November-December2013

____________________________________________________________________________________Vol. XXXIII                                     November-December2013                                                   No.9
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Wishing that your Christmas and the New Year may be filled with many warm and happy moments and with every blessings you seek and need from the Lord.
Archbishop William D’Souza, SJ, Archbishop (Emeritus) Benedict J Osta, SJ
The Archdiocesan Clergy, Religious and Laity
Archbishop’s Program
December
01                    : Mugalsarai – Shrine Feast
03                    : Sikandra
04                    : Barbigha
05                    : Dibhra – MC Brothers
06                    : Hilsa – School Anniversary
07                    : Barh – School Anniversary
08        A.M.     : Danapur – Parish Day
                        : SSH Final Vows
            P.M.      : Fairfield – Inaugural Mass
14                    : Dialogue – Brahma Kumari Ashram
15                    : Gaya Parish Day
22                    : Patna – Domestic Workers
            P.M.      : Prabhat Prakashan
28                    : Christmas Milan with Clergy and Religious
29                    : Gaya - Wedding silver Jubilee Mass – Rajan and Kiran

Archbishop William was back in Patna on 7 November after his trip abroad for about three weeks. He had a busy schedule ever since his return. On 8 November he left for Rampur and was the main celebrant for the Ordination of a Jesuit scholastic Michael Ekka on 9 November. He was at Jamalpur on 10 November for the confirmation of 6 children and on the same day at 11.00 a.m. he administered the sacrament of confirmation to 53 people including adults at Basauni. He returned to Patna on 11 November. On his return journey he had a stopover at Barh and Fatuha. Though he left Fatuha around 4.00 p.m., because of the traffic hazels he could arrive at Patna only by 7.00 p.m. He visited our priests who were sick, and interacted with the Seminarians from Satna diocese on 15 November. He went to Gulni on 16 November and with stopover at a couple of our Parishes he returned to Patna on 18 November. He was engaged in the two-day Pastoral Council meeting since 20 November. On 22 November he celebrated the Holy Eucharist at Carmel Tapovan and had a consult meeting at the Archbishop’s House. On 23 November he went to Sikandra for the blessing of the newly constructed presbytery. On 24 November he led the Eucharistic procession and presided over the Holy Eucharist at Kurji Parish Church on the occasion of the Conclusion of the year of Faith. He had a meeting with the Provincials and Major Superiors on 25 November. From 26 to 28 November the Archbishop was busy with the BIJHAN Bishops+CRI+CDPC joint meeting at Navjyoti Niketan. He moved to Gaya on 28 November for the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Creane Memorial School, from where he left on 30 November to Kritpura Chirag for the silver jubilee celebrations. He was at Mugalsarai for the Infant Jesus’ Shrine Feast day celebrations after which he was back in Patna on 2 December.  He still has a busy time ahead in December.
Archdiocesan Pastoral Council Meeting was held at Sewa Kendra from 19 November (evening) to 22 November (morning). About 150 members of the Pastoral Council were present at the meeting. This meeting was in the backdrop of the survey findings and Fr. Paul Parathazham once again presented the survey findings in a power-point program now translated into Hindi. The participants had serious deliberations on the findings and brought out the goals and action plan accordingly. The Samachar extends our sincere thanks to Fr. Paul Parathazham for leading us in our search. We express our hearty congratulations to the Secretary of the Council, Fr. A. Thambi, and our thanks to Navjyoti team and Sewa Kendra team for making available all the necessary facilities for organizing the meeting.
People and Events:
Patliputra: 13 children of the parish received the Eucharistic Lord for the first time in their lives during a solemn Eucharistic Celebration on 27 October. Fr. Devasia Mattathilani presided over the Holy Eucharist with Fr. Sebastian Puthenpura and Fr. Devasia Chirayil as concelebrants.
Masaurhi: 60 people together with the Sisters and catechist from Masaurhi went to Mokama on 10 November for a day of recollection and prayer at the Shrine of our Lady at Mokama. Every family of the parish was represented in the pilgrimage, organized as part of the “Year of Faith” celebration. The Samachar congratulates Fr. Jose Chirackal and his team for organizing this pilgrimage, and thanks Fr. Alwyn D’Souza, SJ and his team for directing the recollection and taking care of the pilgrims.
Gulni: St. Joseph’s School celebrated its annual day on 16 November. Archbishop William was the Chief Guest. A couple of other dignitaries like the local MLA, Mr. Pradeep Kumar were guests of honour. The children presented a colourful program which was well appreciated by all present.  
Kankarbagh: St. John’s Academy, Kankarbagh celebrated its Parents’ Day on 23 November with Jharkhand MLA, Mr. Glen Joseph Galstaun, as the chief guest. The program put up by the children received joyful applause from every one present.
