March 2010 Newsletter

Vol. 25 No. 3

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The POSA has appointed/transferred

Fr. George Mutholil (KER)-Director, Indian Social Institute, Bangalore
Fr. Santiago Paul Raj (KHM) – Spiritual Director & Registrar, Satya Nilayam, Chennai
Fr. Patras Kujur (MAP) – Spiritual Director, De Nobili College, Pune
Fr. Anil Gomes (CCU) – Spiritual Director, Papal Seminary, Pune
Fr. Stephen Ekka (MAP) – Spiritual Director, Satya Nilayam, Chennai
Fr. Robin Sahaya Seelan (MDU) – De Nobili College, Pune-JDV Lecturer
Fr. Francis Ezhakunnel (JAM) – DNC, Pune-Lecturer, Institute of Pastoral Management
Fr. Augustine Perumalil (DEL)- Hekima College, Nairobi
Fr. Cornelius Ekka (MAP) – Tertianship (Shembaganur)
Fr. Raj Kumar (AND) – Doctoral Studies, Frankfurt
Fr. Valan C. Anthony (CCU) – Doctoral Studies, Berkley, United States
Fr. Michael Amaladoss (MDU) – Editor IGNIS
Fr. George Anthony (JAM) – Secretary JEPASA
Fr. Pravin Severekar ( BOM) – Registrar JDV ( In addition to being Sp.Director)
Fr. Selvaraj Arulnathan (MDU) – Indian Social Institute, New Delhi
Fr. Leonard Nevis Fernando (MDU) – Editor Vidyajyoti Journal
Fr. George Gispert-Sauch (BOM) – Editorial Assistant , Vidyajyoti Journal
Fr. Anthonydass (KAR) - Afghanistan Mission
Sch. Lancy Dias (KAR) – Afghanistan Mission
Fr. Patrick Arockiaraj (PUN) – Staff, Satya Nilayam

On behalf of the South Asian Assistancy the POSA expressed gratitude to Fr. Samuel Rayan (KER), Fr. Paul Gueriviere (MDU), Fr. Mathew Aerathayil (KER), Fr. Albert M. Menezes (BOM), Fr. A.Santiago (AND), Fr. Tom Kunnunkal (DEL), Fr. Jerome Sequeira (JAM), Fr. Maria Joseph Israel (CCU), Sch. Leo Anand (MDU), Sch.Kanichi Linto (KER), Sch. Sahaya Jude (CCU), Fr. Maria Joseph Israel (CCU), Fr. Paul Coutinho (BOM) who have returned/will return to their provinces after rendering valuable service in the Common Houses and Missions of the Assistancy. The POSA thanks also Fr. Arockiasamy, the outgoing editor of Vidyajyoti Journal.

REMINDER

Region Days: May 27, 28, and 29

AROUND THE REGION

St.Xavier’s, Jawalakhel

The month of February 2010 saw some of the most eventful days at St. Xavier’s School. The Eco Club took off in full swing and on 4 February 2010, St. Xavier’s was declared a Poly-Free zone. This means that polythene bags are forbidden here. It is an important contribution to the global cry for the war against plastic. This step was embraced by teachers, students and parents alike.

We celebrated the Junior Parents’ Day on the 6th and 7th of February 2010. The students of the junior school put up an exceptional performance at the program for the parents. On 13 February, we welcomed around 3000 tiny tots hoping for a Class 1 seat. The admission process was successfully conducted and this added another bundle of responsibilities on the already overburdened Fr. Boniface. On 18 February, we had the farewell dinner and the Outstanding Student Award ceremony for Class 10. Kundan Shrestha was given the award for the year 2009-2010.

One of the most important events of the month was the School Mela (fete) which was revived after 3 years. The Mela was conducted to raise funds for the new school building and it was a success, as thousands of people enjoyed a day of fun on 20 February 2010. We have the staff, students and friends to thank, for tirelessly offering their help and support, while Fr. Jiju did a wonderful job with the finances. The first prize of the raffle ticket went to Mr. Pankaj Karki, a parent of our school.

