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Rector’s Address on the Occasion of the
Solemn Inauguration of the Scholastic year
2007-2008
1.
Welcome to One and All & The Number of Staff
and Students
Your
Excellency, Most Rev. Isidore Fernandes,
Bishop of Allahabad,
My dear
Fathers, Colleagues and Comrades,
My dear
Sr. Marion,
My Beloved
Brothers,
It is my
third year as the head of this institution.
At the outset I prostrate myself before the
Almighty God in an unending adoration and
thanksgiving for the superabundant blessings
that He has been showering upon us in many
ways. I am particularly indebted for His
blessings received through the intercession
of St. Joseph, our Heavenly Patron.
It is my
joy, delight and privilege to welcome each
of you to this short function, which marks
the inauguration of Scholastic Year
2007-2008. First of all I welcome Most Rev.
Isidore Fernandes for this solemn inaugural
function. Your Excellency, you have a long
association with this seminary. You cherish
the moments spent in the seminary. On every
significant day of the seminary you make
yourself available to the seminary. Thus,
you manifest your love, affection, care and
concern towards our welfare. As in the past
you conferred the ministries of Lector,
Acolyte and Rite of Admission to our
students as well as invoked God’s blessings
and the Divine Spirit on us to guide us and
to wish us well. I thank you for the
institution of the ministries and appreciate
your benevolent presence. At this juncture
on behalf of the Seminary Community, I
extend a warm welcome to you, Your
Excellency.
On this
day of inaugural function we are happy to
have Rev. Sr. Marion, C.J. for the
key-note address on “PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL
MATURITY IN THE CONTEXT OF PRIESTLY
FORMATION.” We are fortunate to have her
for it as she is endowed with head of men
and heart of women, i.e. to say she has an
equilibrium of head and heart, reason and
emotion, logical thinking and emotive
expression. She has to her credit M.Ed. and
now she pursues studies in Agricultural
University for doctorate in Environmental
Education. She is also the associate
Professor in Department of College of
Education in Agricultural University, Naini,
Allahabad. She is a nominated member of
National Monitoring Committee for Minorities
Education by the Ministry of HRD, Delhi. She
has been principal of prestigious T.T.C. for
eight years. She is an insightful person to
understand and to guide others. She has
profound experiences in guiding youth in her
educational ministry. Thus, she comes to
address us with a wealth of knowledge and
experience. I am sure that the Josem
Parivar (Family) will immensely benefit
from her key note address. So dear Sr.
Marion, we extend a hearty welcome to you.
Now I
would like to accord a cordial welcome to
the members of the staff. This year we have
nine resident staff, inclusive of one new
member, i.e. Rev.Fr. Joseph Sagayanathan,
who is appointed the Minister of the
Seminary. It is a matter of joy to have him
from the diocese of Allahabad to care for
the properties of this seminary as they
originally and now belong to this diocese
and to care for the inmates. Rev.Fr. Joseph
Sagayanathan is a man of verve and vitality.
He has varied and vast experience as lay man
and as priest. As the lay man he worked as
the Training Co-ordinator in Agriculture in
Trichy Multipurpose Social Service Society
and later as Teacher in Kanchipuram and
Chennai. He was ordained priest on May 7,
2003. As the priest of the diocese he worked
in Pratapgarh and Asnaband Missions in the
capacity of the assistant priest. He was
involved in the evangelical, educational and
social ministry. He has experience in
administration and organization. He put his
heart, mind and soul into the ministry to
enliven people and to promote life in them.
He is by nature affectionate and affable,
amiable and amicable, kind and
compassionate, firm and faithful. Our
community is enriched by his presence. It is
also a matter of joy to this seminary that
the new staff member is an alumnus of this
institution. Dear Fr. Joseph Sagayanathan,
you are most welcome to this seminary. We
wish you all the best in your endeavours as
Minister of the house. We assure you of our
whole hearted support to you. The seminary
is indebted to your Bishop, Most Rev.
