FAMILY BOND c) Potta Jubilee Convention VINCENTIAN BULLETIN d) Bible Convention: Vavarath, Ahmednagar ................30 “Have charity the bond of perfection” (For Private Circulation Only) VII. Education and Media ......................................................31 Fee Scholarship and Charitable activities.......................63 Vol. 48/ No.1 March 2014 VIII. Social Service: Day-Care Homes ...................................38 IX. Our Seminaries ...............................................................40 Kothi ...........................................................................43 I. Editorial - Glorius Easter..................................................3 Padamugham...................................................................44 II. From The Generalate ........................................................5 Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune.......................................45 i) Travels and Visits ....................................................5 e) De Paul Institute, Bengaluru......................................45 ii) Family gathering at the generalate ..........................6 X. Pope Speaks: Work and Dignity .....................................49 iii) Benjamins Meet'14..................................................7 XI. Members Speak: Creativity ............................................50 iv) Visits........................................................................8 XII. Lenten message of Pope. ................................................58 v) Quinquenial Course 2014........................................8 vi) Combined Popular Mission 2014 ...........................9 III. News from Mary Matha Province ...................................... Vincentian Deacons for African continent.............11 Please send your contributions to the next issue of th New Priests' Orientation Seminar 2014.................12 Family Bond by 15 June 2014 Excellence Education ............................................13 Editor IV. News from St. Joseph Province.......................................... New Priests............................................................18 Bible convention at Jalalkhali ...............................19 Mortification: Priests as ministers of the sacred Mega Popular Mission...........................................22 mysteries, especially in the sacrifice of the Mass, act in a special way in the person of Christ who gave himself as a V. News From St. Thomas Province ....................................... victim to sanctify men. And this is why they are invited to a) Vincentian Provincial House, Rewa ..........................23 imitate what they handle, so that, as they celebrate the b) Ghoradongri, M.P ......................................................26 mystery of the Lord's death, they may take care to mortify VI. Retreats and Conventions ...............................................27 their members from vices and concupiscence (Vat. II, a) Popular Mission and Conventions .............................27 Presbyterorum Ordinis No.13). b) Marymatha Province..................................................28 in comfort and well-being, enjoying ourselves, worry free... to live EDITORIAL for oneself, without minding others, or at the very best, the minimum necessary to keep one’s conscience at ease, but certainly not because of a sense of justice, love or ‘forgotten’ vows. Just look over the Once again we are blessed with another opportunity to celebrate shoulders and listen, “Son, remember that you in your life time the most holy feast of Easter in a fitting way and with the right received your good things … “(Lk.16.25). orientation looking forward to the possibility of rising with Christ. Mt.25.31 lets us to mull over the essentials of our faith: feeding It calls for a renewed attachment to Jesus and to his teachings the hungry, giving the thirsty to drink, clothing the naked, visiting befitting the right spirit of discipleship. St. Paul asserts, “If the spirit the sick… . Our treasure is God. Pope Francis guides that our life of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then he who should be simple and plain, so as not to divide our heart with raised Christ from the dead will bring your mortal bodies to life also, unnecessary pleasures of the table and the world. It is worth through his Spirit dwelling in you” (Rom. 8.11). So the Lenten remembering that the rich men in Samaria were warned and season is a welcome period to examine ourselves as to the presence condemned by prophet Amos (Amos 6.4-7). and action of the Holy Spirit and to strive with an earnest effort to Easter is a feast not just for celebration but for strong action; to grow in the indwelling Spirit and enjoy that union. It will assure us of bring about