Christmas - Love From Heaven Born In Us

Dear Friends,

We, the Jesuit community at Mount St Joseph, wish you all a Merry Christmas. May the birth of our Saviour bring abundant joy and happiness in your life!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Gingery Success in the Gardens!

It’s ginger bumper crop in Mount St Joseph Novitiate - The novices who had gingered up the activity in St Stanislaus garden by growing ginger, have finally tasted success. The ginger roots were planted at the fringes of the four plots of St Stanislaus garden in the month of June. A lot of sweat and toil went into the work which seems very sweet now. The novices themselves took delicate care of the plants after taking in advice and suggestions from many in the community. The total output has come to around 300 Kilos. We are grateful to the sisters of Holy Spirit Convent who provided us the ginger roots to begin with and also to everyone for their enthusiastic support.
"Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought" - A. S. Gyorgy

"Alone with the Alone"

Greetings from Mount St Joseph Novitiate, Bangalore. We, the Sixteen First Year Novices, are deeply joyful to inform you that we are beginning our Month’s Retreat on 01 November 2010 under the guidance of Fr Dion Vaz, our Novice Director. We humbly request you to pray for our inner journey as we walk with the Lord to be deeply rooted in His love and service.
Please do remember to pray for our Twelve Second Year Brothers as they are going for their Mission Experiment, an outward journey in faith. During this grace-filled time, we too assure you of our prayers for your Mission.

Seeking Your Prayers and Blessings,
Yours in Christ Jesus
First Year Novices

On We Go.....Pilgrimage to Anekal

The morning of 29 October saw the first year Novices leave to the Anekal Mission on a pilgrimage prior to the Month’s Retreat. After alighting from the bus at Bannerghatta, we took the long road to Anekal on foot. The trees along the road and the cool weather helped very much. The pilgrimage was done in silence and reciting the Rosary personally. We reached Anekal after a long walk of over twenty kilometers which we covered in a little over than three hours.
We were warmly welcomed by Fr Anil D'Mello and the community members. The Eucharist for the novices was celebrated by Fr. Jerome D’Souza. After Lunch, we proceeded towards the Parish - St. Joseph’s Church. Fr. Benedict warmly received us and we prayed the Rosary together. We returned to Mount ST Joseph in the evening spiritually strengthened, renewed and enriched.

Intensive Journal - A Journey into Oneself

The course on Intensive Journal helped us in our inward journey to integrate the Body, Heart, Mind and Spirit. Surely, the inner journey has enriched our lives!

The first year Novices who are gearing up for the Month’s Retreat were given a course on Intensive Journal from 25 to 27 of October by our Rector, Fr Francis Menezes. The course was adapted according to the needs of the novices as they are preparing for the Long Retreat. For three days there was silence in the Novitiate as the course required an atmosphere of silence and recollection. Despite the silence in the house the entire house was abuzz with activity, which brought a lot of liveliness and silent joy in the house.

Mother Mary – Our Lady of the Rosary

Mother Mary is a perfect model for us to imitate here on earth. Thomas A Kempis writes, “Mary is the friend of poverty, the way of humility, the model of patience and perfect in all things.” Therefore we must fix the gaze of our soul constantly on her for our spiritual interests and imitation. For us, Mary’s children, the Rosary should be the most loving, prayerful turning, a most tender appeal to our mother, convinced that her help and support is an absolute necessity in our lives. The Church is ever presenting to us for our contemplation, study and our imitation, Mary our mother and model. If we wish to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, to imitate him, we must model ourselves on Mother Mary.

Feedback: An ongoing Process of Growth

A life unreflected is not worth living. God speaks to us through events, persons and things. Feedback was the time when God spoke to us through our companions. We got a chance to be personally involved in the growth of each other. Two of our Brothers are happy to share their experience with us.

Joyal Sandeep: Feedback is a time to know more about my own life. It is a time to look at the lights and shadows i.e., positives and negatives of my life. It is a time to give and to receive an authentic feedback. It challenges us to work on our negatives and improve on our positives. It helps us to deepen our relationship with everyone and to be a person of discernment and consistency. This process is very important as it increases our self-awareness. I realized that I can become a better person and bring in the necessary changes in my life through the feedback session.

