November 2009 News letter

SAGARMATHA SAMACHAR

Vol. 24 No. 10

OFFICIAL

Fr. General’s Letter

In his letter, dated 27 October 2009, on the 2009 Ex Officio Letters Fr. General writes, “I have come to realize more than ever that this way of proceeding bequeathed to us by Father Ignatius is truly an apostolic dialogue through the written word. The writing of the letters required that superiors and directors of work engage in prayerful reflection on their situation and responsibilities, and exercise accountability. The reading and reception of these letters became an exceptional opportunity for me as General to feel the pulse of the society…”

Father General, then, under the headings, the Spiritual Life, Community Life, Apostolate, Looking to the Future: Opportunities, Problems and Challenges and the Reception of GC 35, shares with the entire Society “some lights and shadows for your reflection, to strengthen our hope, and also to challenge us to greater fidelity to our Jesuit spirit and to our service to the Church.”^©

Meeting on Higher Education

The International Committee on Jesuit Higher Education met in Rome 16-18 October. Its primary task was to prepare for an International Conference entitled “Networking Jesuit Higher Education for the Globalizing World” which will be held at the Iberoamericana Jesuit University in Mexico City, April 2010. Presidents, administrators and faculty will meet with Father General to discuss future directions and global networking in

Higher education and the intellectual apostolate as well as the challenges on the frontiers of society including

ecology, theology and contemporary culture, markets and the inequitable distribution of wealth.

(Courtesy: Electronic News Service SJ, Vol.XIII, N.18 / 20 October 2009)

Please Note

• · The change of emails of Regional Superior, Treasurer and the Socius

Regional Superior: nepalsuperior@gmail.com

Treasurer: nepaltreasurer@gmail.com

Socius: nepalsocius@gmail.com

• · Scholastics Anil Beck and Vijay Toppo have requested the Sacred Orders of Diaconate and Priesthood. Anyone who has useful information on them could communicate it in writing to the Regional Superior.

AROUND THE REGION

St. Xavier’s, Jawalakhel

Between the Dasain and Tihar holidays, the school completed its second term exams. The SAT exam conducted for over 450 students with the help of over 30 volunteers was another big event in the school during this period. In the mean time, the school also managed to conduct a highly enjoyable kite flying competition.  During the Tihar holidays, Fr. Augustine attended the GC 35 Northern Zone meeting in Kolkota; Fr. Jiju climbed Muktinath via Jomsom; Fr. Boniface directed a retreat for sisters; Br. Irenius went to Deonia for a gathering of the ‘brothers”; and Fr. Sanjay went to Maheshpur. That left Fr. Marty and Sch. Raja to hold the fort. - Irenius

St. Xavier’s, Godavari

Fr. Paul Chemparathy visited Pokhara and Gorkha to meet with some old contacts. After he came back, he preached a two day retreat to the youths of Kathmandu, Baniyatar and Godavari parishes organized by Fr. Robin Rai of the Assumption Church. Fr. Victor went to Calcutta for a GC 35 follow up meeting. Scholastics Amit and Tek accompanied the students for a five day tour of Gorkha, Pokhara, Chitwan and Manakamana. Frs. Julian Fernandes (BOM), Jose, and Magala (GUJ) visited us. Likewise Sr. Lucia from Deonia, Jhapa gave us a surprise visit. During Tihar holidays Christian Sports Fellowship used our field and school halls for three days. They conducted different competitions between youths of different churches.

On October 4 our classes resumed after Dashain holidays. After a week of revision, we had the Second Term Examination and we closed for Tihar, Chhat and Second Term break. 145 students from classes 7, 8 and 9 made good use of these holidays visiting Gorkha, Pokhara, Chitwan and Manakamana. –Amrit

St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar

Fr. Lawrence has now landed in Nepal after a week long lightening tour of South Korea with hands full of packages, files and plans to gear up the Gorkha-Pokhara Community College Program. He went to Pokhara to personally oversee its taking off the ground with pep and speed.

The Dasain Holidays were a time of spiritual growth and social change for some of Ours.  From the Campion, Frs. E.C Sebastian and Boby had their First Week of Spiritual Exercises spending the days in prayer and fasting and then they took off to the ABC (Annapurna Base Camp) to mark the Second Week of penance and relaxation.  After a successful trek and hike, both of them managed to be back home in one piece; E.C with punctured knees and Boby with a growling stomach due to some organic feed from the mountain resort.  Of course, they deserved a hard earned rest at home.  The grace of the Weeks was conspicuous in their appearance that both had really put on weight after all these; a Spiritual Paradox indeed.

