My Spiritual Director is now a Bishop-Elect!

Bishop-Elect Sebastian Francis

On 8^th July (Sunday) which also happened to be my birthday, I came back after my community Mass and checked my email and received a pleasant surprise. Fr Moses Lui had sent an email informing me that the Vicar General of the Melaka-Johor diocese, Rev Fr Sebastian Francis has been announced as a new bishop elect of Penang Diocese (Northern state of Peninsular Malaysia).

The official announcement was made by the Vatican on Saturday, 7^th July, 2012 at 6 pm (Malaysian Time). After reading the email I immediately sent my congratulations and greetings to the new bishop-elect via email. While I was praying the Office of Readings (breviary) that morning I remembered to offer a prayer for his new Episcopal appointment.

When the new bishop-elect was a professor of Dogma in the Major Seminary of Penang, he was my Spiritual Director. He directed me since my early years of formation in the seminary. After he had been appointed as Vicar General of Johor-Melaka Diocese (Southern state of Peninsular Malaysia), the late Fr Leonard John became my spiritual director.

As Vicar General of the Melaka-Johor Diocese

Even after Fr Sebastian had became the Vicar General, I still sought spiritual advice from him. When he was in seminary he had the most spiritual sons than any other professors in the seminary. He is a man who walks with a “heart and head.” During my formation years, he helped me to overcome many uncertainties in my life. He also really built up my vocation to the priesthood with more confidence and steadiness to the present. Just before entering into the priesthood, I did my 5 day- retreat with him. During the retreat he prepared me well to accept my priesthood more lovingly and to embrace it with warmly always. Even after becoming a priest I never failed to turn to him for advice whenever I needed a boost in my priestly life. Fr Sebastian always treated me as a friend and not just as a fellow priest.

Even thought I won’t be able to attend his Episcopal Ordination, I assured him that I shall be one with him in Spirit praying for his health and his future ministry for the people in Malaysia.

The Episcopal ordination will be held on 20^th August, 2012 at the Church of St Anne, Bukit Mertajam, Penang at 5.00 pm (Malaysian Time).

Sixty one year-old Bishop-elect Sebastian’s new diocese is approximately 46,855 km per sq, with a total population of 6,500,000 people. The total Catholic population in the diocese is estimated to be around 66,000. Currently there are around 46 priests and 97 religious.

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



Back in India and awaiting "new adventures"

Since February 2012, I have not updated my blog. Many have inquired me why my blog was updated for some time. I used to tell them that I was unable to remember my password. Interestingly, one my college mates, Fr Maria Joseph, told me that he had prayed to St Anthony of Padua (Patron for lost articles) so that I might recall it soon. The next day itself I managed to discover it. Thank you St Anthony. Now my blog is back in action.

Some of you must be wondering what am I doing right now and where am I now? After staying almost 6 months in College General, Penang, Malaysia (Major Seminary), now I am back to Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth (JDV) Pune, India to continue my 2nd academic year in theological studies. I could not come back immediately after Christmas break due to certain circumstances but I was doing my distance learning from Penang with my respective lecturers for 3 months. After three months of studies via internet, there was a two and a half month summer break in JDV campus. After completing the summer break in April and May, I prepared to leave for my studies to Pune with a 6-month visa till December, 2012. I left Malaysia on 16th June 2012 with mixed feelings but I came with full confidence that I would be able to complete my studies by the end of the year.

The moment I got my visa from the Indian Embassy in Malaysia, I confirmed my ticket to fly off at once. I was thinking to myself which is the best route to reach Pune. Since it was a last minute confirmation, I decided to take a longer route to reach Pune. The flight was from Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) to Chennai to Delhi to Pune via the same airlines. However I ended up having an unpleasant trip to India. I missed my connecting flight from Delhi to Pune because the flight from Chennai to Delhi was delayed by 20 minutes. When I landed at Delhi airport, I had to rush to get my connecting flight to Pune within 15 minutes but I could not get through even I had my boarding pass with me. I argued with the airline supervisor at the Delhi airport telling them it was not my fault. At the end the airline management made arrangements for me to get a connecting flight to Pune that same night itself, and this meant a 4 hour-plus wait. However I was allowed to wait in the lounge and they provided me with a free meal and refreshments.

