Visit of the OCD Provincial

The Provincial of the OCD Fathers and Brothers, of the Andhra Province, Fr Gorantla Johannes OCD paid the seminary a visit and joined the community for lunch. He had come on an official visit to the OCD community at Pendurthi (comprising of the Bl. John Paul II Seminary which hosts the students of Philosophy and the Parish dedicated to St Theresa of Avila). Yesterday was the Parish feast and after the celebrations, he visited the Philosophate where the 8 OCD Brothers are day scholars. He was accompanied by Fr Kishore OCD, the parish Priest of Ranasthalam (Srikakulam Diocese) and Fr Showry, the superior and Parish Priest of Pendurthi.

[In the photo (L to R): Fr Showry, Fr K.T. Jose (Rector of St John's),
Fr Kishore OCD and Fr Johannes OCD (Provincial]

Incidentally this is the decennial year of Fr Johannes' Priestly ordination. The Community congratulated him on his maiden visit to the Community as Provincial and on the occasion of his decennial year of ordination too. Prior to lunch, Fr Johannes encouraged the students to study well and make themselves worthy Priests for the Church in Andhra Pradesh. He also expressed his gratitude for the hospitality received and the formative support extended to the OCD Brothers studying their first year of Philosophy at Kondadaba.

It would be good to note that this year is the first time the OCDs have moved out of their established formative setting in Eluru, thus bifurcating their Philosophy centre from the theologate. Being the first year, things are still fluid but are smoothly getting set. They now have a 'Master' in the person of Fr Balaraju who is directly incharge of their formative curriculum. Their place of residence at Pendurthi, in the form of a monastery, is being set up steadily. Their role and mode of participation in the Seminary life and activity, besides the main purpose of study (Philosophy and BA), too is being worked out. Everyone involved looks forward to a lasting and enriching bond.

Visiting professors

The week of January 23-26, 2012 witnessed two visiting professors conducted courses for the students. Fr Biju MPH, from Machilipatnam, was busy with the third year students taking classes on the Philosophy of Religion. Fr Thumma Mariadas MSFS, the General Councillor presenting residing in Hyderabad, was sharing his insights with the first and second year students about the Bhagavad Gita. Both of them completed their respective courses today and departed for their own communities.

A lad from Becchi...

Born in Becchi was a lad,
who in stall a great future had;
would grown amidst trials and tribulations,
yet be a blessing for generations.

At a tender age answered God's call,
with twinkling eyes which dreamt for all;
Guided by a mother who taught lessons of love,
and a Mother divine leading him from above.

After years of training and toiling hard,
was he ordained a labourer in Christs' vineyard;
Branches he chose were bent but green,
pruned in a way yielding greater than ever seen.

Ruffians and vagabonds were dear to him,
useless of this world as jewels to him seem;
Rescued young all over bless his name,
homeless have a home and aimless have an aim.

Made he an army of young souls,
under patronage of Francis de Sales, his boat still floats;
Seeds of service sown with love and care,
turned into shelter for all with none to spare.

Departing us he left his words alive to ponder,
may we imitate him in selfless surrender;
Let our actions retain his pace,
intercede for us dear Bosco till the end of our days.

Lewis Jerome Immanuel (I year)

New Priests' at Kondadaba

The Seminary was graced by the presence and gracious celebration of the Holy Eucharist on two successive days by newly ordained Priests. On January 18, 2012 Fr Chintada Rajesh celebrated the Holy Eucharist for the community. He studied at the Seminary from 2001 to 2003 and later joined the Diocese of Miao in Arunachal Pradesh. During the Holy Mass and the short felicitation thereafter he profoundly expressed his gratitude for the support and encouragement he received from the Seminary, especially Fr K.T.Jose, during the years of turmoil and anxiety. He exhorted the Brothers to persevere and pray sincerely for one's own vocation.
The following day, January 19, 2012 was graced by the presence of Fr Kalinga John Paul, a newly ordained Capuchin Priest and the brother of Br Kalinga Joy Mariadas, currently doing his third year Philosophy and studying for the archdiocese of Visakhapatnam. He was ordained on Dec. 29, 2011 at his hometown of Hamsavaram. He was felicitated with a shawl on behalf of the community by Fr Chinnappa Thomas, the spiritual director. He too expressed his joy for being present with the community and requested our continued prayers and support.
(In the above photo, Fr John Paul is seen distributing communion to his own brother Br Joy)

Seminar on Social Action (Fr Santiagu Thomas sdb)

Fr Santiagu Thomas sdb was the chief animator of the seminar on Social Action for the two days of January 16 and 17, 2012.
This was the first seminar of the new calendar year, after the Brothers returned to the Seminary from their Christmas holidays on Jan. 8, 2012. Fr Santiagu is the Development Office director of the Salesian Province of Hyderabad.
The two day seminar was very active and alive with plenty of songs, actions and analysis based on practical experiments conducted by the animator.

Return from holidays

The Brothers returned to the Seminary after their Christmas holidays today by tea time. During the holidays Fr Rector (K.T.Jose) and Fr Wilson stayed put in the Seminary while the other staff members did take turns to visit their respective homes and spend some quality time with their dear ones, just as the students. For the students this was the first time that they were granted three full weeks of holidays (in comparison to the two weeks given earlier). This extension of holidays was to stretch the academic year since the Brothers would not be going home after their philosophy exams in preparation for their B.A. exams, as before.

On their arrival back at the Seminary, the first recollection of the year was preached by the newly ordained priest Fr Manoj on Jan. 9, 2012.