Don't Sell Goa to highest bidder: Archbishop Voices People's Concern

Goa Archbishop Lambastes Politicians, Wins Their Applause

January 2, 2007

PANAJI, India (UCAN) -- Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman has castigated political leaders, but many politicians have welcomed the prelate's criticism.

Expressing concern over what he sees as the erosion of moral and ethical values in Goa, Archbishop Ferrao alleged that elected representatives are out to sell the western Indian state to "the highest bidder."

The prelate was addressing a Christmas reception attended by the state's governor, ministers, parliamentarians, members of the judiciary and top government officials.

The year 2006 "witnessed increasing revolts from ordinary people expressing disillusionment with those in power," the archbishop told his guests on Dec. 28 at the archbishop's house in the state capital of Panaji, some 1,910 kilometers southwest of New Delhi.

His hard-hitting speech attracted headlines in all local dailies the following day, with one newspaper hailing it as the "mother of all sermons."

Even political leaders agreed the archbishop made sense.

Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Surendra Furtado, whose party is a coalition partner in the government, described the prelate's speech as an "audit" on government performance.

Deputy Chief Minister Wilfred de Souza told reporters on Dec. 29 that in a democracy, the archbishop has the right to criticize the government. "He showed great courage," added the Catholic politician, who said he congratulated the prelate for speaking out what was in his heart.

Archbishop Ferrao lamented that genuine human development has been neglected in Goa, where he sees traditional values as under threat. A grave concern to the Church in Goa, he said, is the trampling of ethical and moral principles by those voted to power.

Recent people's movements in Goa indicate "an increasing disconnection" between people's aspirations and "the private plans and the pet projects of those in power," according to the Church leader. He spoke of movements linked to exploitation of people, degeneration of values and fear of exploitation of natural resources.

The archbishop urged political leaders to realize that "selfish politics" aimed only at short-lived popularity will lead to Goa's ruin in the long run.

Archbishop Ferrao questioned the need to undertake mega-projects while ignoring basic issues such as drinking water, sanitation and road safety. He termed as pitiable the conditions of most government-managed hospitals and health institutions.

Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, the Goa archbishop reminded politicians to view political office "as a service" and "not as a way of guaranteeing privileges and power." He urged all those present to heed the cry of the people.

Archbishop Ferrao justified the Church's monitoring of the political sphere as part of its mission to contribute to social development.

Churchill Alemao, a member of parliament from Goa, said the archbishop's advice will serve as "an eye-opener" for those in the government.

Two days later, Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane told a convention of party workers that his government was willing to listen to the people and make necessary changes.

END
Reproduced by Konkani Catholics with permission from UCAN (http://www.ucanews.com/)

BRAHMAVAR: Capuchin Ordinations, Jubilee

Capuchins Ordained, Celebrate Jubilee at Brahmavar

UDUPI, Karnataka, January 1, 2007 (KCNews.org): Three Capuchin Friars received the Priestly ordination from Dr. Aloysius Paul D'Souza, the Bishop of Mangalore, at the Holy Family Parish in Brahmavar, Mangalore Diocese, Saturday, 30th December 2006. The parish also observed 2006 as the golden jubilee year of Capuchin presence in Brahmavar.

Two of the three ordinands, Noel Vinay Almeida and Stany Roshan D'Souza belong to this parish and its sub-station, St. Paul's Church at Neelavar respectively, while Robin Victor D'Souza belongs to the Immaculate Heart Church at Nakre, also in Mangalore Diocese.

Describing the relationship between Christ and his Apostles, the Bishop in his homily said that Jesus called his Apostles friends because he revealed all things to them, foretelling even the things that were to happen to him. He even came to their defense when they were accused of violating the Sabbath. Therefore "the Priest is a friend of Christ" and "among friends there is no secret," the Bishop explained.

Quoting the Holy Father, Bishop Aloysius said that "a Priest is called by name" both to "come" and follow Christ and to "go" to the ends of the world with his message. The mission Jesus received from the Father is now given to the Priests who "take the place of Christ."

To the Capuchin ordinands the Bishop said, "St. Francis, the mirror of Christ, is your ideal. Whoever encounters you should encounter St. Francis of Assisi," he added before proceeding with the rite of Ordination.

The newly ordained were welcomed into the ranks of the clergy by the 45 Priests present at the celebration among whom were the Provincial Minister of the Capuchins of Holy Trinity Province Karnataka, Fr. Jossy Fernandes, the Parish Priest of the Holy Family parish, Fr. Denis Saldanha, and three other newly ordained Capuchins - Fr. Yesudas, Fr. Godwin, and Fr. Thomas - who received the orders from Gerald Isaac Lobo, the Bishop of Shimoga two days earlier.

About 1500 people were present at the ceremony arranged at the parish grounds.