Isidore Fernandes, Bishop of Allahabad, who
had voluntarily proposed your name to
replace the former Minister and willingly
offered your services to this Regional
Seminary. We appreciate, dear Bishop Isidore,
your genial gesture and magnanimous heart.
Dear
Brother Priests in the Lord, you have been
my companions and collaborators in the
formation of the future priests of North
India in this seminary for the last two
years. I appreciate your amity and comity
with a high degree of confidentiality placed
on me and with one another. May we continue
to work together with greater commitment and
cordiality. With this aspiration I extend a
warm welcome to you for this inaugural
function of the new scholastic year.
Next I
would like to welcome all the brothers. This
year we have a total of 83 brothers
registered. There are 14 in the first year
of theology, 16 in the second year, 27 in
the third year and 26 in the fourth year.
With all the love in my heart I welcome each
of you, my dear brothers.
On the
first of July 2007 the seminary was rife
with life as the old and new students
returned to it. In the evening of the
second July, they began their annual retreat
for six days preached by Fr. Ishanand
Vempeny, S.J., who is a well known Indian
Theologian, Indologist, Original Thinker,
Acclaimed Preacher, who impinged on them by
his life and preaching. He underscored the
importance of Abba experience, to
personalize the ideals of Christ to fight
against the anti-Kingdom values, consumerist
attitude as well as stressed the Eucharistic
celebration to be thusti (joy) and
pushti (nourishment) in priestly life.
At the
inception of the scholastic year the staff
of the seminary has usually the orientation
course for three days. This year as
mentioned in the Calendar it will be held
from December 10 to 12, 2007 on ANDRAGOGY IN
FORMATION by Fr. Joe Thannickal, SDB, to
ameliorate the teaching method of the staff.
It is aimed at having adult to adult
relationships and ensuring greater
participation of students in the learning
process keeping in mind the VISION-MISSION
STATEMENT OF THE SEMINARY.
2.
Responsibilities of the Resident Staff
Last year
has been a year of smooth functioning
without much hassles and bustles. It was the
year of experience of camaraderie and
friendship with one another and in the Lord.
The scholastic year was ended with the
farewell to two record breaking staff
members, i.e. Rev. Fr. Sylvester Minj and
Rev. Fr. George Kolleril. Hence, we are
bound to have changes in the portfolios of
the staff, though some continue with the
same. I begin with Fr. Paul Falleira, who
continues to be the Vice Rector of the
Seminary. As the Vice Rector he will be
Prefect of Discipline and Member of Finance
Committee. He takes delight to look after
the garden. Hence, he will continue the
productive and educative work as garden
in-charge as well as he will look after the
literary and games competitions. This year
he is freed from supervising the culinary
matters. Fr. Francis D’Souza has done the
commendable job as the Dean of Theology. He
will carry on the task of the Dean. He is
also the Director of the Entertainment
Committee and of NITSC as well as Incharge
of Music. Fr. Philip Denis has graciously
acceded to take up the new portfolios as the
Librarian and Editor-in-Chief of Milan.
I am confident that by your co-operation and
support he will be successful in the new
tasks. Fr. Joe Njarakulam, S.J. will serve
us as the Spiritual Director, Editor of the
English Section of Milan, Member of the
Finance Committee and Reporter. I appreciate
his relentless service to the community with
verve and enthusiasm at the age of
retirement. He will also continue to teach
Church History with zest and gusto. Fr.
