Bro.Aloysius Macwan Passed away- Fr.Lawrence Dharmaraj

Br Macwan Aloysius

R.I.P

Bro.Aloysius Macwan (GUJ) 78/53 expired this evening around 10.45p.m ( 22- 07-2013 ) in Pilar Hospital, Baroda.The funeral will be held at 4.00 p.m at St.Joseph’s Church, Baroda  on  23-07-2013.  

Br Aloysius spent much of his life in the Society serving as Boarding-in charge in Zhagadia, Surat and Varsada. He also served as Minister and Kitchen-in charge of Premal Jyoti for about five years. He was placed in charge of the first hostel for tribal boys in the mission of Vyara in 1967. He was notable for his simplicity and constant availability to the boys. The boys used to wait for his company outside the study hours too. He had great love for them and their families. His influence over them lasted much beyond the years he spent in the hostel. He is still remembered by them even after thirty years.

He took great interest in what was happening in the villages during the famine years in 1967-1971 and famine relief work, and supported the Fathers in whatever was required of him in using the services of the boys for the work of the mission.

He was simple and unassuming.  In his simplicity he was blessed with a kind of earthy wisdom and sagacity that is given “to the unlearned but hidden from the wise and learned.” He was  a very pleasant companion.

He had a very charming personality to attract and to relate with people. He had been a source of inspiration in the Jesuit Community. He kept the community alive with his spontaneous jokes. He had an art of correcting others and giving feedback with out hurting them. As a Jesuit he never found anything impossible. He used to take up any work and do it to the best of his ability. His famous saying is: “Kai vandho nati, apne joilayea.” It means, “no problem, we will do it.” He was a man prayer and deep convictions. With his spiritual strength and deep convictions, he did his work with great sense of commitment and dedication. Till his death he served as a boarding-in-charge at Khambhat.

Surrendering our Understanding - Fr.Hedwig Lewis

Surrendering our Understanding

Understanding is a blend of intellectual knowledge and experiential wisdom. It consists not in critical analysis of facts, but in checking how true something is in the light of my own values and beliefs, true to my own experiences. Understanding depends on the quality and level of my intellect. It may vary from being right or wrong, wise or foolish.

Understanding is also one of the “seven gifts of the Holy Spirit”. When I pray God to “take and receive MY understanding”, it is my power of reasoning and discerning that I surrender. I do not want to be absorbed in MY ideas, desires and decisions, but to see through God’s eyes. In Ignatius’ experience at the Cardoner, “the eyes of his understanding were opened and… all things seemed new to him.” (Aut 30)

Through the gift of understanding the Spirit guides my power of reasoning and discerning. I not only accept the divine Presence intellectually but also experience it and “feel” the sacramental character of everything. I deepen my respect toward creation, nature and all my fellow humans.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Prov 3.6).