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XI PROVINCIAL CHAPTER
KARNATAKA-GOA PROVINCE
MAY 2011
Chapter Fathers
DAY – 9 : 11th May (Final Day)
After the Morning
Prayer and the breakfast, the sessions began at
8-30 a.m. Fr. Silvestre, the third Councillor
had just arrived from Torino and he also joined
the floor. Fr. Canute, the Provincial
Procurator, presented a detailed report of the
accounts of the past triennium and then the
agenda concerning finances were deliberated. The
Chapter-Fathers unanimously suggested that the
presence of a financial advisory committee would
be of great help for financial management in the
Province.
The concluding Holy Eucharist
in the evening was presided over by the
Provincial and his Councillors. We all thanked
God for giving us these days of grace for
discussions that would enhance the growth of the
Province. In his homily, Fr. Provincial drew our
attention to the concepts of “being” and “doing”
in the Carmelite way of life and he concluded
stating that our Spiritual Renewal will depend
on how much we are rooted in Christ.
After the Holy Mass, there
was a short session to approve all the reports
of the Chapter. Fr. Provincial thanked all those
who cooperated for the success of this Chapter.
With a prayer and a blessing he declared the XI
Provincial Chapter closed. During the festal
meal, we felicitated Fr. Raymond Santhanaz, the
Regional Vicar of our Tanzanian mission, on the
occasion of his silver jubilee of Ordination.
Fr. Pius James D’Souza
Chapter communications in-charge
DAY – 8 : 10th May
The Holy Eucharist
was presided over by Fr. Alfred Menezes and in
his homily Fr. Patrick Lobo highlighted the
aspect of “listening” which is the
characteristic feature of a Carmelite.
During the morning sessions the discussions were
regarding our presences in Canada, South Africa
and Europe. Fr. Provincial briefed the floor
about the developments and contributions made by
our friars in these regions for the growth of
the Province. While the Chapter Fathers were
quite happy to note about the bright future
prospects in Canada, there were serious
questions with regard to our future in South
Africa. All
agreed that the basic intention of our presence
in these regions was especially to implant our
Order as well as to nurture vocations. It was
also decided that for the next Provincial
Chapter one delegate would be exclusively
elected from those serving in Canada.
The two
afternoon sessions were dedicated to discuss the
problems related to the Provincial
Administration and Temporalities. The Chapter
desired that in the next triennium too the
existing communities be consolidated and the
property documents of each monastery be put in
order.
Fr. Pius James D’Souza
Chapter communications in-charge
DAY – 6 & 7 : 8th and 9th May
Sunday, 8thMay,
was a free day. All the Chapter Fathers had an
opportunity to visit Our Lady of Mount Carmel
parish at Mariapura, Bangalore, which was
pastorally under our care for the last six
years.
On Monday, 9th May,
the sessions continued as usual. The agenda for
the discussion was on the topics related to
APOSTOLATE - spiritual, educational, social and
pastoral. The last session was totally dedicated
to the Tanzanian mission. The Regional Vicar of
Tanzania gave a detailed report of the growth
and challenges of the mission. He placed on
record the contributions and support given to
the mission by the Province members and our
Cloistered Carmels in India. The Chapter members
felt that the Tanzanian mission could be raised
to the status of a Commissariat if that is the
desire of our missionaries. In any case, our
Province will continue its support as before.
The Holy Eucharist was celebrated in the evening
presided over by the Mission-Vicar, Fr. Raymond
Santhanaz. The homily was preached by Fr.
Michael Morris, who, by pointing the difference
between the “Chronos” and the “Kairos”, stated
that we the Carmelites are invited to be the
“Kairos” to the world.
Fr. Pius James D’Souza
Chapter communications in-charge
DAY – 5 : 7th May
The
Holy Eucharist was presided over by Fr. Jerald
P. D’Souza. Fr. Joe Tauro began his homily with
the question: “What makes a Carmelite a
Carmelite? He concluded that it is in Christ, in
the intimacy of Christ we become what God wants
us to be in the “perfection of love”.
The theme of this Provincial Chapter, viz
“Spiritual renewal” was discussed for a long
time with practical implementation in the coming
triennium. Every member of the Chapter spoke on
this issue with many suggestions. One of the
concrete steps in this direction will be that
the Provincial with two Chapter members will be
visiting our newly formed communities so as to
make known the mind of the Chapter as well as to
formulate an action plan towards its
realization.
All the sessions of the day were devoted to the
discussions of the agenda on Formation,
Spiritual life and Community life. For the
supper we had invited Fr. Vincent Furtado,
Provincial, OFM Cap, as our guest of honour.
Fr. Pius James D’Souza
Chapter communications in-charge
DAY – 4 : 6th May
Today’s liturgy was presided over by Fr. Pius
James D’Souza and the central theme of the
Liturgy was “Give Jesus to others”. Reflecting
on this theme, Fr. George in his homily quoted
the words of Bl. John Paul II: “Our witness,
however, would be hopelessly inadequate if we
ourselves had not first contemplated His face” (Tertio
Millennio Ineunte, no 16).
