CALCUTTA JESUITS NEWSLETTER

Walking the way we have reached the final and the never-ending station: the Resurrection. The Risen Lord beckons us to a life of abiding hope and untiring dynamism – the spirit that led Mary Magdalene and the apostles to the Galilee of their struggles. The risen Lord challenges us: at the personal level to leave behind the tombs of despair, discouragement, gossiping, indifferentism, parochialism and small talk, and to move on to the roads of discovery, of encouragement, of dreaming big, of dynamism and of magnanimity; at the province level to move on with the core value-purpose-vision-action-plan that we have discerned together in the Jubilee year; at the level of the Universal Society to look forward to a renewed outpouring of the Spirit through GC 35.

The risen Lord is the most globalizing phenomenon ever, and at the same time the deeply incarnated Self - from the tomb of Jerusalem to the roads of Galilee to the ends of the earth. As St. Paul says the power of the resurrection is availed when we mould ourselves to the pattern of His death. This moulding takes places through continuous regeneration into the life in the Spirit. In our context this moulding would mean that we incarnate ourselves in the culture and language of our people that we hear the cry of the people of Nandigram, that we respond to the demands of a globalzing world, and that we reach out to the missions of the Universal Society. Let us have the audacity of Fr. Arrupe in taking up the challenges of our mission including our community living.

April 9-18: Dhyanashram:Visitation

April17: Andul Rd: Pilar Frs.

April 19-20 Province Consult.

April 22-25 SX Burdwan: Visitation

May11: Raghabpur School Teachers’ Seminar.

May 22-25: Schs. Gathering: Dhyanashram.

May26-27: AC Sisters, Tollygunge.

♦ Fr. Pasquale Borgomeo, of the Province of Italy, Ecclesiastical Assistant to the World Organization of Alumni/ae of Catholic Educational Institutions.

♦ Mgr. Antoine Audo, Bishop of Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic, member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

♦ Fr. Albert Menezes (BOM), Registrar, JDV, Pune

♦ Fr. G. Alex, (JAM), Treasurer of JDV Pune and Land & Building Matters, Pune Campus

♦ Fr Anil Gomes (CCU), Spiritual Director, Satya Nilayam, Chennai

♦ Fr Augustine Perumalil (DEL), Director Research Centre, Satya Nilayam, Chennai

♦ Fr Jacob Kulangara (GUJ), Minister, Papal Seminary, Pune

At the beginning of March, Father General sent to the Society a short letter, quoting from the Constitutions in which Saint Ignatius ordered the Jesuits “to commend earnestly to God our Lord those going to the congregation and whatever matters will be treated in it, so that everything may turn out as may be for his greater service, praise and glory”. Attached to this letter is a prayer which communities and individual Jesuits may use in the coming months as the Society prepares for GC 35. Prayer-cards with the text of this prayer are being sent to all our communities.

Archbishop Emeritus Michael Rozario passed away on March 18th, 2007 in Dhaka. He was born on 18.1.1926. He served as the Archbishop of Dhaka for 27 years. He was a great friend of our Jesuits in Bangladesh. R.I.P.

Four days later the new Bishop of Rajshahi Diocese, Most Rev. Bishop Gervas Rozario, was consecrated on 22.3.2007. He was born on 15.8.1951. He was president and professor at the National Major Seminary in Dhaka. We pray for his episcopal ministry.

May 1^st, 6.30 p.m., Felicitations for our new priests - Frs. Maria Joseph I., Joseph Pulickal

and P. Paul Carlose – in Prabhu Jisu Girja. All are invited to this joyful family gathering.

May 1^st, 9.30 a.m., Budget meet at St. Xavier’s College. Participants: Province Consultors,

Superiors, Members of the Finance Commission, Directors of Work and priests-in-charge.

There will be a Vocation Camp in Dhyan Ashram, from Apr. 30, evening, to May 4, morning. Please encourage generous and willing young men to join this camp.

w Bishop Linus Gomes is in Kwait, Saudi Arabia, for a month. Last December he had been invited by the Bangladeshi Catholic community there for Advent and Christmas. Seeing the fruitfulness of his ministry, the Bishop of Kwait insisted that he goes there for the Lent and Easter ministries also.

w Fr. Joseph Mistri is back after his Tertianship in Sri Lanka. On the way he stopped in Chennai and Kolkata.

