FAMILY BOND (VINCENTIAN BULLETIN) Have charity the bond of perfection (Col. 3: 14 (For private circulation only) Vol.50/ No.4 Dec. 2015 I. Editorial - CHRISTMAS DUTY 04 II. News From the Generalate 06 III. Mary Matha Province 10 IV. St. Joseph Province 18 V. St. Thomas Province 21 VI. Formation Houses 26 VII. Education and Media 35 VIII. Social Service 39 IX. History 1) Bilari: De Paul School 42 2) Thottakam 47 X. New Priests 2015 – 16 52 XI. Popular Missions and Retreats 67 Life is a circle of Happiness, Sadness, Hard times, and Good times. If you are going through hard times, have faith that good times are on the way. Family Bond -December 2015 I CHRISTMAS DUTY - EDUCATION FOR PEACE AND HARMONY During the liturgical period of Annunciation we pray in the Holy Mass: “Jesus, Lord of the nations and King of peace come to establish peace and harmony in the whole world and especially in our country”. It is our duty to translate this prayer into action even after Christmas. The right means are various steps in the apostolate of education for enlightening the younger folk. Indeed peace was the message given at the birth of Jesus, “…Peace on earth” (Lk.2.14). A grown- up Jesus understood that his mission was to bring the kingdom in all its fullness to us. His message, - ‘the reign of God is imminent’ - calls for a heart full of love, ears open to the cry of the poor, and hands willing to help. Bringing peace, well-being and joy were the marks of His Kingdom announced through the first Twelve and then with the help of the Seventy two disciples. This was the first step of mass education for reformation. Establishing peace through reformation was the need of the time as St. Peter had pointed out, “Already you have devoted enough time … living lives of debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and wanton idolatry” (1Pet.4.3). St. Paul preached with his band and wrote to the Colossians for another bold step forward, “…put on a new man, one who grows in knowledge as he is formed anew in the image of his Creator” Col.3.10). Of course, the Vincentians are known to have brought some 4 Family Bond -December 2015 reformation in the lives of the grown- ups. Yet to be more successful, to have long lasting results ‘the fishers of men’ have to catch them when they are young. Good formation from the tender age is the need of the time. A concerted Vincentian effort is to be felt in every School and College that we run. The apostolate of education must be seen as a serious means in bringing the ‘euphoria of Christmas’ down to the masses. It should be a group activity rather than a random experiment in achieving an opening to the Missions. It is for establishing the kingdom of peace and glory of God other than any temporal motive. It is for establishing a wiser and mature Bharat founded on healthy ethical grounds that we toil in the Indian circumstances. The public should know that Christmas is not the presentation or exhibition of the well-attired Bp. Nicolas but is the celebration of the birthday of Jesus who inspired Nicolas to make use of his wealth to bring about family welfare among the needy after the pattern of Jesus who shed even his last drop of blood to establish the kingdom joy and peace with the Neighbour and God. Wish you a very happy Christmas and a Brighter New Year! Fr. Varghese Chackumkuzhy VC Editor Note: The next issue of the Family Bond is to appear in March 2016. Kindly let everyone of the Congregation appreciate your efforts at your posts. Please, keep on sending your reports for Family Bond that unites us under the same umbrella. Editor 5 Family Bond -December 2015 II News From the Generalate Fr. Varghese Parappuram and Fr. Mathew Vattakuzhy participated in the Priestly Ordination of Dn. Joseph Thundathil at Gudalur on 17 Oct. 2015. On their way, they visited Vincentian House, Nilambur. Fr.Varghese Parappuram proceeded after the Ordination to De Paul Institute, Bangalore to give classes to the seminarians for two weeks. Generalate community participated in the Gathering of Religious at St. George Forane Church, Edappally on 11th October: Fr Varghese Parappuram celebrated the Sunday Mass and gave the homily too. Thereafter during the meeting Fr. Jojo Marippattu gave a talk on consecrated life based on the teachings and example of Pope Francis. It was well appreciated. The rosary devotion got concluded with due solemnity in our Generalate Chapel. The general public which attend the Holy Mass on Sundays here were very enthusiastic at the devotion. Fr. George Vettaparambil gives a few lectures on Philosophical Ethics at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva every week. Fr. Sebastian Chooranolickal was in the Popular Mission Retreat team at Podimattam, Kanjirappally in Sep.