Sch. Raja and Fr. Augustine have been working unstintingly on the scholarship program with help from teachers Om Shrestha and Eugene Fetz. On the spirituality side, we have begun a 19th Annotation retreat for all of us in the community. It has started off well and it helps in reviving our energies, our vocation and our brotherhood. Br. Irenius left for home on 18th after he got the news that his father passed away. Irenius’s mother has been ill for some time as well. We were happy to have Fr. George staying with us when he came to finalize the Deonia school magazine.

BANIYATAR PARISH

The parish community witnessed its first wedding in the church on Saturday, 13 February 2010. In the presence of an overflowing crowd, Fr. Jiju blessed the couple, Aite and Mariam while Fr. Jomon gave a wonderful homily about the meaning of Christian wedding as a sacrament. Sch. Dilip and Sch. Basant conducted the lively choir. It was indeed a very joyful occasion for the entire community and an important start in the history of this church. The Ash Wednesday service was held in the evening with a houseful attendance. The youth group has planned a few activities to make the Lenten season more meaningful and a time of grace. The parish-in-charge, Fr. Jiju, is once again found busy, going through the baptism records to get the statistics of the number of baptized people in his parish. This is necessary as many are seeking admission in our schools. He realized that he still has a lot more to do from where he left off when he was a deacon in the same place.-Augustine

St. Xavier’s, Godavari

On January 30, St. Xavier’s Godavari School organized 7- A-Side Football Tournament among the parents and staff of SXG and SXJ. Four teams of parents and staff each played the tournament. SXG Staff Team (A) lifted the trophy. The theme of the tournament was ‘Play for Fun and Build the Bond’.

From February 3rd to 5th we had the third and the final monthly test. Most of the students wrote the test well. From February 10th to 16th we had Class 1 admission form distribution. In these four working days 519 forms were sold. The admission test was on February 20th. On 13 February, we had ‘Science, Maths, Arts/Crafts and Computer Exhibition’. The most acclaimed creativities in the Exhibition were the helicopter, microscopes and telescope. It was really amazing to see how creatively the students think. Parents were astounded to see the creativity of their children.

We had a staff seminar on 14 February. After a long brainstorming session, we made the action plan for the academic year 2010 – 2011. The theme of the academic year 2010 – 2011 is ‘Strive for Excellence through Cooperation to make a Difference’. It will be the hub of all the co-curricular activities of the academic year 2010 – 2011.

St. Xavier’s Godavari Community has decided to take in a few students from Baniyatar parish and we are starting a hostel for these students. For the academic year 2010 – 2011 we will take 9 students in Class 1 and another 3, 2 and 2 students in Classes 2, 3 and 4 respectively. On February 19 we had an orientation for the parents of Baniyatar students who will be admitted to Classes 2, 3 and 4 in the new academic year.

Fr. Paul Chemparathy has gone home for his stomach treatment. Days are getting warm in Godavari. However, mornings and evenings are still cold. Students are overjoyed to have the after school activities. -Amrit Rai

St. Xavier’s College

Fr. Masillamani made a short visit to the warmer climate of Bangalore on January 31, in order to participate in a Seminar and to attend the wedding of his niece. Around the 2nd week of February, the Director of Social Works, Fr. Arul disappeared from the college scene to be seen later in Pyuthan, in the far mid-west of Nepal with a group of students from B.A. Social Work. They were out in the field for a week of village experience.

The college is bustling with vivacious activities as usual. The +2 departments were busy meeting the students and parents as they had their report card distribution and the parents’ day celebrations. The high point of the month was the annual SET (Socio-Environmental Technology) Exhibition on 13 February, 2010. Apart from the college faculties, about six schools from outside also took part in the college bonanza. The previous Finance Minister, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai was invited to inaugurate the program. He delivered an impressive speech advising the students to be mindful of the less privileged in society. The day’s program ended in the evening with a cultural show on the stage.