Calvin George: "An unreflected life is not worth living" said the great philosopher Socrates. Feedback is a process where we look into our lives from the point of view of others. It is an instrument from which we can look into our own past lives deeply and improve in our future life. By becoming aware of our strengths and weaknesses, we can be better persons and grow in our religious life. Truly, feedback is an ongoing process which leads to growth.

Given to God’s Service - Final Vows

This Sunday was indeed special to the Karnataka Jesuit Province, when Frs Roshan Lobo and Manoj Joseph D’Souza knelt in front of our Lord to pronounce their final vows on 29 August 2010 in the chapel of St Joseph’s Boys' High School, Bangalore. The choir by the Novices and the presence of the Province family enhanced the joy and brotherhood during the Eucharist celebrated by Fr Francis Serrao, the Provincial. There were wishes galore during the felicitation programme which was in the auditorium of the school. The newly Professed Fathers shared their experiences and joy with all the invitees. Fr Dion Vaz raised the toast on the occasion. As Frs Manoj and Roshan thank the Lord for the gift of their vocation and ready themselves to the new phase as Jesuits, we wish them success and contentment in their future.

“By birth I am an Albanian, by citizenship an Indian; I am a Catholic sister. By my mission I belong to the whole world, but my heart belongs to Jesus alone.”- Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

Do Re Mi... Sing Along With Me – Singing Classes

Starting from July 5 every Friday afternoon will see Mount St Joseph echo with the melodious voices of the Novices. Guiding the novices to take the right jump along the staves is none other than the maestro Fr Thomas Quadros (Fr Tom Q). The focus of these classes is to enable the Novices read and grasp the music notations. It will also help in picking up some basics in musical theory. To make the Novices' voices heard, exercises are selected from the beautiful collection of hymns and notations, “Cantate Domino.” With the help of the expert Fr Tom, we have set out sights on gaining mastery in music.

“Let us hear our voice in Him and His voice in us” St Augustine.

Enter into the Lord’s Courts! Entrance Day 2010

We were glad to formally welcome sixteen new novices into the community of Mount St Joseph on their Entrance Day on June 30. During the Entrance Day Mass in the morning, the 16 freshers received a copy of the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus from the Novice Director Fr Dion Vaz. The Socius, Fr Sunil Fernandes, gave them a picture of Jesus to remind them forever their life commitment as they took their very first steps as Jesuits. Fr Francis Menezes, the Rector, in a very fitting homily spoke about the implications of living as Companions of Jesus. After the Holy Mass, the community gathered in the refectory to felicitate the new Novices and the seniors gave them handmade greeting cards. The hard fought basketball match in the evening and common recreation after the supper relaxed us and increased our joy.

“Home is where the heart is” – Pliny.

Navataranga 2010 on the Speedway

On the background of the Vows day on 21 June, the Annual magazine of the Novitiate , Navataranga saw the light of day. The title of this years issue is "God's Love Made Visible". The lift-off took place during the short felicitation programme following the Vows Day Eucharist in the evening. Fr Vijay Prabhu, the Rector of St Joseph's College, inaugurated the volume which has reached to its 33rd issue. Here are the modified excerpts from the speech of the vovent, Ryan Rodrigues, the editor of the issue. "God, the author of life's journey has become part of us. Nature reveals to us the magnanimity of God's love. The modern world stresses on experience. If we have not experienced His love, we have experienced nothing. Navataranga 2010 radiates to you all our lived experience with the Triune God. We pray that our spiritual experience may be yours too". We wish that Navataranga 2010 may inspire in you a greater love for Jesus and His work. 
"If you would thoroughly know anything, teach it to others." T Edwards

Rooted in Love & Service

Twelve of our brothers strongly feel rooted in love and service to our Lord Jesus Christ. They came forward courageously to be and to go with Christ, looking on the world with His eyes, loving it with His heart and entering into its depth with His unlimited compassion. We had a two-fold celebration. First of all, twelve of our brothers (Ashwin D’Silva, Arvin Pais, Jaison D’Souza, Jason Marits, John Saldanha, Joyson Vaz, Martin Joseph, Paul Anand, Pradeep, Ruben D’souza, Ryan Rodrigues & Yesunand Karlekar) made their First Profession by placing themselves to be rooted in Christ’s love and to be the servants of His Kingdom. Secondly, we celebrated the feast of a young Saint of the Society of Jesus, St Aloysius Gonzaga - a man of great conviction who stood by the Spirit which led his faith into action. His motto: “The service of humanity is the service of God” is an inspiration for all of us.
The theme of the Eucharist was “Rooted in Love & Service.” Fr Francis Serrao, the Provincial of the Karnataka Province, presided over the Eucharist and received the Vows. Fr Dion, the Novice Director, inspired us with his moving message. Soon after the Eucharist, we had a short felicitation ceremony in the community refectory to greet the Vovents. During the Programme, the Annual bulletin of the Novitiate "Navataranga-2010" was released by Fr William Sequeira, our former Rector. The vovents feel grateful to Frs Francis Menezes (our Rector), William, Dion, Sunil & the Mount St Joseph community for their prayerful support and encouragement to commit ourselves entirely to the Lord. Above all, we thank the Lord and all of you for making this day a memorable one.

