Our Apostolate

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" - Isaiah 52:7

17th November 2017 was truly a blessed day for His Lordship Bishop Ignatius Mascarenhas, Fr. John Fernandes, sfx (Provincial of the Delhi Province), Fr. Alfred Rodrigues sfx, Fr. Basil D’Mello, and me, who set off at the invitation of Fr. Christopher Michael from Shimla to the new ‘Kinnaur Mission’ in the far flung areas of Kinnaur District in the pristine valleys of Himachal Pradesh. After driving for about 7 and half hours along the meandering serpentine roads, we reached Reckong Peo at 5.15 pm. Fr. Christopher and his little band of jubilant ‘parishioners’ were there to welcome us. We were comfortably lodged in a hotel where great pains were taken to see that all our needs were met.

18th November 2017 was both a unique and a historical day for the Diocese of Shimla Chandigarh as well as for the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier and the infant Christian community at Reckong Peo. We were welcomed with the Angura (Himachali cap) and Himachali garlands intricately woven dry fruits and nuts. The rain and the chill did not dampen the spirit of the community as the freshly clad snow capped Himalayas embraced us in its beauty. The day began with the inauguration and blessing of Krist Jyoti Handloom Centre and the blessing of Krist Jyoti Tailoring Centre. Each one of us was welcomed with a stole woven by the women at the Center. The inauguration was followed by the Eucharist in the Restaurant of Jeevan Jyoti Hotel, which was beautifully decorated by the people. For this small community, it was a novel occasion as it was their first ‘encounter’ with a ‘Bishop’! A good number of local faithful and well wishers who were dressed in their traditional attire made the ambience more colourful. The Mass was attended by around 90 people both newly baptised Catholic and non-Christian Kinnauri Himachalis. During the Mass, 15 Catechumens received the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Confirmation at the hands of Rt. Rev. Ignatius Mascarenhas. Of these, 11 were from Kinnaur and 4 from Jharkhand. These were baptised by Fr. Hillary Fernandes sfx during his visit to Kinnaur. The Bishop was happily surprised at how well the Confirmandis were prepared for the Sacrament, although being new to the faith. The Congregation was very vibrant in their singing and responses, like our Bishop, the Lord must have been moved by the fervour and simplicity of His new found flock, untouched by greed, pretence and malice. The Mass was followed by the Ágape prepared by the people themselves displaying their generosity and hospitality to the best of their ability. It was a day beyond their imagination to have His Lordship and others amidst them which made them leave no stone unturned and make the occasion a prayerful and memorable one.
After the lovely meal and exchange of pleasantries with the people, five of us embarked on the second phase of our journey, the destination being Dubling, 60 kms from Peo, closer to the Tibetan border. It was an arduous 3 hours drive through treacherous terrains, making our hearts skip a beat each time we came across sign boards warning us of ‘shooting rocks’ and ‘landslides’. The thought of our priests celebrating the Eucharist and bringing Christ to these neglected folks every once or twice a month, gave us the needed confidence to proceed. We halted for the night at a place called Pooh, a military base of the Indian army.

19th November 2017 The night was very cold, but the morning had a serene surprise waiting! A white mantle covered the whole area. It was so ethereal, to see the purity and serenity silently drawing you closer to the Creator. It was an exciting moment for our Lordship to see the snowflakes falling, gently and silently blessing the land! The child in man happily surfaces when genuine joy is experienced.
After breakfast, we left for Dubling, which is about 9 kms from Pooh. Here the adivasis from Jharkhand dressed in their most colourful attire, extended a traditional welcome to the Bishop and the guests. Dancing and singing to the typical Chota-nagpuri beat of the drum they escorted His Lordship to the tin shed, beautifully and colourfully decorated with their sarees and buntings, a place where they usually gather for Mass.
The Mass was attended by about 140 people from Dubling including 50 faithful who accompanied Fr. Anthony Samy from Peo travelling the 90 kms stretch in the wee hours of the morning. During the Mass, two couples received the Sacrament of Confirmation and Matrimony that doubled our joy. After Mass the guests were felicitated with garlands, bouquets and a beautifully hand knitted warm winter caps followed by the traditional folk dances of Chota Nagpur. A sumptuous lunch followed soon after which, the Bishop left for Solan. The celebration continued until we ate and danced and was time to say adieu my friends!
To be living in the far flung areas of the country bordering Tibet and China is not easy, especially when the resources at hand are minimal and meagre. My deep appreciation to Frs. Christopher and Anthony Samy for all that they have been to the people of Kinnaur. It only comes from the love for Christ one has experienced and a dedication and commitment to His calling. What a spiritual experience it was for us in both these places, it will remain etched in my mind for a long, long time. May God continue to bless and expand His Kingdom in these troubled times when spreading the Gospel is not an option but, a must. What comes to my mind right now are these lines from the poem As Kingfishers catch Fire by Gerard Manly Hopkins.

.....The just man justices; Keeps grace: that keeps all his going graces;
Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is -
Christ – for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men’s faces

Sr. Stephanie ibvm.
Loreto Convent, Shimla.

