aikiya annai province

AIKIYA ANNAI PROVINCE
PROVINCIAL ELECTIVE CHAPTER 2016
CHAPTER DOCUMENTS
Vision Statement
We, Servite Friars of the Aikiya Annai Province, gathered in the name
of Our Lord Jesus Christ and under the mantle of the Aikiya Annai (Mother
of Unity) wish to be Christ’s witnesses by living the Charisms of the Order
of Friar Servants of Mary: Fraternity, Service and Devotion to the B.V. Mary.
(Cf. OSM Con. 1)
 Inspired by the life of Seven Holy Founders, we are committed to
extend our fraternity to the people of today who are divided by reason
of age, nationality, race, religion, wealth and education. (Con. 74)
 Seeing in the Aikiya Annai a symbol of unity for all Christians, we
promote unity among ourselves and among today’s disciples of Jesus,
just as the word “Aikiyam’ suggests, by living with one heart and one
mind.(Acts:4. 32)
 We serve together, promoting the same ideals among the people by
choosing to stand with the Sorrowful Mother by those countless
crosses where the son of Man is still being crucified.(Con. 319)
 Living the Servite characteristic of compassion (con.52) and drawing
inspiration from the life of and devotion to St. Peregrine, we serve the
least and the suffering inviting them to look at the crucified Christ as
physician of souls and bodies.
 Like Christ who welcomed and blessed the little ones, we are close to
the youth, instilling Christian values in their young minds through
education in order to help them to discover and strive for their own
vocation in life.
 Remembering the words of the son of man “Whatever you do to the
least of my brothers, that you do unto me”, (Mt.25: 40) we attend to
the needs of our neighbors, add our voice to the voiceless and promote
justice through Pastoral and Social Ministries.
 Attentive to the words of the Master, "Let us go somewhere else-to the
nearby villages-so I can preach there also.” (Mk. 1: 38), we venture into
new mission-places and embrace challenging ministries.
And we do all these with a spirit of detachment, making ourselves
available to fulfill our calling and being ready to go wherever our service
impels us. (Con. 3)
INFORMATION
1. Place
Provincial Elective Chapter 2016 will be held in a retreat house called Joe Beach, just
few kilometres away from Jyothi Matha Alayam. The following is the address of the place
JOE BEACH, EAST COAST ROAD, KRISHNAN KARANAI, MAMALLAPURAM 603
104, Tamil Nadu, India.
2. Date
From 25th to 29th April 2016
3. How to reach the place
The place is situated in the East Coast Road (ECR). Therefore from Tiruvanmiyur you
can take any city buses towards Mamallapuram and get down at the bus stop called
KRISHNAN KARANAI.
4. What to bring
- Religious habit / Cassock
- Constitutions
- Directory of the Province and Acts of the Elective Chapter
5. Persons to contact
For any assistance you can approach Fra.Francis Xavier OSM, the Secretary of the
Province (+919840414157) and Fra.Chinnapparaj OSM, the Joint Secretary of the Province
(+918680860308)
Agenda for the provincial
Elective Chapter 2016
1. Inaugural Session
2. Input sessions
3. Address of the Prior General
4. Election of the Presidential Board
5. Reports of the Prior Provincial and other entities
a. Prior Provincial
b. Treasurer
c. Secretariats
d. Commissions
e. Communities
6. Report of the Preparatory commission
7. Directory of the Province
8. Election of the Assistant Provincial and Councillors
9. Collaboration with other jurisdictions
10. Miscellaneous
PREPARATORY COMMISSION
COMMISSION FOR COUNTING OF BALLOTS
PROVINCIAL ELECTION OF AIKIYA ANNAI PROVINCE
MINUTES OF THE FIRST BALLOT COUNTING
CAPITULARS
1. Abraham M. Adam
2. Ambrose M. Philominraj
3. Anthoni M.Kolandaisamy
4. Antonysamy M. Albert Michael Lawrance
5. Antonysamy M. Arockiasamy
6. Antonysamy M. Baptist Sudhakar
7. Antonysamy M. Bernardin Selvadurai
8. Antonysamy M. Charles
9. Antonysamy M. Lourdusamy
10. Antony M. Dominic John Paul
11. Anthony Savarimuthu M. Francis
12. Arockiam M. Samy Durai
13. Arockiam M. Savariappan
14. Arockiasamy M. Amalraj
15. Arockiasamy M. Susaimani
16. Arockia Samy M Stephen Raj
17. Arputhasamy M. Joseph Arockiasamy
18. Arputham M. Jeganathan
19. Arulsamy M. Anandalourduraj
20. Arulanandam M. Emmanuel
21. Arulanandasamy M. Souriraj
22. Arulanandu M. Gnanapragasam
23. Arulanandu M. Ratchanyadoss
24. Augustine M. Chinnapparaj
25. Augustine M. John Joseph
26. Benjamin M John Roncalli
27. Chinnappan M. Arockiasamy
28. Chinnappan M. Lourdu Xavier
29. Cristinao M. Cavedon
30. Enose M. Raja Rathinam
31. Jean Paul M. Stephen Aroquiadas
32. Kabriyel M. Thimothi
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33. Kulandaisamy M. Denis Sahayaraj
34. Loganathan M. Felixraja
35. Lourdusamy M. John Paul
36. Lyon M.Selvanayagam
37. Manickam M. Michaelraj
38. Mariadoss M. Arulanandu
39. Mariadoss M. Viyagula Antony Raja
40. Mariasoosai M. Alexander Irudayaraj
41. Masilamani M. Maria Soosai
42. Melchoir M. Rajendra Prasad
43. Moses M. Thomas Selvaraj
44. Michael M.Lucas
45. Michael M.Selvakumar
46. Mudiyappan M.Chinnappan
47. Perianayagam M. George Thomas
48. Pragasam M.Sagayadoss
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58. Singarayar M.Christine Jayaseelan 
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49. Raji M. Rajkumar
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50. Raju M.Sahayaraj
51. Ranaveer Joe M. Viblanc Steephen
52. Rayappan M. Antony Sahaya Clitus
53. Savarimuthu M. Maria Antony
54. Savarimuthu M. Puthumai Savari
55. Savarimuthu M.Uvari Antony
56. Selvam M.John Britto
57. Selvaraj M. Suresh Michael Arockiaraj
59. Susai M. Antonysamy
60. Susaipragasam M. Albert Vincent
61. Thainese M. Anbarasan
62. Thomas M. Anthony Raj
63. Thomma Guruzu M. Yesu Rajaiah
64. Vincent M. Gilbertraj
65. Vincent Paul M. Francis Xavier