New Spring! Entry of First Years

June 16 was a special day for the Novitiate. The future of the Society seemed brighter today with the arrival of 16 new Novices. The list consists of 2 Novices from our neighbouring Andhra Province and 14 for our province.

The names of the freshers are as follows: 1.Albert Vasanth 2.Calvin George Michael 3.Chethan Anil Pinto 4.Gladwin Fernandes 5.Godwin Sequeira 6.Jaison Lobo 7.Joyal Sandeep 8.Leston Baptist Lobo 9.Nithin Coelho 10.Praveen Kiran Martis 11.Rayan Monis 12.Sameer Francis 13.Sharun Roy D’Souza 14.Sudeep Pinto 15.Vincent Vijayakumar 16.Vinod Mathias Saldanha. We wish these generous followers of Christ all the best as they begin the first run with the Lord in the Novitiate.

Report of the Novices Day

WILSON: When the sun smiled our Novices danced. A day of great joy and celebration as all the Novices came together as one family to celebrate the Novices day. It was a new and splendid idea to bring with an enriching talk given by Fr Jossy Lobo, who inspired us to be a prophet and mystic in today’s world. So the whole day was very colourful and filled with lots of fun and frolics.

ASHWIN: Joy filled my heart when I think about the Novices day. What I personally enriched is the community bond. It was a time of interaction, prayer, understanding, sharing, festivity & gratitude. I enjoyed this day very much beginning with the inspiring seminar by Fr Jossy. We thanked the Lord with hymns of praise and thanksgiving by sharing the Body & Blood of Christ. The plays by the Novices were like a golden glitter in my eyes.

JOHN: 'These are my members yet one body '(1 Cor 12, 26). This was the overall experience for me on the ‘Novices day’. Yes, though we are different parts, with different mission, we fit into one body of Christ. Fire in bones blazes constantly to partake in Christ mission. The manifestation of our mission is towards the vision of Christ, “Kingdom of God.” I enjoyed my day it was a wonderful and joyful occasion to be one in Christ.

Creative Fidelity-Earn and Live Experiment

Joyson Sujay Vas: "Never avoid the struggles in life, face it, this is really God's greatest gift." Life of a religious is becoming challenging in this globalized world. It is really difficult to delay gratification, in order to embrace the values of the Gospel. I truly experienced this in my earn & live experiment. It was a golden oppurtunity given by the Society to analyse the struggles of the outside world & to realize the value of money. I worked as a kitchen steward in a resort, owned by 'Manipal Group' at Singasandra, Bangalore. This hard labour helped me to realize the value of money to earn my daily bread. I found great meaning in remaining faithful to God & to myself while working. When I failed to respond to God's love, the Spirit awakened me to walk on the right path. After this fruitful experience, I feel strengthened spiritually, emotionally & socially. I strongly feel that it is not easy for a religious to be faithful to God in today's materialistic world unless s/he is deeply rooted in Christ's love.

Ryan Savio Rodrigues: "To each according to need, from each according to capacity." I was sent on an 'Earn & Live' Experiment for two weeks. The greatest challenge I faced was to search for a job without revealing my identity. After a day's search I got a job as a helper to the painter at a garage. My employer was very generous & patient as I went about learning the job & helping him in his work. What kept me going was long hours of work that were combined with the intercessory prayers for all those who have entered into my life. I learnt a lot about myself. I managed to survive with bare minimum things & lived a simple life. In the end I could save a little money even though I had to feed myself. I realized two important things...... God is the Ultimate & everything else is temporary. I learnt tough lessons in humility & understood that only humility can foster compassion. I was assured that God is compassionate to those who humble themselves.

