Newsletter of the Saint Thomas Province, India HOSPITALLER ORDER OF SAINT JOHN OF GOD

Transcription

1 H E A L I N G Newsletter of the Saint Thomas Province, India HOSPITALLER ORDER OF SAINT JOHN OF GOD Volume IV, Issue 12 April 2010 From the Provincial s Desk My Dear Brothers, Sisters, Co-workers & Friends in Risen Christ, Second Provincial Chapter of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, St. Thomas Province India In today s context Religious life is facing a crisis; we face the problem of vocational fragility. Only radical commitment to our mission of hospitality can give meaning and stability to religious life. When we say mission it does not imply just doing good to others. It implies a change of heart. It means enjoying and communicating God s love. We are committed to Jesus who is present among his people who are sick, needy and marginalized. Jesus becomes visible in his people. We need transformation to consummate the vision of Jesus. How do we bring about this transformation? Politicians speak about this transformation but for their own interest. We work for this transformation implied by Gospel values that Jesus left to us. We say with Samuel, speak Lord, your servant listens. We listen to those near us, the members of the community surrounding us; we adapt a prophetic style of responding to the needs of our neighbours. See how Jesus starts His ministry among people around him in Palestine. Every day as we aptly begin our work by participating in Eucharist, let us commit ourselves anew to the mission entrust to us that of transforming the world with a prophetic spirit. The Indian Province celebrated its second Provincial Chapter from 15 th to 20 th February Provincial leadership had appointed a Preparatory Commission and they worked hard for various preparations. An evaluation on the life of the Province was carried out before the Provincial Chapter and its scientific report was done by the commission. As a preparation for the Chapter, all the members of the Province gathered in two batches at Kattappana and Velloor and discussed the life of the Province. The Provincial Chapter officially began on 15 February 2010 at Poonamallee with the Holy Mass. The Inaugural Holy Mass was presided by Rev. Fr. Bellarmine SDB, Rector, BECCHI House, Mangadu. Yours fraternally, Bro. Antony Palamattom OH Provincial Healing 1

2 He delivered a speech on Leadership in Religious Life and Religious Life in the Modern World in the Chapter. The theme of the Chapter was Fidelity to the Mission Means Fidelity to the Charism of Hospitality. Prior General Bro. Donatus Forkan presided over the Provincial Chapter and he was accompanied by his Councillor, Bro. Vincent Kochamkunnel who is responsible for Mission and Asia Pacific Region. Fr. Mathew Vallipalam OFM Cap. was the facilitator of the Chapter. Bro. Francis Mannaparampil was elected as Secretary. Bro. Savio Padinjarekutte and Bro. Binish Mulakcal were elected as scrutineers of the Chapter. All the Solemn Professed Brothers with the exception of Bro. Prakash Madappally and Bro. Joseph Kattackal. Bro. Salim Lakra participated in the whole chapter as representative of Scholastics. Indian Province for the next Four years. (The Order, through an amendment made in its General Statutes at the Extraordinary General Chapter held in Mexico in November 2009, revised the term for the Provincial Leadership from three years to four years with effect from the 2010 Provincial Chapters). Then on the following day 20 th February, the Chapter elected Bro. George Kizhakkenath, Bro. Pius Manithottiyil, Bro. Piuskutty Kochuparampil and Bro. Raphael Swamydoss as Councillors. The Chapter concluded on 20 th February. In addition to him eight co-workers, (two St. John of God Sisters and other six co-workers) participated in the Chapter on 16 February They are Dr. Sr. Jyothis James and Sr. Elzit Tom (Sisters of Charity of St. John of God), Dr. Jolly Varghese (St. John s Hospital, Kattappana), Mr. Jacob Kora (St. John s Hospital, Kattappana), Dr. M. Wilfred (Santhi Nilayam, Trichy), Mr. Tanson (St. John of God, Special School, Velloor), Mr. Thomas George (St. Thomas Home for the Aged, Poonamallee) and Mr. M. Raja (Poonamallee). Bro. Baiju Valuparampil (commission for formation of co-workers) thanked the co-workers. New Leadership of the Province On 19 February 2010, on the day of discernment, the chapter elected Rev. Bro. Antony Palamattom as the new Provincial of the Visit of Bishops Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Viruthikulangara, Archbishop of Nagpur and Rt. Rev. Dr. Sebastian Durairaj, Bishop of Khandwa Diocese visited the Brothers during their Provincial Chapter on 18 th February Archbishop Abraham Viruthijulangara who is aggregated to the Order. He addressed the Assembly, assuring his prayers and blessings for a fruitful Chapter and invited the Brothers to start a community in his Diocese. Golden Jubilee Celebration of Prior General Prior General of the Hospitaller Order, Brother Donatus Forkan is in the Golden Jubilee year of his Religious Profession. The Indian Province celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 16 th February 2010 at Poonamallee. Healing 2

