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Reflections From The Prov. Chapter
REFLECTIONSFROM THE PROVINCIAL CHAPTER
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The 12th Provincial Chapter of the Salesian Province of Dimapur was held from 04 to 08 April 2016. It was ably moderated by Rev. Fr. Chittissery (CM) Joseph. As the deliberations of the said Chapter will be in our hands after their approval, below we have some of the precious thoughts shared by Rev. Fr. K. A. Joseph sdb (former Provincial of Kolkata and New Delhi Provinces) who preached for the full day recollection on 4th April and delivered the keynote address on the first day of the Provincial Chapter on 5th April, by Bishop Joseph Aind SDB DD of Dibrugarh, Bishop George Palliparambil SDB DD of Miao and Rev. Fr. Bosco Perianayagam sdb, IND Vice Provincial.
Full day Recollection:
In order to prepare spiritually for this important triennial Provincial event, a full day recollection was held on 04 April commencing at 9.00 am. It was well-animated by Rev. Fr. K. A. Jose sdb, former Provincial of Kolkata and New Delhi Provinces. In his first talk Fr. K. A. Joseph said he was happy to return to this missionary province, like the South American missions. Instead of using papers he preferred to speak from his heart: During his visit to Lousiana for mission appeal in 1992, his cousin working in a Franciscan college of Sisters in Iowa took him for a wedding jubilee Mass in the convent chapel. He was shocked to find that most of the Sisters were very old. After Mass Sr. Provincial cut the jubilee cake. She was 75 years, the youngest member in the Congregation! But she was quite positive about her Congregation. But today will that Congregation be existing? There is crisis in religious life. Vocations are dwindling. Once Ranchi was a vocation centre, not any more. Society and culture have changed. One SMI Sister was speaking to her nieces about vocations. They replied: “How did you get this silly idea of becoming a Nun?” Today’s secularized society feels God is not needed. It is necessary to imbibe “passion for Christ and passion for humanity”. A group of superiors studied religious life from another perspective: Why are Congregations still flourishing with vocations and are relevant? Fr. Vigano spoke about this: how in the midst of all the negatives, there are such positive signs. There are five areas of vibrancy: Those congregations are vibrant who remember why they were founded. There were 4000 MC Sisters when Mother Teresa died. This was unique and had also a Congregation of contemplative Fathers and Sisters, friends of mother Teresa, collaborators all over. She had touched the heart of humanity. She ensured that the Sisters remain zealous. They had a fourth vow: work for the poorest of the poor all their life. She closed all diversions from her aim of serving in the streets. She objected to the idea of starting a boarding for children. She would not have electric pumps, no fans. She wanted the living standards of the poor. Poor Bengali families would serve a cup of tea and two biscuits. Sometimes they had nothing and so they would excuse saying that they would not be at home. So Mother Teresa passed a rule that her Sisters would not take even two biscuits and a cup of tea anywhere outside. Once five bishops stayed in the MC provincial house. They visited Mother Teresa’s home. They found the stench of the poor hard to bear but no
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ticed that the novices were very happy. St. John Paul II told the Sisters: you have been faithful to your foundress. Many will come with ideas to change – do not listen to them – follow your mother… Coming to us: why were we founded? For the poor youngsters who are our treasures. While visiting Ranchi, the welcome programme for Fr. Chavez was spoilt due heavy rains. But Fr. Chavez walked through the flooded path and was welcomed by the noisy children. Some children said ‘today we have seen Don Bosco among us’. He had the passion of Don Bosco – he talked two hours to the children in the church which was apparently turned into a hall. There are houses where there are no more youngsters – this is the death of a Salesian house. We have more time for ourselves but then for what – where is our reason for existence: the youngsters? Those congregations which are alive today pass on their charism to their neighbourhood. Don Bosco passed on his charism to his boys, friends and helpers. This is natural – a tree brings out many young ones below it because seeds fall and young ones grow. We have our Salesian co-operators; today our strength is our past pupils (3rd Order) who guided the relic around the world. In fact, the Vatican warned that it would involve a huge expense. Fr. Chavez replied: ‘our past pupils will take care of that’. The past pupils raised the fund, met the officers, arranged the programme... let us therefore believe in our young people – this is a vital sign of our
