VIRGIN
MARY: OUR LOVING MOTHER
On August 15 every year with deep faith
and devotion, we celebrate the great Feast of the Assumption of Virgin Mary.
Our Mother Church teaches us that Virgin Mary, “having completed the course of
her life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”. Mary is the Sublime
Masterpiece of God the Father. She is superbly beautiful in her perfect Love
that the Angels never cease admiring the Holiest of all Virgins. We need to
honour the Woman adorned with the sun, adorned with the Holy Spirit, thrice
Holy and who fills the world and ranks as Mother of God and Queen of Heaven.
She, the Immaculate Conception, is the Beloved Spouse of the Creator. She
crushes the head of Satan. Jesus her Divine Son, is the Heart of her Heart,
Soul of her Soul and the Spirit of her Spirit. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are
One. She is the Queen of Angels and all creatures. Our loving Mother is the
Co-Redemptress of our Redeemer whose Sacred Heart, burning with Love, was
offered to be pierced too for our sake.
This same Mother Mary has appeared to
many persons of different age in various times and places to guide, teach,
support us and to warn the Church and the humankind. I am going to introduce
three such apparitions of our times with messages which are of prime importance
for our redemption. These are apparitions of Virgin Mary at Lourdes, Fatima and
Garabandal.
1.
The Apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes
Beginning with her first apparition of
February 11, 1858, Mary appeared eighteen times to Bernadette Soubirous, a girl
of only fourteen years of age, When Bernadette asked the Lady who she was, she
received this reply, “I am the Immaculate Conception”. Less than four years
before, on December 8, 1854, Pius IX had raised the teaching about the
Immaculate Conception of Our Lady to be dogma of faith. Through this dogma the
Church teaches us that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary was from the first moment
of her conception, by the singular, grace and privilege of Almighty God, and in
view of merits of Christ Jesus the Saviour of the human race, preserved immune
from all stain of original sin, is revealed by God and therefore, firmly and
constantly to be believed by all the faithful. (cf. The Christian Faith #708).
The Messages of Lourdes can be
summed up in the following four points: a. Heavenly confirmation of the dogma
of Immaculate Conception, b. Reparation for sins and personal conversion, c.
Importance of prayer and specially the Rosary.
2.
The Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady appeared six times to Lucia Dos
Santos, age 9, and her cousins, Frncisco and Jacinta Marto, age 8 and 6
respectively at Cova da Iriva close to Fatima village in Portugal. The Apparition
of Mary was preceded by three apparitions of an Angel. Our Lady appeared on May
13, 1917, June 13, 1917, July 13, 1917, August 19, 1917, September 13, 1917 and
the last on October 13, 1917.
Miracle of the Sun
During the last apparition the famous “Miracle
of the Sun” took place at midday. The rain stopped suddenly and there appeared
exceptionally bright sun, but not dazzling. The sun began to turn as if
projecting in each direction bands of light of each colour that lit and
collared the clouds, the sky, the trees, and the crowd. It stayed for some
moments then it went back to its normal position, it stayed still for a small
while and then it happened again. Suddenly it looked as if it stood out from
the sky to fall headlong on the crowd that was looking terrorized; they fell to
their knees and begged mercy. Meanwhile the visionary children saw a Lady
dressed like the white of the sun with a blue cope, St. Joseph with the Child
Jesus that blessed the world. Then after this vision they saw the Lord bless
the world, standing next to our Lady of Sorrows. After these visions the Lady
of Mt Carmel finished the miracle. The people then became aware that there
clothes were completely dried.
The
Main Messages of Our Lady given at Fatima
a)
Penance
In the Gospels the word penance
means a conversion of one’s life, a
turning away from sin, and a turning back to God. Our Lady insisted at Fatima:
“Men must amend their lives, and ask
pardon for their sins.....They must no longer offend Our Lord, Who is already
so much offended.” Fatima message is a call for men to give up sinful
practices which grieve God and draw down his chastisements on the world, and to
make reparation for them. Our Lady told the children to make sacrifices for
sinners; for many souls go to hell because there is no one to make sacrifices
for them.
b)
Prayer
Besides a call to penance, Fatima is in
a special way a call for the Rosary. In each of the six apparitions Our Lady
asked for daily Rosary, and especially as an instrument of world peace. After
repeatedly asking for the daily Rosary, and identifying herself as “The Lady of
the Rosary”, the Blessed Mother terminated the final apparition by showing the
children three separate tableaux symbolizing the entire message of the Rosary.
