PROVINCIAL CIRCULAR JANUARY 2021

DEAR CONFRERES, Cordial Greetings… Wish you a Hope-filled new year 2021. The entire world is imbalanced and gets worsened at the situation of the corona virus pandemic and much more panicked with the recent coronavirus-variant. The year 2020 has been a year of crisis, confusion and anxiety for so many of us. It has affected life around the globe. Isolation, contact restrictions and economic shutdown has imposed significantly a complete change to the psycho-social environment.

But 2020 also was a year of contemplation. At this time of pandemic and other natural disasters, we have experienced various forms of reflection, critical evaluation of life, feeling remorse of the havocs done to the mother earth, contemplation on God and His will, etc. This pandemic has also moved us to a more important aspect of life, to acknowledge one another as brothers and sisters, to extend ourselves to those in need, to be part of the suffering of the victims and the neglected. 2020 was a strange year of learning strange lessons indeed.

With a more positive outlook of humanitarian values, let us “Move by Hope” into 2021. The Lord has been so good and generous to all of us and his Love is constant. Let us reassure our hope in Him that he would deliver us from all dangers and would lead us in His wonderful ways of love and truth.

FEAST OF OUR PATRON AND FOUNDER On 24 January, we celebrate the feast of St. , the patron of our congregation, who inspired St. with his teachings on loving-kindness. Let us pray to him that we may imitate his extraordinary meekness and kindness.

On 31 January we celebrate the feast of our father and founder St. John Bosco. God has shown his loving face of a father to the poor and abandoned young people, in the person of St. John Bosco. This wonderful dedicated his entire life to the salvation of young people. And now we are his sons and we need to focus and refocus ourselves that we may imitate him in his divine love for young people. I recommend that we follow all our

PROVINCIAL CIRCULAR (January/2021) – (4p.cir14/Jan) SALESIAN PROVINCE of TIRUCHY Page | 1 traditional practices of praying the novena, conducting triduum service, organizing Bosco Month, and celebrating the feast with our close collaborators, young people and lay mission partners.

PONGAL – HARVEST FESTIVAL AND A DAY OF THANKSGIVING The farmers are going through a bad time these days as they fight untiringly for their rights and livelihood. A large number of farmers from all over the country have camped in protest, in and around the national capital, even at this coldest season of the year. Their agitation, agony, anxiety and anger are clearly expressed with the outburst of their cry and silent tears.

At this time, when our farmers are disturbed and unhappy, the meaningful celebration of Pongal would be to join hands with them, in their protest for their rights. We extend our solidarity and gratitude to them, to their families, and wish them happiness and God’s Blessings so that they may enjoy a happy and secure life always.

152nd MISSIONARY EXPEDITION – AN APPEAL FROM THE RECTOR MAJOR Rev. Fr. Angel Fernandez, our Beloved Rector Major, exhorts the Salesians to opt for missions especially at this time of distress, to be God’s sings and bearers of love and peace, to make all things new and to be the hope of the hopeless.

Rector Major says, ‘If it had not been for the missionary spirit of Don Bosco and the missionary generosity of the first Salesians, probably today we would only be a small congregation with few members.’ He has proposed to the Salesian Congregation after GC28, that it is a time of generosity for our Congregation which is always a missionary.

The Rector Major encourages all of us, to make a careful discernment if the Lord is calling to place ourselves for missio ad gentes, ad exteros, ad vitam anywhere in the world.

The Rector Major specifies some of the urgencies identified, for the 152nd missionary expedition, which will be held on 26 September 2021 at the Basilica of in Valdocco. He expects a significant number of confreres to be sent for this 152nd expedition. 1. in our presences in the Amazon and some missionary frontiers of Latin America; 2. in Salesian presences at the service of refugees and in the new frontiers of Africa; 3. in Lithuania, Bulgaria and other new frontiers of the Project Europe; 4. in Azerbaijan, Laos, Nepal, Mongolia, Yakutsk; 5. in our numerous presences in the islands of Oceania.

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I invite you, dear Confreres, to pay heed to the call of the Rector Major, to give time for reflection and opt for missions, if there is a genuine urge for missionary experience. I would go one step further to say that all of us should go through missionary life at some part of our lives which will make our life more meaningful and happy.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PROVINCIALS ELECT – INK & INN Rev. Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime, our Rector Major has appointed Fr. John Davis Maniparamben, SDB as the fifth Provincial of the Salesian Province of Jesus the Good Shepherd, New Delhi (INN), and Fr. Jose Koyickal, SDB as the eighth Provincial of the Sacred Heart Province, Bangalore (INK).