While waiting for the flight, I tried so many times to contact my Post Graduate (PG) Block’s Moderator, Fr Francis and a few other college mates to inform them about my delayed arrival at Pune airport, i.e. approximately at 1.30 am on 17th June. Unfortunately, I could not reach any of them. I was so frustrated and annoyed because I was afraid the main gate of the college would be closed by the time I reached there. Just a few minutes before boarding, I told myself to try for the last time so that they could inform the security guard to open the main entrance gate for me and to get my room key as well. Finally, I managed to reach Fr Francis and informed him about my arrival. I felt relieved. I was happy to hear that he had made the necessary arrangements upon my arrival in the middle of that night. If I was not able to reach him, then I would have slept in the Pune airport till the next morning. Despite the slight hiccups, I arrived at my college safely.

I asked asking myself why India is not “friendly” and why unpleasant things are happening to me when I am here. The last time when I left India, I got into so much trouble with the Indian immigration. I think I have to love India more.

This time upon my arrival, I immediately filled up the "C Form" and submitted to the Foreign Registration Office (FRO) and informed the nearest Police station. I have done my part in informing the relevant authorities that I am staying in this college till December 2012 on a 6-month visa. Fr Joseph Fernandez assisted me to get the things done within 2 days.

My classes started one week prior to my arrival. I missed the inauguration of the new academic year 2012/2013 and also the installation of the new President of JDV campus, Fr George Pattery (pic above) on 11th of June, 2012.

The weather is pretty hot and my life in college is not moving as fast as I hoped. I am slowly getting to know some of the new students in my PG block. Many of my senior college mates did enquire about me via emails. Last year December I didn’t have chance to say “goodbye” to my senior students who have gone back to their respective parishes and ministries after the completion of their studies in March this year. I hope this message from my blog will bring across my expression of gratitude to them for being my true friends during my stay last year in this college.

Oh yes! After enjoying a variety of delicious Malaysian foods especially Penang char keow teow the past 6 months, now I am back to chappati and dhall. Sigh! I think I have to love their foods as well.

My college block

Feast Day Celebration in Klang and Inaugural Mass in Penang

I was back in my home town in Klang on the 11th and 12th of February to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and also the 9th anniversary of my priestly ordination at my home parish. I was happy to be able to celebrate the Eucharist with Frs Michael Chua and David Arulanatham and the parishioners of OLL.

Despite the rain that Saturday, the feast-day celebration proceeded smoothly and ended with a procession in town. The following day, which was the anniversary of my priestly ordination, I celebrated two Masses and happily recalled that exactly 9 years ago, I stood at this very pulpit and gave my thank you speech.

In the afternoon I decided to treat my nephews, nieces and cousins to a movie. It was a first-time experience for all of us watching a 3D movie, ‘Journey 2 – The Mysterious Island’. Since I was already in KL, I extended my break for a couple more days to celebrate Valentine’s Day with my family and also to visit some friends.

I was planning to leave for Penang on Thursday evening (16th Feb), but something prompted me to leave early in the morning and I arrived in Penang around 10.30am. Just as I was about to go up to my room, I bumped into Archbishop Emeritus Soter Fernandez who told me that they would be celebrating the Inaugural Mass for the new academic year that evening at 6pm. When I heard this, I was happy that I had acted on instinct and left for Penang in the morning for I would now be able to join the priests and seminarians for the Inaugural Mass.

Bishop Antony Selvanayagam of Penang, who is also the President of College General presided over the Eucharist. In his homily he congratulated the students for choosing to offer their lives to serve Christ as priests. “Since you have chosen this path then you have to be prepared to meet the challenges to be like Christ – to suffer, to be rejected and to put to death,” he added.

The students were later welcomed and introduced to all present by the College Rector Fr Gerard Theraviam. This year we are pleased to welcome 13 students - Pre-Initiation Year (5 students), Initiation Year (2 students), 1st and 2nd Year Philosophy (6 students).

Mass was followed by dinner and recitation of the rosary at the grotto.

