Vol. 16 No.

3, March 2008

from the provincial’s desk...

THE SPIRIT CONTINUES TO MOVE GC35

After the elation at the election of the new General Father Adolfo Nicolas, the Spirit of the Lord
has not ceased to drive the creative and energetic work of the Congregation. The five foreseen
decrees on Governance, Obedience, Mission, Identity and Collaboration are moving like laden
trains through various tunnels and tracks approaching their final destination, namely the floor
of the aula where the discerning vote of 216 delegates await them. The work is arduous and
the drafting commissions burn the midnight oil with regular frequency in order to meet the
deadline of March 07, the end of the Congregation. There is optimism in the air accompanied by
a deep sense of peace since all the drafts look promising and inspiring to date. It’s truly
marvellous to witness this process of governance in action by the whole body of the Society,
symbolically present here. Much listening and learning does take place at every stage of the
Congregation’s progress. For me this has been like a second Tertianship experience and a
great grace to meet, listen and share with other Jesuit companions our Ignatian heritage and
future visions. Once back, I will certainly have much to share with the Province about this
historic and unique experience of two months with 216 fellow Jesuits from across the world.

A second high point after the election was the Papal audience with Benedict XVI on February
21, 2008. Prior to the visit, there were forebodings that the Pope would choose to chide the
Society while calling the Jesuits “to fall in line”. As it turned out, the atmosphere at the audience
was extremely warm. The Pope, though clear and challenging in his expectations of the Jesuits
in this new century, remained effusive and appreciative of the Society’s enormous contributions
in various apostolic endeavours in God’s Church. While he exhorted the Jesuits to continue to
be supportive of the Church and faithful to her teachings he challenged us to use our formation
to prepare ourselves to respond meaningfully to the queries of the modern world. Father General
Nicolas reassured the Holy Father of our deep love for the Church and a strong Jesuit commitment
to ongoing spiritual and intellectual formation in the service of the Church. (The full text of the
Pope’s speech is available on sjweb.info)

From March 08 to 15 I will go on to Germany and Switzerland for brief meetings with our
Procurators who have visited our Province recently. I look forward to these visits and also to the
opportunity to thank them in the name of the Province for all their services to us. On March 16
I fly back to Mumbai and hope to be in Goa on March 17th. It’s been a long but grace-filled
absence. I thank you for your prayers and support during these months of the General
Congregation.

Anthony da Silva SJ
Provincial
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fr. Rosario Rocha will direct a Common Retreat
for Goa Jesuits at XTC from April 24 (7pm) to
May 2 (1 pm). If you wish to avail of this
opportunity kindly send in your names to the
Socius at your earliest.
Fr. Paul Vaz will conduct a Cosmos Centred
Healing Retreat at Xavier Retreat House, Baga
from May 7 (6 pm) to May 11 (4 pm), 2008.
Register yourself at a first come, first served
basis with a registration fee of Rs. 1600/-
Fr. Patrick de Melo will conduct a Spiritual
Directors’ Workshop at PAI, Raia from Monday,
May 19 to Saturday, May 24. This five-day
workshop is intended to deepen participants’
appreciation and understanding of supervision
within the ministry of Spiritual Direction. It includes
input sessions, case studies and small group work
that will help the person notice and respond to
the movement of God as experienced in ordinary
life events and in prayer.

SYNERGY for Mission – PROVINCE DAYS 2008: The Vocation Promoters have announced the
Kindly keep aside all your assignments in order dates for the vocation camps to be held at
to be a part of the much awaited Province Days Loyola Hall, Miramar. Kindly get in touch with Sch.
beginning on May 11, 2008 at 6 pm. Each and Jude Carrasco or Fr. Joseph Cardozo to enlist
everyone’s presence will contribute significantly boys for any of the following camps.
to its success. The community at PAI, Raia has Std. IX April 2 (4 pm) to April 4 (2 pm)
thrown open the whole house and its facilities Std. VII April 5 pm to April 6 pm
so that we are able to spend quality time together Std. VIII April 8 pm to April 10 pm
and renew ourselves for our mission. We will Std. XI April 11 pm to April 13 pm
conclude the programme on May 14 by 1 pm. Std. X April 15 pm to April 17 pm