INVITEES
Fra. Lino M. Pacchin., Priore Provincial VEN
Fra. Benito M. Isip., Vicar Provincial PHI
Fra. Peter M James Porteous., Delegate Provincial AUS
Fra. David M. Mejia., Delegate Provincial IDX/MEX
Fra. John M. Fontana., Prior Provincial USA
Fra. Baur M. Andreas., Prior Provincial TIR
Fra. Michel M. Tremblay., Prior Provincial CAN
Fra. Badillo M. Javier ., Delegate Provincial ESP
reports
REPORT OF THE PRIOR PROVINCIAL
Life in the Province in this Quadrennium 2012 - 2016
Introduction
At the end of the first Quadrennium as Province first of all in communion with you I
thank the Lord for all the wonderful things that he has done. Having experienced God‟s
mighty hand we can really sing together with Mother Mary the song of magnificat for the life
we cherish and the service we have rendered to the poor and the marginalized. In line with
the mind of the General Chapter, we can say that we have allowed the word of God to
resound “let it be done according to your word” (Lk. 1.38).
The Province
Life in the Province in general is moving smoothly with its ups and downs. Looking back
four years of life as new Province we can cherish every moment. We thank the Lord for the
youthfulness, love and dedication with which we marched forward, creating foot prints for
many others to follow and reach the stage as Province with the hope of great future. I hope
you all agree with me.
In Asia, the Order is expanding slowly; we are looking forward to a bright future like our
community in Myanmar. Apart from this, as collaboration and new ventures i.e expansion we
feel happy and proud of our presence in Europe, USA, Spain and Canada.
We the Servites in India are very well aware of the above-mentioned realities. We put
our heart and soul to witness the Gospel values and our Servite Charism in our life style and
in our apostolate. We have been “the servants” in the Indian Church since 1974 and at the end
of it all we keep up the teaching of the Gospel “We are useless servants, we have done no
more than our duty” (Lk17:10). To certain extend we can say that we are useful servants
building the Kingdom of God in given situations. With love and joy we served our brothers
and sisters each and every day and showed the face of the merciful Father and merciful
Mother. We can also say that the year of Consecrated life made us to have a clarity of our
being: “where there is religious, there is joy”, “to wakeup the world” and to be the “experts in
communion”. More over the just started the Jubilee of Mercy is calling us to imitate the
merciful Father. Indeed we are in tune with the Universal Church and we constantly renew
ourselves in many ways. As the Holy Father says we look at the past with gratitude and look
at the future with hope and courage. Together with him we may say that our life in the
province undertook a fruitful journey of this quadrennium during which we have experienced
lights and shadows and it has been a time of grace marked with the presence of the Spirit.
Statistics
We are constantly growing numerically. It is a gift from the Lord. One side of the
Order we see the scarcity of Vocation and in our part of the world still the Lord is so
generous in giving the young ones to prolong our history in India and to contribute to the
world. When we became Province there were 52 solemn professed and 41 students in
formation in different stages. As on now we are blessed with 14 more solemn professed and
47 students in different formation stages.
a) Solemn Professed
India - communities
Rome + Monte Senario
Padua
Myanmar
USA
Canada
Spain
Experience in the diocese and at home
Total
b) Temporary Professed
Regents
Philosophy
Total
c) Candidates to the Order
Novices
45
04+1
03
05
02+1
01
01
02
65
07+1
08
10
Pre-novices
19
Postulants
10
Total
39
We are altogether 65+8+39 =112 in numbers. We are grateful to God for the Vocation
of young men; I thank each one of you for your witnessing life as brothers and the wonderful,
hard and the sacrifices of Vocation Promoters and the commitment and the constant
encouragements of the formators and the witnessing life of the Formation communities.
Communities
There are Ten (10) communities; eight (8) in India, one in Myanmar and one in
Padua. There is one in the process of becoming a community (ad experimentum). There are
four formation houses: Postulancy, Pre–Novitiate, Novitiate and Post-Novitiate and one
Postulancy in Myanmar.
First of all I would like to thank everyone in the communities and special thanks to all
the Priors of the communities. All of them were able to animate the community in a good
way. They kept the records in a proper way and followed the annual program as the
provincial council approved them. In general in all the communities there is a good
atmosphere of fraternal life and team work. There are a few who feel out of place and we
were not able to give what they ask and the problem of non collaboration comes out.
Sometime they do not live their life as religious and some of their personal problems are
brought out as the problem of the Province. It is also sad that some friars‟ attitude and life
style slowly heading towards unbecoming of a religious who had made his evangelical vows
and ordained as priest. It is like a thorn in the flesh.
In this quadrennium we came across a few problems in the community life. The
provincial council and some time the Provincial with Vice Provincial dealt with some
problems. We are aware that this tension is part of life and we understand it is a sign of
growth. But the members of the community need to feel that we are called to witness Christ
in our life. This is evident even in the report of the Prior General on his canonical visit.
Friars
In general all the friars are keeping good health. Two of them crossed sixty and other
few others may reach in the coming quadrennium. I see also some minor illness but in
general many of us enjoy good health. During the visit, we encouraged the friars to take care
of their health. At this juncture I cannot but remember Fra.Jesudoss OSM who has gone to
eternity in his young age. The whole Province, the Order and all others were shaken and
saddened by the untimely death. For the first time we experienced death in our province.
During this quadrennium I was able to meet the friars personally in various
celebrations of the province and during the canonical visit to the communities along with Fra.
John Roncalli OSM. There were a few friars who did not turn up for the personal dialogue.
Nevertheless I met all the friars except Fras.Antony Xavier OSM, Kolandaisamy OSM and
Felix Raja OSM in their respective places of ministry. But I made it a point that I had met
them during their home coming for holidays. On the whole I thank each one of you for your
open sharing through which I came to know about your joys, successes, problems, concerns
and anxieties and the concern over the life and ministries of the province.
Many of the friars are happy about the life that they live and see that they are
committed and contribute a lot for the growth of the communities and of the province. I
appreciate all of you for the service we render to the people who are entrusted to our care and
the needy ones. We can still improve our fraternity if we keep up in mind “forgiveness and
fraternal correction” (Const 52-56) and accept each one as a brother.
A few are very much concerned about the others than themselves. There is a need to
deepen ones‟ religious life and to update oneself in religious matters. There are some basic
human qualities needed to be borne in mind and expressed during the Canonical visit; I have
underlined this aspect to the concerned.
During the Canonical visits, we were able to listen to your open sharing with regard to
the province, your personal issues and your religious life. Really we thank some our friars
who had been really edifying and some were not clear about the visit and its meaning. We
have seen in the chronicles that there have been frequent absences of friars from the
communities for longer period. This needs to be reduced. There need to be deep-rooted
religious life and authenticity in the life in general.
Friars and their preparations
- Fra. Denis OSM obtained his Doctorate in Mariology in Marianum
- Fra. Uvari Antony OSM obtained his Doctorate in Systematic Theology in
Urbanianum
- Fra. Jeganathan OSM obtained his doctorate in Mariology in Maraianum
- Fra. Souri Raj OSM obtained his licentiate in Canon Law in St Peters‟ Pontifical
Institute
- Fra. Francis Xavier OSM has obtained his M Ed in Education, Sathyabama
University, Chennai
- Fra. Lourdu Xavier OSM has obtained his doctorate in Philosophy in CUEA, Nairobi,
Kenya
-
Fra. Chinnappan OSM is doing his Doctorate in Education in Periyar University in
Vallam- Tanjore
- Fra. Rajendra Prasad OSM obtained his B.Ed in Thiruvannamali
- Fra. Francis OSM is doing his licentiate in Spirituality in Bangalore
- Fra. Puthumai Savari OSM is doing his B.Ed in Trichy
- Fra. Arockiasamy OSM is doing is licentiate in Anthropology in Florence, Italy
During this quadrennium few of our friars were assigned for new mission and
collaboration with in the Order and with Other Jurisdiction
- Fra. Felix Raja OSM, left for Ottawa - Canada on collaboration in the month of August
2012.
- Fra. Lucas OSM, left for Italy for updating but he was asked by the Prior General to work
in formation as Assistant Master. Eventually he has been appointed as the Master and
Prior of St.Alexis Formation community.
- Fra. Antony Xavier OSM, left for Australia in the first week of June 2013 on
Collaboration and recently he made a request of switching over to another jurisdiction.
The Provincial Council consented and we are waiting for the reply from USA Province.
- Fra. Kolandaisamy OSM, left for Spain on collaboration 0n 8 th December 2013.
- Fra. Souriraj OSM, having been elected as General Councilor left for Italy in December
2013.
- Fra. Arockiasamy OSM, has left for Monte Senario, Italy in January 2014 under the
obedience of Prior General.
- At the request and direction of the Prior General, Fra. Amalraj OSM has been assigned to
Generalate to prepare himself for the assignment of Archivist of the Order
- Fra. Samy durai OSM, left for US on 15th March 2014 and he was appointed as associate
Pastor in one of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Now he is the associate
pastor of our Servite parish, Divine Saviour Parish.
- Fra. Rajkumar OSM has come back to India from Uganda due to his ill health.
- Fra. Steephen Viblanc OSM left for USA on 17th July 2014 to collaborate with USA
Province and he is in the Servite High School at Anahaim.
- Fra. Rajendra Prasad OSM has come back from Italy due to his health reason.
- Fra. Rajaiah OSM had asked for a year of experience in the diocese of Kumbakonam but
from the first week of Feb 2016 he returned to the community.
- Fra. Gilbert Raj OSM having returned from Australia was there in one of our
communities and at present he is serving at Infant Jesus Church, Vivek Nagar, Bengaluru.
- Fra. Lourdu Xavier OSM has come back from East Africa due to some health reason.
- On 3rd November 2014, the Provincial Council unanimously approved the request of Fra.
Cristiano Cavedon OSM to be incorporated into Aikiya Annai Province. Having been
approved by both the councils, he serves as Parish Priest of Chiesa dei Servi di Maria at
Padua.
Dear brothers, I thank each one of you for your contribution to the province and to the
Jurisdiction where you are. I requested a few of them to take care of their health and live their
life peacefully in the communities in which they are assigned.
Vocation and Formation
Aikiya Annai Province, in offering human religious formation, commits itself to a
concrete witness to fraternal life which is the basis for the formation of the Servants of Mary.
Unity in a life of prayer and work influences the integration of all into the life we profess and
significantly contributes to personal developments. (Cf.cons.121)
Vocation
Formation is one of the top most priorities of the Province and we give due
importance to it. A full time Vocation promoter is assigned to visit all the schools in Tamil
Nadu. He is encouraged to visit the parishes and take initiatives to go to neighboring states
like Karnataka, Andra Pradesh and Kerala. In two of our Vocation camps students from other
states had participated but till now no one was willing to join and hope in the future the
Vocation promoter takes care of this. I appreciate the works of the Vocation Promoters for
their hard work and sacrificing spirit encouraging the young men to make them join the
Order.
Formation
The Provincial Council identified the friars for formation and sent for preparations.
The formators were encouraged to attend at least two courses based on their need and time
schedule to be efficient in giving formation. As formation is one of priorities of the Order, the
Provincial Council pays due attention in forming the formation communities. The friars of the
formation communities collaborate efficiently with the spirit of collegiality (Cf. cons.122)
and still we need to pay more attention to this.
Formees meet and the parents meet
The Vocation and Formation Secretariat has organized Formees‟ Meet for two
different stages. This moment of gathering has indeed helped the formees to strengthen their
relationship as members of one family. Over all the meets were moments of knowing each
other and a channel to see others to take something out their life and to grow in fraternity,
encouraging the young students for the bright future of the Province.
Philosophy and Theology for our students
The long time desire of having philosophical and theological studies in the Religious
atmosphere was realized. Vocation Formation Secretariat and a special Commission formed
by the Provincial Council studied the possibilities and the proposals were presented in the
Plenary Council held on 19th February 2014. The Plenary council decided that from 2014
onward our temporary professed will do their Philosophical studies in De Paul Institute of
Religion and Philosophy, Bengaluru. This consultative voted decision was approved by the
Council on the same day. With regard to the faculty of theology we need to orient ourselves
whether to continue in St.Peter‟s Pontifical Institute or look for some religious atmosphere.
On-going Formation
Annual Retreat is organized every year. Apart from this, a few of our friars were
asked to go for some renewal course aiming at overcoming personal difficulties and problems
and insert themselves in the communities. Young priests‟ meet was organized to share their
difficulties and strengthen each other in the community and pastoral work.
The Province also pays attention in preparing friars who can work in the formation.
We have identified a few friars and asked them to go for short and long preparation. (We are
trying to get admission in Rulla Course in Gregoraianum Rome or in USA Catholic
University and two of our friars Fra. Albert Michael Lawrance OSM and Selvakumar OSM
had gone for two months formation course in Patna. Fra. Bernardine Selvadurai OSM also
attended a course on formation in Pune.
Two of our friars Fra. Adam OSM and Fra. Antony Samy OSM attended 2 days of
seminar in CITADEL, Salesian Provincialate, Chennai on CRISEC FORMATION and
PSYCHO-SEXUAL INTEGRATION AND CELIBACY respectively.
Pastoral activities
There are 9 parishes: 6 in India and one in Myanmar, one in Pauda (Chiesa di servi)
and one in Los Angeles (Divine Savior), USA. Our friars, as pastors, are doing a wonderful
service in the Church in collaboration with the lay people. The people in the parishes and the
Bishops in the respective diocese appreciate our service to the people. I cannot say that all the
parish people are happy and it will not be possible for us to satisfy all of them. But still we
can show love for the people and listen to them carefully and become aware that we are for
the people and to give Christ to them and impart our charism to them. In short we have
witnessed fraternal atmosphere in the parishes.
Our Parishes are in the periphery. We had chosen to work for the people who are not
given much attention. We had gone to the places where nobody wants to go and we face
many challenges and some time we get threats to our own life and we are called to live in
constant vigilance. And we really stand at the foot of the crosses where the Son of man is still
being crucified. We know that it is not easy to work in the places like Muppaiyur, Kilnathur
and Siluvaipuram but our mission to build the kingdom of God and bring liberation to the
people not only to their souls but for the whole human person in a given social political and
economical situation. I thank each one of you for your valuable and loving service to the
people. There are a few speak ill of the people, I request those friars to respect them and treat
them with humanity because they are the body of Christ.
School Ministries
There are 5 schools. Among them three are founded by us Servites and one school is
given to us by the Diocese and another one belongs to the diocese but administered by the
Servites. Three of these schools are Matriculation Schools where our friars as the
Correspondents, the principals and secretaries administer the schools. We have started the
school ministry just ten years ago. We are providing a quality of education to the kids. At
present we impart education to around 2500 and above children and nearly 100 teachers cater
to the need of the children.
Since it is new ministry for us we struggle to work as a team. The province has taken
stern steps to make it as team work and we have given guidelines to follow. Many meetings
were organized and hope that in the future we are able to do better and we too annually
prepare friars to take up the school ministry.
Apart from these pastoral, school ministries we have a Remedial school and a Home
for the Aged. We run a remedial school at Muppaiyur. We feel happy that one of the best
services rendered to the society is through our Remedial School. In the recent past we did
well but last two years there was sudden lapse as quite many of the students did not get
through the examinations. In the future we do not know how to carry out this due to lack of
students, new educational policy and lack of social fund. There was a moment when we
wanted to close the school fortunately our community in Padua came forward to help us
financially and now it is time for us to decide to carry out or not.
With the collaboration of OSSM in Trichy and some financial support of the Province
Tiroles we are able to carry out the project. Most of the people in the Home for the aged, are
destitute and only a few contribute something. This is another ministry through which we
Servites participate in the suffering of the humanity and stand at the foot of the crosses of this
world.
Apart from these we also have sponsorship and social welfare programmes. In
carrying out the sponsorship programme and the remedial School the Venetian Province is
helping us a lot. Some of the communities are asking money for this program but there are
laps in providing updates of the children. Taking into account all the communities, we help
around 60 boys and girls for their studies. We help them pay their school fee and other needs.
We have started with help of CEI Fr. Mariano Social Welfare Center to help people in
and around Kilnathur. On 5th December 2014 Prior General laid the foundation stone and we
started some of the activities like driving and tailoring in the existing campus. In the first year
– 2015, 120 boys and girls obtained Driving license. Apart from these 3 gatherings were
organized for the self help women group as part of women welfare and upliftment. We have
completed the construction of a building for this purpose.
There are friars, who, apart from their responsibilities in the community, go for
preaching retreats, teaching in the seminaries and giving seminars. Fra. Ratchanyadoss OSM
having rendered his service as Secretary of the Laity Commission of Tamilnadu Bishop‟s
Conference and has come back to the Province with rich experience.
We also have Aikiya Annai Institute of Mariology at Jyothi Matha Alayam, Chennai.
In the last summer vacation, around 12 students took part in the course. Our simple professed
friars, religious nuns, brothers and lay people have benefitted from the Institute. We also
foresee that in the first week of May two day seminar on “Mother Mary the merciful Mother”
Administration and Financial Autonomy
The Province is endowed with young and energetic friars. This is the big resource that
the province has. All of us are well trained in various fields namely: pastoral, formation,
Psychology and counseling, education, preaching and social service. According to the signs
of time we have to respond to the need of the hour which invites us to contribute and share
for the common good of the province.
Since the beginning the venetian province has been supporting us with mass stipend.
Since 2012 gradually the number of masses is decreased. The Province has given to all the
friars the needed stipend through the various other resources.
The same is for the maintenance of the students. In these years the province has
covered the deficit through the various other resources.
The needed resources are taken from Chennai Hostel, Trichy Mahal, Jegan Matha
School and Mount Senario school. A detailed report will be presented by the Treasurer of the
Province. In nut shell the province has a capacity to meet approximately 50% of its need
through the local income. If there are new projects then we may have to make use of the
available local income.
Provincial Council
So far we had 33 Provincial Council meetings and a few extra-ordinary council
meetings held in different communities of the Province. Apart from decision making on the
ordinary living of the Province, the Council had to make some important decision for the
common good of the Province. There were times we found it hard to take some decision. At
this juncture I wholeheartedly thank the Council for enabling collegial decision. The
suggestion of the Prior General on his Canonical visit i.e to have Councils in all the
communities in India will be considered in the forthcoming Quadrennium.
During this Quadrennium we had two Plenary Councils held 12 th February 2013 and
19th February 2014. During these meetings the life of each community was shared. We also
had taken the following few decisions:
- exchange of land with Ms.Paunammal at Annai Formation House. This was not
carried out due to some problem.
- From 2014 academic year onward our temporary professed would be doing their
Philosophical studies in De Paul Institute of Religion and Philosophy, Bengaluru.
This is realized.
- To request all the bishops of Tamilnadu for Servite presence in their respective
dioceses of Tamilnadu. There were two positive replies from the bishops and only one
was realized. In the archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore we are given a parish –
Amalorpava Matha Church, Poompozhil Nagar, Avadi. On 16 th December 2015, the
parish was officially handed over to us.
- We bought 2.1/2 acres of land at Kilnathur for our mission with the partial amount
from Mission Preaching
- Until we get the NOC for the proposed Annai Velankanni Matriculation School
building, we keep the status quo. (Recently we received an official notice from
Thasildhar stating non-objection for the proposed school building up to X STD for
Annai Velankanni School.)
Generating income from the existing communities:
AikiyaAnnai Province wishes to stabilize its financial autonomy from the initial
phase. We have been trying our best to be self-sufficient and we have decided the following
to earn our daily bread:
- Appointing additional friars to teach in our schools and their income is transferred to
the Province.
- From the local income (Congruva, preaching, pastoral ministry, etc.,) 25% is given to
the Province. The contribution is paid once in four months. This was done only one
year. i.e., 2012-2013 financial year.
- Formation communities maintain themselves with the student‟s quota. The mass
money of the formation community will go to the student‟s fund. This is done in
Jegan Matha Priory where the master of the pre novices offers mass for the province.
In extra ordinary situation, the community requests the council for assistance.
- To find sponsors from agencies for our students in formation and to the temporary
professed.
- To find local donors and benefactors for our students
- To organize Fund raising days in our parishes
- to encourage the faithful to initiate themselves in our new perpetual mass offering
Generating income by friars:
- Preaching
: In India and abroad
- Mission Appeal : in USA, Europe and Italy
- Teaching
: in our Schools, in the faculties and other institutions
- Besides these, we have two other sources: Mahal (marriage hall) and Hostel
Collaboration with other Jurisdictions
The Province continues the current collaboration with the Venetian Province, USA
Province, Australian Delegation and East African Delegation. Further, the Province is open to
continue the existing collaborations with other Servite jurisdictions. When there are requests,
the Province shall respond taking into consideration its own possibilities and resources
(personnel and other).
There were two proposals such as to take up the Parish at Follina and the Chiesa di
servi di Maria in Padua from Venetian Province. The first one was dropped and the second
one was realized and it is given canonical status. It is a parish but the Church is given to the
Servite with another Chapel and two friars will be paid by the Diocese and we are asked to
take care of the spiritual need of the people who come there: Confession, Mass and other
sacraments. It is near the University of Paduva and lots of people visit the church and it is in
the heart of the city.
With regard to the collaboration with Venetian Province i.e East Africa and
Australian Delegation, Fra. Rajkumar OSM has come back to India due to his health
problem. Fra. Rajendra Prasad OSM due to his health problem came back to Province and
Fra. Gilbertraj OSM is back to the Province by 31 st March 2014 as per the direction of the
Provincial Council. Fra. Lourdu Xavier OSM due to his health problem returned to India.
Fra. Anthony Xavier OSM who is in Australia in collaboration has decided to join the
Delegation and on 11th January 2016 the Provincial council had given its consent.
Fra. Koladaisamy OSM is in Spain on collaboration with the delegation.
Since August 2012, Fra. Felix Raja OSM is in Ottawa serving as Parish Priest. Fra.
Steephen Viblanc OSM is serving the Servite High School, Anheim, USA since 2014. In our
collaboration with other jurisdictions only a few contribute but others are just collaboration
out of our generosity and love for the Order.
SERVANTS OF MARY (OSM) FLOOD RELIEF WORK
The capital city of Tamil Nadu Chennai and its coastal districts have experienced
rainfall since the dawn of November 2015. This rain continued and the intensity of rain
increased as the days progressed in the first week of December. It has reached its climax on
the consequent days from December 1 st December onward, where the capital city has
experience the historic rainfall measuring over 1000mm, the highest rainfall in 100 years.
We the friars experienced flood but not affected much. This down pour has affected
the communities where our friars live. Initially the community at Siluvaipuram – Our Lady of
Lourdes Servite Priory was surrounded with water and the friars were stranded inside their
rooms managing with very minimum food.
In the city of Chennai and its outskirts our communities Jyothi Matha Alayam,
Chennai and Annai Formation House – novitiate house, Perumaleri (Mamallapuram) have
experienced this historicity. The water level in both these communities rapidly increased and
in both the houses water entered the chapel.
The people nearby who had their houses in the lower lane were affected the worse and
even the water gushed into their ground floor a few feet and spoiled all the basic things of
house hold and the food. There was blackout for three to four days and no network. There
were a very few exchange of communication. Most of the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu
like Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur and Cuddalore were tossed up by this heavy
down pour. All these and much more than these were telecasted in the TV channels.
We the Servites having come up with the initial hurdles, started to help the people in
and around our place. On two consecutive days i.e 5 th and 6th December we the friars and
postulants of Jyothi Matha Alayam community prepared food for 250 and 500 people
respectively and distributed to the people at Nehru Nagar, which comes under the Servite
Parish, Infant Jesus Church, Sholinganellore.
After providing food for the people, we thought of doing something essential for the
people as the food items are mostly given by other people. So in the second phase we
purchased the following essentials for the people - 600 blankets, 300 sarees, 400 towels, 300
lungies, 100 Churidhars, 100 nighties, 300 t-shirts, 100 in-skirts. Apart these we also bought
600kg of rice.
Following the ideals of Mother Mary at the foot of the cross, we the Servites in India
by this simple act of communion with the affected could continue the act of her - stood by the
cross of those affected by this monstrous rain.
At the end of it all, we feel happy to involve ourselves in this initial relief works and
we are looking forward to your generous contribution for the rehabilitation works.
Foundation of Myanmar
The Foundation of Myanmar has grown a lot. One community but in three places the
friars work: Seven Holy Founders‟ Priory, parish at Thongwa and St Anthony Parish in
Yangon. Now we are not serving at St Antony Parish but we are giving a hand to Fr. Joseph
Muwing at Mount Olive Parish, Yangon. Fra. Maria Soosai OSM is working hard to improve
the condition of the Parish. We have moved our students who have come for “Come and
See” program to Seven Holy Founders‟ Priory community. The Provincial Council held on
11th July 2014 approved a formal formation to begin in Mynmar and thus appointed 2
Masters in charge of formation. Later the Council also approved two separate programme one
as “Come and See Programme and the other one as “Postulancy Programme”. In the initial
years the friars were living in 3 different places they were encouraged to come for periodical
meetings like: recollection, Conventual Chapter and other meetings. On 24 th June 2014, Fra.
Emmanuel OSM has joined the Foundation. He is in the learning process of the local
language. He gives a hand in formation. He is happy and keeps good health and does good
work in the Foundation.
During the last canonical visit, the community‟s life was evaluated. The community in
general is happy. The community also expressed its concern for the growth of the Myanmar
foundation. At present there are five friars living in 2 different places. Fra. Maria Soosai
OSM and Fra. Thomas OSM are in the Parish at Thongwa; Fra. Alex OSM, Fra. Jayaseelan
OSM and Fra. Emmanuel OSM are in Seven Holy Founders Priory with the students who are
in initial formation programme. You could find the details in the Prior‟s report. We are
expecting two students for the Novitiate this year. In the month of August 2013 we have
bought ten Acers of land as an investment for the future of Myanmar foundation.
Concerns of the future
- concern to work out the way to live joyfully, peacefully and responsibly the life
that we have chosen
- need to work for the common good than aiming at personal agenda
- to take care of the formation for the good of the Order and of the Church
- Los Angeles – USA parish where our friars live could be made as a canonical
community
- Continuing the Mission Preaching
- We have tried our best to establish our presence in different dioceses. The
Archdiocese of Madras Mylapore came forward to offer a parish and we are there.
Yet we continue to look for the new presence as we have made an official request
to many Bishops and a special commission can be formed by the Provincial
Council which could also study all the possibilities.
- From the Order many requests are coming out for the collaboration: Venetian
Province is closing off some communities and they are asking to take up a
community,
- USA Province: asking one more friar for the school.
- The assigned friars for collaboration with the Province of Tiroles have obtained
visa and will be moving in the second week of May 2016.
Many of these provinces helped us in our growth and it is in gratitude we can extend
our generous hearts to them to collaborate. We also can request these provinces where we
collaborate to participate in our developmental works and in our mission in Myanmar or other
places in future.
Buds of Gratitude
 We are grateful to the Almighty God for His presence in our Province and for the
protective presence of our Mother Mary and for the intercessions of our First Fathers
who continue to inspire us to build brotherly friendship among us so as to give witness
to the Gospel.
 I sincerely acknowledge the collaboration of Fra. John Roncalli OSM the assistant
Provincial and Councilors of the Province Fra. Lourdusamy OSM, Fra. Stephen
Aroquiadas OSM, Fra. Michaelraj OSM and I express my sincere and heartfelt thanks
and gratitude to you for having been with me to carry out this team work. It was not
easy but we made it.
 I sincerely acknowledge and appreciate the hard work of Fra. Sahayaraj OSM who has
served the Province as Treasurer. He was well appreciated by the General economo and
his co visitor for all the minute details in all the registers and for the future orientation.
He also made a personal comment that among the Provinces the Indian Province has
made everything clear and transparent. I credit this appreciation to you Fra. Sahayaraj
OSM. Well done. Thank you.




