Adoration for Pethapur Community, Gandhinagar on Vianney Feast 4/8/2020 by Xavier James.

 

Adoration for Pethapur Community, Gandhinagar on Vianney Feast 4/8/2020

Opening Hymn: Aradhana prabhu aradhana

Lector: Xavier James

Beloved Archbishop & Presbyterians, Brother, Sister, As the Eucharistic Lord, whom we minister is present, in the wonderful Sacrament of the Altar. Let us worship Him, adore Him, glorify Him and thank Him for his continued presence among us.

Though Sinners, we trust in His merciful love which overflows through this wondrous Sacrament which He left us as an eternal covenant and everlasting memory. It is through His enormous love and forgiveness, He has chosen us weak, fragile human beings as His ministers. Thank you Lord. Forgive us Lord. The contemporary of St. John Mary Vianney in France was St. Peter Julian Eymard who founded the Blessed Sacrament congratation says, “The Eucharist is the answer for all the hunger of the humanity”. We are in front of the same Lord who will surely heal the world torn by Corona Virus. Let us implore the Lord in faith.

On this auspicious day, as we sit before the Eucharistic Lord, Let us reflect on three points to be joyful priests basing the life of St. John Mary Baptist Vianney.

Lector: Sr. Magie

1.When we value priests & priesthood of Jesus Christ, our life will be joyful:

Having completed his studies, Jean Marie Vianney was ordained a priest by the local Bishop Simon on 13^th August 1815. He celebrated his first Eucharist the following day in the Seminary chapel. The new priest was back in Daridelly, his native parish and was very helpful to his vocation promoter in his ministry. He visited the sick and preached the Word of God. He took a lot of time to prepare his sermons, which were short and clear. He also catechized and baptized but was not allowed to hear confessions. Fr. Balley, his Parish Priest & Vocation Promoter took initiative and prepared Jean to appear for exams. As soon as Jean succeeded in his exams, Fr. Balley was the first person to confess to the new confessor. The two priests lived a simple life. When Fr. Balley fell ill, Fr. Jean took care of the parish. On 17^th December 1817, having received the Sacrament of the sick at the hands of the one who humanly speaking owed him his vocation, Fr. Balley breathed his last. The death of Fr. Balley was a great loss for Fr. John and felt deeply sad. In the passing away of Fr. Balley, Fr. John had lost a father, counselor and above all a great friend. He also remarked, “If I were a painter, I could still do a portrait of him, I have encountered some beautiful souls in my life”. John also considered the priesthood as a fulfillment of the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Lector: Xavier James

Many priests have touched our lives when we were children and young. Even today, many priests continue to inspire and encourage us in our ministry. Let us remember those priests who have contributed to our growth as priests. Let us thank God for such priests whom we value. If they have died let us pray for them at this moment, specially our own Archdiocesan priests Fr. Gnana Prakash & Fr. Rocky D’silva. Last year we had one silver jubilarian Fr. Mathew who celebrated silver jubilee year of his sacerdotal ordination. Let us thank God for him. We have a new priest for our Archdiocese, Fr. Deepak Toppo. Let us pray for his ministry. We are glad to have our dear father Kingsline back after his studies. Let us thank God for them. Let us continue to value priests and our own priesthood in order to be joyful priests.

Hymn: Keerthan Sagar – H 24 page 181- Prabhu ye mujpe

Lector: BRITTO

2.When we value our mission & people, our life as priests will be joyful:

The Bishop appointed Fr. John to an obscure village named Ars, which was 18 miles from Erully in the diocese of Lyons. Fr. John arrived at his new parish of Ars on 8^th February 1818. On receiving his assignment from the Vicar General, V.M Courbon, Fr. John was told “there is no great love of God in the parish and you will enkindle it”. Fr. John kept this in mind. He was generous by nature, a man full of confidence, a pleasure to meet. He attracted people with his simple smile and his sense of humour. He was sharp in listening to people and ever committed to their service. He never considered himself above them or their superior. He would often say, “one does not mind a few discomfort, if it is a means of pleasing God” and led a simple life style. Fr. John was full of zeal and enthusiasm. He carried his pastoral work with amiability, endless patience and humility. He visited the village and was available in and around Ars. He was always pleased to be of service. He prayed for the conversion of his parishioners. He used to say often that ‘Ars is no more Ars’ In 1830, Ars was completely converted to the Faith. Many pilgrims started coming to Ars to get a glimpse of the Parish Priest. He always welcomed people who came to meet him and attended to them in their needs.

