THE OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION ON FR PEDRO ARRUPE, SJ

Those of you who have known or read or heard of Fr Pedro Arrupe would certainly remember that he was a holy man, obedient leader in the most turbulent times of the Catholic Church and especially within the Society of Jesus.  He has been declared already as a servant of God by Pope Francis, while many Jesuits have considered him as a saint in their hearts and have been praying through him.

On 22nd of August, 2019 on the diamond jubilee of Mount St Joseph, we the members of this community are delighted to showcase all his works, all his words and many captivating pictures and especially gripping photographs of this holy man who hailed from Basque country, the place of St Ignatius of Loyola. 

The Archbishop Peter Machado opened the diamond door ceremoniously for us to enter.  Thus the visitors could have glimpse of this great Jesuit, who visited this very Aula 53 years ago on 2nd January1966. [AK]

Mary Visits Joseph

09th June, 2019, on the parish feast of our parish in Kalena Agrahara, the well decorated chariot with the statue of Our Lady visited Mount St. Joseph.  Chariot along with the devout parishners of the parish and the parish priest Fr Arun Kumar made their way right in front of the statue of St. Joseph which is at the entrance of the house.  

All the Jesuits of the house, Fathers and Novices greeted Our Lady and the parishners as well as the parish priest with smiling faces. But also singing hymns to the Mother of Our Lord.  Rector of the house, Fr Anthony Joseph said the prayers, paid homage to God's Mother and wished the people a very happy feast.  It's a tradition that has long been preserved because of the foundation of the parish  and Jesuits involvement which is interconnected. [OV]

Politics of Change - A blog on Fr Ambrose Pinto, SJ

Please log on Fr Dr Ambrose Pinto SJ: Politics of Change - a blog which brings together the person of Fr Ambrose Pinto, his thought, writings and achievements.

http://ambrosepintosj.blogspot.in/

Called to Love and Serve

“Love is shown more in deeds than in words” - St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Dear

Calvin George Michael

Nithin Lisbon Coelho

                                  Leston Baptist Lobo

  Albert Vasanth

  Joyal Sandeep

Jaison Lobo

Sudeep Pinto

Sameer Francis

Sharun Roy D’Souza

Vincent Vijayakumar

Praveen Kiran Martis

Vinod Mathias Saldanha

were united with the mind and heart of Christ by pronouncing the vows of Poverty, Chastity and obedience and thus committing themselves to the Lord on 21 June 2012. Our twelve brothers, like the twelve apostles have responded to the call of Jesus to love and serve the lost, least and last of the society, without counting the cost like our founding father St. Ignatius did. Let us earnestly pray that our brothers may grow stronger in their personal conviction, commitment and courage and forever be united with God’s love and dedicate their entire life for the service of God’s people.

Celebrating Commitment – Province Jubilee

Mount St Joseph chapel became the point of intersection for the province Jesuit family on the way to greet the seven jubilarians. The province jubilarians – Frs Simon Furtado (60 years as a priest) Claude D’Souza, (50 years as a priest) Maxim Rasquinha, Stanislaus Miranda (60 years as Jesuits), John Mendonca, Boniface Lewis and Pradeep Sequeira (50 years as Jesuits), with the testimony of their lives have inspired the entire province. In one voice, the province family thanked the Lord for the gift of these seven committed lives during the Holy Mass in the morning. Many were too willing to speak and shower praises on the jubilarians during the felicitation function. Fr Francis Serrao SJ, the Provincial thanked them for playing a crucial role in building our province. The ever-young in spirit, Fr Denis Coelho with his cheeky humour took the function by storm as he proposed the toast. In the course of their many years in religious life, the jubilarians have gleaned a lot of experience, which was shared by Fr Pradeep during the homily and by Fr Maxim during the felicitation programme. The entire event took on a festive mood and it became a great occasion to spend time with the other. We congratulate the jubilarians and pray that they may continue to inspire many by their lives of unflinching commitment to the Lord and the Society of Jesus.

