Knowing Fr Agnelo
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Messages Of Support Collection of Letters and Messages received from supporters. May it be an inspiration to us all to continue in our Prayers and Work towards the Beatification Process Friends of Venerable Fr. Agnelo (UK) Working for the cause of the Beatification in the UK for 25 years (1989 - 2014) Silver Jubilee Edition 1 Dear Friends of the Venerable Fr. Agnelo, I would like first of all to congratulate you on this important milestone in your history - the silver jubilee of your foundation. It is wonderful to see how the association has grown and developed over the last twenty five years. Secondly, I would like to thank all of you for all the great work you have done in our parishes here in London helping people be aware of the great witness to Christ that Fr. Agnelo gave in his life and the various ways you have embodied his spirit of prayer, penance and good works. Finally, I join with in thanking god for the gift of Fr. Agnelo's unstinting devotion to Christ and the Church. He continues to be an inspiration to all of us. With every good wish and blessing, + Bishop Patrick Lynch SS.CC. Friends of Venerable Fr. Agnelo (UK) Working for the cause of the Beatification in the UK for 25 years (1989 - 2014) Silver Jubilee Edition 2 Friends of Venerable Fr. Agnelo (UK) Working for the cause of the Beatification in the UK for 25 years (1989 - 2014) Silver Jubilee Edition 3 A Message from Bishop Howard Tripp On the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Founding in the United Kingdom of the Association of the Friends of the Venerable Father Agnelo SFX I send my greetings to the members of the Association of the Friends of the Venerable Father Agnelo established here in the United Kingdom twenty five years ago. I have been aware of the inspiration that many people draw from their knowledge and love of Father Agnelo. The example of his life encourages them to be loyal members of the Catholic Church striving to lead good and holy lives. His work as a devoted priest preaching missions continues to have its effects even today among those devoted to him. It is hardly surprising that they hope and pray for his Beatification and Canonisation, which would signify the Church’s approval of his life and work, which they find is still guiding them in their prayers and efforts to live good Christian lives. The readers of the magazine called “Contact” will be encouraged by the articles on the life and works of this exemplary priest. His spirit inspires those who gather at centres to pray for his beatification. They know how he inspires in their homes prayers and family life, and how his example challenges the young to discern their vocations. + Howard Tripp Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark Emeritus Friends of Venerable Fr. Agnelo (UK) Working for the cause of the Beatification in the UK for 25 years (1989 - 2014) Silver Jubilee Edition 4 Friends of Venerable Fr. Agnelo (UK) Working for the cause of the Beatification in the UK for 25 years (1989 - 2014) Silver Jubilee Edition 5 I am very happy to learn that this year the Association of Friends of Ven. Fr. Agnelo (AFFA) is completing twenty years of its birth. It is a matter of great joy that, what began as a small seed in 1989, with the support of the Society of Pilar especially with the then Superior General, Rev. Fr. Galdino Monteiro, late Fr. Sergio Mascarenhas, sfx, the then Vice-Postulator and Fr. Francis Carvalho, sfx who was assisting the Asian Chaplaincy in the U.K., has grown into a strong Association. I had the opportunity of meeting the enthusiastic band of members of the Association on different occasions. Last year in November, when I was present for the celebration of the Day of Ven. Fr. Agnelo, and for the meeting of the members in the evening, I could see the commitment and dedication on the part of the members to this great cause of promoting the Devotion of Ven. Fr. Agnelo, and finally seeing that he receives the crown of sainthood. On this happy occasion, I send my warm wishes and congratulations to each and every member of the Association. May this Silver Jubilee give an impetus to work with greater enthusiasm and dedication for the spread of Fr. Agnelo’s devotion and to further the Cause of his Canonization, and may the Association reach to greater heights in the years to come. With warm wishes and with assurance of my prayers, Fr. Hilario Fernandes, sfx Vice-Postulator. Friends of Venerable Fr. Agnelo (UK) Working for the cause of the Beatification in the UK for 25 years (1989 - 2014) Silver Jubilee Edition 6 Dear Rev. Fr. Lucas Rodrigues sfx & members of the Association of Friends of Ven. Fr. Agnelo Warm Greetings to each one of you from the Holy