August 2010 Newsletter

Vol. 25 No. 8

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CONGRATULATIONS FR. BILL ON 50 GOLDEN YEARS IN THE SOCIETY OF JESUS ON 13th of AUGUST 2010

Appointments by Father General

On 23 June 2010, Father General named Father Bria Mac Cuarta, of the Irish Province, Director of the Archivium Romanum Societatis Iesu (ARSI) bringing the process of restructuring the Historical Institute of the Society of Jesus (IHSI) and the Archives of the Society (ARSI) to a conclusion.

Regional Superior Appoints:

Fr. Boby Thadathil as the Acting Superior of Deoniya-Maheshpur Community on 17 July 2010.

Regional Superior’s Program

01 August: Consult
03-08 August: North Zone Provincial’s Meeting, Matigara, India
09-15 August: Deonia-Maheshpur
21-22 August: Pokhara

AROUND THE REGION

St. Xavier’s, Jawalakhel

Saint Xavier’s Jawalakhel was happy to have Bill Robins, P.M. George, Hermon Anthony and Mathew Das with us for short visits while we all tried to figure out who was minding the farm.

The school scholarship program has 61 of our underprivileged students staying in three homes. The system of keeping the students in three homes has proved advantageous for their overall formation. Weekly visits of Jesuits to each of the three homes is something new that we began this year and involves all of us in this apostolate. The first term is over and students from three “Homes” have gone back to their own homes to spend the term-end holidays with their parents. Meanwhile, six scholarship students who appeared for the recent SLC exams brought impressive results.

On July 3, Class 5 had their Family Day, the last FD for this academic year. Attendance of students and parents and staff was impressive, socializing was mixed up and Bingo was explosive.

First term exams were held from July 9 to 16. Report cards will be presented to parents on Sunday, August 1st and retributions will follow.

Each of the three sections of Classes 10 had its own Personality Development Workshop in mid-July at the Godavari Ashram conducted by Fr. Sundar Wilson, O.F.M. Cap. from Chennai. The all day workshops left the students renewed and, well, “developed.” Father Wilson carried on with three continuous days of seminar to our school staff from July 21 to 23. Staff seemed very interested and enlightened during the seminar.

Boniface launched the Plus Two admission, and we now have enrolled 170 students in Science and Management streams. We also selected 15 new teachers for Plus Two. Jiju and Augustine will be teaching in Plus Two too. Augustine will coordinate the Plus Two programme from his new office in what was originally the Jesuit community chapel. Plus Two students bring back to SXJ white pants/skirts and blue shirts.

We celebrated Guru Purnima on July 25 and honoured all the teachers with a fellowship meal. Lady teacher Archana was declared current Best Teacher and Office Manager Niraj Best Office Staff, while Rabindra Dai cleaned up with the Best Support Staff prize.

Brother Tek and Fr. Jiju keep themselves busy at Baniyatar parish with regular parish Masses along with preparations for the coming parish feast of Father Ignatius. — Marty

Baniyatar Parish

The parish is gearing up to celebrate the parish feast on 31st. As part of the spiritual preparation we have begun the novena from 22. Tek has prepared a novena and is present each day to conduct it. He has also started helping out in the parish on Saturdays. Besides the novena, we have been having practices for the choir, a skit and a few dances. The parishioners have collected small amount of money from each family in the parish as a contribution for the celebration. Mr. Chand Rai from Dhobighat is helping us in the singing. Seeing the enthusiasm of the youth, he has promised to be regular in helping out in our singing, once a while joined by his wife.

The SLC result in the parish was very good with two securing distinctions, five others first divisions and two second divisions. They are all now looking for good +2 colleges to pursue further studies. The two distinction holders were admitted to St. Xavier’s Jawalakhel.

Legion of Mary had their Kathmandu Zonal meeting on 10 July attended by a good number of representatives from Dhobighat and Godavari parishes. Their national advisor Fr. Pius Puthumana was also present on the occasion. The meeting was followed by a delicious lunch. The parish wishes every reader of the Sagarmatha Samachar a grace filled feast of St. Ignatius. –- Jiju

St. Xavier’s, Godavari

Ever green Godavari was packed with so many activities in the last month starting with the first term exam. Fr. Sundar Wilson, O.F.M. Cap. gave a week of seminar on various topics to the students as well to the teachers. The teachers got interesting insights into how to deal with the 21 century children.

A group of students from South Korea interacted with our students for two days showcasing their cultural talents and organizing a science exhibition. Continuing the International Students’ Exchange program, students from Netherlands shared highly enriching three days with our Class 9 children.

Nepal Scouts held its national gathering at the school premises; the President of Nepal was the chief guest. Our students from 6 – 10 participated in an interschool essay competition at St. Xavier’s Jawalakhel and bagged the third prize. Family Day for Class 9 and 10 was held on 25 July. To mark the occasion the parents along with their children planted around two hundred trees in the school compound. Parents’ day for Class 5 and 6 were also held on the same day.

