OFM Franciscans - India

News & Events

DAY 3 – FCAO MEETING – UPDATES BY BR. PRAVEEN HENRY D’ SOUZA, THE MINISTER PROVINCIAL

We began our day little late. We had mass at 7 am followed by breakfast. Friar Gonza (he actually has a very long name and this is one of the names, simplest) the Custos of West Papua and also the president of SAAOC celebrated the Mass. Through the story of "one among you is a Messiah" he brought out the need to respect, to care-share-cure in our communities. Our session began at 8.30. Today we met in each of our conferences i.e. SAAOC and EAC. In our conference we elected a new President in the place of friar Gonza. The new President is the Custos from Pakistan friar Yusuf. The Vice President is friar Philip from Australia who also continues to be the Bursar for the conference. The secretary is normally from the entity of the president and so naturally from Pakistan. We also had to elect three secretaries: Formation and Studies: friar Hieronymus from Indonesia;Mission and Evangelization: friar Johnson from India who is re- elected;JPIC: friar McKay from Australia.The EAC didn't have the election. When we gathered together for a combined meeting, we made ready the draft of all the discussion we had. There were statements, resolutions and recommendations. One of the important aspects of all this is the Ongoing Formation. These will be shared later. Today we made a visit to the ECO-PASTORAL centre cared by the friars. This was very special for us. This is a centre for organic farming and from here so many families are taught. The poor are kept in mind for self sustenance. I share some inspiration from brother MIDI the organic farmer here. He says that the insects are not enemies. They tell us what's wrong with plants. A plant has a natural resistance system it forms a thin layer on the leaf. So when insects come and attack it means that we have to change the constituents of the water or compost. When insects know that plant is resistant they leave. So the duty is also to program the mind of farmers and people. This is very much a pastoral ministry as the friars work with the indigenous people who have so much wisdom to offer to the world especially for protecting the Creation. Seeds are naturally cultivated and used. One who controls seeds controls the lives of the people. Brother Midi says that according to the Tradition: earth is mother and those who destroy tress are males. Mother protects and men destroy. Local wisdom helps them to care for the creation and cultivate the land. If the needs of the creation are not going to be taken care then we are awaiting destruction. The way we cultivate and relate with the plants changes our thinking. Organic cultivation is growing of organisms. What we plant is part of our lives. What we plant what turns out to be part of our life. The centre works in tandem with the research centre locally. This knowledge needs to be translated to the poor. The alumni of this centre help in running the centre. The spirituality is all about knowing that God doesn't simply give you a banana to eat and the skin to throw away but rather even use the skin. Unless we give up this throw away culture we cannot understand. It's all about saving the refuse. 

 

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

ST. FRANCIS

ST. FRANCIS

FRIARS' BIRTHDAY (October)

Date

Name of the Friars

Events

Year

04

St.Francis of Assisi

Robin Lakra

Pratap Reddy Salibindla

Arulsamy A.

Thomas Joseph

Bobby V.T.

Johnny Anthony

Athanasius Xaxa

Leos Ekka

Solemnity

Birth

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows


1974

1988

1988

1988

1988

1989

1991

1991

06

Salim Joseph

Babu Jose Pamplany

James N.

Trevor D’ Souza

Malom - Noatoli

+ George Muthaiah

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Solemn Vows

Arrival

Home

1991

1991

1991

1991

1995

2002

08

North Guwahati

Salvador D’ Souza

Arrival

Ordination

1999

2011

10

+ Gerald D’ Souza

Home

2013

14

+ Bosco Jayaraj

Tony D’ Souza

Home

Ordination

1970

1990

15

Joy Sebastian

Prasad Rao K.

Birth

Birth

1972

1990

19

Provincialate

Marius Dahanga

Blessing

Birth

1998

1992

21

+ Basil Devasagayam

Arockiasamy P.

Eliyas Reddy

Home

Birth

Birth

1965

1970

1995

26

Gerald Lobo

Birth

1951

27

+ Paschal Lobo

Jose Palimattom

Benjamin Jojo

Anil Xalxo

Thumma Ranjith Kumar Reddy

Home

Birth

Birth

Birth

Birth

1956

1967

1975

1979

1988

28

Teiborlang Wartde

Birth

1987

30

Austin Francis

Birth

1972

30

Punitha Anthoniar Illam - Madurai

Blessing

1994

31

Manish Ekka

Birth

1993

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