Frs. Arul in Palpa, Arokiam in Surket and Mani in Godavari had their Social Work Students’ Exposure Programs for two weeks during the Dasain Holidays. The Programs were well-arranged and supervised by them.  They really master minded the Ignatian Pedagogy in Action.  Thanks to the hosts SCCGs, SCNs and SXGs respectively.  Kudos to all of them!

Fr. Etsuo Sekine, S.J. from Japan was with us for a few days as he was on his sabbatical tour of South Asia.  He left for Delhi on the fourth of October.  Later, in the following week, the Campion House threw a cocktail party for Mr. Daniel Taylor and Fr. Tom Acker, S.J, the Promoters of “Future Generation Graduate School”(a program for community change and conservation).  By way of conversation Fr. Antony Samy, the Principal of the College enticed them with his future plans and prospects of St. Xavier’s hoping to haul a windfall for our own future generation in the College. Bishop Sharma was a smiling partner in all our exchange of ideas.

Fr. Paul K.C. had a three-day residential Retreat program for about 48 High School Students in Don Bosco, Siddhipur, Lubhu during the Tihar Holidays.  Alleluia, Praise the Lord!

The College is now back on track with the 2^nd Year Masters’ Programs going on in full swing after the Dasain-Tihar holidays.

The Plus-Two wing of the college was seen unusually silent after the Dasain Holidays.  The boys were seen unshaven and the girls were unkempt and in unfashionable attires. The secret – Terminal Examswere in Progress! Antony Samy, the Principal and Boby, the Vice-Principal were seen hurriedly marching through the corridors keeping the teachers and students on pins and needles during the exam-days.

E.C. is back from India after a series of meetings of the Treasurers to plan the ways and means of keeping the Province/Region coffers full.  He had his last meeting in Kolkata.  This meeting was of the Major and Local Superiors to discuss the dictum and decrees of G.C.35.  We the mere mortals in the Region hope that the aftermath of these meetings will not fall heavily on us.

Be on your guard, the college gate has a new watchman, supposedly a British Gurkha, who has trained his gun at every erring trespasser. – Paul

St. Xavier’s Social Service Centre

Have you ever heard of pigs being slaughtered on Dashain? Well, that is what happened at Freedom Center, Nakhipot this year; thanks to some burglars!  On the eve of the Tika day, a couple of them broke into the piggery at the Freedom Center, stabbed two boars, slaughtered and carried another  and fled the scene.

This freaky incident did not, however, prevent the SXSSC family from welcoming Dashain by sacrificing four goats. (Now that is real Dashain meat!!) On the Tika day all the present members of three centers had come to SXSSC, Jawalakhel to receive tika (decoration of the forehead) from the director of the center. Kavi, aged 6 and the youngest of all, put tika on the director’s forehead and thus celebrations began. The family members of the staff and a few ex-boys along with their families came to receive tika. Dasain festivities were coloured by a group of about 25 Korean youth who sang and danced and shared their faith experience with the Center boys. About 35 boys went home for the holidays and all but one came back to the center on time.

A man found in a jungle in half dead condition was treated by Palpa Mission Hospital and referred to Gafney Bhawan since no one knew of his whereabouts. He was an epilepsy patient and at our request the hospital was ready to provide him with life long medicine. However, he could not stay at the center long. He jumped over the locked gate and made his way to the unknown.-Dilip

Jhapa

The month started on a sad note with the death of St. Xavier’s class 8 student, Salomi Tamang, who died at the Dharan church accident on September 29.  Her grandfather is the pastor of the church where Fr. Mathew Das made his retreat in July.  Mathew cut his home visit short to attend the funeral. Frs. Roy, George, Bill, and Br. Hermon along with several students and teachers joined him.  The following week the Deonia staff and students had a condolence prayer meeting for Salomi.  Her family was able to attend.

