The Annual Assembly for the Indian Perpetually Professed Confreres was convened by the Divine Providence Province, India on 14th – 16th, December 2016 at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. The number of the participants was 45 Guanellian Perpetual members working in India. Rev. Fr. Soosai Rathinam was the president of the assembly. Rev. Fr. Samson and Rev. Fr. Francis Assisi were nominated as the moderators and Fr. Benson and Fr. Amalraj were elected as the secretaries. The precedent of the assembly cheerfully invited and encouraged all the office bearers and the participants to be more dynamic and authentic. The major themes dealt in the assembly were as follow;
- “Outward-Bound” Servants of Charity - By Rev. Fr. Soosai Rathinam, SdC
The Crux of the Session: It is to have fidelity to the charism and newness well tuned in order to express it today in a society which is very different from that of our Founder. Church by its very nature is missionary and it needs the spiritual and apostolic contribution. The consecrated life is being characterized by the constant search for God and the constant re-visitation of its identity. One needs to overcome the wrong perspective of religious life and learn to find God in all things. The prophetic character of the consecrated life is to nurture, nourish and evoke a consciousness. Church’s deepest nature is expressed in her three-fold responsibility: of proclaiming the word of God, celebrating sacraments and exercising the ministry of Charity.
- Together as DPP “Upholding your Spiritual Vibrancy and Mission in India” - By Fr. Antony Joseph, SDB
The Crux of the Session: The spiritually vibrant person would be with fire, passionate and their motive is to love God and people. The feeling of being loved and the best interest to live the Christian life move a person to be spiritually vibrant. He gave five keys to find out the spiritually vibrant, they are member’s contribution, assimilation, trust in leadership, community impact and health growth. They live a life bible based, Christ centered and spirit led. He added twenty one (21) points to be spiritually vibrant. Be a giver and not a receiver, identify blessing, speak words of blessing, nurture a shared prayer life, take a step of Faith, restore someone’s faith, be a grateful person, share the journey with others, serve, cultivate the solitude, fast and pray, turn worries over to God, spread love wherever you go, keep your priorities straight, strive for excellence, use it or lose it the talents, meditate on scriptures, be reliable, ask God make you a blessing, Spend time with nature, exercise the power of choice. After the questions and clarifications the assembly left for midday prayer and lunch.
- Guanellian Identity and Mission in India Today: “Paradigm shift from Mono-Cultural to Multi-Cultural phase” - By Fr. Kulandaisamy, SdC
The Crux of the Session: He took root from GC 19, Evangelized to Evangelize No: 5 Establishment of International communities, and from 7th General Consultation’s General Issues “confreres should be prepared to inter-cultural life and values. He defined world “culture”, mono – culture and multi-culture. He explained clearly quoting from Pope Francis “Tradition is not the worship of ashes but the preservation of fire”. One has to know how to preserve what is essential and open ourselves to the newness of the Spirit. It is only in this way that a presence can lasts, even for centuries. In transmission of Charism, the identity must not be lost. The transmission of a charism has a charismatic nature rather than an institutional nature (Mono culture to multi culture). It is inexorably linked to people, who make it a living experience. Guanellian Charism has experienced many cultures in the world and it would be more enriching in Indian pluralistic culture without losing its origin. The Guanellian focus must be on the people who have no one disregarding the religion, caste geography etc. After the clarifications the meeting came to an end and assembly proceeded for the health break.
- “Updating on legal compliances such as FCRA, taxation and financial situation of DPP” - By Fr. Visuwasam, SdC
The Crux of the Session: He started with the quote of Mother Teresa, “It is not that we are called to be successful rather faithful”. He explained the present situation of India and invited everyone to be aware of FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act), the exemption from the income tax, and charitable purposes according to the income tax act. He listed out the documents to be maintained properly in a all the communities, pointed out the list of frequent mistakes and rectifications in maintaining the bills and accounts. He added the eligibility criteria for section 80G, donations permitted under section 80G, Exemptions under section 80G, the main purpose of the societies’ registration act. He gave the clear idea on the term society and way to manage the society. Eventually he brought to the notice of the confreres the assets of the congregation in India. After giving the details of the account of the different communities he gave some suggestions for the progress.
- The Journey of Guanellian Lay movement and Guanellian Co-operators: ‘Richness and Diversity of experience and co-operation’ in India - By Fr. Visuwasam, SdC
The Crux of the Session: He started his narration with the sayings of our Founder “He who is called by the Lord to be an Instrument of his Divine Providence, must have great Faith and the Right Intention.” He gave clear idea about GLM and GC, the statistics, vision, purpose, members, type of formation given to them, the difference between GLM and GC, the journey accompanied with them and the activities of GLM and GC in different communities. At the end of his talk he gave some proposals in the province level in order to motivate the GLM and GC members.
