OFM Franciscans - India

News & Events

“Friars in Dialogue”

Under Ten Pre-Chapter, 27th – 29th November 2018, Palamaner

This year 2019 is very significant and important for us friars as we celebrate the 8th centenary of our Holy Father Francis’ encounter with the sultan in 1219. In commemoration of this great dialogue, Br. Michael Perry, the Minister General has called for a special chapter of the solemnly professed friars under ten years (SPUTY), under the theme, “friars in Dialogue” to see, judge and act, which will be held in Taize, France from 7th to 14th July 2019. In preparation for this chapter, every entity of the Order is mandated to have a pre-chapter. This pre-chapter for the three entities of our Province in India was convoked by Br. Praveen Henry D Souza, the Minister Provincial and organised by the Council for Ongoing Formation in Palamaner. There were 26 young friars who participated in this pre-chapter from all the three entities.

The Pre-Chapter commenced at 6 pm on 27th November 2018 with invocation of God’s blessings through a hymn and lighting of the lamp. In the inaugural address, Br. Praveen, the Minister Provincial introduced the theme and significance of the under ten chapter of the Order and stated that the aim of this Pre-Chapter is “to see” and he announced the names of the three young friars viz., Brs. Stephen Lamin, Joseph Stephen and Roshan Toppo, who are chosen to represent our entities in the under ten chapter at Taize. Thus, he declared the Chapter open.

On 28th November 2018, during the holy mass which Br Praveen presided over, he preached on how people are taught to hate others and how we need to see others as God sees and thus enter into dialogue with people of other faiths and cultures. Later, during the sessions, Br. Robin Daniel OFM Cap., presented the historical background to this dialogue. It was a time of expansion of Islam and the Christian holy sites were occupied by the Muslims. The popes were waging crusades to reclaim the holy sites. Powerful preachers were commissioned by the church to preach in favour of crusades, to incite people for war, plenty of indulgences were given and the IV Lateran council also encouraged the V crusade. During this crusade Francis went to Sultan and dialogued with him. And this was supported by what the Franciscan sources say about this great encounter.

The second session was focused on the outcome of Francis’ meeting with the Sultan. Francis’ approach towards the Saracens was a dialogue of fraternity. The journey from Damietta to La Verna reflected how through the crib at Greccio Francis recreated the sacred space and holy land right where he was and Francis’ reception of the stigmata became the Franciscan Calvary which depicted that there was no need to go to war to take possession of Calvary.

The third session elaborated on the effects of dialogue in our life. The Franciscan charism rests on fraternity and minority. Fraternity is nurtured through communication, sharing and dialogue. It is a spirituality of communion, sharing community apostolate with service of authority and brotherly correction. The elements that facilitate dialogue in fraternity are communication, team-work, mutual support, flexibility and subsidiarity. The elements that hinder dialogue in fraternity are immovability, not just in place but in mentality, personal economic power, reification, masked existence and coexistence (which is useless and pro-existence is needed). Speaking on Dialogue in Mission, Br. Robin Daniel said that mission must be characterised by spirituality of fraternity. Relating with only the rich and powerful is social isolation. Francis did not look at the poor as an object of aid. His dialogue with the poor was in terms of humanisation, physical solidarity.

The second day began with the screening of a documentary video clip, “Francis and Sultan” a historical event by Br Amaldass M. and the young friars shared their observations and lights received after watching the documentary. Br Charles Arulanandam then shared with the young friars how Francis was constantly in dialogue. When the pope commissioned Francis to preach peace and penance, he was faithful to it and only through dialogue. And he highlighted four aspects of dialogue: 1) Inspiration of the Lord, 2) humility towards others, 3) forgiving the harm done and 4) openness to the truth.

Based on the inputs given, the young friars were given five questions to discuss in groups on 1) personal experience of dialogue, 2) possibilities of dialogue, 3) practice of dialogue in fraternities and 4) possibilities that enhance and hinder dialogue.

