Provincial CircularSalesian Province of Tiruchy – INT

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PROVINCIAL CIRCULAR 01 NOVEMBER 2018DEAR CONFRERES,

Greetings and Prayerful Wishes!

The month of November begins with the celebration of ‘All Saints.’With great respect and honour we remember all the Saints for their exemplary lives and for their heroic virtues. Saints were not born perfect. They were born in this world like us, human beings, but found the secret of authentic happiness in God.‘If there is one thing typical of all the saints, it is that they are genuinely happy in the Lord (Pope Francis).’This celebration of all the Saints is an invitation to all us to be holyby living our lives with love, by bearing witness in everything we do and by discovering the authentic happiness in God alone.The Lord calls us every day especially in moments of our weakness and difficulties, to a conversion that can make His grace more evident in our lives, in order that we may become perfect and share his holiness.An ardent reading and reflecting on the lives of saints, this month and every day, is invaluable and always inspiring.Several of our Salesian family members are on their way to canonization. Let us pray that they may all soon be canonized and add glory to the sanctity of the congregation and Church at large.

On the second of November we remember all the departed souls. Faithful to our Catholic belief and tradition, we fondly remember them and pray for them.What people mostly fear is not death but being separated from those who are close to us in this world and being forgotten. We all long to be remembered. ‘All Souls Day’ is a day of happy remembrance, to show our love and gratitude to the departed souls with whom we lived and learned values for life. Their memory is a great blessing for all of us. It gives an immense opportunity to rectify the strained relationship with God and every one, to make our lives happy and meaningful here on earth and to merit the bliss of heaven.

We remember all the deceased parents of Salesians and Students, dear ones, Salesians, Benefactors and the number of lay mission partners who have contributed to the growth of our province and institutions. Besides I also recommend all our communities to faithfully follow our Salesian tradition of offering one Mass on 05 November for the deceased benefactors and members of the Salesian Family and one Mass on 25 November for the deceased parents of Salesians (Reg 76/4) and to faithfully remember and pray for the deceased Salesians,reading the necrology everyday (Reg 47). Fondly recalling how

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Don Bosco encouraged his boys to visit and pray in the cemetery on this dayand the miracle of the multiplication of Chestnuts, let us encourage and accompany our young people to visit the cemetery on the 2nd November and throughout this month and receive indulgences for our beloved departed ones.

I extend on behalf of the province, our hearty wishes to our Salesian sistersas they celebratethe feast of their co-foundress St. Mary Mazzarello, in all their institutions on 13 November. On 14 November let us celebrate the children entrusted to our care and pray for them as we keep the Children’s Day. SYNOD OF BISHOPS ON YOUNG PEOPLE

The 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops focused on the theme, ‘Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment.’ The Synod was held from 03 to 28 October 2018. At the opening of the Synod, His Holiness Pope Francis addressed saying that young people have a great strength to emanate positivity and enthusiasm, capable of filling and gladdening the whole Church and the whole world. Explaining the purpose of the synod, he notes that ‘taking care of young people is not an optional task for the Church, but an integral part of her vocation and mission. Just as our Lord Jesus Christ walked alongside the disciples of Emmaus, the Church is also urged to accompany all young people, without exception, towards the joy of love(InstrumentumLaboris, 1).

It is inspiring to note the final exhortation of the Pope: ‘Let us take from this Synod not merely a document – that generally is read by a few and criticized by many – but above all concrete pastoral proposals capable of fulfilling the Synod’s purpose. In other words, to plant dreams in the young, draw forth prophecies and visions, allow hope to flourish, inspire trust, bind up wounds, weave together relationships, awaken a dawn of hope, learn from one another, create a bright resourcefulness that will enlighten minds, warm hearts and inspire in young people – all young people, with no one excluded – a vision of the future filled with the joy of the Gospel.’

This synod indeed is a working of the Spirit that has kindled many especially the young to go forth into the world as messengers of God’s Love and peace. This synod has made a tremendous impact on the young making them realize of their responsibility and their strength to change

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I thank each one of you for actively and responsibly participating in the elections.