Two candidates from Jhapa who are going to do their Higher Secondary Education in Kitney College have joined our community. –- Tej

St. Xavier’s College

Fr. Susai Arul, a Claretian priest, the cousin of Fr. A. Samy, was one of the distinguished guests who stayed with us during the last week of June. The long awaited flight of the Korean sisters finally landed at TIA on 2nd July. Srs. Chrispina Kang and Agatha Chang have started their pangs of life with a bang in Nepal, I mean with a cultural shock. Hardly did we realize that Agatha ‘Sinjonim’ (Sister) was only a passer-by and the real Sinjonim will arrive some time later in the month of July. They are eagerly waiting to move into their own home in Maitighar. We were also happy to host Fr. Jose Alfaro, Sch.P., from Jharkhand.

Class – XI application forms were distributed from 4th July, a day after the arrival of the Principal, Fr. A. Samy, from Palayamkottai. The distribution counter was kept opened for 10 days and the furnished forms were received back into the office on the 15th. We had the entrance test on 17th July in four shifts for around 7000 students. Simultaneous evaluation was made possible by the sisters of various congregations in the valley and some of Ours from the vicinity. The college administration expresses heart-felt gratitude to one and all for the generous contribution of their time, energy and expertise. The selected list of over 500 candidates was published on the 18th to break the hearts of over 6500 who could not make it. Hope some of them will be able to join the future ‘Xavier University’ at a later stage. Admissions for M.Sc. physics were also published on the 25th. Now Fr. A. Samy is busy pacifying the numerous visitors explaining the reasons why their wards have lost in the race.

A word of appreciation and admiration has to be attached to the name of Bro. Clarence Joseph who master-minded the “settings” behind the scene of the entrance exam. Great indeed, Clarence!

Every Section of Class XI is being welcomed into the college with a full day orientation, a day per each Section. Aimed at smoothening the transition from High School to College, the orientation involves activities on getting to know one self, getting to know one another, and getting to know the college (Jesuit Education). The 9 day spread (coinciding in part with the novena to St. Ignaitus) is masterminded by E.C., Jomon and Paul K.C., along with the Assistant Dean and the HODs.

Fr. Masillamani, the HOD of the Social Work Department is working hard on a syllabus for BSW to make it to a Four Year Degree Course from the next academic year on. He keeps the social work students and staff on their toes with programmes like special training on health and hygiene for 32 participants from the Thapathali slums. He is also involved in organising income generating occupations for the inhabitants of the same slum. Fr. Arock is seen spending hours in the house library arranging and rearranging all the collections. He is also appointed as the Research Coordinator and the Social Work Department Journal Guide. With the start of the new academic year, Sr. Lydia Kim and Sr. Manjusha SCCG were formally inducted into the list of the Social Work Department teaching staff.

Fr. Arulanandam is busy shaping up the St. Xavier’s hostel for the new arrivals besides being fully involved in the responsibilities of his Social Service Networks. Arul is not alone any more at the hostel; Frs. Paul and Arockiam have also moved into Kamal Niwas to form a Trinitarian Jesuit presence.

No sooner had he arrived back in the community from the States on 19th July, E.C. was frantically looking for the Superior’s hat which he had put on a misfit (the scribe of this piece) by mistake before his departure to the U.S., almost a month ago. Finally he got it back shapeless. Of course, a hat worn by many will lose its shape. This is the definition of socialism. Can such a thing happen in the Society of Jesus? — Paul K.C

Kamal Niwas, Sanepa

The collegians had a quiet month of studies. Ajit and Basant will have their final year university exams beginning from the first week of August. Merlin had to be admitted to Alka Hospital for a couple of days to control his rising temperature; unfortunately, he had to sit out of one of his university exams as a result. Narun is in the last month of his internship at the hospitals in and around Narayanghat; it was nice to have him with us for a couple of days as he came to submit his exam forms at the university. –- Merlin

Jhapa

There are no failures – only results and new possibilities. July brought us good and bad S.L.C. result news. St. Xavier’s first graduating class scored well, but left us a great challenge to maintain the high standards the students have set for the school. It will be several years before we graduate such a mature class. Moran Memorial’s results were lower, with only ten students passing, out of a class of thirty six. Fourteen students are busy preparing to write supplemental examinations, and hopefully will complete the one or two papers they have left. The other twelve students are looking for the best ways to continue their training for life. They have a variety of opportunities. Both schools are exploring better ways to serve our students.

The Jhapa monsoon started on time and well, therefore our neighbours are busy completing the rice transplanting ahead of schedule. Two heavy rains gave us excuses for a couple of days off. Hermon and George spent one of those days working with our staff and neighbours to repair our road. Now a new culvert is in place and we are ready for the next storm.

