“Feast of Ignatius in my life”

I am a Jesuit for 50 years. I am proud to be a Jesuit. The flash of our Founder Father, St Ignatius is not only a grace-filled occasion but also a thrilling one for me. Why? Let me share my experiences. To begin with, if Ignatius had not founded the Society of Jesus, I would not have been the member of the Society of Jesus. In the scheme of things, God saw to it that Ignatius should undergo a conversion in life and found the Society of Jesus. God’s ways are really strange. Man proposes but God disposes. This proved very well in the life of our dear Father Ignatius. Same thing happens in our life, too.

I was studying at St Aloysius for seven years. I felt that God was calling me to become a priest. To join the Society was not my first choice. But finally I joined the Society and I have never regretted about that choice. For that, I have to be grateful to St Ignatius. He has taught me to cultivate a deep personal love for Christ my King through those Spiritual Exercises. Going through those Spiritual Exercises not only every year but also helping others to do them has helped me to grow in this love for Christ.

The discernment of spirits which St Ignatius not only lived in his life and also popularized, has helped me to guide my life in the Society in a sure and right path. I make use of this tool extensively in my life.

Not to be satisfied with the minimum but do everything with the spirit of Magis is another thing that has made my life worth living. This Magis spirit is never dormant but ever alive in every Jesuit. I cherish this and shape my life accordingly. I am really grateful to St Ignatius for giving this tool that always makes Jesuit life fruitful. God is in everything. He is the beginning and the end of every being. To walk with Him, to work with Him makes one’s life ever energizing and ever enervating. This is what Ignatius meant to find God in everything.

The spirituality that St Ignatius has offered us is world embracing.. this excludes every aspect of our life. God is working in and through Christ was uppermost in his God-experience. The same shapes my spirituality, too.

St Ignatius was a man of prayer. He grew in his prayer. That was why he was able to teach us to pray by offering different methods. In prayer we come to know who God is and who we are. This is the experience of every prayerful person. This legacy he left for every Jesuit. I am ever grateful to St Ignatius for this.

St Ignatius was a person of indifference and detachment. This helped him to grow in his relationship with God. In what way and in what we have to be indifferent and detached he has show us very clearly. A man who has this indifference and detachment experiences inner peace and joy. He is able to commit himself totally to the service of others for God’s greater glory.

Gift of St Ignatius to the Church and to us cannot be simply bypassed. It has to be cherished. That is what we do when we celebrate his feast. May St Ignatius look down upon us his sons, with love and say, “In you I am well pleased and I take delight in you.”

-Vittu Bondel

The Goan’s Birthday

The one and only goan in Asha Kiran celebrated his 22nd birthday on the 16 of July. His feeling then was of gratitude to the Almighty for showering blessing on him throughout the year. We had Fr Victor as the main celebrant. The toast was given by Sch Jeevan with a lot of homour and insights in it.

Dear Br Anderson, may God bless all your future endeavors

“Happy Birthday”

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Shailen and Rajitha’s Birthday

On the 10th and 12th of this month, two of our companions Shailen of Dumka Province and Rajitha of Srilanka celebrated their birthdays in Asha Kiran.

It was a joyous event for all of us. We had Fr Victor D Silva as the main celebrant for Shailen’s bday mass and Fr Walter (SAC) for Rajitha. The Eucharists were very meaningful with a brief introduction about the birthday babies.

We also had the birthday celebration  in the evening with the raising of the toast and sharing.

Dear Br. Shailen & Br Rajitha, the Asha Kiran Community wishes you a joyous and a grace-filled birthday.  God bless you.

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“Happy Birthday”

Fr Leo’s Diamond Jubilee

Fr Leo D’Souza, SJ celebrated his 60 years in the Society of Jesus

on the 11th July 2010. The Ashakiranites with all their melodious voices helped the entire congregation to join the Jubilarian in praising God. Fr Stany D’Souza – the Superior of Asha Kiran broke the Word of God and enlightened the hearts and minds of everyone gathered there.

“Haily haily ho…..” it was in this way we greeted and wished good lluck and success to the fellow Jesuits and also the Jubilarian.

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Aska Kiran Willfy’s B’day

On June 22nd Asha Kiran’s one and only surviving Willfy (Merwyn Loyd Fernandes) celebrated his 22nd bday.  We had the bday Eucharist in the morning with the ever-energetic Sch Pradeep giving a warm introduction. The bday boy shared his feelings at the end of the mass “Im so lucky to be a part of this family”.

The celebration continued in the evening with the raising of the toast by one of his long surviving companions Nithin Machado.

“Dear brother Merwyn, May God bless You a nd keep you all day safe and sound in his care. May you become a fruitful instrument in the hands of God”

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“Happy Birthday to you”