Inter-Novitiate Course: How & What of PRAYER

Fr Bitaju of Trinity Ashram led the novices far into the vast and picturesque fields of Prayer in the 2-day seminar on "Prayer and Prayer Methods" in the neighbouring Alverna Bhavan. The first inter-novitiate course of the year was held on the 21^st and 22^nd of July. Fr Bitaju avoided clichés, effectively manoeuvred into the present context and challenges and narrowed down to the simplest forms of prayer that each of us can practice. The course was made interesting with visual aids, sharing of experiences and group activities. St Augustine says, “Prayer is what the believer asks the Lord in faith, hope and love.”

Novena in Honour of St Igantius of Loyola

The different themes of the Novena in honour of our founder - St Ignatius of Loyola are as follows. These themes are taken from the book, "Noble Knight" - a prayerful preparation for the feast of St Ignatius and are centred mainly on the life of St Ignatius.

Day 01: Antecedents to an Extraordinary Vocation

Day 02: Loyola - Conversion. Special Graces

Day 03: Montserrat - Vigil. Offering

Day 04: Manresa - The Crucible

Day 05: Cardoner - Extraordinary Graces for others

Day 06: Holy Land - Personal Love for Christ

Day 07: Montmartre - Vows. Total Surrender

Day 08: La Storta - 'Placed with the Son'

Day 09: Unto the Indies - A Heart Larger than the World!

ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಕಿಡಿಗಳು - Sparks of Love

ಭುವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಜೀವನ ದೇವರು ಕೊಟ್ಟಂತಹ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ವರದಾನ
ಹುಡುಕುವೆ ಏತಕೆ ಆ ದೇವನ ಅಲೆಯುವ ಏತಕೆ ಅನುಕ್ಷಣ
ಕಣಕಣದಲ್ಲಿಹುದು ಆತನ ತನುಮನ
ಪ್ರೀತಿಸುವ ಈ ಹೃದಯಕೆ ದ್ವೇಷದ ಹಗೆತನವೇಕೆ?
ಶಾಂತಿ ಸಾರುವ ಈ ಶರೀರಕೆ ಹಿಂಸೆ ನೀಡುವ ದಾಹವೇಕೆ?
ಅಳುವ ಕಣ್ಣಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಂಪು ಕಣ್ಣೀರು ಬಡವರ ದೀನರ ನಿಟ್ಟುಸಿರು
ಈ ಕಣ್ಣಿನ ಕಣ್ಣೀರ ಒರೆಸುವವರಾರು? ಬಡವರ ದೀನರ ಸಂತೈಸುವವರಾರು?
ಯುವಕ ಯುವತಿಯರೇ ನೀವಾಗಿ ಬೆಂಕಿಯ ಕಿಡಿಗಳು
ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಹಂಚಿರಿ ಈ ಜಗದೊಳು ಸಮತೆಯ ಸಾರಿರಿ ಈ ಲೋಕದೊಳು
ಸವಿಯಿರಿ ಅದರ ರುಚಿಯ ಮನದೊಳು
( ಈ ಕವನವನ್ನು ಬರೆದವರು ಸಮೀರ್ ಫ್ರಾನ್ಸಿಸ್ )

Spicing up the Gardens with Ginger!

Ginger cultivation has become a main involvement in the St Stanislaus Garden which is within the four walls of the Novitiate building. A visit to this garden will reveal rows of fresh green plants with slender stem and pointed leaves, bordering the four plots in a neat array. We started with a scratch this June when the roots were planted and the shoots sprung out within a month. The final result of the efforts is bound to be out within a year. As we thank the Lord for the good yield of last year, we aim to create a sequel to the previous success story. In these times when the condition of the hard pressed Indian farmers is exacerbated, the work with the ginger cultivation will surely help us enter into the experience of the struggling farmers of our country.

“Everything you can imagine is real” - Pablo Picasso.

First Probation - A New Life!

Infant Vivian: First probation is a time for preparation for the future mission. It lays emphasis on reviewing the past, living the present and getting ready for the future. In other words, it is a time of intense testing of one’s vocation to the Society of Jesus. As I entered deeper into the spirit of the First Probation, all my fears gave way to the serenity that comes through the ambience of silence. I enjoyed the sweetness of silence which is a grace from the Lord. Silence was God’s point of entry into my self and His presence guided me to build good and lasting relationship with my companions, especially my room-mates and my guide.

Our Parish Feast at Kalena Agrahara, Bangalore.

Seeking the Blessings of our Heavenly Mother- Parish Feast Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Kalenagrahara: An atmosphere of celebration ruled in the parish as the parish family came together to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Fr Stany D’Souza, the Rector of St Joseph’s Indian High School, was here to celebrate the Feast Day Mass. After the Holy Eucharist, the parish family shared their love for each other and gave witness to their oneness as they had food together in the Parish ground. As an expression of their faith and gratitude for all the gifts that they have received in the past year the parishioners brought out a car procession in the evening. Fr John D’Souza the new captain of the ship effectively handled the reins to carve out a memorable day for the parishioners.

Entrance Day Experiences

Cannon Fernandes: A motivating start is necessary at the beginning of any journey. The Entrance Day on the 2 July signaled the beginning of my Novitiate journey. The Liturgy gave added meaning about the significance of this day in my life. The warm wishes from the community, the grand dinner prepared for us, the fellowship and the companionship that I relished, all qualified the day as an unforgettable day to me.

