brotherhood newsletter
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OFM -Sri lanka official newsleterTRANSCRIPT
Brotherhood (Sahodarathvaya, Sahodarathuvam)
April - June
2012
My Spiritual Journey By Bernard Suthaharan
The Official Newsletter of the OFM Franciscans in Sri Lanka
(The last part from the previous issue)
When I entered the seminary I felt a little
anxiety about how I was going to relate to the
other brothers; would they be able to understand
and accept me as I am? However as days went by,
I began to feel more comfortable and more at ease
because I felt that they did understand me, that
they accepted and loved me and would show me
the way. I find here no partiality and no seniority
and inferiority attitudes, but instead a genuine de-
sire to share with one another; in short, a true
community spirit prevails in it. I am naturally en-
couraged to incorporate it in my life also. Here,
my prayer life has become more meaningful and I
have begun to realize the calling of Jesus.
As an aspirant, I have had numerous op-
portunities to look back at my own life and to rec-
ognize and identify several feelings and desires
that had motivated and guided me. The common
programmes in the aspirancy, such as leading
prayer service, observing the day of recollection,
the walk with faith, joining with SFO for various
activities and the exposure programme, during
which we stayed with a family for one week, have
provided me with lot of insights into my own per-
sonality and brought me to a deeper understanding
of myself. These favourable times have given me
a chance to discover my fears, fits of ill temper,
joys, frustrations, capabilities and failures and
have assisted me in developing my prayer life and
community spirit. The exposure programme and
the subsequent evaluations that I made with Sr.
Christy, Fr. Sarath and Bro. Al ofm were occa-
sions for me to become more aware of myself and
to experience God more closely. The fisher fami-
lies with whom I lived with one week were very
kind, loving and concerned.
(continue next page)
Third issue
My Vocation Story By Austin Coonghe
(The last part from the previous issue )
I asked Bro. Reagan if I could
join their Order. He told me to
contact their Vocation Anima-
tor. After 10 days, Bro. Sebas-
tian Lambert called me and
asked me to join the “Come
and See Programme” in Tha-
langama South, Battaramulla. I went and
joined their “Come and See Programme” for 5
days from January 15th to 20th, 2012. After the
programme, I went home to Mannar. On Feb-
ruary 9, 2011 I started my aspirancy in Our
Lady of the Angels Friary, Thalangama South,
Battaramulla. My formator is Bro. Al
Villanueva, ofm.
In the aspirancy we (Bernard and I) studied
Introduction to Religious Life, History of Reli-
gious Life, Introduction to Sri Lankan Church
History, Introduction to Franciscanism. We
studied English under Mr. Ranasuriya, Mrs.
Damiyantha Pieris, Mrs. Dulani Jayatilleka.
The Franciscan brothers and priest taught us a
lot. I have a good experience with Bro. Al. He
taught me to be industrious and responsible. At
home, I was lazy to work. But after staying at
the aspirancy, I learned to cook, wash my
clothes, and take care of the plants and flow-
ers.
In the aspirancy, I visited hospitals, orphan-
ages and the sisters of Mother Teresa. I went
to Seeduwa for exposure to poor families,
staying with them for 1 week. I also worked
with the father of the house as a mason in a
construction work. It was a good experience. I
went for vacation 3 times. I got sick and I went
home. After one month, I got well and came
back to aspirancy. Every morning and evening
we have communal prayers. Every day we
have Mass. I am happy in my formation to the
Franciscan religious life. I feel God calls me to
serve his people.
2 Brotherhood (Sahodarathvaya Sahodarathuvam)
I noticed specially that de-
spite the hardship and diffi-
culties of their lives the heat
of the sun during the day and
all their practices, two things
that amazed and encouraged
me were their cheerfulness, acceptance of
hardship and the way they would return volun-
tarily to help clean and mend the nets.
The happiness and joy that I witnessed
in the life of the people in Thugalapitiya , Ja-
Ela was partly due to their simplicity which
has become perfected over the years. Of
course, the mission God has entrusted to me is
not going to be easy. But I have the assurance
of God’s continual presence with me in all that
I do. I firmly believe that I need to carry on
and do what God wills whatever it takes, lov-
ing Him ardently and following Him ever
more closely, all the days of my life.
Editorial Staff:
Bienvenido Baisas, OFM
Al Villanueva, Jr., OFM
Ferdinand Pestaño, OFM
Vijay Amirtharaj, OFM
Contributors:
Dinesh Kulaveerasingham, OFM
Pattrick Sujeewa Perera, OFM
Bernard Shaw
Austin Coonghe
Postulancy in Sri Lanka
When Benny was in the Philippines, he with
Reagan, Pattrick and Edward had a short
meeting about the Sri Lankan Friars’ proposal
of discontinuation of doing postulancy in the
Philippines. This one was a follow-up meeting
from the previous one when Bro. Al met
Benedict, Linton, Edward and Reagan. Such
proposal was discussed and proposed to have
the postulancy back here in Sri Lanka. Bene-
dict will be the Director of the Postulancy for-
mation programme. A committee will help
Benedict to formulate the programme with the
inputs and resource persons.
2012 Annual Assembly Last April 17 to 19, the brothers had their Annual
Assembly at Our Lady of the Angels Friary, Tha-
langama South, Battaramulla. It was composed of
brothers: Benny, Al, Linton, Ferdie, Vijay, Pra-
bath and Dinesh.
