Vol.
XXXIII August 2013 No.7
Archbishop’s
Program
August
11 – 12 : Sewa Kendra – Preparation for Prabhu
Yesu Mahotsav
15 ; Independence Day
16 : Bp. Lumen Monteiro – Chairman,
Caritas India
17 – 18 : Gaya
20 : Biharsharif
21 – 22 : Basauni, Bariarpur, Jamalpur
24 :
Patna Women’s College - Founder’s Day
25 : Bodh Gaya – 90th
anniversary of the Foundation Day of SRA Sisters
28 :
Women Commission Meeting
30 : Barh
September
07- 08 : Jehanabad
09 : Principals + Secretaries
Meeting
14 : Holy Cross Convent – Fairfield
15 : St. Mary’s Parish – Chakaram
16 – 21 : Priests Guests from Mumbai
18 – 20 : Raipur – Installation of Archbishop
Victor Henry Thakur
21– 22 : Barbigha
23 – 27 : Navjyoti Niketan – Archdiocesan Retreat
29 – Oct. 04 : Tinsukia,
Assam
Bishop Victor Henry Thakur will be
installed as the Archbishop of Raipur on 19 September and so will be moving out
of Bettiah Diocese one of these days. The Samachar gratefully acknowledge, dear
Bishop Victor, your presence and togetherness with us in the Archdiocese, and
extend our prayerful support and best wishes in your missionary endevours as
Archbishop of Raipur.
Fr. Johnson
Kelakath SJ was installed as Parish Priest of the Church of the Queen
of the Apostles, Kurji, on 21 July 2013 by Archbishop William during the Sunday
morning Holy Eucharist. The Archbishop during the installation ceremonies
introduced also Fr. Sushil Sah SJ
as the co-pastor at Kurji. In the meantime Fr.
Gregory Gomes SJ has moved to Kottayam in Kerala for a one year P.G
diploma course in Counseling and De-Addiction Therapies.
Minor Seminary,
Chakaram: The new academic year at the Minor Seminary was inaugurated
on 13 July with the Archbishop presiding over the morning Holy Eucharist for
the new entrants and the seniors. After an interactional session of the new
comers - 38 of them - and a meeting of the formation team with the Archbishop, 12
of them (10 who completed plus 2 and 2 graduates), moved over to Masihi Gurukul,
accompanied by Fr. James Shekhar and Fr. Kuldeep. Fr. Irudayaraj has joined the
Seminary staff as spiritual director and co-pastor at Chakaram. Brother Bimal
Kumar is the regent at the Seminary. The Archbishop himself took English
classes for the new comers for a week from 15 July.
Recollection for
the our Regents: On 19-20 July, 7 of our nine regents joined for a day
of recollection at the Archbishop’s House. Archbishop William interacted with
them and led them into prayerful reflection. Fr. Devasia Mattathilani
celebrated the Holy Eucharist for them. Fr. James Shekhar, the formation
in-charge had organized the recollection. The Brothers said it was an enriching
experience, as they came to know each other better with personal sharing of
their experience.
Krus Veer: Fr.
Alex V., the Director of Krus Veer of the Archdiocese along with the Krus Veer
animators of the parishes, pastoral Sisters and the catechists of a few
parishes of the Archdiocese gathered at Yatri Bhawan, Mokama for a meeting on
15 – 16 July, 2013. The meeting was held to discuss matters concerning the
various activities of Krus veer as well as the Bible Mahotsav to be held in
Navjyoti Niketan, Patna in the month of October 2013. The Samachar thanks Fr.
Alwyn D’Souza, SJ and team at Mokama for doing the needful.
Silver Jubilee:
A joint silver jubilee celebration of the sacerdotal ordination of the
following priests is scheduled to be held at Sewa Kendra on the last day of the
interactive retreat in September. We have Fr. Michael Ignatius, Fr. Christuraj
and Fr. Irudayaraj who have already completed their silver Jubilee this year.
Fr. Philip Soosai, Fr. James George, Fr. Martin Anand and Fr. Sebastian
Kallupura have entered their silver jubilee year. The joint jubilee celebration
by the Archdiocesan community will be on 27 September 2013 at 5.30 p.m. with a
Eucharistic celebration followed by dinner.
Archdiocesan Days 2013
was held on 1-2 August at Sewa Kendra. 47 priests participated. Fr. Jose
Edavazhy was the moderator. Fr. Asit Lakra and Fr. Prabhudas were the reporting
secretaries. The Samachar extends our hearty congratulations to Fr. Prem
Prakash and Fr. Nandu, the organizers, and thanks to Fr. Amalraj and his team
at Sewa Kendra for taking care of the participants with the board and lodge. The
following are some of the major follow-up actions arrived at during the two-day
deliberations:
1. Six
Day Interactive Retreat for all the Diocesan priests and all the
Pastors of Religious Congregations in the Parishes/Mission Stations of Patna
and Buxar with Fr. Paul Parathazham as the resource person will be held from 23
to 28 September 2013, at Navjyoti Niketan, Patna. Make it a point to attend
this retreat without fail. This is in view of the summary notes of the
Archdiocesan survey presented by Fr. Paul Parathazham and distributed to all
the participants during the Archdiocesan days.
