WALKING IN LOVE: A SIGNIFICANT STEP AHEAD!
February 24, 2025, was a day with special blessings for the friars of the Karnataka-Goa Province as the General Pastoral Visitation of the Province concluded with the Plenary Assembly. Rev. Fr Miguel Marquez Calle, Superior General, in spite of his delicate health condition, travelled to Mangaluru, and is a sign of his paternal care towards the province. He was joined by Frs. Roberto Pirastu and Christianus Surinono, General Definitors, who conducted the visitation from January 4 to February 22, 2025 and met all the friars in India.

The participants numbering 51 included the Provincial Council, Superiors, Formators and friars holding specific responsibilities in the Province. We were glad to have representatives from the Provincial Delegation of Canada, the Regional Vicariate of Tanzania, as well as students from the Theologate and Philosophate. The assembly commenced with a prayer led by Fr. Jeevan Almeida, after which the Provincial warmly welcomed all participants. The Visitators then presented a comprehensive report, followed by fraternal discussions and clarifications. The afternoon session was dedicated to deliberations on the agenda which comprised of points sent in by the communities.

In the evening, at 6:30 PM, a solemn Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by Definitor Fr. Roberto Pirastu, with Fr. Christianus delivering the homily. Rev. Fr Superior General and Fr Pius James D’Souza, Definitor General concelebrated at the thanksgiving mass. This occasion also marked the silver jubilee of the priestly ordination of Fr. Dennis Misquith and the silver jubilee of the religious profession of Frs. Sunil Monis, Suresh Saldanha, and Ivan Robert D’Souza. The liturgy and choir were beautifully animated by the brothers of St. Joseph’s Monastery.

Following the Mass, a felicitation program was organized, with Fr. Babusha Rodrigues as the master of ceremonies. Fr. Ligoury Crasta, assisted by other friars, raised a creative and heartfelt toast, acknowledging the qualities and contributions of the jubilarians. The jubilarians were felicitated with a shawl and a gift, by the Superior General and the three Definitors. In his address, the Provincial expressed his gratitude to the jubilarians and then along with the Councillors honoured the General and the Definitors, with a shawl, gift and Peta. A special wishing song was sung by the brothers, adding to the joy of the occasion.

The celebration also marked the release of two books authored by our friars. The first, Climbing the Mountain of the Lord: One-Month Retreat in the Carmelite Mystical Tradition in the Company of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila, is written by Rev. Dr. John Francis Sequeira. It is a manual for retreat preachers and a venture supported by the Provincial Administration. The second, Freedom of the Reborn, a seventh edition, is authored by Fr. Alvito Fernandes. These books were officially released by the General, the Definitors, along with the respective authors.

The celebration concluded with a jubilee dinner, for which Fr. Pius James D’Souza, Definitor General, led the grace before meals. The event served as a meaningful platform to honour the jubilarians and to extend our gratitude to the General and the Definitors for their pastoral visitation of the province. The deliberations of the Plenary Council continued till the evening of 26th February.