COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY LIFE:

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1 Vol. 4 No. 1 January - June 2018 COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY LIFE: Members of the Superiors Forum of the Province attending the sessions of their meeting on April 03 and 04, 2018, at the provincialate in Guwahati.

2 CELEBRATIONS When Chabua Novitiate turned Silver THANKING THE LORD: Most Rev Joseph Aind, Bishop of Dibrugarh, Rev Fr Abraham Vettuvelil, the Superior General, and some of the other concelebrants pose for a photo after the Holy Eucharist Silver Jubilee Celebrations Concluded 02

3 INTERVIEW & HISTORY Fr Sebastian Paredom (Contd on p.5) TALE OF TRANSITION - The Presbytery at Dhemaji that was built by Fr Valiedathu in 1980 and where the fathers (Contd on p.5) continue to stay. The structure seen at the background as being built is supposed to be the new residence for the Priests. (Contd on p.5) 03

4 FRANSALIAN WAY After the Example of the Founder Core Affirmations of Community Life F r Mermier was eminently a man of the community. It is precisely because he wanted to live in a community that he wanted to found a religious Congregation. "I want to live in a community," he declared. He was convinced that to live a life of single minded pursuit of God a religious community was the most Fr George suited and privileged space. Vettukattil The words of the psalmist, "How good and delightful it is to live together in harmony as brothers," (Psalms 133:1) touched the heart of Mermier deeply. He looked forward to a community of men where his aspirations and holy desires were validated and affirmed by others. The community of Mermier was the centre and nucleus from where emanated the spiritual energy and power. The community again was the launching pad for the apostolic endeavors to such far flung lands like India. Leading from the front "Always the first at the spiritual exercises made in common, he continued to get up at Four O'clock in the morning, and heard two masses every day. Generally with a smile on his lips, he presented a serene and radiant face to everyone." (Duval A. Monsieur Mermier, PP 276) Even after he suffered a stroke and became practically blind he was regular for the community prayers. He led from the front. He led by example not only by exhortation. Fr Mermier insisted that the life of the community should be characterized by Salesian spirit everything is to be done in a spirit of peace and charity patiently and gently " (Duval A. PP 179). Fr Mermier was a man who had considerable regard for the members of the community. He was keenly attentive to their needs and sensitive to their suffering and pain. His concern for the confreres is evident in his correspondence with the confreres in India. He was a man of immense good will. This quality made good for many other deficiencies. Challenges before Us The situations have vastly changed from the community of Mermier's times to our times. The fast pace of life, the demands that our apostolates make on us, the presence of the electronic social media and so on; in some cases can take us away from the "sense of community." Rising individualistic tendencies, an exaggerated notion of professional success and satisfaction can rob our communities of the meaning and purpose of religious communities and reduce them to the status of a club. It will be a sobering thought that is to be borne in mind that the core-affirmations of religious communities are some of the constants of Religious life itself. Despite the challenges let us hope and strive to make an authentic Fransalian community living, a reality among us. Fr George Panthanmackel Provincial, NE Province (Contd on p.6) 04

5 MISSION Golden Jubilee of Faith (Contd from p.3) "We belong not only to God, but to our brothers; we are members of one another - in Community." - Fr Peter Marie Mermier (Contd from p.2) 05

6 MISSION (Contd from p.4) "When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break them, but bend them with gentleness and time." - SFS 06

7 MISSION 07

8 MISSION Fr Baiju Mundackal 08

9 EDUCATION ANNUAL RETREAT: Participants of the First Annual Retreat held at MSFS Study House, Shillong, from July 09-14,

10 INNOVATIVE MINISTRY 10

11 INNOVATIVE MINISTRY 11

12 MISCELLANEOUS FIRST BATCH RESULTS: The first batch students of SFS Jr College, Dhemaji, secured quite impressive a result in the Higher Secondary Class XII Exams conducted by AHSEC. Of the total 24 appeared 23 of them secured first divisions and one second division. Students of SFS also emerged as toppers of Dhemaji College, their centre of exams, both in Science and Arts Streams with 80 and 88.8 percent respectively. GREAT RESULTS: SFS College, Aalo, Arunachal Pradesh, secured ten ranks among top ten category for Bachelor of Arts (BA) in the recently announced results by Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), Itanagar, with one of them, Mariam Ruchi, obtaining Gold Medal for Political Science. DIACONATE ORDINATION: Dns. Anantha Prabhu, Motcha Richard, Tigga Alock, Pullattuvaliyaparambil Rojin, Anto Deepak, Vemballykunnel Sibin and Tigga Roshan (From L. to R.) were ordained to the order of Diaconate by Most Rev Joseph Aind, Bishop of Dibrugarh, on June 23, 2018, at Oriens Theological College, Shillong. FIRST PROFESSION: Bibin Thekkekutt, Aristo June Maiong, Emlus Barla, Wanphrangsngi Soshang, Bilam Kandulana and Ateet Minj made their First Profession of vows at MSFS Novitiate, Chabua, on May 31, Congratulations to New Priest Fr. Luke Tanti Ordained on May 13, 2018 at Yingkiong MONTAGE is a quarterly newsletter published by the Northeast India province of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales, highlighting the life and missionary activities of the confreres of Northeast. Reports of events and happenings in the missions may be sent to: vintuaugustine@gmail.com Chief Editor: Fr Antony (Vintu) Avittappallil msfs; Associate Editors: Fr Praveen Kumbattu msfs, Fr Philip Kizhakumpurathu msfs, and Fr George Poovanthunkal msfs. Published by: Fr George Panthanmackel msfs. 12