I also sincerely thank Fra. Francis Xavier OSM the Secretary and Fra. Chinnapparaj
OSM the joint secretary of the Province for their service to the Province. I also thank
them for their tedious work as editors of Appadiye Agattum
I sincerely acknowledge and appreciate the hard work of the coordinators of secretariats
and commissions for their valuable contributions in animating various programmes in
these years.
Special thanks to Fra. Ratchanyadoss OSM, who accompanied me to many agencies.
With his efficiency, we were able to get positive replies for some of our projects from
many of the agencies.
I sincerely acknowledge and appreciate every one of you in the Province for your
esteemed collaboration and fraternal love. In fact we have our own talents, strengths
and positive qualities and we have our own limitations and shortcomings too that we
need to be aware of. The council and myself had to face a few painful situations in
which we were called to be strong in our decision making certainly that would have
created pain and suffering in individual friars. It may seem that we were or myself was
not able to understand the situation or we lacked the love and concern but we did it with
fraternal love and with Gospel and constitutional direction. If the council or myself
were strong and created pain in you I ask pardon. Thank you for having co-operated
and put up with me during this this quadrennium. May the Lord enlighten us to discern
His will and make us as His instruments to build up His Kingdom on earth. May our
Mother Aikiya Annai unite us together to say “let it be done according to your word”.
Dear Brothers I just would like to conclude my report with an invitation to all the
friars of the Province in line with the GC2013 for the common good of the Province as we
begin the new quadrennium. With Mary we Servants, brothers and sisters in the kingdom, try
to commit ourselves to those same gestures which bring consolation and comfort to every
situation of suffering. In the name of the Father, in whom we profess our faith, may none of
us be a cause of pain that brings tears to others, but only a source of joy and hope that take
away all sadness. Let our aim be to renew our personal commitment to Jesus, Master and way
of life for us. Let us all wish to be like Mary, people of communion together, in accordance
with our vocation as Servites. Thank you.
REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIAT FOR THE ELECTIVE
CHAPTER 2016
In this quadrennial the administrative secretariat is composed of three friars. The secretariat
normally met twice a year, once at the beginning of the academic year to study the budget
and make proposal to the council and the second towards the end of the financial year. The
members of the secretariat visited all the communities and other institutions at least once a
year for account verification.
On 11th March 2016 members of the secretariat met in Jegan Matha Priory, Trichy to study
the various needs of the province and to make proposal to the elective chapter. After wide
range of discussion it was unanimously decided to send the following proposals:
1. Keeping in mind the recent scenario with regard to the mass stipend from the venetian
province and the recent proposal by the venetian province itself, the secretariat
proposes to give Rs. 300 as mass stipend for 25 masses and Rs. 100 for 5 masses.
Thus giving Rs. 8000 to a friar for the ordinary maintenance.
2. For the past 10 years the same student‟s quota is given for the maintenance of the
formees. It is proposed to increase Rs. 50 to each stage of formation.
3. The secretariat proposes to continue the medical insurance as it is.
4. Keeping in mind the growing need of booking various travel ticket through on line, it
is proposed to give a debit card to the friars and the pocket money, Christmas gift and
holiday money could be deposited in the account either in one or two installments.
SERVITE FAMILY SECRETARIAT
The Scope of this secretariat is to strengthen our relationship and to collaborate with all the
components of Servite Family. The followings are the members of this family:
Order of Friar Servants of Mary: (Fr. A. Susaimani, Sahayaraj and Ananda Lourduraj are
members of this secretariat)
Mother of Sorrows Servants of Mary– India
Sisters Servants of Mary Our Lady of Sorrows, Pisa
Sisters Servants of Mary Mother of Sorrows, Florence
Compassionate Sisters Servants of Mary
OSSM groups Chennai, Trichy and Kerala
FSS ( Friends of Servite sisters)
Many attempts were made to bring together these members. At the end we could
gather only once 9th July 2014 at Jegan Matha Priory. The above family members were
present for the gathering. Fra.Rathanyadoss OSM was invited to give an input session and he
through different messages, thoughts, and examples appealed the gathering to safeguard
Servite Identity and Spirituality. The following initiatives were explained and the
collaboration was sought:
-
Servite Spirituality Course and Diploma Course in Mariology
-
Revised Servite Missal with Lection in English
-
update the Tamil Servite Missal
The gathering has also decided to publish a common news letter: INDIAN SERVITE
FAMILY NEWS BULLETIN, once in three months in which we share our experiences and
other important occasions in each of the entity. The expenses will be shared by all. The editor
Fra.Francis Xavier OSM, tried his best at various times to collect the articles from different
family members but not able to succeed as there was very poor response.
After this meeting, many efforts were taken to come together to realize what we had
decided but due to internal pressure and other works the Servite family was not able to come
together. To conclude there are few occasions like Mariology Course, Spirituality Course and
other Celebrations bind us together. We hope and wish that in future we may find many
occasions to gather as one Servite Family.
EDUCATIONAL SECRETARY
We the members of the educational secretary gathered on 19.03.2016 at 10.am in
Jegan Matha priory. The following members were Fr. Micheal Raj osm, Fr. R. Sahayaraj
osm, Fr. M. Arulanandu osm, Fr. Suresh osm and Fr. Charles osm were present. Fr. Stephen
Arockiadoss was absent due to his personal work. The Meeting was started with a short
prayer by Fr. Arulanandu osm.
The following proposals are as follows
1. “Correspondent and Principal can be appointed in the school
The secretary of the school can be removed”.
2. Priority is to be given to Annai Velankkani Matric School.
3. Up gradation of Mount Senario Matric School can be
foreseen.
4. To improve the quality of Education a team can inspect the
School regularly and also regents can be appointed in order
to improve communicative English. The meeting came to an
end at 11.15 am at a short prayer.
5. Cheque can be signed by both correspondent and principal.
FR. M. ARULANANDU
CO-ORDINATOR OF THE EDUCATIONAL SECRETARY
REPORT OF THE COMMUNICATION AND PUBLICATION COMMISSION FOR
THE PROVINCIAL ELECTIVE CHAPTER
The Communication and Publication Commission is a vibrant commission which
carried a diligent and committed service through the incessant collaboration of many friars
who were part of this commission during this quadrennium. At the fag end of this
quadrennium the commission feels happy and satisfied about its responsibilities that are
carried out diligently in collegial spirit.
Appadiye Agattum
Appadiye Agattum – our Mariological monthly is running on 7th year. The
commission having listened to the comments from many Religious and other lay readers feels
that our Charism of promoting True Marian Devotion through the Mariological Magazine
Appadiye Agattum is well appreciated and we need carry with same spirit and zeal.
During these years the magazine has been improvised in terms of its quality of the
paper and the articles as well.
The appreciations, well wishes and compliments from many Religious and other lay
readers approves that we are “Servants of Mary”. We need to be proud of it yet as the
children of humble handmaid we need to continue this service. In the last year of this
quadrennium, the Council has appointed a separate editor for this magazine and thus
separated the work of the magazine independently.
Articles to COSMOS and Interfrates
The commission tried its very best to send articles to COSMOS and Interfrates.
Sometimes we were not regular and sometimes the articles that we sent were not published
properly. The commission feels that this is to be seriously looked into in the future.
Address Book of the Province
In the first year of this quadrennium, the commission came out with the address book
th
as 14 edition of Aikiyam publication with added details (e-mail address and phone numbers)
of every friar in the Province.
Website of the Province
Being there in USA, Fra.Albert Vincent was able to succeed in creating a website of
the Province, which was launched by the Prior General on the Canonical Erection of the
Province celebration i.e April 2012. After much study we were to rework on that website and
it is now being administered from India. Along with Fra.Sahayaraj, the Treasurer of the
Province,
the
commission
worked
on
this
remodeling.
The
current
website:
www.serviteindia.org.in is being updated every now and then with new information.
Future Plans and works to be carried out
The commission discussed the points that are to be discussed in this Provincial Elective
chapter. The points are to be deepened in the communication and publication level such as:

Appadiye Agattum license and renewal – the Editor of the magazine cannot be
outside India. We need to obtain some necessary civil documents to run this
magazine smoothily. For this a separate and competent person is needed.

As we are in the intial stage, it is better that now itself we preserve all the
documents in Archoffice. For this atleast two persons can be forseen.

Curia office has to be maintained well. For this we need to buy files and prepare the
shelves. This is one of the emergency needs of the province.

We need to write the history of Servites in India when all the pioneers are with us.
So that in the history nothing would be left out. We need to find a competent
person for this.

“AIKIYAM” – this periodical magazine can be published if only everybody in the
province collaborates.

“ADDRESS BOOK” – for the province will not be published annually but for the
term i.e. once in four years.
Buds of gratitude
At the end of this quadrennium the commission is happy and satisfied. At this
juncture the commission is grateful to all the friars and others who were and are behind our
successful journey. In a special way the commission expresses its gratitude to all the persons
who rendered their intellectual sharing on Mary in the magazine Appadiye Agattum. It also
expects that other friars too can contribute to the magazine.
Yours in Christ and Mother Mary
Fra.Francis Xavier OSM
Co-ordinator
Communication and Publication Commission
Report of the Liturgical Commission for the Elective Chapter - 2016
1. Scope:
The liturgical Commission is formed to animate the province in its liturgical activities
and It helps the friars to deepen their prayer life. (AAP)
2. Members:
1. Fra. Ananda Lourdu Raj osm (Coordinator )
2. Fra. Dominic John Paul osm
3. Fra. Selvanayagam osm
4. Fra. Chinnapparaj osm
5. Fra. Samydurai osm
6. Fra. Amalraj osm
7. Fra. Viblan Steephen osm
The members and the coordinators of the commission were changed every year of this
Quarternium. The Commission had only a few meetings. With these limitations we would
like to present to the assembly the following report.
In this Quarternium the commission tried its best to animate the important liturgical
and spiritual moments of the province with full of enthusiasm and collaboration.
1. Annual Retreat and Mid Term Chapter
Once in a year we the friars come together for the Annual Retreat to renew our religious
commitment and spiritual life in order to strengthen our relationship with God and our cofriars. These days of our Annual Retreats we the members of the commission creatively and
actively organized and animated the prayer moments and Eucharistic celebration with the
collaboration of the retreatants.
During the Last Mid-Term Chapter, The commission animated the spiritual and
liturgical moments of the chapter in its own creative manner. It is well appreciated.
2. Ordination and Solemn Profession
On 10th September 2015, the commission gathered at Jegan Matha Priory, Trichy and
decided that all the liturgical moments in the Province (Ordinations, Professions, Funerals
and Chapters) would be animated by the commission. It was approved by the council on 11 th
December 2015. Based on the decision of the council, we animated the Solemn Profession
and the Diaconate Ordination of four of our newly solemn professed friars.
The Commission had a long and detailed discussion over the Liturgical Moments for the
Elective Chapter 2016. Particular Marian Topics were chosen for each day and the
commission has been working on them seriously since December 2015.
At this Juncture, the commission would like to share the activities and action plan for the
Future.
Long Term Plan:
In its 8 meetings the commission discussed at length the possibility of making our
liturgy alive and preserving our liturgical tradition. So, as the long term plan to be carried out
in the next term 2016 – 2021, it proposes the following activities:

To go for the printing of the Servite Prayer book

To collect and prepare a booklet which could contain all our Triduum Celebrations

To create a servite liturgical archives where one could get everything concerning
servite liturgy

Teaching the traditional Marian hymns and other Serivite tunes to our formees with
the collaboration of the formators

To compose Marian bhajans and hymns in honor of our Blessed and Saints and if
possible to release them in a ACD

To send somebody for specialization in liturgy
Activities in progress:

The commission is working on the project of printing the servite prayer book which
could be realized with some contributions from well-wishers.