MILAGRIS, SAWANTWADI
A one-day seminar for the teachers was organised by Ms. Suhani Shah a world famous magician and a
person with immense knowledge. The seminar was divided into four sessions. They were: 1. Stress
management; 2. Self confidence and concentration; 3. Interaction with students in the class; and 4. Study
techniques. All the teachers profited immensely from this seminar. For most of them it was their first seminar.
Keeping in mind the importance of having a clean and beautiful campus we took up a cleanliness drive in
our school. Special posters like ’keep the campus clean, do not litter the campus, save the environment,
throw waste in the dustbin’ have been put up at some prominent places in the campus. The exercise has
been very successful and the outcome is a much cleaner campus!
Cecil Fernandes SJ

TSKK, PORVORIM
Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK) has chosen Konknni book in Roman script Koslich
Malis Nastana written by Daniel F De Souza for its Konknni Martir Floriano Vaz Puroskar
for the year 2007. This book consists of Daniel’s selected Konknni articles. The award
consists of a memento and Rs 5,000 cash. Mr Daniel was born in Mumbai and he did his
education in Goa. He started his literary career through Gulab. Later he regularly contributed
to Goencho Avaz, Konkan Mail, Vavraddeacho Ixtt and The Goan Review. He has written
many one act plays and won many awards for them. He has also acted in Prince Jacob’s
film ‘Padri’. He is the recipient of ‘Man of the Year 2002’ by The Goan Review.

For the first time in the last 18 years of the prestigious Antonio Pereira Konknni Puroskar
(APKP) a person from the audiovisual media and the Muslim community of Goa has been
selected by TSKK. Mr Yusuf Sheikh, the former Station Director of Doordarshan, Shillong
bags the APKP for 2008. He has been selected for his contribution to Konknni through
media and Konknni literature, especially poetry. Mr Daniel and Mr Yusuf will receive the
respective awards from the Archbishop of Goa, Filipe Neri Ferrão on March 28, 2008 at the
closing function of TSKK Silver Jubilee Year to be held at TSKK, Porvorim.
Pratap Naik SJ
ST. BRITTO’S, MAPUSA
The SSC students, numbering 121, of St Britto High School,
Mapusa, ended their long stint of schooling on February
16, 2008. They were given a warm and traditional
farewell. Fr Peter Rodrigues was the main celebrant for
the Thanksgiving Mass. The theme for the Mass was Men
for Others. Fr Peter gave a touching message to the SSC
students. He urged them to use their talents to be lights in
this divided world. After the Mass a get-together was
arranged by the students of Std IX. The staff took part in
the fellowship as well. The SSC students were presented with mementos which carried their own photograph.

In the evening, the Passing Out Parade was held. Mr. Sawant, Assistant, District Educational Inspector
graced the occasion. All the parents of the SSC students appreciated the efforts put in by the Staff and the
students to make the function a memorable one. A variety entertainment programme was arranged by the
students. Fr. Apollo Cardozo, the Headmaster, in his address, reminded the students not to forget the motto
of the school – deeds, not words, as they step into the world and to become agents of social change. As a
grand finale, the last post was played and the students marched out of the gate with a lit lamp in their hands.

In the U-17 Boys Throw Ball Competition organized by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs St Britto
emerged champions at the State Level. They defeated Shantadurga Vidyalaya, Pirna on February 11, 2008.
St Britto were runners-up in the U-17 Arsenal Cup Football Tournament organized by Tata Tea. This year
the School was awarded first place for Clean School Beautiful School contest by North Educational Zone,
Mapusa. Apollo Cardozo SJ

ROSARY, AJRA
February was filled with a lot of activities at Rosary,
Ajra. It began with a visit by Fr. Klaus Väthröder
the mission Procurator and his team from Germany
and accompanied by Fr. Agnelo Mascarenhas our
Acting Provincial. They were given a warm,
traditional welcome.