- “Along the River, Outside the Gate” - By Fr. Soosai Rathinam, SdC
The Crux of the Session: As we are going to celebrate 174th birthday of our merciful founder indeed it is a providential moment to revision things, new directions and new ways of looking at reality. Father Guanella was a visionary and great missionary. Henceforth we are called to re-incarnate his presence, vision and mission contextually. Creative fidelity is a fundamental theme in the Consecrated life..the fundamental question is not , why be a religious? but rather ‘for whom and with whom? Today we live the culture of the ‘disposable’ of the collapse of ideology like anti-values, no long term commitment, greater speed, crisis of consecration etc.. in this context the quality of our love for Christ and for humanity is equally important. The important features for the promotion of the charism are Qualitative progress of charism, fraternal solidarity in the furtherance of the spirit of the mission, visibility of the religious witness and etc.,
Exclusive of the all the resourceful sessions, there was a meaningful group discussion and valid report making on questionnaires drawn from the different sessions. At the climax of the assembly there was enough time given for ‘open forum and dialogue’ where the participants made their ‘Concrete proposals for the renewal of DPP in order to grow in fraternal communion and mission was made’. Finally, there was a great joy and festive fragrance in all to celebrate the 25th Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee of our first Indian confrere Rev. Fr. A. John Bosco, SdC. It was a grand celebration with solemn Holy Mass, Felicitation and Cultural Program. On the whole, with the spirit of contentment and family spirit the assembly came to its end. Rev. Fr. Provincial superior with his cordial love thanked and greeted everyone with Christmas gifts.
Thank You!
Il giorno 6 dicembre Padre Luigi De Giambattista consigliere Generale incaricato delle nuove aperture ed io siamo approdati alle 13,20 all'aeroporto di Dar es Salam. Ci attendeva "Manino" un giovane conoscente di Padre Furaha che ci ha accompagnati nella casa di accoglienza dei Missionari d'Africa (Padri Bianchi) dove abbiamo atteso l'arrivo di Padre Maximus Agulanna, altro confratello incaricato della nuova missione in Tanzania, proveniente dalla Nigeria verso le tre di notte del giorno 8 dicembre, solennità dell’Immacolata è arrivato il confratello Padre Maximus e alle 7.00 del mattino abbiamo preso l'aereo per Mbeya, dove ci attendeva Padre Furaha. Dopo aver raggiunto il luogo dove stare provvisoriamente prima di partire per Mpanda (dove per due o tre mesi studieremo il swahili e fino a quando la nostra abitazione sarà completata nel luogo a noi assegnato dal Vescovo( IWINGA) , siamo andati in cattedrale a celebrare la Santa Messa dell' Immacolata con il Vescovo Evaristus M. Chengula e dove abbiamo assistito alla professione perpetua dei voti religiosi di nove suore della congregazione diocesana delle Suore della Regina degli Apostoli - Mgbeya. Vi era presente la maggior parte del clero diocesano e religioso della diocesi e numerosi fedeli. Siamo stati presentati al clero e alla popolazione. La celebrazione è stata animata da canti e danze con molti simboli che richiamavano la consacrazione a Dio di queste giovani, diventate definitivamente spose di Cristo. Dopo la celebrazione abbiamo salutato il Vescovo nella speranza di un incontro in questi giorni per definire bene alcuni aspetti della nostra presenza e missione.
Siamo contenti di aver iniziato questa nuova missione sotto lo sguardo di Maria Immacolata come del resto anche la nostra presenza nelle Isole Salomon sia iniziata sotto lo sguardo di Maria Assunta il 14 agosto, vigilia di un’altra solennità di Maria.
L'accoglienza è stata squisita e anche l'ospitalità' riservataci dalle suore è stupenda. Si aprono le porte per una nuova "avventura guanelliana" e diciamo pure che il nostro fondatore ha lavorato per questa nuova realtà, visto che già esiste una cappella dedicata a lui e un gruppo di persone hanno formato un gruppo di laici guanelliani.
