India District Assembly

43 professed members of the India District came together from December 27th to January 1st for their annual Assembly. The purpose of the discussions this year was to set some priorities for the coming years regarding future ministries. The following is a summary of what was agreed upon:

The members of the District Assembly Agreed on the following by consensus:

The priorities for the next 3 to 5 years are:
1. Formation for Mission: languages, regency in the North, vocation promotion, categorical ministries, preparation for formators. (to be taken up by the District Formation Commission.)
2. Parish Apostolate (In Eluru, there should be a parish where SCJ students can experience parish ministry.)
3. Mission to the North: To form an Apostolic Commission (3 or 4 people) to research ministry possibilities.
*Possibility of Mumbai / Bombay. Many possibilities. The distance from Andhra Pradesh to Bombay is not so large.
*Need to contact the Bishop / assess the needs we work with / relationship with other religious working there. We can see all the different cultures, customs, languages of India in Bombay. In the slums there are all possible ministries.
*Timeframe: 2010 we would be ready to go.
*2011 – two communities?
4. Finances for Ministry: Create an Apostolic Fund Raising Committee (different than the District Finance Commission) To do research, learn…
*create projects to be realized in 5 to 10 years

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On the evening of December 27th the Assembly began with the Celebration of the Eucharist. In the center of the photo above is Fr. Charlie Bisgrove, SCJ from the United States Province. He was in India at the novitiate while the Novice Master was away for 6 weeks.

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Fr. Charlies was the main celebrant; below is a video of some of his homily.

(for those with slower connections, load the video, then replay for a smooth viewing)

Later in the evening there was a Christmas Celebration, which included a meal, exchange of gifts, and some entertainment.
The Kumbalanghy community:

Fr. Szymon, newly arrived from Poland.

The Assembly was moderated by Fr. Eduardo, SCJ, from the SCJ Philippine District, who came to India to guide the process of the Assembly.

There was much discussion in small groups about what was presented by the main speaker of the day.


(click photos to enlarge)
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Below, Fra. Jackson speaks of his regency experience, and going to North India.
(those with slower connections, first load the video, then replay for smooth viewing)