changes in the social order too. Vat. II G.S.10 says, The the message of the peace and joy of the glorious Easter. Church believes in that Christ, who died and was raised for the sake As to the general public a priest’s 'habit' generates a type of all (2Cor.5.15) can show man the way and strengthen him through respect due to the presence of Jesus and Holy Spirit in their midst. As the spirit in order to be worthy of his destiny: nor is there any other regards the elected ones the Lenten season is a period of self- name under heaven given among men by which they can be saved evaluation to and self criticism escape the criticism that Jesus leveled (Acts.4.12). It is a season to bear witness to the resurrection by word against the hypocrisy of his opponents, “Be on guard against the and action. The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity tells, scribes, who like to parade around in their robes and accept marks of “Charitable action today can and should reach all men and all needs. respect in public ……. It is they who will receive the severest Where ever men are to be found who are in need of food and drink, of sentence” (Mk. 12.38 – 40). The spirit that Jesus expects from his clothing, housing, medicine, work and education …. Christian elected followers can be observed also in the dialogue that just charity should go in search of them and find them out, comfort them precedes indicating the stringent observance of the Great with devoted care and give them the helps that will relieve their Commandment of love and charity (Mk. 12.20-34). The parable of needs (A.A.8). This is what the Society of St. Vincent De Paul does the rich man in Lk.12.16-24 seems to be a warning also against the and the Vincentian Congregation could think of being at the front ways with ulterior motives of luxury and comforts - rather than wagon. having a vision of genuine missionary and pastoral aspects and Halleluiah! Christ is raised! interests of the Congregation. Fr. Varghese Chackumkuzhy V.C. Our society reminds us, constantly, that we have to live well, 3 4 March 25-26 - VH.Entebbe II. NEWS FROM THE GENERALATE March 27-28 - VH Kayunga March 29-30 - VH Masaka March 31 - VH Entebbe i. Travels and Visits April 2 -3 - VH Nairobi Very Rev. Fr. Varghese Parappuram, the Superior General, April 04 - Thika and Rev. Fr. George Vettaparambil, the General Councilor, April 05 - Kalimoni went to Maharashtra on the 16th January. They participated in the blessing of the new Vincentian House at Yeola on the 18th April 07 - return to Edappilly January and in the Priestly Ordination of Fr. Joseph Fr. Jojo Marippattu travelled to Europe on March 15th and Eluvathingal in Panvel on the 19th January. will come back on the 15th of April. He is invited to preach a few Fr. Superior General visited the Vincentian House, retreats there. He will also visit our priests in Europe. Thiruvananthapuram, on January 28 & 29. He participated in Rev. Fr. Mathew Vattakuzhy went to De Paul Institute, the Annual day celebration of the De Paul Public School, Bengaluru to give classes to our Seminarians. Fr. Mathew Rajamudi, on January 31. Fr. Superior General was the main Vattakuzhy who had accompanied Bp. M.Vaniakizhakkel to celebrant of the Holy Eucharistic celebration on Sunday, 2nd th February at the Potta Bible Convention 2014. Satna came back in the Generalate on 12 March via Delhi and Ujwa. Fr. Superior General visited Minor Seminary Nedumkunnam on 23 & 24 February. He also visited Rev. Fr. George Vettaparambil went to De Paul Institute, Vincentian Novitiate, Padamugham, on 27 & 28 February. He Bengaluru, to give classes to our seminarians. He came back on presided over the inaugural Eucharistic celebration of the February22. He again went to Bangaluru to conduct the nd combined Popular Mission Retreat in Kuravilangad on 2 comprehensive examinations in De Paul Institute, returned to March. the Generalate on March 11. Fr. Superior General’s visit to Africa: Fr. Superior ii. Family Gathering at the Generalate General went to Africa on 15th March and will be back on the 7th of April. He will visit all our Houses and members in the A combined celebration of the Home Day and reception to Sacred Heart Region according to the following schedule: the new priests and to the Jubilarians was held in the March 16-18 - VH Vikindu Generalate on 11th January 2014. All the three Golden March 19 - VH Kigoma Jubilarians, namely Rev. Frs. Varghese Muzhuthettu, George March 20-22 - VH Uvinza Vempilly, Jacob Athickal, and from among the six Silver March 23 - VH Kigoma Jubilarians Rev.Frs. Paul Pambrayil and John Puthussery were present. Frs. Joseph Erambil, John Manickathan, Thomas 5 6 Neerolickal and James Vattakunnel could not reach here. The iii. Benjamins Meet ’14 emotion of Ps.133, “How very good