April 5, 2009

 CIRCULAR NO.1 / JV/GEN/2009

Dear Brothers,

Fraternal greetings! I am aware that this first Circular from me is overdue. Kindly hold me excused for the delay in communicating to you soon after the first session of the 13^th General Chapter of our Congregation which ended on the 23^rd of February 2009. Nevertheless, necessary informations were given by the Secretary General. But you must have been expecting more information and news. The delay to do so was caused by my pre-arranged programme in certain mission centres of our Congregation in different provinces. My visits to many of our Communities have given me first hand knowledge of the situations of our missions and ministries which would enrich my communication with you all. I propose to visit as many communities as possible to interact with our Brothers and the people with whom we work.

 First and foremost, I wish to thank all our Brothers, well-wishers and benefactors for their accompaniment with us during the General Chapter and even before. The power of God was visible throughout the preparatory period, during the deliberations and elections. All these would not have happened without your affection and prayerful support. Please accept my sincere gratitude and love. Please do continue to accompany us further with your valuable prayers and good intentions. We have yet another session of the General Chapter from 10^th – 22^nd September 2009. We need further enlightenment and dept to make further resolutions for implementation for the coming six years of our term.

 To be more effective in our implementation programme for the future, committees have been constituted under various heads with most of the Chapter delegates. Groups are free to co-opt experts and other members for further fruitful studies and recommendations. We have already sent out the codified suggestions to the committees. Please take these seriously and come prepared for the forth-coming second session of the Chapter. Regional / Provincials are kindly requested to facilitate the smooth functioning of the committees. The overall supervision is of the Generalate. Thanks for your kind cooperation. Please keep the bills and vouchers of your expenses and be submitted to the Generalate for reimbursement as suggested earlier.

 The Easter Season: We started the Lenten Season soon after the first session of the Chapter. I need not further exhort you about the importance of this Holy Season as most of us are aware of the true implications of this season. Our Holy Father, the Bishops and our own Superiors have extensively spoken about the true meaning of the Season and the centrality of the redeeming Cross in our lives. Crosses come to us in different shapes and exigencies and our positive attitude to them make them meaningful and redemptive. Let us take up our God-given ministries and tasks and fulfill them with a sense of purpose and meaning as was shown by our Lord and Master. May be the contradictions and hopelessness of our own very existence are the heavy crosses of our earthly life. Let us not despair of our helplessness, but stand like Mary our Mother by the side of our suffering Redeemer and the suffering humanity who are the visible expressions and beneficiaries of our crosses.

The Lenten Season is almost coming to a close. If we have walked with the Lord to Calvary, have we not the right to partake of His Risen glory? If we have died with Him, we shall also rise with Him. Easter glory fills the sky and Easter joy and peace radiate over the earth. The Lord wishes us ‘Peace’, the Peace that transforms our existence and exhilarates our lives. Let us share this Peace and Joy of the Lord, of the Risen Saviour, with everyone we meet. This is a very Franciscan attitude to wish Peace and Joy to all who come in contact with us. May the Lord grant us His Easter Joy and Peace all through our life! Let us celebrate this greatest Season of our redemption with the power of the Risen Lord and the intercession of our dear Mother and Patrons!

The Feast of Easter is a feast in which life overcomes death. The positive elements like love, compassion, forgiveness etc. overcome the negative elements of hatred, envy, un-forgiveness, destructive criticism, aggression etc. Hope overcomes despair and gloom. It is not only life overcoming death, but life sprouting forth in the midst of death. That is the miracle of the empty tomb that is the miracle of the transforming power of the Resurrection. The power of the all-embracing Love of the Lord, in a world of destruction, terrorism and depression! Let us be agents of this transformation at this Season and always!

Informations:

The General Council has constituted the following committees as per the General Chapter decision. The members can work out their modalities in preparing the working paper for the second session of the 13^th General Chapter scheduled to be held from 10^th – 22^nd September 2009 at the Generalate, Mount Poinsur, Mumbai. Brothers are free to send any relevant suggestions to the respective committees:

Committee on CMSF ‘Constitutions’ : Bros. Pius Kizhakkebhagam (Convenor), Mathew Thekkemuriyil, Samuel Kakkanatte & George Thottiyil

Charism / Apostolate & Education : Bros. Victor General (Convenor), Mathew Perunilam, Giles Thekkemuriyil, Peter Lemos, Vijaykumar Pereira, Arulanandan, Vincent Philip & Macarius Kanjiramparampil

Spirituality & Prayer Life : Bros. Lawrence Abraham (Convenor), Sebastian Adukuzhiyil, John Britto Vanpuzha, Aloysius Vaniyapurackal & Dennis Thekkeparampil

Vocation Promotion / Formation & Ongoing Formation : Bros. Xavier Alexander (Convenor), Bartholomius Kandulna, Roy Olickal, Innocent Tete, & Tobias Sebastiampillai

Governance / Administration & Finances : Bros. Melchior Tom (Convenor), Julius Vattavayalil, David Patelia, Patrick Chempukettickal, Zacharias Kuzhikulam, & Thomas Joseph Justus

Community Life : Bros. Abraham Maruthumkuzhiyil (Convenor), Benny Appanchira, Bruno Malayil, Shantilal Kujur, Alphonse Nesamony, Pakianath Arokiam, & Jeremy Christy Tissera

Professions : Bro. Miguel Angel Alcaraz (SFSP) made his final profession on 21^st February 2009. Alcides Javier Meza and Reimundo Quinionez of the same Province pronounced their first vows on 21^st February 2009. Nine of our second year Novices at Kota Hall, Kotagiri, pronounced their first vows on 19^th March 2009. They are – J. Anthony Selvaraj, Mudiyappan Joseph Raja, Bala Reddy, S. John Peter (SJBR), Ginish K. Mathew (STP), B.S. Shashi Denis Kumar (SFXP), Binod Kullu, Anup Kumar Lakra, Orlando Engtih Kathar (SPP).

A preparatory Course for the Brothers due for Final Vows on 4^th October 2009 has been arranged at SANYASA, Carmelaram, Bangalore from 26^th April – 23^rd May 2009. The respected Brothers will have to reach at Jyothi Sadan Scholasticate, Bangalore latest by 25^th April 2009. For further details, kindly contact Bro. Sebastian Adukuzhiyil, the Rector of our Scholasticate.

Annual Retreat : Brothers working under the Generalate are requested to make their annual retreat for the year 2009, along with the other Brothers of the respective Provinces.

Bro. Joseph Karimalayil, the former Superior General, has been granted permission to join one of our communities in USA for a period of one year. He will be leaving for USA by the end of April 2009.

The next meeting of the General Council will be held from 16^th – 18^th April 2009 at the Generalate, Mount Poinsur, Mumbai.

I would gratefully remember the generous services and hard work of our Former Superior General Brother Joseph Karimalayil and his team – Bros. Vijaykumar Pereira, George Koldert, Thomas Joseph Justus, Alphonse Nesamony, Aloysius Vaniapurackal & Zacharias Kuzhikulam. May the Lord grant them abundance of blessings in their respective mission! I would once again thank all of you dear Brothers for your prayerful support and greetings. I want to thank you all in a very personal way for your wishes and greetings on my election and thereafter on my Patron’s day. May Saint Joseph, one of the patron’s of our dear Congregation make us worthy members and collaborators in the mission of the Lord! May our Mother make us exult with joy al the Resurrection of Jesus! Wishing each one of you a joy-filled Easter and with many warm regards,

Yours fraternally,

 Bro. Jose Valliara, CMSF

Superior General