An Exhilarating Day Out – Novices' Picnic Day

It was Novices' day out on May 20. Our excitement peaked as we reached Manipal County, our choice destination for this year’s annual picnic. The much sought after picnic spot set in natural colours at Singasandra (Hosur Road) was an appropriate spot for us to relax and refresh. There was no stopping us to swim and enjoy when we jumped into the cool waters of the swimming pool. The enjoyment aside, we found the occasion as the best time to build our community and to cherish in the presence of each other. We are grateful to Fr Dion and Fr Sunil our formators for their presence and support during the day out.

The New Rector, Fr Francis Menezes, Takes Charge

The winds of change have blown over Mount St Joseph! On May 9, the Shepherd’s staff was handed over by Fr Willie Sequeira to the lively and dynamic new Rector of Mount St Joseph, Fr Francis Menezes. The Thanksgiving Mass was at 6:30 pm in the Main Chapel followed by the handing-over ceremony. The homily aptly reflected the sentiments of this day. The new man on the job, Fr Francis, was welcomed into the community by the veteran Fr Frigidian Shenoy. The Novices, who were just back after a month of experiments, took care of the backstage works. Our hearts are brimming with gratitude for the service that Fr Willie has rendered to the community for the past 6 years and the principal guiding role that he has played. As we welcome the changing tide, we wish Frs Willie and Francis happy and fruitful life in the new phases of their lives.

“Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully." Philip Brooks.

Interview with Fr Hilary Pereira SJ

(1) How do you feel being here at Mount St Joseph since one year?

I am very happy. The presence of the Novices adds for my joy.

(2) What do you like most about the Society of Jesus?

The fellowship, community life and the opportunities which help us to grow. The Spiritual Exercises is the boon from St Ignatius, to grow in the right spirit.

(3) What is more satisfying and most difficult about being a Jesuit?

More satisfying is, opportunities are given to grow, especially in spiritual as well as in intellectual life. Sometimes it may be difficult to obey and to adjust oneself to various places.

(4) How can our young Jesuits become more creative?

Make use of the opportunities fully that you have in the Society of Jesus. Give more importance for reading good books and also listening to the experienced Jesuits who know about our way of life.

(5) What are your happiest memories?

My joining to the Society of Jesus & my day of Ordination. It was a great joy for me to serve in the schools and colleges and the opportunity of helping the most needy and backward students.

(6) What is your message for us, Novices?

Be a man of simplicity, integrity and hard work. Live one day at a time, work hard, pray much and always, & leave the result into God’s hands. Aim everything for the Greater Glory of God.

"Called to be a Prophet & a Mystic" (Novices' Day)

The Novices' Day (for the novices of the CRI Bannerughatta zone) was well organized at Mount St Joseph by Sr Ajitha and team. Br Felix (De LaSalle) was the overall Co-ordinator of the Novices’ program for this year. It was a memorable and enjoyable day for all. "Called to be a Prophet and a Mystic” was the theme of the day. In the morning session, Fr Jossie Lobo SJ gave an inspiring talk on the day's theme followed by a group discussion. The highlight of the talk was to compare ourselves to a child as we find in a child both the prophetic and the mystical dimensions. Surely, the talk geared us to be a prophet and a mystic.

The cultural program in the afternoon brought out the talents of all the novices. The program was entertaining, enthralling and gave a strong message to the novices i.e., “To be United always to face life courageously.” The novices were nourished in all the aspects of life. Programs of this kind give us an opportunity to interact with the novices of other religious congregations. The Novices' Day was held at Mount St Joseph this year as a part of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations. Memories and special moments of this day lingers on .....

"Aatma Poorna Anubhaava" (Ashram Experiment)

NOEL: “Still water runs deep.” This was my thought after relishing the richness and beauty of Indian Spirituality. “Atma,Purna,Anubhava” was the important aspect of my experience in the Ashram. It has enabled me to be in touch with God, oneself, others and the whole of the cosmos. "Anjali Ashram" in Mysore is a very quiet, serene and prayerful place with its vast greenery. Mother Nature had a greater role to play in my life during the experience. I felt in the core of my being that God’s Creation flows into action in our reality through prayer. Truly, an experience of intense depth to be an integrated person.

