Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
2013 Easter
Province of Jaffna
bbbbbb
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
We have to challenge ourselves of our own Spiritualities and consecration too because there are destructive values in and around our lives that are contrary to priestly values. What is the spirituality of Priests? The Spirituality of the Priests is the spirituality of Jesus Christ. The intimate heart - level relationship that he had with his Father. Because of this intimacy with his father, Jesus was able to freely love and work in obedience. This inner freedom made Jesus love his father unconditionally and to surrender to his will. That should be precisely the spirituality of the Priests. So, what is central to our spirituality is our objective configuration to Christ as Priest and Shepherd. We should be more configured to Christ that we in truth act in the name and in the person of Jesus Christ. This is the fundamental source of his spirituality. The words of Jesus at the last Supper serve as a constant reminder to us about who we are as his disciples. He prays to the father for his Apostles and says that they are in this world but are not of this world, even as he himself is in the world but doesn't belong to this world (Jn.17/14-16). St. Paul himself speaks frequently of our being citizens not of an earthly city but of an eternal city and therefore, not to be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of our mind, that we may discern what is the will of God, what is good, pleasing and perfect (Rom.12/2). Are we deeply rooted in the person of Jesus Christ? Is it a heart centered relationship? Are we taking him seriously? Are we experiencing a deep rooted intimacy with our own inner freedom to worship him in Spirit and truth? How much have we imbibed the values regarding God, Jesus? What is the image of him that engages our total personal commitment? Are we being prevented from having a personal experience of Jesus because of an ambivalent understanding of the place of God in our lives? Is God for us out there or within? Have we limited God only to the scheduled times of liturgy? Is God for us the God of each moment? The answers to such questions obviously touch the core of a lived priestly spirituality. So, we need to remind ourselves constantly of the consciousness of our priestly consecration and sacramental configuration to Christ which is at the heart of Priestly spirituality. The modern society will continue to pose a challenge to our ministry, to the loss of a sense of the sacred, a
loss of faith of humble service. There is no new life without death. Therefore, we have to be ready to suffer for the sake of Christ. Such challenge actually goes back to the time of St. Paul when the crucified Christ was considered, an obstacle to the Jews, madness to Pagans but to those who have been called whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God(1Cor. 1/23-25). Oblate mission without the Cross and Christ crucified is alien to us. What is the type of price that we pay to our unique vocation to the poor?. Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh (2Cor 4: 10 -12). Foreign Mission: As we have reflected together at our common forum, there is a great possibility for the Jaffna Province to take up the Mission in Denmark and Norway forming as one Unit. The initial work is over and the sharing among the Superior of the Danish Oblate Community, the Provincial of Poland and myself is over and now we await the draft to be submitted to the General Administration for confirmation. Please keep on praying for the successful move of this Project. I have explained to you all about this sufficiently at the common forum. It is up to the General to make the final decision. The joint meeting of the AORC and the Central Government, and the Inter Chapter will be held in Bangkok from the 13th April to May 3rd. I shall be participating at both sessions. In my absence, Fr.Stanislaus Philips will act for me. The Lebara Foundation is helping us to construct another 50 houses in Mullaitivu district for the war victims. Fr.Maria Sebastian OMI will coordinate the work with the help of the Provincial Treasurer. We have assisted to put up two halls for the education of Children at Mullikulam, in the Diocese of Mannar. Fr.Alban Rajasingham OMI will coordinate the work together with the Pastors of Mullikulam.
MAY THE PEACE AND JOY OF THE RISEN LORD BE WITH YOU ALWAYS.