“The distance is nothing; it is only the first step that costs.” Mme. Du Deffand

Young Priests' Meeting at Sevalaya in Dharwad

All young priests of the Karnataka Jesuit Province came together for sharing, reflection and companionship at Sevalaya (Diocesan Pastoral Centre) in Dharwad on 5 February. It was a wonderful occasion for sharing of faith, fellowship and fraternal love. We benefited from the personal testimony of Fr Maxim Rasquinha who shared with us his initial struggles and successes as a priest. Reflection and sharing of the young priests in their respective batches helped us to get into the minds and hearts of each other. Fr Francis Serrao, the Provincial, gave an inspiring and insightful message to us. His talk highlighted the multi-dimensional identity of a Jesuit priest i.e., to be fully human, Christian and religious. We then partook in the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Vidya Niketan, which was an icing on the cake. Thanks a ton to Fr Freddie D'Silva, our beloved PCF, for charting out the programme and executing it to a perfect finish. We are also grateful to Fr Sunil Cletus Fernandes for coordinating the programme efficiently. Our gratitude is also due to Fr Anthony Joseph, the superior of Vidya Niketan and his team for the meticulous planning and arrangements at Sevalaya. Indeed, this meeting has refreshed, renewed and rejuvenated us.
"Pray much for priests because we need holy priests. The holier the priests are the more holy we religious will be. Then too, the more holy will be the families who are longing for God. If we have holy families we will have many holy vocations." Blessed Teresa of Kolkata

Interview with Fr Denis Coelho SJ

We got a good opportunity to talk to the otherwise shy and soft-spoken Fr Denis Coelho. Apart from the many ministries he has taken up in his long serving life as a Jesuit, he has also been the Rector of Mount St Joseph. Currently residing at Dhyanashrama, the veteran Fr Denis is actively involved in directing retreats. Here are the excerpts of the interview with him.

Father, how would you like to describe your life at present? What are your present involvements?

I am attached to the retreat house. So my main work is directing retreats. Time permitting, I also teach English to the II year novices and write the house diary. So it is a peaceful life, regular life and I can be faithful to my spiritual life and community exercises.

We come across you as a person charged with positive energy. Can you tell us the secret?

It is an attitude I have cultivated from the earliest days in the Society. I have had many Jesuit models in this. There have also been some who have been negative and they have irked me.

What fires your passion for teaching?

Teaching has interested me from my Regency onwards. I had opportunity to interact and learn from exemplary teachers in Juniorate, Philosophy, Theology and in schools I have worked in. I see it as an apostolate and greatly like it.

Of all ministries you have undertaken, which one do you like the most? Why?

Most of my life after Theology and Ordination has been spent in schools. But I had the unique opportunity to work as a parish priest in a small parish of Bellary Diocese. (Now it is a part of Gulbarga Diocese). Those 6 months in Chittapur were the happiest of my life as a Priest.

You are person who likes change and innovation. How have you seen the Society change over the years? Has this change been for the better or for the worse?

I firmly believe that the change in the Church and the Society is inspired by Vatican II. It is the response to the call to “See the signs of the times.” With the Church, the Society too has been responding to the call of Vatican II, to go back to the sources and heed the signs of the times. St Ignatius himself called for a change, an ongoing change, a “MAGIS” – don’t stop, keep on doing better.

What is 'the important thing' that the Society of Jesus has taught to you as a life lesson?

It will take long to enumerate what the Society has taught me. We have to be torch-bearers. We have to work for promoting faith that does justice. We have to love the poor.

If you are given a second chance to live, what will be your choice?
Hard to say. The choice for me would be schools or distant missions like Afghanistan, Guyana or even Bijapur and Pannur-Manvi. Thank You Father.

Interview with Fr Javier Melloni SJ

Fr Javier Melloni SJ of the Spiritual Centre of the cave of St Ignatius in Manresa, Spain was here with us in September. Here are the excerpts of the interview with him.

Can you tell us about your work and the challenges in your mission?

