News Archives from Indian Mission

To the Vocationist Indian Mission From Fr. General

My Dearly Beloved Indian Fathers and Brothers, 

            Thank you for being what you are and who you are. I love you and bless you. Following is the report I have presented to the General Council, on Januray 24, 2008. As I promised you, I have you all in my thoughts, in my heart and in my prayers.

 Report presented to the General Council and approved by the same on January 24, 2008. 

From December 27 2007 to January 21, 2008, together with Fr. Arnesto D’Alessio I have visited our Indian mission. These have been days of great events like the four priestly ordinations, the gathering of all the Indian Vocationist priests, the perpetual vows of the Vocationist Sisters, the new priests day at Mulayam, the community day at Thalore. An exciting event was also the meeting with the group of possible Shepherds of Youth! I am grateful to all the members of our Indian mission for their exquisite hospitality, for their genuine love and for their efforts to be good Vocationists. 

            After consultation with the local superiors and the individual confreres we have decided the

Distribution and assignments of the priests thus: 

1. Fr. Antony Pittappilly will continue as Delegate of Fr. General, Rector, Treasurer and Novice Master at Mulayam;
2. Fr. Jimson Alukkal, will continue as Rector and Treasurer of Thalore’s Vocationary and as Vocation Director for India;
3. Fr. Shaji Thomas, temporarely in Italy, waiting to go to Holywell;
4. Fr. Johnson Pulikkottil, for one more year, Assistant Parish priest at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Kothamangalam;
5. Fr. Anil Akkara, Rector and Vocation Promotor of St. Batholomew Vocationary in Thalassery;
6. Fr. Sathish Kanjiraparambil, Vice Rector at Thalore’s Vocationary, Assistant Parish Priest at Ollur;
7. Fr. Shiju Chittattukara, Vice Rector, Assistant Novice Master and Vocation Director fpor the Mulayam Community;
8. Fr. Jerence Thanikkal, Vice Rector, Treasurer and assistant Vocation Director for Thalassery community;
9. Fr. Lawrence Edakkalathur, Temporarely Assistant Vocation Drector at Thalore while waiting to go to the Philippines;
10. Rev. Thomas Naduviledathu, Temporarely Assistant At Mulayam, waiting visa to go to England at Holywell.
11. Regents: Robert Kannanthanathu and Jobin Kollappallil  at Thalassery;
12. Future regent Br. Bright Mariyabhavan to come to Italy.

            All priests and Brothers have graciously and joyfully accepted their new assignments and I am hopeful that they will do well.           

            It was also decided that the new Community: St. Bartholomew Vocationary will be operative as of February first while the official blessing by the Bishop of Kannur will take place on March, 3, 2008, official opening of the new community. His Excellency Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal was extremely hospitable and encouraging: We were his guests at the Bishop’s house in Kannur. 

            In our Visit to Goa we re guests of Architect Guilhelm Gomes. We were unable to meet with the archbishop of Goa, because he was on pastoral visitation, but we met with the Vicar General who was very warm and welcoming, but did not give us any idea of whether we are welcome in the diocese and what we could be doing there: Things are still pending in Goa, due to the fact that a squatter’s family is still living on the property, which is legally ours. The case is in the hands pof the lawyer’s; a hearing was scheduled  on Jan. 10. 

            I asked Fr. Antony, and he promised to oblige, to form a group of Vocationist parents consisting of all the parents of our brothers and candidates. 

            While the buildings are basically in good shape, ordinary maintenance has been recommended and the cultivation of the land is well under control, especially in Thalore. 

            The main weaknesses encounter and stressed during my visit were: 

1. the extremely low number of candidates and aspirants at Thalore Vocationary;
2. little academic commitment  and low achievement by our students;
3. lack of regular Director’s and Family Council meetings.

            Both the community of Thalore and the one from Mulayam have adequate building and recreation area. More farming area might be desirable. The new house in Thalassery is very small and small is also the available area (land) that surrounds it. We want to experiment before we go into heavy expenditures. Little repairs are needed to make the house functional. I have authorized euro four thousand to paint the house, add one more bathroom and fix the future chapel. 

            The students did a superb job in preparing the DVD: History of the Vocationist Fathers in India.. 

            Unfortunately a wrong mentality is been developed in India, that is a priest is not working in a parish, he has nothing to do! This mentality is wide spread in our local superior and priests as well as amongst our students and local Church authority. 

            I started a dialogue with the Archidiocese of Thricchur about the possibility of accepting the pastor care of a parish. The Archbishop and the Vicar General gave me a very positive feeling about it. I asked for one or maybe two neighbouring parishes in some mission terrioty. I feel that by next February 2008 we will have a parish. 

            I also talked with the archbishop of Kothamangalam about the possibility of taking a parish there; since the diocese has been asking for pastoral help and we have given to them Fr. Johnson. 

            The relationship between the Major Seminary of Marymatha and the Congregation is excellent. The Dean assured me that our students academically do better than most diocesan seminarians. 

