AMDG

The MSJ community celebrated the FEAST OF ST. IGNATIUS with the faithful of the IMMACULATE HEART CHURCH, KALENA AGRAHARA on 29 July, 2012 through a meaningful  liturgy.

LORD TEACH US TO PRAY!



Fr Anto CMI, The Resource Person



“Prayer is the key of the moring and the bolt of the evening” opines Mahatma Gandhi.



We were greatly enriched in our prayer life by the inter-novitiate programme conducted by Fr Anto CMI at Alverna Bhavan from 9 -12, July. 34 novices from four different novitiates attended the course. The classes were indeed very lively as we shared with one another of our own prayer experiences. The course deepened the understanding of prayer.

The Participants





FRESH SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST

On  5^th of July, the Mount St Joseph community was sparkling more brightly with the arrival of nine new twinkling & charming stars. Nine of our brothers  successfully journeyed through the First Probation. When a child stands on its own feet for the first time every member of the family feels happy & there is a lot of joy in the family. In the same way the MSJ community shared the happiness of our brothers as they enter into their second probation to form themselves for the mission of Christ. During the Second Probation a novice goes through various experiements to come to know what the Jesuit life is all about. It’s also a time for him to know and love God, oneself, neighbors, the Church by imbibing the spirit of St Ignatius of Loyola.

JUBILEE OF FR. JB

The MSJ community celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Fr John Baptist Mendonca in the Society of Jesus with great pomp. The celebration began with a meaningful Eucharist presided over by the Jubilarian and followed by a meaningful felicitation programme. The house was full of guests - sisters from the neighbouring convents, relatives of Fr JB and the Jesuits. The Novices left no stone unturned to make the day a memorable one for Fr JB.  

Golden Words – Interview with Fr John Baptist

Fr John Baptist Mendonca is a brand new member of the 50-Years-in-the-Society club. Affectionately known as Fr JB, he is the administrator of Dhyanashrama Retreat House. He has a passion for preaching, spiritual ministry (also teaching children as he reveals here) and specially gardening, where he finds His Lord and master actively at work. On the occasion of his Golden Jubilee as a Jesuit, we bring you the excerpts of the interview with him

Father, 50 years in the Society of Jesus – Another feather in your cap! What are your feelings on this day?

I never thought that this great day in my life would arrive. I am very happy grateful to God. It seems to me that it was just the other day on June 28, 1962 that I joined the Society of Jesus.

Genuine commitment is rarity nowadays. Your life is a beautiful testimony to commitment to Jesus. What has fuelled your commitment?

It is my Jesus. He met me. I saw Him. I heard His voice. I still see Him and hear His gentle and loving voice encouraging me to love Him and follow His ways.

Which part of your life as a religious do you cherish and treasure the most?

 The whole of my religious life to this moment, right from my Novitiate is beautiful. I have loved it and I continue loving it. 

During Holy Mass, we often hear you say that if we open our hymn books to sing, we give praise to God. Could you elaborate this thought? 

Yes, definitely. I am convinced of it. When we open the hymn book, even if we are not good singers, we praise and thank God that day, at that moment for the gift of life and energy. What a sad thing it will be if we while attending a birthday party refuse to sing the birthday song with the rest. What would the host feel?

What thoughts are foremost in your mind regarding you ministry in Dhyanashrama retreat house?

 I have spent 27 years of my Jesuit life teaching children. I miss it now. Now, for ten years I have been involving in the retreat ministry. I enjoy it. My 30-day retreat in Novitiate was a thrilling experience, from where I got a personal taste for preaching retreats. It is a fulfilling and satisfying ministry. The feedback given by retreatants encourages me. Their struggle in their spiritual lives makes me more human and compassionate.

“Shepherd me o Lord beyond…” “You are with me wherever I go…” – I am listing here your two favourite hymns. Can you tell why you like them ? 

These hymns, especially “You are with me,” are very close to my heart. I give a copy of the latter to each retreatant at the end of a retreat. I request them to carry it wherever they go to remind themselves that they are not alone and that Jesus travels and works with them. The text of the hymn summarises Psalm 139. 

Final question. What imagery of God do you like the most? 

God is my father and mother. Before I was conceived in my earthly mother’s womb, I was conceived in my earthly heavenly mother, Yahweh’s mind (Psalm139:13) My heavenly mother is always with me, showering tender love and care on me.

A Religious is a person very close to God

He or she gives to God everything without any reserve

Beyond giving one’s wealth, possessions or service to God 

A religious offers one’s self completely to God

“I am yours, you are mine”

 (Quoted by Fr JB in reply to the third question)

Come on and Celebrate

29 June 2012 was a great day for the Novitiate community as it was a day to rejoice and thank God for the gift of life to Fr. Willie, our beloved Novice Director.

Noel’s experience with Fr Willie

My experience with Fr Willie has been very positive. Father has been generous to guide me in the novitiate. Having Jesus as his role model he has been effective in his ministry. The imagery that comes to my mind when I see Fr Willie is of a mother embracing a child. Fr Willie has guided me like a mother when I  failed to make progress in the novitiate. He  has helped me to grow in every aspect of life in the novitiate. Fr Willie through his simple and humble nature has been my role model.