The first was the vision of the Holy Family – representing the joyful
mysteries; the second a vision of Our Lady of Sorrows – representing the
sorrowful mysteries; and the third is a vision of Our Lady of Mount Carmel –
representing the glorious mysteries.
c)
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
In the second apparition on June 13, Our
Lady let the children know that “Jesus
wishes to establish throughout the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. I
promise salvation to those who embrace it.” Our Lady asked to make
Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
3.
The Apparition of Our Lady of Garabandal
Garabandal is a small village in the
Santander Province in northern Spain, where Our Lady appeared to four girls –
Conchita Gonzales, Maria Dolores (Mari-Loli) Mazon, Jacinta Gonzalez and Maria
Cruz Gonzales. Maria was 12 years of age and others were eleven, and all were
from poor families. From 1961 to 1965 Our Lady appeared to these girls,
sometimes together, sometimes alone, innumerable times. During the apparitions
the girls went into ecstasies. Powerful beams of strong light were focused on
them, yet their eyes did not even flicker, blink or show any signs of
discomfort. The flame did not burn them. On July 18, 1962 the Miracle of the
Host took place. An Angel with a golden chalice gave Conchita on her tongue the
holy Host. People saw the host, but did not see the angel.
Four Main Messages of Garabandal
Three great supernatural events were
prophesied at Garabandal.
a)
The Warning
The first is a worldwide Warning from
God to be seen and then felt interiorly by everyone on earth. At that moment,
we will see the wrong we have done and the good we failed to do. The Warning
will be sent to correct the conscience of the world and prepare it for the
great miracle.
b)
The Miracle
The Miracle will take place at the grove
of pine trees on a bluff overlooking the village of Garabandal It will occur on
a Thursday evening at 8.30 on or between the eighth and the sixteenth of March,
April or May. (Visionary Conchita knows the date and will announce it eight
days in advance.) It will be on the feast day of a martyr of the Eucharist and
coincide with an event in the Church. All the persons present either in the
village or surrounding mountains will see it. The sick who are present will be
cured, sinners converted and the incredulous will believe. As a result of the
Miracle, Russia will be converted.
c)
The “Sign”
After the Miracle, a permanent visible
supernatural sign will remain at the pines in Garabandal until the end of time
as a proof of Our Lady’s tremendous love for all her children. The Sign that
will remain, will be able to be seen, photographed and televised, but it will
not be able to be touched. It will appear clearly that it is something not of
this world, but of God.
d)
The Chastisement
If the world still does not change after
the Miracle, then God will send the Chastisement.
Dear brothers and sisters, as we celebrate the glorious feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, let us also remember that she as our Mother who loves us immensely. She appears to the visionaries to guide us in the path of holiness, to teach us God’s will for our salvation and to warn us against the sin committed against God and imminent punishment if we do not repent. I invite all of you to reflect and meditate on God’s love, to pray to Our Lady of Rosary and to love the Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary. This will make our Feast spiritually meaningful and fruitful.
Dear brothers and sisters, as we celebrate the glorious feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, let us also remember that she as our Mother who loves us immensely. She appears to the visionaries to guide us in the path of holiness, to teach us God’s will for our salvation and to warn us against the sin committed against God and imminent punishment if we do not repent. I invite all of you to reflect and meditate on God’s love, to pray to Our Lady of Rosary and to love the Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary. This will make our Feast spiritually meaningful and fruitful.
Your
Friend and Servant
+Felix Toppo, S.J.
SACRED HEART CONVENT,
BALARAMPUR
After the blessing and Holy Mass a token of love was given by Sr.
Elsita, SSH to all those who helped the SSH Sister to concretize their dream in
Balarampur.
The SSH Sisters are managing the English medium School of the
diocese of Jamshedpur in Balarampur. We wish you all the best in your
apostolate!