It has also undertaken the task of collecting all the triduum prayers with an aim of
bringing into a booklet.

The Commission is ready to organize a seminar to newly ordained priests and young
friars to know the gestures and rubrics during the Eucharist.

The commission is working on the projects of Releasing a CD (Marian bahajan and
Liturgical songs) it is already approved by the Council.
At the end of this Quarternium, the commission is happy and satisfied with its activities.
At this juncture the commission is grateful to the Prior Provincial and the councilors for their
trust and support as well as it is thankful to all the friars of the Province for your valuable
suggestions and contributions.
In Domina Nostra,
Fra. Ananda Lourdu Raj OSM, Coordinator
Liturgical Commission, AAP, Chennai.
Aikiya Annai Institute of Mariology
As an expression of living out our Charism, we the Servants of Mary are called to
deepen our knowledge of Mother of God and her role in the mystery of Christ and of the
Church in order to communicate the richness of this knowledge to the faithful and lead them
to authentic Marian devotion. This knowledge will facilitate our contribution in the field of
ecumenism. (Const. OSM 161)
We carry out this special ministry in the Church in India, Tamil Nadu since 2000.
From 2012 June onward I have been given the responsibility of running this Institute as
Director.
The courses on Mariology at two cycles were organized for all the faithful and due
advertisement were given and personal letters were addressed to all the Bishops, Major
Superiors of men and women religious in India and in a special way to Tamil Nadu. But only
a few have come forward to attend. Apart from this we have also organized a few courses in
Servite spirituality.
In the year 2013 there were 14 participants among them 8 were our brothers and
others from different congregations of our Servite family. In the year 2013 there were 13
participants among them 8 were our brothers, three lay people and two women religious. In
the year 2015 there were 9 participants among them 7 were our brothers, one lay man and a
religious sisters.
In the month of May 2015 Servite Spirituality course was organized by the center for
which Fr. Camille Jack OSM, the Secretary of the Order and Fr. Souri Raj OSM were present
to animate in two groups. One was for the English speaking group and the other was for
Tamil group for our pre-novices. At this juncture I sincerely thank Fr. Gottfried for his
generous contribution in paying the travel of both.
Apart from this as part our Institute we are organizing the library and computerizing
the books in order. Fra. Ricardo Perez OSM from the Montefano community has extended
some financial help for this library work and also for two day symposium on Virgin Mary
Mother of Mercy to be held in the month of May 2016.
The center is also animates different Marian conventions and seminars at the request
of the parish priests. During this quadrennuim I have done couple of times and myself and Fr.
John Roncalli did once.
I take this opportunity to thank Fr. John Roncalli, Fr. Lourdsamy, Fr. Savariappan, Fr.
Ratchanya Doss Fr. Uvari Antony, Fr.Souri Raj, John Joseph and Raj Kumar for their
generous collaboration in carrying out this Marian service to the people of God. Special
thanks to Fr. Francis Xavier and Chinnapparaj for their hard work in organizing everything
meticulously.
The center time and again made requests to Marianum to make this center to be part
of it. Marianum is asking us to fulfill a few requirements. Once we set right all, we can be
part of the faculty and we shall have the right to give the certificate on behalf of Marianum.
Let us hope for this.
THE COMMUNITY REPORT OF JEGAN MATHA PRIORY
TO THE ELECTIVE CHAPTER APRIL 2016
The community of Jegan Matha Priory is the first existing community of the Aikiya Annai
Province. This community during these four years (2012-2016) functioned with different
initiatives. In June 2012 the community was formed with six members. In 2015 from June –
November the community was composed of seven members. The friars of the community are
engaged in formation, parish, education, administrative and social activities. These different
components of the community activities are carried out in fraternal and Servite manner. The
members of the community are busy in rendering their service in the formation, parish
ministry, education and administrative field and in assisting the secular Servites. Friars are
happy in this community and feel content in their activities.
Formation
This community receives the pre-novices for three years and assists them in their human,
psychological, intellectual and spiritual growth so as to help them to go to the next stage of
formation with proper preparation and inner freedom. Fr. John Joseph osm is the master of
the pre-novices. In June 2015 Fr. Putumai Savari was appointed assistant master. The
community assisted the masters of pre novices to do well their role of helping the students to
discern their vocation.
Year
1st year
2nd year
3rd year
Total
2012-2013
10
1
10
21
2013-2014
2
10
1
13
2014-2015
4
2
9
15
2015-2016
13
4
2
19
The students in formation spend most of their time in deepening their intellectual knowledge
in the college, and at home are helped by the community in the other areas of their growth. In
these years we have observed that the academic performance of the students slowly
improving and many of them received awards for their academic as well as extra-curricular
activities and a certain amount of interest with seriousness about motivation is seen. The
formator and the community members are trying their best to help the pre-novices in their
discernment of their call to religious life. Constant help of the experts, inputs sessions and
guidance of the formator seem to help them to realize the value of Religious Life at this stage
of their formation.
This community is supported by the Mass stipend of the friars, Pre-novices student‟s
quota, Parish Priest congruva, student‟s contribution from Parish, Grotto income
(Veilankanni, Peregrine and pieta‟), Pastoral activity of the friars and other income. Since
January 2014 the Parish contributed the community Rs. 5000 per month for the services
rendered by the friars in the parish. It was stopped in June 2014 by the Parish council
without any notification. In these four years the formators mass stipend is sent to the
Student‟s fund. Since June 2013 the salary of the Principal is sent to the student‟s fund.
I would encourage the friars to be on time for the prayer moments, and to consult
before taking long term commitments.
Jegan Matha Parish
Jegan Matha community has as its second important reality, the parish activity. Fr.
Joseph Arockiasamy osm is the Parish Priest. In these years he had no official assistant parish
priest. The friars of the community helped him in all the activities and endeavors of the
Parish.
As soon as he assumed office he visited all the families of the Parish. It created a lot of
positive impact in the life of the parish. Different initiatives like Corpus Christi, BCC
meetings, visiting sick, women‟s and youth group associations, annual pilgrimages have been
carried out in the parish. Once in two months the parish council was held in which the prior
of the community also took part. From June 2014 he did not participate in the Parish council
as it had no regard for the role of the Prior. The activities of the parish are discussed here and
are carried out. The parish has financial council which prepares the budget and also presents
the accounts in the parish council. The parish feast, Christmas, New Year and Easter are
celebrated in grand manner through the generous contribution of few donors. The family
visits need to be more frequent for that an assistant could be of more help. In short the parish
functions well and the people are content with the service rendered by the friar in charge, for
their spiritual animation. Every Sunday the catechism children have a special mass at 7.45
am. In 2013 the 200 th Parish council was celebrated in a grand manner inviting the former
parish priests and the members of the earlier parish councils. The Parish is celebrating the
Silver jubilee of its existence. On 13th Dec 2015 with a grand Eucharistic celebration presided
over by the Prior Provincial the silver jubilee celebrations began. Various activities have been
planned to mark the occasion.
Farm
The in charge of the farm found it difficult to run the farm for lack of collaborators and the
unavailability of hey. There were occasions when the pre novices milked the cows. These
factors reduced the production of the milk. Thus we were neither able to cater the needs of
the customers nor to give enough milk to the community. In June 2014 we sold the cows and
closed the dairy. There is one collaborator in the farm. The piggery and poultry are
maintained.
The Secular Servite
This community is leavened and supported by the presence of the OSSM members. There are
Fifty Four members. Fr. Sahayaraj osm assisted the group during these four years, through
classes, meetings and spiritual animation. This group is always present with us in our joyful
as well as sorrowful moments of the community. We came together periodically for
celebrating the founders feast and feasts of the saints of the order, Christmas celebration in
prayer and fraternal meal. They have regular prayer meetings and some of them render their
service as volunteers in running the Servite Nala Vahzvu Illam. During the canonical visit of
the Prior general in November 2014, Nine members made their profession. On 13 th
August2015, Mrs. Gnanmani, one the first members of Trichy OSSM passed away, who met
with a fire accident on 7th of August 2015.
Marian Devotion and Peregrine Ministry
The Marian Devotion which began in 1993 through the form of novena to our lady of
Veilankanni on Saturdays helps the people to have special devotion to Mother Mary and it
gives them an opportunity to grow as matured persons in their relationship with God. The
community takes special effort to promote the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Added to
the Devotion to the Mother of God the community also continues to promote the healing
ministry of St. Peregrine on Wednesdays. Every Wednesday after the mass we celebrate
Eucharistic adoration and on the first Wednesday a special adoration is conducted in which
special prayers are made for the sick. At the end the oil is blessed and unction of the oil and
veneration of the saint‟s relic is done. In June 2015 Fr. Ratchanyadoss took incharge of
Peregrine ministry. From August 2015 to February 2016 he animated a whole day Eucharistic
adoration, evening special hour of prayer and mass ending with adoration. People from
different parts of Tamil Nadu came and participated in it. He also printed new leaflets and
novena book.
Servite Nalavazhvu Illam
Servite Nalavazhvu Illam, the home for the aged, is run in collaboration with the OSSM
members. The prior of the community is the director and the a few ossm members collaborate
very actively. From June 2014 to October 2014 Fr. Stephen Aroquiadas was the director of
the Illam. For the ordinary maintenance the ossm members collect donations from the well
wishers and the run the home. In 2012-13 there were 23 members (7 men and 16 women). In
2013-14 there were 24 members (10 men and 14 women). In 2014-15 there were 28 members
(10 men + 18 women ) In 2015-16 there are 23 (13 men + 10 women) as on 11th March 2016
there are 20 members. In 2012-16 two members died in the home. Most of them enjoy
reasonable health. We have bought a cemetery plot at the Anglo Indian cemetery in Trichy.
So far one has been buried. There are three collaborators who stay in the home. One is an
ANM, another one is a cook and other is a helper. A cleaner comes to clean the house
periodically and the dobhy comes to wash the cloths once in week. A doctor pays visit once
in a month.
Education Ministry
The education ministry rendered by the servite friars is appreciated by the people of the
locality. In the year 2012-2013 there were 652 Students, in 2013-14 there were 796 students,
in 2014-15 there were 998 students and 2015-16 there are 1181 students. At present the
school is equipped with modern facilities such as Educomp Smart Class, a computer lab with
40 computers and other facilities. In May 2013 with lot difficulties the opening permission
for the higher secondary sections was obtained. The school offers four courses: 1. Maths,
Physics, Chemistry and Biology. 2. Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science. 3.
Commerce, Economics, Accountancy and Business Maths. 4. Commerce, Economics,
Accountancy and Computer Science. At present the entire structure has 37 class rooms,
office, library, staff room, Physics lab, Chemistry lab, Biology lab, spacious computer lab
and big hall. There are 11 rooms with edu comp facility. Fr. Sahayaraj osm is the
correspondent. Fr. Chinnappan osm after serving wonderfully for seven years as principal,
since june 2015 is pursuing his doctoral studies in the field of education. From June 2015
onwards Fr. Arulandu osm is the principal of the school. Various initiatives have been taken
up by the school to help the students to grow in a healthy atmosphere. On 2 nd October 2012,
Gandhi Jayanthi, 520 students donned the attire of Gandhi and made a world record which
was surpassed by Sowdambika group of schools with 2000 students in 2014. In September
2015 two of our students participated in the national silambam competition in Nasik and
obtained silver medal in two different categories. On 20 th October 2015 in collaboration with
Rotary club we organised a programme called “Veilodu Vilayadi” to revive the traditional
games. It was given wide coverage by both print and electronic media. In Januray 2016 the
school hosted national silambam completion in which more than 200 participated from all
over India.
year
Teachi
Non
ng staff
teachin
Student‟s strength
g staff
08-
14
03+01
Pre
LK
UK
KG
G
G
18
31
13
09
09-
17
05+02
24
62
52
10
10-
21
05+03
19
58
70
11
11-
25
05+02
20
45
62
12
12-
25
06+03
19
62
53
13
13-
30
06+03
31
66
71
14
14-
33
07+03
96
86
15
1516
41
08+03
108
107
1
2
3
4
5
2
0
0
1
0
5
8
9
1
6
3
3
2
3
2
2
8
6
3
3
7
4
4
3
3
2
2
3
8
4
6
7
5
5
4
3
7
0
0
5
6
7
8
5
5
5
4
4
9
7
6
6
7
8
6
9
8
9
3
3
9
7
7
8
9
9
9
8
2
4
9
8
9
9
9
5
9
1
2
6
6
7
8
9
1
1
1
0
1
2
10
-
-
-
-
33
2
1
-
-
5
0
3
2
9
-
1
5
4
2
2
9
7
7
6
4
4
2
2
3
1
7
6
6
4
4
2
3
9
9
6
9
4
7
7
4
4
3
3
2
6
4
4
3
4
10
9
7
7
4
7
3
3
5
9
8
5
1
2
43
41
61
69
91
Opening Permission for LKG to 6th was obtained on 27.11.2008
Opening Permission for 7th and 9th was obtained on 11.02.2009
Opening Permission for 10th was obtained on 10.02.2010
Opening Permission for Higher Secondary was obtained on 15.05.2013
Temporary recognition for LKG to 12th was obtained on 21.09.2015 until 31.03.2018
Fr. R. Sahayaraj osm
Prior
Jegan Matha Priory, Trichy-21
REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY
JYOTHI MATHA ALAYAM 2012-2016
Community of Jyothi Matha Alayam is formed of Friars who have chosen the way of
life of the Servants of Mary and would like to live in fraternal communion and mutual esteem
in order to achieve the perfect dignity and freedom of the children of God (Cons.8). Moved
by the spirit, we commit ourselves, as did our First Fathers, to witness the Gospel in our
fraternal communion and to be at the service of God and all the people, drawing abiding
inspiration from Mary, Mother and servant of the Lord (Cons.1). We ardently desired to be
the light in the world (Mt. 5:14) which may shine in the sight of people, who would be
energized and give praise to God (Mt 5:16). The following ways and means are set for both
the individual friar and the community to reach the perfect stature of Christ (Cons.319) in the
context of our community.
In the past 4 years consisted of different friars. Few of the friars were permanent
members and others lived for one, two and three years. Apart from theses friars newly
Solemn Professed were assigned to this community for pastoral year until their Ordination.
The community also catered to the sick friars and the friars of special concern during these
years. Apart from these the community also temporarily had given the responsibility of
giving formation to Postulants – few months for 2014-15 batch and full year for 2015-216
batches. The community involves in pastoral work, Institute of Mariology, Retreat centre,
secular Servites, and the Provincial Curia. Most of the important Province celebrations, like
Midterm chapter, final vows, diaconate, and silver jubilee took place in this community.
I. Growth of the individual friars in the community
The lifelong development of the Servants of Mary takes place in an atmosphere of
authentic freedom which the community offers him with its constant assistance (Cons. 106).
The growth of Individual friar is the basis for the growth of the community. Within our
community each friar during these years strived for the Physical, Psychological and Spiritual
growth so as to grow in our religious consecration.
- the friars of the community strived to grow in the balanced appreciation for his health of
mind and body (Cons. 117)
- Every friar of the community esteemed the sacrament of reconciliation as means for the
inner freedom and healing and thus the monthly recollection was an enriching experience.
- Every friar of the community valued the importance of spending sufficient time for his
personal Lectio Divina (Cons. 117) and thus had taken an active, conscious celebration and
participation in the Eucharistic celebration in order to grow in his personal intimacy with
Christ.
- Friars assigned on the basis of special concern were given extra care both by the
community and the Provincial.
II Growth of the community
a) Community life
The community gives importance to daily liturgy of the hours and Eucharistic