Cyril Menezes is the new Treasurer of the
seminary, the Director of the Committee for
Liturgy and Animator of III Year Students of
Theology. He is also the member of the
Finance Committee. Fr. Telesphore Kerketta
takes up the animation work of the I Year
Students of Theology and continues to be the
Director of Games and Editor of the Hindi
Section of Milan. Fr. Stany Wilfred
D’Souza continues to be the Director of
Pastoral Activities and the animator of II
Year Students of Theology with the
additional onus of being the Director of
Bishop Hartmann Missionary Academy. I
appreciate his zeal and enthusiasm for the
pastoral and missionary endeavours as well
as his willingness to take the new
responsibility without making any fuss of
the matter. As I stated earlier Fr. Joseph
Sagayanathan will serve the community as
Minister looking after the Mess and
Maintenance. He is also a Member of the
Finance Committee. I, Fr.V.Sebastian, as
Rector of the Seminary, accept the role of
Co-ordinator and Facilitator of all
activities and look after matters regarding
your health. Encouraged by the positive
comments of the last year fourth year
students of theology I take up the role of
being Animator of IV Year Students of
Theology.
3.
Sentiments of Gratitude
In
February 2007 our seminary completed 88
years. Last year we had the joy of sending
out into the field 26 zealous and committed
young and energetic workers in the vineyard
of the Lord. We thank God for making us
partners in such a great work.
We are
grateful to the Holy Father Pope Benedict
XVI, for his concern, support and guidance
given to us through his talks and
exhortations. We value the Holy See’s
admonition and help in the formation of the
future priests of North India. We are deeply
indebted to the Chairman, Most Rev. Albert
D’Souza, Archbishop of Agra and to every
individual member of the Board of Bishops
for all the encouragement, help and guidance
given to us.
Our
benefactors, who support us with their
prayers and financial help, play a big role
in the efficient and effective
administration of the seminary. We are
deeply indebted to the Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples, the Pontifical
Works of St. Peter the Apostle, Rome, MISSIO
of Achen, Ms. Corrine Kindschy, Minnesota
and Archdiocese of Köln, Germany. We assure
our generous benefactors of our prayers,
love and gratitude.
We are
grateful to Pontifical Urban University,
Rome, to which our Theologate is affiliated.
We thank our good friend Padre Giuseppe
Iuliano, Director Pro Istituti Affiliatis,
and his collaborators for the service they
render to us. We are happy to announce that
last year all the forwarded eight students
obtained B.Th. from Urbaniana, out of whom
two – Fr. Mathew Johny of Udaipur Diocese
and Fr. Mathew Attumkal of CMI - obtained
the Magna Cum Laude.
Fr. George
Kolleril, having completed more than two
terms of service as professor of Philosophy
and Systematic, Sacramental Theology and at
times as animator, has gone back to his
diocese Meerut to take up the new assignment
as the Principal of the School. He rendered
commendable services to the seminary as the
Animator, Librarian and Editor in Chief of
Milan. As a voracious reader, eloquent
speaker, powerful orator, effective preacher
and professor he is fondly remembered in the
seminary. He was a demanding teacher, but
kind in heart. Thus, he has helped to raise
the intellectual standard of the Seminary.
He was diligent, assiduous, responsbible and
reliable in carrying out his duties. He has
been a man of apothegm, cogency and adroit
behaviour. As we thank him for his services,
we assure him of our love and prayers and
wish him every success in the new
assignment. In a special way, we thank his
Bishop, Most Rev. Patrick Nair for having
allowed him to serve the seminary community
for about 12 years.
Another person and personality,
who created a record in the seminary as the
two terms Minister, who carved a niche in
the seminary by being friendly to people in
the seminary and in the vicinity, is Fr.
Sylvester Minj. He has been a loyal friend
and servant to the Lord Jesus Christ, which
made him to be magnanimous in his service to
the institution with a high degree of sense
of belonging to the institution and
adjustability. His silent work and
methodical, meticulous planning, responsible
and reliable character, compassionate and
considerate behaviour, amiable and amicable
nature endeared many in the city of
Allahabad. As Treasurer and Minister he has
been a man of probity, integrity,
propensity, alacrity, dependability,
transparency and accountability. He is known
for his human and humane behaviour. He is
highly intellectual in the mechanical field,
which he used it to the hilt. We express our
gratitude to him for his valuable
contributions to St.Joseph’s Regional
Seminary, Allahabad and wish him all the
best in the new endeavours in Varanasi. I am
sure that the city and diocese of Varanasi
will be enriched by his presence. At this
juncture I thank the former Bishop of
Varanasi, Most Rev. Patrick Paul D’Souza,
who sacrificed him to render service in this
seminary and the present Bishop of Varanasi,
Most Rev. Raphy Manjaly for his immense good
will towards him and to the seminary.
