Today, 19th March 2017, was a
On this feast day of St. Joseph, the Patron of Sumedha Centre, we held the Ground Breaking Ceremony and Blessing of the Foundation Stone for the new Sumedha Centre buildings.
The Ceremonies began with the Holy Eucharist at 10.30
am. His Lordship, Most Reverend Dr.
Ignatius D’Souza, Bishop of Bareilly, presided. He was joined by Most Rev.
Antony Fernandes, Bishop Emeritus of Bareilly, Rev. Fr. Jose Mathew
Koorappallil, the Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco, New Delhi, Fr.
Charles Lobo, former Salesian Provincial of Delhi, Fr. Harry D’Cunha, the Vicar
General of the Diocese of Bareilly, Fr. Julian Pinto, the Episcopal Vicar for
development in Uttarakhand and former Vicar General, Fr. John Kuzhikottayil,
Salesian provincial Economer of Delhi, Fr. Arnold OFM, Cap, four priest
participants of the ongoing Sumedha Sadhana, and Fr. Jose Parappully, Director
of Sumedha Centre.
Fr. Parappully introduced all the celebrants at the Mass and
welcomed them and all the congregation. There were about 30 invited guests,
mostly religious nuns from the diocese, besides the 15 participants of the Sumedha
Sadhana in the Congregation.
In reflecting on the Word of God for the 3rd
Sunday of Lent, Bishop Ignatius D’Souza focused on the metaphor of water and
how Jesus entered into a very intimate conversation with the Samaritan woman at
Jacob’s well, leading her to reveal her very personal and private life and thus
open herself to healing and transformation.
This is a work that Sumedha Centre is engaged in, Bishop
Ignatius said. Sumedha participants are encouraged to face up honestly to their
inner world, disclose them in their interactions with one another and in the
process open themselves to the transforming grace of God.
The participants of the ongoing Sumedha Sadhana had
organized the liturgy very beautifully, including a well-choreographed and
executed liturgical dance at the Offertory.
At the conclusion of the Eucharist all to the site
where new buildings for Sumedha Centre will be constructed proceeded reciting the holy Rosary, led by Bishop Ignatius. Fr. Parappully carried the Foundations Stone,
which had been offered at the altar during the Eucharist to the building site.
The Ground Breaking Ceremony and the Blessings of the
Foundation Stone began with Prayer Service led by Bishop Ignatius. He was
assisted by Fr. Jose Mathew, Fr. Charles Lobo, Fr. Harry D’Cunha, Fr. Julian
Pinto, and Fr. Jose Parappully. These had climbed several meters up the hill to
the site where ground would be broken and the Foundation Stone placed. They
were joined at the site by Shri Ram Dutt Chaniyal, the Gram Pradhan of
Jeolikote, and local police chief.
Fr. Parappully read aloud the “Time Capsule” which would be
embedded in the Foundation Stone.
Bishop Ignatius then blessed the building
site and the Foundation Stone and he along with Provincial Fr. Jose Mathew
initiated the construction work, breaking ground by shoveling some mud and
creating space to place the Foundation Stone.
The Ceremony ended with blessing imparted by Bishop Ignatius
on all those gathered at the site.
A festive lunch concluded the day’s celebrations.
This was indeed a long awaited day. Since Sumedha Centre started
functioning at Jeolikote on 19th March 2009, from the Pastoral
Centre belonging to the diocese of Bareilly, the Salesians had been wanting to have
their own buildings for Sumedha Centre. A big step toward realization of that
dream was taken today.