In the afternoon session, the concluding statement prepared by the three friars along with friars Prashanth and Ranjith was presented and suggestions were taken after which Br Praveen addressed the Chapter and declared it closed. He thanked everyone and said, quoting APJ Abdul Kalam, that success could only come to us by courageous devotion to the task in front of us… until we changed our thinking, we would keep recycling the same thinking. He reminded us that as young and energetic, we had a plenty of possibilities, opportunities which should not be resisted leaving the future at stake on the other hand we should embrace them with positive and courageous spirit.

Quoting Pope Francis, Br Praveen said, “Do not gossip, it is terrorism”. He suggested that instead of spreading things untrue and one-sided views, contributing positively could help bring in a change for the better. He also strongly encouraged the brothers to promote vocations. He ended the address with the note, “what do you want to do to mark or celebrate the centenary of Francis’ encounter with Sultan? Never lose hope, be confident. Be not negative. You belong to a tradition of peace; continue to dialogue.” The chapter officially ended at 4.30 pm

 

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

ST. FRANCIS

ST. FRANCIS

FRIARS' BIRTHDAY (May)

Date

Name of the Friars

Events

Year

02

Arulsamy A.

Mesia Elias Moses M.

Arvind Kerketta

Benedict Gomes

Ordination

Ordination

Ordination

Ordination

1991

1999

2005

2008

03

Charles Arulanandam

Alwyn D’ Souza

Birth

Ordination

1978

2006

04

Davis Kallookaran

Tommy T.J.

Arockiasamy P.

Thomas Manakuzhiyil

Saji P. Mathew

Arun Devasia Nattalil

Roshan Lobo

Francis Michael Velcy Barreto

Birth

Birth

Ordination

Ordination

Ordination

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Birth

1950

1959

2002

2004

2004

2017

2017

1992

05

Mathew Koottumkal

Jesu Maharajah G.

Peter Saleth Nathan J.

Andrew Thomas

Ordination

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Birth

1999

2010

2010

1997

06

Jayaseelan P.R.

Fulgence Ekka

Thaddeus Baxla

+ Leopold Vaz

Xavier Durairaj

Manoj Xalxo

Baikim Chadra Minj

Birth

Ordination

Ordination

Home

Ordination

Ordination

Ordination

1970

1997

1997

2000

2009

2012

2012

07

Vincent Soosai

Salim Baxla

Augustine Tirkey

A.J.Mathew Joseph

Bipin Kishore Kandulna

Ushar Kachhua

Ordination

Ordination

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

1999

2011

2017

2017

2017

2017

08

Julius Arul Rayan

Robin Lakra

Ajith Kerketta

Shanborlang Wartde

Ordination

Ordination

Ordination

Solemn Vows

2004

2007

2011

2017

09

Joy K.D.

Fabianus Toppo

Deen Dayal

Birth

Ordination

Birth

1970

2008

1983

10

+ Clement Griffith

Alwyn D’ Souza

Lourdu Augustine

Hemant Xess

Home

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Ordination

1950

2001

2001

2006

11

Gabriel Mathias

Joseph Raj M.

Baptist D’ Souza

Praveen Henry D’ Souza

Salim Baxla

Ajit Kerketta

Anil Xalxo

Anil Xalxo

Ordination

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Ordination

1974

2003

2003

2003

2008

2008

2008

2011

12

Ignatius Baa

Fulgence Ekka

Jose Palimattom

+ Baptist van de Sande

Vilas Baptist Correia

Salvador D’Souza

Birth

Solemn Vows

Ordination

Home

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

1970

1994

1999

2001

2007

2007

13

Shaju Paliyathil

Jesu Maharajah G.

Birth

Ordination

1967

2012

14

Kulandaisamy M.

Felix Vijay M.

Nijil Chiramel

Leos Ekka

Malom-Noatoli – Church

Simon A.

Birth

Birth

Birth

Ordination

Blessing

Ordination

1958

1983

1986

1994

2006

2011

15

Alwyn D’ Souza

Mukti Prakash Ekka

Fabianus Toppo

Baptist D’Souza

Santosh Ekka

Birth

Ordination

Solemn Vows

Ordination

Ordination

1975

2004

2005

2007

2010

16

Simon Pinto

+ Paul Ryan

+ Egbert Barnes

Jerome Kispotta

Prasad Papabathuni

Joy K.D.