BLESSING OF CHAPEL AT
MURKUM
CONGRATULATION DSWC,
GOVINDPUR!
DSWC, Dhanbad has got approval from Indian Nursing Council to
conduct Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM) training at Nirmala General &
Leprosy Hospital, Govindpur. ANM training will be conducted from October 2014.
Forms will be available from 1st of August, 2014. The interested
candidates are welcomed to collect the form from the office. For more details
please contact Fr. Bipin Pani, the director of DSWC: Cell No.09006139951,
E-mail ID- jtpani@gmail.com.
REV. SR. RUBY
KUJUR, DEANERY SPIRITUAL GUIDE OF MAHILA SANGH
TALDANGA: LIFE MEANS TO MOVE ON
The summer vacation was dull and
monotonous due to the extreme heat. Children were eager to get back to school.
This was evident when the smiling faces were seen walking into the campus on 19th
June.
Once again the Loyolians fell into the
rhythm of activities. Students were on their toes to begin. On 21st
June the Elocution and Speech Contest was conducted for Classes VI to X. The
finalists had been short listed before the school closed for the vacation.
A mixture of emotions tickled our hearts
on the 27th of June, when we bid farewell to Rev. Fr. Paulus and
warmly welcomed Rev. Fr. C. Lobo as the School Manager.
The month end was a time to test the
mind. On 28th June G.K. Contest was held for classes I to XII. On 30th
June there was a Spelling Contest.
Our new Principal Rev. Fr. Augustine
Topno took over on the 7th of July, 2014. There was a short prayer
service during the morning Assembly, welcoming him into the Loyola Family.
The Inter-House Football tournament is
in progress. The final will be on Loyola Day.
Students are being prepared for the
Zonal level, football tournament.
Representatives from Classes IX, X &
XII participated in the Bible Quiz and
the Kriss Memorial Quiz, held on the 19th July. (Rita Sen)
SUNDERNAGAR:
PRATIKSHA
On July 1st the Regional
Propaedeutic seminary was reopened with the Eucharistic Mass offered by the
Bishop Felix Toppo., Bishop of Jamshedpur who was the chief guest for the
inaugural day of Pratiksha. This year the seminary is blessed with 52
candidates from different dioceses of this region. In his message to the young
seminarians, he brought the theme of being aware of the Presence and the Power
of God in one’s life through the active and personal profession of faith in a
simple and humble manner. Frs. Linus Kindo and Tobias Kujur concelebrated the Holy
Mass along with Fr. Oscar, the Director and Fr. Amrit Ekka, the minister. Fr.
Director Oscar Beck welcomed and wished all the students to have a pleasant
stay.
VIANNEY NIWAS
Thirteen
(13) new candidates from six different neighbouring diocese, arrived at Vianney
Nivas, Nildungri, Jamshedpur in the beginning of July 1st, 2014. They
are all happy and doing well in their beginning stage of formation. Frs. Roque
Cardoza and Herman Tigga are helping them out to learn and discern their
vocation, for the great mission of Jamshedpur Diocese. The Diocese of
Jamshedpur welcomes and wishes them ALL THE BEST.
FEAST
OF SACRED HEART SISTERS
Priests and religious of Jamshedpur
deanery gathered together to celebrate the Congregation’s feast of the Sisters
of Sacred Heart of Jesus at St. Joseph’s Convent, Golmuri. Sr. Suchita, SSH gave
a warm welcome to all the guests. The Candidates sang a feast day song to which
the whole congregation joined and wished all the Sacred Heart Sisters. Fr.
Camille Hembrom, Parish Priest and dean of St. Joseph’s Cathedral Golmuri said
grace over the meal.
FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH’S OF CLUNY, TELCO
Sisters of St. Joseph’s of Cluny rejoiced as they celebrated the feast of
their patron saint on 15th July, 2014. They invited all the priests
and religious as well as teachers and some important people of the town to join
in the celebration. All the invited guest join the thanksgiving Eucharist
celebration presided by Bishop Felix Toppo, S.J. Special prayers were offered
for the Sisters of St. Joseph’s of Cluny. At the end of the Mass all shared the
fellowship meal served by the Sisters at Telco Club hall.
