Vol. 16 No.

1, January 2008

from the provincial’s desk...

NEW CHALLENGES FOR A NEW YEAR

I wish each one of you a New Year filled with a new vision to serve the Lord and His people with
ever greater enthusiasm and commitment. The beginning of a new year always provides us
with an opportunity to review the past and dream new dreams for the future. While we thank
God for so many productive and transforming events of 2007, we cannot fail to pray for new
courage to face the challenges and reality of 2008.

For us Jesuits, 2008 begins with the solemn inauguration of GC 35, a historic event in the life of
the Society in the 21st century. This Congregation will lay out a road map at least for the first
decades of the Society’s journey in the 21st century. The challenges and issues we face are well
articulated in the TEN themes carefully chosen by the preparatory commission for discussion by
the Congregation delegates. (please refer to this website: http://www.creighton.edu/
CollaborativeMinistry/GC35/). While only a minimal number of new decrees are foreseen, there
will be a rich collection of documents and reflective materials for the entire Society to relish and
act upon for its internal renewal and external mission.

The New Year 2008, also provides us, Goa Jesuits, opportunities and challenges for self-
transformation. Whatever be the nature of our mission we need to upgrade ourselves and our
institutions so as to be of greater service to God’s people. The College project in Sawantwadi,
new hostels in Ankalgi (Kannada Mission), the Community College at St. Paul and possibly also
an evening degree College in Commerce, a social work training centre in Ratnagiri, an upgrade
of the Khanapur Technical Institute……..etc are only some of the dreams of our brethren in
different parts of the Province. I encourage every Jesuit in our Province to challenge himself in
the spirit of the magis to upgrade, expand and re-vision his ministry during this year, especially
after GC 35. The Province has planned several renewal programmes in the spirit of GC 35. I
urge you to set aside time to participate in these during the course of the year.

On a more personal note, I thank each one of you for your continued support and goodwill in my
ministry of governance of the Province. The talents we have in the Province are varied and rich.
We need to utilize these to the maximum so that we provide quality service to God’s people
whom we are called to minister to. May our creative energies as well as commitment to our Jesuit
calling find space and support among our Jesuit companions in the vast territory of our Province.

God bless you and may 2008 prove to be a watershed year for our Province in terms of growth
and service.

Anthony da Silva SJ
Provincial
CONSULT KEYWORDS: DECEMBER
Upgrading of the Technical Institute at Khanapur: The study team, under the direction of Mr. J.C.
Anthony has submitted its final report on the present situation at the Khanapur Technical and proposed
future possibilities. While appreciating the present services of the Institute, the team proposes the starting
an extension centre with production and training at the Santibastwad farm property, near Belgaum. More
input/consultations from others in the Province will be sought.
Sawantwadi College Project: PCE, Fr. William Rodrigues and others in the Education Commission will
discuss and make suggestions regarding the academic aspects of this project. Other educational experts
(SJs as well as non-SJs) will also be invited eventually to help in the planning. Mr. J.C. Anthony is also open
to helping us out with this project. A full-time Jesuit would be needed to handle the construction and land
matters. The Finance Commission will take up this matter and make proposals to Fr. Provincial.
Visit of the German Mission Procurator, Fr. Klaus Väthröder: Fr. Klaus with two other co-workers will
visit the Goa Province from January 28 to February 02, 2008. Due to limited time they will NOT visit all the
communities. Fr. Agnelo Mascarenhas will arrange their itinerary and will inform the Province.
Nesari Catholics request an English Medium School: The Provincial was formally approached by the
Nesari Catholic Association with a request to take over an existing pre-primary school and work towards
making it a High School. The matter is being studied by the Ajra and Gadhinglaj parish priests. Nesari lies
strategically between Ajra and Gadhinglaj and has good potential for growth.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: DATES TO REMEMBER IN 2008

January 28 to February 2 – Official visit to the Goa Province by the Mission Procurator, Fr. Klaus
Väthröder. Fr. Socius will send individual communities further details.
April 24 (7 PM) to May 2 (1 PM) – Common directed Retreat for the Goa Jesuits at XTC, Belgaum.
Fr. Rosario Rocha will direct the retreat. Kindly write to the Socius and book your place at your
earliest. Seats are limited.
May 11 (7 PM) to 14 (1 PM) – PROVINCE DAYS at PAI, Raia.
September 23 (6 PM) to 26 (1:30 PM) – Workshop on GC 35 – Resource persons: Frs. Paul Vaz and
Rosario Rocha. It will be held at PAI, Raia.
October 7 (6 PM) to 10 (1:30 PM) – Workshop on GC 35 – Resource persons: Frs. Paul Vaz and
Anthony da Silva. This seminar will be held at XTC, Belgaum.
November 2 (7 PM) to 9 (1:30 PM) – Second common Retreat for the Goa Jesuits at PAI, Raia. Fr.
Errol Fernandes (BOM) will be the retreat director.