Lector: Xavier James

Our Archdiocese is very young in the 18^th year and many are young priests with 37 priests in total. Our missions are young, younger and youngest. Hence we need to value our mission and work hard to bring people to Jesus as St. John Mary Vianney did, in order to be joyful priests. Let us pray for our missions: 21 parishes & 5 mission centres. Let us pray for our collaborators 3 men religious congregation with 19 priests and 2 brothers, with women religious congregation and 106 sisters and 10 seminarians.

Hymn: Keerthan Sagar F 5 page 110, Hei Bhagvan

Lector: SUGESH

3.When we value Eucharist, our life will be joyful:

Fr. John said, “Priests are spiritually weak as long as they do not have the Eucharist as the centre of their lives”. As a priest, he was a true shepherd with his heart full of zeal, enthusiasm and concern for the people which flowed from the Eucharist which he celebrated with reverence. Since he did not take proper rest, he became very weak. He confessed at a mass, “I wanted to sleep this morning but I had no hesitation in getting up because the salvation of souls was of the utmost importance”. He was always grateful to all those who helped him in his mission. Even on his sick bed he told them that he was praying for them. On 2^nd August 1859 Fr. John grew weaker and received the Sacrament of the sick from Fr. Toccabier. Although very weak, Fr. John knelt down and received the Sacrament. On 3^rd Bishop came to see him at Ars and at the dawn of 4^th he rendered his soul to God without any struggle. He was 73 and worked at Ars for 41 long years as the Parish priest and true minister of the Eucharist & Reconciliation. He used to enjoy celebrating the Holy Eucharist and administering the Sacrament of reconciliation.

Lector: Xavier James

We are ordained to pray for others through the Divine office and through the Holy Eucharist which is the highest form of prayer and source and summit of our lives. Let us pray that we may take every effort to celebrate the Holy Eucharist with proper disposition and with proper preparation not belittling the sacredness of this great divine mystery. Our love for the Eucharist will make us joyful ministers of the Holy Eucharist and this will help us to serve the needy brothers and siters.

Hymn: Keerthan Sagar P 9, page 343 Kant tu gane

Hymn of Benediction: Let us bow in adoration to this Sacrament so great

Benediction: His Grace Archbishop Thomas Macwan

Hymn: Keethan Sagar F 3 page 109, Manthi nakki karyu che me

Thank you very much. May the Eucharistic Lord be with us always.

Quotes gathered by Xavier James over the years

 

Quotes

Smiling wins more friends than frowning.

Your attitude determines your attitude.

A thousand mile journey begins with the first step.

In fact, unless I possess something, can I really give it?

We are what we repeatedly do, Excellence, then it is not an act, but a habit.             -Aristotle.

There can be no friendship without confidence and no confidence without integrity. -Samuel Johnson.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us. - Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Love is a beautiful flower that blossoms on earth with its roots deeply embedded in eternity. – Marues Johnson

There is no such thing on earth as an uninteresting subject the only thing that can exist is an uninteresting person. – G.K. Chestenson

You alone I love, You alone I seek, You alone my God. – St. Augustine.

A rose in the morning didn’t know that its beauty was born upon a thorn.

The eyes see only what the mind is prepared to comprehend. – Thomas Kuhn

Heaven is full of answers to prayers which no one has bothered to pray. – Billy Graham.

Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things it comes and softly sits on your shoulder.

Those who change after change will survive

Those who change with change will succeed

Those who cause the change will lead.

Behaviour is a mirror in which everyone shows his image.

Life is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel.

As we advance in life we learn limits of our abilities virtue dwells not in the tongue but in the heart.

Many have quarreled about religion that never practiced it. – Benjamin Franklin.

First deserve then desire.

It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them. – Benjamin Franklin.

People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.

Many aspire for greatness but few attain it.

Honesty with oneself is the condition of spiritual integrity. – Dr. Radhakrishnan.

Do not try to become big by making others small.

Only the weaker knows where the shoe pinches.

