Celebrating Fellowship - On the Novitiate Picnic

Nothing could suppress the boisterous spirits when we, the Novices, headed to Sangam (a picnic spot near Kanakapura Taluk, Bangalore) on March 8. The picnic was not only a time to relax and enjoy, but also an opportunity to build our community and fellowship. We had a jolly good time, relaxing in the cool waters of Talakaveri. The scenic beauty resplendent with nature’s choicest colours was a sight to admire. The shallow waters provided a wonderful occasion to enjoy water sports and also to take a light swim. We also shared our food with some unprivileged people around the place. The afternoon was spent in playing picnic games and cricket. As we headed home in the evening, in spite of the tiredness, our spirits were bolstered up. The picnic was a witness to fraternal love and fellowship which we built through the guidance of Fr Dion, our Novice Director and Fr Sunil, the Assistant Novice Director.

He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while” Mark 6:31

Novices' Day 2011

With Gratitude and Hope in our Hearts! Novices Day 2011 was held on 6 March, in Mount St. Joseph Novitiate, which brought together for the last time in this academic year the Novices of six different religious houses namely- FSI sisters, Sisters of the Holy Spirit, Trinitarian brothers, Guanellian sisters, Franciscan sisters of Alverna Bhavan and the Jesuits. The day’s programme included a talk session by Fr Bitaju of the Trinity Ashram in the morning and a cultural programme in the afternoon.. He elaborated on the condition of the young generation based on the message of Pope Benedict XVI. The theme for the talk was “Planted and built up in Christ, firm in the faith”(Col 2:7). Six members of Jesus Youth were present to give a witness to their faith. After the sessions, we gathered around the Lord’s Table for the Eucharist. The afternoon saw an enthralling cultural programme by the novices. All through the fun and entertainment, they kept close to the theme of the day, “Dare to be different”, a clarion call which invites us to be creative and always new. The events of the day centered their focus on the modern youth, bringing out their joys, aspirations and struggles through skit, dance and songs. The photo session in the evening brought down the curtains on another fruitful academic year and a successful Novices' Day.

The Memory of Fr General in Frame

An unforgettable event of Fr General’s visit for us in Mount St Joseph would be to stand for a group photograph with Fr Adolfo Nicholas. It is an event that will be etched permanently in our collective memories. On March 4, Fr General came for the first and the last time to the Novitiate and Dhyanashrama. In the lush green grass carpeted garden of Dhyanashrama, a group photo of the community with Fr General was shot. Fr General was very free and jovial. He joined his hands as he greeted the senior members of the community individually. The picture has become a treasured possession of all in the house which immortalized the memory of the visit of Fr General.

A Rare Meeting - Novices with Fr General

Fr General Meets the Novices! The Novices were on cloud nine on March 4, when Fr General (Fr Adolfo Nicolas) came to the Novitiate in the evening to have tea with the Novices. There was a flurry of activity and excitement to set the stage ready for a very memorable meeting with him in the Aula. We arranged a traditional welcome to Fr General who was flanked by Fr James E Grummer and Fr Lisbert P D’Souza, the assistants ad providentiam. In his talk to the Novices he spoke on a wide range of issues and also shared his personal experiences. Stressing on the need for creativity, flexibility, depth, honesty and availability he encouraged us to be always men for others. He gave a thumbnail sketch of the ongoing work in the Curia and the situation of the Society in relation to peoples lives all around the globe. We had a nice time talking with him after the talk which was a unique experience as Fr General had specifically mentioned that he wanted to meet the novices without the presence of anyone in the hall. We really had a first hand experience of an ideal Jesuit. As the JCSA meet continued, we were privileged to listen to talks by Fr Grummer and Fr Gabriel Je, the Provincial of Korea. Many of the JCSA delegates also celebrated the morning Mass for the Novices .

“Asia has a lot to offer to the Church. Make sure you know Asia in depth.” - Fr General to the Novices.

Fr General Blesses the Cemetery

In Prerana, we could hardly see Fr General. A lot of whispers and murmurs were doing the rounds. We were afforded a chance to see him when he came to bless the renovated cemetery which was upgraded recently with interlocks in its complete stretch. In the morning of March 2, Fr General joined the community and stood face to face the large replica of the crucifix over the memorial stone carved with the words, “Resurrecturis.” After a short prayer, he went around blessing the tombstones and sprinkling the Holy Water. The delegates of the JCSA meet joined the community during the blessing of the cemetery.

Fr General Adorns our Home

The long awaited visit of Fr General filled us with joy as he arrived at Prerana on the 28 February. We were filled with uncontained joy at seeing the head of the Society - the successor of St Ignatius himself. Fr Adolfo Nicholas, who came here to take part in the JCSA meet (28 February to 5 March), was accompanied by Fr James E Grummer and Fr Lisbert D’Souza the Assistants ad Providentiam. All the Provincials of the South Asian Assistancy were in Prerana for the meet. Earlier the same day, the community met Fr General at the Holy Mass and the felicitation function at St Joseph’s Boys’ High School. A man of deep learning and simplicity, he inspired us not only by his words, but also by his typical Japanese bows and warm handshakes. His flair for relating with all and his open personality that reaches out to others endeared him to all, especially the Novices. Fr General’s visit filled us with new energy and motivated us to be “men on search.” As we thank Fr General for visiting us, we wish him good luck in his mission.

“The Society needs you to be men of depth, creativity and deep spirituality.” - Fr Adolfo Nicholas to the Jesuits of Karnataka Province.