The year 2010 seems to be a year of the guests. Campion House was flanked by a number of guests in the month of February. Mr. Johannas, a Jesuit volunteer from Germany, presently working in Chennai, Mr. Daniel, Jemma and party from South Korea, K.C. Paul’s brother, Fr. Kurian K.C.,S.J and the Charismatic Retreat Preaching Team from Patna and Fr. Antony Samy’s brother and sister-in-law from Chennai were our distinguished guests during the month.

Fr. Kurian S.J. was here to preach a charismatic retreat to the parishioners of the Assumption Church and also to explore the possibilities of starting a residential charismatic retreat preaching centre as part of a Jesuit undertaking. It seems that he has received very encouraging response from the Bishop, A. Sharma, S.J., the Regional Superior, Fr. Lawrence Maniyar, S.J. and the Vicar General, Fr. Pius Perumana.

Mr. Daniel Chi is associated with the Nepal Jesuits. He has worked out a social aid program called PHCP (Pokhara Health Care Project). It is an ambitious project undertaken by Daniel and his wife Jemma to help the poor villagers in the mountains with medical care, housing projects, drinking-water supply, primary education for village children, training in basic health and hygiene, etc.
– Paul K.C

St. Xavier’s Social Service Center

The Social Service Center welcomed three more social work students from Social Work Institute (SWI), Kathmandu, for their field work placement. They come for field work every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Center students are busy preparing for their final examination now.

Two staff members from the organization called Forward Looking came to SXSSC and interacted with differently-abled persons with regard to their life, problems and challenges. Mr. Raju Nepali from Damauli who was found in the streets of Kathmandu and kept at Gafney Bhawan was taken to his village and was reintegrated with his family. His family members did not know that he had been staying at Gafney Bhawan. Mr. Madhav who accompanied him to his village was asked to conduct an awareness program on mental illness for the benefit of that particular community so as to promote corrective measures and prevent relapse of cases like Raju Nepali.

Freedom Center has 25 clients right now aged from 15 to 35 years. Ex-boys of the Center had a meeting and shared with each other their struggles, sufferings and challenges as they strive to live a drug free life. About 15 parents also came for the meeting, in order to understand the process of drug treatment and to learn how to accompany their drug dependent sons. -Dilip

Kamal Niwas, Sanepa

The month of February was really a systematic one as each week and day of the month was scheduled heavily. In the first week, Ajit Tirkey and Basant Tigga were busy with their first term exams. In the second week, the community was involved in various ministries. Dilip, Basant and Fr. Jomon went to Baniyatar to assist and make the first marriage ceremony there a successful one. Merlin and his group got busy in preparing for and demonstrating in the SET exhibition at the College. Narun made a week’s successful and fruitful educational tour to the far- west of Nepal. Ajit helped out the Jawalakhel community in conducting the entrance test for Class One. On 20th Basant celebrated his birthday and shared his happiness with Godavari community. In the last week of the month, Merlin and Narun wrote a series of mid term exams. 0n 26th, Narun left for his 6 months long clinical and community internship in the hospitals and villages in Chitwan district. He will be staying with the CST Fathers at Narayanghat during this time. As a part of our efforts to become a spiritually visible community, we have begun the 19th Annotation retreat as a community. –Basant

Jhapa

The picnic season is ending. Class teachers have been busy addressing students’ requests for outings; the younger the students, the more vociferous the requests! Fr. Roy and his team brought the Moran Memorial primary school students to Deonia, to spend a busy day enjoying the slides and playing fields, and a meal the parents and staff prepared. Sister Lucia and the Class One teachers drove their St. Xavier’s students to the Training Center across the Denoia River, to spend the day playing and feasting.

Our senior students have all passed their send up examinations and are busy studying at home and at school. The Class 8 students have completed the school exams and are working with their teachers to be ready for the District Examinations. The rest of us are winding up course work as we look forward to the end of this academic year. Fr. George raced to Kathmandu to complete the school magazine. Mr. Ajay Satyal and his team produced quality work in record time.

Fr. David is busy helping people in Sadakbari complete repairs to their homes damaged in the August flood. His main efforts have focused on catechetic and sacramental ministry. The parish welcomed Bishop Anthony who visited three Mass Centers. Sister Marina, S.C.N., and her team, spent a day running a health camp at Simal Bari and Sadakbari, treating about 110 people.