KUNTPANI SHRINE
Fr. James Quadros, the ever energetic missionary is actively engaged in
spiritualy renewing the Quasai Parish of Khuntipani. The quasai parish has 5
well formed BCC groups. New groups are being formed in other mandalies of the
parish. Sr. Sunita F.C. and the Catechist Mr. Bagun Dongo Co-ordinate BCC
apostolate in the mandalies. The people are busy in the field work. The BCC
gatherings are held in the late evenings. On 22nd July, 2014
Charismatic renewal programme was held in khuntpani guided by St. Joseph’s
Charismatic team, Golmuri.
ST. XAVIER’S CHURCH, CHAIBASA
Fr. Halan Bodra and Fr. Pradeep Marandi after taking charge of the parish,
with great enthusiasm have started visiting their parishioners. St. Xavier’s
Boys School had a colourful programme to welcome Fr. Halan Bodra the new
Secretary of the school. On the same day the final of the inter-house football
match was held. The new secretary gave away the prizes to the winners. In his
speech he recalled his school days and his participations in football and hockey
events in the school. The new principal, Fr. Sahay Thasan was given a warm
welcome by the boys on 26th of July. A well arranged programme was
held in the school where boys put up small colourful items and depicted their
talents. Fr. Puthumai Raj the outgoing principal thanked the students and staff
for their co-operation and wished that they will continue to co-operate with
Fr. Sahay. Mr. Shekhar, recalled the great events during Fr. Puthumai’s tenure
in the School- 75 years Jubilee celebration, state level basket ball championship,
District level Basket Ball, football and field events. All these were conducted
with meticulous preparations and with the co-operation of District sports
associations. He also recalled that during his tenure as principal, he
encouraged the boys to take part in all the events organized at the district
and state level by education department.
There was a great applause by the students when it was announced that he personally
supervised the preparation for these events with the help of the assigned
teacher and always the team came back to school with prizes. Finally Sr. Nilam
DSA gave the vote to thanks to all present in the programme.
CATHOLIC
CHARITIES, SUNDERNAGAR
Catholic Charities gets a New Health
Coordinator in the person of Sr. Anupama
SRA. She has begun taking her job seriously, by visiting various Health
Centres in the diocese. She is organizing a diocesan level meeting of all
Health workers on 31st August. The Staff of CCJ& SJVK welcomed
her into their team.
Sr.
Thomasina SCJM
joined CCJ & SJVK as the Financial Administrator in the last week of July.
Her many years of experience in handling finances is a great asset to the
Organization. CCJ & SJVK, while thanking the respective Provincials,
welcomes both of these wholeheartedly and prays for a very fruitful ministry.
Fr.
Halan Bodra,
the previous director, spent the whole month of June day & night in the
villages where works of CCJ & SJVK are in progress. We place on record the wonderful work he has
almost single-handedly done in the service of the vulnerable groups in our
diocese. May God bless him abundantly.
Frs.
C.R. Prabhu & Alwyn C.V. along with their team of Coordinators
of different works have been visiting various centres, getting themselves
acquainted with the persons and their work.
They have planned that while Fr. Prabhu spends a little more time in the
office, Fr. Alwyn would spend time in the villages. In the meantime, the
Governing Board and the General Body of CCJ & SJVK will hold their annual
meetings on August 8th, 2014.
SMART
Programme
With the help of Jharkhand Government,
CCJ/SJVK has been organizing Skill-trainings, especially in the field of Textile industry. These short courses of
45 days to 3 months prepares the candidates-mostly school drop-outs from the
villages for simple jobs. The Government itself takes care of the placements
for these boys & girls. The CCJ& SJVK has already organized 10 such
courses and most of these candidates are working gainfully in the Textiles
Mills in South India.