Sikandra: The newly constructed presbytery was blessed and inaugurated by the Archbishop on 17 November at 10.00 am. The Samachar extends our sincere thanks to our benefactors whose generosity helped us to construct the presbytery. We extend our hearty congratulations to Fr. Bhagyaraj, Fr. A. Raja, and their collaborators for building a new house for the priests. St. Xavier’s School, Sikandra celebrated its annual day on 3 December with a cultural program which was appreciated by all. The Archbishop was the chief guest.
Biharsharif: St. Mary’s Middle School, Biharsharif held its annual day on 4 December with fanfare and gaiety with the Archbishop as the chief guest at the celebration. There was a good crowd of parents, children and well-wishers for the function and everyone enjoyed the almost three-hour program.
6-7 December seem to be very auspicious dates for annual function of the schools. Krist Jyoti School, Hilsa is having its annual day on 6 December, while St. Joseph’s School, Barh, Hartmann High School, Kurji, St. Xavier’s School, Patna, St. Mary’s Academy, A.G. Colony and St. Joseph’s Convent School, Bankipur have scheduled their annual day celebrations on 7 December.
‘Congratulations” to all the Secretaries, Principals, staff and students of the schools which have successfully celebrated their annual day, and ‘Best Wishes’ to those who will be celebrating their annual day as the Samachar goes into the press.  
Gaya: The year-long diamond jubilee celebrations of Creane Memorial High School concluded with a three-day concluding celebrations from 27 to 29 November this year. On 27 November there was the unveiling of the bust of late Fr. Creane by the Secretary of St. Ignatius School Aurangabad, Fr. Mathew Chemplani SJ followed by the blessing of Jubilee Language & Computer Lab by the Vicar General of the Archdiocese, Fr. Devasia Mattathilani. On 28 November a memorial Holy Eucharist and blessing of Fr. Creane’s tomb was held in the American Military Cemetery, presided over by the dean of Gaya Deanery, Fr. Jose Chirackal. At 5:00 p.m. on the same day, there was a jubilee show for the students of Creane Memorial High School. On 29 November, the concluding day, the celebrations began with the concelebrated Holy Eucharist at 2:00 p.m. and presided over by Archbishop William. The finale of the concluding ceremonies began at 5:00 p.m. Archbishop William D’Souza SJ (Patna), Archbishop Thomas D’Souza (Kolkata), Patna Zonal IG, Sh. Sushil M. Khopade, IPS, Magadh Range DIG, Sh. B.S. Meena, IPS, the Dt. Magistrate of Gaya, Sh. Balamurgan IAS, Gaya Supdt. Police, Sh. Nishant Tiwari IAS, were the main dignitaries on the dais. The three-hour stage-show by the students was really enthralling. Kudos to the Secretary, Fr. Andrews Thambi, the Principal, Fr. James George, the Vice Principal, Fr. P. Bhaskhar, their associates, teaching and non-teaching staff, parents, guardians, students and their associates for the memorable diamond jubilee program.    
Seven of our nine seminarians in Regency had their annual retreat at Varanasi from 4 to 9 November while the Formation In-charge Fr. James Shekhar returned to Patna on 9 November after a three-week fruitful visit to our benefactors in Germany, Austria and Italy.
Krus Vir News: Krus Vir Children from Nawada, Barbigha, Chakaram and Kurji Parishes actively participated in the Bihar Bible Mahotsav at Navjyoti Niketan from 12 to 16 October and won several prizes in the competitions. The Samachar extends our sincere thanks to Fr. Alex and Fr. Pradeep SJ for preparing the children for the ‘Utsav’. 195 Krus Vir children along with their animators of Magadh Deanery attended a three-day retreat in Fatima Mata Susamachar Kendra from 31 October to 3 November 2013.The Samachar gratefully acknowledges the service of Fr. George Karamayil SJ and his team for directing the retreat for the children. Together with Fr. Alex and Fr. John Britto, 17 Krus Vir Animators of the Archdiocese attended a retreat at Matridam, Varanasi on 5 and 6 November 2013. Thanks to Fr. Anil Dev IMS and his team for preaching the retreat and to Fr. Keetan Florence Kujur, IMS for taking care of them during the retreat.   
Conclusion of ‘Year of Faith’: On 24 November 2013, the Feast of Christ the King, the concluding ceremonies of the “Year of Faith” began with a Eucharistic procession from the Loyola School Grounds to Kurji Parish. According to reports received, more than 7000 people from the ten Parishes/Stations of Patna Deanery participated in the two-hour long Eucharistic procession and the solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Archbishop. The procession began soon after the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 2.00 p.m. Children throwing flowers on the road, and offering ‘arati’ preceded the well decorated open jeep on which the Archbishop with candle-bearers on either side, was carrying the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance. Different parishes had put up decorated gates en route. Fr. Peter Ignatius preached the homily during the concelebrated Holy Eucharist at Kurji Parish Church. The Samachar congratulates all the Clergy, Religious and Laity, especially to Fr. Johnson Kelakath SJ and his team at Kurji for so very meaningfully and prayerfully holding the Eucharistic procession.
