Servants of Charity

(Mk 16,7)

Dear Confreres, 

After quite a long Lenten journey, when we delved into a more intense God experience through fasting, prayer and almsgiving, we breathe the fresh air of the Lord’s Resurrection, moments of strong hope in the Lord and in the promise of life that He has assured us. We once again have the conviction that our trouble is short-lived.  
In the midst of uncertainties, suffering and pain, we humans never stop searching for the purpose and meaning of life because deep down within ourselves there is an original craving for fullness or completeness, the auto suggestion or the self-talk I make to myself that things will be ok, everything will be alright. This becomes very handy to us and is possible for us, because our God had the same difficult situations like us, but He rose again from all the stumbling blocks. No one could hinder Him nor stop His rising from death. Like us, He too said during His public ministry, “I will rise again on the third day” (Mk 9,31). Not only did He rise, but His disciples rose from their slumber, anxiety and fear; they had an about-turn life style: “And we are witnesses of all that He did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,but God raised Him on the third day and made Him visible (Acts 10,39-40). Along our journey of life, certain elements may become very damaging to our very person, which may tarnish the true image and likeness of God, but we have Our Lord Jesus as the prototype who has defeated death and difficulties.
Oftentimes we face our troubled soul and waning strength like the disciples on the water who had to openly confess “We have toiled the whole night but caught nothing” (Lk 5,5), we tend to confess we have been trying, I have made attempts but no fruit, I feel the same. But what is more assuring for us and keeps us moving forward is, “My Lord is going before me” (Mk 16,7). He makes the trail for me; let me keep track of it. Easter joy is that satisfaction that I am led by the Lord. Easter, in a way, stands for the spring season and reminds us of the new life in the Risen Lord.  
I take this opportunity once again to wish Happy Birthday to Rev. Fr. Fortunato Turati who has completed 80 years of God’s blessings. He has been a great blessing to our province and to the people of God. 
There is another increase of Covid-19 infections all over the world. I request you to ask the Lord to relieve us of this difficult situation and to make the necessary precautions in your communities and mission centers and to make only necessary movements from your communities. 
A gentle reminder to all of you that the annual retreat is not being organized by the province this year due to COVID restrictions, therefore I request the Superiors and the Residence In-charges to organize retreats at the community level. 
I am sure that you know how difficult it is to promote vocations these days in this pandemic situation, I humbly ask the superiors of the communities to collaborate with the Vocation Coordinator Fr. Jeyaseelan and to accompany young candidates of your localities and dioceses that they may have the possibility of discernment of God’s will for them. 

Happy Easter!

Fr. Ronald J, SdC

Provincial Superior