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Devasia

Ignatian Eco Retreat - Fr.Rappai

Ignatian Eco Retreat

The Ignatian Eco Retreat was held at Navsarni, Sawantwadi (a Sindurg Diocesan Pastoral Centre), in November. 24 Jesuits from 8 provinces, 13 of them from Gujarat, participated. Fr Robert Athicakal SJ, of Taru Mitra, Patna, the pioneer of Eco involvement in India, guided this first-ever Jesuit Eco Retreat in the Western Region. Sr Mudita and Dr Orla Hazra added deep feminine and cosmic dimension to the experience of God in His/Her Universe. The  ‘Principle and Foundation’ and the ‘Contemplation to attain love’ – the beginning and the culmination of the Spiritual Exercises – is an invitation to find the Lord of Creation all around us, and commune with him in the whole Universe.

The group spent quality time with the Earth, and the guiding team urged us to spend most of the days outdoors. The Eucharistic celebrations were organized in “God’s Cathedral” under the stars above, tall trees around and in candle/earthen lights.  A pilgrimage to the biodiversity-rich Narendrapur mountains close by was a memorable celebration of God’s creation.

Our history begins 13.7 billion years ago with the Big Bang when the universe exploded into existence. With this realization, it dawned on us that we are intimately related to all beings, animate and inanimate, in the Universe.  We felt the urgent need to live and act on this exhilarating realization. Only a deep, personal and spiritual experience of our existence in the Lord’s Universe could lead us to transformative action, within and without. All of us felt the need to relate to Nature differently, and act in favour of Ecological sanity. Gujarat Jesuits’ remarkable plunge into Eco Spirituality was very inspiring. I think more such retreats are called for. (Rappai)

An Accomplished Bhakta -Fr.Ambrose

An Accomplished Bhakta

On the Feast of St Francis Xavier, Fr Rolphy Paul Pinto defended his doctoral thesis in a jam packed hall of the Pontifica Universitas Gregorian in Rome. His thesis was appropriately entitled: “Francis Xavier: A Bhakta? A Comparative Study Of Bhaktil in the Letters Of Francis Xavier and the Bhakti Padas of Narsinh Mehta.” He gave his introduction in English for the sake of the audience who may not follow much of Italian. But he defended his thesis and answered all the questions in eloquent Italian. It was a great delight listening to him. Spirituality goes beyond caste, creed, colour, customs, class and culture. In fact, it brings them together. It puts us in direct contact with God. Rolphy’s thesis is a unique contribution in the field of spirituality. St Francis Xavier could not have received better honour than this on his feast and Rolphy and we in Rome could not have celebrated the Feast of St Francis Xavier in better manner than this. His thesis is a gift not only to St Francis Xavier, but also to Gujarat! His thesis will be published both here and in Gujarat. Congrats to Rolphy! (Ambrose)

Oblation and Surrender - Hedwig Lewis SJ

Oblation and Surrender 

Hedwig Lewis SJ

Through the Spiritual Exercises, a Jesuit makes two distinct commitments. The first is contained in the prayer to Christ the Eternal King, with phrases like: “I make my OBLATION: I want and desire… my deliberate determination … I bear…” [SE 98].  I commit myself to act as a worthy disciple of Christ. I am aware that God’s grace is absolutely necessary; I presuppose that Christ will “choose or accept me”. Nevertheless, this commitment is to a style of leadership centred on MY activity.

A second, couched in the prayer “Take and Receive” (SE 234), is the ultimate commitment suggested by St Ignatius. I SURRENDER my capacities to God. I make no promises to engage myself in God’s cause, or to accomplish or achieve anything. My inner faculties are at God’s disposal; God becomes the prime mover of my life. I place myself so completely in God’s hands that I do not even specify what God should give me. God’s grace “is enough for me’. I simply trust in God’s providence, with total Ignatian indifference. As GOD directs, I put my love into action.

Revive your Long Retreat commitment. Renew your oblation and surrender!

Ordination Of Rev. Fr. Simon S.J. and Sanjay S.J.

Kindly click on the picture to view the video of the Ordination ceremony.

Happy New Year-2013

Unconditional Love

Mother Teresa, a name which does not need any introduction has the power to inspire every heart to feel love. She spent the major part of her life serving poor in India but her message reached beyond India. She inspires us to believe that every one of us has God inside us and we must love poor and others not out of pity for them but because they are also a part of God. When we do something for them, we receive much more in return. Instead of looking at what we have done look at what we have received and you would realize how rich you are.

Once when asked, what we should do for world peace, she said, go and love your family. Everyone is hungry for love. Everyone is poor. When you feel you are unwanted and no one needs you, you are poor. The unwantedness is a great poverty. Do we really know the poor in our own house. May be they have food and clothes but are we sure that there is no one at home who feels unwanted. Love begins at home. Make sure your parents, your society, no one is poor. Turning your back to the poor is turning away from God. Love his people to love him.