The Sisters welcomed Sister Bindu to their community. She will be in charge of their expanding medical service. The highlight of the Sisters’ month was Mother General’s visit for the blessing of the Christayala Convent. We mourned the loss of Sister Teresa Yonjon, one of the sisters’ pioneers in the Jhapa mission.

Frs. Amal and Peter continue to animate the Bhutanese Refugee Education Program. As people move on, Amal is planning how to efficiently scale down school sizes, and continue to provide quality education to the Bhutanese children. Peter continues to help the youth organize creative programs. Vocational education, care of the differently-abled and Spoken English Classes supplement the formal education program.

Bishop Anthony blessed the late Margaret Rea Driehaus Wing at St. Xavier’s on the 20th. Her family donated the bulk of the funds for the building’s construction. Fathers E.C. Sebastian and Lawrence visited to join the convent and school blessings. At the same time we welcomed Br. Irenius, on his way home for his father’s funeral, and the St. Ann’s Sisters on a vocation promotion tour.

Fr. Mathew completed forty years of life this month, and then with more enthusiasm than ever he organized songs and music for various programs. Frs. Ignatius, Sanctius, and Sanjay continue to support superiors, principals and organizers. Our year is ending well. We are now ready for another quiet, restful picnic! -Bill Robins

Pokhara

Fr. Cap has been busy contacting our SXG/SXJ old boys residing in Pokhara. He had half a dozen in the list and planned to have a dinner get-together to let them meet with the Jesuits here. But only a couple of them could make it on the evening of Feb. 13th.

Dr. Paul Tomei, a friend of Fr. Cap who is a psychiatrist in the USA was with us for a few days and we enjoyed his story-telling company. Paul being a psychiatrist, we were careful in our conversations with him. We are grateful to him for not making any negative comments about the mental health of Ours, especially of those above 50!

So far Cap has visited the reception desks of 95 hotels and lodges to distribute our parish Mass schedule, for information of the tourists. Fr. Arul Selvam spent a few days at the Chepangs’ school in Narayangarh to give orientation to the students at the invitation of Fr. Michael, CST.

After much planning and postponements, finally we had a CRN picnic on Shivaratri day. As the day wasn’t clear we ended up congregating at St. Mary’s compound. Originally the SJs had agreed to bring “papad” for the pot-luck lunch but later we changed our mind and took something better! The number of candidates now stands at 7. Peter Chettri is preparing them for the final exams as only a month is left for them in Pokhara.

We have a better internet connection now, ADSL(Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and we hope to be on line often and be in touch with you all. The Special Olympics committee members from Kathmandu were here to conduct games for our junior children to select the probables for the regional and national games later in the year.

Recent foreign visitors here included three medical students from Kerala (including parish priest Fr. George’s nephew), Arul’s cousin sister from Bangalore, and different groups of Koreans including two architects who will help us at the Hemja land. We all, the young and the old, have taken this Lenten season seriously and we pray everyday for perseverance in our resolutions. -Mathew

From the Diaspora

Vijay writes from VJ, Delhi: “Anil and I like to thank each and every member of the Nepal Region and all the friends for their prayers on and before our Diaconate day on the 20th. It was a very good and meaningful celebration. There were 47 of us: 45 Jesuits and 2 from Jammu-Srinagar diocese. It was presided over by Rev. Arch Bishop Vincent of Delhi. To add to our joy, our family members were also present, my Parents and Anil’s Mother, Sister and Brother in Law. They have gone back home filled with grace and happiness.”

Prayers for the Departed

Fr. Paul Wenish (DEL- 41/16) who died on 13 Feb
Fr Dominic Henriques (BOM-92/69) who died on 17 Feb
Fr Francis Bernard (BOM – 86/50) who died on 17 Feb
Br. Irenius’ father Mr. Lawrence Guria (81) who died on 18 Feb

Happy Birthday

02 March David Ekka
09 March Anup Minj
31 March Ayar Kujur