The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap) is an autonomous offshoot of the first Franciscan Order of St. Francis of Assisi. The Holy Trinity Province in Karnataka will have their general chapter around April this year after which the newly ordained will receive their assignments

The Holy Family Church which completes 75 years in 2009 is largely the fruit of the missionary labours of late Fr. Sabas J. Fernandes who since 1921 had the independent charge of the mission station in the nearby Giri from where his concentration in Brahmavar was on bringing back the schismatics to the fold. Fr. Sabas was appointed as the first parish priest here when in 1934 Brahmavar was raised to the status of a parish under Mangalore Diocese.

50 years ago, in 1956 the much loved, Fr. Alfred Roche ofm. Cap. became the first Capuchin Parish Priest at Brahmavar when Bishop Basil Peres entrusted the Parish to the Capuchins. Fr. Roche passed away 10 years ago on 31st December 1996.

Goa Christmas Celebrated Amidst Tight Security

Reported Terrorist Threat Fails To Dampen Christmas Vigil Celebrations In Goa

By Bosco de Sousa Eremita

December 28, 2006

PANAJI, India (UCAN) -- Catholics in the western Indian coastal state of Goa celebrated Christmas with traditional devotion and pomp, but amid unprecedented security.

On Dec. 14, Israel issued a terrorism alert, warning of a planned Al Qaeda attack on tourists in Goa during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the peak of the tourist season in the former Portuguese colony. The advisory, issued to Israelis visiting Goa, said information pointed to "a concrete threat." The next day, the issue was raised in the Indian parliament.

Every year some 2.1 million tourists visit Goa. About 60 percent are Britons, Germans and Swedes. An estimated 2,500 Israelis also come each year, the state being a popular stop on their post-military-service tour circuit.

On Dec. 22, Goa Police Director General B.S. Brar told media the administration would deploy additional security forces and hold regular coordination meetings with police officials from neighboring states. Goa, whose capital, Panaji, is 1,910 kilometers southwest of New Delhi, shares borders with Karnataka and Maharashtra.

As Christmas neared, police focused on verification and surveillance of former convicts, rowdies, suspected extremists and recent arrivals to the state. They also met with Church authorities, alerting them of tightened security around churches, especially during Christmas Eve midnight Masses.

Despite the heightened concern, all the state's churches reported that midnight Masses were held without incident. The most popular venue, Don Bosco High School in Panaji, had a record number of visitors.

Journalist Alexandre Barbosa, a Catholic who attended the midnight Mass on the school grounds, said people came as early as 11 p.m. because of the security threat. He found it "odd to see gun-toting security personnel occupying vantage positions."

Nonetheless, Salesian Father Romulo Noronha, main organizer of the ceremony, told UCA News on Dec. 25 that the turnout of 3,000 people was the biggest in recent years. "Night-goers preferred to come here," he said, pointing out that other churches held Mass indoors.

Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, also in Panaji, moved its midnight Mass indoors after police asked church officials to request that parishioners not bring bags and said they wanted to install metal detectors at all entry points. Since the church complex has several entry points, explained Father Antimo Gomes, the parish priest, it was easier to hold the Mass indoors and install the metal detectors only at the church doors.

Police visited Our Lady of Hope, in the coastal area of Candolim, thrice before the midnight Mass, reported Father Jesus Rodrigues, the assistant parish priest. The police permitted one entry point and one parking lot, he told UCA News, adding that priests appealed to the parishioners not to confront police, lest it "unnecessarily" lead to "a law-and-order problem."

According to the parish priest, Father George Aguiar, the service went "more smoothly than ever," because the parking was handled more efficiently.

Filipe Dias, who organized the preparations for Christmas services at St. Alex Church in Calangute, a popular Goan beachfront area, told UCA News the terrorist threat did not dampen the Christmas spirit there.

"We had fewer chairs, expecting a smaller crowd because of the security restrictions, but the church courtyard was brimming, with people standing," Dias said, adding that the midnight celebration went on "without a hitch."

Meanwhile, in a Christmas message, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman urged laity to use the occasion to spread the message of peace and to work for genuine human development.

Reproduced by Konkani Catholics with permission from UCAN (http://www.ucanews.com/)

Mangalore Bishop's Christmas Message - 2006

Video Christmas Message by Most Rev. Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Bishop of Mangalore

Goa Archbishop's Christmas Message - 2006

Christmas Message from Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman

The following is the full text of the Christmas Message of Most Rev. Philip Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, released by the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications, Goa:

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE - 2006

Christmas is a feast of joy, a joy that is today celebrated in various and many forms, ranging from the deeply spiritual to the purely secular. Whatever today's commercial concerns and the media may have made of Christmas, this Feast will always stand for an eminently spiritual reality: God intervening in the history of humankind, being born in a human family and blessing every member of the human race with His Love, Peace and Joy. This reality imposes on us, as human beings, the duty to work for the genuine development of the human person and for the wholesome transformation in our society.