celebration. The community also gives due importance to Servite feasts, memoria and marian
commoration on Saturdays and other days. On Friday evenings we pray the traditional
Marian Vigil. The friars of the community do participate in the recollection organized at
diocesan level and Vicariate level and also took part in the monthly recollection organized by
the community.
b) Chapter
In our Servite tradition we value the Chapter as meeting of all the friars in the
community to feel the presence of Christ promised to his disciples (Cons. 34). We had
regular monthly chapter to evaluate the past and to programme for the future. The chapter
moments were considered as moments of evaluation, clarification and reconciliation.
The evaluation part of the monthly chapter is much valued by the members of the
community and thus there was active participation. This was also much appreciated by the
Prior General and the Prior Provincial during their canonical visits.
c) Parish Ministry
The community of Jyothi Matha Alayam takes care of Infant Jesus Parish at
Sholinganallur. Fr. John Roncalli on behalf of the community takes care of the pastoral needs
of the people along with the assistant parish priests. Different initiatives like, BCC meetings,
visiting sick, women‟s and youth group associations, annual pilgrimages have been carried
out in the parish. Regular parish council meeting was held in which the prior of the
community also took part. Most of the initiatives of the parish are discussed here in the
community and are carried out. Every three months the parish accounts are verified in the
community and also in the Parish council. In short the parish functions well and the people
are content with the service rendered by the friars for their spiritual animation.
The faithful at Kannaghi Nagar sub-station also specially catered as there was an
additional parish priest in-charge of this area. Apart from this, faithful at Tsunami nagar and
Karapaakam were given regular special masses in their premises. On the whole, the pastors
assigned for this mission have gained the heart of many people. Apart from these, the
suggestions given by the Prior General and the Prior Provincial during their canonical visit
for the better animation of the parish are being implemented.
III Formation
Last year and this year the community is entrusted with an additional responsibility of
giving formation to the Postulants. Friars of the community Fra.Francis Xavier, Fra Albert
Michael Lawrence and Fra Chinnapparaj, were fully engaged themselves in formation. Other
friars of the community also collaborated with them in all possible ways.
The community evaluated the life of the Postulants, apart from the evaluation of the
Formators, time to time. An elaborate evaluation was done in every three months.
The community assured the Provincial and the Council that the community in all
possible ways, collaborate, bring up, nurture good vocations to the Order so as to strengthen
our presence in Indian soil.
IV Other engagements of the community
a) Secular Servites
This community is leavened by the presence of the OSSM members. There are about
13 members in this group but the active members are very few. Fr. Susaimani during these
years assisted this group, through classes, meetings and spiritual animation. This group is
always present with us in our joyful as well as sorrowful moments of the community and
their respective families. We came together periodically for celebrating the founders feast and
feasts of the saints of the order in prayer. During important liturgical celebrations they collect
money among themselves and use it to help poor by providing them food and clothing.
This year, sacrificing the regular sharing of Christmas gifts, the members came
forward to help the recent flood victims by providing essential things.
b) Institute of Mariology and Retreat centre
During these years the community collaborated with the Director of the Province‟s
Institute of Mariology to organize Courses on Mariology and on Spirituality. The community
also created an opportunity for many lay groups and religious to have spiritual renewal by
accommodating and animating some sessions. But this did not continue due to the additional
responsibility of formation given to the community.
People who come to participate in our liturgical celebrations are helped to have proper
understanding of the role of Mother Mary.
The grotto that was built in our premises
continues to show our attachment and witness to our special Marian Devotion. The
community takes special effort to promote the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Added to the Devotion to the Mother of God the community also continues to
promote the healing ministry of St Peregrine. There are considerable numbers of persons to
approach the friars asking for prayer.
c) Servite rehabilitation flood relief
The capital city of Tamil Nadu Chennai has experienced rainfall since the dawn of the
month of November 2015. This rain continued even in the month of December 2015 and the
intensity of rain increased as the days progressed in the first week of December. It has
reached its climax on the consequent days from December 1 st December onward where the
city has experience the historic rainfall measuring over 1000mm, the highest rainfall in 100
years.
This down pour has affected the community surrounded with water. The water level
was rapidly increasing and the water has entered the chapel. During those initial days i.e from
2nd December onward the basic amenities were lacking throughout the city of Chennai. There
was no electricity, no network and all the transport facilities were blocked by this heavy
down pour.
After few days the water level in Jyothi Matha Alayam community had gone down
and slowly the water had drained. After this little improvement Servites in India – Aikiya
Annai Province under the leadership of Fra. Susaimani OSM, the Prior Provincial in
collaboration with Jyothi Matha Alayam community and OSSM fraternity, Chennai started
some relief work for the victims of the flood.
d) Amalorpava Matha Parish, Poompozhil Nagar, Avadi – Unit
After the initial efforts from the part of the Province, the community has given birth to
a new house – Amalorpava Matha Chruch on 17th December 2015. This unit of the
community is composed of friars Fra. Ratchanyadoss OSM, and Fra. Raja Rathinam OSM
e) Social Service
“Whatever you have done unto these little ones you have done to me” (Mt 25:35-36). With
the help of the social fund of the Province the community supports some deserving students
in their basis education. Apart from the financial help, we would organize one day
programme for them during Christmas holidays. This year at the direction of the Provincial
Council, only the students who have updated their details are added into the Budget.
f) Possibilities of making Infant Jesus Parish as unit of Jyothi Matha Alayam
The possibilities of making Infant Jesus Parish as unit of Jyothi Matha Alayam are
studied during these years. The Parish priest is working on with regard to the land in view of
building a presbytery with the help of Propaganda Fide.
g) Financial Situation of the Community.
The ordinary and extraordinary expenses of the community have been met by the
contribution of the mother province as student‟s quota, mass intentions and other community
income. The community of Jyothi Matha Alayam gets about 40 % of the total expenses of the
community through pastoral work, congrua, parish contribution, guest accommodations,
retreat groups and contributions from the visitors.
Fr. Francis Xavier OSM
Jyothi Matha Alayam
Chennai 600 097
The Order of Servants of Mary
JEEVA MATHA ILLAM
Servite Formation House, Nanjikottai, Post, Thanjavur– 613 006, Tamil Nadu –
India.Tel.+914362255260
Report for the Elective Chapter – April 2016
Jeeva Matha Illam – Thanjavur
The Community of Jeeva Matha Illam remained a place of “Come and See”. The friars of
Jeeva Matha Illam, while remaining faithful to their religious commitments, witnessed to
Jesus‟ words in accompanying the postulants to instill in them a desire to follow Christ as
Mary did and in the footsteps of our Seven First Fathers to serve the Lord, the Blessed Virgin
Mary and the Church.
The friars assigned to Jeeva Matha Illam in this quadrennium tried to witness this special
mandate with prayer life, community living and pastoral ministry; during the academic year
2012-„13: Gnanapragasam, the prior,
Michealraj, Savariappan and Sagayadoss (from
November 2012 teaching at Loyola college); in 2013-„14: Gnanapragasam, Savariappan,
Ratchanyadoss, Sagayadoss, Antonysamy and Samydurai (from June to August); in 2014 –
„15: Gnanapragasam, Ratchanyadoss, Antonysamy and Selvanayagam (from August after his
ordination ) and in 2015-„16: Gnanapragasam, Antonysamy, Selvanayagam and Chinnappan
(for his integrated study in view of doing PhD in education).
Friars accompanied the postulants to discern their religious vocation in the Servite Order and
their human maturity. Frequent transfers of friars and reshuffling of responsibilities each
year, in particular shifting the postulants to Chennai community just before the end of the
academic year 2014-„15, had caused difficulty and disturbed the nature of the community and
formation. This academic year 2015-„16 the community of JMI was reduced to be a simple
religious house. No matter, the friars lived happily and engaged themselves in: preaching,
teaching, studies, animating retreats and recollection, counselling and consultation, hospital
and prison ministry.
Personal growth and ongoing formation
The life-long development of the Servant of Mary takes place in an atmosphere of authentic
freedom which the community offers him with its constant assistance (Cons.106). The growth
of individual friar is the basis for the growth of the community. On that note each friar strived
for psycho – socio - and spiritual growth, so as to grow in one‟s religious consecration
thorough personal programme which were shared and approved in the Conventual Chapter.
Each friar tried to grow in a balanced appreciation for the health of mind, spirit and body
(Cons.117) with the initiatives of spiritual renewal organised individually and in community.
Each friar experienced an appreciation to grow in the ecological consciousness and in the
spirit of service, so as to grow in the spirit of poverty (Cons.118). Each friar took maximum
initiatives with the consent of the community, to further his intellectual and technical growth
in teaching and preaching ministry.
Friars:
We friars have chosen the life of the Servants of Mary to live in fraternal communion and
mutual esteem in order to achieve the perfect dignity and freedom of the children of God
(Cons.8). Moved by the Spirit, we tried to commit ourselves, as did our First Fathers, to
witness the Gospel in our fraternal communion and to be at the service of God and all the
people, drawing abiding inspiration from Mary, Mother and Servant of the Lord.
Over all everyone enjoyed good health. Some were under medication for some time for
various ailments. We spent time on pilgrimage, relaxation, recreation and cocktail on
occasions of our feast days and birthdays. Though there were differences we learned to live
without too many conflicts and difficulties maintaining if not a close friendship at least a
working relationship with one another. As friars accompanying the young postulants who
seek to respond to the call of God, tried our best in our individual spiritual strength to be role
models: by inspiring and motivating through practical aspects of life. As the prior I tried my
level best to give due attention, in animating the entire life of the community and settling
occasional issues of life, especially dealing with the domestic collaborators.
Growing as a Community - Conventual Chapters:
The Community created enough space for the friars, to spend sufficient time to walk with the
Lord and for personal intimacy with Christ in personal and community prayer, lectio,
Eucharist and other liturgical celebrations. We as Servites valued Conventual Chapters as an
important place and moment of our life and meeting to feel the presence of Christ promised
to his disciples (Const.34). We tried our level best to seek brotherly friendship by giving our
time, talents and service and in accepting one another with each one's limits and strengths.
The community was regular for the Conventual Chapter in the last week of the month for:
monthly programme, ministries, evaluation and verification of our life and financial situation.
We had 56 Conventual Chapters for this quadrennium. The community was also regular in
evaluating the students and other extra-ordinary needs. There were occasions of
inconvenience: confrontations, fraternal corrections, but as friars growing in maturity we
faced one another and tried to arrive at positive solutions. At every Chapter as preparation
and celebration of the „year of the consecrated life‟ and „the year of Mercy‟ we had reflection
led by one of us for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Prayer and Eucharistic celebration:
We recognized that prayer is a means and a leaven for developing our communion with the
Lord and the world, a source and essential expression of our personal and community life. As
friars who seek to respond to the call of God, actively participated in our prayer moments:
Daily:
05.30 Personal Lectio and preparation for Eucharist celebration
06.00 Laudes
06.30
Eucharist (at JMI or ministry places)
12.15 Personal midday prayer:
Silent meditation or Examination of
Conscience
19.15 Meditation
19.30 Vespers with the office of the reading cum
Marian salutation. 21.00
Rosary (personal / community)
We took turn to lead the prayer. We had special prayer for consecrated life and year of mercy
at the end of Laudes and for vocation at the end of Vespers. We remembered our deceased
brethren recorded in the Servite liturgical Calendarium at our Morning Prayer.
Weekly: on Saturdays: Community cum Marian Mass (with the Servite sisters) at 06.30 am.
On Fridays: Vigilia de Domina at 19. 30. on Saturdays: The Angelus / Marian salutation or
Rosary at. 19.30. on Sundays: Adoration cum Vespers at 19.00.
Monthly: We had novena mass to St. Peregrine on Third Sundays at JMI, 07:15; and we had
novena mass to „Jeeva Matha‟ on First Saturdays at JMI 18.00. We had prayer and Mass for
vocation on First Thursdays. We regularly had monthly recollection, at times we invited
preacher or we went to other places or joined the diocese. We offered prayer & mass for the
deceased brethren of OSM on 4th Tuesday of the month.
Servite Identity and Pastoral Ministry:
We made ourselves available for the service of our brethren and so prolong the active
presence of the Mother of Jesus in the History of Salvation (Cons.73). Striving to live our
religious consecration, we, the friars of JMI, as servants of Mary witnessed our service in the
first place to our postulants in formation and in second to express our Servite Charism, Our
Common pastoral initiatives were decided during the Conventual chapter and personal
ministries were decided with the consent of the Prior.
We offered masses to the nearby religious communities: Servite sisters of Florence, Bon
Secours School and College, Bethaniya, the Provincialate of St. Anne and Bon Secours and
Salesian‟s college at Regunathapuram. We offered Sunday Masses at Anna Nagar parish,
Nanjikottai substation and Regunathapuram. Postulants animated Sunday liturgy and singing
at Nanjikottai substation. We engaged in preaching, hearing confession, and giving
recollection, seminars and especially classes on Mary. At times some inconvenience arose
because of our absences, but we were able to adjust without disturbing the community. We
made the house available for retreat, one day recollection and hospitality. We feel proud that
a reasonable income, around one and a half lakhs was generated every year from our pastoral
ministry.
We have also tried to witness our Servite identity in our communion and friendship with
people, religious and priests who come in contact with us. The highest witness was the
participants around 150 guests at our founders feast every year, with whom we have shared
the spirituality of our Lady of Sorrows and founders, our Servite history and spirituality
through power point prayer service, which was well appreciated and cherished as something
special to the Servites. Our presence and active participation in the diocesan Senate, local
CRI and other religious gatherings were well appreciated. Through all these we were able to
impress our Servite Identity.
Social Service & Sponsorship
We continue the long term mission of helping the poor and needy. From 10 students, now at
the end of 2016 we help just 3 students. Other than that we continued to be charitable to the
occasional requests for education, medical care and the like.
Farm:
We still continue to cherish the farm as a blessing of the location. Besides the 475 coconut
trees, we have some banana plants, papayas and other fruit trees. Seasonally we grew also
some vegetables, to help the kitchen and teach the postulants in growing with an ecological
consciousness. To maintain it clean and green, there needed an extra energy, interest, finance
and enthusiasm. With due attention the farm in charge had tried to generate reasonable
income and passed on to the community around one lakh in recent years. Other than this the
community was served with: Birds, eggs, coconuts, fruits and fire woods. If continued with
care and enthusiasm the farm would contribute to the community more than one lakh each
year apart from the ordinary maintenance.
Formation of the Postulants:
“Master where do you live?” The disciples of John the Baptist asked. “Come and See”
answered Jesus. They went, saw where he lived, and remained with him that day; (Jn 1:3839) and they followed him.