During the first part of the Assembly 2 inputs
were given: Highlights and Critique of the Les-
sons Learned and Reconciliation Commission
(LLRC) and the Re-visioning Process of the Con-
ference of Major Religious Superiors (CMRS) and
Its Consequential Action Plan. In the seminar we
were joined by religious from other congregations:
Dominicans, Capuchin Sisters or Amigonians, the
Somascan Sisters and some members of the Order
of Secular Franciscans.
After the first part, Bro. Benny announced the
Provincial Definitory’s decision, that Bro. Sebas-
tian Lambert (Linton) would be the 2nd Founda-
tion Councilor replacing Bro. Kulandaisamy
Muthu, who went back to India for health reasons.
Linton would continue taking the Formators’
Course, as organized by the CMRS till July 2012.
After that, he would resume his post as Director of
the Pastoral Care of Vocations.
The two remaining days were spent in discussing
concerns for this year: personnel, resources and
formation.
3 Brotherhood (Sahodarathvaya,Sahodarathuvam)
Extended Aspirancy
Extension of Austin Coonghe and Suthaharan Bernard-
shaw in their aspirancy is for 2 months. The venue of
their extended aspirancy is in Our Lady of Lanka Friary,
Ampitiya, Kandy. They have 2 English teachers to fur-
ther train them in English communication skills. This is
the effect of the re-adjustment of doing the postulancy
here in Sri Lanka rather than in the Philippines.
New Aspirants Jesus Fernando had started his English classes last
March 2012. Mrs. Dulani Jayatilleka, Mrs. Damiyantha
Pieris, Mr. Ranasuriya and Bro. Dinesh are helping him
to learn English.
Kevin Soris started his A-Level classes at Christ the
King College, that is run by the Dominican Sisters in
Pannipitiya.
Re-assignment of Friars for the next 3 months
Our Lady of the Angels Friary, Thalangama
South: Bro. Al will remain its Guardian. He remains
the Director of the Aspirancy Formation Programme.
Since there are extended aspirants in Ampitiya, he will
go there once in a while to accompany and monitor the
readiness of the 2 for promotion to postulancy. Bro
Vijay serves as House Vicar, House Procurator and co-
formator to the new 2 aspirants
St. Michael Friary, Pahalaviharagala. Bro. Ferdie
Pestaño remains the friar-in-charge of the house while
Br. Dinesh Kulaveerasingham, who joined him recently,
will help in managing the tea garden. Br. Dinesh had a
previous experience in handling tea garden work.
Our Lady of Lanka Friary, Ampitiya, Kandy. Bro.
Prabath Krishantha Kumara remains the Guardian. He is
finishing his 4th year theology/ecclesiastical studies at
the National Seminary. Bro. Benny Baisas remains
based there while moving around the other friaries of
the Foundation when needed. The extended aspirants
are also residing here.
The Lord gave us Brothers.
We thank God for the gift of
vocation. The Lord gave us
new brothers to serve in his
vineyard in the future. There
are three of them who entered
our aspirancy programme last
April. One aspirant, Shanura
de Silva, decided to step out of
the formation programme dur-
ing the last week of June. The
remaining two are still with us
and now staying with the OFM
friars in Thalangama where the
aspirancy house is.
New Aspirants:
Jesus Fernando from the city
of Chilaw. .
Kevin Soris from the town of
Kurunegala.
Help us to pray for them so
that they will persevere in their
vocation to attain their dream
to become a religious Francis-
can someday.
Kevin Jesus
Thank You for your support
Bro. Hippolitus Benedict re-
turned from the Philippines to
take over the postulancy pro-
gramme. Welcome back, Brother,
and may you find joy in the for-
mation ministry after preparing
yourself for this delicate task.
Best wishes!
Congratulations to Bro. Prabath, OFM
For almost two hours in the morning of the 9th of the month of June, Prabath had
his scrutinium on the sacred Order of diaconate with five panelists: Bro. Benny
Baisas, who asked him on the sacred Order’s NT biblical and historical perspec-
tives; Fr. Napoleon Sipalay OP on its ecclesiological and liturgical perspectives,
Bro. Vijay Amirtharaj on the pastoral and canonical perspectives; Bro. Malcolm
Sequeira OFM Cap. on its Franciscan and spiritual perspectives; and Bro. Alejo F.
Villanueva, Jr. on the Order’s JPIC perspectives. Prabath successfully passed the
scrutinium. The panelists gladly endorsed him for diaconal ordination.
4 Brotherhood (Sahodarathvaya,Sahodarathuvam)
PRINTED MATTER
284 Pahalawela Rd. Thalangama South,
Battaramulla (CO) 10120
ORDER OF FRIARS MINOR– FRANCISCANS
TO:
The Order of Friars Minor – Sri Lanka
“Be a living sign of Jesus Christ’s presence in the world
in the manner of St. Francis of Assisi.”
Come and Join us in living Gospel
poverty in joyful brotherhood
Qualification: Aged-20-to-30 young men with good moral conduct and charac-ter, at least “A-Level” passer.
Visit us at: Our Lady of the Angels Friary, Franciscans, 284 Pahalawela Road, Thalangama South, Battaramulla (CO) 10120 Tel. 011 2785988 / 0812219763 / 0758377351