Provincial's Message - March 2022

December 2019 2022-03-02 00:00:00

On February 19, during a visit to Archbishop Antony Kariyil, he presented his book entitled “Sapthathi Chinthakal” (The Thoughts of Platinum Birthday). The bishop has shared a thought-provoking story in that book. Let me paraphrase it to you.

A man named Fride was on an evening trip. That’s when he noticed someone on the side of the road getting ready to break a chair. Stopping him, Fride said: “Do not dismantle this chair. If you do not want this, please give it to me, and I’ll use it well.” The owner of the chair was furious when he heard Fride’s words. “This is my chair, and I’ll decide what to do with it.” Saying this, the man smashed the chair into pieces. It hurt Fride’s mind a lot.

Days passed. Unexpected tragedies and illness befell the life of Fride. He lost the desire to live. He prepared to attempt suicide. In those days when he thought of his death, he heard a voice like this: “If you do not want your life, can you give it to me? I can fix it…” It was the same question Fride asked the man who broke the chair a few weeks ago. This time he realized that it was God who was asking him. Recognizing this, Fride withdrew from the decision to commit suicide and decided to live in the belief of God.

We have entered the Lenten season of 2022. Our lives can be like broken chairs. Let us submit ourselves into the hands of God. We can vanish the thoughts of worries like ‘I have no way to overcome’, ‘Nobody can resolve my problems.’ Cast your burdens unto Him. We can be sure that He will deal with our shortcomings.

You might have read my letter requesting the special prayers for the intentions of our province. Together with Fr. Bino, Fr. Anil and Fr. Benjamin, I am setting-off for a mission trip to Andhra-Telengana. Kindly keep us in your prayers.

In the month of February, our beloved Fr. Jose Punnakunnel MS, visited our houses in Kerala and Karnataka. He had returned from each place with spiritual happiness as all the missions run well by the divine providence. I appreciate his enthusiasm and passion to the province even in the midst of great suffering. Let us continue to pray for his good health.

Together with Fr. Jesbin Pulavelil, I visited the families of few of our priests. Let us pray for the father of Fr. Jose Muttathan, the father of Fr. Jolly Ayyamkolil, the mother of Fr. Jose Manjaly who suffer with old age problems and other sicknesses. I request your special prayers for the mother of Fr. Jiss Kunnumpurath, who suffers a lot with rheumatic diseases. She needs to undergo one more surgery in the coming days.

Let us also seek the intercession of our blessed Mother upon the crisis and war that happens in Ukraine. Let us be strengthened by the word of God, “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them” (Isaiah 41:17).

Wishing everyone a blessed Lent with the Passion of Christ

Yours in Our Lady of La Salette

Fr. Jenson Chenthrappinny MS.