The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.

Respect the opinions of others even if you disagree with them.

Money comes and goes, morality comes and grows.

Success finds its own way to reach the man of will.

Obstacles are stepping stones and not stopping stones to success.

Success is a public affair, failure is a private funeral.

Success is how high you bounce when you hit the bottom.

Only those who risk going too far can possibly discover how far one can go.

You cannot create experience, you must undergo it.

You cannot discover new Oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.

Winning isn’t everything, but the will to win is everything.

To achieve our goals we must have firm resolve, persistence and tenacity.

Motivation will almost beat mere talent.

Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible.

Team work is the ladder on which all other successes mount.

Be not afraid of rising slowly, be afraid of only standing still.

If often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong.

Obstacles cannot crush me; every obstacle yields to stern resolve.

There is no real excellence in all this world which can be separated from right living. – David Starb Jorden.

It is the character that communicates most eloquently.

Search your own heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life.

We must learn to listen and this requires emotional strength. Listening involves patience, openness and the desire to understand.

It is so much easier to operate from a low emotional level and to give high level advice.

It is futile to part personality ahead of character to try to improve relationship with others before improving own.

No one can persuade another to change. Each of us guards a gate of change that only can be opened from the inside. We cannot open the gate of another either by argument or by emotional appeal.

No one can hurt you without your consent. – Roosevelt.

They cannot take away our self-respect, if we do not give it to them – Gandhi

Believe, Word, Time, Effective compiled by Xavier James.

 

Believe in Yourself

If you think you are beaten; you are

If you think you dare not; you don’t

If you’d like to win but think you can’t, It’s almost a cinch you won’t .

If you think you’ll loose; you are lost.

For out of in the world we find, success begins with a fellow’s will. It’s all in a state of mind.

Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger & faster man: But sooner or later

The man who was, is the one who thinks HE CAN.

WORD

A careless word may kindle strife

A cruel word may wreck a life

A bitter word may hate instill

A brutal word may smite and kill

A gracious word may smooth the way

A joyous word may light the day

A timely word may lessen stress

A loving word may heal and bless.

TIME

Take time to think, it is the source of power

Take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom

Take time to play, it is the secret of staying young.

Take time to be quiet, it is the opportunity to seek God.

Take time to love and be loved, it is God’s greatest gift.

Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul

Take time to work, it is the price of success.

Take time to pray, it is the greatest power on earth.

There is a time for everything.

To Be Effective

As you arrive at your work place, pray to God and ask His guidance.

Greet your colleagues, that is called friendship!

Give to everybody that best of yourself, that is called sincerity!

Programme and organize the day, that is called reflection!

Now that you have planned everything begin to work that is called taking action!

Trust everything will be ok, that is called Faith!

Work with happiness that is called enthusiasm.

Physical – Exercise, nutrition, stress management.

Mental – Reading, visualizing, planning, writing.

Social/Emotional – service, empathy, synergy, intrinsic security.

Spiritual – value clarification, commitment, study & meditation.

Knowledge – What to do, Skill – How to do, Desire – want to do-Habits.

Thoughts on Inculturation gathered by Xavier James.

 

Inculturation

Inculturation of course will have to go farther than picking up and putting together some broken pieces of culture. M Gandhi, “ I must follow them for I am their leader”.

1.If someone wishes to take leadership in any cultural process he/she must keep close to the cultural group which he/she is trying to serve.

2.He/she must listen & learn

3.Must think with the people & look at things the way they do.

4.Must catch their inner rhythm, acquire their manners of expressing their thoughts and feelings, their love, loyalty, religious devotion.

5.Must discover the beautiful and the great in the ordinariness of their lives.

6.Must learn to pray with them and make his/her own than way of giving a concrete form to their invisible world of faith.

7.He/she will greatly benefit from watching carefully what is known as popular religiosity.

It is interesting to look at the world with the eyes of the average man in whom the culture of his community is alive. He is the educator of the inculturator.

Inculturation is an ongoing process.

Every community has its own set of conventions and presuppositions that follow no rule of logic.

Look into seeds of time and say which grain will grow which will not. (Shakespeare in Macbeth)

I don’t want my house to be walled on all sides and that my windows be blinded. I want all cultures of all countries to come into my house. But I refuse to be wiped away by any culture what so ever – M. Gandhi.