Naveen George

+ Bala Sundar Raj

Peter Shashikanth Reddy G.

Birth

Home

Home

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Ordination

Home

Birth

1952

1958

1985

1994

1995

1995

2011

2011

1996

17

Balthazar Pinto

Anthony Pushparaj

Arokiam John

Charles Arulanandam

Ordination

Ordination

Ordination

Ordination

1990

2007

2007

2007

18

Bryan Carneiro

Arvind Kerketta

Birth

Solemn Vows

1969

2003

19

Shaji Nicholas Vadachery

Jugal Kishore Lakra

Ordination

Solemn Vows

1999

2002

20

+ Thomas Province - INDIA

Bernardine of Siena

Pradeep Kalliath

Matthew Koottumkal

Jayaseelan P.R.

Jamesmon P.C.

Thomas A.

Joy Valooran

Sushil Beck

Joy (George) Sebastian

Xavier Durairaj

Santosh Ekka

John Sekar

Alangara Boniface

Foundation

Feast

Birth

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Ordination

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Birth

1948


1977

1998

1998

1998

1998

1999

2001

2007

2007

2007

2007

1989

21



Thaddeus Baxla

Ajit Kumar Dung Dung

Lalith Kujur

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Ordination

1995

2006

2012

22

Guwahati Mission

Sandesh Manuel

Balaswamy Gundiga

Benedict Gomes

Vijay kAmirtharaj A.

Foundation

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

1996

2004

2005

2005

2005

23

Anthony Alex Martis

Solemn Vows

2004

24

Dedication of the Basilica of St. Francis

Pradeep Kalliath

Feast


Solemn Vows



2004

25

Jose Palimattom

Sleeva Reddy

Vincent Soosai

Matthew Koottumkal

Johnson M.V.

Shaji Nicholas Vadachery

Joy Valooran

Tojy Mandapathil

Mesia Elias Moses M.

Anthony Roobandass A.

Arokiam John

Charles Arulanandam

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

1990

1990

1990

1990

1991

1991

1991

1991

1991

2004

2004

2004

27

Basil Lobo

Varghese Lakra

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

2001

2007

28

Jerome Kispotta

Fulgence Ekka

Cajetan Lourenco

Francis Agnelo Rozario

Sagaya Soosairaj

Singarayar A.

Prasad Papabathuni

Thaddeus Baxla

Joy K.D.

Assisi Bhavan, Chippilithode

Phyrnai Lyngdoh

Madhu Sudhan Reddy

Deen Dayal

Nathaniel vTirkey

Jesu Raja A.

Johnvinzen Lyngdoh

Teiborlang Wartde

Rajasekhar Reddy Gopu

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Blessing

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

1988

1988

1988

1988

1988

1988

1988

1989

1989

2006

2014

2014

2014

2016

2016

2016

2016

2016

29

Varghese Sebastian

Scaria Varanath

Thomas M.M.

Dayanand

Bala Marneni

Paul Kallan

John Chrysostom

Regi Matthew

Entry

Entry

Entry

Entry

Ordination

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

1970

1970

1970

1970

1990

1993

1993

2003

30

Gregory Fernandes

Fidelis D’ Lima

Augustine Pinto

Sidney J.M.

Nicholas D’ Souza

James Kallarackan

Charles Mathew Kolanchery

Joy Prakash

Gabriel Mathias

Amaladass Manickam

Jayaseelan P.R.

Jamesmon P.C.

Thomas A.

Tom John

Arockiasamy P.

Cajetan Lourenco

Francis Agnelo Rozario

Sagaya Soosairaj

Singarayar A.

Irudayaraj Fernando

Austin Francis

Mukti Prakash Ekka

Francis Xavier

Wilson Paul Nattalil

Basil S. Lobo

Thomas M.J.

Julius Arul Rayan

Alwyn D’Souza

Sushil Beck

Saji P. Mathew

Lourdu Augustine

Shaju Paliyathil

Bryan Carneiro

Ignatius Baa

Regi Matthew

Bhaskar Reddy

Tomy Palackal

Benjamin Jojo

Joseph Raj M.