On behalf of the confreres and the Salesian family members of Tiruchy Province, I extend my hearty wishes to the two Provincials Elect and wish them God’s blessings and accompaniment as they take up this greater responsibility of leading the province.

Fr. John Davis will be installed on 08 February 2021 (05.00 pm) at Okhla New Delhi, and Fr. Jose Koyickal will be installed on 11 February 2021 (11.00 am) at Don Bosco Provincial House, Bangalore.

THERESPURAM (CANONICAL ERECTION) MADURAI SURYA NAGAR (PRESENCE) Rev. Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime, our Rector Major has given his approval for the canonical erection of the Therespuram Salesian community and to start an independent Salesian presence at Madurai Surya Nagar.

I am grateful to the Rector Major and his Council for considering our request and granting the approval. I am also indebted to Most. Rev. Antony Stephen, Bishop of Thoothukudi, for his written consent to go ahead with the canonical erection of Therespuram community. The communities will function as per the approval, from the next academic year, June 2021.

DISSEMINATION OF STRENNA 2021 The Dissemination of Strenna 2021 (Moved by Hope) will be held for all the leaders of our communities on 09 January 2021, Saturday at Don Bosco Provincial House, Kallukuzhy. The session will begin at 09.30 am and will get over by afternoon. The implementation of the Strenna at the province will be decided during this meeting. The Leaders in turn will organize a day of animation on the Strenna, in their respective Salesian presences, inviting all the Salesian Family members and young people of the neighborhood. The Rectors of the communities that are close by can decide to have the Strenna presentation together.

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PROVINCIAL COMMUNITY DAY This year the Provincial Community Day will be held at Don Bosco Youth Village Keeranur on 23 January 2021. It is our tradition that on this day we gather together to thank the Lord for the gifts and graces that we have received from Him and for the continuous assistance and accompaniment in our journey towards saving young souls. On this day we will felicitate the Jubilarians of the year: Diamond Jubilee of Ordination - Fr. Joseph Puthenkalam / Silver Jubilarians of Ordination - Fr. Albert Johnson, Fr. Doss Kennedy, Fr. Vincent Thamburaj / Diamond Jubilee of Religious Profession – Fr. John Vellayil / Silver Jubilarians of Religious Profession - Fr. David Lawrence, Fr. Vincent Vijayan.

At this time of the pandemic, we are indebted to thank the Lord as a family for his protection and accompaniment. I invite you dear confreres to join this celebration to cherish our togetherness, express our deep sense of belonging to the Province, our appreciation for our confreres, members of the Salesian Family, Lay mission partners and renew our fidelity to the young. The programme will begin with the Holy Eucharist at 9.30 am.

ANNUAL RETREAT (I) – GENERAL PATRONAGE The annual Retreat of the province is planned. Foreseeing the forthcoming legislative assembly elections, the first Retreat (General Patronage) is planned to be held in January. Retreat I: General Patronage, January 12 – 17 (Tuesday to Sunday). Fr. Suresh Felix of our Province, will be the preacher of the first retreat.

This year, the Province will organize five retreats: Three general patronage and one for those due for the perpetual profession. All these retreats will be held at The Retreat, Yercaud.

A separate retreat will be arranged for all the leaders of the province. This will take place in July 2021. Hence the leaders need not attend the retreats arranged during summer.

I recommend the Rectors and Leaders to inform the community to plan their programme accordingly and observe this annual spiritual moment without any excuse. The Vice Provincial will send the details of the retreats to the communities and I recommend the Leaders to reply with the participants' list, at the earliest.

VELLAKINAR and MANIKANDAM / Approval and Affiliation I am happy to inform you that our Don Bosco School of Excellence (CBSE) Vellakinar, is upgraded to Senior Secondary (XI, XII). The approval was received on December 08, after all the procedures of virtual inspections and online queries.

I am also happy to inform you that our Media College DB MaC, at Manikandam has got an affiliation from Bharathidhasan university to run one-year diploma courses.

I place on record the efforts of the Salesians, the hard work put in and the dedication with which they moved forward to obtain the approval and the affiliation.

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Recalling Events: • 30th Day Memorial Mass for Fr. K.O.Louis was held at Amsam on 04 December. • Leaders Meet was held at the provincial house on 05 December. The leaders were animated on the ‘action programme for the Salesian Congregation’ – the proposed Road Map of the Rector Major after GC 28,’ by Fr. Arul Maran the Vice Provincial and on the ‘new FCRA amendment Bill 2020, proposals, challenges and way forward,’ by Fr. Amaladoss the Economer. • Administrators & Accountants Meet was held at the provincial house on 11 December. They were animated by the Economer and his team on administrative matters.