w Fr. Jerry Gomes has joined St. Joseph’s High School in Bonpara of Rajshahi Diocese. Besides teaching he is an additional Assistant Headmaster, and organises co-curricular event, f.i. in Lent he took students around villages for staging a skit on the Prodigal Son. He also helps the parish for pastoral ministries. While in Kolkata for the Province Days and Province Congregation, he worked with others in the Chitrabani studios to bring out two CDs of devotional Bangla hymns, called “Tumi Ek Chitrashilpi” and “Jhonkar”.

w Sch. Rohit joined his Seminary companions in their month-long pastoral experience in Jan. & Feb.; he was sent to Khulna Diocese in a mission station. At present, back in the seminary, he is helping out on the editorial team of the Seminarians’ journal, “Dipta Shakshya”.

w Fr. Ignatius Gomes gave us a scare one night recently when he fell backwards from a chair, crashed into the glass door of a cupboard, cut several veins at the back of his neck, and began to bleed profusely. This happened in a parishioner’s house after a Lenten prayer service. Kafrul doctors put multiple stitches. But he was back on his feet the next day, offering two Masses, and chatting with visitors. He is now back to his normal duties, sporting a bald head as a souvenir.

w Br. Chintamoni Das is by now well settled. He has acquainted himself with the neigbourhood, and keeps the community well looked after. Everyday he takes a long walk to keep his sugar under control. He goes to help at our Kafrul parish regularly, visited our Mothbari property several times as also other places of interest. Recently he also went to Rajshahi for the consecration of the new Bishop there.

w Over the years there has been a constant demand on us to organize classes on Spoken English. We have responded on an individual basis. Almost all of us have been conducting such courses, f.i. recently Fr. Jerry and Sch. Pankaj. Last year the latter had conducted a three-month course with 4 hours of classes per week at Don Bosco Home in Monipuripara. This year he is conducting a similar course with 45 students in three different venues. These courses are especially helpful to tribal and poor students.

Last February we moved to another level, when, under the umbrella of the Bangladesh Conference of Religious ( BCR), we offered a one-month residential intensive English course to 23 Junior Sisters and Postulants of seven Congregations at the BCR Centre in Savar. The course was conducted by Bishop Linus, Fr. Aelred and Sr. Teresa D’Rozario, RNDM. These might become annual events at the BCR Centre. Fr. Aelred Gomes

v Fr. Sebastian Xalxo went to Mangalore to give a retreat to Little Sisters of the Poor. On the same day the former S.D.O. of Burdwan, now Development Officer of the Hoogly District, visited the Ashram along with Fr. Jothi I.

v While both Fathers were out of station, a Class I boy while playing touched a pipe which had got charged with electric current from a wire. He remained stuck for about ten minutes, unable to free his hand, while our people were running around without knowing what to do. Finally the current was turned off. Thank God, the boy is alive and well.

v Another boy, emulating Spiderman and displaying tricks in front of his friends, fell from a tree, broke a wrist, and was disabled from writing his exams.

v Around 50 new Christians were given catechetical instruction from March 11 to 18, and another group from March 25 to April 1^st, by Sisters Juli and Dema.

v On March 18, a group of our senior Fathers came to our place for their Live-in session. They discussed the outrage in Nandigram, and expressed the hope that the Province and the Church would take a meaningful stand about it. The children were happy to see this group of our patriarchs.

v The work on the roof of the hostel is completed, but renovation of the whole house is still in progress. We hope it will all be over by next month. Br. Chottu Hembrom

It is said that, when he cat is asleep, the mice dance, they say. This is what happened during most of March in the holy novitiate of D.A. Only this time it was in reverse order. The novices were out. The one occasion for the Master and his Socius to do a little bit of dancing of their own and enjoy a time of relative freedom. Well deserved it was for a team up and doing-and-praying for their novices 24x7 three hundred and sixty-five days a year.

a The 1^st year novices were distributed through several centres for their social experiment, with street children and the Salesians at Ashaloy, Howrah, with the physically and mentally challenged and the MCs Brothers in Kharagpur, with those afflicted by leprosy and the MC Sisters in Shantinagar. The five 2^nd year novices experienced the balm of divine providence in their begging pilgrimage, one group through the Diocese of Baruipur, and the other as far as Noida in the North. All returned home relieved from their initial anxiety, for a real experiment it was, but nonetheless delighted at the generosity of people along the way and the real concern some even showed towards their well-being, irrespective of faith allegiance.