Our Goan society is beset with various problems: greed to make quick money, corruption in almost every sphere of life, unemployment of the youth, a continuous political instability, inter-religious mistrust, destruction of ecology, framing of laws that help destroy land, etc. Such conditions degenerate our people and our place, gradually.

May this Christmas strengthen our resolve to help in the realization of God's dream when he took birth in the cave of Bethlehem: a new world order, wherein people of all hues and colours can join hands with one another and carry on working in a collaborative spirit to re-create the earth into a place where justice, peace, understanding and forgiveness will be the hallmark. Then, every day will be Christmas!

I take this occasion to wish everyone a joyful Christmas, full of divine blessings and peace that only God can give.

Bombay Archbishop's Christmas Message - 2006

Christmas Message from Oswald Gracias , Archbishop of Bombay

The newly installed Archbishop of Bombay, Archbishop Oswald Gracias in his message has wished the faithful a "grace-filled Christmas and the Peace, Joy and Love of Our Loving Saviour all through the coming year."

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE - 2006

On the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity of Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, together with my Auxiliary Bishops, I wish the Priests, Religious and Lay Faithful of our Archdiocese a grace-filled Christmas and the Peace, Joy and Love of Our Loving Saviour all through the coming year. I wish to specially greet the aged, the sick and the lonely.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus we reflect on the mystery that God took human nature in Jesus of Nazareth to reconcile the world to Himself. The Christmas message thus becomes very much a message about reconciliation and human relationships. The creeping divide because of casteism in our society is one of the biggest blots on our national life today. The widening gap between the rich and the poor, the communal divide, a spirit of intolerance, the reign of terror unleashed by militant groups every now and then in our own country, and often in our own city, are symptoms of forces at work that seek the disintegration of a nation wishing to live in peace, harmony and unity. These are challenges to the very core values of this nation and indeed of our Christian heritage. We urgently need a national programme to combat these divisive forces. This is surely an area where there could be much greater cooperation between the Church, civil society and the State.

But how can we ourselves make a real difference through the experience of the gift of Christmas? How can this precious gift we receive, Jesus the Christ, truly change human relationships?

-Christmas can make a difference if we begin to notice and really see those who should be close to us but whom we keep at a distance because of something that happened long ago.

-Christmas can make a difference if we begin to notice and really see those who are longing to be noticed and valued by us but whom we choose to ignore.

-Christmas can make a difference if we begin to notice and really see those whom everybody else takes for granted and ignores, and whom we ourselves sometimes passed by as too insignificant.

-Christmas can make a difference if we begin to notice and really see those who are hurting and freezing in the cold of the outside and whom we are challenged to welcome into the warmth of our own circle.

-Christmas can make a difference if we begin to notice and really see those of other cultures and other beliefs living in our midst and learn sincerely to appreciate them.

-Christmas can make a difference if we begin to notice and really see Jesus calling us to a deeper relationship of love and trust with Him and with each of our brothers and sisters, especially the least and the most neglected.

-Christmas can make a difference if we pause and look at our own lives and examine whether we have allowed God's gift to take hold of us and change us.

May the gift of the Infant Jesus at Christmas enable us to bring tidings of joy, peace and love to the world through this season and through the coming year.

Special Retreats - Divine Retreat Centre - 2007

Special English Retreats - 2006

Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor, Kerala

Given below is the information on the forthcoming Special Retreats in 2006 - 2007 (in English)

2006

December 3-8: Retreat For Couples

December 10-15: Inner Healing Retreat

December 17-22: Retreat for Couples

2007

December 31, 2006 - January 5, 2007: Inner Healing retreat

January 7-12: Couples retreat

January 14-19: Inner healing retreat

January 21-26: Couples retreat

January 28 - Febuary 2: Inner Healing retreat

Febuary 4-9: Couples retreat

Febuary 11-16: Couples retreat

Febuary 18-23: Inner Healing retreat

Febuary 25 - March 2: Couples retreat

March 4 - 9: Inner healing retreat

April 1 - 6: Passover retreat

Also note:

• There will be special prayers and sessions for childless couples during this week (December 17 - 22)
• During the Retreat for the Sick, special accommodation will be provided for bed-ridden patients on prior information. Medical facilities will also be available with Ambulance service upon request to transport the sick & disabled from Divine Nagar Railway Halt to the Retreat Centre.
• Retreats for children and Bible Nursery for tiny-tots will held as usual every week.
• Our usual weekly Retreat starts on every Sunday at 10 a.m. & ends on Friday by 2 p.m.*

*The usual weekly retreats will be held during the other weeks not mentioned here.

GOA: 450 Year-old Archdiocese a Metropolitan Again

PANJIM, Goa, November 27, 2006 (KC Blog): The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has created the new Ecclesiastical Province of Goa and Daman, with Sindhudurg as its Suffragan Diocese and appointed Most Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao as its first Metropolitan Archbishop.