In
the morning sessions the new councillors,
superiors of the major houses and the Socius for
the General Chapter were elected. The results
are as follows:
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I Councillor – Fr. Dominic Vas
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II Councillor – Fr. William Miranda
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III Councillor – Fr. Silvestre D’Souza
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IV Councillor – Fr. Elias Daniel
Superiors of the major houses:
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Carmelite Monastery Margao – Fr. Antony
D’Souza
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Carmel Hill, Mangalore – Fr. Pius James
D’Souza
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Pushpashrama, Mysore – Fr. Joe Tauro
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Tapovana, Kushalnagar – Fr. Jerald P.
D’Souza
In
the afternoon sessions the Chapter-agenda was
taken up and discussions began on “Vocation
Promotion” in our Province.
Fr. Pius James D’Souza
Chapter communications in-charge
New provincial Councillors and Superiors
On 6th May, during the morning
sessions of the XI Provincial Chapter, a new
team of Provincial Councillors and four
Superiors of the Major houses of Formation were
elected.
Newly–elected Councillors are:
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Fr. Dominic Vas
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Fr. William Miranda
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Fr. Silvestre D’Souza
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Fr. Elias Daniel
Superiors
of the four major houses are:
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Carmelite Monastery,
Margao
– Fr. Anthony D’Souza
Carmel Hill, Mangalore
– Fr. Pius James D’Souza
Pushpashrama, Mysore
– Fr. Joe Tauro
Tapovana, Kushalnagar
– Fr. Jerald Prakash D’Souza
Socius
for General Chapter & Substitute:
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Socius
– Fr. Clifford D’Souza
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Substitute to Socius
- Fr. Michael M. Shenoy.
Fr. Pius James D’Souza
Chapter communications in-charge
DAY – 3 : 5th May
The Holy Eucharist today was presided over by
Rev. Fr. Gregory D’Souza. In his homily he drew
our attention to the first reading, especially
to the words of Peter to the Sanhedrin
officials: “Obedience to God comes before
obedience to men”. Interpreting this verse, Fr.
Gregory stated that our senses and emotions are
the human authority within ourselves and the
voice of the conscience is the divine authority
within oneself. In each individual action,
therefore, the divine authority should
necessarily precede one’s human and emotional
tendencies.
All the sessions were suspended today and the
Provincial was given ample time to meet the
Chapter Fathers individually. The sessions will
resume tomorrow.
Fr. Pius James D’Souza
Chapter communications in-charge
DAY – 2 :
4th May
After the Morning Prayer, the Holy Eucharist was
celebrated in honour of the Holy Spirit and was
presided over by Rev. Fr. Joe Tauro. In his
homily he emphasized that we the Carmelites are
not any new organization that has come for
deliberations rather we are the beacons of a new
way of thinking that witnesses Christ and his
values against the profit-oriented or
success-oriented society. He concluded that, “a
new way of thinking alone brings about true
renewal of life”.
During the morning sessions, Fr. Archibald
presented the detailed report of the Provincial
administration in the past-triennium and status
quo of the Province. Later, the provincial
bursar, Fr. Canute D’Souza, gave a bird’s eye
view of the current financial situation of the
province. Both these reports were unanimously
approved on the floor. It was decided that the
election of the new Provincial will be held in
the afternoon session.
Accordingly, the Capitulars gathered at 3.00
p.m. In the secret voting that followed, Rev.
Fr. Archibald Gonsalves was elected as the
Provincial for the next triennium. Then all the
Capitulars assembled in the Chapel where the
newly elected Provincial made the profession of
faith and all praised God singing the Te Deum.
The last session of the day was suspended so as
to give more time to the newly elected
Provincial to meet the Chapter Fathers
individually. The supper turned out to be a
festal meal during which the Provincial was
congratulated and felicitated in the name of the
whole Province by all those present.
Fr. Pius James D’Souza
Chapter communications in-charge
DAY-1 :
3rd
May
“Spiritual renewal” is the main theme of
our Provincial Chapter, 2011, with the Teresian
outlook “Para vos
naci” (I was born for you”). All the
Chapter-Fathers (elected as well as ex-officio,
total 25) assembled together in Sadbahavana,
Bangalore, on Tuesday, 3rd May
2011.
The day began with a prayer service at 10 a.m.
and it was a day of prayer and recollection. The
three input sessions on the three topics, viz.
St. Teresa’s vision and mission, St. Teresa the
educator, and St. Teresa and community life with
a relevance to the Indian context, were given by
Fr. Jose Kumblolickal MSFS. In the evening,
during the Holy Eucharist at 6-30 p.m, the
Eleventh Provincial Chapter was declared open with
the lighting of the lamp by the Provincial and
the councillors as well as the Vicar of our
Tanzanian mission.
Soon after the holy Mass, there was a short
session in order to programme the proceedings of
the Chapter in the coming days. During this
session Fr. Clifford D’Souza was elected as the
Chapter secretary and Fr. Vinod Lobo would
assist him as the external secretary.
Fr. Pius James D’Souza was elected as the
official Chapter media person for all the
Chapter communications to the Carmelite Family
both in India and abroad. Accordingly, everyday
during the Chapter a short summary of the day’s
proceedings will be provided through the emails
registered in the Province address-book.
Fr. Pius James D’Souza
Chapter communications in-charge |
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