GRACE...!

On third of October, 2015 the SHTC Community celebrated the feast of the darling saint of the Church St. Francis of Assisi. The Liturgical participation was beautifully marked by the Holy Eucharist celebrated by Rev Fr James Poonthurutil, the Rector of the Mathias House and concelebrated by other fathers of the Community. Deacon Vincent Muchahary gave an inspiring homily drawing inspiration from the living example of Francis of Assisi and connected it to the Readings of the day. He emphasized that, like Francis all of us are invited and exhorted by God to live a holy life and thus renew oneself, radiating the joy of becoming the instruments of peace and love, like that of Francis who was indeed God’s timely intervention in the life of the Church.   The day was enveloped in grace by the Brothers of OFM by leading the Community into Transitus experience of Francis. It was a moving experience for the community to participate and meditate over the sufferings and the death of Francis

“The Great dreams of great dreamers always transcend” says late former president, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam a visionary, a dreamer and a teacher. I dedicate my speech to him.               A pleasant morning dear esteemed members of the staff and students. Today we raise our minds and hearts to God, as we complete another glorious year of 69 th Independence day. It is said that, before you eat a fruit think about the one who put the seed . Therefore, today it is fitting for us to remember the freedom fighters who laid their lives shedding blood and sweat for a noble cause. It marks the end of an unfortunate era and unveils the beginning of another era of hope and freedom . And what we are all enjoying, the fruit of their  labor .    Let me remind you about what is India Today? Well 1. India is the land that gave birth to the world prominent religions and cultures and the light of Asia, the Lord Buddha. 2. Indus civilization is the oldest civilization that speaks of human civili

It was on Sunday morning, I happened to meet great Fr Snigi Lingdo who is working tirelessly as confessor and writing Biblical commentaries in Sacred Heart Theological College, Shillong. Obviously, the chat was all about Salesian Mission in North East India. He said ‘Salesians transformed North East India, and he commented that when it comes to Youth Centers, there is still a room for improvement in North East India. This made me to think about the purpose of Don Bosco for opening youth centers and apostolic schools.   While talking to Fr Snigi, I thought about the Salesian work and the mission in South India and India at large. It is very enlightening why Don Bosco did not open boarding and schools at first. Instead he opened the Youth Centres and Oratories. As a result Voldcco was one of the effective places of all his initiatives for young people of his times. And all of us know what it means to be having a Voldocco Experience; just like having an experience joy like a child i

St. John Bosco is one of the most daring and creative saints that the Church has ever produced. He was popular during 19 th century for his creative mission that he embarked in the Church with the slogan “ da mihi animas cetera tolle ” So much so he was known as the spiritual insight of a mystic, visionary and humble pioneer of the youth work during 19 th century. He was the manifestation of enthusiasm and charming personality. He was well appreciated and admired by the people of his time and even now. Therefore, we can very well say that he was much ahead of his times in thought and deed. He started his mission with a little boy, with Sign of the Cross and Hail Mary in the sacristy in Turin on the feast of the Immaculate Conception (08 th December-1841). The dream at the age of nine made him rather unclear about the mission that he would take up. It was mother Mary as his teacher and guide made all things clear to him. Historical Context as the Key for the Mission : It w

Bible gives a beautiful expression to understand God’s goodness and greatness. Bible summarises saying LOVE is God and God is Love. I am sure you will agree with me and with the Psalmist who exclaims God is everything, the Alpha and the Omega . Down the history we see saints and sages living such an austere life just as an expression of their gratitude to God. Theologically we know God’s limitlessness, omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence. All these three attributes of God are extension of God’s goodness. It is said that when we share the joy doubles. That is exactly what I feel about the generosity of God. All that we enjoy and cherish are not because we deserve, but by His sheer love, mercy and grace. The difference between the generosity of Divine and the human is immense. For, God gives us all that we need before we ask and in return he doesn’t expect anything from us unlike human generosity. Be it a mother, father, teacher or any social worker, everything is centred on

As I Begin my new face of life (intense theological studies) in Shillong SHTC I thank God for all his mercy in the past, love in the present and His providence in the future. I do thank my parents, family members, relatives, all the superiors, formators, friends and all those who directly or indirectly who did contribute for my growth and for entering into my life's journey. May God continue to bless us all. So, now I BEGIN an intense formation life in Shillong. It's my joy to come over here and continue my theological studies. I had a great desire to come to North East India and see the life, culture and the faith of the locals. I thank God for the opportunity given. I just completed few days of my stay over north east INDIA, and am rather happy and impressed about everything. the other things and experiences i shall recount soon...in detail.....

Faith Entails Action Happy Feast of St Thomas the Apostle We know that it is through THOMAS that India became a land of Faith and Faithful. Although he was not present when Risen Jesus appeared to his fellow disciples yet when the right time came he expresses his ardent desire to see and touch the Lord. That desire was not out of shallow doubt but from his nothingness to the fullness of God. May Thomas pray and intercede for India and all the faithful....

The great sayings are always nice to hear from others and even nice to quote them at particular context. Suppose if such words were to come to us from others and perhaps emerge within us after much struggle and perseverance. Vow it would be a great feeling and solace at the depths of our heart. This is exactly what I AM feeling after spending a couple of days working in the provincial house where there are people of different temperaments and attitudes. All the same I HAD to do the work in the office and finish the work at submit it to the person in charge. It's not so nice at the initial time but later as we work and go ahead with patience and perseverance what then left is a great feeling as if we have enthroned after a big achievement. This great feeling also tells me that God has a plan for us and always for our good and to the best. For we enter into peoples lives either to learn from them or to teach them. Form convictions that stand as an address to your conduct. 