The Annual feast of the Parish was celebrated on

February 3-5. The main celebrant and preacher
for the feast was Fr. Santan D’Souza from Rachol
Seminary, Goa. He inspired the faithful with his
homilies. The Parish priest, Fr. Paul Fernandes
along with the other priests in the community also
had an opportunity to preach during the Novena
days. Sch Allwyn Cruz, who trained the Choir for
the feast, was given a farewell by the parish during
the feast days. After this the school and the hostel
bade him farewell. Fr. Anthony Pereira along with
Frs. Joe Pinto and Basil Vago made sure that
Allwyn reached safely to Loyola Hall, Miramar.
Fr. Basil Vago has taken over as the boarding
Director for the interim period. We also have Mr.
Remith D’souza to help out at the boarding. Fr.
Anthony has been busy sprucing up the house,
getting it painted and renovation work is in full
swing. We had the Passing out Parade of the
2007-08, SSC Batch. Fr Jacob the Principal along
with the staff organized the programme
meticulously and it was greatly appreciated by
the parents and students. Mr. Kelkar, who had
served earlier in the air-force, was the chief guest
for the function. Fr Basil was out at Milagres
School, Sawantwadi on February 15 to celebrate
Mass for the out-going SSC students. Fr Paul
organized an exchange programme for the Mahila
Mandal to the Kannada Mission and they have
come back with new ideas and determination to
follow in their footsteps. Fr Joe Pinto has been in
great demand to preach and hear confessions in
various parishes during the Lenten Season. He
has responded with a great sense of Jesuit
availability.
Basil Vago SJ
LOYOLA HALL, MIRAMAR
The Loyola Hall community has recently witnessed an
increase in its numbers. Sch. Shawn D’Souza has
joined us from B.T.C., Pune, and is busy preparing for
the Common Entrance Test. Also, Sch. Allwyn Cruz
has enrolled himself, at the Alliance Francaise and is
working hard to master French. Thanks to his efforts,
the rest of us have picked up a word or two in French.

On February 24, a scholastics v/s pre-novices football

match was organized at Miramar beach. Although the
Scholastics won the match, the pre-novices put up a
spirited fight. The interaction with one another during
and after the match proved to be the icing on the cake. This match gave them the much needed
practice to prepare for a mini, football tournament organized by the Salesians at Don Bosco’s, Panaji.
The young Jesuit team, led by Fr. Savio Abreu emerged victorious. The going was tough and they had
to overcome the stiff challenge posed by the two diocesan teams before they overcame a spirited challenge
of the youthful Salesians in the finals. In all there were six teams – two diocesan and one each from
Pilar, Capuchins, Salesians and Jesuits. The excellent arrangements and the generous hospitality of the
Salesians enabled all to mingle and interact with one another.
Jude Carrasco SJ

MILAGRES, KHANAPUR
On the feast day of Christ the King, Peter Sidhi, a second year commitment to Christian life based
First Holy Communion was given theologian has now joined the on Liturgy of the Word, The
to 18 children. Then on December team of Fr Edward, Mr Manohar Eucharist and the Convievence
9, 41 youngsters received the and Mrs Clietha. Catechesis is once a month.
Confirmation through Bishop imparted before the participants Justin Borges SJ
Peter Machado. January was come for a three-day Convievence
devoted to the celebration of feasts – a live-in retreat. It is a preparation
in and around Khanapur. to walk in the Way of the Spirit of BIRTHDAY WISHES
Christ. During the Convievence
The second Neo-Catechumenate each one has to decide whether MARCH
catechesis was organised at the she or he is willing to adopt the 17 – Patrick de Melo
parish from January 8 to 31. Br Catechumenal Way. It involves a 21 – Nolan Fernandes
22 – Tom Chenakala
24 – Levis Gomes
GBB, BELGAUM
25 – Prakash Figredo
This year’s Republic Day was celebrated with a lot of excitement in the
26 – Nelson Gonsalves
hostel. Sch Felix D’Silva organized various competitions and brought
out the talents of the boys. The competitions organized were as follows: APRIL
1. Drawing Competition for the L.K.G and the U.K.G boys. 05 – Alosanai Michael
2. Wealth out of Waste for standards I to IV. 06 – Reggie Britto
3. Salad Dressing for standards V to IX. Johnson Fernandes
08 – Vijayananda
At the end of the academic year 2007-08, we bid farewell to our dear
14 – Justin Borges
friends who will soon move out of the hostel. The entertainment
programme put up by the boys brought back some fond memories of
THE DEPARTED
the many years spent in the hostel. All the seven outgoing students • Fr. John Pimenta SJ
expressed their sincere gratitude for all that they received from GBB (BOM) 18/01 93/60
hostel. The highlight of the programme was the fellowship meal on the • Br. Galicia Salvador SJ
terrace, followed by dance and a movie. (GUJ) 07/02 84/59
Felix D’Silva SJ