The official announcement was made at the Vatican at noon corresponding to 4.30 p.m. IST on Saturday, 25th November, 2006 which day also happens to be the Feast of St. Catherine, the Patron Saint of the Cathedral of Goa.

A metropolitan archbishop is a bishop who, besides governing his own diocese, presides at the same time over other dioceses - called suffragans - of a well-defined geographical area called ecclesiastical province.

Though the metropolitan has no power of governance in the suffragan dioceses, he is empowered to exercise a limited degree of supervision over them, so that faith and discipline may be carefully observed. He may perform sacred functions in his suffragan dioceses as if he were the local bishop, although this is now rare, and conduct official visits in special cases, such as when suffragans have seriously neglected their duties.

Goa, whose physical territory once extended from Calicut in Kerala to Surat in Gujarat had been an outstanding Metropolitan Archdiocese right from its creation in 1557 with its metropolitan supervision extending over the dioceses of Malacca (Malaysia), Macau, Nanking and Peking in China, Funay in Japan, Timor near Indonesia, Mozambique in East Africa as well as Cochin, Cranganore, Mylapore and Daman in India, some of which are now extinct. Over the years, it shrank in size and lost all its suffragans, the last being Macau and Timor, in 1976 at which time Goa lost the status of a metropolitan archdiocese.

Sindhudurg, which has now been made a suffragan of Goa, had been part of this archdiocese from 1557 till 1953, the year when it was attached to the diocese of Pune.

With the present appointment, Most Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao becomes the first Indian Metropolitan of Goa and Daman. It was only in 1978, that the 450 year old Archdiocese got its first Indian Archbishop in the person of Most Rev. Raul Gonsalves.

The Church in Goa and Daman rejoices that a 30-year-long hiatus has been filled and is grateful to the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI for bringing it about while also offering its sincere congratulations and prayerful support to the Archbishop on his new appointment.

BANGALORE: Konkani Retreats at RRC - Nov-Dec 2006

Renewal Retreat Centre (RRC) Bangalore

Programmes in Konkani (Fri-Sun)

Time: 9.15am - 5.30pm

1. November 24-26, 2006 - Inner Healing Growth Retreat

2. December 22-24, 2006 - "Emmanual" Retreat

Co-Ordinator: Mr. Paul D.Almeida Ph: 57744296

Retreat Led by RRC Team.
Main Speakers: Mr. Paul D.Almeida, Mr. Stephan Lobo, Mr. James Rodrigues

Address: Renewal Retreat Center
Post Box No. 2911, Christ School Road
Off Bannerghatta Road
Bangalore - 560 029

Phones: (080) 6683988, 6687674, 6685568

Website: www.rrcbangalore.net

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil on Investigations at Divine Retreat Centre

Statement by His Eminence Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil

Major Archbishop Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese

The Divine Retreat Centre at Muringoor shelters countless distressed people in deep misery who flock together week after week seeking divine help. Held in high esteem both in the Church as well as in society. This Retreat Centre had a humble beginning under the ministries of a few committed Vincentian priests who have fully devoted their lives to be at the service of all men and women who are plunged in deep misery and to preach the Good News of the Gospel. It is a Centre of healing and relief for the mentally sick and those abandoned by their own dear ones. The Good News of the Gospel preached there is the Word of Jesus Christ who came "To proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed."

Observing the change of life effected in the lives of people through this Retreat Centre, people of different walks of life irrespective of caste or creed, are being attracted to Divine. Through the ministry of God's Word preached at this Retreat Centre, countless people addicted to alcohol and narcotics have reformed their lives and have resumed their responsibilities in their homes. Through the witness of these people, the renown of the Divine Retreat Centre has spread throughout Kerala and to the rest of the world. As a result right now, the Ministry of the Word is carried out in Malayalam, English, Kannada, Hindi, Konkani, Telugu, and Tamil languages in Divine Retreat Centre each week.

Divine Retreat Centre is a House of Refuge for the broken, the afflicted, the unwanted mental patients and the AIDS victims ostracized by society. Thousands of patients come here to pray for their healing. A large number of people get healings because of their faith. Listening to God's Word of Love, people give up their evil ways of life and reform themselves - bringing peace and joy to society. Retreat Centres of this kind are lighthouses to those who stray from the right path in the journey of life.

That the powers of evil fight relentlessly against those who do good to society is not an isolated instance in the history of mankind. The unending flow of thousands of people to Divine Retreat Centre for their spiritual awakening is not being relished by a microscopic minority. They conspire and devise plans to malign this Retreat Centre among the public. At the beginning, they brought charges against the priests who serve at this Retreat Centre. Although there were court cases, the doors of the Divine Retreat Centre were left open for all. Anyone could at any time step in. At this Retreat Centre, to my knowledge, nothing is done secretly or under cover of concealment. That is precisely why when the Honourable Court ordered an inquiry, the Director of Divine Retreat Centre boldly declared that they would fully cooperate with the inquiry.