Forthcoming Events… 09 Sat DBPH: Dissemination of Strenna 2021 (for leaders) 12 – 17 Tue – Sun The Retreat Yercuad: Retreat I – General Patronage 23 Sat DBYV Keeranur: Provincial Community Day DBYV Keeranur: Provincial Council Upcoming Salesian Feasts… 24 St. Francis De Sales (patron) 31 St. John Bosco (father and founder)

CONDOLENCES • On behalf of the province, I offer my sincere condolences to Fr. Benedict Rajakumar at the demise of his beloved father Mr. Irudayaraja (77) on 15 December. • To Fr. Benjamin at the demise of his elder sister Rev. Sr. Stella Rani (72), on 22 December. • To the provincial and confreres of INM Province at the demise of Fr. Felix Koikara SDB (83), on 25 December.

May the souls of the departed rest in peace!

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COMMUNITY REFLECTION: Building up communion – Part 11

Unity is external but Communion is internal bonding:

I remember a confrere sharing his personal experience in one of his communities, which was huge in number, almost 19 Salesians in the community. Two third of them were young Salesians. Visibly there was no problem in the community at all. The Prayer moments were well framed by the Liturgical animator. Regular prayers were held in the morning and evening. Holy Mass was excellently celebrated by the priests. Some of the priests had to be the main celebrant once a week or so. The Spiritual reading was regular and the community was fully present. The fraternal life was equally interesting. The birthdays were celebrated solemnly with detailed planning. There was adoration in all aspects. Outings were there frequently because it happened to be a formation house too. Evangelical aspects were also faithfully practiced. Everyone took directions from the Rector and poverty was consciously adhered to. The community seemed to be happy and no one could visibly notice anything wrong. But, confreres were not at their best. Something was missing that no one from outside could notice. But all of them individually felt so deep within. I guess there was external unity but there was no real communion of hearts.

Another leader shared the same feeling I have described above, with me recently. “How do you say that there is no unity in our community? We come together for prayer; we are there for meals on time; we are faithful in the practice of the recollections and the trimonthly; house councils and assemblies are held regularly. Are these not enough to show that there is unity in the community?” He was very true and sincere. I was reflecting on this rather seriously. I want to share with you my dear confreres, some of the thoughts, that are going on in my mind all these days, as I have been animating the province in the past one year about ‘communion of confreres’ in our communities.

Indeed, we are all faithful to the unity aspects of our community living. But the real concern is how much love we put into all these aspects? St. Augustine said, “Love and do what you want.” I suppose he meant that we cannot sin if we truly put love into it. True communion cannot exist without true love. And that is not easy either. It is not automatic too. It is a daily

PROVINCIAL CIRCULAR (January/2021) – (4p.cir14/Jan) SALESIAN PROVINCE of TIRUCHY Page | 6 fidelity and a conscious decision to practice in fullness. I just want to bring to your attention some of the aspects we need to practice daily with lots of love.

1. Brotherly charity in word and deed: Don Bosco reminds us in his writings, “When this brotherly love reigns in a community towards one another and all rejoice in another’s good just as though it were their own, then that house becomes heaven itself, and justifies the words of the prophet David: ’How good and pleasant it is when brothers live in unity.’ But as soon as self-love gains dominion there and disagreements and dislikes arise among the members, then that house quickly resembles hell.”

I was feeling very sad when a confrere shared with me, “My rector attacks me in good-night talks and I give him back during my sermon. So, there is only attacking going on in our communities.” What a pity! I could understand the struggle the confrere was going through within. It is not easy to live together in communities, especially when people are so different in temperaments and character. But that’s precisely the reason when we need to understand one another, give more space for another to grow, be patient and bear with one another as St. Paul says, “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal 6:2. Can we not meet in person and talk about things gently and politely with due respect and kindness? If the confrere is not in good mood, can we not wait for some time for the opportune time and mood? Real communion will take place only if there is ‘union of hearts.’ For this, love is essential and charity is the only choice.