The Province acknowledges the efforts of our members who serve in our parishes and mission stations; specially their ministry during the sacred season of lent, which prepares us to understand and personalize the mystery of Christ's Easter victory. Our members have indeed given their best to facilitate a fruitful Lenten program and helped the faithful towards the interiorization of the paschal mystery during the Easter Triidum. The message of Christ Jesus' love and hope manifested through his life, death and resurrection was proclaimed not alone to Christian folks, but even to sisters and brothers of other religions through appealing evangelization mediums such as 'Satsangs', Way of the Cross through the streets, towns and villages, depictions of the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection, etc.
Coverage of the Lenten and Easter initiatives from the part of our members would require a considerable amount of space in this newsletter. This issue limits itself to excerpts of Pope Francis' Easter vigil homily, excerpts of the Provincial's Circular with greetings for Easter, a write-up by Fr. Ranjit Soreng and about a Lenten initiative by Fr. Pio Rego.

Personalizing the Easter Hope for our Life and Ministry Excerpts of the Provincial's Circular(DP/109/2017) dated 15^th April 2017

What thoughts would we be greeted with, if we would take some time to reflect about ourselves and the world around us this Easter eve? - My life, my community living, my ministry, our Province, etc. We would certainly have much to be thankful for, much that would bring us joy, and perhaps there could also be some dark shades of our personal weaknesses, inefficiencies, pain, sorrow, fear, uncertainties, etc. As Jesus was nearing his death and ultimately his ignominious death on the Cross brought similar feelings of despair and disbelief in many of those who believed in him. The death of Jesus seemed to be the end for those who hoped in him. However, the 'Easter Encounter' did not let hope die away as a lost pursuit.
I recall the theme of the IV^th Ordinary Provincial Chapter of Affairs: “To Proclaim the Encountered Christ.” On Easter day and in the Easter season we will have the opportunity to reflect on the experiences of Mary Magdalene, the Apostles, the disciples at Emmaus and a score of many examples in the Acts of the Apostles and elsewhere, narrating to us about all those who witnessed the Risen Lord; who had an experience of the power of Christ's Resurrection.
The Easter message is so deeply relevant for us as individuals, as members of a community, as members of the Delhi Province, the Society and the Church at large. We are indeed privileged to be called by the Risen Lord to be men who known him, experience him, encounter him and facilitate the same dynamism in the lives of the persons we encounter.
This Easter, my wish and prayer for each of us is that (despite the many shortcomings of our personal, community and ministerial life) each of us may personally 'Experience' the risen Lord and 'Proclaim' the encountered Christ in and through our life and ministry. May the Lord bless us that we may be able to understand, experience and proclaim this Easter mystery.
ministry. May the Lord bless us that we may be able to understand, experience and proclaim this Easter mystery. I take this opportunity to specially acknowledge our members who serve as Parish Priests, Assistant Parish Priests and all those who cater to the pastoral needs of fellow Christian sisters and brothers. I sincerely appreciate all the efforts you invested in guiding your flock by way of organising the lenten program, lenten practices, retreats, confessions, the liturgy, etc. I am personally aware of some of the many creative ways which you attempted to tell the people about the magnanimous love of God more intently reflected during the Lenten season and during the Easter Triduum. May your pastoral efforts bring you joy, hope and peace of the Risen Lord.

The Relevance of the Paschal Mystery in our Life and Ministry:
The Ongoing 'Risings' and 'Dyings' in and around our Life

- Fr. Ranjit Soreng sfx

Fr. RanjitSoreng (Assistant Parish Priest, St. Clare of Assisi Church, Dina Nagar, Punjab)
shares a personalized reflection on
'the relevance of the Paschal Mystery in our Life and Ministry'.
The loss of his beloved mother during the season of lent,
made him all the more deeply reflect on the ongoing reality of
the moments of 'risings' and 'dyings' in and around our life.

The liturgy of the Church, the celebration of the sacraments, and the seasons of Lent and Easter are particular times when we pay attention to what Jesus Christ has done for us through his passion, death, resurrection, and ascension. Yet these are not the only times when we experience the Paschal Mystery. It is a part of our everyday life; it is the undercurrent of all that we do and all that we are. What does this mean? How do I experience the Paschal Mystery? How does it affect me on a day-to-day basis? How do I become aware of its presence in my life in a real way and not just something I know about?