We would
like to express our sincere gratitude to the
staff, both resident and visiting, who
continue to teach here. We express our
indebtedness to the superiors of the
resident staff and the Board of Bishops of
SJRS for their munificence and magnanimity.
Most Rev. Patrick D’Souza, Bishop Emeritus
of Varanasi, Most Rev. Albert D’Souza,
Archbishop of Agra, Most Rev. Antony
Fernandes, Bishop of Bareilly, Most Rev.
Isidore Fernandes, Bishop of Allahabad, Most
Rev. Raphy Manjaly, Bishop of Varanasi and
Rev. Fr. Hector D’Souza the Provincial of
South Asia of the Society of Jesus (POSA),
are all gratefully remembered for permitting
their priests to work in this institute.
4.
Theme of the Year
I have
been seriously reflecting over the theme of
the year to set before the community to
instill in students and staff a programme of
action, which the community tries to realize
as the year unfolds. I suggest “INTEGRATION
OF COMMITTED CITIZENSHIP AND DEDICATED
DISCIPLESHIP” as our motto for this
year. It calls for patriotism to the nation
and loyalty to Christ, the Lord and Master,
in whose name we live, move and serve the
humans and countrymen.
THE
COMMITTED CITIZENSHIP
to the nation, when she celebrates 150th
anniversary of the first freedom struggle in
this chronological year, entails to seek not
only rights and privileges, but also duties
and obligations enshrined in the Indian
Constitution to promote freedom, fraternity
and equality among citizens as well as
instill patriotism in oneself and in the new
generation and to take part actively in the
national regeneration movement. It calls for
courage, conviction and compassion for a
noble cause reminding us the sacrifices made
by the patriots. In the multi-linguistic,
cultural, social, religious milieu as the
committed citizens we are called to imbibe,
in the words of Swami Saccidhananda Bharathi,
“an ‘Islamic body’ of fellowship and
prayerfulness, ‘Hindu-Bahai mind’ of
universal vision and unity in diversity,
‘Sikh-Buddhist-Jain heart’ of courage,
compassion and non-violence, ‘Parsi
intellect’ of ingenuity and enterprise,
‘Jewsih will’ of perseverance and adherence
to the law, and ‘Christian spirit’ of
forgiveness and self-sacrificing love” to
make us instruments of God for human
solidarity, holistic development and
integral peace on earth and in our nation;
it is the path to liberation and creation of
mosaic piece of unity, not uniformity. The
supreme model of and witness to this path to
liberation and creation of mosaic piece of
unity is Jesus of Nazareth on earth, the
Risen Christ, who is alive and active.
Hence, the need of the dedicated
discipleship.
THE
DEDICATED DISCIPLESHIP
OF CHRIST entails to become like him
in everything even in the vicarious
suffering and self-sacrificial love to
continue his mission of liberation by
proclaiming his message of peace,
forgiveness, reconciliation, rapprochement,
truth and non-violence overcoming the lust
of flesh, lust of eyes and lust of mind and
witnessing to Him in word, deed and life.
Hence, I wish that we join hands in the
national regeneration movement with a sense
of patriotism and loyalty to Christ, who
gave his life, so that we may have life in
abundance (Jn 10:10). We shall adapt a
liberative spirituality of
self-actualization, social transformation
and God-realization through sadhna or yoga
of forgiving, enduring and self-sacrificing
love for the nation and humans.
Now I wind
it up wishing every one of you a happy and
fruitful new academic year! May the love of
God our Father, grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you!
Rev.Dr.V.Sebastian
Allahabad
Rector
10.07.2007 |