Baptist D’ Souza

Anthony Alex Martis

Jugal Kishore Lakra

Anthony Pushparaj

Praveen Henry D’ Souza

Michael Anand

Kulandaisamy M.

Arvind Kerketta

Hemant Xess

Pradeep Kalliath

Anthony Roobandass

Arun Junes A.

Balaswamy Gundiga

Robin Lakra

Arokiam John

Charles Arulanandam

Sandesh Manuel

Benedict Gomes

Vijay Amirtharaj A.

Salim Baxla

Ajit Kumar Dung Dung

Francis Xavier

Thomas M.J.

Saji P. Mathew

Joy (George) Sebastian

Xavier Durairaj

Varghese Lakra

Santosh Ekka

Salvador D’Souza

John Sekar

Ajit Kerketta

Anil Xalxo

Simon A.

Naveen George

Lalith Kujur

Tony Marshall

Vijay Minj

Manoj Xalxo

Baikim Chandra Minj

Prashanth Wilson Fernandes

Jesu Maharaja G.

Peter Saleth Nathan J.

Prem Kumar D’ Souza

Stephen Lamin Gashnga

Jayapal Dwarakonda

Joseph Stephen

Vinoth Robin

Sahaya Dhas J.

Praveen Roshan Toppo

Felix Vijay

Eugene A.

Jeddu Praveen Chinna Reddy

Nijil Chiramel

Joseph Prasanna Kumar

Pasala Showri Raju

Christopher

Phyrnai Lyngdoh

Basil Tirkey

Vinod Kujur

Madhu Sudan Reddy

Francis Arokiasamy M.

Thumma Ranjith Kumar Reddy

Deen Dayal

Prashanth Wilson Fernandes

Nathaniel Tirkey

+ Valerian Quadros

Jesu Raja A.

Johnvinzen Lyngdoh

Teiborlang Wartde

Shanborlang Wartde

Rajasekhar Reddy Gopu

Augustine Tirkey

A.J.Mathew Joseph

Bipin Kishore Kandulna

Arun Devasia Nattalil

Roshan Lobo

Ushar Kachhua

Salvador Drego

Anand Suresh Minj

Emmanuel Christopher N.

Anto Leo

Martin Sangma

Clinton J.

Nideesh M. John

Albinus Ekka

Prasad Rao

Kasu Eliyas Reddy

Stephen Arun

Thomas Kiren

Vineet Kerketta

Silash Panna

Nicolas Marak

Adarsh Y.

Deepak Kumar

Rajesh Praveen Kumar

Avinash Kujur

Alphone Velankanni

Abhishek M.

Anmol Bara

Akshay Showry Raj

Ejekial Lakra

Francis Michael Velcy Barretto

Henry Jose

Ibrahim G Momin

Joseph Raj

Kalyan Kurmar

Manish Ekka

Marius Dahanga

Nichol John

Ravi Bara

Salun Kispotta

Sujit Ganji

Alangara Boniface

Anthony Joseph archer

Pradeep Anthony L.

Jacob Tani

Gali Bal Reddy

T.S Leo Max

Joseph Kishan

Niranjan Toppo

Peter Shashikanth Reddy G.

Ankit Kumar Baghel

Niraj Kumar Tirkey

Nelson Toppo

Avinash Toppo

Andrew Thomas

Justin Savio A.

Felix A.

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31

Gregory Fernandes

Fidelis D’Lima

Agnel D’Mello

Augustine Pinto

Sidney J.M

Salim Joseph

Nicholas D’Souza

James Kallarackan

Charles Mathew Kolanchery

Joy Prakash

Gabriel Mathias

Varghese Sebastian

Scaria Varanath

Thomas M.M.

Dayanand

Alphonse Moras

Gerald Lobo

Simon Pinto

Paul K.L.

Davis Kallookaran

Lawrence Simon

Arok Sundar Sebastian

Dharma L. Bernard

Johnson M.V.

Shaji Nicholas Vadachery

Joy Valooran

Mesia Elias Moses M.

Irudayaraj Fernando

Austin Francis

Anthony Pushparaj

Simon A.

Naveen George

Tony Marshall

Lalith Kujur

Manoj Xalxo

Baikim Chandra Minj

Vijay Minj

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Birth

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

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