ROSARY, AJRA
Christmas time is joyful time all over the world. Sweet melodies of the carols in the air, people busy
shopping and furnishing their homes with new things, the time spent around the crib, and most of all
the fun-filled activities in the parish and elsewhere add to the celebration of the Coming of our
Saviour. This year Ajra and all its inhabitants had many reasons to rejoice at Christmas. After some
serious study for the third unit test the Rosarians lived moments of joy when they participated in
the Fun Sports organized on December 20 by the school staff. They say tea is pleasant when
tasted hot and so was the case with Fr. Basil Vago, ordained recently as priest for our Province,
who arrived at Ajra on December 10. Fr. Basil is in great demand at different places to celebrate the
Eucharist. Fr. Anthony Pereira, inspite of his busy time in the school, organized carol singing in the
villages with the help of the Rosary boarders. The Rosary boarders also had a gala time on December
21 as they participated in the fun games organized by Sch. Allwyn Cruz. Fr. Joe Pinto had a
wonderful experience this Christmas with the Evangelist Mr. Santaji at Belewadi. Quite many
activities like Fun sports, competitions and tournaments are being organized at the Parish level not
only for the little ones but for the elderly. Thanks to the encouragement from Fr. Paul Fernandes,
the Parish Priest and Fr. Jacob Carvalho, who willingly allowed the organizers to use the school
premises and facilities.
Allwyn Cruz SJ
GENERAL CONGREGATION 35
The General Curia of the Society of Jesus announces the opening of a General Congregation on Monday,
January 7, 2008. This is the 35th General Congregation since the foundation of the Society in 1540. More
than 220 Jesuits from around the world will convene at Borgo S. Spirito to elect a new Superior General and
to discuss (“discern” in the language of Saint Ignatius, the founder of the Society) the apostolic challenges
confronting the Society in the years ahead.
The present Superior General, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, the 28th successor of Saint Ignatius, is close
to 80 years of age, and has been at the helm of the Society for more than 24 years. After hearing the
opinion of his Counsellors and with the assent of the Holy Father, Father Kolvenbach will present his
resignation to the General Congregation. Following the election of a new Superior General, the Congregation
will move to the discussion of issues suggested by the Preparatory Commission. Interventions can be made
in English, Spanish, French and Italian. They will be translated into English, Spanish and French.
Word from the Holy See has reached Father General informing him that on February 21st His Holiness Benedict
XVI will receive in audience the members of the General Congregation.
The numbers published regarding the participants to General Congregation 35 could lead to a certain
confusion: The 225 figure members, did not include Father General who has convoked the Congregation and
will preside at it, but he is also a member of the Congregation with voting rights. Therefore the correct
number is 226 members of the Congregation. The number of electors does not include three ex officio
members and five appointed by Father General. Consequently the number of electors of the new Superior
General is 218. Fr Kolvenbach remains member of the Congregation even after the election of his successor.

ST. BRITTO’S, MAPUSA

Directorate of Education of Goa
encourages students and teachers to
visit other states of India to see their
culture and places of historical
importance. Keeping this in mind,
74 students and 10 teachers went on
an 8 days Educational Tour to Jaipur
and Agra during the Diwali
Vacation. They came back with
pleasant memories of both the
places. For some it was the first time
travel outside the state of Goa. After
they returned the students were
asked to prepare assignments and
submit the same as Project Work.
This year, there were two Annual
Gatherings, one for the Middle/
High School and a separate one for
the Primary. As it is customary with
the policy of the school, the Parents
of a student of Std. X were the Chief
Guests for the Middle/High School
Gathering. It was held on December
8, 2007. Scholarship prizes were
distributed to the students for
academic excellence. All the lively
items that were put up had a Goan
cultural flavour. The parents
enjoyed the musical evening.
The Primary Gathering was held on
December 15, 2007. It was a packed
house with no vacant seats. Most of
the students of the Primary took
part in the gathering. Parents of a
Primary School student were the
Chief Guests. The students
enlivened the spirits of the parents
with folks songs, mandos, dances
and a comic konkani skit. Both the
shows were compered by the
students themselves. The Primary
school gathering ended with a
Christmas tableau.
Finally, before the Christmas break
a Christmas Programme was held
with carols singing competition for
the Middle/High School and
Lantern Making Competition for the
Primary. During the assembly the
students put up a play entitled,
Christmas in the 21st Century with
carol singing in between. As a grand
finale the Santa Claus made his
appearance on a motor bike much
to the amusement of the students.
Apollo Cardozo SJ