Jyoti Bhawan: Graduation ceremony of 4 Catechists after the 3 Month-training programs for three consecutive years for men catechists at the Pastoral Center was held on 29 October. This year there were 21 participants from 7 Dioceses, 8 of them from Patna for the training program. Faith-Festival for the laity was held at Jyoti Bhawan from 4 November (evening) to 7 November (morning). There were 250 participants. The concluding ceremonies were on 7 November. Fr. Devasia Mattathilani presided over the concelebrated Holy Eucharist with Fr. Irudayaraj, Fr. Andrews Raja and Fr. Birender (Marianist) as concelebrants.
Fr Thomas Olikathotty had to be admitted at Nazareth Hospital with high BP and nausea in the first week of November. On 9 November he came to Patna and got admitted in KHFH. He was diagnosed as having dengu fever. He is continuing the treatment at Jyoti Bhawan and is reported to be much better now. Fr. Jose Chirackal was admitted at KHFH with a sprained back. He was out of the hospital but is advised to continue physiotherapy. Fr. Sebastian A was in the Hospital for a surgical removal of an abscess. Fr. Sebastian Puthenpura was in KHFH for almost a week in November with chest congestion and fever. Fr. Jerome Dungdung was admitted on 12 November in Tripolia Hospital with typhoid fever and got out after a week when he assured his doctors of sufficient rest. Fr. Thomas George seems to have some heart problem and is in touch with his doctor for necessary care. Fr. Dominic Peter is having some complications with his diabetic and cholesterol counts. Fr. Shakespeare with weakening thigh muscles was advised to regular physiotherapy. He is now at Rampur Hat Physiotherapy center and is expected to be back in Patna before Christmas. Please remember them our sick in your prayers.
A three-day Training program for lay people as animators for building up SCC (Small Christian Community) in the villages was scheduled from 28 October evening to 31 evening at Navjyoti Niketan. Sr. Christine HC was the resource person. 95 men and women from different parishes participated in the program. After deliberations on the inputs on group building, models of the Church and different steps to build up SCCs, the participants drew up action plan for their respective parishes.  Fr. Devasia M celebrated the Holy Eucharist on the concluding day at 11:00 a.m. Congratulations to Fr. Mariamlal the organizer, Sr. Christine HC the resource person and thank you to the Parish priests for sending the participants.
PMI State Convention: Bihar state level convention of Prison Ministry India was held at Mount Assisi Ashram, Bhagalpur on 23-24 November in which Sr. Joel HC together with another six delegates from Patna participated. The national coordinator of PMI, Fr. Sebastian Vadakumpadan was the resource person. Since the National convention is to be held in October 2014 a lot of ongoing programs are planned for the whole year. The Bishop of Bhagalpur, Most Rev, Kurien Valiakandathil was the chief guest while Asst. Superintendent Mr. Rakesh Kumar Singh was the guest of honour. About 42 participants who attended the program gratefully acknowledged the convention and sincerely appreciated the hospitality of the TOR Fathers.
15 delegates including five Sisters and seven of our Faithful from the Archdiocese together with Father Mariamlal participated in the First National Convention of SCCs at Goa from 18 to 22 November. The theme of the convention was “Small Christian Communities: Communion of Faith in Love”. The participants report that it was a very enriching experience for each one of them.
Memorial Mass: A memorial Mass on the first death anniversary of Fr. Jose Madathezhath is scheduled to be held at 11:00 a.m. on 27 December at Buxar. Kindly contact the Vicar General of Buxar, Fr. James Amakat, if you intend to join the memorial Mass.
A Christmas Milan of the Clergy and Religious in the Archdiocese is scheduled for 28 December at the Loyola School Campus, Patna. Please let us know of your participation by 23 December on 9430652680
Please Note:  Apart from the website, www.patnaarchdiocese.org the Archdiocese has a blog which updates our news including the “Samachar”.  You may open patnaarchdiocese.blogspot.in for our news.
Kindly note the Postal address of :  Superior and Community, Brothers of the Sacred Heart, c/o Bihar Dalit Vikas Samiti (BDVS), Baburbanna, Biharsharif,Nalanda Dt. Bihar 803 118

Happy Birthday
December
02 – 12 – 1958 Fr. Jose Edavazhy
10 – 12 – 1928 Fr. Aloysius Sequeira
28 – 12 – 1963 Fr. Kuldeep Kumar
28 – 12 – 1977 Fr. Nandu Kumar

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