Newsletter of the Congregation of the Mission APRIL 2019 THE SUPERIOR GENERAL AT THE CENTENNIAL JUBILEE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY (pag. 2) BISHOP SIMON KAIPURAM, C.M. (pag. 4) THE ORIGINS AND GOALS OF THE PROVINCE OF NIGERIA AND THE JOINED COVIAM FORMATION PROGRAM (pag. 6) INTEGRAL ECOLOGY AND THE CRIES AND HORIZONS OF THE AMAZON AT THE UNITED NATIONS (pag. 9) BISHOP RODOLFO FRANCISCO BOBADILLA MATA, CM (pag. 12) GENERAL INFORMATION (page.15) Province of Slovenia The Superior General at the Centennial Jubilee of the Province of Slovenia of the Daughters of Charity In the joy of the Paschal season, on The celebration started with adoration of Saturday after Easter, the Daughters the Most Blessed Sacrament, followed by of Charity of the Province of Slovenia the admission of the new Affiliates of the gathered with the members of the Daughters of Charity. Vincentian Family and their friends near the Church of Saint Joseph in Celje. This The Academy went back over the one- is where the first Vincentian priests of the hundred-years’ life of the Province Austrian Province came in 1852. And it by singing and short scenes. Then, is the same place where we thanked the the Superior General, in his address, Lord for the 100 years of the establishment summarized the history of the Province of our Province of, then Yugoslavia, now and stimulated us for the future. He began Slovenia. Superior General, Father Tomaž by invoking the image of the Jubilee: the Mavrič, Cardinal Franc Rode, Bishops, Crucified Christ and on his sides, Saint Vincentian priests, as well as other priests Vincent, Saint Louise, and the Servant of were with us. God, Sister Léopoldine Brandis, foundress 2 Province of Slovenia of the Province of Graz from which ours the seminary, was transferred back to comes. This happened after the First Slovenia. The signs of the time showed that World War, when new countries were it was appropriate to found the Region of formed and, consequently, provinces too. Albania-Kosovo. The future is in front of us. Jesus remains our first and only love. Sister Léopoldine Brandis, faithful to the All is for Him. The Blessed Virgin will show inspiration of the Holy Spirit, brought the us the paths to the poorest, to the people first sisters to Slovenia: to Maribor in 1843 of the peripheries. and to Ljubljana in 1852. Moreover, to watch over the sick at night, she called The afternoon Mass of thanksgiving, to life a new Community on our soil, presided over by Cardinal Franc Rode, the Daughters of the Sick, today the C.M., with the Superior General, Father Congregation of the Sisters of Mary of Tomaž Mavrič, the Archbishops, Bishops, the Miraculous Medal. Sister Léopoldine Vincentian priests, and other priests, who Brandis sowed the love of God among the collaborate with the Daughters of Charity poorest with all these Sisters. as concelebrants was the highlight of the day as well as our thanks for all the graces Because, under the new State of the Province has enjoyed throughout its Yugoslavia, the Sisters could no longer 100 years of existence. be dependent on the Superiors of Graz, on 5 April 1919, the new Province was The Lord did it that, on that very day, the established. Since then, 100 years have book, The Gift of Mary, was published. passed. The Province flourished. New It details the answers to prayers granted vocations arose. Permeated with the love through the intercession of Our Lady of of God despite difficulties, they could the Miraculous Medal. Thus, we could practice their mission of charity, striving offer it joyfully to all those who were to be faithful to the spirit of the Company celebrating with us. and the Founders from the foundation of the Province until the end of the Second World War in 1945. The Province then Sr. Davorina and Sr. Cveta Jost numbered more than 1200 Sisters. Daughters of Charity The war ended and with the new Communist regime, the Sisters gradually were expelled from all institutions. First, the educators, then, on 8 March 1948, the last Sisters were dismissed from their service in the hospitals. They could stay there if they were ready to leave the Company. Although now homeless, they were not forgotten by Divine Providence. Their houses were seized and some Sisters were imprisoned. Many others moved to Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia. The provincial house was transferred from Slovenia to Belgrade (in Serbia). The seminary was reopened. The candidates came from Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Slovenia. Since the fall of Communism and other political changes, Providence still guides the Province. The provincial house, with 3 India-North Province Bishop Simon Kaipuram, C.M. The second Bishop of Balasore, died suddenly (India-North Province) Fr. Simon Kaipuram C.M was born mission in Aligonda parish, Diocese of February 9, 1954 in Tanneermukkom Barhampur as his first