There was yet another confrere who told me, “Either you transfer him or I will come to the provincial house.” There were indeed many issues in the community. But the transfer is certainly not the solution. Can we get transferred all the time when we have some relationship problems with confreres? Then transfer will be the only mission taking place in the province. There is not a single confrere who is not at fault all the time. Everyone has dark and bright sides to life. We need to be strict with ourselves and be free with others. We should not give an exception to ourselves and bypass the mistakes of others all the time. This is the golden rule of brotherly charity. If this happens in every community, I am sure there will be ‘communion of hearts’ and bonding will take place automatically.

2. Grumbling and backbiting will ruin our Congregation: These are the factors that are directly against brotherly charity. Our father and founder Don Bosco hated them most. I quote his words, “A great deal of harm is done in religious communities by fault-finding which is directly opposed to charity. Be careful therefore to avoid all that savours of fault- finding, especially against your companions and still more against your superiors.” Recently, I visited some confreres in another province. One of them casually asked me

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about an issue of one of our communities, which many of our own confreres are not aware of. Thanks be to God, it was communicated to me because I happen to be the provincial. I told the confrere with good humour. “I will contact you henceforth about all issues of our province.” Such is the speed of transfer of information. No wonder, some confreres are all the time busy with the cell phones. I am quite sure, they are not trying to solve the problems of the community.

Only those who are unhappy in their personal lives tend to be negative about everything. Those who want to contribute and build up the communities and the mission will have no time to grumble and murmur about things. Those who want to accomplish great things will certainly overlook the faults of others and their focus will be how to get things done in the best way possible given the fact that there are many limitations including the defects of fellow confreres. Those who are positive never grumble and those who grumble are never constructive. I remember when we were only two of us in one community, we had an unwritten rule. “Never talk about the province or the provincial or about other Salesians at the table.” We were faithful to it as long as we were two of us. When we became three in the community, it became a little more difficult. When we were four it was never possible to keep up the rule. No wonder, Don Bosco recommended this to the confreres very much.

3. Meekness is a virtue loved by Jesus Christ: “Learn from me” Jesus said, “for I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Mt 11:29. Humility is the virtue that we need most to build up communion in our communities. We should be humble enough to accept our mistakes, ask pardon from others and generous enough to forgive others not only when they ask for pardon but even when they do not come to us for forgiveness. “Love bears all things.”1Cor13:7. Don Bosco tells us, “Whatever you do or say, show well-mannered kindliness, not only towards superiors but towards all, especially towards those who offended you in the past, or who look upon you now with an unkindly eye.” I was surprised when a confrere told me, “Rector does not inform me when he goes out. He informs only the vice-rector. Hence, I also inform the vice-rector whenever I go out. Why should I respect the Rector when he does not respect me?” This is the test of humility. I am reminded of the Bible, “And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners to that.” Lk6:33. I think we should not love people because they love us, but rather out of the richness of the love we have, we should give to others much.

4. Openness to dialogue should become our way of life: As I am going around the communities for visitation, I am drawing attention to this aspect of Dialogue that should

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be practiced very much in our relationships with confreres. I am reminded of Fr. Stephen Kuncherakatt of happy memory, who was a great promoter of dialogue. We used to fool him saying that he used to dialogue till the person accepted his proposal. When he was the Novice Master at Vellakinar, I was the assistant of the novices. One of the confreres had a difference of opinion with him at Breakfast. The whole day we saw both of them walking on the corridor and the drive at various intervals. Finally, dialogue came to an end before dinner when the confrere accepted his request. Those of us who know Fr. Stephen, he was a fine gentleman, respecting individuals to a great extent. He used to dialogue even with the novices and he preferred that individuals get convinced of things before they plunge into action. “It takes time to lay the foundation but once the foundation is strong, the building is fast and strong,” he used to say. I did not understand then, but now I have no difference of opinion. I am also enamoured by the statement, “Take all your time. But your answer finally should be yes.”

There is so much treasure in dialogue. It needs a lot of humility to approach a person and talk about unpleasant matters. It needs patience to listen to the individual, though the confrere may be boring and irritating at times. It needs wisdom to understand the real story behind many of the built-up and covered-up subjective stories. Finally, there is a need for courage to accept the differences and challenges. But the result will be great. There will be a better understanding, more closeness between individuals, greater collaboration in community activities and deeper communion of hearts.

As we are entering into 2021, I wish and pray for all of us so that we may not only be united as confreres but grow deeper in communion and bonding is bound to happen in all our communities.

HAPPY FEAST OF ST. JOHN BOSCO!

Prayerful best wishes to all in the Family, Yours Affectionately in Don Bosco

Fr. Agilan Sarprasadam SDB Provincial – Salesian Province of Tiruchy, INT

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