FEAST OF ST JOHN BOSCO AT SUMEDHA

The feast of St. John Bosco on Jan 31 was celebrated with added splendor this year, being the bicentenary year of his birth.

Johnny Bosco was born on the 15^th of August 1815 in the hamlet of Becchi, northern Italy. His parents were Francisco and Margaret. His father died when little Johnny was two years old.

Despite great poverty and many difficulties in the family Johnny grew up to be a great priest and saint, founder of two of the largest religious congregations in  the Church – the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and inspired the foundation of several other congregations, belonging to the vast Salesian Family.

The celebrations at Sumedha had been meticulously planned and organized by Fr. George Malayil, the Administrator with the help of the parish priest Fr. Johnny, the sisters from the two next-door convents, the parish council and the girls from St. Anthony’s hostel.

The day turned out to be bright & beautiful. Holy Mass started at 10.30 am and got over at 12. There were 10 priests (diocesan and religious)  to concelebrate with the newly consecrated Bishop of Bareilly, Most Rev Ignatius D’Souza.

It was a privilege to have Bishop Ignatius honouring the celebrations with his presence and presiding at the Eucharist. He gave an inspiring homily on Don Bosco about his love for young people and their love for him.

There were about 40 Sisters, several members of the parish and choir girls from St. Anthony’s convent school.

After the Mass a delicious cake was cut and a sumptuous lunch followed. Our cook Punita Kujur and & her culinary team did a fantastic job preparing the delicious meal.

Fr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha, was away in Thailand facilitating a one-month programme on “Renewing Consecrated Life: Journeying TogetherToward Wholeness.”

He joined the celebration of Don Bosco’s feast at the Salesian Novitiate (Ricaldone) at Samphran. There was a solemn Holy Eucharist in the evening, followed by dinner. There were about 300 people – priests, religious, candidates to religious life and mostly lay people.

SUMEDHA OUTREACH AT BAREILLY

Director of Sumedha Centre, Jose Parappully, was invited to facilitate a workshop on “Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity” for the priests of the diocese of  Bareilly, UP,  on 11^th December.

Almost all the priests of the diocese and the bishop, a total of about 70, participated. Parappully introduced the workshop observing that reflection and research on failure of catholic priests in recent years in regard to living their celibate commitment faithfully had concluded that the Catholic church had done a very poor job in preparing its priests to live a life of chaste celibacy.

The Salesians of Don Bosco have tried to address this lacuna by publishing a two volume book “Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity: A Handbook for Religious and Priestly Formation” (which got sold out in 10 months!) of which Parappully is the primary editor. He would present a section of that book at the workshop.

Parappully focused on “Sexual Boundary Violations” and presented data on Dual Relationships, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Abuse - both Child Sexual Abuse and Adult Sexual Abuse and their implications.

At the end of the Workshop, Fr. Royal Anthony, who spoke on behalf of the participants said that the workshop had come at a very opportune time, had helped them to reflect on these very important issues and realize the need to address the issues in helpful ways. The workshop, he said, had been facilitated in an excellent way.

Sumedha Centre Hosts Bareilly Priests’ Retreat

Sumedha Centre, Jeolikote, was the venue of this year’s Bareilly Diocese Priests’ Retreat which concluded this afternoon.

This is the first time Bareilly diocese is here for a programme after the Pastoral Centre of the Diocese at Jeolikote was handed over to the Salesians in June last year. The Salesians now operate Sumedha Centre for Psychology and Spirituality from the Pastoral Centre.

Thirty eight priests and the bishop attended the retreat. It was led by Fr. Fernando da Costa, a priest of the diocese of Pune and a former Chairman of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Pune diocese. He was assisted by Mr. Francis D’Souza, member of the National Catholic Charismatic Renewal team.

The focus of the retreat was on holiness of life, especially on the call to renewal of life of holiness in this year of the priest. Fr. Da Costa emphasised that priests have been empowered by God to promote holiness among his people. For that they themselves have to strive for holiness. As years pass by the initial fervour and enthusiasm coming from that empowerment can disappear and priests can settle down to a comfortable mediocrity and a mundane life, failing in their call to be burning torches. He used the metaphor of coal covered with ashes to convey this reality. No matter how much incense you pour on that ash covered coal, there will be no fragrance. The only thing one has to do is to brush of the ashes and the embers will light again and the room will be filled with the fragrance. “That,” he said to the priests, “is your challenge. You have to brush of all that diminishes your priesthood, so that the fire of holiness can burn bright again and set the world on fire.”

Mr D’Souza said this was the first time he was preaching to priests. He was very appreciative of the receptiveness of the priests to a layman’s preaching. He was also very appreciative of the facilities and care provided by Sumedha Centre. “That helped the retreat immensely,” he said.

During these five days of the retreat Sumedha Centre was alive with the sound of music. The singing of the priests, especially the Hindi bajhans, was melodious and moving and the musical accompaniment soul-stirring.

God appears to have been showering his blessing on the priests throughout the retreat. It poured and poured! The rain was incessant during the five days, and the mist pervasive, depriving the priests sight of the lovely mountains and the lush greenery, except for some rare glimpse when the weather gods chose to be kind! However, the increased cascade of the nearby stream was delightful to the ear.