The Police Inquiry in a Centre of Prayer and Worship should have been conducted in a decent and respectable manner. Instead of observing and getting to know the ground realities, it is deplorable that a police investigation trespassing all the limits of decency and respectability was carried out. The media projection of the recent police investigation at the Divine Retreat Centre is itself despicable.

Anybody could at any time visit the quarters of AIDS victims and those thrown out from the mainstream of society. An inquiry moved by prejudices and misleading propaganda is not likely to be impartial and objective. The police action has cut deep wounds in the minds of millions of people who have availed themselves of the service of this Retreat Centre and who hold Divine in high esteem. The Police as well as the Government should have encouraged the works of mercy being carried out by religious groups and voluntary associations of this country. It is also the responsibility of the Government to care for the poor and the sick and to rehabilitate them. To show respect and decency to religious groups is a basic principle of democracy. Those responsible for it should see that justice is done to everybody. Because the Christians are tolerant, it is cruel and inhumane to conclude that anything can be done to them. The Police have dishonoured not only the religious community associated with the Divine Retreat Centre but also all those who devote themselves day and night for the works of mercy at this Retreat Centre. The Government and the Home Minister are urgently called upon to correct the police excesses and to take the necessary steps not to repeat such unwarranted actions in future.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil
Major Archbishop, Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese
11 October 2006

Fr. Augustine Vallooran on Investigations at Divine Retreat Centre

Truth In The Recent Happenings At Divine

Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.
Director - English & Other Language Retreats, Divine Retreat Centre

Recently, Divine Retreat Centre has been subjected to allegations perpetuated by certain communal forces that have been regularly handing out false news and claims against us to the mass media. I would like to share with everyone who loves us, the truth of what has actually been happening in Divine recently.

On 10 March 2006, the Honourable High Court of Kerala, upon receiving an anonymous letter and 2 CDs containing false allegations against Divine Retreat Centre, took up the case suo motu (on its own initiative) and ordered an inquiry into the affairs of our Retreat Centre. A Special Investigation Team headed by the IG of Police, Winson M. Paul, was formed to find out whether there was any truth in these allegations. We, at Divine Retreat Centre, had wholeheartedly welcomed this investigation and have been giving it our full cooperation. However, it is our firm belief that after carrying out the police investigation for so many months and spending a very huge amount of public money, the Investigation team could not find anything in Divine that was in violation of any laws or justice. Yet, certain things have been happening recently which have made us question whether Divine is being subjected to a violation of our basic rights as citizens of India - where everyone is guaranteed true and unbiased justice.

The humiliating manner in which the police investigation was carried out in the Charitable Homes of Divine Retreat Centre on 30 September and 1 October 2006 seem to strongly indicate that it is in the interest of the Investigation team to find out something incriminating against Divine Retreat Centre. In fact, the High Court had only given the directive to the Special Investigation team to submit a report after the Police inquiry to ascertain if there was any truth in the original allegations made. (Rev. Fr. George Panackal's March 2006 comments in accompanying mail).

Nobody comes to Divine Retreat Centre for medical treatment and we do not run illegal hospitals here. Divine is primarily a Centre of Prayer. Millions of people have come here to have a spiritual experience and get solace for all the problems they face in their lives. We have many volunteers who choose to stay on to serve in Divine Retreat Centre because of the joy of their spiritual experience. However, there are those who come to Divine who have severe alcoholic problems and need to be in a treatment centre. These people are admitted to our De-Addiction Centre. Likewise, Divine runs Care Centres and Homes for AIDS patients, mentally challenged people, abandoned women and their children and terminally ill and elderly people.

We have nothing to hide. We are committed in serving the poor and the needy people irrespective of caste and religion - especially those who are ostracized by their families and societies and who have no other place to live in dignity. Divine Retreat Centre manages a Care Centre for Mentally Challenged people and a Treatment Centre for Alcoholics with federal government recognition. Our Retreat Centre's Emergency Dispensary cares for some of the thousands of people who attend our retreats every week that are held in English and in six Indian languages.

In the past few weeks, after the latest police investigation activity, wrong reports have been published in many major media sources. One allegation is that that there are no qualified medical personnel in Divine Retreat Centre. I would like to reassure all our friends and benefactors of Divine that this is certainly not true. There is 1 resident medical officer, 4 clinical psychiatrists, 1 general physician, 1 Homeopathy doctor, 2 Ayurvedic doctors, registered pharmacists and several qualified nurses serving at the Care Centres and Homes run by our Retreat Centre. Despite our best efforts, the investigating authorities were unwilling to listen to our explanations or to look at any of the available documents.

