Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (WD/KR)
With Inputs from Media Release
Bengaluru, Jan 9: Fr Valerian Charles Fernandes, was elected as the new provincial of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province.
Fr Manohar Noronha was elected as the vice provincial, and Fr Victor Martis, Fr. Syran Rebello and Fr Joseph Fernandes as the consulters of the newly erected province of Pallotine fathers.
Meanwhile, the celebration of transformation of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province, Bengaluru, was held at Assumption House Bengaluru on January 6.
The assumption province divided into 2 province Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as the region.
The main celebrant Fr Jacob Nampudakam, rector general, the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, Rome, along with co celebrants Fr Camilo Simoes, provincial ABVM Province, Bengaluru, Fr Markus Hau, mission secretary and consulter, Heart of Jesus Province, Germany, Fr Romauld Uzabumwana, general consulter, Rome, Fr Alexander Holzbach, consulter, Heart of Jesus Province, Germany, Fr Charles Fernandes, provincial rector elect, ABVM Province, Bengaluru, Fr Arogyadas Kottana, regional rector elect, New Autonomous Region of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Fr Antony Dhas, provincial rector elect, New Province, Tamil Nadu, Fr Joy Palachuvattil, provincial rector elect, Prabhu Prakash, province, Nagpur, Fr Varghese Pullan, provincial rector, and Fr Bipin Kishore Minj, provincial rector, Khrist Jyothi Province, Raipur, celebrated the Holy Eucharist.
In his homily Fr Jacob Nampudakam, rector general, said, "The Decree of Transformation of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province was issued by the General Council on March 19, 2019, with the specific intention of dedicating the entire process to the care and powerful intercession of St Joseph, the church’s guardian and the foster Father of Jesus. It is said that when Pope Francis retires every night to rest at 10:00, he entrusts the whole church to St Joseph’s protection. Today, the statue of sleeping St Joseph has become very popular in the Church; and I confess, with great earnestness and gratitude at this moment, that it was St Joseph who guided the whole transformation process until today. It was not an easy undertaking, but at all crucial moments St Joseph guided our steps and we moved forward. May this great Saint continue to always help our onward journey.
“As per Law of our Society, we establish new Provinces and Regions in view of greater development of the Society, the realization of our charism, and in responding to the needs of God’s people anywhere in the world. Hence why we use the term “transformation”; indicating that we are transforming the existing structures so to create new life. It is the Holy Spirit who is principally the transforming agent, just as we find in the transformation that took place in the Cenacle at Jerusalem. The timid and frightened disciples of Jesus were transformed into courageous, convinced, and committed messengers of the Gospel, bearing testimony to the Risen Lord even to the point of shedding their blood. Therefore, as we participate in this historical moment of transformation of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province, let us pledge to give ourselves totally and generously to God and his Kingdom as devout sons of our great founder St Vincent Pallotti.
“Likewise, we thank God for the person of our Holy Founder, St. Vincent Pallotti, a mystic and prophet of communion. We can never forget the Sacred Heart Province in Germany – presently the Heart of Jesus Province - and the great missionaries who landed in India in 1951. One of them, Msgr Werner Hunold, is buried here in this very Provincialate campus. As India now becomes the Society’s only country in the world with four Provinces and one Autonomous Region, this unique and historical fact all happened due to the missionary initiatives taken by the German province. Therefore, we remember with gratitude all our German missionaries who have worked in India, as well as all the provincials till date, who have generously helped the Society’s growth in this land. We also thank the numerous friends and benefactors of our Pallottine family in India and abroad."
“I would like to conclude this homily with the words of our holy founder ‘The community will grow and God will bless it. You will see. I tell it to you not because I trust but because I am sure’,” he concluded.
Soon after the Eucharistic celebration, the felicitation programme began with the welcome dance by RNDM Novices, Banaswadi.
Provincials & Council members of various provinces were felicitated on the occasion.
Fr Romauldo led the prayer service before the meal.
Fr Manuel Raj welcomed the gathering, Fr Joji Reddy compeered the felicitation programme.
About Pallotine fathers
The Pallotine fathers are working in 52 countries, 2350 members. In India, they have 158 communities. There are 83 members in the province. In Udupi, they have Pallotti Vikas Minor Seminary. In the diocese of Mangaluru, they have three parishes namely Our Lady of Velankanni Church, Farla, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Ukkinadka, and Risen Saviour Church, Bovikana. There is also a farm in Vittal. Motivated by the love of Christ, they manifest their ministry in the church.