HAPPY EASTER - Radiate JOY!!!

Dear friends,

From all of us here at Mount St Joseph, a joy-filled and grace-filled Easter to you.

“We are an Easter People; Alleluia is our Song!” May the Risen Lord bless you all and fill your hearts with His love, peace, joy, hope ….. RADIATE JOY!!!

Heartfelt Gratitude: Second Anniversary of our Blog

Dear friends,

All of you have been part of the ‘msjblog’ family. It is indeed great joy to know that so many of you browse our blog and appreciate it. Your comments on the blog page were encouraging to go ahead. Do you know the Birthday of msjblog? It is April 10, 2007. So, it is the Second Anniversary of the blog. Over the last two years, msjblog has spread its wings beyond imagination. It is a moment for us all to feel happy and proud.

We request you to support us by contributing your comments and valuable suggestions. Remember, the very fact you read this, you belong to the msjblog family.

A BIG Thanks to all of you for your constant support and appreciation.

Holy Week Services in the Parish

Maundy Thursday (09/04/2009)

5.00 pm : Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the Parish (Kannada)

7.00 pm : Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the Parish (English)

Good Friday (10/04/2009)

8.30 am : Stations of the Cross in the Parish (English)

2.30 pm : Stations of the Cross in the Parish (Kannada)

4.30 pm : Celebration of the Lord’s passion (Kannada)

6.30 pm : Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (English)

Holy Saturday (11/04/2009)

8.30 am : Coming down the Mount of Calvary with Mary

7.00 pm : Easter Vigil Service in the Parish (Kannada)

9.30 pm : Easter Vigil Service in the Parish (English)

Easter Sunday (12/04/2009)

8.30 am : Easter Mass in the Parish (Kannada)

Bye but Come Back Successful

March 18th was a significant day for the students of 10th standard. The School organised a farewell ceremony for the students. The Class teachers Mr M N Srinivas and Mrs Kripalini were the chief organizers for the event. Programme began with a prayer service and after which a long cultural programme was organised in which many children from 8th and 9th standard exhibited their talents through songs, dances and skits. Fr Dion the acting Rector of Mount St Joseph Institutions was the chief guest for the occasion. He asked the children to develop in them the qualities like setting a aim, discipline, self confidence etc. so as to be successful in the world. Fr Henry Saldhana, the Principal of the college wished the children well and told them that we have started the college for your sake and you have all the rights to study in this prestigious institution. At the end, the staff members had some refreshments with the outgoing students. We have 100 students who are preparing themselves to face the SSLC exam. Let us wish them well.

Light & Sound Drama on "The Prophets"

We, the MSJ community and the novices, were glad to witness a  sound and light drama  on the life of 'TheProphets' in Kannada staged at Mount Carmel Church, Mariapura(Thattaguppe) last weekend. This dance cum drama programme was performed continuously for seven hours and featured 350 actors alongside 550 young dancers. It was a thrilling and inspiring experience to watch  young  children confidently performing on stage. This show covered eight books of the Old Testament. Featuring right from the freedom of the Israelites and their march towards the Promised Land, the drama  went on to highlight significant moments in the lives of the prophets like Moses, Samuel, Saul, David, Elijah, Elisha, Jonah and Danial.  As a result, all of us were able to refresh our knowledge centered around these great prophets who worked for our salvation. The programme concluded with the Holy Eucharist on Sunday morning. With a capacity for around 30,000 people to spread their mats in the open and enjoy the show comfortably, this programme was well organized, inspiring and entertaining.