All the community members were back in their posts for the start of classes October 4.  It was now Hermon’s turn to escape.  He attended the annual Brothers Meeting in Goa. Roy organized a parents’ meeting at Maheshpur on the 10th. George, Ignatius, and Clarence provided extra input to make the meeting successful. Roy and George attended the bi-monthly Directors of Works meeting in Kathmandu, and stayed an extra day for an Education Commission meeting, saving themselves many bus riding hours. The Tihar holiday brought more travels.  Alan visited adopted relatives in Damak, while Bill traveled to Kolkata for a North Zone meeting concerning GC35.

Fr. David is busy with parish activities.  While many of us wandered, he successfully organized the annual Karam celebration and a parish retreat at Maheshpur.  He is continuing to arrange help for our Sadakbari parishioners who are slowly rebuilding their homes after the August 20 flood.  He and Mathew braved waterlogged roads to conduct a funeral at Saljahari.  Over the Tihar weekend, Sister Rita, F.C., and Mathew conducted a parish retreat at Sadakbari, all in Santali.

School activities continue.  The class 8, 9, and 10 Mahehspur students enjoyed field trips on October 23.  At Deonia, the class 8 and 9 students are busy preparing for the SQC convention.  Class 10 hosted a science exhibition on the 16th. The students worked hard to gain SLC practical marks.  All did well, though a hot air balloon burnt after several successful flights.  Now the senior students are settling down for a final preparation for the “Pre-Send-Up” exams in late November.

We enjoyed visits from Frs. Victor and Augustine this month, and welcome to others who want to escape the cold. – Bill

Pokhara

We were happy to welcome on two different occasions the S.X. Godavari students and staff who were on tour of Pokhara, and their ex principal was very happy to meet them.

It was Dashain-Tihar holiday season and who would wish to stay home? Many of Ours stopped over at our place during their trekking expeditions. Frs. Augustine, Boby and E.C. Sebatian were joined by Fr. Mathew for a 6 day trek to the Annapurna base camp. The weather was beautiful and the views wonderful! Frs. Arul and Arok stopped by on their return trip from Muktinath. Frs. Amrit and Jiju with some friends spent a night here on their way to Jomsom and beyond. Fr. Paul Chemparathy spent a week with us meeting with old friends and getting back his fluency in Nepali. The Shishu Bikas Kendra teaching staff had a Tihar treat when they were taken for a one day tour of Bandipur, Manakamana and Gorkha.

The candidates were thrilled by their one day warm-up trek to Dhampus in the outskirts of Pokhara with their director and cook. Later, Norbert and Arul joined them for their four-day trek. It wasn’t a very enjoyable one as there were unexpected rains on all those days. The St. Mary’s sisters hosted the candidates for tea and tour of their beautiful campus. One of the candidates, Santosh Magar from Lahan in east Nepal, has gone to visit his father who is very serious in hospital with damaged kidneys.

The big event that took place recently was the medical camp conducted by a Korean team of doctors and assistants near the old bus park. There were 27 people in the group and were assisted by many local volunteers including our Korean sisters, Lawrence, Norbert, Arul, Peter and candidates. They had very busy four days with hundreds of people being treated free every day.

Parish: Some CFC (Couples for Christ) representatives from the Philippines met with the parishioners and encouraged them in their faith-life. The last day of the medical camp by the Koreans was in the parish on 24th Oct. A crowd of about 200 including parishioners, students, and parents of our school got a chance to be treated by the team. The Korean team attended Mass at our parish and later our Catholic children performed a Nepali dance to entertain them. After a farewell dinner at the hotel and a sunrise visit to Sharankot the team left for Kathmandu on 25^th.

We are eagerly waiting for the return of Fr. Cap in early November. -Mathew

Kamal Niwas, Sanepa

The collegians had a taste of cooking during the past month as all of them took turns to prepare mouth watering dishes in the absence of our co-workers. They have also been trying their hand at badminton in a newly laid out court in St. Xavier’s Jawalakhel. At the same time, preparations for the University exams continue! Narun’s exam got postponed for the second time. Welcome to Naya (New) Nepal!!!!

Dilip had a fruitful Social Workers’ retreat in Ranchi and returned to the community. He had a forgettable train journey due to a mild food poison which necessitated an emergency stop in Siliguri. Fr. Jomon spent his Tihar holidays offering multiple masses and correcting the answer scripts of his Class XI students. We were happy to have Fr. Leo and Fr. Francis of the Nepal vicariate and Fr. Arulanandam for dinner on a Sunday evening. Fr. Francis is the newest member of the Nepal Vicariate and is looking after Nirmal Niwas, Damak. - Merlin

From the Diaspora

Sch Tej writes from De Nobili Pune:  “We have successfully finished our first credit and are looking forward to the second credit to begin. After the exams the first years had a cultural tour to Ajanta Elora and the second years to Goa. It was a very enriching experience for all of us.”