Many of our mentally challenged residents, AIDS patients and recovering addicts are unable to personally ensure taking the correct amount of medication that are prescribed to them by qualified doctors from surrounding hospitals, Thus, we have undertaken this important care initiative to provide them with the correct daily dosage.

There was no justifiable cause for the rough and insensitive behaviour of the Police Investigation team against the more than 1,000 residents of our Care Centres and Homes. Their basic human rights were violated and they did not get the fair justice that they are entitled to. I would like to share with you some of the many public acts of support that we have received after this recent Police Investigation:

Our Archbishop, His Eminence Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, made a personal visit to our Retreat Centre on 11 October 2006 to provide his unwavering support to all of us in Divine. He also personally addressed our Malayalam retreatants about the recent police investigation. His Eminence Cardinal Varkey declared, "That the powers of evil fight relentlessly against those who do good to society is not an isolated instance in the history of mankind. The unending flow of thousands of people to Divine Retreat Centre for their spiritual awakening is not being relished by a microscopic minority. They conspire and devise plans to malign this Retreat Centre among the public."

In a statement, Archbishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy of Thrissur, strongly criticized the recent Police investigation. "The Church in India is shocked by the police investigation at the Divine Retreat Centre, that has been helping millions of people spiritually and through medical care and various humanitarian activities. This Centre has given refuge and care to many helpless and destitute sick people. It was atrocious on the part of the police to deal with them in an unbecoming manner."

Most Rev. James Pazhayattil, Bishop of Irinjalakuda stated, "The Government should have encouraged and helped the many charitable works carried out by Divine Retreat Centre. What has happened has caused great grief to the Christian community and all men of goodwill."

Mr. K. M. Mani, the State's ex-Revenue Minister, who is currently Member of Legislative Assembly for Palai Constituency and Chairman of the Kerala Congress Party, visited our Centre on 3 October 2006. He stated, "Divine Retreat Centre has become an oasis for the poor, sick people abandoned by medical science and a home of refuge for the mentally challenged people. I always come here with a sense of awe for the magnificent works of compassion and mercy. It is indeed a sacred place where the poor and sick are taken care of - we see the Face of God in them. The Police should have respected the sanctity and holiness of this House of God."

Mr. John Kachiramattam, President of Kerala Catholics Federation stated, "Certain fundamental and communal forces have been working against the Divine Retreat Centre for some time now. The Police should have been aware of this and should have given full protection and encouragement to the manifold works of mercy carried out by the Retreat Centre. I want to assure the Fathers of Divine Retreat Centre that the Christian community of Kerala stand firmly by them."

Mr. Thomas Kandathil, Mr. Sebastian Vadassery, Adv. Charly Paul and Adv Jacob Mundackal, leaders of the All Kerala Catholic Congress, issued a joint statement. "The orphan children picked up from the street gutters and the poor widows despised by families, AIDS patients ostracized by society, and the mental patients who are considered a threat and burden to their families are accepted with open arms and cared for by Divine Retreat Centre. There is the Hindu and Muslim people of all caste and communities who are also cared for without any discrimination. In fact, the Police should have provided protection for all these helpless people instead of frightening them."

We, the Fathers at Divine Retreat Centre, hope that such an untoward incident will never be repeated again. Divine is a House of God and we will continue to love and care for all the poor and needy people who have turned to us for help. We are extremely grateful and thankful for the prompt and strong support of our Archbishop, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, other Bishops and Church authorities, Political leaders, people of high moral standing in our society and Divine's numerous friends and benefactors - in India and all over the world - who have contacted us and visited our Centre. Many have spoken up publicly for all the works of Divine and are calling for a fair and impartial police investigation. We ask for your fervent prayers for truth and justice to prevail. If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.
Director - English & Other Language Retreats
Divine Retreat Centre
23 October 2006

Fr. George Panackal on Investigations at Divine Retreat Centre

Million Hearts Retain the true picture of Divine Retreat Centre

By Rev. Fr. George Panackal V.C., Director, Divine Retreat Centre

I write this in exceptional circumstances. On the 10th of March 2006, the Honourable High Court of Kerala authorized a police officer to make a detailed probe into the activities of Divine Retreat Centre based on certain allegations levelled against the Centre. You might have come to know of it from the newspapers. I too came to know about this through the media. The 10 million people who have been to Divine Retreat Centre for prayers and retreats over the past eighteen years retain in their hearts a very vivid picture of the Centre's spiritual integrity. However, the picture projected by certain biased sections of the media was very different and it pains me very deeply - just as it pains the heart of all those who have been to this Centre and have undoubtedly been spiritually blessed.