What casts a cloud over the marrow are not merely repetitions of individual incidents of violence, but the fact that historic memories are being reviewed, salt is being applied to ancient wounds, myths are being built up to add weight and volume to the already heavy load of collective prejudices.

It is possible to heal collective memories to build bridges and establish happy and collaborative relationships. It is for us to make a definite choice of this alternative.

Culture: Discovery of our times. Concept of culture, Total manner in which a human society responds to an environment.

Psychological distances between communities are called communal tentions.

One understands one’s own culture better by watching alternative expressions in another culture.

Ethno centralism is considering their own culture as the absolute standard not necessarily inferior.

Material culture – Inculturation – Liturgy – Dance

Culture unconscious cultural self-awareness not dress, food habits, but diversity in etiquette organization, perception of time judgment of values.

Different people have different signs to communicate one’s yes may mean no to another community. 

Subjective Thoughts in 1995 not for discussion. Xavier James.

 

Thoughts in July 1995 by Xavier James

The more man is civilized, the more he becomes barbarian.

We want freedom in everything, but we don’t know how to use for constructive purpose.

Women want to equal rights in everything, but they cannot use the rights which they have.

As we are modernizing the world we want to be liberal in many things.

We want to leave the tradition but should not forget that it has something to give us.

Traditions because of which we are respected & honoured.

Four Pillars of Peace from Pope John XXIII in 1963 (Peace on Earth, Pacem in Terris) Xavier James.

 

Four Pillars of Peace

Pacem in Terris – Peace on earth – Pope John XXIII in 1963

I. Truth

Who am I & Why am I?

The basis of any relationship is truth. Satyameva jayate – Truth alone triumphs. 1Kg.12:24, Ps.18:12, Prov.14:22, Is.33:15, Mt. 22:16, Mk.12:32, Lk. 9:27, Jn. 8:32, 14:6, Rom.9:1

II. Justice

For whom am I? Am I for the least, lost, poor, powerless?

Righteousness is sedek, sedakah which is conduct in accordance with Law. Is.1:21-26, Mal.3:18, Mt. 5:10, Innocence Mt.27:4,19, Lk.23:47.

St. Pope John Paul II – If you want peace then work for justice. Proactive & approach and not reactive.

III. Solidarity

Feel and wok for the other’s work. Ez.20:14, Prov.13:16, Jas.2:18-22 Words & deeds have to go hand in hand. Persons become icon of Trust, Hope, Forgiveness like St. Mother Teresa.

IV. Freedom

Gal.5:1, 3:28, Col.3:11. Christian freedom is the life of Spirit to break barriers and build bridges. Relationship is with responsibility Rom.8:7. It reminds us to speak truth, to promote justice, to express solidarity and to respect other’s freedom at all levels in order to promote process and product of peace to avoid violence. It is to encourage understanding and experience reality of Vasudeva kutumbakam Whole world is my family. Family members never expose one another but rather accept and appreciate the other as persons as well as correct compassionately.

Some questions for Children

 

Children: Examine yourself:

Do you love Jesus?

Do you pray regularly?

Do you read Scripture regularly?

Do you by heart Scriptural quotations?

Do you listen to and obey Mom?

Do you listen to the instructions of Dad attentively and put into practice?

Do you listen to the sermon carefully?

Do you go for Sunday Catechism?

Do you Study well?

Do you always speak the Truth?

Do you steal?

Do you speak lovingly with other children and not beat them or fight them?

Do you keep yourself clean?

Do you help others?

Do you say sorry for your mistakes?

Are you humble?

Do you back answer the elders?

Do you respect the elders?

Do you obey the elders?

Do you relate with Fathers and Sisters without quarreling?

Do you help your brothers and sisters?

For the development of Human Relationship Cherished by Xavier James.

For the development of Human Relationship

There are some instructions to protect Human Relationship in Families and work place

Do not be egoist, do not think you are great and others are not.

Do not talk over meaningless, useless matters and avoid loose talks.

In dealing with problems, solve them with diplomacy.

Let go things, compromise with others sometimes.

Think that sometimes you need to tolerate some workers.

Do not think that you are right and be adamant in arguments.