3 Appointment and Transfers The Second Provincial Council Meeting of the new Provincial Leadership Team was held on 24 th February 2010 at Kattappana. The main agenda of the meeting was the appointment of various office bearers and assigning duties of the newly elected Provincial Councillors. The Council nominated the following Brothers as office bearers and requested the Prior General to appoint them. Provincial : Bro. Antony Palamattom OH Provincial Councillors: 1st : Bro. George Kizhakkenath OH Commission for Religious and Spiritual life 2nd : Bro. Pius Manithottiyil OH Commission for Bio- Ethics and Pastoral Care 3rd : Bro. Pius Augustine Kochuparampil OH Commission for Vocation Promotion and Formation 4th : Bro. Raphael Swamydoss OH Commission for Formation of Co-workers Provincial Secretary: Provincial Bursar: Bro. Aloysius Mattathil OH Novice Master: Bro. Raphael Swamydoss OH Scholastic Master: Bro. Benedict Nadayil OH Prior, Kattappana Community: Bro. Pius Manithottiyil OH Director, St. John s Hospital: Bro. Baiju Chacko Valuparampil OH Asst. Director, St. John s Hospital: Bro. Thomas Kanjiramoottil OH Director, Pratheeksha Bhavan: Bro. Jose Mathew Thottathil OH Prior, Poonamallee Community: Bro. George Kizhakkenath OH Prior, Deshgaon Community: Bro. Savio Padinjarekutte OH Prior, Velloor Community: Bro. Benedict Nadayil OH Director, Velloor Centre: Bro. Augustine Polaprayil OH Prior and Director, Trichy: Bro. Francis Mannaparampil (Sac) OH In-charge Vellervally: Bro. George Kizhakkekara (Sac) OH Postulants and Aspirants Master: Vocation Promoters Coordinator: Bro. Piuskutty Augustine Kochuparampil OH Vocation Promoter in Kerala: Bro. Pius George Vattothukunnel OH Vocation Promoter in Tamil Nadu: Vocation Promoter in N. India: Bro. Yanka Sharma OH Assisted by Bro. Salim Lakara OH Director, Mauritius Project: Bro. Johny George Pullanthithundathil OH Commission for Professional Studies and long term Courses: Bro. Piuskutty Augustine Kochuparampil OH (Head) Bro. Pius Manithottiyil OH (Member) Bro. George Kizhakkenath OH (Member) Handing over ceremony at different centers Kattappana On , it was a joyful occasion of family of St. John of God who gathered in St. John s auditorium. The program began at 3.20 p.m. Dr. Mathew Jacob (Medical Superintendent) expressed the warm welcome to the participants. Rev. Bro. Antony Palamattom the newly elected Provincial addressed the gathering and introduced the incoming office bearers of Kattappana Center and Councillors. Bro. Pius Manithottiyil, the outgoing Director of St. John s Hospital addressed. The representatives of staff and students felicitated. Bro. Baiju the new Director of St. John s Hospital addressed. Finally Mr. Binoy K. Philip expressed his gratitude. The program ended with refreshment. Healing 3

4 Velloor The Provincial leadership reached Velloor and the function started at am on 16 th March with the presence of the PTA executive, students and staff of the centre. Mr. Dipu John, the Principal welcomed all the guests and stressed the importance of John of God Sisters service in the centre. Provincial, Bro. Antony Palamattom, presided over the meeting and in his presidential address and introduced his council members, the new Prior of the community - Bro. Benedict Nadayil and the Director of the Centre - Bro. Augustine Polaprayil. Mr. Shaji, PTA president facilitated and requested the Provincial for the service of John of God Sisters. The Provincial Rev. Bro. Antony Palamattom announced that four Sisters from the Congregation of Sisters of Charity of St. John of God will join soon in the centre after preparing an agreement between Sister General and the Provincial. On the same day Bro. Benedict and Bro. Augustine took the responsibility as prior and director respectively. needs of the centre. Rev. Fr. Dominic Palathunkal joined the centre on 25 th March 2010 as chaplain. He was accompanied by 20 priests from the Priest home at Ithithanam. John of God Sisters who are working in the Priest home and two Medical Mission Sisters from Ithithanam also accompanied them. The centre gave them a warm welcome. Farewell to Sisters at St. John of God Centre History of St. John of God in Tamil St. Thomas Province published the life history of St. John of God for first time in Tamil. The book was written by. Prior General Bro. Donatus Forkan released the book during the function held on 16 th February 2010 at Poonamallee. Bro. Augustine Polaprayil received the first copy of the book. Preparatory Course Novices with Velloor community members New Chaplain for St. John of God Centre As requested by Bro. Benedict Nadayil - Prior and Bro. Augustine Polaprayil - Director, Archbishop Mar Joseph Perumthottam arranged a priest from the Changanasserry Archdiocese to meet the spiritual In accordance with the guidance given by the General Curia, the Indian Province organized a preparatory course for all the new office bearers Healing 4