charism – we need them for our survival – this is the way Don Bosco lived, organized and built up the society. If this is true with the people outside, how much more we should do this with the people inside: teaches, students, parents... Those Congregations are alive that have a deep spiritual life: only a spiritual life can maintain a religious Congregation – relationship with God – love of Eucharist –sacraments – deep spiritual life. When we become careless about spiritual life we become nonsensical. Fr. Gutierrez of liberation theology was in crisis and was planning to leave religious life. His friend Henry told him “spend some time with Mother Teresa”. He met mother Teresa in Paris and poured out his emptiness for one hour. “Haven’t you something to tell me? Do you really pray? Gutierrez went back and wrote “The return of the Prodigal”. It was his life-story. He spent his life with the mentally retarded. Life is passing on life to these people – mystics, prophets and servants: this is where we should be anchored for a flourishing future. Those congregations are vibrant that are deeply attached to the church: they love the church, they follow the church. Following the church is the sign of vitality of the congregation. Devotion to the pope is our characteristic. If we are not devoted, there is no communion. When communion is disrupted the congregation dies. Those congregations are vibrant which have
a tender devotion to Our Lady. When rules of congregations are examined by the Vatican, they enquire if there is devotion to Mary. If there is no devotion to Mary, there is no Holy Spirit’s inspiration to that society. When canon law was being revised John Paul II added recitation of the rosary to the formation of seminarians. Every continent, every country, every diocese, every parish has a centre of devotion to Mary. These five signs are valid for the congregation, province, house and individuals. What we carry in our heart will carry us through life not documents and arguments. Religious life will survive if there are these five signs. We have to become more vibrant. Let us discuss what we will BE not what we will DO. This will make us happy Salesians. Place this desire at the feet of Mary today during the Eucharist. In his second talk in the evening Fr. K. A. Joseph said we collectively touch millions of youth daily in the world. Our charism and vocation is built on the elements of vibrancy mentioned in the morning talk. How we see life: challenges we face, concerns we have, worries we go through, the apparent dead end of our life – it is only through a Calvary experience we can get out of this and go forward. Through the resurrection experience we can rethink our life – this is a personal journey we have to make. The Chapter is a means, a help to this. An experience of a Provincial: A provincial was asked how many members he had. His reply was, “140 in the list but only 20 are active. The others are in and out – I can count only on these 20 men today, the rest are in and around.” How is your province? You are 251 but how many can be depended upon? At the time of transfer how to find the right person? The question is this: are we fully alive? Can it be
said of us “give a job to him and he will die for it”?
It is not the number in the province that matters, it is the quality that matters. We should choose candidates carefully; we should have the right people to join us – people with a vocation, with zest for life. The older generation: they were passionate people. True they had their defects but were passionate. When they returned from home some had suitcases full of nuts and bolts to repair machines. Some brought films to show to the boys. These missionaries came to catechize the people. Their holidays were spent in getting things. They were not qualified people, but they had a passionate heart – they came to evangelize India… There were 5,000 Catholics in the beginning in the Northeast. Now there are about two million – one of the greatest missions in the church and congregation. But we have to keep up this momentum. During monthly recollection, Bishop Ferrando of Shillong, while giving allowance to his priests, would first ask how many baptisms they had administered. This impelled the priests to work harder. He founded the MSMHC congregation precisely for evangelization. Don Bosco died of overwork – most of our missionaries here died of overwork. The youth of today are living in a different world – we have to be with them. We should use modern means of com-
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munication for evangelizing, for pastoral purposes. You are 251 – what is there that you cannot do. You need to be energized – you will have followers. Don Bosco is a password here – but today we are one among many. We have something to give – in our way, through our charism. In this Chapter you need to ask: “what more can we do to further our charism, to bring Don Bosco, Jesus to the youth”?