a In the meantime, the juniors appeared at their Assistancy Standardized English Test on March 17. The Dean is happy to note that the results have been quite satisfactory. We thank him and Fr. Gerry for their perseverance in instilling in the juniors a sense of style and the proper use of articles, prepositions, and direct and indirect speech, nightmares for beginners. Rajesh (KOH) and Sumon (DAR) stood 2^nd and 3^rd respectively in the All Juniorate English essay and story-writing competitions.

a Further improvements have taken place, thanks to untiring Br. Marydas, another 24x7 sort of a person: a new set of rest rooms for the workers of D. A., four integrated single rooms on the ground floor of Dipika, and part buttressing of the Milan Mela and the novitiate ponds.

a Alpana, for 34 years one of the retreat house bungalows, is no more, we regret to say. The ground is ready for excavation of the new retreat house, waiting only for the green signal from the Provincial. We are happy to announce that ‘Stichting Porticus’, Amsterdam, have granted us a subsidy covering half the expected expenses. We are looking for more funds Other Agencies have generously come forward to help various Province projects: Bridderlech Deelen jointly with the government of Luxembourg, Jesuit Mission Prokur Nuremberg, Jesuit Mission Prokur Zurich, Manos Unidas Madrid. These cover a social action centre for Santals in Pandua, the Udayani project in Calcutta, hostels in Burdwan for Santal boys and girls, and the Motbari project in Dhaka. Let us remember them in our prayers. Gratitude towards benefactors is an Ignatian hallmark.

a Not to be undone, Fr. Augustine, the one at DA most in demand in the Diocese of Baruipur, continues allegrissimo his pastoral visits trough the lanes and by-lanes of the diocese, ever at the disposal of the Bishop, beleaguered parish priests, and the people of the 24 Parganas, not unlike Francis Regis in the French mountains of Velay and Vivaray.

The highlight this month was a picnic-cum-pilgrimage to Bandel. It was a long journey, using all transports possible: rickshaw, bus, boat, train; the pilgrimage part came with the walk at the last leg of the journey. .

Morning Star philosophers and Calcutta minor seminarians came to play basketball matches (friendly!). Don’t ask for the scores! Our team did pretty well, thanks to the excellent coaching by Sch Thomas Divianathan.

The pre-novices had a three-day workshop on Affective Maturity along with the postulants of Auxilium sisters and the novices of Helper Sisters, conducted by Frs. John Rojerse and Sajeev Painunkal. They all of course want more of “such” programmes. Fr Carvalho is making himself available for recollections, spiritual directions etc., the last one being for the priests of Baruipur diocese.

The pre-novices are busy preparing for the common English test, interviews etc. We are closing on April 25. The next academic year begins on June 8. Vocation Promoters, please note.

q We, Vidyajyoti Calcuttans, were graced by the visitation of Fr. Provincial, Feb. 27 to March 4^th. At the theologians’ request, he kindly rescheduled his programme for the purpose. He met us individually and batch-wise, and also the staff of V.J. The mass he celebrated for the VJ community was appreciated by all.

q The violent attack on the Nandigram villagers created shock waves among us. Schs. Johnson Padiyara, Joseph Kulandai and Martin Puthussery participated in a protest rally organized in the capital the day after. Joseph Kulandai featured prominently along with Medha Patkar in a newspaper photo. Sch. Martin Puthussery

From the Kolkata headquarters: Women’s Day was celebrated with enthusiasm at Mondal Para village in Baruipur on March 9. More than 150 women from neighbouring villages assembled at their own initiative under the guidance of Mr. Saradindu Biswas. There was a cultural programme and speeches. Mrs. Niva Singh, a social activist and Fr. Xavier Jeyaraj gave inspirational talks.

Udayani has taken up a family counselling and education project for the prisoner’s children in the Presidency Correctional Home. We have been entrusted with this work in three more districts- Purulia, Bankura and Burdwan. We recently conducted a survey on the facilities in these districts. Fr. Probal Gomes and Sch. John Kerketta visited Purulia, and Srs. Alexia and Chaitali the Bankura and Burdwan districts.

Frs. Xavier and Probal took part in a seminar - March 12 & 13 - on the “Right Base Approach” jointly organized at Sevakendra by Caritas India and CRS. Fr. Xavier took a session on the W.B. socio-eco-political situation. He conducted a legal awareness workshop for the Adorer Sisters on Feb. 10 & 11, and attended the priest and religious lawyers’ meeting in Navjyoti Niketan, Patna, March 15 to 18. Sch. John Kerketta

O From the Kalna centre: Over 600 Santal SHG women participated in the International Women’s Day celebration - “Nari Chetana Maha Sammelan II” - held in Kalna on March 8, keeping the pledge we had taken last year. The Maha Sammelan aimed at creating greater awareness on the ‘Right to Information’. It dealt with the issues of SHG linkages, challenges and opportunities, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2006. After the welcome tribal dance by the Hatgacha SHG members. Mr. Jayanta Kumar Aikat, SDO of Kalna, inaugurated the event.