WILSON: “God is the only reality; our only activity is to be aware of this reality.” To become aware of oneself and surrender oneself to God completely was the experience I cherished during my Ashram experiment. One of my special learnings which inspired me from the Indian Spirituality was the 3-ways of life (the path of knowledge-Jnana marga, actions-Karma marga and loving devotion-Bhakti marga) to reach God. Some people have been in this search of the Spirit from ancient times and Indian spirituality is the result of this. There is only one God & any kind of Spirituality must lead us to God. Ultimately, what matters the most is that each one of us should have a deep God-experience to relate with oneself, others and the whole Universe. Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi - Let the peace of God surround us always in our lives!

Unforgettable Memories to Cherish (Home Experiment)

ANAND: What I cherished the most in my home experiment is the love and affection of my family members. My main objective was to spend quality time with my family members & to discern about my vocation. Many rich experiences have challenged & strengthened me to leave everything & follow God whole-heartedly. The dream of my parents is fulfilled and it is difficult to express my feelings in words but I can boldly say that my vocation has strengthened through this experiment. I am ready "to love and serve the needy."
YESU: I had a fruitful time during my home experiment to discern and to be a witness to my vocation. At the end of the experiment, I was able to achieve my goals that I had set before me. It was indeed very challenging but with my full efforts and the grace of God I had pretty wonderful experiences. The word ‘Home’ reminds me about the beginning of life. I went back to the first memories of my life. My memories and experiences renewed my life again. My openness with others helped me to broaden my circle of friendship and to understand them deeply. “Be true to yourself because your happiness is in your trueself but not in the hidden.”
JAISON: “East or West; home is the best.” Home experiment was the best occasion for me to reflect on my vocation and to say a generous ‘yes’ to God. I was eager to see my family members. As I reached the house, they received me with open arms. It was the time to integrate my life and work. This experience has touched & inspired me the most; in awe & wonder I express words of gratitude to God, my parents, relatives, formators and many more people who have shaped my life.
JOYSON: It is from our homes our brightest dreams take root. Indeed this was a unique and different experience of going home as a Jesuit Novice. First of all, I am grateful to God for giving me this great opportunity to spend my quality time with my family members. This experience of living & being with them has given a new meaning to my way of life. The nostalgic memories carried me to a different world; where I realized the role of the family in building a new society. These 7 days I was grateful to my parents in many ways. When I equipped myself fully in praying, loving, understanding & working with them, I understood the richness & beauty in life.

Golden Memories: Third Anniversary of our MSJ-Blog

Dear Friends,

All of you have been part of the ‘MSJ-Blog’ family. It is indeed great joy to know that so many of you browse our blog and appreciate it. Do you know the Birthday of MSJ-Blog? It is April 10, 2007. So, it is the THIRD ANNIVERSARY of the Blog. From a tiny seed, it has grown into a healthy & stronger sapling. Surely, in the years to come, it will grow into a mighty tree. Let the journey continue.....Over the last three years, MSJ-Blog has spread its wings beyond imagination. As we are in the Golden Jubilee Year of MSJ, it is a moment for us all to feel happy and proud.

We request you to support us by contributing your comments and valuable suggestions. Remember, the very fact you read this, you belong to the MSJ-Blog family. A BIG Thanks to all of you for your constant support and appreciation.

ಕ್ರಿಸ್ತನಲಿ ಚಿಗುರಿತು ಹೊಸ ಬಾಳು

"We are an Easter People; Alleluia is our Song"
ಬಲು ದೂರ ಹೋದೆ ನಾ ನಿಮ್ಮಿಂದ
ಮಾರು ಹೋಗಿ ಪ್ರಾಪಂಚಿಕ ಸುಖ-ಭೋಗಗಳಿಂದ
ನಾನು ನನ್ನದು ಎಂಬ ಅಹಂಕಾರ ಭಾವದಿಂದ
ಸವೆದೆ ನಾ ಕತ್ತಲೆಯ ಹಾದಿಯ ನನ್ನಿಚ್ಚೆಯಿಂದ
ಆಹಾ! ಬಂದಿತು ಆ ದಿವ್ಯ ತಪಸ್ಸು ಕಾಲ
ಬೆಳಗಿ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಿಸಲು ನನ್ನ ಜೀವನ ಜಾಲ
ಕ್ರಿಸ್ತ ಯಾತನೆಯ ಹೃದಯಾಂತರಾಳದಿ ಸವೆದು
ಧನ್ಯನಾದೆ ಅವರ ಕ್ಷಮಾಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ನೆನೆದು
ಅದೋ ನೋಡು ಚಿಗುರಿತು ಈ ಬಾಳು
ವಸಂತಕಾಲದಿ ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಯು ಚಿಗುರಿದಂತೆ
ಕ್ರಿಸ್ತನೇ ಬಾಳಿಗೆ ದೀಪಸ್ತಂಭ ನಮಗೆಲ್ಲಾ
ಸಾರಿರಿ ಧೈರ್ಯದಿ ಅವರನು ನೀವೆಲ್ಲಾ
ಪ್ರಭುಕ್ರಿಸ್ತರಲ್ಲಿದೆ ನಿತ್ಯ ಜೀವ ..... ಅವರೇ ನಮ್ಮ ಸರ್ವಸ್ವ .....

