Via Latina 22

News From the General Administration - Society of Mary

# 259 - March

2017

PRIESTLY ORDINATION IN INDIA (USA)

M arianist Deacon A. Mariandu Belev-endiran was ordained to the priest-

hood on February 4, 2017, in Bangalore, India, by Archbishop Emeritus A.M. Chin-nappa, S.D.B., of Chennai.

Opening the ceremony, Bro. Augustus Su-rin, SM, District Superior of India, wel-comed all those in attendance.

In the Ordination Mass, Fr. Sudhir Kujur, SM, Assistant District Superior, and Fr. David Fleming, SM, concelebrated with the Archbishop, who himself preached the homily, urging the new priest and the other religious present to “Be a servant of the people.”

The liturgy was embellished with the sing-ing of the Marianist scholastics, aspirants, and sisters’ candidates.

Congratulations, Fr. Mariandu!

L-R: Fr. David Fleming, new ordained Fr. Mariandu, Mons. A. M. Chinnappa, S.D.B., and Bro.

Augustus Surin, Superior of the District of India.

PERPETUAL PROFESSION IN BRAZIL (SPAIN)

O n February 4, in the Parish of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, in Bauru (Brazil), Víctor Ferreira de Aguiar made his profession of perpetual vows within the context of the Eucharist presided over

by Fr. Miguel Ángel Cortés, Provincial of the Province of Spain. The homily was giv-en by Fr. Francisco del Barrio, one of the founders of our presence in Brazil.

It was a very well prepared and animated celebration. Also in attendance were Bro. Miguel Ángel Dieste, Assistant Provincial, all the brothers from the two communities of Brazil, a Marianist sister from the com-munity of Campinas, members of the MLC, as well as priests and religious of the city, people of the parish, and, of course, the family and the friends of Víctor.

This important moment was an emotional experience owing to the deep sense of grat-itude of the Province and the Sector, at this sign of our taking root in Brazilian lands. After the Eucharist there was a social prepared by parishion-ers.

L-R: Bros. Rogelio Núñez, Víctor F. de Aguiar, Miguel Ángel Dieste and Fr. Francisco del Barrio.

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DIACONAL ORDINATION IN ROME

O n February 18, five seminari-ans were ordained deacons:

Armando José Añeses Bocanegra of Puerto Rico, Sebestian Bara of India, Raj Mohan Chinnappan of India, Bongkyu Savio Choi of Ko-rea and Simplice Pascal Mol-uanton Nzaome of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Archbish-op Luis Ladaria, SJ, Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, presided.

In the invitation that the seminari-ans prepared for the diaconal ordi-nation was the icon of the Wed-ding at Cana, the Icon of the Bi-centennial.

In his homily, Archbishop Ladaria emphasized that the proclaimed

gospel of love for enemies is a whole program of life. In it Jesus reveals to us the fatherhood of God and his love for all of us. That is why he invites us to take the Father as a point of reference. Emptying himself even to his death on the cross manifests his sonship; through the gift of the Spirit, he makes us par-takers of the unique relationship that he has with the Father.

The ministry to which the Lord calls us is intended for us to live out the full-ness of our divine filiation. This is the meaning of our service to God and to others, following Jesus, the servant of all. This is the meaning of service in the sacraments, the Word, charity, by which we are always united with one anoth-er.

We thank the Father for these brothers who are for us a visible sign of Christ the servant and a gift of God in the celebration of the Bicentennial.

L-R: Deacons Simplice, Savio, Raj Mohan, Sebestian and Armando, with Bishop Luis Ladaria.

Wedding at Cana.

EXTENDED GENERAL

COUNCIL MEETS IN ROME

A s is customary, the annual meeting of the Extended General Council took

place at the General Administration in Rome, this year during the last days of February. This meeting brings together the five Zonal Presidents and the members of the General Council of the Society of Mary. Some of the topics discussed are regular, annual agenda items pertaining to the matters which fall under the responsi-bility of the EGC. Some of these include the distribution of funds from the Solidari-ty Fund, the review of the official visit to ►

Members of the Extended General Council in the Oratory of the General Administration.

