brotherhood newsletter

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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 20 th , 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.

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OFM -Sri lanka official newsleter

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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