5 from 9 th to 11 th March The course was guided by Fr. Felix Koikara SDB and Fr. Jayaraj SDB at Salesian Youth Animation Centre, Ennore. On these three days residential programme, classes were mainly focused on Community Building, Emotional Awareness, Personal Growth, Conflict Management, Time Management, Emotional Maturity and Jesus Leadership Style etc. The course was very much appreciated by the participants. Mission in Sri Lanka As decided by the previous leadership team, Bro. Albert Thekkumkaduthadathil and Bro. Bino Parakkanassery left for Badulla, Sri Lanka on 5 th April 2010 as the first step of starting a Mission of the Hospitaller Order. Bro. Antony Palamattom, the Provincial, Bro. George Kizhakkenath, the Provincial Councillor and Bro. Aloysius Mattathil, Province Bursar accompanied them. Rt. Rev. Dr. J. Winston S. Fernando, S.S.S., Bishop of Badulla Diocese extended them a warm welcome to his Diocese. The initial expenses of the Project are financed by the English Province. The Brothers have rented a house near Badulla. They work together with the Diocese of Badulla and make a feasible study that would help the Provincial Leadership to decide a suitable Apostolate for the future. the request favourably. As a process of takeover, there was a meeting with French Provincial Alain- Samuel Jeanceler and Bro. Antony Palamattom on 14 th March 2010 in Mauritius. Bro. Mathieu Sisahaye from French Province and Bro. Johny George Pullanthithundathil also participated in the meeting. It was a successful meeting and decided to go ahead with process. As part of the meeting the participants met the Bishop Maurice E. Piat c.s.sp. (Bishop of Mauritius) at the Bishop s House. He has expressed happiness and extended his support to get visa for the Brothers. Visit Bro. Johny George Bro. Shiju Nanthikattu (Designated Brothers for Mauritius Project) Bro. Francis de Sales Chmiel, Prior of the Holy Family Hospital, Nazareth, Israel visited our Province from 27th February to 3rd March He was accompanied by Sr. James who is a member of the Sisters of Charity and working in the Holy Family Hospital. They visited Poonamallee, Trichy, Kattappana and Velloor Communities. Mauritius Project The French Province of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God expressed its desire to hand over the community and centre for the elderly people at Pamplemosses where Bro. Albert Thekkumkaduthadathil was Director from 2004 to September The Indian Province considered Ms. Malika Derschang, President of the Khandwa Mission e.v. Püttlingen, Germany visited our Province in March She visited Khandwa, Poonamallee, Velloor and Kattappana Communities from 14 th to 21 st March Healing 5

6 Bro. Salim Lakra Bro. Salim Lakra has successfully completed one year Intensive Diploma Course in Formative Spirituality from Siddhi Vihara, Mysore. At present he belongs to the Deshgaon Community and assisting Vocation Promotion in North India. Formators Meeting Feastdays May June July St. Richard Pampuri 01 Shibu Joseph Sagayaraj (Novice) 03 Bro. Morly Ambalathumkal 06 Bro. Savio Padinjarekutte 17 Bro. Pascual Piles (Ex-General) 23 Bro. Prakash Madappally 03 St. John Grande Bro. Antony Palamattom 13 Bro. Sathyan Mathai Chennakkattukunnel 21 Bro. Aloysius Mattathil 24 Bro. John Suresh Bro. Chinnapparaj Bro. Shailendra Ohariya Bro. Paul Varghese Kizhakkeveettil Bro. Thomas Kanjiramoottil Bro. Roy Mani Chelakkunnel Bro. Saji John Mullankuzhiyil Bro. Dhan Singh Jamra 11 Bro. Benedict Nadayil 13 Bro. Sudhir Chandar Tirkey 25 Bro. James Edayadil 31 Bro. Ignace Topno Formation and Vocation Promoters meeting was held on at Poonamallee at 10 a.m. arranged by Bro. Pius Augustine Kochuyparampil (Commission for Vocation Promotion and Formation). The meeting began invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Bro. Piuskutty Augustine Kochuparampil presided over the meeting and welcomed the participants. The following Brothers participated: Bro. Antony Palamattom, Bro. Georg Kizhakkekara, Bro. Benedict Nadayil, Bro. Piuskutty Augustine Kochuparampil, Bro. Chinnapparaj, Bro. Raphael Swamydoss, Bro. Pius V. George and Bro. Salim Lakra. Various level of Formation was discussed; many shared their opinions and suggestion for the Formation and Vocation Promotion. Hospitaller Order of St. John of God 53/54, Queen Victoria Road Poonamallee, Chennai , India , Mobile: Fax: pauljpoh@yahoo.co.in hrorder@md4.vsnl.net.in hrorder@dataone.in Web: From the Editor s Desk Gratitude is the best of attitudes. It is the key for opening doors of hearts. With deep sentiments of gratitude and love I bow my heads before each and everyone who did co-operate in the make-ready of this first issue of Healing (Newsletter of St. Thomas Province). In the following months you may see the addition of some new features and even a whole new look. In the mean time, I hope you are enjoying our newsletter. I am really excited about how far we have come, but even more, I am excited about what s ahead. I would like to hear from you! So you are welcome to leave your feedback. Kind Regards, Provincial Secretary Healing 6