2. Archdiocesan
Pastoral Council Meeting for a strategic pastoral plan for the
Archdiocese will be from 19 to 21 November at Sewa Kendra, Patna. All Pastoral
Council members are expected to be present at this important meeting. This
meeting also will be in the backdrop of the survey findings and Fr. Paul
Parathazham will be the facilitator.
3. Written
communication to all Pastors concerning the procedures to be followed
before applying for annulment of marriage was distributed to the participants
during the Archdiocesan days. The Norms prescribed by Canon Law need to be
adhered to. Those of you who have not yet received a copy of the communication
may collect a copy of the same from the Archbishop’s House.
4. A
meeting of all the principals (priests) and Secretaries of our schools
will be held soon to discuss matters concerning the Archdiocesan schools. All
are expected to attend the meeting. Matters such as educational trust,
syllabus, finance, payments of salary, teaching of catechism and common
syllabus and common exam etc will be some of the matters for discussion during
this meeting.
5. Mokama
shrine development: A committee is formed to study the matter. Fr. A.
Raja is the convener with Fr. Anthony Panangatt, Fr. Philip Soosai, Fr. S.
Peter and Fr. Alwyn D’Souza SJ as its members.
6. Jehanabad:
A committee is appointed to study and suggest ways and means to develop
Jehanabad. Fr. Sebastian A is the convener with Fr. Robert Kumar, Fr. A.
Thambi, Fr. Devasia Chirayil, Fr. Amalraj and Fr. Jose Chirackal as the
members.
7. Teaching
of Catechism: we need to revive the earlier practice of common syllabus
for catechism and common catechism exam of the students of all the catholic
schools (run by the Archdiocese, Religious Congregations and Laity). Archbishop
with the help of the Director of Education and Director of Jyoti Bhawan, Mokama
(Faith formation Dept.) will prepare the syllabus and prescribe the text books
by November 2013.
Vianney Day
Gathering 2013: 42 Archdiocesan priests gathered at the Archbishop’s
House on July 31 for the Vianney Day celebration. The celebration began with
adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and prayer service at 7:00 p.m. led by Fr.
Irudayaraj. It was followed by a fellow-ship meal. Three diocesan priests from
Purnea diocese who were our guests joined the celebrations.
An animation Program
for the participants for the BIJHAN Mission Congress at Ranchi in October was
held at Sewa Kendra on 10-12 August. 110 persons from all the Parishes/Mission
Stations took part in this program organized by Fr. A. Thambi, the Archdiocesan
coordinator for the Mahotsav. The Archbishop was present throughout the
program. Mr. AV Jose and Mr. Bijender Kumar from the Couples for Christ, Fr.
Henry Rebello SJ, Fr. Nicholas and Fr. Satyaprakash SJ from Fatima Mata
Charismatic Centre spoke on the Word of God, encouraging people to grow in faith
and prepare whole heartedly for the big event.
Deacon Dinesh
Kumar has been promoted for Priestly Ordination and he will be ordained
Priest at 10:00 a.m. on 8 October 2013 at Belawan, his home Parish in Buxar
Diocese. Bishop Sebastian has kindly consented to be the Ordaining Prelate
Bijhan Mission
Congress 2013 (Prabhu Yesu Mahotsav): In this “Year of Faith” Bijhan
Bishops Conference is organizing a three-day Mission Congress (Yesu Mahotsav)
in Ranchi from 11-13 October 2013. About 2000 people including Priests,
Religious and the Faithful are expected to take part in the Mahotsav. Fr. A.
Thambi has been appointed the Coordinator for the same from the Archdiocese.
A Meeting of the
Archbishops and Bishops of the Hindi speaking Dioceses was held at
Bhopal on 9-10 August. 32 Bishops and Archbishops participated in the meeting.
The Missionary thrust for the Hindi Region, translation of the Missa Grandh in
Hindi, Hindi Sahitya Samiti, Buland Prajatantra – the Hindi Tabloid – etc. were
some of the main subjects for discussion and deliberation. A committee is
formed under the leadership of Most Rev. Raphy Manjali of Varanasi for the
translation of the Roman Missal. He will spearhead also the Hindi Sahitya
Samiti. Efforts to improve the quality of Buland Prajatantra are also being
formulated. Archbishop William D’Souza SJ has been unanimously appointed as the
Chairman of the Hindi Region Bishops’ Forum. The next meeting of the Forum will
be in Patna.