On 5 April Bishop Joseph Aind of Dibru
garh presided over the Mass. He said he was happy to be with us, to see old and young faces. He was happy especially to see Fr. K. A. Joseph who once was his rector. He encouraged the Chapter members to bring Christ to the youth following the example of Don Bosco himself.
Fr. K. A. Joseph began his keynote address with a question: Where do we go from here – what is the way forward? The only way forward is to choose life. Our chapter is titled: witnesses to a radical following of Christ – to be witnesses. There is a living example of that today – Pope Francis. The Washington Post is very critical of the church. But it made a positive statement recently: “We like this man because this pope talks, acts and is like Jesus. We love this man because he talks, acts, and is like Jesus. In fact he is a witness to Jesus”. In the previous conclave he was runner up but after conclave he returned immediately to Argentina. In the next conclave he is elected. He spent one hour in prayer after election. From the moment he appeared he turned the notion of the church right round – he greeted the people in a simple way, he asked their prayers, he spoke simple, he stayed simple. He ate simple, he paid bills as pope, he did not want to stay in the papal palace because he wanted to be with the people and he wanted the people to have access to him. 16 Dimapur Links: May-June 2016
In an interview by Civilta Cattolica he was asked, “Who are you?” “I, Bergoglio is a sinner but have experienced the mercy of God” Pope Francis replied. He wanted to turn the church round into holiness, into a church of the poor, a church of the people. On his way the Pope stopped the vehicle and met a female prostitute. “I want your holiness to hug me” she challenged. The Pope hugged her. She left the crowd in tears. She bought a bible and be- came a contemp l a t i v e . Why? Because s h e met Jesus who told her to l i s t e n to his
word. The Pope has become a loveable person to the people, to the sinners – he would not judge sinners, homosexuals. He behaves like Jesus, so he is a witness to Jesus. He washed the feet of delinquents – he converted all those people. Pope Francis has an attitude of joy: serene, smiling, joy of the gospel. He addressed the consecrated people with the document ‘Rejoice’ – Laudato Si: He addressed this to all people, not just Catholics. This is what Don Bosco too did – he led by living. We need to apply this to our daily life. So journey with Pope Francis and with Don Bosco.
Bishop George Palliparambil of Miao Di
ocese celebrated Mass for the Chapter members on 6 April 2016. He said renewal and restructuring are based on word of God, liturgy and community life – these are most important elements. Without these there will be clapping of hands only, we will not touch anybody.
Every action and word of ours must be catechetical. Don Bosco started his great work for youth with a simple catechism class with Bartholomeo Garelli. We cannot afford to be artificial flowers – no bees will come to fake flowers, so too youths will not be attracted to hollow men. We can give all kinds of information but without experience, we cannot touch others. Our liturgical life needs to be strong or else our exercises of piety can become victims of activism. Peter spoke after Pentecost not criticizing Judas but highlighted the importance of replacing him. If there was discussion on the faults of Judas, there would not be the election of Matthias. There were conflicts between Paul and Barnabas but they were focused on the new life, not on their failures.
On 7 April 2016 Fr. Perianayagam John
Bosco, Vice Provincial, presided over the Eucharistic celebration. In his homily he posed a question: “What are
we fascinated by: our works, projects or the Person of Jesus?” Being a mystic means that we surrender to God. He fills us with grace; he transforms us to be with him. We are changed in our words, deeds, thoughts – we become mystics. Our God-given mission consists not in doing things but in being signs of God’s love in the world. We are attractive with Jesus and then we attract vocations” he added. We become prophets of community when we allow God to transforms us into his servants. Managers do things rightly – we religious and educationists try to do the right things. When we are filled with grace of God, we look for opportunities to be servants – we become countercultural to the secularist mentality. There is urgent need of a radical thinking and need of re-dimensioning. We have joined the Society and so follow the rules of the Society. GC 19 has asked for re-dimensioning of our presences. There was a trend of starting new, small presences. Starting can be with a small number but in a few years six confreres must be there as the Acts of General Council speaks of the need for consistency in number in every house. If we are not careful, what happened in Europe can happen to us if we do not work hard to get more good vocations.
-DL Correspondent