Yazha Thoni
Placements
Fr.Soosaiappu Anthony Poncian omi was installed as the Superior of Amala Uthayam, Oblate Community at Uppuveli, st Trincomalee, on the 1 of Nov., 2012 by the Provincial Superior, Fr.Paul Nadchethiram omi. The members of the community and other Oblates in the District, the Vicar General, the Episcopal Vicar of the Diocese of Trincomalee and Fr.Francis Loshington omi, the Provincial Councillor were present on the occasion. Fr.Emmanuel Godfrey omi and Bro.Amirtharaj Dabarera omi were assigned as first and second assistants to the Superior respectively. Fr.Jeevanadas Fernando omi was appointed as the Director of the Obtec, Kilinochchi. Fr.Jeeva took up his new responsibility in Dec., 2012. Fr.Stanislaus Swampillai omi took charge of the parish of Kanagarayankulam in the Diocese of Mannar in Dec., 2012. Fr.A.Jesurajan omi, having followed a short refresher course in India, has taken his new ministry as assistant pastor at the parish of New Chetti Street, Colombo, in the Archdiocese of Colombo in January, 2013. Fr.Jeno Harance omi who was serving at the parish of Haputale in the Diocese of Badulla as assistant pastor, has been transferred to Arippu as its assistant pastor in the Diocese of Mannar in January, 2013. Fr.Arul Sutharson omi, who was working in Mullaithivu, joined the Haputale mission in March, 2013 to help the pastor as his assistant. Fr.Anthonimuthu Croos omi, at the request of the Bishop of the Diocese of Badulla, is to assist the parish priest, Badulla till June, 2013. Fr.Thevathasan Edwin omi who has been ministering as the Director of Jesuits Refugee Service, Jaffna has been transferred to Iruthayapuram, Mutthur, to be the assistant pastor. Fr.Edwin has taken up his new rd mission on the 3 of April, 2013.
Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.
St.Francis of Assisi.
Yazha Thoni
Fr.Rohan Silva omi, the Provincial Superior of Colombo Province along with Fr.Eric Lakman, the coordinator for the AIT Programme visited De Mazenod Scholasticate, Jaffna on the 24th of Jan., 2013 for an evaluation of the AIT programme. Fr.Warren Brown omi, General Councillor for Canada-United States accompanied by Fr.Clement Waidyasegara omi, the General Councillor for Asia Oceania and Fr.Rohan Silva omi, the Provincial Superior of the Colombo Province, was on his mission of visiting the members and the missions in the Oblate Province of Colombo. Paying th a visit to the Pre-Novitiate in Mannar on the 4 of Apr., 2013 Fr.Warren met a few Jaffna Oblates around the place.
Fr.Paul Nadchethiram omi, Provincial Superior left for Bangkok to participate in the joint meeting of the AORC and the Central Government, th rd and the InterChapter 2013 to be held from the 13 of Apr. to the 3 of May, 2013.
Fr.Aloys Terliesner, Missionsprokur, Germany came on a mission visit to Kilinochchi and Jaffna. Fr.Terliesner who supports the Oblates missions and formation, went around a few of the Oblate missions during his short visit from Jan. 8 10, 2013.
Yazha Thoni
Formation
Asia-Oceania Formators' Conference 2013 (AOFC 2013) was held in Manila & Cotabato, th th Philippines from the 14 Jan. to- 20 Jan., 2013. The Oblate Formation units around the Asia-Oceania region were represented by 18 members from 12 units ( Australia, Bangladesh, China, Colombo, India, Indonesia, Jaffna, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Thailand / Laos & Vietnam) Fr.S.P.J.Pachchek omi participated from Jaffna and Fr. Paul Nadchethiram omi, participated in the programme as the AOFC Chairperson. Bro.Noel Garcia omi, from the Oblate Province of the Philippines was the Chairman of the Organizing body of AOFC 2013, Philippines. f Pre-Novitiate in Mannar commenced its formation programme for the current year on the 22nd of Feb., 2013 with eleven pre-novices (Jaffna 4, Colombo 2, Bangladesh 4, Pakistan 1). Four jouniorists from St.Joseph's Oblate Juniorate, Jaffna joined the Pre-Novitiate in Mannar. f At the completion of his mission at Gnanodayam, Mannar in Jan., 2013, Fr.Jacob Yogarajah omi went to India to participate in a spiritual refreshing programme in Bangalore. f Publications from the Scholasticate: De Mazenod Scholasticate has resumed publishing Naanpsychological magazine after a break. The scholastics, as usual, this year also put out a booklet; reflections on the Stations of the Cross named Siluvaiyin Nilal. f The Formation Committee meeting was held in Mannar on the 13th of March, 2013 to discuss the formation programme in the formation houses and to work on the compilation of a formation directory.