First, let's look at the Paschal Mystery in general terms, without any religious speculation. The Paschal Mystery is basically the process of dying and rising, death and new life. We see this all around us and in our own lives. For example, we experience the process of dying and rising each year as we go through the different seasons. Summer is a time of vibrancy and life, which then gives way to fall, when leaves on the trees die and fall away and many plants seem to die. Winter comes and with it the frost and chill that seem to halt all growth and life. But after winter, when it seemed as if everything had died away, spring arrives. New life surrounds us. The bare branches of trees begin to show signs of new leaves.
We are a part of nature too. Not only do we experience the seasons and see the process of dying and rising, we also have our own 'dyings' and 'risings'. Sometimes these are obvious - for example, a grandparent dies or a baby is born. But other 'dyings' and 'risings' are less obvious. An experience of dying might be when you have an argument with a friend that leaves you feeling upset, or you see a homeless mother and a child and don't know what to do or how to help. An experience of rising might be reconciling with someone you hurt or who hurt you, talking with your family about the homeless mother and her child and discovering that an organization like the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Mother Teresa's Sisters have the people and the resources to care for people who are homeless. These are some of the 'dyings' and 'risings' that we experience every day. Becoming conscious of our own 'dyings' and 'risings' helps us to have a greater sense of compassion for others and a greater willingness to reach out to others as well.
Now when we look at the Paschal Mystery in the context of our religious beliefs and the life of Jesus Christ, we come to a deeper meaning of dying and rising. Jesus Christ's passion, death, resurrection, and ascension are the ultimate event of dying and rising, of death and new life. We learn from Jesus that new life can come from death, that we can find meaning in tough times, and that there really is light in the darkness. We learn that all life has this rhythm of dying and rising and that God is with us in good times and in bad as well. Christ's experience of suffering, death, and new life has given new meaning for our sufferings and has made our lives worthwhile. Death is not the end of man's life but a door to fullness of life. Besides this; when we encounter tough times, we have the comfort of knowing that God has “been there, done that”. We seem infused with the power of hope that new life will come from death.
Many are ignorant of God's love in Jesus. When marooned with life's adversities and anxieties, there is a tendency to remain dead to the dynamism of life. There are many who are waiting for someone to affirm them, to hear from them that they are loved, accepted, forgiven and their life has a purpose to live. There are millions of people who do not know that in and through Jesus Christ that God has loved them and showed his mercy towards them and accepted them as his own Children and has invited all to share His life in fullness. Thus if the Paschal mystery is well understood and experienced, its relevance is immense unto a world which craves for true love and freedom. With such enlightenment, one can say that the Paschal mystery is not an event of the past, but it is an indispensable part of our life and ministry. The mystery is truly relevant in our life and for ministry because there is an ongoing process of sufferings and joys, 'dyings' and 'risings', despairs and hope, death and life. Thus, the Paschal mystery is experiencing the risen Christ Jesus who lived, died and rose again for humanity and who is the creator and sustainer of all life. So think about your own life. Did you have a 'dying' or 'rising' experience today, this week, this year? Reflect on that experience in the light of the event of Jesus Christ's passion, death, resurrection, and ascension and make it relevant to your life and ministry.

A Fulfilling Reluctant Walk with Jesus A Lenten Initiative to Personalize Our Lord's Sufferings

- Fr. Pio Rego sfx

One of the unique experiences during lent 2017 was the walking pilgrimage the parishioners ventured on 12 March 2017. When Fr. Adrian Fernandes expressed this idea of people walking from their respective homes, I was a bit reluctant as it is quite a distance for some people to walk. But finally we put it across to the people, which they though a bit reluctant did accept because they were motivated by the fact that the priests and catechists would walk with them. So we fixed a certain meeting point for each area. Parishioners belonging to various Small Christian Communities (SCC) gathered at the given point in their locality and walked to the Church. On the way, they contemplated on the Stations of the Cross and prayed the Divine Mercy Rosary. The parishioners were earlier given points for reflection, specially to help them understand the meaning and relevance of Christ's sufferings for their lives. Many of the parishioners expressed their happiness as they realized how much Jesus suffered for us and how reluctant we are in enduring sufferings. I was personally touched, though not surprised to see how people of other faith show their respect and reverence to Jesus hanging on the Cross. I have said 'though not surprised' because I have witnessed so many people of other faith, especially younger generation come to the Church, pray, seek to know more about Jesus and go home satisfied. Jesus is the answer to many of the queries and problems faced by people. The questions that come to my mind very often are - Do we as priests, consecrated persons and baptized Catholics realize this? Are we enthusiastic enough to witness and proclaim Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected ?

A Mother is always the beginning. She is how things begin.

- Fr. Lino Santiago sfx

Mother's Day was celebrated on 1 January 2017 in our parish (St. Clare of Assisi, Dina Nagar, Punjab). I personally appreciate the wisdom of the Church to accord the first day of the year with a solemn memory of Mary, our blessed mother. I prepared myself sufficiently to understand the depth of the Catholic dogma and the relevance it has for the faithful. Reflecting on the rich tradition of the Church with reference to according such a sublime place for the mother of Jesus, I further reflected on the context of the place we minister – the land of Punjab. Although the land is rich in its natural resources and carries the rich legacy of a glorious tradition of respect for both genders, none can deny the stark discrimination of the feminine gender in Punjab; and that too in today's so called advanced era. Youngsters today (specifically boys) are often found disrespecting women, they lack the sense of gratitude for the struggles of their mothers, there is drug abuse, lethargic lifestyles where they prefer shunning from hard work - be it in view of their academics or their professional lifestyle. On the other hand, women have also often failed to affirm themselves and contribute towards building a society of equals.
Our parish team of Fr. Ranjit Soreng (Assistant Parish Priest), the Sisters of Franciscans Clarist Congregation (FCC) and Catechist James Mattu collaborated to organize a meaningful celebration of Motherhood on the first day of the year. We highlighted the role of the mother in a family, in the society and in a country at large. We asked those gathered to bring to mind the love and sacrifices of one's mother. The faithful were then encouraged to be generous to express their love for their mothers even with small gestures of deep affection and reciprocity for their commitment and care. Some of the mothers were later invited to come forward and cut the cake and distribute the same to those participating in the celebration.
I also took this opportunity to share about the negative preaching by several pastors in the locality. They seem to be determined to dishonor Mary and leave the faithful more confused about their devotion and inclination to turn to our blessed mother Mary. The solemn occasion was a good opportunity to conscientize the faithful about Mary's sublime role in the salvation history of the Church and in our personal, family and community life.