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the Chaminade International Seminary (see related article in this issue of VL22), and a sharing of the major developments and issues in each of the Units and Zones. Other topics are treated in relation to specific events or current issues of importance. Among these topics, this year the EGC discussed the ongoing Bicentennial Celebration, the International Center for Marianist Formation and the Zonal Cen-ters, and, of course, initial plans for the next General Chapter, including the process that is already un-derway for the preparation of the Lineamenta.

The EGC also took note that soon (on March 25), we will mark the annual celebration of the Patronal Feast of the Marianist Family. More details are forthcoming from the World Council.

The members of the General Council appreciate the time together with the Zonal representatives, be-cause it affords an important opportunity to share plans and concerns, as well as provides help in the discernment of decisions for the future of the SM. It is a graced time of fraternal sharing and exchange!

VISIT TO THE CHAMINADE INTERNATIONAL SEMINARY

F rom February 19 to 22, Frs. Ignace Pagnan, Regional Superior of Togo and President of the Africa Zone, and André Fétis, Assistant General for Religious Life, made the annual visit to the

Chaminade International Seminary.

This visit is an opportunity to speak with the two formators, Bro. Lester Kaehler (USA) and Fr. Francis-co Canseco (Spain), as well as with all the seminarians. The resulting report is shared with members of the Extended General Council, whose meeting follows the Seminary visit, and with the entire communi-ty thereafter. It is sent to all Unit superiors so that they might understand the life of the Seminary and, for those who have one or more seminarians, be more closely associated with their formation.

The fifteen members of the community come from ten different Units: there are 3 from the District of India, 2 from the Province of Meribah, 2 from the Congo Sector (DRC), 2 from the Province of the United States/Puerto Rico, 1 from the Region of Korea, 1 from the District of Côte d'Ivoire, 1 from the Region of Colombia-Ecuador, 1 from the Region of Togo, 1 from the Region of Eastern Africa and 1 from the Province of Spain. This diversity is a richness and gives more learning opportunities. The lan-guage of the house, Italian, allows them to communicate with one another and to strengthen their frater-nal bonds. Their unity of purpose, to prepare for the service of the People of God and of our communi-ties, as Marianist priests, is also an important motivation for bonding with one another.

In this year of our Bicentennial, several projects of the community aim to deepen in them the charism of the Society through their reflection and experiences lived in common.

Let us not forget to pray for our brothers, so that they may enter into a profound following of Christ during the three years spent at the Seminary in Rome. Let us also pray for their formators.

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• Death Notices: # 4-5.

• Feb. 28: Report of the Visit to the Chaminade Inter-national Seminary, in Rome, by Fr. André Fétis, SM, General Assistant of Religious Life, and Fr. Ignace Pagnan, SM, Superior of the Region of Togo, and Zonal President for Africa. The report was sent to all Superiors of Units and Assistants of Rel. Life in three languages.

G.A. COMMUNICATIONS

RECENTLY SENT

ADDRESS CHANGES

• Fr. Ignace Pagnan (TO): regional.reto@yahoo.com

• Bro. Kouassi Lambert Kouassi (IV): frbino2@gmail.com

• Bro. Joseph Miclo (IV): josephmiclo25@gmail.com

PRAYER INTENTIONS

W e ask you to pray, through the intercession of Blessed W. Joseph Chaminade, for Fr. Wendelin Walker of Swit-

zerland. For many months, he has been fighting vari-ous diseases, including kidney cancer. An operation can no longer be considered. Intention proposed by Roland Gruber, SM, Superior of the Territorial Com-munity of Switzerland (TCS).

We ask for a novena of prayer to the Venerable Faustino for the cure of Sabina, a young mother of

five children, affected by breast cancer with metastases in the liver and spine. Her condition is very serious. Mrs. Sabina’s family are very devoted to Fausti-no. This prayer request comes from Father José María Salaverri, S.M.

GUEST SERVICES AT VIA LATINA

T he communities of Via Latina have limited facili-ties to host members of the SM and their guests.

Within the limitations of space, we are happy to wel-come members of the SM and a small number of per-sons who may be traveling with them to Rome. We do so in the context of religious community hospitality and not as an “inn.”

Members of the SM who wish to consult about staying at the GA can write to hospitality@smcuria.it.