Forthcomings
Anpaham Mulankavil: The orphanage at Mulankavil would welcome its new director in June 2013. Till then it is looked after by Fr.Vincent Patrick omi and Deacon Justin omi. Annual Retreats 2013: The preliminary preparations for the annual retreats 2013 are underway. Rev.Fr.Fabio Ciardi omi, Rome would be preaching two retreats to the members of Colombo and Jaffna provinces; one in Kandy (from 11 17 Aug., 2013) and the other at Madhu (from 25 31 Aug., 2013) There will be another retreat preached by Fr.Jerome Lambert omi in Jaffna (17 25 Nov., 2013) Priestly Ordinations: The priestly ordinations of the three deacons will be held on the 6 of June, th 2013 in Jaffna and of the other two will be on the 15 of June, 2013 in Mannar.
th
Yazha Thoni
News in Brief
Annual Retreats: The Oblates of the province gathered at Gnanodayam, Mannar, in two groups for their annual retreat in Nov., 2012. The first retreat was preached by Fr.Gerard de Rozairo omi from Nov. 4 to Nov. 11, 2012 and the second retreat was conducted by Fr.Paul Satkunanayagam sj from Nov. 18 to Nov. 23, 2012. OBTEC Exhibition & Awarding Ceremony: There were an exhibition and awarding ceremony at the Life Skill Training Centre at Obtec, Kilinochchi on the 12 of Nov., 2012.
Jubilee Celebration: On the 24 of Nov., 2012 Fr.P.P.Philip omi celebrated the 50 Anniversary of his Sacerdotal Ordination. The members of the province gathering at Gnanodayam, Mannar, organized a simple but beautiful thanksgiving mass and a fellowship meal.
th
th
Fr.A.B.Vincent omi completed very successfully his Dip. in Ed. at the National Institute of Education in 2012.
Fr.Prveen Mahesan omi was called upon to appear before an inquiry panel in Colombo in early Jan., 2013 to explain his Peace & Reconciliation ministry.
Foreign Missions: Fr.Victor Jeyasingham omi and Fr.Edmund Reginald omi are in Norway under a mission contract with the Bishop of Oslo.
Fr.S.Anpurasa omi brought out another collection of Tamil Christian songs in Jan. 2013. The CD, named 'Unthan Ninaivinile' (-in memory th of you-) was released by Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam on the 6 of Jan., 2013 in Jaffna. Fr.S.A.Poncian omi completed very successfully his Masters in Education at the University of Jaffna in December, 2011. The graduation took place on 28 Feb., 2013. Young Oblates' Gathering: The young Oblates of the province met in Mannar for two days after Easter (11 12 Apr., 2013) for their periodical animation programme.
Yazha Thoni
Is it always true?
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
Yazha Thoni
10
Yazha Thoni
Lebara Library is an educational resource Centre that would provide children and adults the opportunity to acquire knowledge and academic skills on their road to human development. Lebara Resource Centre (ERC) reflects a new and modern concept. It is a multifunctional and interactive institution geared to meet the educational needs of the community. Lebara Housing Scheme - New Houses Handed over to the Beneficiaries Lebara Foundation, United Kingdom has become one of the mission partners of the Oblates in Jaffna especially with regard to the relief and rehabilitation endeavours of the province. This is the second time that Lebara Foundation financed our Oblate-Lebara Housing scheme this time in Vanni. Fifty families who were left homeless after the war at Murasumoddai, Paranthan received those houses to restart their lives after a three-year gap. There are some thousands still waiting for some organization's help to have a roof to sleep under. Finding finance is already hard and acquiring due permission to undertake such humanitarian aid is harder as the procedure remains complicated and slow. Thanks to the Oblate Grand Commission, Rome, Lebara Foundation UK and the Housing Scheme coordinators Frs.T.Edwin omi and Rene Beshman omi and the OSS Director Fr.A.Sylvester omi for working hard for the completion of the scheme. It was on the 17th of Feb., 2013 those 50 houses were handed over to the beneficiaries. Mr.Gopakumar Nair, the Director of Lebara Foundation, Fr.Jeevendra Paul omi, the Grand Director, Fr.Paul Nadchethiram omi, the Provincial Superior, Fr.A.Sylvester omi, the Director of OSS, Oblates priests, religious and military personnel along with many more local dignitaries graced the occasion. Lebara Foundation, UK is extending its partnership with the Oblates in Jaffna to undertake building another
set of 50 houses for the resetllers in Mullaithivu. The preliminary works for the proposed housing scheme are already underway.
11
Yazha Thoni
Editorial Board: Fr.S.P.J.Pachchek omi, Fr.P.P.Philip omi & Fr.Vincent Patrick omi.