The postulant was accompanied: to recognize, discern and respond to the call of God in the
Servite Order; to get to know our Servite history and spirituality; to become aware of his
human growth and maturity: body mind and spirit, so that he might freely and willingly
respond to the call of God. The formators directly involved in giving formation. Other friars
helped the formation in the sectors they have agreed to collaborate.
We friars basically tried our best to give a holistic and person centered approach so that they
discern their vocation in a healthy context. The community evaluated the life of the
postulants in December and April and whenever needed during the Conventual chapter.
Postulants had holidays for Christmas and summer and on some other occasions such as
marriage of their siblings, infirmity and on death of their family members.
In 2012-13: Friars Gnanapragasam and Michaelraj were formators, 6 postulants joined, 2
entered into pre-novitiate; in 2013-14: Ratchanyadoss and Antonysamy were formators, 14
postulants joined 6 entered into pre-novitiate and in 2014-15: Ratchanyadoss and
Antonysamy were formators, 16 postulants joined and 14 were transferred to Chennai on 5th
March 2015.
Transferring friars in-between the term consulting neither the concerned friars nor the prior,
shuffling the roles and responsibilities every year due to sporadic transfers and making
unwarranted extra-ordinary visit to the community by the provincial and the assistant (when
intervention was not at all requested by the community) simply listening to a particular friar,
have disturbed the normal life and peace of the community.
When the Provincial and the Assistant came for an extra-ordinary visit in Feb 2015, the
Provincial concluded: “These are not at all issues. I thought that there would have been
serious and big issues”. (cf. minutes of the 42nd Conv. Chapter of JMI). However, as a
surprise decision was made by the council to shift the postulancy from Thanjavur to Chennai
just 2 months before the end of the academic year. Was any negative report presented by the
Provincial to the council after the extra-ordinary visit on the basis of which such a decision
seem to have been made? What were the compelling reasons that necessitated the shifting of
the postulancy when the Provincial himself had said that there were not at all serious and big
issues? Were there any hidden agenda or any game had been played at someone‟s pleasure?
All these remain unresolved mysteries.
No matter what had happened, the community of JMI (3 friars remained - only one was
transferred) in this year 2015-16 strived to live the religious life peacefully and with spiritual
energy.
Finally:
The personal development of the Friar Servants of Mary continues throughout one‟s life
(Const.120). Each friar so far has tried his best to bring out the importance of his presence in
the community and each friar contributed to the best of his ability for the good of the
community, in particular for the formation of the postulants. As a whole, the community gave
ample space for each friar to experience religious freedom and be engaged in various possible
ministries. The community tried its best to create the best atmosphere possible for the
formation of the postulants. The community gave heart and soul for the growth and formation
of the postulants. As the prior of JMI, I sincerely tried my best in co-ordinating the daily life
of the community and the formation process alive, active, fruitful and fraternal. I thank all the
friars who served at JMI for the past 4 years.
Gnanapragasam osm
Prior of Jeeva Matha Illam, Thanjavur.
16.03.2016
Jaya Matha Priory
Annual Report 2012 - 2016
“The lifelong development of the servant of Mary takes place in an atmosphere of an
authentic freedom which the community offers him with its constant assistance” (Cons. 106).
Since the primary nature of this community is formation of the professed friars, we
seriously commit to offering a concrete witness to fraternal life, which is the basis for the
formation of the servants of Mary. General Chapter held in 2013 which highlights our “Yes”
to God as source of an individual friar at the personal and community level. Realizing, the
invitation of the General Chapter we take all the initiatives and efforts to live and witness to
the Christian and religious Vocation in community living and formative life.
Full pledged members of the community in Quarternium:
There was a regular shuffling of friars in the last four years.
June 2012 – May 2013: Fras. Ananda Lourdu Raj osm (Prior), Anthony Xavier osm, Jesu
Doss osm, Souri Raj osm and Anthony Samy osm
June 2013 – May 2014: Fras. Ananda Lourdu Raj osm, Souri Raj osm and Jesu Doss osm
(January 2014 onwards Uvari Anthony osm and Amal Raj osm join the Community).
June 2014 – May 2015: Fras. Ananda Lourdu Raj osm, Uvari Antony osm, Jesu Doss osm
and A. Francis osm.
June 2015 – March 2016: Fras. Ananda Lourdu Raj osm, Lourdu Xavier osm, Uvari
Anthony osm and A. Francis osm.
Our Spiritual and Community life:
With full enthusiasm and high spirit, we have been living and giving witness to the
servite way of life. Each friar is encouraged to renew his spiritual quest and update his
philosophical and theological knowledge always in harmony with the progrmme of the
community. The community of Jaya Matha priory has been keeping the spiritual atmosphere
by being faithful to the moments of prayer and spiritual exercises (Cons. 24). Since the main
concern of the community is the formation, the solemn professed and the temporary
professed share the common moments of life together: Eucharistic Celebration, all the
moments of prayer, meditation, lectio divine, monthly recollection, sacrament of
reconciliation, monthly adoration, and other special moments of liturgical celebrations.
In our Servite tradition, we esteem the Chapter as meeting of all the friars in the
community to feel the presence of Christ promised to his disciples (Cons. 34). Every last
Wednesday of the month, the community comes together for the conventual chapter to
evaluate the life of the friars and programme for the following month and also whenever a
need arises. The community enjoys the spiritual atmosphere of the conventual chapters and so
far we had 75 conventual chapters till 15th of March 2016. All were present without fail for
the most of the conventual chapters that took place. A few study Chapters were convoked to
share our views and personal reflections on Life of the Bl. Cecilia Eusepi OSSM, the
documentation of the last Elective General chapter CCXIII and Servite Spirituality. Once
in three months, community comes together to verify the community account.
Every day, after supper, we have community recreation along with the professed. We
also have the moments of clarification and fraternal dialogue for healthy living (Const. 52)
and for the constructive formation of the simple professed (Const 127). We have common
fraternal gathering by ourselves on the important occasions. In spite of our limitation and
weakness, we are able to come together to work for the common good.
On 16th of January 2014, Fra. Jesu Doss osm had extreme heart attack, he was rushed
to St. John‟s Medical College Hospital. He had a coronary angioplasty. There was a lot of
improvement after the surgery. On 9th of April 2015, when he went to his aunt‟s house in
Bangalore itself, unfortunately where he had the second massive attack and passed away at
his aunt‟s house. He was taken to St. John‟s Medical College and Hospital, where he was
declared dead. His body was taken to the Novitiate House and where he was buried. It was
really a traumatic experience for the whole community. However during this difficult
moment, the community experienced the entire province‟s support at every level and was
sustained by every friar‟s concern and prayer. It is a big loss for the community as well as for
the province. The community humbly requests the friars to pray for his departed soul and for
his parents and loved ones.
Hospitality:
Hospitality is one of the ways in which we accomplish our service and communion
with others (Cons. 68). The community offers local Christians the possibility of attending the
Sunday Mass, the way of the Cross and important liturgical celebration in our campus. It also
welcomes the religious and diocesan priests to do their monthly Recollection and Annual
Retreat in our campus. Since month of May 2015, Sr. Sheely belonging to MSMHC had been
staying in house till January 2016 to obtain her bachelor degree in Education.
Pastoral services:
These years, we the friars feel happy and satisfied about our contribution to the
demands of the local church for its pastoral needs on Sundays and other days through our
priestly and religious consecration (Cons. 73). The servite presence is very visible and vibrant
and being felt very strongly by the local authorities. Apart from our common responsibilities
in the community, we offer regular Sunday masses to our Parish and to its substation (Cons
102). In spite of a long distance, we volunteer ourselves to help the various parishes of the
Arch diocese, whenever a need arises. We are also engaged ourselves in giving classes,
preaching retreat and recollection and other forms of ministries in and out of Bangalore.
Recently, a sub-station of our parish has been given into our care. We offer Masses
for our neighbors in our campus on Sundays. On 31st 2013, Fr. Antony Samy osm
successfully completed his master degree in Clinical Counseling at Mont Fort College,
Bangalore. Since 2012 Fr. Jesu Doss osm frequented St. Peter‟s Pontifical Institute for his
Master degree in Missiology. Later, due to his health reason, he discontinued his studies.
Since 2015 Fra. A. Francis osm has been frequenting Indian Institute of Spirituality for his
master degree in Spirituality. Fras. Ananda Lourdu Raj and Lourdu Xavier teach at De Paul
Institute as the Visiting professors.
We the friars, along with our simple professed friars take all the initiatives to promote
the Marian devotion in the particular parishes of the Archdiocese (Cons. 84) where our
professed go for Sunday ministry. For last few years, we have been animating Via Martrix
during the season of Lent and an Hour with Mother (L‟ora di Madre) on Good Friday in the
particular parishes of the Archdiocese. Last year, our professed enacted the Via Martix in our
neighboring parishes. It was well appreciated.
Our Communion with servite family:
Four servite sisters‟ congregations which are affiliated to the Order are present in
Bangalore. We take all efforts to foster our communion with the other members of the servite
family (Cons. 101). We occasionally volunteer ourselves to offer classes, recollections, and
masses in their respective communities. We come together for the important feasts and
solemnities of the Order and the Church and other important occasions of the communities.
Every year, we organize Bangalore Servite Meet. During the Conical Visit of the Prior
General, we organized the inauguration of the Year of Consecrated Life along with serivite
sisters in Bangalore. We had the Seminar followed by Solemn Eucharistic celebration
presided over by Prior General. We concluded the day with Cultural Event. We were around
75 participants.
Our Communion with the Local Church and the local CRI:
The community takes active participation in the initiatives being taken by the
Archdiocese and local CRI. We occasionally take part in the local CRI but we regularly took
part in the zonal CRI meeting. Our participation in the recent programmes organized by the
local CRI is well appreciated. Recently, I have spoken to some of the neighboring religious
local superiors to form a new group among ourselves. The community has healthy as well as
cordial relationship with the Arch-diocese as well as with our neighboring religious houses.
Formation:
Since the main concern of the community is formation, the community along with the
formatters gives its best for the formation of the future servites. 2012 – 2013, Fra. Souri Raj
osm and fra. Ananda Lourdu Raj osm were directly involved in the formation. The Academic
year 2012 – 2013 there were 12 professed and 1 Pre-novice. Among the thirteen brothers, 12
frequented St. Peter‟s Pontifical Institute for their theological studies and the rest frequented
the same Institute for his philosophical studies. On 17th of December Fras. Albert osm,
Charles osm and Selvanayaham osm successfully completed their theological studies in St.
Peter‟s Pontifical Institute. They made their solemn profession on 2nd of April 2013 and at the
end of April they joined their new community.
From June 2013 to October 2013, Fras. Souri Raj osm and Ananda Lourdu Raj osm
were directly involved in the formation. Since Fra. Souri Raj osm was elected as the fourth
General Councilor on 24th of September, he formally left the community on 1 st of December.
And therefore, December onwards fra. Ananda Lourdu Raj osm is alone directly involved in
the formation. They were 9 professed and 1 pre-Novice . Among the ten brothers, 8
frequented St. Peter‟s for their theological studies and 2 frequented the same Institute for
their philosophical studies.
The Academic Year 2014 – 2015, Fra. Ananda Lourdu Raj osm was alone directly
involved in the formation.
They were 15 professed and 2 Pre-novices. Among the 17
brothers, 8 frequented St. Peter‟s Pontifical Institute for their theological studies, 2 frequented
St. Peter‟s Pontifical Institute for their philosophical studies and the rest frequented De Paul
Institute of Religion and Philosophy run by Vincentian fathers for their philosophical studies.
By this Academic year onwards, we stopped sending our students to St. Peter‟s Pontifical
Institute for philosophy based on the decision made in the previous elective chapter 2012. On
8th of November 2014, Bros. Antony Raj osm, Baptist Sudhakar osm , Pudumai Savari osm
and Suresh Michael osm made their solemn Profession in Chennai. On 15 th they successfully
completed their theological studies and then they joined their new community. Bro. Stalin
successfully completed his philosophy on 27th March and then he was sent to the Novitiate.
In Present Academic year 2015 – 2016, Fras. Ananda Lourdu Raj osm and Lourdu
Xavier osm are directly involved in the formation. They were 11 professed and 1 pre- novice.
Among the 12, 4 frequented St. Peter‟s Pontifical Institute for their theology, one frequents to
St. Peter‟s Pontifical Institute for his philosophy and the rest are frequenting de Paul Institute
of Religion and Philosophy for their philosophy. They are doing the B.Ph cum MA
(Philosophy) in IGOU. On 18th of December Bros. Anbarasan osm, Gerege Thomas osm,
Stephen Raj osm and Thimothy osm successfully completed their theology. They made their
solemn profession on 29th of December and then they joined their new community. At present
there are 7 professed and one pre-novice in the Formation. All are doing their philosophical
studies in different Institutes.
They have always been given orientation at the beginning of the every academic year.
They come together to programme the life of the year, which the community later verifies
and finalizes keeping in mind the Ratio Formationis of the Order and the directory of the
Province as well as the demands of today‟s society. They have been guided and helped in
self- formation, accountability, decision making, responsibility, personal freedom, maturity,
excellence in academic performance and extra- curricular activities. They are also encouraged
to plan out a personal programme in dialogue with their master according to one‟s need to
which one wants to achieve in this year as a personal objective. This is periodically examined
(Conts. 159 – 160). The Simple professed friars are encouraged to have regular spiritual
direction.
The simple professed friars join the Solemn professed friars for the monthly
conventual chapter with passive voice (Cont. 195b). It strengthens our fraternity and servite
identity. Every month, they have regular seminar, debate, open- panel discussion on current
and social issues, oratory, and presentation on their study - materials and subjects in order to
improve their intellectual capacity and their personality. They are also encouraged and given
enough time and space to make use of the library every day for their research works,
assignments and dissertations and to excel in their academic performance. During the
semester, Christmas holidays regular formative and future orientation courses are foreseen
and offered.
Sunday Ministry:
They all actively involve in the Sunday ministries in various parishes of Arch diocese
of Bangalore and in two Social service Centers run by religious. Theologians engage
themselves in animating the Liturgy, distributing communion, teaching catechism, visiting
sick, blessing the families and so on in the parishes and on the other hand philosophy students
engage themselves in assisting the sick, Educating the Youth and so on at the rehabilitation
centers. Their pastoral as well as social service are well appreciated and welcomed. Once in a
semester, the Master visits the ministry places. They are very happy about their ministry and
they feel that the Sunday ministry helps them to deepen more in their faith and to become
more dynamic and creative pastors in the future (Const. 147) and to become aware of the
importance of serving the poor and needy (Consts. 88 – 91).
Apart from their Sunday ministries, during their Christmas and Summer Vacation,
they render their service to our servite Parishes and also as a part of our curriculum, they
were sent to various experiences during their summer holidays. Last three year they had been
sent for hospital experience (Aids and Leprosy centers) and Rehabilitation centers (Home for
Aged and special Children and Home for the Run away).
Future Orientation:

Since 2012, we have been taking care of the liturgical and spiritual needs of the
Substation of our Parish. We would like to approach the Arch-bishop to give him
a formal request to hand over the sub-station under our care or to erect a new
parish and hand it over to us.

Since we pay a huge amount of money for the unused land as the house tax to the
Government, the community proposes to construct a Convention Hall or a School.
It may help the community to become self-sufficient in the future.
From the Diary of the community:
2012 – 2013
11th of June New community is formed under leadership of new prior
26th of July: Fra. Anand osm Leaves for USA
16th of Aug: Fra. Martin osm leaves for Italy
27th of Sep: Fra. Anand osm returns from USA
17th of Dec: Fras. Albert osm, Charles osm and Selvanayagam osm successfully complete
their theological studies
10th of Jan: Fra. Stephen osm undergoes a surgery to remove the stone
28th of Feb: We have a special prayer service for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on his
retirement
14th of Mar: We celebrate the election of New Pope Francis
2nd of April: We take part in the Requiem Mass for the departed soul of Fr. Thomas, Rector
of St. Peter
2nd of April: Fras. Albert osm, Charles osm and Selvanayagam osm make their solemn
profession
26th to 28th of May: we have canonical visit of prior provincial
31st of May: Fra. Anthony samy osm successfully completes his Master degree in Counseling
2013 – 2014
01st of June: Farewell to Fras. Anthony Xavier osm and Anthony Samy osm
8th to 10th of Aug: Parents‟ Meet
9th of Sep: Fra. Souri Raj osm leaves for Italy to take part in the Elective General Chapter
21st of Sep: We celebrate the election of New Prior General
24th of Sep: Fra. Souri Raj osm is elected as the fourth General councilor
23rd of Oct: Fra. Souri Raj osm comes back after the General Chapter, he is felicitated
01st of Dec: Farewell to Fra. Souri Raj osm
16th of Jan: Fra. Jesudoss osm is admitted in the hospital after the extreme heart attack
23rd of Jan: Fra. Amal Raj osm a new community member arrives
30th of Jan: Fra Uvari Anthony osm a new community member arrives
03rd of Feb: The community gives formal welcome to fras. Uvari Anthony osm and Amalraj
osm, new community members.
03rd of Mar: Carnival
19th of Mar: Canonical Visit of Prior Provincial
29th of May: Professed renew their vows
2014 – 2015
02nd June: Fra. Francis osm a new community member arrives
07th June: Newly Professed friars arrive
24th June: New bore well
04th July: Annual Pilgrimage to Marian Shrine at KGF
05th of Aug: A lorry hits our compound wall.
21st of Aug: Farewell to Fra. Amal Raj osm
08th of Nov: Bros. Antony Raj osm, Baptist Sudhakar osm, Michael Surah osm and Pudumai
osm make their solemn profession in Chennai.
30th of Nov: Inauguration of the Year of Consecrated life by Prior Provincial and Fr. Souri
Raj osm Councilor
30th of Nov: Canonical visit of Prior General begins
03rd of Dec: Canonical visit ends.
15th of Dec: Fourth years brothers complete their studies
07th of Mar: The Professed enacts Via Matrix in Sts. Peter and Paul Parish
27th of Mar: The Professed enacts Via Matrix at the Immaculate Conception of BVM
27th of Mar: Bro. Stalin successfully completes his philosophy
09th of Apr: Fra. Jesus Doss osm passes away in his aunt‟s house around at 6.00 pm
10th of Apr: He is buried in Mamallapuram
15th of Apr: Requiem Mass for Fra. Jesu Doss osm
2015 – 2016
st
01 of Jun: Fra. Lourdu Xavier osm arrives
08th of Jun: Mother General of Servite Sisters of Florence along with her team pays a
fraternal visit.
01st of Jul: Meeting with the Arch-bishop
03rd of Jul: Annual Pilgrimage to Nagamangala
04th of Jul: Fra. Anand osm meets the Arch-bishop along with Fra. Gilbert Raj osm
08th of Dec: Bro. John Francis osm renews his vows
18th of Dec: Bros. Anbarasan osm, George Thomas osm, Stephen Raj osm and Timothy osm
successfully complete their theology
29th of Dec: They make their solemn profession.
06th of Feb: Conclusion of Year of Consecrated life and Inauguration of Jubilee year of
Mercy
09th of Feb: Carnival
28th of Feb: Pilgrimage with our neighboring Christian families
02nd of Mar: Fraternal Visit of Prior Provincial.
11th of March: Via Matrix in Immaculate Conception parish
18th of Mar: Via Matrix in Infant Jesus Parish, Vivek nager
May our Blessed Virgin Mary, hold our hands and lead us to Him towards transfiguration,
Ave Maria
In Domina Nostra,
Fra. Ananda Lourdu Raj OSM, Prior
Jaya Matha Priory, Bangalore
Date: 19.03.2016, the Solemnity of St. Joseph
COMMUNITY REPORT
SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS’ PRIORY, SERVITE MISSION IN MYANMAR
AIKIYA ANNAI PROVINCIAL CHAPTER
25th – 30th APRIL 2016
INTRODUCTION
It is with immense joy I am presenting this report on Seven Holy Founders Priory, Servite
Mission in Myanmar. Since 2007 we, the servite friars are present in Myanmar. During these
eight years our mission has been marching forward with courage and enthusiasm and has its
own phase of growth.
A.
MEMBERS
We are at present five Solemn professed friars namely Fr.Maria soosai OSM, Fr.
Christin Jayaseelan OSM, Fr. Alexander Irudhayraj OSM, Fr. Thomas Selvaraj OSM and Fr.
Emmanuel OSM assigned to Seven Holy Founders' Priory, living in the formation house in
Kyait Inn and Our Lady of Fatima Church in Thongwa.
B.
RESIDENCE
Ours is an erected community. We have sufficient number of friars; we have our own
house to stay.
Fr. Alexander, Fr. Christian Jayaseelan and Fr. Emmanuel live in the
formation house and Fr. Maria Soosai and Fr. Thomas Selveraj at our Servite Parish (Our
lady of Fatima Church) in Thongwa.
1.
Moments of Gathering Together:
a.
PRAYER: We gather together for all the moments of prayer and Eucharistic
Celebrations regularly. We give enough time for community meditation, intercessory prayers,
Lectio Divina and other Marian Prayers.
b.
HOUSE MEETING: We gather together for the conventual chapter once a month
and whenever the need arises. During these meetings we spend adequate time for personal
and common evaluation of our presence and ministries and program for the month.
c.
RECREATION: We spend at least half an hour every day to be together after
supper. Regularly we organize and celebrate Talents‟ Night, Fun Games, Feast & birthdays
and Bible Quiz. We also share our experiences and plan together to organize better the day to
come.
d.
COMMUNITY WITNESS: As much as possible, we try to witness our community
living through collegial decisions, happy living, common interests and conviction in our
service to the laity, the Religious and the clergy here. Our availability, presence of mind,
compassionate approach, commitment of service and the spirit of tolerances are greatly
appreciated by the people here.
2.
MINISTRIES
Apart from all our responsibilities, we also actively involve in Sunday Parish ministries,
hospital and aged home visits, preaching recollections and retreats, classes to the religious
candidates etc… Thus we dedicate ourselves fully in various activities and make our presence
fruitful. The followings are some of our engagements.
a) CELEBRATIONS: We have Eucharistic celebrations daily in the community and in the
Parish. We celebrate Marian Votive masses on Saturdays and every first Saturday of the
Month we have special Mass and Novina to Jeeva Matha and first Wednesdays to St.
Peragrine.
b) CATECHISM: Catechism and moral classes to the children of our Parish is well
organized and conducted regularly every Sunday morning in the Parish where about 50
children participate. It is a special phenomenon to find many children coming together.
Adequate texts are prepared for them and thus they are instructed in a proper way.
c) LANGUAGE CLASSES: Since the present generation does not have much possibility to
learn Tamil and English at home and school where they study, we spend a lot of time to
teach Tamil and English language classes. Every year during the summer, we conduct
summer camp (Rise & Shine) for the school going children. This year 157 children from
different parishes and communities participate in the camp. We give accommodation and
food for 70 children. We are giving special training in computer and Yoga, music and selfdisciplines. Programs are organized from 5 am to10 pm every day and we keep them busy
and active. Modern audio visual materials are used in order to facilitate the learning. In order
to emphasize the importance of English, we say mass in English for the children every
Saturday and make them read in English. The English songs and mass prayers are taught. All
the children are regularly attending the mass along with their parents. Seeing their enthusiasm
and growth, the youth and the mothers too are requesting us to give them training in English
and Tamil languages.
d) YOUTH BOYS AND GIRLS: We have created a Youth Association. It is a great success
to bring together about 40 youngsters of the Parish. We could see their strong desire to find a
better world than what they are now. They are given value education, language trainings,
Basis Bible classes, religious and moral instructions and life oriented exercises. After heavy
Schedule of works during the whole week, they find these kinds of meeting energizing and
enriching.
e) MOTHERS’ ASSOCIATION: It is another big success to have revitalized the mothers‟
association. They too meet regularly every week on Thursday at the parish. Previously they
were coming together only for the recitation of rosary and the traditional prayers. But now
they are given self-growth program, value education, moral and religious instructions,
language practices, social awareness classes, family welfare trainings etc. They are helped to
read Bible daily and to share the word of God among themselves. Through periodical outings
and picnics, they are exposed to the bigger world, and thus they learn to look at the world
with broad view and vision.
f) BASIC CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES: We are the first ones to publish the daily word
of God (Andrada Arul Valvu) in Tamil and introduced and initiated BCC at St. Anthony‟s Yangon, at St.James' - Dawbon and at Our Lady of Fatima Church – Thongwa. The people
who were coming together just for the recitation of the Rosary, now we have introduced to
scripture readings, reflections, sharing and praying aloud. The people living in the same
streets and the streets nearby are slowly coming to know each other. They get into the houses
of each other, experience their hospitality and thus are able to create better relationships. We
have created 3 Communities (Anbiyam) in our Parish. The people are seeing the difference
but have interesting experiences, good relationship and spiritual growth through these
gatherings.
3. FINANCIAL STATUS AND ADMINISTRATION
Our mission relies totally on the generosity of the Mother Province (Venice) and Aikiya Anni
Province. The Provinces grant mass fund the Students‟ quota and thus we are able to meet
our ordinary expenses (our personal and common expenses, formation, medical expenses,
Phone and correspondence, Transport, salary to the workers etc… are the major expenses we
have). Apart from these, the Visa renewal expenses like Traveling expenses (compulsory
every 90 days for foreigners), Document expenses, Taxes for our stay etc., are met by the
community. Through local ministries we get some income, but not to the extent to be
considered as big.
4. CRCM.
The Myanmar religious come together as CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE of
MYANMAR (CRCM). Fr. Maria Soosai makes it a point to be present for all the gatherings
organized by the CRCM. Periodical formative meetings, Business hours, Seminors, Courses
and recollections etc… are attended without fail.
5. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SERVITE SISTERS
The relationship with the Servite sisters is cordial and friendly. It is very vital to have a solid
collaboration in any kind of ministry or service. The inter-dependency is a must here. So, we
try our best to collaborate in many ways to do our services (pastoral, social and religious)
together with the servite sisters.
6. FORMATION
Formation to the candidates of our Mission Station is considered as our primary and
principal apostolate. Formation takes place in our Seven Holy Founders' Priory, Kyait Inn –
Payagone. All the Friars involve actively with full of commitment and dedication in offering
a concrete witness to fraternal life which is the basis for formation of the Servants of Mary.
Even though we began to form the students in 2013 itself, officially the Provincial
Council gave the approval in June 2014 to have initial formation here in Myanmar itself. We
have 14 POSTULANTS who are also doing their degree in correspondence course and TWO
PRE-NOVICES who have completed their degree. They all are interested in Religious life.
They are getting formed in all the aspects of religious life particularly servite way of living.
Proper guidance is given to grow spiritually, intellectually, religiously, psychologically and
socially. This year we are sending two pre-novices to India (Our Province) for the Novitiate.
Every year there is a hope to get 5 to 7 new candidates to the Order.
7. THE FUTURE ORIENTATION
The future orientation with regard to the structures and developments
1. Constructing the compound wall around the church
2. Building the Presbytery (With the help of the Province and the Local Bishop we are studying
the possibility to have residence for the friars in the Church campus itself).
3. A descent Arch can be foreseen at the main entrance gate which can display the actual image
of the parish church.
4. Boarding House: Planning to build a home for the Orphans and Semi-Orphans (orphanage)
through which we can help poor children for their better future and promote vocation.
5. A School for Language and Computer skills in our own Land ( TaWa).
CONCLUSION
Myanmar mission has a long way to go. Our Mother Province and our Aikiya Annai
Province have been always kind and supportive to us. We are grateful for every bit of
encouragement and support. We extend our sincere gratitude to all the friars of the Order. In
spite of a lot of difficulties and struggles, we strive with hope and confidence to incarnate the
Servite identity in our country - Myanmar.
Fra. Maria Soosai OSM
Community of Padua
Report of the Community for the Provincial Elective Chapter 2016
The Servites, who left Padua after the expulsion by Napoleon have now returned after 207
years and they reflect on the meaning of this return and their future prospects, especially for
the Indian Province. We friars, Fr. Cristiano Cavedon, Fr.Jeganathan and Fr. Philomineraj are
called to re-establish this community. We have not chosen this but we were called by our
superiors and that we consider an important aspect of our being together. On the 6th of
September 2014, we had the grand inauguration celebration with the solemn Mass presided
over by the Bishop of Padua, Antonio Mattiazzo who has since retired. The two provincials,
many diocesan priests, religious, parishioners and Government officials took part in this great
historical event. The uniqueness of our community is established on the collaboration of two
provinces, namely Aikkiya Annai and the Venetian province. It is also an international
community. The parish has been entrusted to the Venetian Province by the Diocese even
though the community belongs to the Indian Province. There is a mutual understanding and
collaboration between the two provinces in the establishment of the community.
When we returned, we were called to start from scratch, with no facilities and pre-existing community set up. We gradually began to settle down and slowly we converted the
diocesan priest‟s residence into an environment more suited to the needs of a religious house,
using the existing spaces. The community started with a lot of patience but also with tenacity
and good will in order to establish our style of Servite presence. Now the community has
been in existence for one and half years and feels more settled after having gone through the
initial difficulties. We have lots of hope and many future prospects.
Prayer Life
We pray lauds and vespers everyday with the parishioners. We also take turns every day to
hear confession in the morning, from 9.30 to 11.30 and in the afternoon, from 3.30 to 6.00.
For many aspects of the spiritual life, we participate in a pastoral unit, composed of five other
parishes, close to us in the historic centre of Padua. We join with the local clergy for the
monthly retreat conducted by the diocese. For the special Liturgical seasons like Advent and
Lent we organize Marian Saturdays (Sabati Mariani) for the people, inviting our professors
from «Marianum» (Rome) to give talks on different themes about Mary. This we consider
very important and our unique contribution to the people in the diocese. For example, this
year we organized four conferences during the time of Advent on the theme of Mary,
connected to the Year of Mercy. Many people participated and appreciated our initiative.
Also, we celebrate our important saints‟ feasts like Seven Holy Founders, St. Philip Benizi,
St. Maria Antony Pucci, St. Peregrine and St. Giuliana, as a community with the people.
Community Life
We have regular chapters every month. We do evaluate, programme and verify all the
registers (Mass Register and Accounts) during our chapters. We live a sober life. We have no
servants for cooking and cleaning. We manage everything ourselves. Regarding our
interpersonal relationships we continue to improve and we respect our different roles. We
need to be generous with each other, continually learning to be focussed on putting our team
work into action.
The community is economically maintained by the Congrua of the parish priest and the
Assistant parish priest. And the parish is contributing something for the service of the third
friar. We also have the scarcity of Mass intentions for the three of us from the parish. We
manage somehow with the contributions of the offerings from the Parish Priest. We get
approximately an income of about 3,000 euro every month. Our expenses are only for food,
clothing, travel, personal and medical. The community is able to sustain itself with this
income because all other main expenses (Electricity, Water, Gas, Heater, Taxes and
Telephone) are met by the Parish. By not having any employed servants we make a saving of
1000 euros every month for the province.
Parish Activity
The nature of our community is Pastoral ministry. We are blessed to have an beautiful and
historical church in the city centre of Padua. The famous miraculous wooden crucifix made
by the artist Donatello and the altar of the Mother of Sorrows in the baroque style, done by
Giovanni Bonazza (1654-1736) attract many people especially tourists and pilgrims.
Everyday people are visiting and praying in our church. When the parish was entrusted to us,