            As far as the expenses of the Indian communities they have clear accounts and everything is well accounted for. Somehow, due to our needs, they will have to cut down on some expenses, I do not know exactly where they can cut, but asked to look at the number of our employees and on the feasibility to sending our students to school at the CMI School in Thalore- 

            I have instructed all our priests, students and regents too to engage in an aggressive vocation promotion campaign. With the opening of St. Bartholomew Vocationary we will have the first year student simultaneously at Thalore and Thalassery. For the second and third year the Thalassery students would go to Thalore. 

            I met also the Bishops of Idukki and the bishop of Rajagiri, both are very much welkl disposed toward our community.. 

            As it is, after the departure of Frs. Lawrence and Thomas, in India we will have 7 priests and as of March 8, 2008 also six new deacons, four regents,  6 students of third theology (the future deacons), one second year theology student, 3 first theology students, 9 third year philosophy, 5 second philosophy students, 1 first philosophy student, 1 novice, all at Mulayam. 

            At the Vocationary in Thalore we have 7 postulants, 4 disciples, and 4 aspirants. Since the number of students is so low, the per capita cost of each student is now extremely high!

            In both community visited there is very good spirit of prayer, brotherhood and work; communication is good between students and superiors, can improve between superiors and collaborating priests.

            In conclusion, the Indian mission needs to be followed closely because it is a well promising community. As some of our young priests get some experience, great things will happen. Again, I thank God and all our confreres for making things possible. 

            I thank God for the Indian mission and ask the entire Congregation to do whatever is possible to assist, sustain and develop this mission. 

            By approving this report the General Council approves all the assignments and decisions therein contained, and specifically all the assignments and the opening of the new community in Thalessery. 

            Rome, January 24, 2008 

                                                                                                Fr. Louis Caputo, S.D.V. 

New Assignments of  priests in India:

1. Fr. Antony Pittappilly will continue as Delegate of Fr. General, Rector, Treasurer and Novice Master at Mulayam;
2. Fr. Jimson Alukkal, will continue as Rector and Treasurer of Thalore’s Vocationary and as Vocation Director for India;
3. Fr. Shaji Thomas, temporarely in Italy, waiting to go to Holywell;
4. Fr. Johnson Pulikkottil, for one more year, Assistant Parish priest at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Kothamangalam;
5. Fr. Anil Akkara, Rector and Vocation Promotor of St. Batholomew Vocationary in Thalassery;
6. Fr. Sathish Kanjiraparambil, Vice Rector at Thalore’s Vocationary, Assistant Parish Priest at Ollur;
7. Fr. Shiju Chittattukara, Vice Rector, Assistant Novice Master and Vocation Director fpor the Mulayam Community;
8. Fr. Jerence Thanikkal, Vice Rector, Treasurer and assistant Vocation Director for Thalassery community;
9. Fr. Lawrence Edakkalathur, Temporarely Assistant Vocation Drector at Thalore while waiting to go to the Philippines;
10. Rev. Thomas Naduviledathu, Temporarely Assistant At Mulayam, waiting visa to go to England at Holywell.
11. Regents: Robert Kannanthanathu and Jobin Kollappallil  at Thalassery;
12. Future regent Br. Bright Mariyabhavan to come to Italy.

Our address:

St. Bartholomew Vocationary, Vocationist Fathers,

P. O. Kavumbhagam, Thalassery, Kannur Dt., Pin-670 110, Kerala, S.

 India, e-mail: sdvthalassery@rediffmail.com

 

The priestly ordinations of our confrers.

Dn. Shiju Chittattukara SDV will be ordained as a priest on 28th December, 2007 at Little Flower Church, Ponnore at 9:30 am by Hid Grace Mar Andrews Thazhath (Archbishop of Thrissur Archdiocese).

Dn. Sathish Kanjiraparambil SDV will be ordained as a priest on 31st December 2007 at St. Mary's Church, Peringottukara at 9:30 am by His Grace Mar Jacob THumkuzhy (the Archbishop Emiritus of Thrissur Archbishop).

Dn. Jerance Thanikkal SDV will be ordained as a priest on 1st January, 2008 at St. Mary's Church, Kandassankadavu at 2:30 pm by His Grace Mar Jacob Thumkuzhy (the Archbishop Emiritus of Thrissur Archdiocese).

Dn Thomas Naduviledath SDV will be ordained as a priest on 7th January 2008 at Kristuraja Church, Rajagiri at 2:30 pm by His Excellency Mar Mathew Aackal (Bishop of Kanjirappilly).

Feast Day Celebration of Our Venerable Founder in India - Posted on August 06, 2007, 7:00 PM
The 52nd Death Anniversary Celebration, In India -  Narration by Bro. Rony Parakkal SDV: Posted on August 08, 2007, 12:30 PM.

 

Feast Day Celebration of Our Venerable Founder in India - Posted on August 06, 2007, 7:00 PM

New Seedlings of India - Edited Version from Informazioni of Padri Vocationisti - Posted on March 29, 11:30 AM

Reflection on Holy Week by Fr. Shaji Thomas, SDV - Posted on March 19, 2007, 9:00 AM