I teach Theology in the Faculty of Theology of Catalonia (Barcelona). In the West, in spite of the secularism one can see a quest for spirituality. The main challenge is to offer a deep experience of God. God is the Abba of Jesus, the original fountain of everything. We are called to lead people to the source of their self, in the cave of their heart - from the exterior cave (St Ignatius’ cave) to their personal inner cave.

Father, what do you focus on in the retreat center?

Ignatian Spirituality leads to a deep experience of God that transforms the heart in order to find God in every person and in everything. Our goal is to lead people into the same experience of the Pilgrim (St Ignatius). People expect from us to have an open-mind and an open-heart and the wisdom of discernment in order to lead them in the depths of God and the Reality.

What gives you joy in the work that you do? What keeps you going? (Your personal inspiration)

When I live authentically and faithfully, when I celebrate the Eucharist with all my soul and with all my heart, then words, actions and thoughts flow luminous from within and they reach the hearts of the seekers. I am also in the Inter- Religious field. The encounters and meetings with other believers also nourish me.

What is the role of Ignatian spirituality in today's context?

The main contribution of Ignatian spirituality is the understanding of spiritual life as a process, a process from self-centredness to selflessness. What has to be discerned is whether a particular practice makes me more and more open to God, to others and to the world. It is not about contents but about dynamics. That is why Ignatian spirituality is very fit for our times.

What is the most important quality required of a Jesuit in the face of modern challenges?

The word ‘Jesuit’ comes from the Latin word “Jesu-ita” which means: “at the manner” (Ita) of Jesus,” “like Jesus”. So, like Jesus, two main things are required: to be rooted in the depth of the Father, the ultimate mystery of everything, and to be open to humankind, particularly the poorest and the excluded.

How can we attract the youth to Ignatian spirituality?

The characteristic of youth is authenticity, open mindedness, capacity to take risks and daring. If we live authentically, if we risk for the Lord and for the Gospel - that certainty will attract the youth; not because it is a strategy but because our lives will have the taste of Truth. That is what exactly happened with Jesus. We only have to be ita- Jesus, like Him.

Can you tell what it is to be a saint in today’s world?

To be a saint is the purpose of our vocation: to surrender our whole being to Christ. That means to feel, to look, to listen & to talk like Him. It requires all our life to make that transformation.

What did you like the most about your stay in India?

What I admire the most in Indians is the sense of the Divine. This gives you a very particular sense of life because you are deeply connected with the Absolute.

Thank You Fr Javier. (Interviewed by Novices Praveen Martis & Joseph Jerald)

Athma Shakti Vidyalaya - A Haven of Love and Service

“I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:36) Athma Shakti Vidyalaya is a therapeutic community devoted to the care and rehabilitation of the mentally challenged young men and women. The name means a school of the power of the soul. It saw the light of day in 1979, when a group of concerned counsellors, psychotherapists and parents joined hands to form a registered non-profit charitable society with a main thrust of bringing stability and competence back into the youngsters facing mental difficulties, especially Schizophrenia. A maximum of 24 youngsters can be placed here. In the safe hands of experts and placed in a community, the patients with an average age of 20-30 years learn to have a hold over their feelings, to be reasonable, to accept oneself and then to gradually merge into the challenges of normal living. The patients receive a holistic psychotherapy treatment that channels their inner strength in effecting recovery, instead of relying on medication. Fr Henry (Hank) Nunn, the shepherd of this bouquet of charity and service has, by his diligent efforts, made it see its finest hour.

Athma Shakti Vidyalaya can be contacted as follows:

No. 113, Madhuban Colony, B.G. Raod, Hulimavu Village, Bangalore - 560 076. Tel: +918026581564. Email: frhanknunn@hotmail.com

My Mother, the Society of Jesus

Mother, you are the trust and virtue of my world
It is because of you I have a vision for my life
It is to you that I owe my existence and my entire life

Mother, you are my everything
Mother, you are the essence of my being
Mother, you are within me
Mother, you are the wonder
I do not fear as you bring strength
You are beyond words and expressions
You are my life's most beautiful gift
And I am indebted to you forever,
My sweet Mother!
(This poem flowed out of novice Vinod Saldanha's heart on 27 September, the day which marked the approval of the Society of Jesus)

Happy Birthday Fr Furtado!