the crucifix of Donatello was under restoration. It was returned, beautifully restored to our
church on the 27th of July 2015. We organized a grand celebration on its return from 12th - 14th
of September 2015. We have already begun to promote the devotion of this miraculous
crucifix. We have started to celebrate the mass every first Friday of the month in front of the
altar of this miraculous crucifix. Still, we need to study and collaborate more as a community
to promote this devotion among the people.
The parish consists of 1200 members and most of them are elderly. There are students who
live in the parish area and attend the university. Every day, non-residents like tourists and
pilgrims are passing through our church. There is an active parish council as well as a
financial committee. The register of the finances of the parish were already maintained by
parishioners when we took charge, as it was under the control of the Parish Priest. The parish
has a hostel for students. Six new catechumens‟ communities have rented the halls for their
spiritual purposes. We have two apartments. One is rented by an elderly lady. We are looking
for a tenant for the other apartment.
All the activities of the parish are carried out with the collaboration of the Pastoral Unit. The
Parish Priests of the Pastoral Unit gather together every Monday to organize the programme
of activities, for the parishes. We have regular meetings with the parish council of the parish.
Also, once every three months, the Pastoral Council of the Pastoral Unit meet together to
discuss different issues of the pastoral work. The catechism is conducted for children every
Friday in the parish with the help of the catechists.
The Pastoral Unit comes together once every month on a Sunday, in our parish and celebrates
a mass for the children and their Parents. This is a new idea being introduced, to give
catechism to parents and their children for their Christian Initiation. The parents and children
attend the catechism separately before the mass. Afterwards, they all attend the mass together
and the children actively participate with their parents.
This year marriage preparatory courses were conducted in the pastoral unit. Around 20
couples participated in the course. At the end of the course they had the mass in our church
followed by lunch which was arranged for them. The parish Priest has already visited most of
the families in the Parish and the rest of them will be visited soon. The communion is taken
to the sick and the elderly regularly by a nun, who was doing this ministry, before we
returned. The parish priest visits them now and then and whenever there is a need.
The Bishop, the priests and the parishioners are happy about our ministry and our presence
in the historical centre of the city. Above all, in our parish we guarantee a presence of our
service to people for listening and hearing confessions. And this is of great significance for us
in this year of the «Holy Year of Mercy». Still we have a long way to go to make our Servite
Indian presence more significant in this beautiful church.
There are few suggestions which the community and the province have to take into
consideration for the future, in the years to come:
1. We need to prepare Indian friars, to continue the parish ministry.
2. We have to improve interpersonal relationships among ourselves and we need to be
aware of each person‟s particular role.
3. We have to cultivate team work in our pastoral ministry.
4. We need to restructure the residence, to be more suited to our community living.
5. We need to plan well in order to extend new ministries beyond just the parish
ministry.
6. We have to look at the ways and means to make the community more economically
self sufficient.
7. We have to extend more our fraternity and spirituality with the parishioners and the
people who live in our area, in order to establish other groups of Servites (OSSM,
Servite Youth, etc...).
Finally, we are open to collaborate and promote activities in favour of our Indian province.
For example, we have a plan to exhibit our missionary works to the people with the
collaboration of the Indian friars who are staying here in different jurisdiction. We will try to
build up a presence that is significant, spending all our energy on serving, in the spirit of
Servite.
The Prior
Fra. Jeganthan OSM
Our Lady of Holy Angels Servite Fraternity
The Roman Catholic Twin parishes of Divine Saviour & St. Ann 610 Cypress
Ave., Los Angeles, CA- 90065
COMMUNITY REPORT, 2016
Our Lady of Holy Angels Servite Fraternity includes the flowing friars: Albert M. Vincent,
OSM & Samy M. Durai, OSM. It has been almost two years since this fraternity was
established on July 1 st 2014. Friars chose to implement the way of life of the Servants of
Mary and strived to live in fraternal communion and mutual esteem in order to achieve the
perfect dignity and freedom of the children of God and dedicate themselves in love to the
service of five different parish communities that are known for cultural and linguistic
diversity. Our services are pastoral, catechetical, and educations.
Our community program served as a guideline to live our religious consecration, to grow in
the pastoral service and to reach the perfect stature of Christ (Cnfr. Cons.319).
Growth of Individual Friars and Fraternity
The life-long development of the servant of Mary takes place in an atmosphere of authentic
freedom, which the community offers him with its constant assistance (Cons.106). Within our
community each friar strived for spiritual growth and religious maturity by: Focusing on
personal growth and balanced appreciation for health of mind and body (cons.117).
Friars enjoy good health and are regular to their visit to the general physician,
ophthalmologist and dentist. They also took care of their spiritual health by keeping their
personal prayers, community prayers moments, retreats, study weeks, spiritual directions and
days off.
Samy and Stephen had a homily drill with a religious nun to enhance their American accent.
Fra. Albert, Fra. Samy and Fra. Stephen (on the weekends) were very committed to life
together in the fraternity. Life-together had its ups downs but mostly friars were happy; they
prayed together, enjoyed each other's company and cared for each other.
The personal development of the Servant of Mary continues throughout his life (Cons.120).
Friars strived for brotherly friendship. The meetings, chapters and fellowships were moments
of enrichment and growth.
Each friar in the fraternity felt the importance of building
community and contributed the best of his ability for the good of the fraternity.
The Prior provincial‟s visit in 2015 to the fraternity was very enriching and encouraging.
With the provincial, all friars met the Archbishop and the regional bishops who expressed
their delight over the presence and ministry of Indian Servites in Los Angeles.
Apostolate of the Fraternity
Parish Ministry
Urged by the grace of Baptism, the stirring of Holy Spirit and our religious consecration,
friars set out to live and witness Christian love. Expressed the Charism of the Order, gave
themselves in service to others and so prolonged the active presence of the mother of Jesus in
the history of salvation (Cons.73).
Friars took initiatives to grow in sincere appreciation for the pastoral work and the spirit of
service to people of different culture: Hispanic, Pilipino, Vietnamese, Thai, Indian and
American. Learning is never complete, hence a lot is required of the friars in learning the
spirituality, culture and language of the people. Due to the Latino dominated demography of
the twin parishes, Spanish language was a challenge when friars moved in at first. However
after a few months into the ministry, language became no barrier to reading, speaking,
animating liturgies and pastoral ministry.
Parish life has improved greatly. It has been truly a blessing to watch all the various
communities come together not only to pray but also becoming united to work towards the
self-sufficiency of the parishes. A steady increase of offertory on a weekly basis is apparent
at both churches. More careful spending, revisions to the office staff, reducing and a
consistent fundraising brought Saint Ann church from the red to the black within the first
year. The outcome of the parish fundraising programs in both parishes have exceeded their
goals.
The Archdiocese helped both churches financially a lot, especially for the replacement of
Divine Saviour parish hall floor in December 2014 and the Church pew repairs at Saint Ann
in December 2015.
Very active and dedicated ministries are present in both parishes who make the parish
spiritual life very vibrant and thrive. Our ministries build strong bonds of fraternity, bring all
people closer to God and serve joyfully the parish community. The following ministries are
currently active in both parishes.
1. The Altar Server program
2. Youth ministry
3. Lectors and Eucharistic ministers group
4. Sacristans and Ushers
5. Legion of Mary
6. Pilipino community
7. Thai Community
8. Vietnamese Community
9. Indian Community
10. Spanish Community
11. Charismatic prayer group
12. Married couples group
13. Our Lady of Guadalupe associations
14. Night Adoration groups
15. House visits group
16. Religious Articles sales group
New Ministries
17. Feeding the Homeless ministry
18. The Bereavement Ministry
19. Our Lady of Velankanny devotion
20. St. Maria Antony Pucci Charity Ministry
21. Women’s association
Religious Education
The Religious Education Program provides Catholic faith formation to children who attend
the community public schools. Divine Saviour & Saint Ann encourage participation in all
years of formation for a full and complete religious education experience, service and
worship. The curriculum is set in accordance with the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Los
Angeles. The curriculum covers Creed, Sacraments, Christian living, Sacred Scripture,
Liturgy, Prayer as well as Church through age appropriate activities and classes. Classes are
in session Saturday mornings from September through May. The present enrolment is 150
Children for first communion and 70 kids for confirmation.
School
“Forming Loving Disciples Who Transform the World,” is the motto of Divine Saivour
School. Together with the staff and faculty it was highly strived that every child received
strong faith formation, academic excellence and loving discipline. Our school, the hidden
jewel of Cypress Park, was built in 1922. In 1950 the school size increased and provided
eight classrooms, taught by eight religious Sisters. Today, it is a multi-age school,
Transitional Kindergarten through eighth grade and taught by lay teachers.
Years move forward with many challenges and achievements. Computer lab was introduced
last year and many renovations took place this year. In addition the archdiocese was generous
enough to assist our school roof repairs through Shea foundation.
Students who work hard and strive each day to be Christ-like. Parents are very supportive and
understanding that a Catholic education is a true gift to their children. The faculty and staff
are very committed to each child‟s education and faith formation. They truly show through
their actions that teaching is their true vocation and passion. The friars say mass for the kids
and visit the class rooms periodically. Children love their priests and try and imitate them in
prayers and Marian devotion.
The goal this year is to continue to work hard towards creating a nurturing and loving
environment and to increase our enrollment from 150 to 300.
Servite Identity
Following the examples of the first fathers, the fraternity drew inspiration from the Blessed
Virgin Mary (Cons.1). All Marian feasts and memories of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saints
and Blessed of the Order were honored.
St. Maria Antony Pucci Charity ministry on Sundays, Our Lady of Sorrows Novena on
Fridays, St. Peregrine healing ministry, plus novena are our successful introduction of new
ministries in the parish communities.
Together we worked hard to build up a good relationship with the people; and to establish a
strong Servite presence among the parishioners. They appreciate the Servite spirit &
devotion; Servite way of praying together & working together. So far some good comments
have been received that 'Servites are down to earth, very devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary,
always available, simple, humble and passionate about serving the needy etc.'
Servite Collaboration
A good relationship and communication is maintained with the local Servite communities
especially the school community, Anaheim. Friars were faithful in visiting the Servite High
School on special days and Fr. Albert to spiritual direction of OSSM. Friars were invited to
two moments of the Extraordinary Chapter of US province. The US provincial was so
grateful and appreciative of the fraternity for hosting Fr. Godfried, Prior General and Fr.
Souri, General Counselor before and after their elective chapter.
Secular Servites
The fraternity inspired a lot of parish individuals with its charism and simplicity of life. This
year two men and four women have promised to live the Servite charism in the family of
Secular Servites in the parish. So the fraternity has a newly founded OSSM group which is
very passionate about Servite Charism and its long religious tradition. They had their first
meeting in March to elect the officials and the name of the new community. The name
unanimously chosen was Mary, Queen of Angels secular community.
Tamil Sangam
Under the leadership of the Servites, people of Indian origin formed “VelankanniSoCal”
community on 09/13/2014 to start the devotion and celebration of our lady of velankanny in
Los Angeles, California. Today, the group has about 70 families from different ethnicity and
meets on the first Saturday of every month for Rosary, holy mass, prayers and fellowship at
the Servite parish. During the monthly gatherings, the community joyfully cherishes
birthdays, wedding anniversaries, baby shower, Baptism, First Holy Communion, Christmas,
New Year, Easter Sunday and other festivities. In the coming years, the community plans to
increase its membership through prayers and out-reach ministries.
Conclusion
By the grace of God these two years had been grace filled years. Many challenges have been
met as new foundation, great improvements in the pastoral and school ministries have been
witnessed and countless blessings have been experienced in the mission. With many
blessings we received these two years, the fraternity cannot wait to keep making positive
strides spiritually, fiscally and as a united community at Divine Saviour & Saint Ann parishes
and School.
Fr. Samy and I could not be more pleased with the progress we have made and the direction
in which our fraternity is heading towards...
Fr. Albert, OSM
Fr. Samy, OSM
March 19, 2016
Report of the Preparatory Commission
The members of the commissions are: Fra John Roncalli, the Coordinator, Fra Michael Raj,
Fra Stephen Aroquiadas, Fra John Joseph, Fra Chinnappan and Fra Antonyraj. We had four
sittings. We selected the theme and prepared a questionnaire and sent them to the friars. Most
of the friars participated. After having gone through the responses and discussing the
proposals and the suggestions the commission has formulated the following report.
The Theme of the Chapter
“Rejoice with Mary towards the New Humanity”
(khpahNthL kfpo;e;J Gjpa kdpjk; Nehf;fp”)
1. Servite Identity and Life Style
Most of the friars are happy and contented with their choice of life. Even a few who have
shared their ideas with comments they hope for the better commitment and conviction. Most
of the friars are very happy. They really feel the spiritual strength. Chapters moments are
generally appreciated. A few expressed the need of evaluation in the conventual chapters.
Many shared that the food is good but at the same time sick people have to be given a little
more attention. With regard to formees many friars expressed that they need to be provided
with nutritious and adequate food. Many also feel that there is no planned recreation which
we need to concentrate.
2. Ministry
All of us understand that every ministry is the ministry of the community. There are two
factors. One: the responsibilities inside the community and the other: ministries done in the
name of the community.
Friars are able to contribute for the welfare of the society, church and the order. There needs
to be reciprocal responsibilities in sharing the ministries. Friars generally feel supported by
the community in our ministries taken outside.
3. Administration
Friars are generally happy. But at the same time, there a few reminders with regard to the
maintaining and safeguarding of the documents. The property has to be taken care of.
Almost all of us are well aware of the need to prepare personnel for this ministry. All are in
favour to bring into the community the remunerations. With regard to „Linking of our
Parishes‟ most of us are in favour of the idea. The friars responsible have to take this into
serious consideration. This can be clarified in the chapter.
4. Vocation and Formation
Friars are happy about the existing method of recruiting. Most of us are also open for the new
ways of recruitments. (Living programmes – any candidate, without any barriers, can be
encouraged to come into our communities for an experience and the like)
With regard to Formation generally friars are happy. Friars also feel that they need to plan for
some outings, relaxation and periodical renewal.
5. Personal Commitment to religious Life
All Friars are happy with regard to being the member of the Province. Friars are mostly
happy with regard to the opportunities offered for higher studies.
6. Richness of the Diversity
Many friars are happy about the richness of diversity. We find that there is the difficulty of
accepting when different opinions are expressed. There needs to be more maturity in this
regard.
7. New Ministries with Less Investment
Friars welcome the ideas of new ventures and ministries.
8. Policies
Friars are happy about our friars working and studying outside. At the same time, we need to
clarify and come out with some policies.
Friars welcome the idea of doing higher studies. But at the same time Education policy also
needs to be clarified.
9. Communication / Media
Persons, who are willing and opting, need to be nurtured and prepared in the field of mass
media etc. Friars are also in favour of doing various civil studies.
10. Annual Chapter / Meeting
Most of the friars opt for the Decision making Mid-term Chapter.
Finally after collecting all the proposals of the communities, secretariats and the
commissions, we have formulated the final text to be forwarded to the Provincial Council.
Fra John Roncalli
Coordinator
Fra John Joseph
Secretary