- Oct.2015. Fr Jojo Marippat was a full time preacher at the Popular Mission at Muttuchira,Pala from 29th November 2015. Founder’s Day On October 24th we commemorated the death anniversary of Fr. Varkey Kattarath at Thottakam. As was in the notice Fr. John Erambil was the main preacher, Fr. Paul Puthuva offered Holy Mass, Fr. Alex 6 Family Bond -December 2015 Chalangady gave the homily, Fr. Jomon Kaipadakunnel conducted the Adoration. There were many priests and seminarians for the ceremony. People from nearby Thottakam and nearby our houses participated in it. Fr. Superior General and Fr.George Vettaparambil attended the Governing Body meeting of the De Paul Institute held at Bangalore on October 31st. Fr. Mathew Vattakuzhy went to Bangalore to give one- week long class in De Paul. He participated in the Blessing of the new retreat Centre in Jamshedpur on 21Nov. and visited the neighbouring Centres and came back on 3rd December 2015. Generalate conducted the Preachers’ Meet on November 14th. It was well attended. Annual Retreats The annual retreat (8 -13 Oct.) for our Confreres working in S.H. Region, East Africa, was conducted at Vincentian Prayer House, Nairobi by Very Rev. Fr. Jacob Achandy CMI, the Prior General of CMI. Out of our 26 fathers working in S.H. Region, 22 took advantage of it. Fr. Varghese Chakkumkuzhy attended the Annual Retreat at Divine Retreat Ashram, Faridabad from 18th Oct.2015. Dr. George Panthalany, Asst Director of Sanyasa, Bangalore preached the retreat. There were 25 participants besides the 22 members of St. Thomas Province. After the retreat Fr. V. Chackumkuzhy visited our Houses in Delhi and U.P. and came back on Nov.1. The third batch of the retreat started on 8 Nov. at the Generalate. It was attended by 59 priests. The preacher was Rt. Rev. ArchBp. John Moolachira. Rev. Fr. Jose Parappillil MSFS preached the fourth batch of annual retreat at the Generalate from Nov. 22. It was attended by 47 priests including Fr. George Vettaparambil. 7 Family Bond -December 2015 Considering the larger number the last batch of retreat (Dec. 06 – 11) was shifted to Muringoor. Fr. Shaji Dominic OFM Cap was the retreat preacher. More than 80 members participated. Fr. Jojo Marippatt gave a few classes to the priests and religious who made their retreat in DRC, Muringoor. He gives classes to the sisters frequently. He was absent from the Generalate in the first week of Dec. to take part in the Popular Mission at Muttuchira. News from Centre for Vincentian Animation De Paul Quiz for Teachers: In this third year of De Paul Quiz competitions, we have conducted it for the staff of our 7 De Paul schools in Kerala. The first level was a written exam which was conducted at each school, in which about 250 De Paul school teachers participated actively. Among them about 50 teachers got more than 80% marks. The second level was an oral quiz for a team of 2 from each school. It was conducted on November 7 at De Paul Public School Thodupuzha. The winners are the following: First Prize: De Paul Public School, Rajamudy (Rs. 5000) Second Prize: De Paul Higher Secondary School, Choondal (Rs. 3000) Third Prize: De Paul Higher Secondary School, Thodupuzha (Rs. 2000) The Quiz programme was organized by Fr. Sebastian Thundathikunnel, the director of CVA, and the quiz master was Fr. Shaji Chilambikunnel. Fr. Jacob Athical gave away the cash prizes, medals and certificates. The deacons of Vidyabhavan also helped as technical assistants. Congratulations to the winners as well as to the co-ordinators. De Paul Quiz 2015 in Sunday Schools: In this third year of De Paul Quiz competitions, we have conducted it for the students of Sunday schools in 20 parishes where our seminarians are going for pastoral ministry. Around 800 students wrote the exam. The winners were given cash awards, medals and certificates. It was conducted by Fr. Sebastian Thundathikunnel, Director, CVA, in 8 Family Bond -December 2015 association with the seminarians of Vidyabhavan. The name of the students, marks and the name of the parishes are the following: UP Section I Rank Rosemia Joy 47 Nedumgadu II Rank Evilin Sunil 44 Divine III Rank Atheena Sebastian 41 Divine HS Section I Rank Noyal Thomas 47 Manickamangalam II Rank Anna Rajan 46 Kadavanthara III Rank Josemi Joy 45 Sebipuram DEPLOMA Section I Rank Anisha Xavier 49 Sebipuram II Rank Jomol Joy 45 Sebipuram III Rank Maria Davis 44 Manickamangalam III Rank Daliya Bernard 44 Divine Well done! Thanks and congratulations are due to the organizers and the participants. One-day Educational Seminar A seminar was arranged at De Paul College Auditorium, Angamaly on Saturday, 12th of December, 2015.