Servants of Charity

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure that the old year leaves. – Bill Vaughan

Happy New Year! 2021 is filled with hope that the Lord will lead us forward, whatever may happen. When we closely follow the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis these days, we find that he too is struggling to give thanks for the difficult year 2020; marked with losses of human lives, unemployment and displacement of people. But finds reasons for hope that the pandemic has urged all of humanity to care for each other, especially those who are in dire need of human solidarity, and moreover he is appealing to us to have a mentality and culture of care and to take interest in the problems of others.

How suiting it is to we Guanellians who are supposed to be in the direct care of the vulnerable humanity of the society. Our Superior General in his New Year message has imitated the Holy Founder in looking forward very positively to the New Year.

We have begun the year as in the past with the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God who stands out as the best icon of hope and confidence when there was no sign or glimpse out there for placing such a strong hope in the Lord. Her firm “YES” in the midst of many “NOs" is the best example for many of us who struggle with many “NOs” in our personal life and community life. We too are called by faith to look for a bright future even when normalcy is not restored, vaccines have not reached all of us, and human mobility has been paralyzed.

Let us encourage one another toward a better world. Let us care for each other starting in our own our communities. The baby Jesus, reason for our hope, is prompting us to become a neighbor to others rather than asking who my neighbor is. Our compassionate look, simple smiles, gentle touch may restore the hope and light which people need at this moment. I ask your prayers and collaboration in the animation programs scheduled for this month: leadership meetings, workshops, Tutelage programs, Pongal and many special liturgies:

4-5 Chennai: Class - DGMS

6 Marriage of Fr. JJ's Nephew

10 Pallikarani: Mass

11-13, 15 Provincials Meet with General Council

14 Cuddalore: Minor Seminarians Meet

16-17 Chennai: Temporary Professed Formation on Interculturality

18-19 Chennai: Regents Meet

20-22 Tutelage Program

23 FCRA Workshops for Superiors and Treasurers

24 Devi Nagar: Mass

25 Viriyur: Marriage Mass

26 Krishnaperi: Jubilee Mass

29 Thennur: Marriage Mass

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fr. Ronald J, SdC

Provincial Superior