The Gift of Easter: New Life, Joy, Peace, Hope, Love!

The Gift of Easter: Easter is the gift of HOPE, Easter is the gift of JOY, Easter is the gift of PEACE, Easter is the gift of LOVE, Easter is the gift of NEW LIFE..... Let us rejoice in Jesus, who gives them all! "We are an Easter People; Alleluia is our Song" May the Risen Lord bless you all and fill your hearts with His love, joy, peace, hope, life,.....JESUS IS RISEN, ALLELUIA!

Memorable Moments - My Regency Experience

Sch Rajesh D'Souza shares with us his experiences of Regency at MSJ: It is beautifully said, "If you want something which you never had before, do something which you never had done before.....". Without having any first-hand information, I began my regency with love, dedication and selfless desire to serve the poor. In the process, my desire redoubled and God kept on guiding me. I was totally spell bound when I interacted with the children and youth in the School, College and Parish. I realized that they lack 'opportunities' in life but they are very friendly, creative and motivated to come up in life. They have taught me precious lessons in life. I am indebted to God and all these children and people.

How sweet and enchanting these Loyola buds are - though they are materially poor, the children are rich in human qualities and have a deep desire to learn. Our Master Jesus served the least, the last and the lost of our society. I too am inspired to give my best to the mission I am entrusted with. I felt all through the year that it was God's plan and opportunity for me to experience what poverty is. I am ready and willing to walk the extra mile in life ..... hoping for the better.

Holy Week Services in the Parish

Maundy Thursday (01/04/2010)
5.00 pm : Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the Parish (Kannada)
7.00 pm : Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the Parish (English)

Good Friday (02/04/2010)
8.30 am : Stations of the Cross in the Parish (English)
3.00 pm : Stations of the Cross in the Parish (Kannada)
4.00 pm : Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (Kannada)
6.30 pm : Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (English)

Holy Saturday (03/04/2010)
8.30 am : Coming down the Mount of Calvary with Mother Mary
7.00 pm : Easter Vigil Service in the Parish (Kannada)
9.30 pm : Easter Vigil Service in the Parish (English)

Easter Sunday (04/04/2010)
7.00 am : Easter Mass in the Parish (English)
8.30 am : Easter Mass in the Parish (Kannada)

Interview with Fr Frigidian Shenoy SJ

Interview with Fr Frigidian Shenoy (Golden Jubilarian of Priesthood) by Novice George Pinto

(1)What are your feelings as you are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Priesthood?

I am extremely happy & grateful to God because He gave me a long stretch of time to prove my life & love for him.

(2) Your message for the Priests as the Church celebrates this year as the ‘Year of Priests’?

A Priest must be a man of God. He should be able to bring people to God and God to people.

(3) What do you cherish most as a Jesuit?

The Society of Jesus has taken great care of me in order to be a loyal servant of Christ Jesus.

(4) You have been involved in a variety of ministries - Tell us in what different ministries can the Jesuits involve in today’s world?

There are several ministries appropriate to our time and context.

a) I consider as the top-most ministry is ‘Preaching the Good News’ so that the people come to know God and they learn to listen & obey His Word.

b) ‘Administration of the Sacraments’ - Christ chooses the Priest as an instrument to sanctify His people through His own Sacraments.

c) A Priest is ordained to celebrate the Eucharist on behalf of Christ Himself for His people.

(5) Your message to the Jesuits of Karnataka? What are the different Apostolates in which can we engage ourselves today differently?