Beginning the Year motivating his Parishioners
The Shepherd affirms his Flock

- Regent Kennedy Fernandes sfx

It was the Sunday after New Year and the congregation celebrated the solemnity of the Lord's Epiphany. Fr. Domnic Dias (Parish Priest of Holy Rosary Church, Sirsa, Haryana) began with the conventional round of giving out the prizes for various competitions held during the festive season of Christmas. Winners of the star, crib and card competitions was an acknowledgement of the efforts and talents put together to add to the festive colour and gaiety. Parish groups such as the youth group, mahila mandal and the altar servers received the glittering awards, while other individuals also carried home some honours. The Bal Niketan boys, well animated by Regent Kennedy Fernandes won many prizes that morning. However, towards the end, there came the not so common acknowledgements – 'those who arrived regularly in time for Mass' and 'Families which together participated for Adoration'. Fr. Domnic gave away special prizes to parishioners who arrived regularly in time for Mass. Mrs. Geeta Muriel was awarded the first prize and Mr. Vikram the second. The families who were awarded the special prize for participating all together for the adoration felt very special and all the more motivated to continue in the same spirit. The gathering would have returned home as they do always – witnessing winners of Christmas competitions receiving their prizes. However, the pastor acknowledging the small but constructive practices and habits of his flock will surely let all the parishioners carry home a lasting message of learning from others and valuing such gestures.

Bathinda Deanery takes Steady Steps...
Fr. Sonny animates his Team

- Sr. Arolina T.Silveira SFN

Fr. Sonny Furtado, the newly appointed Dean of Bathinda Deanery of the Simla-Chandigarh Diocese, chaired his first th deanery meeting at St. Joseph's school campus Mandi Dabwali on 27^th January 2017. The meeting attended by members of the Society of Pilar, diocesan priests of the Simla-Chandigarh diocese and religious sisters began with a prayer service invoking God's grace and blessings. The service was led by Sr. Philomena Gharu (Pilar Sisters).

At the outset, the Dean welcomed Fr. P. Sahayaraj (Representative of the Bishop and the Resource Person for the day), Fr. Cidloy (Provincial Councillor and Mission Coordinator of the Delhi Province of the Society of Pilar) and all the priest and religious members of the deanery. He also expressed his gratitude to the former Dean, Fr. Christopher Masih (Parish Priest of St. Joseph's Church, Mandi Dabwali, Haryana) for his contribution towards the growth of the Bathinda Deanery.

Plato's masterwork, 'Republic' has an inspiring text on the importance of the 'beginning' – “the beginning is the most important part of the work.” In a similar vein, we could acknowledge Fr. Reagan Fernandes (Parish Priest of St. John's Church, Bakshinagar, Jammu) who began the year on a note of gratitude, acknowledging and thanking the former pastors of the parish on New Year's day. Mother's Day celebrations coordinated by Fr. Lino Santiago (Parish Priest) on the first day of the year in St. Clare of Assisi Church, Dina Nagar, Punjab reminds me of the words of the American author, Amy Tan, “A Mother is always the beginning. She is how things begin.” Fr. Domnic Dias (Parish Priest of Holy Rosary Church, Sirsa, Haryana) entering the second week of the new year, let his faithful know that he is proud of some of his parishioners for being exemplary to the rest of the flock. Fr. Sonny Furtado (Dean of Bathinda Deanery) brought together priests and religious of the deanery and chaired his first meeting, furnishing later an excellent pastoral activity planner for the deanery.

Beginning the Year with Gratitude
The Shepherds are (once again) acknowledged for their Service

- Fr. Reagan Fernandes sfx

The New Year day celebration, this time, had an added joy for the parishioners of St. John Catholic Church, Bakshinagar, Jammu as it celebrated the feast of its patron saint, St. John (Apostle and Evangelist) with deep religious fervour and enthusiasm. There was a palpable feeling of happiness on the faces of both the young and the old as they made their way into the beautifully decorated church to take part in the twin festivities. It was a fulfilling experience for the priests and a pleasant surprise to the parishioners to have the presence of about 10 priests, both from the Society of Pilar and the Diocese of Jammu-Srinagar, who joined the parish community to thank and praise God on this happy occasion. These priests had given their valuable service in this parish over the past many years and it was certainly nostalgic, for many in the congregation, to see them once again.
The Solemn Feast mass began with a well-synchronized processional dance by the parish youth leading the way to the sanctuary. Rev. Fr. John Marcus Fernandes (Provincial Superior) presided over the Eucharistic celebration with the other concelebrants. The liturgy of the day aptly focused on being true disciples of Jesus Christ like St. John, the beloved disciple. Fr. Selvaraj Peter (Selvam) preached a very meaningful homily, touching upon the essentials of the Christian faith that we need to put into practice in our day-to-day life. Under the leadership of Mr. Vijay Mattoo, the Church choir animated the gathered congregation in praising God with appropriate hymns; thereby enhancing the Eucharistic celebration. The whole liturgical celebration lasted for about an hour and a half and everything went on smoothly till the end.