Pauline Lectures at Prerana (MSJ)

The Pauline Year proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI will end on 29 June 2009. This year we are also celebrating the Golden Jubilee year of Mount St Joseph. To mark this 2-fold occasion we had organized a series of 16 talks on Pauline themes by experts in the field, Frs Joseph Lobo SJ and Ralph da Costa SJ, at Prerana (Mount St Joseph) from 5.30 pm till 7.15 pm every Wednesday and Saturday in the months of January and February 2009. Fr Joseph’s talks were in the month of January and Fr Ralph’s in February. Many religious, except the novices, of the Bannerughatta CRI zone attended the talks regularly in large numbers. Most of them appreciated the talks which were  thought-provoking, inspiring and full of insights. Fr Ralph dealt with the following Pauline themes in his talks (Pauline understanding and practice of prayer; Life in the Spirit; New creation in Christ; Pauline understanding of being Church; Gifts of the Spirit; Challenges of the Pauline understanding of Resurrection; Implications of Paul's disagreement with Peter at Antioch for our times; "Stern but gentle" - Pauline leadership and its implication for us today and Paul's Christ-centeredness: a discussion on its implications for a multi-religious context.) 

Seminar on Ignatian Spirituality (23-26 February)

Thirty-eight Jesuits from South Asia, representatives from all provinces (except Gujarat, Patna & Nepal) - all veterans in Jesuit formation and spirituality - gathered at Mount St Joseph, Bangalore, for the South Asia Assistancy level seminar on Ignatian Spirituality, from 23^rd to 26^th February, 2009.  Fr Hector D’Souza, the Provincial of South Asia (POSA), who had planned & promoted the seminar, led the whole process.  In his keynote address, he invited and challenged the delegates to explore and devise a method and process of integrating the Indian spiritual traditions with the Ignatian Spirituality.  After the 35^th General Congregation (GC), there has been a renewed vigour in spiritual conversation and an enthusiasm in sharing of our charism and heritage through retreats.  It was enriching to learn how some Jesuits used Ignatian contemplative method in inter-religious contexts and helped people of other religions to pray; and this was a new and deep prayer experience for them. Fr T K John of Vidya Jyoti, as a resource person, opened vistas of the Ignatian contemplation in the creation and cosmos around us.  He felt that there is ample possibility to relate and promote the Ignatian Spirituality in the rich Indian traditions.  He also proposed a 5-year project to achieve this. 

Fr Edward Mercieca, Secretary for Promotion of Ignatian Spirituality, Rome, (Director of Centre for Ignatian Spirituality - CIS) was a rich resource person and a keen participant all through the program. His simplicity and brotherly warmth touched us all.  His presence and participation as a resource person enthused us. Fr Edward Mudavassery, the POSA-designate, was present for the Seminar.  His warm presence, keen interest and positive participation made the Seminar more meaningful and forward-looking. Our whole-hearted thanks to Fr Francis Menezes (PCF, KAR) who organized this seminar.  His warm welcome, exuding confidence, detailed planning and efficient implementation are admirable and enviable.

(Contributed by Fr Tom Quadros SJ) 

Karnataka Jesuit Province gets a new Provincial

Fr Francis Serrao, the Rector of St Aloysius Institutions, has been appointed as the next Provincial of the Karnataka Jesuit Province. Congratulations Fr Frankie and we wish you all the very best as you take on the challenge of steering the Province.

Community Picnic to 'Sunny Holiday Village'

The whole community of  MSJ took a short break from the normal routine and enjoyed a day’s outing at Sunny Holiday Village, a resort near Gottigere. The picnic spot  was lovely and splendid. The lush green lawns, the tall palm trees, rural-type cottages,  a swimming pool and a volleyball court gave ample scope to relax and refresh. The novices plunged into the waters and had a great time in the pool. Swimming and water polo were the major attractions of the day. The fellowship meal in the afternoon made us feel that we all belong to one family. Fr Arock provided a delicious and sumptuous meal. Soon after lunch, various recreational games were conducted. Fr Denis bagged a number of prizes and surprised many. The youthfulness of the Senior Fathers made us more energetic, active and lively. The day's outing was indeed a time to share our love and joy with one another. At the end of the day, we went back home rejuvenated - renewed and refreshed.

