NEW BUDS

Sitting: Leston, Prashanth, Fr.Dion, Fr.Manoj, Alwyn, Naveen
Standing: Royston, Olwyn, Avinash, Wilson, Roshan, Rayan, Dominic, Kamalakar, Ashwin, Praveen, Vijaya Kumar, Vincent

Our Mount St. Joseph community began to increase in beauty and splendour with the entry of sixteen new flowering plants from Andhra and Karnataka on 18th and 19th of June respectively. There is extra fragrance of silence, joy, hope and life in this paradise now.

They were rendered a cordial welcome and now slowly led into the novitiate life by their guides as they are doing their first probation. We are happy to introduce them to you.

Alwin Vijay Lobo is from Belthangady, Mangalore. He is a very friendly and God loving person.

Ashwin Praveen Cordeiro- his roots are in Renjal, Mangalore. His qualities like sincerity and trustworthiness are to be appreciated.

Avinash Ajay Lobo hails from Mangalore, a very humorous person and known for his consistency.

Austin Dominic D'silva hailing from Kable, Shimoga, he is a person who has concern for others,always cheerful, gifted with the skill of music too.

John Rayan Pereira - hails from Kelrai, is very jovial and simple who is also known for his understanding nature.

Kamalakar hails from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. He is a spiritual man, softspoken and hard worker.

Leston D'souza is a native of Balkuknje, Mangalore, he is very open and friendly, hardworking too.

Naveen fernandes comes from Arehally, Chikkmaglur. He is child like, holy and talented, he is a good singer and sportsman.

Olwin Arun Fernandes hails from Belthangady. He is very simple and known for his hard work and availability.

Prashanth Kumar ,has roots in Harobale, Bangalore. He is very cheerful, active, gifted with singing and creativity .

Praveen Kumar- comes from Hassan. He is known for his silence and systematic way of life.

Roshan Pinto hails from Virajpet, Coorg. He is known for his discipline, he is a good basketball player.

Royston hails from Permudem, Mangalore, well known for his qualities such as simplicity and transparency.

Vijaya Kumar hailing from Guntur, Andhra Pradhesh . He is a simple and transparent person. He likes to play basket ball and blessed with acting skills.

Vincent Jaison native of Marianagar, Hassan. Humour, community spirit and helping are his qualities.

Wilson Fernandes hails from Moodbidri , Mangalore. He is very sensitive and prayerful. Good at dancing and singing.

FIRST VOWS OF THE JESUIT NOVICES

Every year, June 21 is a day of celebration and joy, to witness young men offering themselves to the Lord through their vows. The feast of St. Aloysious Gonzaga doubles the joy as he becomes their patron. This year it was an unforgettable day for thirteen Novices of the Karnataka Province- Bryan, Ryan, Nithin, Paul, Vinod, Vishal, Kevin, Don, Sujay, Jeevan, Rayan, Arul and Jayprakash as they came forward and committed themselves the Lord by pronouncing the first vows. The vowents prepared themselves spiritually by the triduum preached by Socius, Fr. Manoj.

The grand ceremony began at 6.00 pm. The chapel was decorated beautifully and meaningfully highlighting the theme "Take and Receive". Fr.Vijay Prabhu the Provincial was the main celebrant. The entrance creativity organised by the second year novices was meaningful, pointing the need to be the streams of water in quenching the thirst of the suffering people in the world. Fr.Ambrose in his thought provoking homily urged the vowents to be persevering and faithful to their religious life than being merely successful and to be strengthened by the Cross. He concluded his homily keeping before us the challenge to lead a life with Christ values in this selfish, pleasure seeking world. The offertory was made meaningful by the creative imageries of Christ as presented in the Bible. The vowents vowed before the Lord perpetual poverty, chastity and obedience before the body and blood of Christ. Fr. Provincial received their vows.The vowents expressed their thanks to God through the song "God is my salvation and strength."
The climax of the ceremony was when the Novice-Director, Fr.DionVaz,S.J., gave his advise to the vowents. He talked on to have personal love for Christ, the Society and the poor. He urged them to be mystics and give love wherever they would go. Fr.Provincial gifted each vowent with a crucifix to make it their life companion in times of joy and sorrow. A short felicitation programme was organised in which the vowents cut the cake to mark this occasion. The second year novices wished them good luck with their song. The vowents also sang a moving song dedicating it to the suffering people in the world. There was a sumptuous dinner prepared by the hard work of the kitchen staff. The presence of many Jesuits and the neighboring religious added grace to the whole ceremony. Everyone bade a heart filled good-night and went back thanking the Lord for this graceful occasion where they really experienced God's hope in these thirteen young Jesuits. For more photos click on First Vows '07