assignment. A village, Diocese of Kottayam, Kerala, year later he was moved to Mohana India as one of six children of Chacko parish in the same diocese. In the same and Mary Kaipuram. Of his three time he continued his studies to get brothers and two sisters one is religious licentiate in Theology in 1985. Then in the Congregations of Sisters of he was assigned to Aquinas College, Providence. He received elementary Gopalpur as formatter and teacher. and secondary education in his hometown Kannankara. He passed the In 1990 he was sent to continue his Secondary School Leaving Certificate education at the Pontifical Gregorian (SSLC) Exam from St. Matthew’s High University in Rome, from where he got School in Kannankara in March 1969. the doctorate in biblical studies in 1993 and returned to his Province. His next Then, as a 15 years old man, he left his assignment was Theology Study House hometown and moved to another state in Pune. He was its Rector from 1994 to Orissa to respond to the call of becoming 1999. Then he became Dean of Studies the missionary in the Congregation of and formater in the Aquinas College the Mission. First, he entered the St. Peter’s Seminary at Bhanjanagar, and begun the initial formation in minor seminary under Fr. Thomas Thriuthalil CM, future bishop of Balasore. In 1972 he went to Aquinas College, Gopalpur to complete his Philosophy studies. On May 20, 1975 he entered the Congregation of the Mission and started his Internal Seminary course in now Province India-North. In 1977 we moved to Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune to complete Theological studies. On May 20, 1980 he was incorporated to the Congregation of the Mission and ordained deacon. Six month later, on December 20, 1980 Simon Kaipuram was ordained a priest and sent to a 4 India-North Province in Gopalpur until 2007. Next Father and Bishop Thomas Thiruthalil. C.M. was named formator at the Vincentian were co-consecrators. Minor Seminary, Baripada, Diocese of Balasore and finally in 2011 became Bishop Simon Kaipuram died suddenly Rector of the Aquinas College, in the morning of April 22, 2019 due Gopalpur. Meanwhile, he was member to massive heart attack. The Vincentian of College Consulters (1988-1990; community and the Church lost a great, 2001-2004) and Assistant Provincial missionary, Vincentian, good pastor, (2001-2004), Visiting Professor at wonderful man and good friend. various Seminaries and Theological Institutes in India. When Bishop Thomas Thriuthalil CM of Balasore resigned from his office due to age according to Canon Law and his resignation was accepted, Pope Francisus appointed Ft. Simon Kaipuram the next bishop of diocese of Balasore, December 9, 2013. He was consecrated bishop January 30, 2014 by Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Source: Nuntio in India. Archbishop John http://www.balasorediocese.org Barca, S.V.D of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar 5 Province of Nigeria The origins and goals of the Province of Nigeria and the joined COVIAM formation program The general background of the Province identity, charism, vocation and mission. of Nigeria: the statistics of this Province If these roots will be solidly deepened speak for itself. At the moment the and some constitutional structures will be Province is made of 118 members put in place to support its fast growth, including 8 Confreres transitional deacons no doubt, this Province will be one of the in formation program at Enugu formed future hopes for the entire Congregation by COVIAM. The average age of this of the Mission, not just for Africa only. wonderful Province is only 43.5. Indeed, a very young and fast growing Province The very Vincentian apostolates of the in the Congregation, not only in Africa. Province: Founders of this Province, Irish Of course, its major strength is its human missionaries, left three very Vincentian resource. It is not only a question of ministries as their legacy. These were: number as one might think, thanks to God, Retreats, Popular Missions and Diocesan this Province is also blessed with many Seminary Formation. However, at some highly intelligent, creative, talented and point of its history the Province was not gifted men. As the African proverb wisely highly faithful to maintain some of these says: “no matter how tall the tree is, it has apostolates, for instance the popular its roots somewhere”. This “somewhere” missions are a timid attempt to go back to regarding deep roots of this Province, I the original spirit. At some point, number do hope and pray, is in our Vincentian of confreres put attention and focus to 6 Province of Nigeria Construction of the COVIAM’s Seminary in ENUGU parishes in general, and “viable parishes” Since 2015 the Nigerian Province also in particular. However, despite of all this, proudly hosts the COVIAM formation there are some very good and typical program in Enugu, Nigeria.