Sixteen New Acolytes - Men in White!

Raimented with Christ in our being! The Novitiate took on a brighter tint today as sixteen first year Novices dressed for the first time in their new cassocks. They were conferred their ministries of Lector and Acolyte by Fr Francis Serrao, the Provincial, during the morning Eucharist. After the Holy Mass, the community congratulated them. The senior Novices showed their love by giving handmade wishing cards prepared specially for the occasion. Today is very significant for the new acolytes as it marks the journey from the external to the internal. The chief architect of the day’s events was novice Dolwin Cutinho, the head-guide who will be completing his responsibilities today. As the new acolytes assume their new responsibilities, we congratulate them and pray for God’s blessings on them.

“I do not want merely to possess a faith; I want a faith that possesses me.” – Charles Kingsley

Br Mariasusai Nakshatram-Surrendered to the Lord’s Embrace

"We believe that Jesus died and rose again; so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have died believing in Him.” (I Thessalonians 4:14) Br Mariasusai Nakshatram, a senior member of our Province entered into his eternal reward on 21 February after a protracted illness which he patiently bore with the Lord. Br Mariasusai was stationed in Ashirwad community where he received care and support. After the funeral Mass in Ashirwad, his remains were interred in the cemetery at Mount St Joseph. As Br Mariasusai enters into his Eternal reward, we pray that his soul may rest in peace.

“In a small proportion we just beauties see; And in short measures life may perfect be” - Ben Johnson

Fine Tuning to the Call of God (Vocation Camp)

God calls each one of us in his own unique ways. The call to religious life is a unique call indeed. Hence, to make the young aware of God’s call, a vocation camp was organized in Mount St Joseph on February 20. The presence of about 55 exuberant youngsters from the neighbourhood parishes made this day a success. Their buoyancy and enthusiasm added life and freshness in our campus on this otherwise ordinary Sunday. Schs Pratap Chandru and Lumnesh Kumar managed the show during the morning sessions. The novices took over in conducting some games in the afternoon. Kudos to Fr Sunil Fernandes, the Assistant Novice Director who has been the main person responsible behind the work.

"That Your Kingdom may come and not mine, That your will may be done and not mine, Help me to say yes." Michel Quoist

Ashram Experiment: Christ-centred in an Indian Way

In these times when speed, noise and intense activity is all the rage, the solitary and unobtrusive Ashram becomes a silent witness to the relevance of the way of life taught by the Indian spiritual masters. To taste this experience the first year Novices are sent to a week’s experience in an Ashram. This year the ‘Ashram Experiment’ was in Anjali Ashram, which is at the foot of Chamundi Hills in Mysore. The stay was between 12 and 18 February.

The activities in the Ashram are coined purely in Indian vocabulary - Seva, Upadesha, Satsang, pooja… The food is strictly vegetarian. Silence, solitude and close bonding with nature are the hallmark of Ashram. We were initiated into this life and were guided deeper into the spirituality by Fr Louis, Guruji of the Ashram and the staff of the Ashram. Tolerance, broad-vision, inclusiveness, spirit centredness and an open attitude to truth makes the Ashram a fountain for inter-religious dialogue.

"May the Creator God whose splendour we contemplate as radiant on earth, sky and heaven stimulate our intellect."

Entering into the Vision of Ecumenism

In preparation for the Unity Octave, a short course for the Novices on Ecumenism was given by the Socius, Fr Sunil Fernandes on January 4 & 5. The course was incorporated into the regular class time-table of the Novitiate as an interactive seminar. The course shed light on the history of the Catholic Church, the giants of the Reformation and also tat he present steps taken towards unity as expressed in the recent documents and encyclicals from the Vatican. In the light of the knowledge gained, we tried to comprehend the tensions of the Reformation period and saw the silver lining around the dark clouds which a sign of new hope of dialogue, mutual understanding and unity among Christians.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all” Ephesians 4:4-6

Inter-Novitiate Seminar on Discernment

Fine tuning the heart to the voice of the Lord: “How would a grateful child respond to the selfless love of his/her dear mother?” Giving this down to earth example, Fr Frederick D’Silva endeavoured to bring the broad topic of Discernment to the understanding of the 53 novices of six congregations gathered for the Inter-Novitiate Seminar. The five-day course (10-14 January) packed with in-depth reflection and rib tickling humour was held in Alverna Bhavan Novitiate. The sessions were interesting and it fully involved the participants. Fr Freddie with his long-standing experience in the field of Spiritual Direction shared some of his own experiences and often sent the hall roaring with laughter. Cases that made us put on our thinking caps were given for analysis. During the sharing of the collective opinion of the groups, not a single point was left unexplored by Fr Freddie, thus giving more insight into the aspects of discernment.

“God’s ways are the ways that He himself walked and that we must now walk with Him.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Seeing the Active Presence of God within Creation!

Fr Dion engaged the Novices in classes on Ecology on 5 January. The class was mainly focused to address the need of the hour i.e., to develop right relationship with the nature, very much in-line with the decrees of GC35. Through slide shows, many ways to develop eco-friendly culture was shown. As a practical application and integration of what was being learnt, the Novices spent their “Long Manual Work” in mulching the plants of their gardens "to appreciate more deeply our covenant with creation as central to right relationships with God and one another”

Mulching - It means placing beneath the soil, material, for example, decaying leaves, around a plant, to protect its base and its roots, to improve the quality of the soil or to stop weeds growing. Mulching conserves the moisture in the soil. Try it out in your gardens this Summer!