Elections, Celebrations & German Visitors

Our new 'beadle' ... Fr Joseph Kumar

At the beginning of the new semester, there will be new appointments of office bearers to look into the various needs and interests of community in Post Graduate Block (our hostel). On 28^th June, the Post Graduate students held an election for new members for the first semester of the academic year 2012/2013. Our moderater for PG block, Fr Francis coordinated the election process. He thanked the outgoing committee members for taking their respective office seriously in the previous semester. Before the election, there was a power point presentation to highlights and describe the roles and responsibility of the respective office bearers. The “beadle” or caput – head student of this year is Fr Joseph Kumar. He is one of the youngest members in our community. Other committee members were elected for the liturgy, manual labour (manulia), sports, etc.

Fr Cyril cutting his anniversary cake

After the election and discussion over a few matters, we adjourned to the refectory (dining hall) for dinner. At the end of each month, we have a get together session to celebrate birthdays and priestly anniversaries in that particular month. For the month of June, we had a very a special celebration. One of our lecturers, Rev Fr Cyril Desbruslais, SJ., from Calcutta Province, who teaches Philosophy and Latin, celebrated his 50^th anniversary as a priest and 42 years as a professor in our campus. He is a man who speaks bluntly on any issue and to the other professors and students but he always has a heart for his students. About 20 professors were invited for the special occasion.

Fr George Pattery placing the shawl on Fr Cyril

The president, Rev Fr George Pattery, congratulated Fr Cyril for his faithful service to the JDV campus as a professor and placed a shawl on his shoulder. According to Indian tradition, this symbolises a sign of gratitude, appreciation and honour to a person.

Magdalene and Benedikt

This academic year we have almost 54 members in our community from all over India. I thought that I would once again be the only foreigner at the JDV campus this academic year. Before my arrival, there was another student from German named Benedikt Winkler. This 23 year-old is a lay student of theology from Sankt Georgen, a Jesuit college in Frankfurt. He has completed his 2 years in Philosophy and 3 years in Theology in Germany. At the moment he is doing his 4^th year in Theology in our Campus. He does not have any fixed schedule or programmes but his intention is to gain knowledge and to do exploration especially in the area of interreligious dialogue, comparative theology, Asian religions and inculturation in India. His ambition is to be a journalist or director in media business, perhaps in documentary or filmmaking. Recently, Benedikt’s 19 year-old sister, Magdalene, came to visit him for a few days before she leaves for Germany at the end of July. At the moment she is doing voluntary work in a Don Bosco orphanage in Chennai since August 2011. I admire their maturity and dedication in wanting to gain knowledge and experience in a foreign land. I hope more young people, especially our Malaysian youth will seek to do something fulfilling in their lives.



Magdalene looking sweet in a punjabi suit