Sch Tomson writes from RTC, Patna: Samuel along with all the second years went to a place called Itarhi for their two credit course on Theology of Marriage and Human Sexuality. At the same time all the first years completed a course on Faith and Revelation. Tomson had to undergo an MRI to look into his back problems. He is under medication now.

Prayers for the Departed

Fr. James Kalapurayil, S.J. (PAT, 60/39) who passed away on 05 October 2009 in Bodhgaya.

Fr. Anthony Grollig, S. J. (PAT, 88/63) who passed away on 11 October, 2009 at XTTI, Digha Ghat, Patna.

Mr. Thomas Perekkatt who passed away on 27 September in Kerala. He was the elder brother of Fr. Varkey Perekkatt, S.J. (DEL)

Mr. Anthu Raj who passed away on 09 October in Bangalore. He was the brother-in-law of Fr. Arul Selvam, S.J.

Information

Report on the First Meeting of JIGSA Province Coordinators by L. Ambrose Jeyaraj, S.J.

JIGSA – Jesuits in Ignatian Spirituality in South Asia, the youngest Secretariat of the Assistancy – was established in May 2009. JIGSA had its first meeting at Satyodayam in Secunderabad, September 19-20, 2009. The coordinators 16 provinces/regions attended the meeting. On the second day, the steering committee prioritized six areas for deeper reflection and planning: 1) National Spirituality Centre 2) JIGSA-Media collaboration 3) Formation 4) Laity/CLC 5)Themes and resource persons 6) Ignis. In the process of researching and promoting an Indo-Ignatian Spirituality, JIGSA is organizing a national workshop on “Body Wisdom in Ignatian Spirituality” in Bangalore from October 16-19^th, 2010, on the occasion of its next meeting.

From the Jivan Office

The Jesuit-run Dawn Book Club has just published a book on Tony de Mello, SJ titled “The Awareness Guru – Tony de Mello: A New Assessment.”  Dawn Books are sent only to the members of the Dawn Book Club. Jesuits who want to receive this book are invited to join the Dawn Book Club. The members of the Dawn Book Club will get three books a year – one in every four months. Here are the subscription rates: 1 year: Rs.180/  2 years: Rs.350/  3 years: Rs.520/  5 years: Rs.850/ 10 years:Rs.1700. D.Ds in favour of Dawn Books could be sent along with the address to The Director / Dawn Books / Culture and Communications / Loyola College / P.B.3301 / Chennai – 600 034. Phone: 044 – 42181416, 28175656

GC 35 in Everyday Life

The GC 35 follow up meeting of Northern Zone took place in Kolkota on 21-23 October. The representatives from Nepal, Frs. E.C., Bill, Victor and Augustine met up in the sidelines of the meeting and listed the following three priorities for the Nepal Region’s FRONTIER:

1. Community life: the basis for our other ministry:
a. Work on good faith sharing within communities. Once we get to know one another better, we will love one another more and then serve one another better, even in difficult matters. Monthly faith sharing on previously announced topics seems to work. b. Challenge one another directly with love, showing concern and hope to help others and oneself. c. Respect one another by keeping confidential matters to oneself. No public speaking ill of others. Defend one another in public. d. Manifestation of conscience is the base of Jesuit governance. Take it seriously. People and superiors prepare and accompany one another through what should be a sometimes difficult but consoling conversation. Revisit the whole process of the annual visitation so that we can make the most of it.
2. Formation: Jesuits in formation need continual accompanyment from peers, local superiors, teachers, spiritual directors, and major superiors. Help them to grow in the ways of livingJesuit life, and in an understanding of Ignatian spirituality.
3.Mission: a. Coordinate planning with the Bishop. b. Use our influence to lobby with government authorities for the rights of the poor of Nepal.
c. Be creative in the use of our considerable facilities — for the poor. (Courtesy: Fr. Bill Robins)

Birthdays in November

23 Mathew Assarikudy 26 Anil Beck

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