Ready & Willing to be 'Sent'

DOLWIN: The 'Lector & Acolyte Ministries' is a call for selfless service in my life. It was an invitation to abide in Christ just as the branches abide in the vine to bear abundant fruit. It has been a driving force to submerge in the great love of Jesus through proclaiming His words and performing sacred ministries. I offered my soul, surrendered my heart, stretched out my hands and dedicated my life for the continuation of Christ's Mission on earth.

AVINASH: One of the auspicious moments in my life was when I received the Minor Orders of Lector & Acolyte. The word ‘yes’ while receiving the Bible and the Ciborium confirmed my call of saying “YES” to the Lord. I felt that I am blessed by God and chosen for His glory to serve and fulfill His mission on this planet. While receiving these ministries, I was like the sun shining on the waters of the ocean with dazzling white Cassock. I am ready for any mission entrusted to me - ready and willing to be sent to serve people.

Cassock Day: To Put on Christ

ROYCE: 'Putting on Christ' brings new life, new way of thinking, set apart to give God to others. Cassock day was a glorious experience for me, to move a step forward in my journey of Priestly life. It was one of the most auspicious days in my life. I felt very much blessed and enriched with God’s love as I put on the Armour of God, a strong urge in me to proclaim the Good news to the people and a spiritual zest to become another Christ.

JAISON: “Happiness is a spiritual experience of putting on Christ and representing God." The Liturgy added rich meaning to my life. Its significance was to put on Christ and break oneself for the sake of Christ. The Eucharist was celebrated by our beloved Provincial, Fr Francis Serrao along with Frs William, Dion, Sunil and the community members.
ROSHAN: A new life in Christ. 'Cassock Day' was a gifted responsibility and a dream come true. The Cassock gives me a glimpse of my ministry which I am waiting. I will always be grateful to God for making me His companion.

Visit to Anekal (Feast of St Paul the Hermit)

Our first year Novices along with the people of Anekal celebrated the feast of St Paul the Hermit. Yes, they were enriched by the devotion of the people to the Eucharist.

ASHWIN REBELLO: The feast of St Paul the Hermit is a time of celebration to the people of Anekal. The Saint was known for spending long hours in deep silent prayer. I felt that it was an inter-religious feast because people of other religions too were present to honour this Saint. The people shared their meal with one another. I was taken up by people’s faith and their sense of sharing. I was also inspired by the heart touching homily by Fr Roman Pinto. Overall, this was a pilgrim feast which enriched my life of faith and service.

ROCKY: This feast was an opportunity for me to know the Faith of the people. People from different places had gathered in big numbers to pray for themselves as well as their loved ones. The best part of the celebration was the Holy Eucharist in which Fr Roman Pinto gave a thought-provoking homily. He invited us to be persons of deep faith which makes us people of sharing and caring. On the whole, this feast energized me for a better life in the Novitiate.

NOEL: “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in their midst.” I felt these words of Jesus coming true on the solemn occasion of the feast of St Paul the Hermit. I was happy to see and experience the bond of unity among the people. Their devotion inspired me to admire the Saint. The fellowship meal that was arranged for all the devotees made me go beyond myself and reach out to other people. Yes, "To be a Religious today is to be inter-Religious”

My Church (People of God) - Sunday Ministry Experiences

MARTIN: Teaching Christian values, distributing Communion and keeping up the identity of a Jesuit makes me know the track on which I will run. The Sunday Pastoral Ministry challenges my religious life and invites me to respond to the needs of our confused world. Above all, the relationship that I have with the Lord matters the most in my ministry and life.

ALWYN: "Give freely what you have received freely" these words of Jesus summarize my Sunday ministry in Kalenaagrahara. Joining the laity in celebrating the Eucharist helps me to feel the divine presence in the people. At times it has been very challenging teaching Catechism to children about Jesus & the Church. This ministry increases my faith, hope & love.

ANAND: It is only by catering to the spiritual needs of the people that I could plant in my own heart seeds of faith and also to teach them the divine truth. This in turn has enlightened and instilled in me the richness of faith. Thus making me attuned to this divine love that wells up like a spring. I have learnt to be like the river which always flows and never stagnates.

JOHN: After putting on the Armour of Christ, I was sent to St Ann’s Parish - Basavanapura for my pastoral ministry. I feel this gives me immense joy and profound fulfillment in serving God's people. Every Sunday all the children are full of zest to learn Catechism. Giving Communion and visiting houses of the elderly and the sick make me a good listener and a giver of hope to all people.

ಸುವರ್ಣ ಸಂಭ್ರಮದ ಸವಿನೆನಪುಗಳು

Kindly click on the Photo to view the poem composed by Novice Joyson Vas on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Mount St Joseph.