Summer Camp

It is another love experience and divine encounter. One of my goals was to find Him in everything.The Lord showed Himself in the beautiful nature, the laughter of the children,and the love of the people, even in bitter experiences. I realized His presence constantly in my life. This was one of the peak graces I was granted. I was in fact open to receive His graces. I was deeply inspired by the love, hospitality and the life-style of the people. These people are poor materially but rich in love, happiness and sharing. The Lord helped me to know my own uniqueness and the purpose of my creation and vocation. I also came to know, What it means to be a 'missionary'. I really was inspired by the work of the Jesuits in these places. This experience has helped me to rekindle the fire of my vocation and to be committed to the call I have received.

-Lumnesh Swaroop
(Lumnesh,a first year novice has shared his experience of living and working with the poor in one of the villages in Pannur.)

Ashram Experiment

The experience I had for five days in the ' Vidyavanam Ashram' was an experience of learning about and feeling the rich meaning of the age long Indian spirituality. A quest for love and wisdom of the divine was the peak point. The Upanishads and the Bhagavad Geetha helped me to understand the richness of meditation, contemplation and the gift of being an Indian dealing with the depths of the soul. The 'guru-sishya' relationship was an inspiring one. It taught me to sit at the feet of the Lord and to listen. These five days taught me the mantras to get into the cave of the heart of the master and myself. I could also experience the integration of the Ignatian spirituality to praise,revere, and serve Christ our master. It was a beautiful experience to see how a child learns and proceeds to enjoy the fullness of life.

-Anthony Derrick
(Derrick and his first year companions spent five days in an Ashram meditating on the Indian Spirituality.)

AN EXPERIENCE OF LOVE

It was a hot sunny day with no sign of a cloud to ease the summer heat. But within me I felt the coolness of the Love that I was carrying from my retreat to 'Ashaniketan', a home for the intellectually challenged. As I gently put my steps forward to have a unique and revealing experience, I knew for certain that I was making my way into the "abode of Hope." It was a unique experience for me because, I was deeply touched and moved in Bijapur seeing many differently abled people on the streets. They had made their way into my little, broken yet loving heart. It was a dream come true as I really met, worked and lived with these people.

"Every human being has a right to friendship, to communion and to a spiritual life." This is the basic revelation I have had during my stay at Ashaniketan. The resurrected Jesus has loved me through these differently abled people. I know now that every Human being from the moment two gametes meet to form a 'zygote' is a "Human Person" irrespective of one's challenges.

I would like to sum up my experience in the following lines," I carried love in my heart after my retreat to give them but now I come back with outpouring love in my heart not to hoard but to give."

Nithin Monteiro.
(Nithin, is a second year novice, spent a month in Ashanikethan, a home for the mentally challenged people)

Work is worship

The first year Novices had an enriching experience in Pannur in the month of May. It was a 'work experience' for them. Though the sun was burning hot, they did not hesitate to work in the scorching heat, digging foundations for the houses. As the fruit of their love for the poorest of the Hulugunchi village in Raichur, at the end of the camp fourteen poor families could smile looking at those trenches soon to be raised up with the walls. The hospitality of the Jesuits of Pannur was excellent. No doubt the Novices have returned back to the Novitiate with unforgettable rich experiences.