Juniors from Dhyan Ashram and from Loreto - 21 in all - who were having a Social Analysis course with us, made a fine contribution with songs and a street play on atrocities on women. Fr. Srijon added colour with his Baul songs.

After the inauguration the panel discussion started with the Assistant General Manager of NABARD, Mr. Rathin Parmanic, and Mr. Kisku, the Lead District Manager of UCO bank. . After giving inputs the panellists sat with the audience, ready to answer the queries shot at them by the ever ‘stranger-shy’ tribal women, mostly on the problems they faced when approaching Banks to open accounts or applying for loans, and on the different schemes of the Govt. and Banks. The women were very happy to talk face to face with officials from Banks and the Government. The latter were pleased to interact with the masses. One could sense a close mutual bond growing between them. The electronic and print media thus came to know about our work. A press photographer from Ananda Bazar remarked: ‘I was aware of the church, when I dropped in for the Christmas celebrations, but never did I suspect that such massive development work is taking place from here’.

Lunch was followed by a cultural programme, with many groups dancing to drum beats. We promised to meet next year at the same venue. We have applied to CRS for the continuation of the project. The SHG members also contributed generously to the event with rice and money.

At the initiative of Udayani, the first ever workshop for the staff of Correctional Homes on the theme of “Jail to Correctional Home – New Role and Duties” was jointly organized by the Prison Directorate and Udayani Social Action Forum, on 31.03.07 at Bangla Academy, Kolkata. On behalf of Udayani Fr. George Pattery SJ, our Provincial, welcomed the 225 participants, who included the DIGs, superintendents, jailors, warden, security staff, and welfare officers. He welcomed the collaboration that Udayani and the Prison Directorate has developed over the last few years. The workshop was inaugurated by Sri. Biswanath Chowdhury, Minister in charge, Jails Department. Dr. Kiran Bedi, IPS, Director General, Bureau of Police Research & Development, New Delhi, delivered the key-note address. Her powerful talk backed by examples of her work in Tihar Jail, set the workshop on a note of hope. Appreciating the initiative of Udayani, she also asked the administration to take the help of more NGOs to bring about the desired change. Our own Fr. Anil Mitra also spoke on “Towards a social and humane approach in Correctional Homes” with inspiring value-oriented stories and biblical texts.

Everyone appreciated this initiative of Udayani, and expressed the wish for regular program-mes to bring in a genuine change of attitude. Fr. Xavier Jeyaraj thanked the participants, and promised the support of Udayani for the future. Fr. Xavier Jeyaraj

A meeting of the Youth Commission was held on March 20 at PJG with two delegates from Australia to plan for Magis 08 – a youth gathering in Australia in July 2008 in preparation for the World Youth Day (WYD). The Jesuits there are planning to bring together 1,700 youths from all over the world. As many will not be able to join, various experiments are planned all over the world to provide a spiritual event for them. This was discussed with representatives from the AICUF, CLC, LTS, and members of the Youth Commission. This meeting was also attended by Fr. Erwin Lazarado, Fr Geoffrey Meagher (Haz), Sch. Pedro Chia (Taiwan) and Fr. Benji (DUM)

The RVA (Radio Veritas Asia) Bengali Service Council met at Bishop’s House, Krishnagar on Feb. 2. Besides proposing new programmes, it also elected its new Chairman, Bishop Joseph Siren Gomes, SDB, and secretary, Fr. P.J. Joseph SJ.

A one-day listener’s meet was held on Feb. 4 at Behrampur, Nadia, organized by RVA Manila and coordinated by Chitrabani. 543 listeners - an all time high – participated.

Secretaries of the JCSA met at Sanjivan Ashram, Pune, 8-9 Feb. Fr. P.J. Joseph, JESCOM Secretary, attended. He also met the board members of a film school in Pune, FRAME WORK, which had shown keep interest in collaborating with Chitrabani.

