Loyola Primary School Day

Those little lovely tiny tots…. dressed in variety of colours…. dancing so joyfully- swinging their heads, clapping their hands with least inhibitions was a treat to all eyes. Yes, it was the annual School Day of Loyola Primary School. For the school, it was a day to celebrate and feel happy about the past year and for parents it was day to feel proud of their kids and school. The stage was illumined by a whole lot of dignitaries who had a word of appreciation to the school. Yes, this year LPS has created history. Five students participated in the state level tournament. Of all, Master Balaji has brought laurels to the school taking it to national level fame. He won the Second Place in the national level Kho Kho tournament. Indeed, it is an historical achievement! Not only games, but in academics too, the children are shining. Every student of the school is also made to learn English. Thanks to the dedicated Headmistress and the Staff, the school is really making progress.

A grand feast of Vanachinnappa celebrated at Mailasandra

Mailasandra ..Vanachinnppa… Oh these may sound new names to you. If so listen… Mailasandra is tiny hamlet situated next to Begur. It was once upon a time a substation of Begur church. But today it has its own dignity as an independent parish with a beautifully carved church. A passerby cannot but admire the beauty of this church which is replica of Velankani church. What is the life of this parish? It is those simple, humble, poor, hardworking and generous people who ask not what the church can do for them but what they can do for the church. Vanachinnappa feast is a celebration of the life of parish where all rich and poor come together as a community and share the family meal.

Vanachinnapa is the most honoured saint of the parish. He is the protector of people, land and cattle shielding them from all evil. People may not have enough to eat but they will not forgo to pay their tribute to this revered, protector saint once a year, inviting people from all neighbouring parishes and feeding them stomach full with mutton biriyani.

The feast this year saw a sea of devotees from all places coming and sharing in the joy of parishioners. Fr. Balaraj, the Ireland retuned, was the High Priest of the Mass. The place was beautifully decorated in the ‘vana’ of the parish. Fr.Balaraj touched the hearts of the people with his moving homily. All the concelebrants were honoured after the Mass. All were given a badakhana after the Mass. Fr. Frankie Noronha who was a man behind, feels deeply satisfied at the response and the cooperation of the people and rightly says, “This is my last grand celebration in Mailasandra!”

Our Men in Black with the New General

How elegant these men in black look! Jerry seems to be standing out! Will he be this time too, the most well dressed man of GC-35?(Photo of South Asia Assistancy taken on the terrace of Jesuit Curia, with St. Peter's in the background)

The Seventh Spaniard to hold the Jesuit Fort

Rev. Fr. Adolfo de Nicolás is the seventh Spaniard General of the Society of Jesus

The other Spaniards are:

1. Ignatius of Loyola: April 19, 1541 - July 31, 1556
2. Diego Laynez: July 2, 1558 - January 19, 1565
3. Francis Borgia: July 2, 1565 - October 1, 1572
4. Tirso Gonzalez: July 6, 1687 - October 27, 1705
5. Luis Martin: October 2, 1892 - April 18, 1906
6. Pedro Arrupe: May 22, 1965 - September 3, 1983
7. Adolfo de Nicolás: Jan 19, 2008

A brief profile of the New General Fr. Adolpho Nicholas SJ

Born: 29^th April 1936

Birth place: Palencia, Spain

Entered the SJ: 15^th September 1953 at Aranjuez, Madrid Spain

Philosophy: Aranjuez, Alcala de Henares – 1955-1960

Theology: Tokyo, Japan – 1964-1968

Ordination: Tokyo, Japan – 17^th March 1967

Final Profession: Tokyo, 5^th October 1976

Doctorate in Systematic Theology: Gregorian University, Rome 1968-1971

Assignments Held

2002. Tokyo, Sophia University, Theology Professor
1984. Manila, East Asia Pastoral Institute, Director
1999. Japanese Province, Provincial
2007. Jesuit Conference East Asia & Oceania, Moderator

Fr. Adolpho Nicholas, S.J. - the New Superior General of the Society of Jesus

Fr. Adolpho Nicholas, SJ -the former Provincial of Japan has been elected to lead the band of nearly twenty thousand Jesuits world over. ( New General is wearing a Naga shawl, presented by Fr. Hector)

"Padanidhi"- the First Thesaurus of Kannada Language by Fr. Prashanth Madtha Released.

11 years of hard labour hunting for every Kannada word from village and town, from old times and modern times, from dictionaries and newspapers and arranging them in the order of similar, near, related and opposite meanings has finally borne fruit for the scholarly Jesuit of Karnataka Province, Fr. Prashanth Madtha. An 800 page book containing synonyms for over 16,000 Kannada words was released at the glittering ceremony held at St. Joseph’s Boys High School. Veerappa Moily, the former C M of Karnataka and a well known poet released the book and appreciated Fr. Prashanth’s unique contribution to the Kannada literature. Rashtrakavi G.S. Shivarudrappa in his message highlighted the contribution of Christian missionaries to the Kannada literature. Prof. Siddharamayya who introduced the book to the audience pointed out the meticulous, extensive, scientific division of the words. Fr. Prashanth spoke of the twofold usefulness of the book. Fr. Terence Farias, the Rector of SJC, praised Prashanth for his masterpiece and urged all to make use of this work. The hall was packed to the capacity. It was certainly a joyful occasion and a matter of pride for all the students and staff of St.Joseph’s Evening College to see their dear principal included in the circle of literary giants of Kannada language.

La....la....la.....Wonder....la!

It was a day of fun and frolic; it was an unforgettable day for the novices. Indeed it was a Novice’s day out! The whole novitiate community for their yearly picnic went to the much sought after place for picnic in Bangalore, which is none other than Wonderla….! Wonderla is indeed a wonderful place. Novices spent the whole day playing those amazing, thrilling even frightening games such as water pendulum, skywheel, rain disco, wave pool, twister, hurricane, hara-kiri, car race, drop zone...just a mention a few. It appeared as though the whole day passed in an hour!. When the bus returned to pick the picnicers, feet wouldn’t move to board the bus. All thanks go to Fr. Godwin whose thoughtfulness and love for the novices made this possible.

A Great Karnataka Jesuit is no more

With the passing away of Fr. Mathew Lewis on New Year's day at the ripe age of 89 plus, the Karnataka Province of the Society of Jesus loses a great pioneer who was restless for Christ all his life, ceaselessly looking for new and better avenues of path breaking ventures in the service of God and His people, especially the poor, the weak, the wounded and the weary.

Fr. Mathew had the rare distinction of being appointed Rector of St. Aloysius College twice. He held the fort in Ashirvad and Indian High School. He was at the helm in Dhyanashrama. But his opus magnum was the Mundgod Mission, where he went at the age of 63 when those much younger to him had second thoughts. With consummate courage, determined zeal and daring initiative he started the Mission literally from the scratch. With rare farsight he laid the foundation for the future and did the spadework of what are today flourishing institutions: Loyola Vikas Kendra and Loyola School. He took immense pains to acquire land for a new Church and built it with almost no money in hand.
In all this, what stood out was Fr. Mathew's deep spirituality, intense prayerfulness and total trust in divine providence. May he enjoy the bliss prepared by the Lord for his faithful servant.