The Eucharist was followed with a short felicitation program in which the former parish priests and the former assistant parish priests were honoured with a shawl as a sign of respect and acknowledgment. Fr. Reagan Fernandes (Parish Priest) expressed a few words of gratitude for each one of the priest felicitated and expressed the sheer happiness of the parish community for them having accepted the invitation to be a part of the feast day celebration. Fr. John Fernandes, in his brief address, took the opportunity to thank the priests and the lay faithful of the parish for their cordial welcome and appreciated the ongoing pastoral work shouldered by the present parish priest and his assistant. It was past 1 o'clock by then and the mouthwatering 'priti-bhoj' was ready in the church hall for the people to share the festive joy together and satiate their hunger. Many people were also seen taking their time to have a friendly chat with the former parish priests whom they had known and admired so much.

Later in the afternoon, as part of the day's celebration, parish sports events were organized on the Government School grounds. As expected, a very big number actively participated in the various games arranged for the different age categories by the organizing team. It was a sight to watch both the young and the old, who seemed equally energetic and enthusiastic and both displaying great sportsmanship spirit, no matter who turned out to be the winners. And of course, the cheering crowd further created a fabulous atmosphere all through the events. In the end, the dignitaries gave away the prizes to the winners of the various games as curtains came down on what was a memorable day for the parishioners right on the first day of the year.

MANDI DABWALI, HARYANA

The Feast of Our Lady of Pilar was celebrated on 25thSeptember 2016 at St. Joseph's Church, Mandi Dabwali. The special novena prayers which commenced from the 16th September were prayed in two places, one in the town church and the other in different villages. The novena prayers were followed with the Holy Mass. During the Novena on 21st September, 130 parishioners were baptized by the Parish Priest Fr. Christopher Masih and the Assistant Parish Priest Fr. Stephen Dias. The last novena had the special Sobha Yatra which sought to reflect more intensely on the life of Mary.

On 25th September (feast day) Bishop Ignatius Mascarenhas (Bishop of Simla Chandigarh Diocese) was the Main Celebrant for the Holy Eucharist. There was a sense of a special joy as the parish welcomed the prelate since he visited the parish after a long hiatus.The parish youth welcomed the Bishop with a beautiful bhangra procession escorting his steps with music and dance.

People came in huge numbers from different areas and actively participated in the Holy Mass. 125 parishioners received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the course of the solemn liturgy of the Eucharist. The choir was well co-ordinated by the Parish youth and the liturgy was organized by Fr. Stephen Dias.

The Eucharistic celebration was followed with a cultural program. Students of our tuition centers from different villages also performed a variety of entertaining items on the stage. The traditional reception of langar provided an appetizing delight for all those who visited the premises. The celebrations did not end inside the church complex. Our tuition centers organized a cultural program and sought to have the Bishop as the Chief Guest. The Bishop obliging to grace the occasion was delighted to witness the excellent performance of the children and he went on to appreciate and motivate the staff and the students. In his address, he highlighted the importance of education and personal development for the upliftment of the society.

KAHNUWAN, PUNJAB

The Feast of Our Lady of Assumption also called “Mariam Mela” was celebrated on 14th August, 2016 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Kahnuwan with much reverence and devotion. Rt. Rev. Franco Mullakal (Bishop of Jalandhar Diocese)presided over the Eucharist. Rev. Fr. John Marcus Fernandes (Provincial Superior of Delhi Province) made his maiden visit to Kahnuwan and prayed for the people. Fr. Albert Fernandes, incoming Assistant Parish Priest, was accorded a warm welcome. The Parishioners of Kahuwan felicitated and ...welcomed the guests according to the Punjabi culture. Bishop Franco exhorted the people to be united and fight the menace of drugs and alcoholism by upholding the Gospel values and the example of the Holy Family of Nazareth. After the Eucharistic Celebration, the Local MLA expressed his wishes on the joyous occasion and expressed his desire to work for the upliftment of the Christian community in his constituency. Fr. Santosh Mendonca, the outgoing Assistant Parish Priest, witnessed a tearful farewell and was felicitated by the Parish Priest and parishioners. The grace-filled day ended with the traditional Prabhu Da Langar.

SIRSA, HARYANA

The unit of Sirsa remains to be very dear to the members of the Province. The missionaries who sought to pioneer in the Northern parts of our country first landed here and after tireless toil and sacrifices erected the church, Our Lady of Rosary. As every year, the parish feast was celebrated afteran extensive spiritual preparation. Satsangs in villages near and far, confessions, conventions and themed novenas facilitated an orientation to understand the importance of one's faith and how one ought to be faithful Christians. The feast day (2nd October) theme was 'Mary, the Fountain of Mercy.' The feast mass was celebrated by Fr. Christopher Masih, whose homily for the day stirred the hearts of his listeners.The Eucharistic celebration was followed with a cultural programme and langar was servedand shared by all.

BATHINDA, PUNJAB

The parishioners of Holy Rosary Church, Bathinda, contemplated on the Mysteries of Jesus' life with Mary our Mother, who intercedes for us. The reflection on these mysteries attempted facilitating the contemplation on the life of Jesus, with the example of Mary's life and discipleship. The preparation for the feast began on 7th of September (i.e., more than a month before the feast) with village satsangs. The Themes for the satsangs, novena and feast were based on the joyful and luminous mysteries of the rosary. This contemplation was different from the one we do daily while praying with the beads of the rosary. It threw light on the various aspects of Jesus' life, and the life of Mary and Joseph i.e. their total surrender to God's will – self-emptying, their sacrifices, their hope and trust in God, their faith, their generosity, their patience, their selfless concern for others, etc. We discovered that the rosary is a journey with Mary into the life of Jesus. Rosary is known as the prayer of the family because it helps us to draw inspiration from the Holy Family of Nazareth. Henceforth, hopefully we will not pray the Rosary as a ritual, but enter into a learning experience with Mary.

