VICE-PROVINCE OF INDIA: Provincial Assembly 31st January – 2nd February 2017

BANGALORE, India - We the Montfort Missionaries in the Indian Province had our Provincial assembly in view of the forthcoming General Chapter in Rome. The assembly was held at Maria Bhavan, the Scholasticate on 31st of January to 2nd of February 2017 in Bangalore. All the senior professed membersattended the meeting. The total number of the participants for the assembly was 44.

First Day (31st January)

The assembly was begun with a prayer service. Fr. Michael Sahayaraj the provincial addressed the gathering and welcomed all the confreres who attend the assembly. The first session was animated by Fr. John De Sousa CMF, a claretian who focused on the theme “Universal Mission” where he stressed on the importance of being a missionary, adaptation of other cultures, challenges in the foreign missions and the urgency of proclamation of the gospel. We had our time for clarification and questions. In the afternoon Frs. Peter Mascarenhas and Reny Joseph presented the theme on Protection of the Vulnerable especially in dealing with cases of abuse of minors and sexual misconduct with adults. There was time for clarifications and explanations. In the evening we commemorated the conclusion of the Tercentenary celebration with the Holy Eucharist Presided by the provincial followed by a fellowship meal.

Second Day (1stFebruary)

The day was begun with the Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. Norbert Lobo during which we prayed for our departed confrere Irudayaraj. The first session of the day was animated by the Provincial on the matters of General chapter after which we had discussions on the issues and the challenges of Indian Vice-Province animated by Fr. Rosario, the Assembly was divided in to three groups.We discussed on the given questions and the fruits of the discussions were presented before the assembly by the representatives of each group.

In the noon we had a sharing of the mission experience by our confreres working for international mission; namely, Fr. Jose from USA, Fr. Rosario from PNG and brothers Jesu Doss and Pramod Scholastics in PERU. We had the election of the Capitulants for the General Chapter in Rome, the elected members are Fr. Peter Mascarenhas and Fr. J. Joseph.

Third day (2nd February)

As the day of conclusion we commemorated the Silver jubilee celebration of the religious life of five of our confreres, Fr. Selva Kumar, Fr. T. Joseph, Fr.Rayappa, Fr. Varaprasad, and Fr. Rosario followed by a fellowship meal.