Modern world needs different expressions in our work. Jesuits of Karnataka already have undertaken the ministry of education, especially higher education, technical education, education qualifying young men to be fully employed. Communication Media is now a powerful tool in the secular world but not for the Jesuits of our Province. The possibility of Jesuits engaging in Mass Media in a big way for an effective Evangelization must be explored.

Fr Frigidian Shenoy - Golden Jubilarian of Priesthood

It was a joyous day for the MSJ community to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Priesthood of Fr Frigidian Shenoy in the Society of Jesus. We, the Jesuits, along with the relatives of Fr Shenoy raised our minds & hearts to praise God for the precious gift of Fr Shenoy to the Society of Jesus. During the Eucharist, Fr Provincial through his homily enlightened all of us on the role of a Priest in today’s context & conflicting world. We greeted Fr Shenoy in a short felicitation programme. Fr Terence Farias raised the golden toast in his own inimitable style. The sparkling stars & blooming buds, our Novices, entertained & enlightened the audience through a meaningful mime. Fr Shenoy, filled with immense gratitude to the Lord and all people, expressed his heart-felt sentiments. A sumptuous fellowship meal increased our bond of companionship.

A Special Lenten Fast!

Give up harsh words: Use generous ones.
Give up unhappiness: Take up gratitude.
Give up anger: Take up gentleness & patience.
Give up pessimism: Take up hope and optimism.
Give up worrying: Take up trust in God.
Give up complaining: Value what you have.
Give up stress: Take up prayer.
Give up judging others: Discover Jesus within them.
Give up sorrow & bitterness: Fill your heart with joy.
Give up selfishness: Take up compassion for others.
Give up being unforgiving: Learn reconciliation.
Give up words: Fill yourself with silence, & listen to others.

Happy Feast of St Joseph

We Wish all of you a very HAPPY FEAST OF ST JOSEPH - the Patron of our Mount St Joseph Community & of countless Institutions all over the world.

Pro-Life: Our Life is a Gift of God

PRAVEEN: If God has created us so wonderfully how can we destroy it so carelessly by abortion, suicide, euthanasia, so on & so forth? This was the question that I asked myself when Fr Lukose CMI took the course on 'Preserving life.' So it is everybody’s responsibility to protect, promote and preserve human life.

DOLWIN: Human life is a precious gift of God and we are called to celebrate life in our families & communities. This course was a call to preserve life and nature. God wants to be like Jesus who is the master of promoting life. God wants to be happy always in our life. The destruction of nature and human life is against pro-life. Jesus' life was full of celebration by becoming fully human and fully alive.

GEORGE: In Psalm 139, the Psalmist explains the importance of life. He says “for it is God who formed my inward parts, for He has made so fearfully and wonderfully & God is always with me wherever I go.” These are the touching words, which made me recognize the value of human life. Every human being is created by God. God has also given us the freedom. It is our responsibility to make the best use of it along with the values of human life. We should always walk towards the ultimate goal of human life & give glory to God always.

VEERAJ: “If a building is destroyed, it can be rebuilt; but when human life is lost, it is lost forever.” This was a thought that came up during the 3-day Inter-Novitiate Course on 'Pro-Life.' Human life is the greatest gift that God gives and we belong to God alone. Let us love ourselves and love everyone - ‘live and let live' needs to be our motto in preserving life.

Let's Build a World of Love & Peace!

JAISON: "Love is the gate for all problems of the Universe.” Novices were much benefited through the course on "Fundamentalism & Inter-Religious Dialogue" by Fr Terence Farias SJ. The topic 'fundamentalism' is often heard and discussed in our country. Religious Fundamentalism has created detrimental effects on human life by which there is a threat for everyone’s survival. Love is destroyed and hatred is restored in the hearts of the people. Today let us join our hands together to fight for the human rights and tackle the spread of the evil called religious fundamentalism.

RYAN: I had a great desire to learn about the Hindutva Ideology in addition to Christian Fundamentalism. This course has laid a solid foundation to understand this topic in a better way. What we need in today's world, particularly in our Country, is a meaningful dialogue between different religions. We need to make efforts to understand the effects of religious fundamentalism. Awareness of our context and history helps us in this venture. We must realize that, ‘we too have sinned’ as John Paul II said on 12th March 2000. My vision for humankind is that we build a peace loving and more humane society.