The feast was celebrated on 9th October 2016. Rev. Fr. John Marcus Fernandes, the Provincial Superior of Delhi Province presided at the Eucharist. In his homily he cited examples from the life of Jesus and Mary – how they broke themselves for good of others, and encouraged the congregation to do the same in our daily life. The Eucharistic celebration was followed by a cultural programme which included plays on the Parables of Mercy enacted by various Small Christians Communities of the Parish. The feast celebration ended with the fellowship meal – Langar.

Mariam Devotion at St. Clare's Catholic Church, Dinanagar

In the month of October, the month dedicated to Mary, there was Marian devotion programmes organized in the villages of St. Clare's Church, Dinanagar, Punjab. In the course of the scheduled ten day programme, two days were entirely spent in visiting families. The statue of our blessed Mother was carried along. At each house a decade of Rosary was said and at the end of the procession, the faithful were explained about the place and veneration of Mary in Catholic Church. The discourse particularly highlighted emulating the example of Mary in being loyal to God, loyal to one's commitment in one's family and the society and to be perseverant in one's faith while we live in a relativist and commercialized world. The Catholics and non- Catholics were highly appreciative for the new insights about Mary and the catholic faith.

Celebrating 'A Life Lived for Others'- Saint Teresa of Kolkata

As the whole world erupted with joy at the much-awaited canonisation of Mother Teresa on 4th of September 2016, the parishioners of St. John's Catholic Church, Bakshinagar, took the opportunity, at the Sunday's Eucharist, to thank God for the great gift of Mother Teresa. And as recognition to her charism of service, the MC Sisters, who give their generous help in the parish, were felicitated by the parish community. At the end of the liturgical celebration, Fr. Reagan Fernandes, the Parish Priest of Bakshinagar parish, projected two or three apt videos including a tribute song to Mother Teresa by singer Usha, celebrating the saintly life and works of Mother Teresa. The gathered congreation were deeply drawn to admire the sanctity of this new saint as they watched the video presentations with rapt attention.

Later in the day, the parishoners of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Reshamgarh visited Mother Teresa's Shanti Bhawan, Janipur, to greet the MC Sisters and the inmates living there on the joyous occasion. It was a mark of respect for a life of loving service of this noble soul and also a gesture of deep appreciation for the good work continued by the MC Sisters here in Jammu. Our tiny kids performed two beautiful action songs and the youth group melodiously sang 'Maa Mother Teresa', a hindi hymn in honour of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, much to the delight of the MC Sisters and those present in the convent premises. Fr. Russel Fernandes, the Priest-Incharge of Reshamgarh parish, in his brief speech expressed the joyful sentiments that enlivened the whole day and said that in Saint Teresa we have now yet another powerful intercessor to pray for us in heaven. He concluded his few words with a Hindi religious song 'Shukriya Yesu Tera' from Yeshua band, thanking God for the gift of Saint Teresa to the Church and to the world at large. After that, a few fruit boxes and sweets were handed to the Superior of the Convent by the parish community to share our happiness with them. The next 20-odd minutes were spent in exchanging personal greetings and pleasantries as we relished some soft drink and snacks provide by the MC Sisters before heading home. May Saint Teresa of Kolkata pray for us.

After the introduction, the theme was elaborated and explained utilizing soil, seeds, the act of sowing, the process of bearing fruits and the act of sharing with merciful action.

In his homily, the Fr. Provincial laid emphasis on forgiveness, mercy and love. He proclaimed that the weapon of love and forgiveness mingled with mercy is the greatest weapon and exhorted the faithful to walk the path of compassion and mercy, inspired by the patron of the parish, St. Francis Xavier.

The choir led by the parish youth and assisted by Regent Kennedy Fernandes was very melodious and further ensured an active liturgical participation. Fr. Sonny Furtado (Parish Priest) expressed that he was very happy to observe the active participation and generous contribution of the various associations. Wishing all those gathered, he assured them his prayers.

After the Eucharist, the people exchanged festal greetings and shared a cup of tea with one another. A short cultural program staged by the Small Christian Communities, Parish Youth and the children was very entertaining. The uniqueness of this year's parish feast celebration was the Poster Exhibition by various commissions and Small Christian Communities depicting their apostolate. Organised with great efficiency under the guidance of the Parish Priest Fr. Sonny Furtado, along with the Parish Pastoral Council, the varied parish associations and the parishioners, the entire programmed proved to be a grace-filled experience and a huge success. The celebration culminated with the Langar.

Holy Rosary Church, Sirsa celebrated Girl-Child Day on 11th September, 2016. 'Every Girl is a Unique Gift of God, and We need to Respect and Honour Her' was the theme for the liturgical celebration and the cultural program impressing the need to educate girls and elders as well, that the feminine gender is also to be respected, loved and valued as a precious and potentially promising gift of God. The cultural program by way of the mime (presented by the Bal Niketan boys) and the skit (staged by members of the Mahila Mandal) was very informative and well appreciated. A professional female Counsellor from St. Xavier's school, Sirsa was very resourceful in the session she conducted.

