From Rome

Although an early re-eentry in India and the begin ning of my Jesuit mission at Sameeksha had been foreseen when I returned to Rome in October, Superiors have prolonged my Roman sojourn till the end of January 2012, so that I can terminate my commitments in Rome without causing any harmful rupture. The chief concern has been my commitments at the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints, where I am enrolled as Postula tor of four causes, besides being a consultor. While this latter office can be terminated with a simple no tice of resignation, the former has to be passed on
to some successor so as not to harm the course of any cause. The procedure is being completed for handing over the causes of Bl. Euphrasia, Bl. Mariam Thresia and the Servant of God Joseph Vithayathil; but any such step in the case of Deva- sahayam will harm the course of the cause, which is at an advanced stage. In fact the Historical Com mission of six consultors met on 15 November and gave a unanimous positive vote; and the Theological Commission of nine consultors is foreseen to meet after Christmas in January.A high official of the Congregation warned that a change of postulator at this juncture could retard the course of this cause,which can terminate with the beatification of Devasahayam before the end of 2012. My SJ Superiors took note of this and let me stay on. Ac cordingly, I am staying on as a guest of PIO till 29
January 2012,when I am scheduled to fly to Cochin as a repatriate. However, since two causes in their diocesan phase are scheduled to close in February, for which I am a consultant,I shall be first attending to them before going to camp in Kalady. At the good news of Devasahayam ’s imminent beatification Kerala has reason to rejoice. He is historically a great son of Travancore, and I have asked Kottar diocese to ttend to is ll-IIndia radiance.

George Nedungatt sj

 

From BerkeLey (US)

The month of November is marked by remem bering and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving Day in the United States is a holiday on the fourth Thursday of November. Traditionally it is a day for families and friends to get together for a special meal after harvest and to give thanks for what they have. It is a popular time for trips and one of the busiest periods for travel in the USA. I had a short trip to Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. The Thanksgiving Day precedes Black Friday. It is a busy shopping day for Christmas presents. Fr George Sebastian, after his lectures and programmes in certain parishes in the States, paid a short visit to Berkeley on his way back to India. The U.S. Media gave coverage of is rogramme n prominent columns

Binoy sj

 

From France

The city of Paris is all set to welcome Christmas and New Year. Even though the Euro Zone crisis is unresolved, the markets and streets are active and packed with shoppers and tourists. As the temperature descends we are getting ready to beat our first experience of the winter. We got an opportunity to present the History and Culture of Kerala and the ministries of the Kerala Province to our community. The one hour long audio-vvisual presentation led to a lot of questions and discussions about Kerala and the Jesuit ministries. As months pass on we are sinking into the depths of theology through the busy schedules of lectures, workshops, seminars and personal readings. We have already submitted our first assignment and made a couple of expositions on ifferent heological ubjects in rench.

Sooraj Dominic sj

 

From London

The JRS UK organised a gathering on 14 November for all its supporters and neighbors in their new home, the Hurtado Jesuit Centre, in Wapping - ten minutes walk from Tower Bridge in London. It offers practical support, advice, prayers and hospitality tomore than 100 refugees each week. Xavier, along with his other pastoral commitments, makes weekly visits of refugees detained at Colnbrook Detention Centre. London Jesuit Volunteers’ team guided an Ignatian Personal Reflection for the Young People at Mount Street Jesuit Centre and it helped them to develop their understanding of how they embody Gospel values in their lives particularly in their volunteering services among the homeless and poorest people in London. Philosophy Professor Fr Louis Caruana presented a paper entitled “Is Religion Undermined by Evolutionary Arguments? ” to the London Jesuit Scholastics at Heythrop. As part of the birthday celebration of Xavier we had a gathering with Fr John Puthenkalam at Campion Hall, Oxford. We bade farewell to Fr John who left UK after his refreshing research works during his sabbatical program at Oxford University. We were very proud to see some Indian art and design at Jesuit house, Oxford, built by Edwin Landseer Lutyens, the architect and friend of Campion Hall, who was also the main architect of the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the India Gate.

Santhosh sj

 

From Manila

During the second half of October, Fr Saji had a chance to serve as a chaplain at the Medical City Hospital in Manila. Since he had to relieve two doctors he was on 24 hours duty for a week and it was an enriching experience for him. Now he is busy with his classes of the second semester. The Catholics of this part of the world believe that those who had gone ahead of them are in heaven and so the All Saints Day in Manila had been very colorful and prayerful. The cemeteries all around Manila were very well decorated and there were singing, dancing and praying from the last week of October. On November 6 afternoon Fr Painadath landed in EAPI. His sessions on ‘Inter-rreligious Dialogue: Principles and Practice ’ were well appreciated by all the 60 participants including some of the professors.Most of us had such a course for the first time which is very much relevant for the Pastoral Ministry. We also had an experience of Meditation conducted by Fr Sebastian. Many of the participants bought his book “The Power of Silence”. Saji and myself had an outing with Fr Painadath to celebrate his birthday. We spent a few hours in the serene atmosphere of the novitiate of the Philippines. The people of Philippines have great devotion to Child Jesus and they start their preparation for Christmas by the very end of October itself.

PT Augustine sj

 

From Taiwan

Recently the C.I.C.M. Fathers (SScheutists) held a well attended and very meaningful celebration for the 150th Anniversary of the Belgian Mission in China.The I.C.M.Sisters whom I first met during my “Hospital Experiment ” at St Joseph ’s Hospital, Dindigul, and where I knew two Sisters who had had to leave China, share the same Founder, Fr Theophil Verbist.He himself came into Inner Mongolia in 1865, but died three years later of typhoid, at the age of 45.Fu Jen Catholic University has been holding a string of musical events in connection with its Golden Jubilee in Taiwan. (IIt was started in Beijing 80 years ago).Vatican ’s Minister of Education, His Eminence Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, is here to sign an M.O.U. with the Government regarding recognition of the Degrees of our Faculty of Theology. This means that our students will be able to pursue higher studies in good Universities all over the world.

John FJ Manipadam

 

Kandy, Sri Lanka

We did the Long Retreat and thereafter, a course on the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises. Thank you all very much for your prayers. It was an occasion for me to pray intensely for our province men and its missions s well. Sri Lanka has some exotic and interesting sightseeing locations. Kandy with its serene lake set in the midst of surrounding hills is pretty. Fish abound in the lake so much so that one can catch them with bare hands, though no one dares do that! The temple that enshrines the tooth of Buddha is on the overlooking hillock!! Then there is this Elephant Orphanage where around 100 pachyderms are given shelter under the aegis of the Government of Sri Lanka. Coming from Kerala, initially I wondered how much I might relish the sight. But I have to admit that it was a marvelous experience to see around 50 elephants taking bath in the nearby river under the watchful eyes of half a dozen mahouts! By the way, Sri Lanka has the highest density of elephants in the world – this island ountry as opulation of nearly 6000. Wish you, one and all, a very Merry X’mas and a grace-filled 2012!!!

Devassy Paul sj