The question arising in the minds of the people is why the true picture of Divine Retreat Centre was not presented in the media as well as before the Honourable High Court. The answer to this is that we did not have the fair opportunity to enjoy the right of an Indian citizen to present the real image of the Divine Retreat Centre before the court. The court took up the case suo motu (on its own initiative) and has issued the order without prior notice. Nevertheless, we have complete confidence and faith in all the judicial proceedings of the court and we welcome this inquiry with open arms.

All the 10 million people who have been to the Retreat Centre are fully aware of what the Retreat Centre is all about and of the spiritual integrity of the priests here. We have about 2000 permanent inmates in the Divine Retreat Centre who found shelter in our Centre when they were faced with abandonment, homelessness and dire financial crisis. Besides, we have about 100 AIDS patients, about 100 aged and destitute people, 500 mentally challenged, and 300 orphan children cared for by the Centre with love and compassion.

My brethren, Divine Retreat Centre was the first in Kerala to take the initiative to accept, provide shelter, and care for AIDS patients till the very end of their lives. I recall in the early days of our AIDS Home how the court itself in one of its rulings, requested our assistance, and sent an AIDS patient to be cared for at the Divine Retreat Centre. Unfortunately, it is not the true picture of these meritorious works of mercy carried out in Divine that was portrayed in the newspapers last Saturday (11 March 2006). We are saddened at this. Despite the wrong image given by certain sections of the media, we firmly believe that it cannot erase the true picture from the hearts of the 10 million people. We are very sure of that. I know you have great pain in your hearts. I gratefully remember all those who have telephoned us and visited us to express their support and solidarity and all those who prayed for us during this time of trial. Along with this, I would like to mention a few more things.

For quite some time, certain misguided people have been trying to tarnish the good name of Fr. Mathew Thadathil . He is a holy and devout priest with outstanding capabilities and has been serving along with me in this centre for the last seven years. Father Mathew Thadathil belongs to the Vincentian Congregation and is entrusted with the administrative responsibility in Divine Retreat Centre, solely due to his integrity. His preaching and prayers have led many to a true conversion of their hearts.In fact the Circle Inspector of Chalakudy, known for his investigative ability and impeccable character had investigated the same charge that has been raised by the media now and had arrived at the conclusion that there was no truth at all in the allegations against Fr. Mathew and that the complaint was false. We do not have any grievance against the court for ordering a fresh investigation of this case. We welcome this inquiry hoping once and for all to prove the innocence of this priest. Therefore, even though there is a court order, I know, there will be no doubts about the integrity of the Centre and its activities in the hearts of those who have made retreats here and those who are close to us. I assure the general public and all the 10 million people who have been to our Centre, and also to those who are planning to come to our Retreat Centre - Fr. Mathew is absolutely innocent.

My brethren, some people may wonder how such extensive works of charity can be undertaken in our State of Kerala without foreign funding. However, the Centre took the initiative and set an example for the world to undertake charitable works without any foreign funds. The work that is done here is possible because many ordinary people from all walks of life share their limited resources with us through individual contributions. I am sure that anyone who has attended retreats in our Centre will not have any misunderstanding on this issue. Funding is a problem but our dependence is on God, and the very truth is that right now we have a debt of about 30 million rupees with the banks. Our accounts are open and transparent and we welcome any person to come and check them to clear any doubts they may have on this matter.

Many government officials have attended retreats in our Centre. After the retreats, several of them have joined hands with us to pray for and fight against bribery, corruption and all forms of injustice. They receive inspiration for this from the Centre and have gone on to do a lot of good in our society and they encourage each other by coming together in prayer fellowships. You would have learnt about this from factual newspaper reports. The gates of Divine Retreat Centre are always open to anyone wanting to attend the retreats. All are welcome even if they are not able to pay the registration fees. For the past eighteen years, Divine Retreat Centre has established itself as a haven of solace and hope for all those who are hurting and for many who were even contemplating suicide. Dr. Sukumar Azhikode, the renowned writer, has stated this fact publicly after having visited this centre.

We are aware of the fact that when we work against the evils in society and engage ourselves in good works, it is normal to have many enemies. We do not consider anyone as an enemy. The reason is that in the past, those who were initially against us have eventually become allies and co-workers of Divine Retreat Centre. Therefore, we do not see those who are working against us presently as our enemies; Instead, we believe that they are the future allies and benefactors of this House of God. We pray and have this great expectation and hope in our hearts that we will, one day, be working together with them for the betterment of the poor, the downtrodden and the under-privileged.

The Divine Retreat Centre has been a home for the 10 million people who have made weekly residential retreats here and it will continue to be a home to them. We warmly welcome all those who were exposed to the recent media reports, to visit the Centre to experience the same Divine consolation and strength which more than 10 million of people have already experienced.

I sincerely request that those who have been to the Retreat Centre will continue to treasure in their hearts the real and true image of the Divine Retreat Centre.