Today afternoon our Beloved Fr C. Thomas a veteran Salesian breathed his last at Vellore C.M.C Hospital, in Tamilnadu. He is a great Salesian whose Heart ever longs for the poor and the needy. I had the privilege of living with this saint for one year and few months. He is simple and kind to all. We all love HIM....Dear Fr C.Thomas...R.I.P From the little experience that i had with him...what i can say about him is.... He is a perfect example for all the young Salesians to live poor, obedient and chaste. His heart is so large that he goes out to any extent to help the poor and needy. All our brothers  personally and collectively are witnesses for his  service and generosity. We the province of INH Hyderabad miss him and specially the poor and the abandoned, for whom he is an another Don Bosco.

Easter reminds us the joy of Resurrection of Jesus for the first time in the History of the History of Humanity. It is the holy moment of Accomplishment of a Deadly Commitment for the Salvation of Humanity. What a fortunate crowd are we?. However it is not by our credit that we are the partners of Resurrection. Rather by HIS Holy Passion and Death on the Deadly Cross that he won Life for us by paying his life as a ransom. Hence, Let us not identify Christ with His works, mir acles and actions. If so we are no less then the people who sought Bread from Christ; and not Christ. May this Easter help us to draw our soul to Christ of Life and not to the Bread of Christ.                             An empty tomb speaks for itself.listen with your Heart..to understand..HIM                                                             Happy Easter.....dear friends....

“What is the intention or aim in your philosophy? – To show the fly the way out of the fly-bottle.” To put you into Context : Ancient Western Philosophers were so conceptual and metaphysical that they concentrated on the primordial matter and substantial form. Thus they insisted only on conceptual knowledge, and failed to clarify the problems of daily life. They had different theories on language with regard to words, sentences and reality. Contrastingly, Wittgenstein initiated the notion of language games that endowed with rules, norms and principles for the better use of language as a tool in meaningful communication. The aim of his philosophy is to find linguistic expression meaningfully. Incarnation: Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was born Vienna, Austria on 26 th April, 1889 in a well to do family as the youngest of five brothers and three sisters; parents were Karl Wittgenstein a Jewish industrialist and mother Leopoldine Kalmus, a Catholic woman. As a boy he

I am delighted to appreciate and acknowledge the concrete initiative of the College Staff and Students of brining out in the form of a beautiful magazine. The theme of this issue is Youth of Today: Problems and Possibilities which I feel is relevant and much debated and talked about issue in and around the world. It is a wonderful and praise worthy effort from the part of the students and the staff members who contributed informative, innovative and inspiring knowledge and wisdom coupled with their experience. Hence, I vehemently feel that their good work will certainly bear fruit like the ripple effect . I take a beautiful image of the ripple effect precisely, to bring to everyone’s attention that how influential and contagious is one’ goodness. Mind you Evil does have the same effect. We know that, nothing is accidental, incidental, coincidental or by chance but by our CHOICE. Yes, there are problems; there are difficulties and obstacles for any noble cause. Only by meetin

At the time of Jesus, the people sought for signs from God to understand the second coming of the savior. Paradoxically today’s generation seems to be looking for miracles to believe in God. This tendency postulates the absence of faith and presence of godlessness attitude. I wish I am wrong in making this premise.  Of late I was shocked when a couple of graduate students told me that they do not believe in God. I was shocked not because they do not believe in God but what would be their reason to say this, despite years of formation and seminary life. I really wonder whether they understood what they said. Perhaps the change of times and the change of cultures and change of belief systems could have influenced them. Let us not forget the fact that there is nothing certain except the change itself. Yes change is the only certainty. So it is the change that influences the mind of the young today. The speed of change is tremendous. Just to put you in context……Years ago the ch

We know it was Heraclitus who said that the world is full of flux/change. For him change is certain and nothing else. What ever it is, what I would like to draw your attention to is that there are Christians being persecuted in the name of God. There are number of Christians being killed by the terrorists and those who perpetuate violence by their deeds and acts of unkindness. Oh God when is the end to such religious attacks of the innocent. It is not in one corner of the world nor one corner of the country. Today religious violence is prevalent every where in the world. It has become a common phenomenon of the daily newspapers ad news channels. Even in India in BJP's reign religious problems are becoming everyday's issues. In the name of God  Reconversions , Achadin and Ghar Vapsi  are just luring every non-Hindu citizen to embrace Hinduism. If not we know what would be the consequences of such behaviour. There are also cases where Christians and Muslims being reconverte

On 18th Feb, 2015 Random Reflection from one of my students during Hermeneutics Oral Exam: He said "A bad person sees a bad person bad; because he doesn't trust the other.  but a good person sees a bad person good; because he trusts the other." So it is TRUST that builds our Relationships, Family and Community. Beautiful....

Today evening I was with my students working in the Mango Garden. While working we noticed that out of so many flowers that bloomed are down now. Most of the flowering has been withered away due to some natural conditions and situations. What ever would be the reason....I was wondering why only some trees can be planted by the seed, others by the stem and few others by the flower and the rest neither of them but by a formulae... Have you ever thought about it? First of all they bloom, flower and bare fruits not just by their instinct and natural condition. But they do have the instinctual desires to propagate themselves and spread their roots across just like humanity strive to procreate and propagate. That's why all the trees and plants (flora and fauna) when they feel that they are going to die or perish then they start flowering and then bearing fruits. This was shared by one of the senior Salesian members of my community. I was really thrilled to know this wonderful secret of