Kripalaya Blessings
Kripalaya is the house of grace. We consider it as the fraternity of
blessings. We are here to share the news of the latest blessings that
Kripalaya received. Kripalaya, the institute of philosophy and religion
trains the young minds for better logical thinking, mental discipline,
ability for analysis and synthesis, critical reflection on God, World,
Man, Society, Religion, Culture etc. The philosophical studies at this
stage of formation are also meant to facilitate eventually the efforts
of the brothers to live harmoniously their holy vocation among the
people of different faith and culture with constant dialogue.
The new fraternity: chosen to be a blessing
After the summer vacation, ministry and exams both the staff and
students are back again to experience the joy of being together in the
community. Well-known author Henry Ford says, “Coming together is a
beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is
success”. The newly formed community is come together to work for the
success of formation under the animation of new Rector Br. Rocky D’Cunha.
Br. Paul Melwyn D’Souza, the provincial councilor was with us for the
installation. During the mass Br. Rector was installed symbolically by
handing over the key of tabernacle by the outgoing Rector Br. Santa
Lopes. Our community has three new staff members in the persons of Br.
Vincent G. Furtado, Br. Paul Sequeira and Br. Joseph Coelho. We have
fifteen new brothers for the first year philosophy from various
jurisdictions. As Br. Paul has already arrived, we are looking forward
to welcome our brothers Vincent Furtado and Joseph Coelho in the month
of July and October respectively after the completion of their previous
obligations. In total, Kripalaya has eight staff members and 45 student
friars from Holy Trnity Province, Karnataka, St. Antony’s Province, Goa,
Krist Jyothi Province, Delhi, Nirmala Matha Custody, Assam and from the
Association of the Apostles of Holy Family. Entire fraternity is chosen
to be a blessing to one another. Br. Santa is with us till August. He is
helping us in the first semester classes.
The blessing of rewards through exams
Our first year brother enrolled themselves in Karnataka Open
University Dharwad for their graduation studies and appeared for the
same. We thank the brothers of St. Joseph friary, Lower Kasarkod for
their fraternal welcome and accommodation to our brothers. Our brothers
really cherished their Franciscan capuchin hospitality. We are grateful
to Br. Denis Saldanha and Br. Sudeep Santan the then and present
guardians. The second year and third year brothers are yet to start
their exams which they will write in Karnataka state Open University,
Mysore. They are busy preparing themselves to do fairly well in their
exams.
The blessing of On your mark…set…go…
We have begun our new academic year 2015-16 on the 16th of June
2015. Rightly acknowledging the need of God’s blessing, the brothers,
both staff and students spent their half day in prayer and recollection.
During the recollection talk Br. Rector highlighted the importance of to
be a blessing to each other in the community as we each one of us is a
special blessing from God. For this one should know oneself. To know
oneself is a virtue says the ancient philosopher Socrates. It is a
necessity and a duty to know oneself from which no one can escape. Man
needs to know who he is. He cannot live if he does not discover the
meaning of his life. He runs the risk of being unhappy if he does not
recognise his dignity. We are called to be true to what we are. Hence
one is called to be friend oneself, God and neighbour. Man is the
measure of everything said Pythagoras. One should be a true measure in
order to view the reality in a right way. God is the true measure for
us. “To be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5,48) One
become a joyful measure (Religious) by imitating God. In the afternoon
at 3 p.m. the “Lectio Brevis-2016” was held in a beautifully decorated
hall with a glittering backdrop. Rev. Dr. Wilfred Rodrigues, OCD was
invited to deliver the key note address for the Lectio-Brevis. Br.
Desmond Rebell welcomed the gathering. Symbolically to mark the
beginning of the new year Rev. Dr. Wilfred Rodrigues, OCD, Rector, Br.
Rocky, Vice rector, Br. Desmond Rebello, Student representative Br.
Sushant and Desmond lighted the lamp. The speaker of the day highlighted
the comparative thought of Gautama Buddha and St. John of the Cross with
regard to the problem of suffering and its annihilation which will lead
us to happiness. In the absence of the dean of studies, Rector Br. Rocky
quoting the words of Eugene F. Ware, “All glory comes from daring to
begin” said that with great enthusiasm we have dared to begin our new
academic year. Let it not be another year of passing the time
monotonously but requested the students to do their best not just aiming
at 50 per cent but at 100 percent. Aristotle the ancient philosopher in
his book Metaphysics writes that man by nature desires to know. Our
desire for knowledge is an unending desire. Rector further quoting the
words John Stuart Mill said, “It is better to be a human being
dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied
than a fool satisfied”. All the professors present, Br. Desmond, Br.
Santa Lopes, Br. Rocky D’Cunha, Br. Paul Sequeira delivered their prima
lectio brevis by introducing the courses they are going to take. Br.
Rahul from St. Antony Province compeered the program. The lectio brevis
was concluded by gloriously singing the Kripalaya anthem “Hail Kripalaya
house of grace”.
The blessing of new vocations
The vocation director of mysuru region Br. Vijay Kumar with the help
of a theology student Br. Christopher conducted the vacation camp for
three days in Kripalaya. It was attended by 10 students. After the
screening and all the procedure 3 suitable candidates were chosen and
were accompanied by Br. Santa to Dayalbagh Ashram, Ujire, the house of
orientation.
Blessing in the form of guests:
We had the privilege of welcoming our dignified guests Brs. Matteo
Ghisini, Lake Herman , Franco Gitto, Casimio Vicedomini from the
provinces of Emilia Romangna and Foggia and Br. Godwin Ogam, the custos
of Uganda, Br Praveen from Japan. Br. Paul Melywin too paid his visit to
us as he came for the installation of the new community. They were
really blessings to us by their fraternal visit and sharing. Thank you
brothers.
Blessing of awaited:
Five brothers from the general formation secretariat namely Brs.
Charles Alphonse, Jaime Rey, Albert D’ Souza, Christy Vattakuzhy and
John Paul Rome will be conducting their visitation from 19th June to
22nd June. The purpose of their visit is to spend quality time with our
brothers in the formation centers and experience the fraternal life
lived in our formation house. A warm welcome to you brothers!
The blessing of phir milenge:
Thank you brothers for having the patience to read our news in the
form of blessings. It is indeed a blessing to meet you again in the
pages of fraternity. Thank you!