Goa Archbishop's Communications Day Message - 2006

World Communications Day - Message by Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri Ferrao

PANJIM, Goa 19 November, 2006 (KC Blog): Following is the full text of the message of Most Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, for the World Communications Day on 19th November, 2006.

The Media: A Network for Communication, Communion and Cooperation

Pope Benedict XVI ends his Message for this year's World Communication Day with a poignant call: "Let us together break down the dividing walls of hostility and build up the communion of love according to the designs of the Creator made known through his Son." It is a good place to begin our reflection on Media as a Network of Communication, Communion and Cooperation, as we celebrate World Communication Day in our Archdiocese.

With the proliferation of information and communication technologies, we are experiencing a conflicting reality: on the one side, the world is coming together with a global sharing of information; on the other, we are fragmenting ourselves and being segmented into tribes brought together by some very narrow interests. While some walls are being broken down with the media of communication, we are erecting, with the help of newer media, newer walls, which create insularity, disconnect us with people around us and, sometimes, create downright hostility toward one another.

To build and live in a communion of love is a holy longing of every human being, regardless of his or her religion, creed or socio-economic status. It is a fundamental task every human finds himself or herself engaged in. We may approach it differently; we may have different understandings and expectations of this longing for communion; these differences, at times, could be even sources of tension and conflict; nonetheless, the desire to commune with the other is common to all.

Despite all its fanfare, the media of mass communication, particularly the electronic media, are of dubious value as vehicles of social communication. Not all mass communication produces or engenders a healthy social communication. St. Paul warns us: "Do not be deceived, for bad communicators ruin good morals" (1 Cor. 15:33). Healthy communication, then, is a product of a network of thoughtful and strategic cooperation, which can blossom into communities of communion.

It is an easy temptation to consider the mass media as the only vehicles of social communication. Communication is inherently about communion. Communication, by its nature, builds communities. But the communities that communication builds are not always and necessarily healthy and productive communities. A network of communication is used, very often, to establish "communities," which engage in nefarious activities. To build a communion of love, and communities of compassion and understanding, it demands from us that we develop networks of thoughtful and genuine communication.

In a pluralistic society such as ours in Goa and India, building networks of communication leading to communion through cooperation is a special task we must commit ourselves to. The call for such a task is urgent. While we demand from the professionals in mass and electronic media that they be "the protagonists of truth and the promoters of the peace" (cf. Pope's Message, No. 3), we, individual consumers of the media, must take greater responsibility to establish networks of human communication, built with cooperation across social and religious barriers; this kind of social communication will build a fruitful communion of communities. In fact, the multi-centennial and rich tradition of the Village 'Comunidade' in Goa has served us so well to live in harmony with one another, by making use of its unique network of cooperation, communication and communion. And we should be proud we had this legacy, which, unfortunately today, has lost much of its community-orientedness.

The new media of communication, particularly the mobile telephones and the internet, have the potential to be vehicles of a productive network of cooperative communication, which can bring about communion at the service of a civilization of love.

For us, Christians, communication is a means to holiness. The Church, by virtue of being the People of God (1 Pet. 2:10), lives in perennial communication as the Mystical Body of Christ, bound to establish networks of communion through cooperation. "Do not neglect to do good and to communicate with each other, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God" (Heb. 13:16).

The media of mass communication provide us bits of information, albeit not always helpful, which in turn should stir us to seek further information and knowledge of one another and to find ways of cooperating to build bridges of understanding, compassion and mutual service, thus enabling us to “break down the walls of hostility and build up the communion of love according to the designs of the Creator.”

Archbishop's House, Panjim, Goa, October 24, 2006.
(+ Filipe Neri Ferrao)
Archbishop of Goa and Daman

KUWAIT: Stations of the Cross by YACF - 17th Nov 2006

KUWAIT: YACF to Conduct Stations of the Cross on 17th November, 2006

KUWAIT, November 17, 2006 (KC Blog): The Young Adults in Christ Fellowship (YACF), Kuwait, will be conducting a special 'Stations of the Cross' session in remembrance of the Holy souls in Purgatory this evening.

The session will be held at 7 p.m. in Room #9 in the Kuwait Holy Family Cathedral premises.

Be there to join in on a walk with Christ, from Pilate's condemnation up to Golgotha.

BANGALORE: "Become More Catholic" - Audio-Visual Presentation

BANGALORE: "Become More Catholic"

Audio Visual Presentation by Fr. Adolf Washington

BANGALORE, November 17, 2006 (KC Blog): The Immaculate Heart of Mary Prayer Group (Kammanahalli) is organising "Become More Catholic," a two-hour audio-visual presentation by Fr. Adolf Washington, Vice President of the ICPA, on why you should love your Church. The programme will be held at Navaspoorthi Kendra (NSK) next to Holy Ghost Church, Bangalore at 6pm on 18th November, 2006.

All Catholics are invited to attend the same. Entry is free.