Christmas Message 2014

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 Christmas Message 2014



Dear Fathers,

2014 came and is going as faster than expected. We have so many memorable events in our personal life and Community lives for which we can be thankful to the Almighty.

All of us tried our level best to become blessings for each other. Some of our distinguished visitors came to see us bearing love and good wishes, Fr Marc Dessureault, the General Treasurer of the Congregation; Fr Arun Rozario came to witness that that there is the healing power of prayers and to prove that God listens to the cry of the people. The PORTICUS came to see us a few times to let us know that they have not forgotten us and the Dean of Studies of the Asian University of Management, Juan Miguel Luz came to tell us that Ripon is doing well, and he needs our prayers.

Benefactors and well wishers flooded us with gifts and support of prayers that we cannot but simply raise our hearts to God thank him and plead on their behalf.


Some of the Fathers together with some good hearted people are working hard supported by your prayers to get the Scholasticate building project passed. We are in an embarrassing situation as two the three buildings money is on our lap, and we still cannot initiate the work! 

A few of our members have been struggling with health and wholeness. Thank God that they are improving. We continue to pray for each other that the good Lord will keep us all fit for his missions.

As a Community we have three achievements: evaluating the Immense Hope and buying a piece of property in Moulvibazar in view of Formation and creating a Savings Account for Health while depositing 25,000 Tk per month. We have done so much for our missions, I think at this point if we can take care of ourselves, physically, spiritually and in community exercises,  so that God will bless us more. Let us resolve that we will be restless till we find rest in our communities. And let every time that we get back to our House be a real homecoming, finding joy and peace and relaxation. We will find our support, stability, efficacy, solidarity and complimentary strokes through sharing and collaborative outlook. We tend to be so busy and therefore, finding no time for ourselves and for our community members. We will have difficulties but going through the mill and Cross we can become real disciples of Christ. And try to feel that if I am ok, and everyone else will be ok, and be optimistic!

Please emphasize both personal and community prayers. We are becoming experts in criticizing and advising others. And also see that we do not become project oriented, finding complete satisfaction even without. Those who have God, they have everything!

We have the new Administration, or, the same old one adding a new Councillor but pray that together with you all we will be able to serve the Delegation better.


At this moment I wish to share some of the thoughts of Pope Francis in his Letter for the ‘Year of Consecrated Life’:

 “I am counting on you ‘to wake up the world’, since the distinctive sign of consecrated life is prophecy,” he wrote.  “This is the priority that is needed right now.”

As Religious and Priest, “You have not only a glorious history to remember and to recount, but also a great history still to be accomplished!  Look to the future, where the Spirit is sending you in order to do even greater things”.

He says, the old saying will always be true: “Where there are religious, there is joy”. 

Quoting Benedict the XVI “It is not by proselytizing that the Church grows, but by attraction”. The consecrated life will not flourish as a result of brilliant vocation programs, but because the young people we meet find us attractive, because they see us as men and women who are happy (even when we are not physically hundred percent fit)!  

The Holy Father says that he entrusts this Year of Consecrated Life to Mary, the Virgin of listening and contemplation, the first disciple of her beloved Son.  Let us look to her, the highly beloved daughter of the Father, endowed with every gift of grace, as the unsurpassed model for all those who follow Christ in love of God and service to their neighbour.


Some Christmas thoughts from the Holy Father again (Christmas Message ’14)

The Pope on Christmas Eve urges Roman Catholics to allow God enter their lives to help combat darkness and corruption. He has brought an air of simplicity to the Vatican. He says that God’s message of peace “is stronger than darkness and corruption”.

He said Church officials should never become “bureaucratic machines”, and pointedly urged them to reject gossip, division, and the building of personal empires. He says to look out how the "terrorism of gossip" can "kill the reputation of our colleagues and brothers in cold blood." How cliques can "enslave their members and become a cancer that threatens the harmony of the body" and eventually kill it off by "friendly fire." How some suffer from "spiritual Alzheimer's," forgetting what drew them to the priesthood in the first place.


Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

(Message delivered on 29 December, 2014)

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