Roy and the Moran LTS students organized an excellent program on World Anti-Drug day. Mr. Krishna Thapa and Mr. Anup Maharjan taught our students and some parents, over three days. Mathew, George, and the St. Xavier’s LTS members joined the main program and cycle rally.

Despite soggy weather, intramural sports programs continue. St. Xavier’s students enjoyed watching eight Nepali one act plays. We finally bid farewell to Sisters Juliet and Lucia, who have moved from Deonia, and welcomed Sister Juliet George to Maheshpur.

Cap Miller and Greg Sharkey visited on their way to and from Darjeeling, and we were the first community to host three of our new Jesuit candidates. Peter Murmu and Ashok Ekka traveled to Kathmandu together. Cap and candidate Jaya preceded them. Two of our hostel graduates, Simon Hembrom and Francis Hembrom, have moved to Godavari to begin their higher secondary studies. Both are from Sadak Bari. Fr. Jose Alfaro, Sch.P., is staying at Deonia and looking into the possibilities of building a primary school for our parishioners. We need such schools to prepare students to study at Deonia and Maheshpur. On his first day here, Fr. Alfaro started studying Nepali – a challenge for the rest of us to keep learning. Lawrence Maniyar spent a few days with us to help plan Fr. Alfaro’s work.

The Maheshpur coaching classes which Raphael Pradhan’s organization is funding got off to a good start and then took the regular month’s monsoon break. The Deonia program will start as soon as that break is over.

Our mid-July break gave us a chance to relax a little and travel. Mathew visited Ilam and Mai Pokhari before heading to Kathmandu to give a staff seminar at Eden Garden School. Hermon too was in Kathmandu, teaching simple communication techniques at the S.C.N. Sisters’ training program. Roy, Sanjay, Sanctius, and Irenius stayed close to home. Irenius was busy selling one motor bike, and buying two more. We now have excellent registered and insured motor bikes.

Boby can now lead the community forward as he takes over as Acting Superior, freeing Bill to head west for a few months. We wish our readers blessings on the feast of St. Igantius whose prayers guide us on to ever new life. — Bill

Pokhara

At the end of June, the candidates started arriving. Tomson Amakkatt accompanied some of them all the way from Kerala to Pokhara and proceeded on for his second year of theology in Patna. Arul Selvam travelled all the way to Gorakhpur to welcome three candidates from Tamil Nadu. We have 7 candidates at present; one was a student in our own Moran Memorial School, Maheshpur. As we do not have a Regent at present, Fr. Cap is full time with them teaching and guiding; the others help out in teaching and other activities. These days all of us take meals with the candidates as our community cook has been sick for some time.

At Shishu Bikas Kendra we welcomed Holy Cross sister Surekha and bid farewell to Sr. Shalini who has moved on to Bhairahwa. As Cap has stopped staying in Hemja village, Norbert is alone renting rooms from a family. He is busy ploughing and cultivating some plots of land that we have bought, thus, trying to take possession as the previous owners love to continue to cultivate. The St. Paul sisters also enjoy the fresh air and corn fields around their rented house in the village.

St. Vincent De Paul Society was officially inaugurated in our parish with the help of a couple from India who gave orientation to the Catholics here. Arul is busy with meetings, motivating the new group with the spirit of service and charity. — Mathew A.

From the Diaspora

Deacon Vijay writes from Delhi: “This year is comparatively cooler. Samu reached here by 6th for the Triduum. Anil and I reached on 9th night in time for the community orientation on the 10th and the college orientation which was inaugurated by Archbishop Vincent with a Holy Mass on 11th. As soon as I arrived I was taken ill. After two days of home medicines, I was taken to Jivodaya hospital. The doctors diagnosed it as Malaria. I had to be admitted for 7 days; my sister was with me for the last four days.”

Prayers for the Departed
Fr. John Almeida S.J. (51/29) (BOM) who passed away on 24 July 2010

Happy Birthday
10 August: Fr. Bill Robins
13 August: Tomson Amakkat
15 August: Amrit Rai
15 August: Boniface Tigga
16 August: Ignatius Hemrom
21 August: Manu Piravomkunnel
23 August: Ajit Tirkey
25 August: Raja B.

Announcements:

1) The Department of Social Work of St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar has brought out an audio CD, “ek prabhu ek aastha” (one God, one faith). It is a compilation of 50 very short prayers and devotional hymns of one minute track meant for daily use at the start of the day in colleges, schools and offices irrespective of religions. It is in Nepali. If you are interested in having a copy, please contact Fr. A. Masillamani, S.J. (Mobile: 98492 – 86033)

2) A training Programme on Principles of Accountancy and Financial Management is organized by Indian Social Institute, from 18th October to 22nd October, 2010. The training involves paper presentation, comprehensive discussions, and practical experience in Tally Package. Expected contribution by way of registration fee and Board and Lodge etc is Rs.2500/- For further information, please contact A. Antony SJ, Mobile: +919968031214; Email: atonysj@gmail.com