A grand celebration was awaiting Fr Simon Furtado on 22 September when he celebrated his 93rd birthday. He was in great spirits. He waved his hands gleefully when the Novices sang a birthday song for him. He took extra time to squeak and blabber at his best friends, the Love birds in front of the cage. In the community Mass at 7.15 p.m. he broke the shell of reticence and recounted his past days - the time of his Baptism, his naming after St Moras, the first book he bought (on the life of St Moras), his brief stint in Nagaland, the call to be a co-worker with Jesus and the consolation he gets in his present retreat ministry. What is amazing and inspiring in Fr Furtado is that despite his advanced age, he doesn’t take the help of even a walking stick! He is actively involved in giving retreats. It seems that time takes a backfoot as he goes stronger and lively as the days pass. As Fr Furtado clears another milestone in his life, we wish him well and ask God to bless him abundantly.
"Our lives live on forever in the lives we touch."

Entirely Yours O Lord - Final Vows of Fr Ivan Mendonca

The final commitment of Fr Ivan Mendonca made June 12 as a special day in our calendars. It was an occasion for the province members to gather together in joining Fr Ivan in thanking the Lord. The venue was Ashirvad, Bangalore. The entire programme included a very meaningful Eucharistic celebration and a memorable felicitation programme. The first year Novices added sheen to the Eucharistic celebration by taking care of the choir. The sisters from the neighbourhood also pitched in to brighten the Liturgy. During the Homily, Fr Stanislaus D'Souza (Fr Stany) aptly spoke on the significance of the day in the life of Fr Ivan. With joy shining in his face, Fr Ivan fought his shyness to address the gathering and thanked the Lord and all who were instrumental in helping him reach the milestone. We join our voices with the province in wishing Fr Ivan a happy and fulfilling life ahead.
"I do not give lectures or a little charity when I give myself" - Walt Whitman

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

HUMOUROUS INCIDENTS ABOUT MOUNT ST JOSEPH

01. “What a strange name!” I wondered on the second day of my arrival at Mount St. Joseph (as a first year Novice) looking at a notice signed by one “Beadle.”

02. It was 4.30 am. Fr. Viegas got up and opened the door of his room upon hearing a few loud knocks. There was Br. Vadapuram standing at the door. Looking at Fr. Viegas in his pajamas Br. Vadapuram said with a profoundly apologetic tone - “Sooory Father, I thoooought it was toooilet.”

03. In those days Novices were sent out of the conference room quite seldom; but walkouts on the part of Fr. Master were quite frequent! “Was I angry?” he would ask on the next day. We did not know that they were rhetorical questions, not to be answered. We struggled to tell the truth…but he would answer his own question – “No! I was not angry; I was sad.”

04. Catching the thief in Mount was a 'revelatory event.' When he was finally caught we found that the main reason for several of his thefts was that his bare needs were not met. Upon catching him we found he had come to steal wearing only the stolen ‘essentials’ of one of our companions!

05. Our Beadle had a very weak memory. One day he got up at 5.30 am; rang the bell; applied tooth paste to his brush; came to the common washing place; left his brush on the sink; went into a toilet. A mischievous companion washed his brush thoroughly and kept it were it was. The absent minded beadle came out of the toilet and went straight to the sink. Upon finding his tooth brush without any paste on it, went back to the room, fully convinced that he had already brushed his teeth!

06. The absolute silence during the Long Retreat had made a Novice bottle up all his laughter. One day he saw his companion dosing in the chapel at 2.30 in the afternoon and could not control his laughter. Then many saw him running on the corridor towards toilets holding a hand on his mouth. Once inside the toilet, he burst out in laughter, only to spew out his dentures into the commode! I still wonder how he managed the rest of the retreat without opening his mouth in public!