The Archdiocese of Kolkata, in collaboration with the Roman Vicariate’s Pastoral Office for Universities, organised a Marian vigil at the tomb of Mother Teresa on 10.03.07. Over 500 youths participated. It was part of a mega event organized across 10 cities of Europe and Asia to promote world peace. Through a live-telecast, youths took part in the vigil led by Pope Benedict XVI. The theme of the 2 ½ hours live program was “Intellectual Charity: A way for a new cooperation between Europe and Asia.” Chitrabani organised the press conference on March 8 and looked after the media. 17 news papers and channels covered the event.

Fr. P.J. Joseph visited Satyanilayam, Chennai, on March 15 to discuss the possibility of re-introducing ‘philosophy of communication’ and some soft skills in the curriculum. He also attended the two-day SIGNIS National assembly held at NBCLC Bangalore, March 19-20. As Secretary for the Bengal unit, he presented a report of its activities.

The CBCI Commission for Communication organized a two-day workshop on community radio in Bangalore, 21-22 March. Fr. P.J. Joseph participated. Chitrabani is finalizing its future plan of action in this regard.

The LTS is organizing a number of leadership camps for LTSers of various schools in April. The 1^st camp in Bengali (9-11) the 2^nd in Hindi (13-15) and the 3^rd (20-22) and 4^th (26-29) in English. Interested scholastics are welcome to join in conducting sessions and organizing games, etc. for the campers. Those ready to take part in the organizing team please contact the LTS National Centre at the earliest.

From Fr. Arjen Tete: I am fine and enjoying my studies. On Feb. 27 we had an Indian Liturgy at the School with hymns in Sanskrit and Bengali. Students who had recently been to India for Immersion did the aarati. I felt proud as the cantor of the liturgy.

On March 2, at 8.40 p.m., we had an earthquake, 4.2 magnitude. I was really terrified as a couple of my books tumbled down from the shelf. Believe it or not, I was reading John Sobrino's Where Is God? Earthquake, Terrorism, Barbarity, and Hope. Other areas were worse affected. Earthquakes are very unsettling. After the larger quake here in 1989, magnitude 7.1, some people reported having nightmares for months afterwards.

I have been given a new phone” Nr. (510) 225-6143. The old one is disconnected. My new e-mail ID is: arjensj@gmail.com

From Sch. Mourlin in XIDAS, Bhopal: I am doing well here. I have started my second semester. On Feb. 16, we had a formative three-day exposure visit to ITC LTD, Bhopal which helped me to understand the new methods of project intervention strategies. On March 24, I presented a paper on “The Role of Managers in 21^st Century: Opportunities and challenges” at the Maharishi Institute of Management (Maharishi Vedic University) at Bhopal. Life in XIDAS is a knowledge-seeking venture with reflection. My new email id is fernsj@gmail.com.

NEW AICUF STATE TEAM

The AICUF State council for 2007-08 met on Feb. 25 at SXC. Around 40 office-bearers attended. State adviser, Fr. Felix Raj, emphasized the importance of their role and leadership. He explained the State Policy Document, which was discussed in detail. In the State election, Noel Francis and Sylvester Mardi were elected State convener and co-convener respectively. The state team has 10 elected members, excluding the Adviser and Animator.

More than just a reprint, it integrates the changes made in the 2^nd Editio Typica of the Roman Lectionary. The version of the psalms for community singing with Saharan Duo has been added. In order to ensure a longer wear of the book, it has been divided into 3 volumes: 1. - Readings for special seasons, pp. 398; 2. - Weekday readings for Year I, pp. 606; 3. - Weekday readings for Year II, pp. 584. Prepublication price: Rs. 750 (Full price from 01.04.07: Rs. 900,) Please make payment along with the order.

Fr. Felix Raj’s two papers: 1. Economic Ideas of Thiruvalluvar and Their Relevance Today, and 2. Economic Ideas in Arthasastra (Kautilya), have been prescribed as study materials to the introductory course in Labour Economics in the Northern University of Illinois. Both papers were published in the Vidyajyoti Journal. They can be viewed at www.goethals.org

V Mr. Christopher Francis, Teacher in charge of the St. Xavier’s Night School, on March 6, at the age of 61. He served the school for 20 years with great dedication and love for the children. For the funeral Mass, a large crowd of students and relations filled St. Xavier's Chapel. Fr. Jimmy Keepuram preached the homily. Mrs. Francis, his wife, carries on the work now in the Night School though she herself is not keeping well.

Father Joseph Van Hove was born in Belgium in 1916. His birth was marked by tragedy: his mother died soon after bringing him to life. The thought of that death always gave him a kind of aching pain, which he felt even in his old age. But it also opened his heart to the pain of others: he showed a keen sense of compassion for those who suffer.