Treasure the Gift of Your Life as You received it from God

Sr. Priyanjali (Bethany Sister) who is the social work co-ordinator of her congregation in Bathinda took the lead in organizing a Deanery level Girl-Child meet at Xaveriean Niketan, Bathinda. Around 80 girls from about five parishes of the Bathinda deanery, were accompanied with Mahila Sang members of their respective parishes. They all had an enriching day with valuable inputs from Ms. Sonia John (a medical official) and Ms. Neharikha Masih (Parish Youth President). Fr. Adrian Fernandes conducted an interactive session and also celebrated the Eucharist. He spoke about the approach of Jesus and the Church and specially highlighted the fact that Guru Nanak Ji and Sikhism in general accord great respect for the feminine gender. Quoting relevant texts from the Bible and the Guru Granth Sahib ji he urged the females to treasure the gift of their lives as and how they have received it from God.

Holy Rosary Church, Sirsa celebrated Mother's Day on 28th September, 2016, keeping before them the memory of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. During the liturgy of the Eucharist, the faithful were reminded that despite naturally and normally having a deep sense of love for our life-giving mothers, there are many times we fail to appreciate their love and sacrifices. A skit based on the life of St. Monica helped getting a peep into the illustrious maternal model of perseverance, faith, patience and deep love. The parish youth performing the play acknowledged that they themselves were edified upon knowing and enacting the characters. A song by the Bal Niketan boys and an action song by the tiny tots of the parish, added colour to the programme. Taking into consideration that most of the mothers in the parish are well acquainted with their kitchens and some of them known to be good cooks, a unique competition of preparing sweet dishes by the mothers was a very exciting feature for the day. The judges got the opportunity to taste the variety of delicacies and also ascertain in future as to whom they could rely on and visit to satisfy their taste buds better.

Grandparents Day is celebrated in many of the parishes our members serve and values of gratitude and respect are highlighted on such occasions. Some time back, Pope Francis addressing a group of young people who belong to an Italian Catholic lay association called 'Azione Cattolica Italiana', urged them to love and respect their grandparents: “I would like to give you a task: speak to your grandparents,(…) ask them questions, they have the memory of history, the experience of living, and this is a great gift for you that will help you in your life journey”.Grandparents Day is celebrated in many of the parishes our members serve and values of gratitude and respect are highlighted on such occasions. Such occasions bring moments of joy to our grandparents and provide opportunities for all of us to learn from our elders.

Holy Rosary Church, Sirsa celebrated Grandparents Day on the feast of Sts. Joachim and Ann (grandparents of Jesus). The celebration began with broad smiles as the Eucharist began with an entrance procession of dada-dadi's and nana-nani's heading towards the church. The grandchildren aisled along with their grandparents holding their hands and later presented them red roses expressing their love and gratitude. The Eucharist that day was specially celebrated for the intentions of the grandparents. The saintly life of Joachim and Anne was highlighted as examples to emulate by both, the young and the old. The Eucharist was followed with a short program organized for the grandparents. The programme included a play presented by the youth, an action song by children, a song by the Mahila group; and some interesting games were also conducted. The celebration ended by presenting meaningful memorabilia to the grandparents.

Holy Rosary Church, Bathinda acknowledged that our grandparents by the example of their love and faithfulness to God and their families are living testimonials for nurturing our faith. The parish programme focused on both entertainment and faith-building sessions. The youth sang many old songs to let their elders recall the hits of yesteryears. The quiz round was also interesting. A video clip presenting the pain of the grandparents when they experience rejections and even lack of any concern, love or respect from their own children, touched the hearts of all and saw many teary-eyed faces. Fr Pio Rego (Parish Priest) addressing the gathering held that the root cause of all such problems is when parents fail to fulfil certain initial and essential responsibilities. He added that if from the very beginning, the message of the love for Christ and the power of prayer is genuinely and sincerely inculcated by the parents, the grandparents would never have such painful experiences.

Fr. Pio later invited Mrs. Neeru and Mr. Sunil to share their faith-testimonies to impress the gathered Christians as to how important it is to learn, share and grow in our faith. Mrs. Neeru from Malerkotla (Punjab) shared that she belonged to a Hindu family and had painful experiences of rejection because of her faith in Jesus. Rejection from her own family members was the most painful. However in due course of time, her perseverance bore fruit and she feels glad to be perpetually thirsting to experience and witness Christ Jesus. Mr. Summer from Bathinda shared his faith journey which got strengthened after the series of confusing events after the much longed-for the gift of a male child in the family. The short-term joy which got replaced with deep pain upon knowing that the child was a victim of serious deficiencies, and all the many events which later unfolded, all made him accept the mysterious but loving designs of God in his life. The parishioners appreciated the initiative of introducing such impressive faith-building sessions in the course of the post-Eucharist programmes.

The Door of Mercy in Bathinda

Bathinda being declared one of the 'Doors of Mercy' in the Simla- Chandigarh Diocese by Rt. Rev. Ignatius Mascarenhas, the Bishop of the Diocese, the Door of Mercy was opened on 13th December 2015 by Fr. Christopher Masih, the then Dean of Bathinda Deanery. The congregation was appropriately prepared with sessions on reconciling with the Merciful Father, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The parish scheduled many activities in the course of the year focusing on the said theme of Mercy. Parishioners visited other places declared as having the Door of Mercy.

