Dear Fathers and Brothers,

 Fraternal greetings of peace and joy of Christ! 

As we have begun a new pastoral and academic year (2019-2020), with the hope that you are safe and sound, I wish you bountiful blessings of God for a fruitful and successful year in your priestly ministry. My daily prayers are assured for the realization of all your dreams and plans in the service of God. Please remember me too in your valuable prayers. 

Along with you, I thank the Lord for the opportunities and possibilities we have received as individual members and as Province in serving the Church through our institutions and parishes. We are ever grateful to God for what we are. I thank all the members of our Province for what we are and what we are striving to do with our strength and weakness. Our Province is enriched by the ministries of our Fathers in the parishes, seminaries, destitute homes, schools and hostels and Retreat Centres. We are always indebted to our benefactors, well-wishers and all those who support, encourage, correct and guide us in our efforts to serve the people of God. 

I take this opportunity to congratulate and appreciate our members for all that they do as members of one family in the parishes and the institutions in India and abroad.  What our Province today is the sum total of what we individually are.  Let us thank each other for what we are with the docility to be corrected and edified by the goodness of others in spite of the drawbacks and failures each of us may have.

Let us pray that the Lord enable us to do greater things in the coming years for His greater glory! Let us pray that we be always faithful to our vocation and mission according to the will of God.  Let us keep in our daily prayers all those who undergo suffering and crisis due to various reasons! May the Lord assist, guide and strengthen us!

 The Projects in Progress

 As you know, trusting in the providence of God and with the support and encouragement of our members, as part of building up of Province and responding to the needs of the time, we continue to take up new projects. Specially acknowledged are the initiatives and efforts of some of our Fathers in securing financial resources for various projects of our Province.

The major projects that we have begun with the hope of completing in 2019-2020 God willing are:

1.  Construction of Good News Bhavan, Konoor,near Koratty

2. Good News Retreat Hall, Pampady

3. Extension St. Mary’s School, Bonakal

4. Extension of St. Paul School , Patharlapadu

The works of construction are in progress. The Provincial Administration counts on your prayers and support for the completion of the projects.

 Provincial Forum

The forthcoming significant event in the life of our Province  is the 4^th Provincial Forum of our Province to be held from 20^th to 23^rd October 2019.   I shall send you the official notification later. Please take note of the dates for your participation.  

Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee: Rev. Fr. Philip Kulathinampadickal and Rev. Fr. Siby Peedikayil

This year, two of our senior members, Fr. Philip Kulathinampadickal and Fr. Siby Peedikayil are completing 25 years of their priestly life in the service of the Lord.  As members of one family, St. Paul Province, we will be celebrating their Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee on 24^th October 2019 at the Provincial House, Pampady. Let us keep them specially in our daily prayers, thanking the Lord for the gift of their priesthood with gratitude to them for what they are to our Province.

Flood Relief Fund

On behalf of the Provincial Administration, I thank all our Fathers and Brothers for their generous contributions and initiatives for the Flood  Relief Fund of the Province.  Indeed it has been a genuine expression of solidarity and charity. The generous gestures of our Fathers are highly appreciated by many. Total amount received for the fund is 4797527.6 Rupees. Please find attached the details of the contributions and the expenditure. The service of the members of the Flood Relief Committee is gratefully acknowledged and appreciated.

New Appointments and Transfers

Fr. Vinod Plackal: Correspondent and Superior, St. Joseph’s English Medium School, Yernagudem

Fr. Jins Kuppakara: Procurator  of St. Mary’s School and Hostels, Bonakal.

Fr. Jinu Thadathil: Language course

Fr. Mathew Daniel:  Pastoral ministry, Kalady.

Fr. Shabu Varghese: Pastoral Ministry, Elappara.

Br. Abhjith Manuel: Regent, St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Karunapuram.

Br. Johns Jose:  Regent, Good News Sneha Bhavan, Kakkoor.

Br. Roy Sebastian: Regent, St. Mary’s School and Hostels, Bonakal.

Br. Abin Peter: Regent, St. Paul School, Patharlapadu

My absence from India: Visit in the USA

For visiting our Fathers doing pastoral ministry in the USA and for the works of the Province, I will be away from India from 8^th June to 4^th August 2019. In my absence, please contact Rev. Dr. Thomas Olikunnel, our Vice-Provincial,  for your needs.  Please pray for the success of my visit.

New Official Mobile Number for the office of the Provincial Superior

In order to have a permanent mobile number for the office of the Provincial Superior for better and stable contacts and communication without changes of the number, a new mobile number is being used. The number is: 7909157677.  You are free to use the new number for contacting the Provincial Superior. 

Dear Fathers and Brothers, once again wishing you all the very best for a successful pastoral and academic year 2019-2020, I remain in the union of prayers.

Yours fraternally

 Fr. Saji Sebastian HGN