Vocation Camp at Loyola School, MSJ

On the 15th of February, the labourers were invited to the harvest. The High School students from different Parishes (Anekal, Basavanapura, Begur, Chikka Kammanahalli, Kalena Agrahara, Mylasandra and Jaraganahalli-J.P.Nagar) gathered in the School hall of Loyola Institutions for a vocation cum leadership camp. 21 candidates from the neighbouring parishes accepted our invitation and responded generously to be the labourers in the harvest field. The camp was jointly organized by Navasadhana:Pre-Novitiate and the MSJ community. We thank Fr Balaraj and Sch Ronald for their meticulous planning and team work in collaboration with us. Sch Ronald made the students feel at home by conducting a few group activities. Sch Alphonse gave a short talk on study skills followed by another talk by Sch Rony on the call of God and goal in our life. Novice Joyson taught some songs. The novices & the pre-novices made the candidates to relax and feel at home. The community of MSJ took care of all the needs of the day. The camp concluded with the Eucharist celebrated by Fr Sunil. Indeed, the vocation camp was successful bearing abundant fruit.

BalaMela 2009

“The Kingdom of God belongs to little Children.” Every weekend, the novices go for Saturday Ministry to different places (Home for the Elderly, Bosco Mane - for street children, Loyola Primary School, Loyola High School, Loyola ITI, visit the schools and the people in Mylasandra, Hulla Halli, Laxmipura, Hakki Pikki Colony, Hulimavu and Silendranadoddi) to render their service to the school children, street children, tribal children and the elderly. As part of the ministry they conduct the Balamela for the children in their respective places. Through the creative initiative of the novices, Balamela-2009 was conducted smoothly on the 14^th of February. This activity aroused a lot of fun and frolic. The enthusiasm of the children knew no bounds when they actively participated with eagerness and true team spirit in all the games and the other activities that were a part of the show. The staff members of the schools assisted the novices in the overall organization. This event has indeed made us to touch the lives of many children and helped us strike a chord of happiness in their poverty-stricken and misery-soaked lives. The tiny tots were bubbling with joy to receive the gifts at the end of the day. It was an experience that has made everyone happy. Truly a memorable day dedicated to the children.

Inter-Novitiate Seminar on Discernment

“Discernment of Spirits” is a process by which we make our choices and decisions in daily life from our own personal convictions and value-system listening to the interior movements of the heart. Discernment and its process is a gift of St Ignatius of Loyola to the Church and to all of us. Our 14 first year Novices were indeed privileged to be a part of the 4-day course on Discernment. The classes were conducted efficiently and creatively by Fr Freddie D’Silva SJ at the Holy Spirit Convent. There were 58 novices from six different religious Congregations (Holy Mary Convent, Holy Spirit Convent, FSI Novitiate, Alverna Novitiate, La Salle Arpana Nivas & Mount St Joseph)  who actively participated in this program and have exceedingly benefited from it. This course has made them grow towards becoming better human beings, better Christians and better Religious. It has surely brought Christ into the daily activities of life and made us  ‘discerning persons’ and to choose the greater good in life. Once again, It was time for our novices to interact with the novices of the other religious congregations. Some are already looking forward to many more inter-novitiate seminars/courses of this kind! Above all, the seminar was really fruitful and full of deepening insights. Thanks to Fr Fred for helping us to know the importance of 'Discernemnt' in our day-to-day lives!

                                                                              

 

Candidates from 'Xavier Nilaya' visit MSJ Campus

“Atithi Devo Bhava” - is a famous Sanskrit saying. This Sunday saw the arrival of the Xavier Nilaya community (candidates from the Patna Jesuit Province) and their neighbourhood here at Mount St Joseph for a day's outing. The spacious campus and its facilities helped the guests to feel at home even though it was a first time visit for many. The friendly football match in the evening was the centre of attraction of the picnic and it indeed stole the show. The novices of MSJ played against the candidates of Xavier Nilaya. It was a closely contested match. Kudos to the novices who won the game 2-1. Cheers to the candidates who displayed sheer talent, boldness and true sportsmanship. The presence of the neighbours and well-wishers around Xavier Nilaya community gave us a fine example of  how efficiently collaboration can be achieved in the Society of Jesus. They enriched our hearts with their melodious singing and splendid cheering.