ST. JOSEPH’S
CATHEDRAL, GOLMURI
Fr. Camille Hembrom the President of Jamshedpur Diocesan
Catholic Charismatic Service Team and its members organized a charismatic and
intercessory prayer training program from 11th to 13th July
at St. Joseph’s Welfare Centre from 7.30am to 4.00pm. 72 persons from
different parts of the diocese attended it. Fr. Raphael Lakra the member of NST
from Raiganj diocese and Br. Rajan Fernandez the vice president of NST from
Mumbai were the resource persons. The members attended felt it was an effective
training program. For the future charismatic ministry in the diocese, a core
team and an executive committee were formed. The executive committee members
are Mr. Ignatus Oraon, the President, Mr. Cosmos Thomas, the Vice President,
Miss Kiran Ekka, the Secretary and Fr. Camille Hembrom the Spiritual adviser.
St. Joseph’s Welfare
Centre is organizing a ‘Mechanic cum Forklift Training’ and a battery operated
pallet Truck Operators “Job Oriented” course from 4th August
2014. Training will be given by Qualified & Experienced Faculty members
with Practical & Theory. Admission forms are available.
The mobile no. of
Assistant PP, Fr. Michael Deogam is 7549106549
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ST.MARY’S
ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL
The thread of love –Raksha Bandhan traditionally celebrates
the sacred bond of trust between brothers and sisters. Dainik Jagran one of the
leading news paper conducted an activity “Building
new ties of trust beyond the family
Raksha Parv” by approaching the school students and asking
them to send messages to their “other brothers ,the soldiers or the jawans
at the border’’. More than two hundred students had taken part in this
activity. The students had written emotional and inspiring messages to the
jawans. St. Mary’s has gone a step forward for sending HEART touching messages
and notes to their soldier brothers. The school events supported the classroom
activities and offered new opportunities of learning. Taking the students
beyond the classrooms redefined their experience, exposed them to their higher
values of life and gave them real life situation to recognize their God given
talents. For this the school had organized an inter school event for the first
time called FELICITY. The students
from twelve schools in and around the city had participated in it The chief
guest for the event was Fr. Walter Crasta the vicar General of Jamshedpur
diocese. In his speech he inspired the participants, “whatever you may do, give your hundred
percent as there lies the real joy and happiness.” An inter class Mini
FIFA world cup was organized in the school and fortunately the cup was
taken by the students of std XI .Thanks to Fr. David Vincent for his initiative
to organize these events in the school in order to make the students develop
their potentialities.
ST.
XAVIER’S ENGLISH SCHOOL, CHAKRADHARPUR
The monsoon did not disappoint us this
time. We had good Rain-fall so far. The first term examination for all the
classes was over in the first week of July. The exams were very well conducted
and the students are also happy that their exams are over. The classes have
been resumed again with great confidence, so that the students can perform
better in the next exam. The students are eagerly waiting for the results to
come out on 26th of July. Teachers are also busy in correcting the
papers that they may present the result on the given date.
Competitions like creative writing and
drawing were conducted on 5th July and even on the same day there
was an announcement made that the Rotary club is planning Rural libraries in
order to reach out to rural students and our students were informed to bring
their old books and other unused books for the library and the students did so.
The students of class VIII –X during their S.U.P.W period conducted a food
court and raised some donation for a Cancer Patient with the help of their
S.U.P.W teachers. (Snehlata)
HEARTY
CONDOLECE!
Rev. Fr. Vijay Bhat, lost his brother on 21st July, 2014 in Mangalore. As he knew the seriousness of his sickness Fr. Vijay went to Mangalore a week before to be with his family. In the presence of all his loved ones his brother breathed his last. We remember and pray for his departed soul. May he rest in peace!
Rev. Fr. Vijay Bhat, lost his brother on 21st July, 2014 in Mangalore. As he knew the seriousness of his sickness Fr. Vijay went to Mangalore a week before to be with his family. In the presence of all his loved ones his brother breathed his last. We remember and pray for his departed soul. May he rest in peace!
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
Ø
Patriotism is your conviction that this country is
superior to all others because you were born in it. -George Bernard Shaw
Ø
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill,
that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any
friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
-John F. Kennedy
Ø
It is better to lead from behind and to put others in
front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take
the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your
leadership. -Nelson Mandela
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
August:01
James Surin
04 Amatus Kujur
05 Cornelius Tigga
08 John Crasta
08 Norbert Kindo
23 Johny P.D.
28
Augustine Topno