LEADERS MEET

Leaders Meet was held on 11 and 12 October 2018 at DB Manikandam. There was a discussion at length on the Process to be completed before GC 28, regarding the reshaping of the province. Each Leader presented a short report on the vision, mission of the community and proposedthe possibilities of reshaping. After each report there was an open discussion. On the second day the leaders spent time evaluating the life and mission of the province on the following areas: Spiritual-Fraternal-Evengelical life, Salesian Identity, Formation, Administration and Animation. I sincerely appreciate all the leaders for their open and genuine sharing with a sense of belonging to the Province. I thank the Vice Provincial for coordinating and the Rector and community of DB Manikandam for making all the arrangements for this event.

ASSIGNMENTS FOR DEACONS

Deacons from Don Bosco Theological College Chennai and KristuJyoti College Bengaluru, will be back in the Province for their diaconate ministry. They are assigned to the following Parishes from 5 November 2018.

themselves to positivism and change the world a better place to live in. As we are members of a great congregation, well acknowledged for its service for the young, let us take into heart the teachings of this synod and the inspiration that it offers in accompanying the young entrusted to our care.

NATIONAL LEVEL DBYA COUNCIL AND BOARD MEET AT TIRUCHY

The DBYA council and board meet will be held from 4 to 8 November 2018 at Tiruchy, on the theme ‘Missionaries to the Young: Discussions in the light of the Synod and 15th General Chapter.’ From all the provinces of the region, the youth ministry Delegate along with the core team members will participate in this meeting. This meeting is approved by SPCSA Provincial conferenceand will be coordinated by Fr. Maria Charles SDB, South Asian delegate for youth ministry. Our Province is hosting this event and Fr. Agilan, the Vice Provincial will be part of the organizing team. The meeting will be held at the Cluny ProvincialateAriyamangalam, Tiruchy. We welcome the animating team and all the participants to our province and wish them all a great experience of togetherness and sharing of ideas.

PROVINCIAL DELEGATES OF THE SEVENTH PROVINCIAL CHAPTER

I thank all the confreres for your cooperation and participation in the election of the Delegates of the Provincial Community for the Seventh Provincial Chapter and by sending the ballot papers well on time. The following confreres are elected and they have accepted to be the delegates.

1. Fr. Jacob Sebastin 2. Fr. Arulnathan Felix 3. Fr. Sengol Justin 4. Fr. Lazar Alphonse 5. Fr. Rajakumar Benedict

6. Fr. Joseph Charles7. Br. Xavier John Philip8. Fr. Franklin Kuzhandai Easu9. Fr. Karunaraj Gabriel

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Dn. Adaikalam Daniel - Pallithammam Dn. Arockiasamy Thomas - Nettur Dn. Francis Britto - Savariyarpalayam Dn. JebamalaiPaulsamy - Therespuram Dn. Raj Arul - Kalkurichy

We extend our Prayerful support and good wishes to all our Deacons.

FIRST YOUTH CHAPTER

As discussed and proposed by the preparatory commission, the first Province Youth Chapter will be held on 25 November 2018 at Don BoscoManikandam. Various discussions were held with our young people in preparation for the Provincial Chapter and now the Province is convoking the first ‘Youth Chapter,’ to facilitate PC 2019. Eighty young people from our institutions will participate in this chapter. There will be presentation of themes on ‘The profile of the Salesian today, Shared mission between the Salesian and the Laity and Priority of the mission with the youth.’Fr. Amos Herbert will be the Moderator and Fr. Barnabass will be the secretary for this YC. The previous youth directors will be guest observers. The Province youth movement will organize this event under the guidance of the PC Moderator and the Vice Provincial. I recommend all our communities to send our young people for this ‘Youth Chapter.’ We encourage the organizing team and wish them all the best for a fruitful YC.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS…

04 – 08 DBYA National council and Board Meet 05 Community offers Mass for the Deceased Benefactors and Members of the Salesian Family10 All Commissions and Departments meet for the mid-year evaluation (Forenoon) Youth Pastoral core team meet (afternoon)16 Provincial Council @ DB Madurai – Jawaharpuram18 Zonal Level Meet for the Clerics (Batch 1)25 Province Youth Chapter Community offers Mass for the deceased Parents of SDBsDuring this month, we organize the trimonthly recollection in our communities and the House Councils carry out the quarterly assessment of the young Salesians.

