on going caste-based census.

The chief guest of the ccasion the Collector of Tapi district appreciated the efforts of the organizers and requested the adivasis not to use their talents and abilities for destructive purposes but to fight against corruption, addiction, casteism and fundamentalism. There were also present the additional collector, the Prant officer, the Mamlatdar and also the Chairperson of ST corporation and Tapi District president of BJP, shri Kantibhai Gamit.

What was very encouraging was that besides people coming for the function on their on expenses they have contributed over 1.5 lakh rupees towards the expenses of the function.

The entire event was planned, organized and managed, by the staff of Shakti and the members of the people’s organization under the leadership of the young and dynamic new director Shri Ramesh Tadvi.

Xavier Manjooran