Remembering St John Don Bosco

Today, August 16th marks the 196th birthday of St John Don Bosco who was born in Turin, Italy in the year 1815.

On January 31st 2009, the relics began a journey throughout 130 countries in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Salesian Congregation. The pilgrimage of the relics was also in preparation for the saint’s 200th birthday in 2015.

On the 8th and 9th of August, the pilgrimage made its way to Pune, India. I was excited at the thought of being able to see the relics when it was brought to the Church of the Sacred Heart in Pune. I had heard so much about the relics and of how the bones and tissue on the saint’s right hand was not decomposed until now.

Unfortunately what was on display was not the relics but instead a wax display of the saint’s body lying in a glass coffin. I was disappointed at this false impression that had been given to the faithful. How could the Church make a mockery of such a thing. I am not sure if the relics were also enclosed within the wax image – personally I doubt it. My companions were equally puzzled and disappointed.

On our way back as we were walking along Yerwada Road, we came across a Tibetan restaurant and decided to console ourselves with some food. We ordered some Chinese noodles and chicken rolls. After being away from Malaysia these past few months, I was longing for some Chinese food.

Although it was delicious, it was not the same as our Malaysian Chinese noodles. Nevertheless I enjoyed my meal.

A Double Celebration

15th of August brings fresh to the minds and hearts of all Indians in India especially Catholics the Glorification of two Mothers, Mother Mary who is glorified in Heaven and the other Mother India who is glorified on earth. Now she is a Queen of Heaven and Queen of Earth.

Fr Thomas Kuriakose, SJ., Dean of Theology of Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth (JDV) celebrated the Mass for us in our Post Graduate chapel. In his homily, he said that the Catholic Church celebrated the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady which made obvious the power of God in raising Mary from the grave to the glory of Heaven and the national celebration which reminded us to use the freedom rightfully and act justly.

There were 60 youngsters who joined in our celebration. They are students of the St Francis Xavier’s College, Mumbai and who are doing their Master’s programme in Business Administration. They came for their weekend camp “get-together” and exposure programme in our college from 12th till 15th August, 2011 and animated the Mass for two days.

After Mass, all of us went up to the viewing deck of our PG block for the flag raising and to sing the national anthem as well. This is the 1st time all of them gathered together to host the national flag on this new block.

On this solemnity day also Frs Saji and Sylvester greeted everyone after the flag raising and singing of the national anthem. They also thanked and prayed for all those known and unknown who have shed their bloods for the Independence of India.

Our country will be celebrating our “Hari Merdeka”(National Day) on 31st August 2011. We obtained independence 10 years after India. I had the opportunity to read the 6-page message of India’s Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s speech delivered on the eve of their Independence Day. It was a very inspirational speech and I have not heard any of our politicians speak this well in Malaysia. I hope on National Days like this the memory of the martyrdom will live forever in our hearts and their sacrifices will always inspire every nation.

Visit from the former Chancellor

Rev Fr Lisbert D’Souza, S.J., the Assistant General of Society of Jesus who stays in Rome came for an official visit to College Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth (JDV).

Fr Lisbert was born in Bombay and served in Bombay province for many years before lecturing in (JDV). He was a former chancellor of JDV and Rector of De Nobili College before receiving his appointment as an Assistant General.

We had the privilege of joining him for lunch together with our college President Rev Fr Job Kozhamthadam last Saturday, 6th August, 2011. Our Monitor (Caput) for Post Graduate Students, Rev Fr Saji, welcomed and greeted him. He said that Fr Lisbert knew almost 4,000 Jesuit priests in India by name. It seems there are approximately 17,000 Jesuit priests in the whole world.

Fr Lisbert is a very simple man with his cheerful look. He encouraged all of us to offer our services to this college in the future as lecturers.

Farewell Bro Rana

Death and funerals are never an easy time for any of us. Unfortunately it happens – that’s the reality of life. I attended my first funeral in India on 30th July, and sad to say, it was the funeral of one of the seminarians who was studying at the college here.

28-year-old Bro Rana Pratap Minj, from the Congregation of Missionaries of St Francis de Sales was a 1st year Theology student and hailed from the province of Uttar Pradesh. He has 3 brothers and a sister who is also in a religious congregation.

Bro Rana, passed away while undergoing a surgery at the Inlaks Budhrani Hospital in Pune for a minor shoulder injury. Apparently, he developed Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) as a reaction to the anaesthesia and had a cardiac arrest. MH is a rare life-threatening condition that is usually triggered by exposure to certain drugs used for general anaesthesia. It happens to one in 100,000 people.

The funeral service was held at the Papal Seminary Chapel and attended by close to 50 priests and lecturers and more than 1,000 students and religious from the various congregations.

Fr Mario D’ Souza (MSFS), provincial of Pune celebrated the Mass, while Fr Sebastian (MSFS), Provincial of Nagpur preached the homily.

Fr Sebastian also shared about the good qualities of Bro Rana who was a very cheerful, humorous and an integrated person. He was very good in music and art and had an ambition to go to Mozambique in Africa for his missionary work. One of his classmates and some of the priests also shared a few words about him and expressed their heartfelt condolences to the family members and friends.

After the Mass, the coffin was kept in the chapel for 30 minutes to enable everyone to pay their respects, before it was taken to Nagpur province (14 hours journey towards North-India) to his home town. In Nagpur there will another funeral Mass with the family and local community followed by the burial.

We shall continue to pray for his soul to rest in peace. “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may His perpetual light shine upon him forever. Amen!”