Mission Month
celebration: The Mission Sunday this year is on 20 October 2013. In
this year of Faith, let us celebrate the month of October as “Mission Month” by
organizing various activities – especially the Sunday sermons – during the
whole month on Evangelization and Mission. This is a season that helps the
Church to recommit itself to the responsibility of carrying out its Mission of
making Christ known to the world and to reach out to one and all the precious
love of God. The celebration of the “Year of Faith” is meaningful if our faith
motivates us to spread this faith far and wide. As a result of this motivation,
we shall make “Mission” a movement. The zeal for mission must inspire every
faithful to contribute his/her mite for mission either by being missionaries or
by contributing whatever they have for supporting missions in the world.
Fr. Sabu Davis
will be leaving on 19 August with a team of five AICUF boys and girls to
Chennai to attend AICUF National Council meeting and will be back in Patna on
28 of August. He informs all concerned that there will be a LTS and YCS
animators’ meeting sometime before he leaves for Chennai. The details will be
sent to the people concerned as soon as it is finalized.
Fr. Mariam Lal
is appointed as the coordinator of Basic Christian Communities/ Small Christian
Communities in the Archdiocese of Patna. The Christian Community is what we see
in the Acts of the Apostles. The early Church devoted themselves to the
Apostles’ instructions, the community life, the breaking of the Bread and the
prayers (Acts 4/42). Christian community is the daily sharing of life in
Christ. As Blessed John Paul II stated “these communities are a sign of
vitality within the Church, an instrument of formation and evangelization, and
a solid starting point for a new society based on a civilization of love”
(Redemptoris Missio 51). During the Year of Faith, let us make our units
vibrant.
Fr. James Shekhar
will be in St. Albert’s College, Ranchi from 25 August to 18 September taking
classes for the Seminarians there.
The Superior General of the RNDM Sisters (16 July), Fr. Hanggie
from Switzerland, Fr. Stany D’Souza from
Mugalsarai (11-12 August) Most Rev.
Lumen Monteiro CSC and Fr.
Paul – Chairman and Asst. Director respectively – of Caritas India (13
– 14 August) were some of our distinguished guests in the months July and
August 2013.
Fr. Aloysius
Sequeira has gone for a much needed holidays on 8 August. Others on
short holidays are Fr. Andrews Raja and
Fr. Jose Edavazhy. Fr. Augustine Mundoli and Fr. Augustine are
continuing with the Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala. Fr. Christuraj is also on medication and in
his sabbatical.
Jyoti Bhawan:
A 3 Month-training program for men catechists is being held at the Pastoral
Center, Mokama from 1 August to 30 October 2013 and according to reports, there
has been a good response for the training program.
Navjyoti Niketan:
A Convention of the Christian Nurses in the Archdiocese is being organized at
Navjyoti Niketan from 24 August (p.m.) to 28 August (p.m.) at Navjyoti Niketan.
Priests in-charge of our parishes are requested to collect and send the names
of the Christian Nurses and also of our teachers in the parish who are working
in government or private schools. Kindly send the names to the Vicar General or
to Fr. Philip Kattakayam at Navjyoti.
“God’s Word for
Each Day 2014” (Bible Diary in English, Rs.110/-) is ready for
distribution in the first week of August 2013. For copies, you may contact: The
Director, St. Paul International Book Center, H-30/33, Connaught Circus, New
Delhi 110001. Phone: No: 011-23320381/41513127: E-mail: spibcd@gmail.com
Please Pray for:
Mr. Thomas, aged
95 years old and elder brother of Fr. Sebastian Puthenpura expired of old age
at 10.30 p.m. on Thursday, 18 July 2013. Fr. Sebastian reached home in time to
be present at the funeral.
Sr. Geeta Joseph
RSCJ died of some prolonged illness in Pune on 22 July 2013. She was in
Jehanabad for about 5 years when the RSCJ started their stay and mission in the
Archdiocese.
Mr. Varkey Mattathilani, elder brother of Fr. Joseph Mattathilani expired at
01: 30 P.M. on 26 July 2013 due to prolonged illness. He was 78 years old.
Sr. Valsa RA (Assumption
Sisters), 60 years of age, died of a massive heart attack at 7.15 p.m., on 11
August 2013. She was serving the Congregation as the Junior Mistress of the
Congregation at the time of her sudden demise in Pune.
Happy Birthday
August
15 – 08 – 1931 Abp Benedict J Osta
15 – 08 –
1952 Thomas George
26 – 08 –
1965 Anthony Osta
26 – 08 –
1978 Bhagyaraj
30 – 08 –
1956 Michael Ignatius
September
10 – 09 –
1968 Robert Kumar
11 – 09 –
1944 Jacob Muthuplackal
11 – 09 –
1960 James George
17 – 09 –
1930 Xavier Varghese
23 – 09 –
1967 James Shekhar
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