The youth were motivated to be expressions of mercy and were taken in groups to slums, a jail, hospitals, etc. A memorable experience was when some youth joined the Assistant Parish Priest and toiled like the regular laborers and donated the salary to a poor widow with three daughters. The youth also organized a day's pilgrimage to Our Lady of Fatima Church, Patiala, Punjab which was also declared having the Door of Mercy.

Priests and representatives of various parishes of the Deanery participated in the closing of the door of Mercy on 20th November 2016. The ceremony included Adoration of Blessed Sacrament (led by Mr. James Khokhar and Mrs. Jenifer John), Sacrament of Reconciliation, and a talk – “God's Mercy endures forever” by Fr. Adrian Fernandes. The day's celebration concluded with the Eucharist presided over by Fr. Sonny Furtado, the Dean of Bathinda Deanery, who later closed the Door of Mercy. As per the Dean's instructions, before the closing of the Door of Mercy, the congregation went out of the Church with lit candles symbolically pledging to be merciful towards others, and carry forth the light of Christ they have experienced during the Year of Mercy.

Leadership Seminar and family day Celebration at Bathnda

A team of new Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) members were elected in Holy Rosary Parish, Bathinda. Fr. Pio Rego, our Parish Priest along with the catechist visited each family of the parish and motivated everyone to participate in the adoration, followed by elections on a particular day fixed for different areas. The response of the parishioners was very encouraging. Invoking God's assistance and discerning His will through adoration of an hour, each community elected its representative to the PPC.

In an attempt to help the newly elected members imbibe leadership qualities in the spirit of the Gospel, a seminar for outgoing and incoming PPC members was organized from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. followed by dinner. A team of experts, Mr. Matthew Anthony and Ms. Bernadette Morris from Delhi were invited to conduct sessions on leadership, service and dedication. The sessions were supported by examples of great leaders from the Bible who were chosen by God for a purpose. A heart touching experience was given to the members wherein they could reconcile with, or show gratitude to whomsoever they wanted to. Forgetting all grudges people came ahead to ask pardon and show gratitude by holding each other's hands. The participants also went through an exercise of humble service as each washed the other's feet. This experience of emptying oneself from the burden of unforgiveness by asking and granting pardon, and showing gratitude was awesome.

Family Day celebration in the Parish. The resource persons, Mr. Matthew and Ms. Bernadette won the hearts of the parishioners with their melodious singing and thought provoking sessions. Couples coming together, holding their partner's hands, praying for each other by keeping a hand on each other's head, was an experience of love, joy and peace. The most touching moment was when the couples had to say sorry as well as thank each other, and tell the spouse of his or her good qualities. Thus there was a sense of realization that in the course of our busy lifestyle, the couples had forgotten to praise and acknowledge the good qualities of their spouse. The resource persons convincingly put across the importance of participating in the Holy Eucharist, praying the rosary and family prayers together, and reading the Word of God daily. The parishioners were enlightened and enthused with the family day celebration.

The month of May with area wise special Marian devotion services organized in each Small Christian Community of the Parish was a great opportunity to let the family day celebration and orientation bear fruit in the day to day life of the people. The members of various SCCs would gather twice or thrice a week in different families of the community, and pray the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and would read and meditate on a Gospel passage.

We are sincerely grateful to our Parish Priest and Assistant Parish Priest, who with the help of other priests, the Catechists, Religious Sisters, and PPC members, work to tend the entrusted flock of Jesus, the Good Shepherd who came to give us life in abundance (cf. Jn. 10:10).

Mrs. Golda Alexander

On 26^th September 2016 our Provincial team visited our mission of Kinnaur. Earlier members made all attempts to look for a piece of land and open a boarding school or a social centre for the tribal and marginalized people of this (Kinnaur) place. Having this in mind, with the help of Sacred Heart Sisters, we took an appointment with Mr. Virbhadra Singh, Honourable Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Having communicated to him our intentions for the upliftment of the people, he regretfully told us that it is not possible to own land at Kinnaur as only a tribal of that place can purchase it. We were disheartened but not dejected.

We then proceeded to visit a distant village of Dublin (kinnaur), where the people from Jarkhand work for the BRO (Border Road Organisation) in the construction of roads. They granted us a traditional welcome by washing our feet and we proceeded to the altar with a welcome dance by the people. After the mass, the people organised a short cultural programme. Our Provincial seeing their sad plight, offered them some help for the Christmas meal and for the construction of two toilets. Then we climbed the hills of Reckong Peo to visit a local family which is preparing to profess our faith. We prayed in their home and blessed them. We were touched by their hospitality and the delicious local cuisine which they served us with much love.

Member of the Provincial team with Hon'ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Shri Virbhadra Singh

On Sunday, the Provincial celebrated the Eucharist for the people and pledged them all support and help for the upliftment of their faith and their social well being. He later had an interaction with the instructors of our tailoring and computer centres, which is at its nascent stage, situated at our main station in Reckong Peo. The mission of Kinnaur needs dedicated missionaries and resources to support it, so that we can really work for the upliftment of the people and build the church of God in this place.

Fr. Alfred Rodrigues sfx