From a Small Sapling to a Mighty Tree: 50 Years of MSJ

Mount St Joseph is in its Golden Jubilee Year. It began as a small sapling in the year 1959 and now it has grown into a tree, and the tree has blossomed and borne much fruit. It began as a formation house for novices and juniors but now it has become a mighty institution with multi-dimensional ministries - a parish, primary and high schools, a technical centre, Pre-university college, retreat house, a farm and orchard and of recent a spirituality centre and a Senior Jesuits’ Home.

Jubilee for the Israelites was a time to hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants. They were called to return, everyone of them, to their property and everyone to their family (Lev 25:16). Hundreds of Jesuits of the South Asian Assistancy have begun their journey as novices in the Society at Mount St. Joseph. The jubilee year is a time for all of them to return to their beginnings in mind and spirit.

Jubilee is normally a time of conversion - a change of heart and of attitudes. God is the real owner of everything. We are only stewards. God today asks us: “What are you doing to the garden entrusted to you - the garden of novices, the garden of students, the garden of parishioners, the garden of retreatants, the garden of seekers, the garden of senior Jesuits who need additional care and the garden of the people entrusted to your care? Steward disciples recognize God as the origin of life, the giver of freedom, the source of all they have and are. They see themselves as caretakers of God’s gifts. They are grateful for what they have received and are eager to cultivate their gifts out of love for God and one another.

God has blessed Karnataka Province with a good number of vocations. When the harvest is lean elsewhere, Mount St. Joseph has been having a houseful experience. Jubilee then is the time, not merely to rest and to celebrate, but to think of God’s gifts to us both individually and, even more, as a community, and to go back to our origins as a community of friends in the Lord. A Jubilee Community of friends in the Lord is God’s gift to us.

Interview with Fr Simon Furtado SJ (Platinum Jubilee)

1. You have just celebrated 70 years in the Society of Jesus - What keeps you active and energetic in your apostolate? The Word of God and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

2. Has the Society of Jesus evolved in the right spirit from the days you joined? I have been so busy & happy in the Retreat Apostolate that I have not had time to see what the others are doing. Besides I have been at Mount St Joseph from 1975 and go to town only once a month, to JMJ Philomena Hospital for the monthly check-up.

3. Is the Society responding to present day challenges effectively? I have blind faith in the present General of the Society of Jesus and his curia. His recent choice of Fr Ralph da Costa as one of India’s Assistants is clear proof that the present General is the right person in the right place.

4. What do you think ‘that one thing’ which differentiates the Society from any other religious institutions? Unquestioning Obedience. Blind Obedience.

5. You have been involved in the retreat ministry for many years now. Are the younger Jesuits motivated enough to involve themselves in this ministry? DhyanAshrama is quite cut off from the other part of the house and is also miles away from the city. The younger members involved in teaching in School and College retire quite early in life. What are they going to do when they retire?

6. The Spiritual Exercises are the unique treasure given by St Ignatius. Are we committed enough to give this treasure to the faithful? There are many religious Orders of men and women in Bangalore who give Retreats; and still the number of men & women religious and lay people that come to DhyanAshrama, Mount St Joseph is big. The response of the participants will make those who give the Retreats committed.

7. What do you think is the major reason for the decline in the number of vocation today? St Ignatius wanted our Educational Institutions to be the seed-beds for vocations. The Principal of the School, usually a Jesuit, does not inspire vocations. He is usually called a cop. We should have many Jesuits teaching Chemistry, Shakespeare, Maths etc

I Love My India (Republic Day)

RUBEN: “Fight for Peace, Liberty, Equality & Justice.” On the 61 Republic Day of our Country, Fr Robert gave a meaningful speech. It was about dialogue highlighting the progress that India has made & to remember the event that still inspires the hearts of all Indians. We celebrated this Republic Day praying for all people who have dedicated their lives for building our Nation. Let us strive hard to bring peace & unity in our Motherland.

PRADEEP: Sovereign, Socialist, Democratic & Republic is the power of our Nation, India. Fr Robert gave us a thought-provoking message saying ‘law’ is love, hope and service. True freedom comes only when we are able to go beyond ourselves to reach out to others.

ASHWIN REBELLO: “I have nothing new to teach the world, truth and non-violence are as old as the hills.” says Mahatma Gandhiji. Republic Day filled me with feelings of peace, harmony and equality. If we truly love our Nation we will fight for peace, justice and truth which are the immediate requirements of our Nation & that is the spirit of a real patriot. Republic day should not end up with merely a celebration and acknowledgment of the contribution of our great national leaders who gave us the Constitutions. Republic Day stirred up in me new hopes & dreams. So I hope and dream that this National feast will give us the assurance and awareness of a better India, where there will be brotherhood, equality, peace & good-will among all peoples.