Contributed by Fr Jossie Lobo

HUMOUROUS INCIDENTS ABOUT MOUNT ST JOSEPH

Our time in the Novitiate was indeed exciting and fun filled. Occasionally to break the monotony we used to go on group picnics. On one such occasion the four of us went out into the countryside some distance away, laden with bread, butter, fruits and other goodies in abundance. When it was finally time to return to Mount we found that we had eaten our fill and were full to the brim, our belts groaning with heroic efforts to keep us in one piece and still there was much food left over. One from our group got a bright idea! Why not give it to the poor women who were gathering firewood in the vicinity? All of us agreed, with our hearts burning with generosity and compassion. We were always ready to sacrifice the leftovers once we ourselves were fully satiated. So we called the poor ladies and the Novice who had called them reached out into the bag and unwittingly instead of bringing out the bread loaf, brought out a big knife with his hand. Before he realized his mistake we saw the women literally fly towards their village nearby. I quickly gathered my wits, realized the danger. We were in, once the women reached their village and told their men folk what had happened in the forest. I told my companions that the only Ignatian thing to do is flee from the enemy. So we started sprinting towards the safety and security of MSJ without looking back even once, running right up to the statue of St Joseph. We were safe!

Contributed by Fr Francis Serrao SJ

One of the frequently asked questions about the new Novitiate was why it was called Mount St Joseph when the place was almost flat. A Senior Priest arriving at the gates for the first time, took a look at the level driveway and remarked "they are certainly making a mountain of a mole hill here.”

Contributed by Fr Leo D’Souza SJ

Springs of Gratitude

(Sch Lumnesh shares with us his thoughtful insights about life in the Juniorate)

A metaphor that has enhanced our formation as Juniors is “The Ocean”. With its consistence, openness, universality, the ocean symbolizes the formation of a Junior allowing diverse species to live in it. An Ocean allows numerous and varied minerals to flow into it, diverse species to regenerate and exit. This makes it universal and open. It was during our Juniorate that we as Juniors tasted the minerals of various cultures, experiences and opportunities.

Juniorate has its main purpose: formation in humanities, the development of language skills both spoken and written, the study of literature, an initiation into the human sciences and the scientific culture of our times.Apart from these we were trained to acquire skills to form habits of serious study and to develop a commitment to excellence by which we are constantly driven to reach out for the MAGIS.

Our minds were open to analyze, understand and reflect critically and creatively. The progressive integration of life in the Spirit, apostolic involvement and study was deepened in the Juniorate.It was more of freedom with responsibility to grow as a person in intellectual, spiritual, affective and social dimensions. We were trained to present convincing arguments logically, forcefully and persuasively. We were instilled with the spirit of team work, friendship and transparency.

The courses offered like; art appreciation, film appreciation, psycho-spiritual integration, social analysis, eco awareness, current sciences and time management has formed us to be an all-rounder. I place on record my sincere gratitude to all the staff of Vidyaniketan, South Indian Common Juniorate, Trivandrum for their tireless and selfless service in shaping us as men for others, well equipped to face the challenging situations that surround us. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more, gratitude, makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Novena in honour of St Ignatius of Loyola

We deem it our privilege to share with you the highlights of the Novena in honour of our founder, St Ignatius, whose feast is celebrated on July 31. St Ignatius' gifts of Discernment (the art of choosing between the good and better) and the 'Spiritual Exercises' to the Church continues to make more and more people free and happy each day.

We are aware that this is a creative Novena which we would like to call a “Novena of Persons” the ‘persons’ being some of our brother Jesuits who, we believe, have imbibed deeply, and lived, the Spirit of our founder and father St Ignatius. Very specially his passionate love for Jesus, and his obsession for the Greater Glory of God.

Caesar Baronius in his funeral oration in 1600 said: “we behold the leafy branches, the fruit and the stem that is the Society of Jesus. But the root lies buried in the earth. And who is that root, our Father Ignatius, who lies buried in this spot beneath the earth.”

It is our prayer that, as we reflect on the lives of these genuine sons of Ignatius, we will grow in love for them and for the Society, and that we will deepen our gratitude for the incredible privilege of having these great men as our brothers and companions; grateful especially for the privilege of belonging to the Society that bears the sweet name of Jesus, our Lord and our Saviour.