Padre Giancarlo Frigerio SdC
Eletto il Nuovo Consiglio Generale delle Figlie di S. Maria della Provvidenza:
Sr Neuza Giordani (Vicaria Generale), Sr Carla Folini, Sr Esther Leroux e Sr Maria Antonietta Ripamonti
‘For the Last, Lost and the Least’ - Guanellian Good Samaritans (GGS) in The Solomon’s Islands
On Nov 29th 2016, seven senior citizens, one adult and one little girl Lynda of four years, were escorted to Munda, Helena Goldie hospital for an assessment of different impairments of the faculties. They were Erio (Male , 73 years), Tebotuake (Female, 67), Kateia (F, 61), Mangarita (F, 69), Karotu (M, 62), Takaia (M, 63), Kona (M, 61) and Atanati (M, 52 ). Fr Mathias sdc escorted them, accompanied by Bro Dominic. This was an initiative by Mr. Atanati, the president of the recently formed Guanelilian Good Samaritans (GGS) of the Canaan chapter. (Atanati has the potential to become a lay leader of the GGS).
Since the Noro mission had been entrusted to the Guanellians (Servants of Charity) and from the time they started their work here, they had been looking for avenues to concretize their special charism, having earlier collected the details of the DaPs (differently abled persons), the care of the differently abled and the elderly. And this with members of the laity in the forefront of these social concerns.
In the month of October, when the priests went around to each Small Christian Community (SCC), to honour Our Lady of Rosary, by reciting the rosary, sharing the joys, radiance, sorrows and glories in their lives in tandem with those of the Lord, and celebrating mass with them, they broached the idea of GGS and suggested that each SCC propose two names to be members of the GGS in Noro Parish. And in Canaan, it was the elders of the sub parish, who proposed five names from each of the three areas, Rome, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. And one third of them take part regularly in all the meetings.
And Oct 24th, the feast day of St Luigi Guanella was another opportune moment to initiate them to the vision and mission of the saint, by celebrating mass, preaching, screening video clips on life of the saint and inaugurating the GGS. The people of the Noro parish also helped in putting up a cozy niche for the statue of St Guanella, that Fr Luigi SdC had managed to find and send the same by the ship. He is still travelling. (He will be installed when the Bishop visits the parish).
And the members of the GGS in both the places went around the parish areas, met the families and drew up a list of the urgent needs of the last, lost and the least. In the following weeks, they discussed on what could be done and the first response was the one of escorting of those with impaired faculties (hearing, speech and sight) to the hospital.
The hospital does not have specialized doctors/facilities, but technicians who would be able to identify the impairment and for any effective treatment/aids and appliances (hearing aid, spectacles, surgery etc.,), we were told to wait for the month of august next year (2017), when a team of specialists from Honiara/Australia would be visiting the islands.
To our inquiry if a medical camp, general or special, could be organized in the islands, the reply was the same. Wait for August 2017. The hospital has to plan and submit the proposal with a budget to the government for their approval in July that year for the proposed camp. The health care services is taking baby steps in the Solomon Islands. So too with all other services.
With some small snacks, all returned back to Noro and from there back to Canaan in the parish boat. The little girl child was sent to her residence in Noro. The PPC (parish pastoral council), a private operator of a bus in the parish, the CBR coordinator at Munda and members of the GGS and with the seminarian, contributed their mite in this care of the differently abled, aided on by the SdC missionary Fr Mathias and his colleague.
Effective rehabilitation through surgical correction, medical treatment and supply of prosthesis, inclusive education, employment of therapies, etc., is long way to come through here. Barefoot CBR (community based rehabilitation) workers, chosen from among the members of the GGS and trained in the nitty-gritty of CBR techniques ( based on Pavlov’s pyramid of needs or concentric cycle of wants and mechanisms to meet them etc.,) and with an incentive to encourage them, might go a long way in the meantime to fill up the gap.
There is a plan for a tour of carols troupe in December this year. Visit each home, sing a carol, pray with a blessing by the priest and making a collection might involve the Catholic community in their social concerns and encourage the GGS.
Guanella Mission Team would continue to journey with them in Solidarity
By Fr. Tony
Con la simbolica consegna della croce benedetta dal Superiore Generale e consegnata a P. Giancarlo Frigerio al termine della celebrazione Eucaristica nella cappella della Curia generalizia, oggi 5 Dicembre comincia il viaggio di avvicinamento alla nuova missione guanelliana che la Providenza ci manda ad avviare in Africa Orientale e precisamente nella diocesi di Mbeya, Tanzania. Ci raggiungerà a Dar Es Salam, sulla rotta verso l’altipiano di Mbeya, il secondo confratello designato per questa nuova avventura di carità, P. Maximus Agulanna proveniente dalla Nigeria. Ad accoglierci lassù tra i monti di quella vasta nazione all’est del Continente Africano troveremo il giovane sacerdote diocesano p. Furaha che non solo è stato strumento della Provvidenza nel tessere i primi rapporti della sua Diocesi con la nostra Congregazione ma si unirà ai nostri pionieri condividendo con loro vita comunitaria e missione caritativa.