UPCOMING SALESIAN FEASTS…

13 Blessed ArtemidesZatti, Salesian Brother 15 Blessed Madeleine Morano, FMA

RECALLING EVENTS…

Salesian Family Day Consult and Live-in was organised on 02 October 2018 at DB Manikandam. Fr. Bellarmine Fernando, Rector of Don Bosco Theological Centre, Kavarapettai animated the

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Salesian Family members on the theme,‘Role of Family and Accompaniment of the Young Today’. There were 70 members from different groups of Salesian Family. Discussions were held how to promote and colloborate with each group. We appreciate Fr. Thomas Louis, the Provincal Salesian Family delegate for coordinating this event and thank the Rector and community of DB Manikandam for availing their campus for the live-in.

Batch Meet for the Senior Confreres (Before 2000) was held 05 and 06 October 2018 at DB Manikandam. The meeting was coupled with discussions, sharing and a day of outing to the shrine of our Blessed Mother at Elakurichy.

CONDOLENCES…

I extend my sincere condolences on behalf of the province

− I extend my sincere condolences on behalf of the province to the Provincial and the confreres of Delhi Province at the sad death of Fr. Varappilly Joseph SDB (73) on 01 October. May his soul rest in peace.

− On behalf of the province I express my deepest sympathies to Fr. Michael Arockiasamy at the death of his beloved father Mr. Pancras (72) on 13 October 2018. On behalf of the province I extend our prayerful support to the bereaved family.

COMMUNITY REFLECTION…

Verification is building on the past to create powerful future The Provincial Chapters take up as one of its discussion themes, the deliberations of the previous Provincial Chapter for verification. The ‘Verification of Provincial Chapter 2015’ will be discussed in our forthcoming chapter too. The verification is done as an internal process in every Provincial Chapter to evaluate whether what was handed on to us has been carried out.

The Verification is a sign of continuous growth. We build on the past to move towards the future.

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Importantly, this theme will look at the implementation of GC 27 in our Province, reshaping the presences of the Province, verification of ‘the Organic Provincial Plan’ and the effectiveness of youth pastoral ministry in the Province.

It is heartening to see that the mandate given by the provincial chapter of 2015 has been carried out with collective effort in the Province. We have responded with creative action that is unique to our charism handed down by our Father and Founder Don Bosco. Like Don Bosco, we have moved forward with optimism when we were wedged by our inability to do something due to unforeseen obstacles.

This experience has taught us that the process of verification engages us more about solving problems than merely debating problems. Hence, I thought of reflecting with you a few points that bring the process of verification to a fruitful end.

It is planning that ensures success – the better the plan for implementation, the more likely the action is to be successful. If we define our plans in sweeping terms without providing adequate details to enable implementation, it will bring many complexities with it. When we plan, we check on the vision, resources, the need, the people, who could be assigned the responsibilities, etc.

Communicate frequently – our frequent meetings are not out of place as some of us might think. In our collective action, we need to have our communication in many different forms i.e., meetings, reviews, updates, reports, etc. It makes it harder for communities to fall through the cracks if necessary meetings are held at right frequencies. Visibility and transparency are the allies of effective mission and they are provided by regular communication.

Stay focused on the causes not the symptoms – As we move on, particularly when we face difficulties in problem solving, the causes tend to fade in significance. We need to fight this tendency. The symptoms are not the causes. We are called to remove or reduce the causes, not just the symptoms.

Make change happen – Each Salesian has to play a role of a thinking coach. Inject joy and optimism as set out in our constitutions. Hard work is the hall mark of our congregation but asking people to try harder with flawed procedures would be a disaster.

Get creative – When our actions and goodwill go ineffective, we become tired and stale. We need to come out of attitudes such as ‘they are the same old actions people tried years ago that didn’t work then, and don’t work now’. What we need is a big dose of creativity. One of the easiest ways to trigger creativity is to bring new and more diverse people onto the problem-solving team. At times, we even need to employ twice the process, as we did in certain situations in the province. At times, an injection of new blood brings in the desired difference.

Yours Affectionately in DB

Fr. Antony Joseph SDB Provincial – Salesian Province of Annai Velankanni, Tiruchy – INT