Do not be narrow minded.

Do not carry tales without knowing the Truth.

Avoid superiority complex knowing that it comes from inferiority complex.

Do not have over expectation of anyone or situation.

Do not tell anything and everything to everyone.

Do not believe whatever you hear but discuss.

Do not exaggerate small things.

Be flexible in your opinions.

Do not misunderstand other’s opinions and deeds.

Be courteous in dealing with others and using words.

Do not behave as if you do not have time for smile and loving words.

Be humble and cultured in words and deeds.

Frequently meet the person and be frank in sharing.

When there is some distortion in relationship, take initiative to settle it instead of waiting for the other person to do it.

Whenever necessary, do not forget to thank and congratulate and appreciate. There is no person who does not give into appreciation that will be your victory. (Xavier James)

SSSS reaches out to the needy, SSSS Staff Development Programme, SSSS Field visit & Training, SSSS Annual General Body Meeting.

 SSSS reaches out to the needy

After coordination with District Child Protection Officer, SSSS reached out to interior villages of Dehgam Block in Gandhinagar District. SSSS staff surveyed and found the most needy people and reached out with tarpaulin for shelter to 5 families and food grains for 9 families. SSSS Director and staff were so sad to see the vulnerable situation of those needy. Glory to God for making us His instrument to reach out to them.

SSSS Staff Development Programme

SSSS staff on 18^th September 2020 travelled to Modasa for Staff Development Programme. Fr. Stanny Jebamalai known as Sunnybhai animated the seminar and motivated the staff in effective and professional social work among the vulnerable people. Fr. Siddharth encouraged the staff and asked everyone to be loyal to the institution and committed to the work. At the end of the programme an evaluation was conducted and the staff was overjoyed by the approach of both priests. Thank you dear Fathers. (Xavier James)

SSSS Field visits & Training

In September 2020, SSSS staff together with the director visited Khiloda, Nanakantharia and Vadgam. They participated in the Core Committee meeting of women’s cooperatives in the above parishes. They also checked the documents for better functioning. On 17^th September SSSS staff and the director visited Mehsana & Mandali to help with documentations of the women’s cooperatives and to visit beautician training programme for girls and women and to help persons with disabilities to obtain their government entitlements. SSSS Staff with the director went to Deesa for training of health workers on malnutrition as a part of CHANGE project. 

SSSS Annual General Body Meeting

Annual General Body Meeting of Sabarmati Samruddhi Seva Sangh, Gandhinagar was held on 23^rd September 2020. His Grace Archbishop Thomas Macwan, the president welcomed everyone after the prayer then the report of the previous meeting was read out by Fr. Xavier James, the secretary. Archbishop released the Annual report of SSSS for 2019-2020. Thereafter, SSSS staff presented the activities of each project for the better understanding of the members present. After going through the audit report the members discussed about the organizational development and were happy with the COVID 19 relief work initiated by SSSS staff. His Grace Archbishop thanked and appreciated the director & SSSS staff for reaching out to the poor and needy during the pandemic. With good memories and blessing of Archbishop everyone left for their destination.  

Annual General Body Meeting of Sabarmati Samruddhi Seva Sangh in Gandhinagar.

 

SSSS staff development training by Frs. Sunnybhai & Siddharth in Modasa.

 

SSSS Field visit to Mehsana, Mandali for Women Empowerment programme: Helping with documentation, online application of government entitlement for persons with disabilities, training on beautician course.

 

SSSS, Archdiocese of Gandhinagar distributed tarpaulin for shelter to 5 families and food grains to 9 families in Dehgam block of Gandhinagar district. We were so sad to see their vulnerable situation. Glory to God for making us His instruments to reach out to the needy.

 

SSSS reaches out to the needy

SSSS reaches out to the needy

SSSS reached out to the needy at Borij village in Gandhinagar on 2^nd September 2020. It distributed tarpaulin for shelter to one family and food provisions to 8 families. Prior to the distribution SSSS staff surveyed the area and through coordination with panchayat and anganwadi workers they carried out their work efficiently. May the Lord take care of the needy.

SSSS, Archdiocese of Gandhinagar distributed tarpaulin for shelter to 1 family and food provisions to 8 families at Borij in Gandhinagar.