Una missione pensata e preparata da lontano e che intende fin dai primi passi accentuare la bellezza di una stretta collaborazione con la Chiesa locale nella sua vocazione e scelta prioritaria di servizio alla vita dei fratelli più poveri, più fragili e vulnerabili. Un desiderio di condividere, in semplicità e nel “segno del piccolo”, il dono del carisma guanelliano perché il Vangelo della carità venga annunciato e diffuso, reso credibile e accessibile a tutti attraverso la testimonianza di una gioiosa comunità fraterna e di una sincera diponibilità a collaborare e camminare insieme a chiunque si senta di condividere il sogno di Dio per tutti i suoi figli. A partire dai più poveri e bisognosi.
A P. Giancarlo, P. Maximus e P. Furaha il nostro caloroso augurio e il dono della nostra preghiera. La missione si inaugurerà ufficialmente nel giorno della Solennità dell’Immacolata Concezione alla presenza del Vescovo Evaristo Chengula che ci ha chiamato e pazientemente aspettato. Anche in Tanzania, come già nelle Isole Solomon’s, cominciamo la nuova avventura missionaria sotto lo sguardo materno di Maria. Con lei ci sentiamo al sicuro e incoraggiati a ‘fare tutto quello che Lui ci dirà’.
Don Luigi De Giambattista
The annual meeting for the formators and vocation promoters in divine providence province was convened on 29th November 2016 in Guanella Preethi Nivas, Bangalore. The central theme of the meeting was “a new pedagogy for integral formation to priesthood and consecrated life in India”. The meeting was headed by Rev. Fr. Soosai Rathinam SdC, the Provincial superior along with the resource person Rev. Fr. Joe Mathiayas SJ. It was well animated by Rev. Frs. Samson SdC, Gnanaraj SdC, Francis SdC, and Prakash SdC. The central message drawn from the sessions is
Formation is not just a mere human action but also of divine and Trinitarian. God the Father is the formator and "the activity of the Father through the Spirit molds the hearts of persons in formation according to the mind of the Son".
God the Father, in the continuous gift of Christ and the Spirit, is the formator par excellence of the one consecrated to Him. But in this work God is also served by the mediating role of human persons, matured in faith and discipleship.
The one who serves in such a ministry is placed as a mediator between God's action and the human response and must therefore be one who knows well both the human and the divine heart.
Formation "ought to be formation of the whole person" in every aspect of his or her individuality, behavior, and intentions". The heart, reason, will, memory, imagination, senses, desires, tastes, the conscious and unconscious everything ideally ought to be the object of attention in formation; so that the new person in Christ can really come to birth.
Moreover, "formation, in order to be total, must encompass all the aspects of Christian and consecrated life. Thus there must be spiritual, human, intellectual, cultural and pastoral preparation which focuses aids the harmonious integration of the various aspects".
For the vocation promotion, all the members of the congregation must toil and sweat. All must attract the candidates through their witnessing life style, spiritual ground & maturity and innovative programs. After recruiting the candidates, the formators must accompany and assist to know and discern the choice and service.
Thank you
DPP, India
Koppaka: Religious life is a journey towards holiness. Every dimension of religious life is an important tool to reach the threshold of holiness. Having this significance and to make all the dimensions wholistically sound, the Divine Providence Province commenced ‘Tutelage Program – an ongoing formation for the eternal sanctification’ for the first five years of priests. This tutelage program was under the eminent guidance of Fr. Soosai Rathinam, the Provincial Superior. The core theme was “Rekindling the Divine gift for an eternal sanctification”. The venue was Guanella Bhavan, Andhra Pradesh. 16 priests participated in the event. Fivefold mercy of Jesus was stressed and challenges and crisis in priestly life was well focused by Most Rev. Dr. Jaya Rao, the bishop of Eluru, rev. Fr. Matthew OCD and rev. Fr. Inje paul. Finally, the programme came to its end with the pilgrimage to our Lady of Gunadhala Shrine.
Sabato 3 Dicembre è stata riconfermata Sr. Elisabetta Serena Ciserani, Superiora Generale della Congregazione delle Figlie di S. Maria della Provvidenza.
Tutta la Famiglia Guanelliana porge a Lei i più affettuosi saluti, e le augura buona animazione nella guida della Congregazione delle Filglie di S. Maria della Provvidenza.