TSKK, PORVORIM
To commemorate the death of a youth by the name Mr Florian Vaz during the 1986 Language agitation,
Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr has announced the second ‘Konknni Martir Floriano Konknni Vaz Puroskar
2007’. Konknni Martir Floraino Vaz Puroskar will be given to the best book published during January 1, 2007
to December 31, 2007 in Roman script. The award consists of Rs. 5,000/-, a memento and a shawl. From
January 7 to February 6, 2008 TSKK will conduct a Konknni course in the Roman script at TSKK. The classes
will be held in the morning from 10.00 am to 01.00 pm. Modern linguistic approach will be used to teach
Konknni to beginners. Though the spoken Konknni will get primary stress, reading Konknni in Roman script will
also get importance. Admissions are based on first come first served basis.
Pratap Naik SJ
ST. PAUL’S, BELGAUM GBB, BELGAUM
Come December and we find a lot of hustle and bustle. There are a lot Exams over! What next? Well
of activities, cleaning and planning for the New Year. December heralds
after exercising the mind its time
the completion of one year and the arrival of the next. It is also the
for the body and muscles. The
time when we await the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time of joy and
celebration. annual sports meet was held in St.
Paul’s School. The hostel boys
St. Paul’s School added
to this festive air by proved their mettle in the various
organising the Annual sports events. Right from the 1st std
Sports Day. The Chief to the 10th std the hostel boys were
guest was Mr. R.V. in the thick of action. Nelson
Belgaumkar, whose Lima and Alwyn bagged the
son is a student in our
General championship in the
school. Mr. Belgaumkar
Senior and sub junior categories
is the Consultant for
Godavant Group of Companies. He was accompanied by his wife, who respectively. The various
also gave away the prizes. This year’s sports day was innovative as accolades have surely brought a
events were organised not only for students but also for their parents smile to the parents and the School
and ex-students. Fr. Mathew Bardezkar saw to it that all present administration. Yielding to the
were duly entertained and on their feet. An added attraction this year yuletide aura the hostel crooners
was the Pyramid formation. The nimble and gravity defying moves kept
went serenading to the various
the parents mesmerised. The grand finale was the sight of young lads
jumping through a ring of fire. local areas. The hostelites spread
the Christmas cheer by singing
St. Paul’s community is not far behind. On December 16 we organised a
get-together of Jesuit families in collaboration with the XTC community.
carols going from family to family.
The purpose of this meet was to facilitate the interaction between the On December 21 they put up a
various relations of the Jesuits hailing from the Belgaum and Ajra area. short Christmas programme for
We thank the XTC community and the Novices for working tirelessly to the well wishers and neighbours
make this occasion a grand success. A similar get-together was organised of the hostel. An adapted version
at PAI, Raia on December 30. There were about 140 relations and 45 of the play “Christmas Carol”, by
Jesuits. After the Eucharistic celebration Fr. Provincial spoke about
Charles Dickens, was staged. They
some of the plans for the Goa Province in the near future. This sharing
served as a starting point for a brief but a frank interaction. The were trained by Sch. John
organizing committee, under the leadership of Sch. Orville de Silva, Fernandes and Sch. Nolan
put in a lot of efforts to make this a very fruitful meeting for all of us. Fernandes.
Felix D’Silva SJ
Schs. Nolan Fernandes and Jeron Cruz have lent their voices to the
Cathedral choir for the musical No Room which was staged before the
Midnight Christmas Mass.
BIRTHDAY WISHES
Ring out the old and ring in the new! Its renovation time here in
Belgaum. Our Rector, Fr. Hector Almeida has begun the work of
renovating the house. St. Paul’s will NOT be in a position to
JANUARY
accommodate guests due to the commencement of this long 15 – Shawn D’Souza
overdue renovation till the end of March 2008. We apologise for 17 – Swami Amalananda
the inconvenience caused. Simon de Melo
30 – Anand D’Souza
On December 28 and 29 Fr.
Mathew Bardezkar along FEBRUARY
with his team of animators 06 – Alban D’Souza
conducted an overnight 09 – Rinald D’Souza
camp for the students at 10 – Leslie Francis
XTC. The Students of St. 12 – Willy Rodrigues
Paul’s and St. Joseph’s were
taken for an overnight camp
cum trek. The students enjoyed themselves as they participated in THE DEPARTED
various crazy games and personality development exercises. • Br. Mathew Parackal SJ
Newton Sequeira SJ (KER) 4/12 71/46