He became a Jesuit in 1936 and went through the normal course of Jesuit formation, with one interruption: he happened to be in the Belgian army for the customary stage of training given to future priests, when the second world-war broke out. As a result he had to spend a few months in Germany as a prisoner of war. As soon as travelling was possible after the war in 1946, he came to India for the three last years of his theology.

The first and longest stretch of his apostolic life was at St. Thomas. It lasted almost fourteen years. Then, after a spell of two years at St. Xavier’s, first as a teacher, then as Prefect of the Primary Department, he was put in charge of the Sacred Heart School and Chapel in Weston Street. He spent eight years there. Then for one year he was a Curate in Khari, before being entrusted with the Tollygunge Church, where he remained almost six years. His next assignment was a stay of three years at Shantinagar, as a Chaplain in the M.C. Sisters’ leper-centre. Followed three shorts spells of one year each, first in Asansol, then at St. Mary’s Church, Calcutta, and finally in Infant Jesus Church, Behala. After this he was sent back once more to Shantinagar, this time for 5 years. This was his last regular ministry. After that, unable to cope with the work, he had to retire, first at Prabhu Jisur Girja, then here, at St. Xavier’s.

This brief summary of his apostolate shows that Father Van Hove’s life as a priest has been almost exclusively that of a pastor, a work for which he was well suited. He was a man with a deep spirit of faith and a great sense of duty, zealous, dedicated to the spiritual care of those entrusted to him. He served them, loved them, lived for them, strove to do what he could to fulfil his mission to them. He was one of those priests who unreservedly “seek first the Kingdom of God”: he worked steadily, faithfully, to do what his function required. He went willingly wherever he was sent, however difficult his new responsibility might be. Think of how demanding his assignment to Weston Street must have been! He knew neither the Chinese language, nor Chinese culture. And yet he had to take over the School and Chapel that had been for so long in the hands of the great pastor of the Chinese Community, Father C. de Moor. He worked there for eight years. Think of the difficulties he had to face immediately after that, when he was sent to Khari and then to Tollygunge, though he had never been given sufficient time to learn Bengali properly. His spirit of faith and obedience and his love for people carried him through. His obvious sincerity in whatever he did, his devotedness, his unassuming and gentle behaviour won him the trust and affection of his Bengali flock. He was entirely focused on his apostolic work. That was his whole life.

And that is why, when due to old age, he had to withdraw from active priestly work, he looked at first so restless. He still longed to go out and do some ministry, but could not. For about fifty years he had been spending all his time and energy in the service of the People of God and suddenly he found himself here, in the infirmary of St. Xavier’s, without any pastoral responsibility. What he had lived for had now vanished. He was like a ship cut from its moorings without either sail or engine – disabled, crippled. There was an emptiness in his life which nothing could fill. When, as it happens to elderly people, his mind was wandering, what he thought or spoke about, was often some apostolic task to be performed, marriage-ceremony, confessions or visits to the sick to be attended to. He felt frustrated to be unable to do it. Having lost the habit of personal reading and study, more than others he needed work to remain fully himself.

The one thing he still had was his life of prayer. God alone knows the number of rosaries he recited during those long twilight–years, for he had a tender trustful devotion to Our Lady. As long as he was able to move about, we often found him by the side of an ailing fellow Jesuit, praying quietly. Spiritually he remained very much alive and earnest.

His final days were painful. Unable to walk, he now spent most of the day in bed, motionless, a prey, seemingly, to acute depression, yet bearing it all patiently, silently. But the end, when it came, was extremely peaceful. He just slipped away.

Father Joseph Van Hove has been in our midst one of those men whose way of life keeps alive our faith in the essential goodness of human beings: a man whose only desire was to serve God and to serve others. That is why he was loved and admired by every one. We have been truly blessed by his presence among us.

♦ Fr. Albert Menezes (BOM), Registrar, JDV, Pune

♦ Fr. G. Alex, (JAM), Treasurer of JDV Pune and Land & Building Matters, Pune Campus

♦ Fr Anil Gomes (CCU), Spiritual Director, Satya Nilayam, Chennai

♦ Fr Augustine Perumalil (DEL), Director Research Centre, Satya Nilayam, Chennai

♦ Fr Jacob Kulangara (GUJ), Minister, Papal Seminary, Pune

NEW AICUF STATE TEAM