Provincial's Message - April 2022

December 2019 2022-04-02 00:00:00

It is our long-cherished dream to begin one more mission center in Andhra- Telangana region. In view of that together with Fr. Anil and Fr. Benjamin, I started my journey to Andhra Pradesh and Telengana on March 21^st. We were able to meet the bishops of the dioceses of Adilabad and Khammam. They were kind enough to bring us to some of the mission areas of their diocese. I am waiting to get an appointment with the Bishop of Guntur this month.

In this message, I wish to introduce you a religious priest whom I met in a mission center of Adilabad. He is Rev. Fr. Amal Raj Paramasivam SJ, a native of Tamil Nadu. He was the provincial of Andhra Pradesh, Jesuit Province, from 2014 to 2020. He also served as the Principal of Loyola Collage, Vijayawada for a long time. After his tenure, he met his provincial with an exceptional request. It was like this: “Father, it is a great need that we have to start a mission in the diocese of Adilabad in Telangana. If you don’t mind, please allow me to go with another priest to begin a mission in the diocese.”

With the granted positive attitude of the congregation, Fr. Amalraj visited the bishop of Adilabad diocese. Bishop received him with joy. At present, two of them are staying with diocesan priests at the mission center of Indravalli. They are preparing to launch a mission among the Adivasis (indigenous people) of the area.

What amazed me was the zeal of that 85-year-old religious priest. “The people need us for their all-face development. Our presence will help them to rise spiritually and materially. At this age, I can retire if I need to. But I truly believe that a missionary of Christ has no retirement. He has to be at the service of the people of God until the last breath of life. Mission areas are not places with beds of roses. The Church has got an epidemic that the mission areas are abandoned by the missionaries for their quest for a smooth and comfortable life. There is no medicine for this disease other than to be a role model for myself.” The words of Fr. Amalraj must have shaken not only my mind but also the minds of those who were with me.

As we enter the silver lining of the resurrection after completing the days of fasting and abstinence, perhaps it is necessary to think if we have the tendency to seek the safest places is overpowering us as well. Let us be reminded that the Risen One was formed from the fiery furnace of suffering. The words of Moses, when he entrusts Joshua as his successor, at the age of 120, are inspiring: “Be strong and bold, for you are the one who will go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their ancestors to give them’ and you will put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fall on you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deut 31: 7-8).

We need deep trust in God if we are to break through the barriers of security and embark on the adventures of insecurity. When we face crises in our daily life, we must show loyalty to God and we should cling to the one who called us. When we put the will of God above our own, the Congregation and the mission will grow up. Let our efforts for that be our hallmark.

My prayers and good wishes to everyone who steps into new responsibilities within these two months. Let us joyfully submit our duties and responsibilities to the safe hands of our Master.

Extending prayerful greetings of Passion and Resurrection of our Lord,

Yours in Our Lady of La Salette

Fr. Jenson Chenthrappinny MS

Provincial Superior