City of Rome! I am very happy to know that you are bringing out a special souvenir to mark the Silver Jubilee of the Foundation of the organization of the Association of Friends of Ven. Fr. Agnelo, in England. I have had the opportunity to know the members of this association when I first took over as the Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Ven. Agnelo in the year 2003, which coincided to be the Platinum Jubilee of the death of Ven. Agnelo. How vibrantly the members had helped me to arrange advertisements for the Souvenir for that occasion. Then I was also very fortunate to be the resource person of the seminar for the members of the governing body of this association, organised by Fr. Lucas along with Fr. Rosario Rosario, in London, in the year 2007. I recall with nostalgia the solemn mass in the same year organised by the association to mark the 80th Death Anniversary of Ven. Agnelo. Please excuse if I make a mention of three persons who for me are the pillars of this association, one is our late Fr. Sergio Mascarenhas who was the main brain of this association; the other two are Deacon Braz and Ms Nina Pinto. I salute Fr. Sergio for all that he did for the association and for the Cause and my hats off to the all the lay Pillars of the association. I also must appreciate with sincere gratitude all the financial help that the association continuously renders not only to further the Cause but also for the seminarians and for the missions. Above all, it will be a great omission if I fail to appreciate the commitment, the zeal of each and every member working towards this sublime Cause. I have also seen the eagerness and the anxiety of the members with which you all long for the day when our dream of seeing Ven. Agnelo on our altars will be realized. The only repeated question that each one of you kept asking, “when will the Church declare Fr. Agnelo a saint?” My answer to you then was and also now continues to be, “let us strive to do our best to do what we can, and in His time, it will be done”. Let us imbibe by the values of Fr. Agnelo, to emulate his saintly life. That is the purpose, why the Church requires saints and declares them so. They are not declared saints for themselves, they do not require it, but it is for us to learn from their lives, how they have walked the talk of the Gospel. Wishing you all the best for the occasion and imploring God’s blessings, through the intercession of Ven. Fr. Agnelo, on each one of the members of the Association and your families. Ex-Vice- Yours in Jesus Christ, Postulator Rev. Fr Tony Fr. Tony Savio Fernandes sfx Fernandes delivering (Ex-Vice Postulator) Homily 22nd October 2014, Rome Friends of Venerable Fr. Agnelo (UK) Working for the cause of the Beatification in the UK for 25 years (1989 - 2014) Silver Jubilee Edition 7 Friends of Venerable Fr. Agnelo (UK) Working for the cause of the Beatification in the UK for 25 years (1989 - 2014) Silver Jubilee Edition 8 The saints walk the road less travelled by others and make the difference from the known to the unknown. It gives me great joy and happiness to learn that the Association of the Friends of Ven. Agnelo (UK) is celebrating the Silver Jubilee of its foundation this year. On this occasion I send my prayerful good wishes and congratulations. It was in the year 1989 that due to the tireless efforts and farsighted vision of the members of the Society of Pilar, Goa, especially its then Superior General Rev Fr Galdino Monteiro, the then vice-postulator late Rev Fr Sergio Mascarenhas with much help from Fr Francis Carvalho that this association came into being to make Fr Agnelo known far and wide and to further the Cause of its beautification through prayers and activities. Since then the Association has grown and now has Prayer Centre’s spread in different parts of the UK. I earnestly hope that all those who come in contact with this association may emulate his saintly qualities and pray for his cause of sainthood. I implore the Almighty’s blessings on your celebrations and may it touch the hearts and lives of the people and transform them into bearers of peace and harmony in our society. Fr Fredrick Rodrigues General Councilor, Society of Pilar In charge of Foreign Units. Friends of Venerable Fr. Agnelo (UK) Working for the cause of the Beatification in the UK for 25 years (1989 - 2014) Silver Jubilee Edition 9 ASSOCIATION OF THE FRIENDS OF VEN FATHER AGNELO U K - (since 1989) By Jovito Dias , Chairman In historical context the concept of setting up a Prayer Group in London had probably been germinating and sprouting among the upper echelons of 'THE PILAR SOCIETY' for about two years before Pilar decided to sanction approval of a proposal submitted by the (late) Luis Mascarenhas and Felix de Souza.