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Cir.7/09 1st July 2009 Dear Fathers, Brothers & Sisters,
Greetings from Nagpur!
I wish you all a successful new Academic Year full of Blessings from the Lord. Let us work with God and together that whatever we achieve becomes the fruit of team work. I congratulate all of you once again for the good results in our schools. Let us re-commit ourselves to the care for the poorest of the poor and girls in our educational institutions and social apostolate (Cf. Resolutions of the Meeting in April.)
On 19th June 2009 His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI solemnly convoked the Year of the Priest at St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday evening on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. With the announcement of this Year for Priests, the Pope has declared St. John Mary Vianney the Universal Patron of Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé d’Ars.
On this solemn occasion Pope’s message for the priests around the world is to grow in intimacy with Jesus. Pope said that, “Our mission is indispensable for the Church and the world” and they both ask for “full faithfulness to Christ and relentless union with Him,” therefore Pope asks all the priests of today to “constantly try to achieve holiness, as St. John Mary Vianney did.”
The Holy Father also touched on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the words of St. John Mary Vianney the Pope said that “Priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus,” thus the gift of our priesthood originates directly from that Heart. So I hope it will be a chance for priests to grow in intimacy with Jesus and become “in today’s world, messengers of hope, reconciliation, and peace.”
On 19th June 2009 at 6:15 pm we too in our Archdiocese inaugurated the Year for Priests at the S.F.S Cathedral by lighting of the lamp, conducting the Eucharistic adoration and celebrating the Solemn Holy Eucharistic. On this occasion of the Year of the Priest we will be having different programmes throughout the year. Please pray for our priests that they might always be faithful to their sacred calling.
Jeevoday School for differently abled children is starting a B.Ed, College of special education to train teachers to cater to the needs of differently abled children. It is yet another feather in the cap. The inauguration of this college will be on 18th July 2009. On this occasion we heartily congratulate all the ASMI Sisters who are going to run this college, and we sincerely appreciate their hard work, dedication and commitment, in loving and caring for the less privileged ones in our society.
Rev. Fr. Dominic Mendonca O.P. has been appointed the Rector of St. Charles’ Major Seminary, Nagpur On 27th June 2009 he took charge of his responsibility during the solemn Inauguration Mass for the new academic year. We sincerely congratulate him on this occasion and wish God’s abundant blessings in the formation of the future Priests. At the same time we express our deep appreciation and gratitude towards Rev. Fr. Glenn Morris who served the Seminary and gave his precious time and service in the formation of future priests for many years.
As the Pauline year culminated on 28th June 2009, it deserved a solemn conclusion and to mark this occasion and to solemnize it Daughters of St. Paul came up with well organized Eucharistic Celebration on Sunday at 6.15 p.m. As he was one of the main pillars of the Church and in the spread of the Kingdom of God, may this great personality inspire and enkindle in us the same zeal for the spread of the Kingdom of God.
The first Recollection for the year will be held on 7-8th July at the Archbishop’s House. All the Priests, Brothers and Sisters are to participate in this important programme of the Archdiocese.
Additional Appointments
Fr. Jose Parambukattil MSFS Parish Priest in Holy Family Church Truman Fr. Anil Prakash D’Souza O.P. and Fr. Alfonse Raymond Jojo O.P. Assigned to St. Martin’s Dominican Community, Jeripatka Fr. Brian Rodrigues SFX Parish Priest Tumsar (not Fr. Lawrence as reported early (regret) Some of my Programme for the Month of July – 2009 1st Morning Mass at Home for the Aged, Nagpur Forenoon Mass at the Novitiate of St. Joseph’s Brothers (Kamptee) 2nd New Delhi for the CBCI Reorganization Meeting 3rd Evening: At Wardha for the Inauguration of the Academic Year of Claretian Seminary 5th Sunday Mass for KCA 7-8th Recollection at Nagpur 9-11th NBCLC Bangalore for the Colloquium of Bishops and Theologians 13-15th Mumbai for the WRSSF & Western Region Bishop's Meetings 16th -17th Khandwa for the Episcopal Ordination of Msgr. Durairaj SVD 19th Evening Mass at Camillian Study house 20th Inauguration of Jeevoday B.Ed. College of Special Education (MR) 26th Kaperkheda for St. Ann’s Feast
Soliciting your prayers for me, and promising mine,
Yours fraternally
+Abraham Viruthakulangara Archbishop of Nagpur
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