College General is one of the oldest seminaries in this region. A brief history of College General, since 1665…
PEREGRINATIONS OF COLLEGE GENERAL:
1665 – Foundation of the College at Ayuthia, Thailand
1680 - 1686 – College of the Holy Angels at Mahapram (10 kms from Ayuthia)
1686 – Constantinien College (Ayuthia)
1760 - 1765 – Burmese invasion forced the seminary to move to Chanthaburi, Thailand.
1765 -1796 – The seminary moved to Hondat (now ha-Tien) in Vietnam
1770 - 1782 – Virapatnam (5 kms from Pondicherry, India). Before the voyage to Pondicherry, the college was in Malacca (Peninsula Malaysia) for 2 months. It was closed for 15 years)
1808 – Reopening of the seminary in Pulau Tikus, Penang, Malaysia
January, 1984 till to the present – College General moved to Mariophile (Love of Mary), Tanjung Bunga, Penang).

The Present Staff of College General:

Rt Rev Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam (Bishop of Penang and President of the college)

Rev Fr Gerard Theraviam (Rector)

Rev Fr Julian Leow (Dean)

Archbishop Emeritus Anthony Soter Fernandez (Spiritual Father)

Rev Fr Edwin Paul (Formator)

College General has produced Saints and Martyrs:

Two canonised professors martyred in Korea in 1984 (Sts Laurent Imbert and Jacques Chastan)

Five canonised seminarians martyred in Vietnam in 1988 (Sts Philip Minh, Peter Quy, Paul Loc, John Hoan and Peter Lau)

Fifty beatified Vietnamese Martyrs.

College General Seminary in Penang

Back in Penang Seminary

I have not updated my blog for a long period of time and finally today I have decided to resume my postings once again. My enthusiasm in updating my blog was waning gradually due to certain circumstances. I was not sure where to begin my story line now. Let me take a deep breath! I reached Malaysia on 23rd Dec, 2011. I could not return to India after my Christmas and New Year break due to some issues with my visa and now if everything goes well I pray and hope that I can enter India again in June this year.

At the moment I am staying at College General Seminary in Penang. I have been here since 4th January, 2012 to do my studies through distance learning. I have not discontinued my studies just because I could not return to India. My Dean of Studies has allowed me to do my assignments and send them via internet to the respective lecturers in JDV Pune, India. I was given 3 assignments on Religious Pluralism; Hermeneutics in the Old Testaments; Guided Paper on Christian Anthropology. Thank God I have completed 2 papers within these past 5 weeks and I have one more paper on Christian Anthropology which I need to be complete by end of March. After that the JDV College in Pune will be closed for summer break. During the month of April and June, I shall continue to stay here in the Penang seminary and start doing my research on my final paper (Dissertation). When I return to India for my 3rd semester I shall also take extra efforts to do my final paper and return before Christmas for good. “Insha Allah! It is just a plan that I have in my mind right now.

Ever since I returned from India I felt a little upset for not returning to my college for studies on time. Initially I could not accept the fact that my visa problem is causing me to stay back in Malaysia till June. Then I realised that it is not my will but His will. Thank God, my studies were not interrupted. I must be grateful to my college dean and my lecturers for allowing me to do the distance learning. I am also grateful to the Rector of the College General, (Penang Seminary), Fr Gerard Theraviam and Archbishop Murphy Pakiam for permitting me to stay here in the seminary. During the day, I spend time in the library doing my studies and during the weekends I help out by celebrating Masses in the nearby parishes in the Penang Island and other places as well.

Since I came to the seminary in January, Fr Gerard welcomed me warmly and I was staying alone in the seminary because the students were on their semester break till 14th February. I occupied my time with my studies and assignments. Penang Island is not a new place for me. I stayed here for eight years for my priestly formation (1995 – 2002). Many lecturers and formators have formed my life in this seminary. This college has a lot of sentimental values for me. This seminary and Penang Island have also taught me what is life all about and I have found meaning in my life here. During my seminary days I loved reading spiritual and psychological books. One of the books that really touched my life during my early formation was “Man Search for Meaning” written by Victor Frankl, a psychologist. It was recommended by the late Fr Francis Regis and it was the last book that I found in the bookstore in Penang Island.

Life is moving as usual. The seminarians are now back from their break and I am following their programmes such as rising, attending morning and evening prayers, studies, games, manual labour and other activities. I hope that my daily routine will also serve as an example to our future priests.