I day: St Stanislaus Kostka

II day: St Francis Xavier

III day: St Peter Claver

IV day: St Peter Canisius

V day: St Edmund Campion

VI day: St John de Brito

VII day: St Joseph Pignatelli

VIII day: Fr Pedro Arrupe

IX day: St Ignatius Loyola

Prayer for the Spirit of Generosity: Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous, teach me to love and serve thee as You deserve; To give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not to look for reward, save that of knowing that I do Your Holy Will. Amen.

Choose Life, Choose Love

(Junior Roshan shares his experiences about his footsteps into the Juniorate) The thirteen of us safely stepped into the promised land of our vocation on 24th June where we received a warm welcome from the Juniorate staff. Frs Wilson and Rachaans, both vibrant and energetic in spirit, led us into our new home where one is called to live both his intellectual and spiritual life with a renewed vigor and zeal. Soon after we had a welcome mass to the Holy Spirit followed by an inaugural function. Fr Matthew, the Rector of St Xavier’s College, gave the inaugural address presenting a historical view of the Juniorate. We are 30 Juniors from all over the South Asian Assistancy who I feel are lively and dynamic possessing a special gift of community building. There was an orientation programme for two and a half days by Fr Joe, who reset our understanding in the stream of human life. We began our Juniorate, with our gaze fixed on God, with a genuine knowledge of ourselves, a tender love for our neighbour and with a desire to be placed into the midst of the cosmos. We are indeed grateful for all that the Lord has done for us through all our formators.

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart and today is the day on which we commemorate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This Feast has been a Solemnity in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar since 1856, and is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost.

The most significant source for the devotion to the Sacred Heart in the form it is known today was revelation to St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690), who received visions of Jesus Christ. St Margaret Mary Alacoque, a nun of the Visitation Order, was praying in the Chapel (Paray le Monial) of her convent. Jesus appeared to her several times and opened up to her the revelations about the devotion to the Sacred Heart. One of the important revelations is the devotion to the Sacred Heart. Jesus opened His heart wide and invited Margaret to see the heart which loved people so much and yet in return it received only ingratitude.

In another apparition, Jesus wanted Margaret Mary to open up to people to devotion to His Sacred Heart. Jesus told Margaret Mary that Jesuits would be entrusted with the work of spreading this devotion. He wanted the feast of the Sacred Heart to be celebrated by the whole Church on a Friday after the Octave of the feast of the Corpus Christi. Margaret Mary was told by Jesus that St. Claude de la Colombière (Superior of the small Jesuit house at Paray) was His trusted friend and faithful witness. These revelations are the foundation on which the devotion to the Sacred Heart is based. The Church has approved of these apparitions and revelations. And therefore, today all over the world the Jesuits celebrate the feast as a means of spreading this devotion to the Sacred Heart all over the world. As the Church celebrates the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the wounded heart of Christ symbolizes love that God has shown to us through Jesus and is an example for us to love God and fellow human beings in return.

Fr Vijay Prabhu passes on the baton to Fr Francis Serrao

The 16^th of April was a red-lettered day for the Karnataka Jesuit Province and for the Mount St Joseph Community. A large number of Jesuits representing different communities of the Province gathered for a two-fold celebration. Firstly,  six stalwarts (Frs Simon Furtado, Denis Alvares, Rossi Rego, Lawrence Castelino, Frederick Menezes and Vijay Prabhu) of our Province celebrated their Jubilees. Secondly, it was also a day for Fr Vijay Prabhu, our outgoing Provincial to pass on the baton to Fr Francis Serrao, our New Provincial. At the end of the Eucharist, Fr Vijay read the letter of appointment by Fr Adolfo Nicolas (the Superior General of the Jesuits) and then handed over the responsibility symbolically by placing a stole on Fr Francis. The newly appointed Provincial gave the final blessing to the congregation gathered. Congratulations Fr Frankie and we wish you all the very best as you take on the challenge of steering the Province.