Kiran Leema: We have come to ‘the Novitiate - the School of the Heart.’ This thought makes the Entrance Day very special and beautiful. The community welcomed me with a beautiful smile and with a large and joyful heart. For nearly 20 days, I was nurtured by my guide like a child in the womb of the mother during the period of silence and recollection in the First Probation. So on the Entrance Day, I entered again into feeling like a new born infant in the Society of Jesus.

Entrance Day for the New Novices

Enter into the Joy of the Lord’s Home – Every passing year, the months of June and July become a special season in itself as it becomes a period of farewells and welcomes. July 2 added some more sugar and spice into the basket of our feelings as it was the Entrance Day of the incoming Novices. Our hearts gleefully jumped for joy as the community formally welcomed all the 10 first year novices into the community. It marks the end of their First Probation and signals the ushering in of the Second Probation which means a time of testing of our vocation to the Society of Jesus. Fr Francis Menezes, Fr Willie Sequeira and Fr Sunil Fernandes celebrated the Entrance Day Eucharist which was in the evening. “… and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” - Jeremiah 1:5

The Frontiersmen of the Heart of Christ

“To proclaim God's love to all the nations” - Ten of our brothers committed themselves to serve in the vineyard of Christ on the 21^st of June when they professed their First Vows in the Main Chapel of Mount St. Joseph. Fr Francis Serrao, the Provincial, was the main celebrant for the Holy Mass. It was a day for us to thank the Lord for our brothers who are our pride and joy and beseech the Lord to bless them abundantly in their future mission as Jesuits. Presently, they are pursuing their studies in the common Juniorate in Trivandrum, Kerala.

Navataranga 2011 comes out into the open

“Joining Hands in Harmony”- With this theme radiating throughout its pages, the annual Magazine of our Novitiate, Navataranga, has now become “an open book”. Fr Dion Vaz, who will be finishing his term as the Novice Director this year, released Volume 34 of Navataranga on 21 June after the Vows Day Mass. Speaking on the occasion , the proud editor, Arvind Royce J, who professed his first Vows today stressed on the longing for Harmony in today’s world swarming with divisive ideologies. Here is the editor’s speech in a nutshell- The world today is vitiated by terrorism, corruption, Global Warming war, culture of death and many such hurdles. Our hope is in the youth, the driving force of the future. Unfortunately they are misled by many forces. Navataranga 2011 is an attempt to tell again ‘the rich legacy of Christ’.

In our wish-list on this occasion is our desire to thank all who have laboured for the success of the Magazine. Have a pleasant reading!
"When work is a pleasure, life is a joy! When work is a duty, life is  slavery." Maxim Gorky

RETREATS (July - December 2011)

RETREATS - DHYANASHRAMA (Mount St Joseph)

01-09 July: God of Life, God of Love (Fr Hilario Fernandes)

12-20 July: Come and rest a while (Fr Simon Furtado)

22-30 July: Sitting at the Master’s feet (Fr Ivan Mendonca)

02-10 Aug: Listening to the Master (Fr John Baptist)

12-20 Aug: Lord, let me see your Face (Fr Hilario Fernandes)

22-30 Aug: To Know Him deeply, love Him intimately, follow Him closely (Fr Arockiasamy)

02-10 Sep: Behold, God’s Handmaid (Fr Tom Quadros)

12-20 Sep: Walking with the Lord (Fr Denis Coelho)

22-30 Sep: Relishing His Presence (Fr John D’Souza)

02-10 Oct: Searching for God’s will (Fr John Baptist)

12-20 Oct: Lord is the Joy of my heart (Fr Simon Furtado)

22-30 Oct: Savouring His presence (Fr Hilario Fernandes)

01-09 Nov: God of Salvation (Fr Simon Furtado)

12-20 Nov: Call to Intimacy (Tertian Jesuit)

22-30 Nov: God of Love & Mercy (Fr Hilario Fernandes)

02-10 Dec: Preparing for His coming (Fr John Baptist)

12-20 Dec: He comes, He comes, Ever comes (Fr Denis Coelho)

MONTH’S RETREATS

16 Mar - 15 Apr: 30-Day Retreat (Fr John Baptist)

01 - 30 July: 30-Day Retreat

01 - 30 Nov: 30-Day Retreat

For further details, contact:

The Director
Mount St Joseph (Dhyanashrama)
IIMB PO, Kalena Agrahara,
Bannerghatta Road
Bangalore - 560 076.
Tel: 080-26580441, 26585464
E-mail: dhyanashrama@gmail.com
Blog: www.msjnov.blogspot.com

First Vows on 21 June 2011 (Invitation)

A warm welcome to the First Vows of our Ten Novices on 21 June 2011.

10 New Shoots in our “GARDEN OF LOVE”

The mood in the Novitiate was full of the joys of spring when we welcomed ten new novices this year. They have begun their First Probation on the 16^th of June. Four of our novices have already begun their Novitiate in the Andhra Province. As they gradually merge into the life in the Novitiate, we pray that their life in the novitiate may be very fruitful and that they may experience the intimacy of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Robert J Frost says, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less travelled by, and that made all the difference.”