| NEWS FROM COMMISSIONS |
| Family Commission |
| Marriage Preparation Course was conducted in Suramangalam Parish on 12th&13th July. 98 boys and girls from all over the diocese actively participated. The Family Commission team from salem diocese and Regional Family commission from Trichy were the resource persons. The seminar ended with the Holy Mass by the Bishop of Salem. The certificates were given to the participants. I sincerly thank Fr. Maria Joseph for his help and cooperation.. |
Marriage Preparation Course in August 2008
2 – 3 Saturday & Sunday Attur 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Fr. S. Sebastian, Secretary, Family Commission
|
| DIOCESAN FAMILY RENEWAL PROGRAMMES |
| Family Renewal Day: On 06.07.08 we organized Family Renewal day at Attur for the parishes of Attur, Thalaivasal, Pungavadi, Valapady, Thumbal & Karumandurai. Nearly 500 people attended it. They were given inputs on different topics about family. I thank the Priests for their co-ordination. The animators of Anbiam made the arrangements. |
| Medical Camp |
| Medical Camp: On 13.07.08 our diocesan Health Commission, Youth Commission & Social Service Society joined together and arranged a medical camp, HIV awareness programme & economical empowerment programme at Sadayampalayam Parish.The Parish Priest of Sadayampalayam cooperated wonderfully to conduct the programme. Around 300 people from the parishes of Sadayampalayam, Vellalapalayam, Sangagiri & Idappadi benfited by this programme. I thank all those who helped in many ways to carry out this programme. |
| Youth Commission |
| YSM HM’S MEET: On 24.06.08 the Young Students Movement (YSM) arranged a special meeting for all the Heads of Catholic Schools. A year plan was proposed and discussed for this year. 15 Schools were represented in this meeting. They told us that the planning was good and if it is followed to the maximum level, it would bear good fruits in the children. |
| YSM GB MEET: On 28.06.08 the General Body Meeting of YSM was conducted for the leaders of Young Students Movement in our diocesan Schools. 17 Schools participated in it. On the same day the teachers / animators of YSM gathered to have a panel discussion regarding this Movement. It was a great help to the Teachers who are in-charge of this Movement. 30 teachers involved actively in this meeting. I thank all the Heads of the Schools who participated and sent representatives for the HMs Meeting, Teachers’ Meeting & Students’ Meeting. |
| YOUTH GB MEET: On 29.06.08 the General Body Meeting of our diocesan Youth Commission was held at Epiphany Centre. 79 youth from 22 parishes participated. Some of them submitted their report of the youth activity for the last year. All of them were interested to plan for the renewal of youth activities in all the parishes. They decided that at least we would target 30 parishes to have active youth groups this year.The parish priest are requested to announce this programme in the parishes and make use of this for those who need. |
| Youth Visits: Fr. Secretary visited and formed new youth groups in Kakkaveri & Sanyasigundu parishes. The Youth full timers and the members of executive committee visited and encouraged the youth groups of the following parishes: Sitalandur (Perunkurichi), Tiruchengode, R.C. Settipatti, osavampatti, Kakkaveri & Yercaud. |
YSM visits: This year we are concentrating more on School visits in order to form the future generation of the society in a right path. YSM is the best means for it that it motivates the students to think more and act upon it by following the method: “See, Reflect, Act & Evaluate”. The full timers visited the following Schools in this month: Cluny Matriculation-Salem, Fathima Hr. Sec. (Omalur), Mount Mary Matriculation (Chinnakollapatti), Jeyarani Matric. (Nethimedu), St. Joseph’s Hr. Sec. (Suramangalam), Jeyarakkini Middle (Shevapet), St. Michael’s Matric. (Valapady), Jeyarani Hr. Sec. (Nethimedu), St. Mary’s Hr. Sec. (Mettur) and St. Philomina’s Middle (Salem Camp).
Dear Principals & HMs, a group of Fathers are interested and ready to conduct Life Skills Seminars for School students.
Don’t miss the chance.
You can access more details from Fr. Jai Bernard Joseph
1. Mind-Tuning Seminar - X & XII
2. Media Awareness Seminar - IX & XI
3. Life oriented SHIPS - VII & VIII
(Friendship, Championship, Leadership, Scholarship & Worship). |
| Communication Commission |
- Annual Meeting & Thanks to Albert: On 29.06.08 a get-together of Epiphany Cultural Team was held at Epiphany Centre. The Director submitted the annual report and it was found in the report that the cultural team had staged sound & light and cultural programmes in 34 places in this year. It was a great work done by the team and hence a lot of appreciation to all the members of it. In the same meeting a thanksgiving felicitation was organized to Mr. Albert, who joined at Holy Cross Notre Dame School, for his untiring service to the diocese for the past 12 years at Epiphany Pastoral Centre.
- Family Renewal Programme: On 06.07.08 Sound & light programme based on family theme was enacted at Attur on Family Renewal Day.
- Mind-Tuning Seminar: We have a new package on “Mind-Tuning” to X & XII Students. The Students from L.F. Hr. Sec. School, Salem & St. Fathima Hr. Sec. School, Omalur benefited from it.
- Sound & Light Programme – “Sandal Cross”: On 22.07.08 a mega sound & light programme about the power of the Cross in the life of Jesus, Saints & in the modern society was staged at Mathiampatti, a Diocesan Shrine. The spectators told that it was an excellent programme that motivated everybody to bear cross in all walks of life. I thank sincerely the Parish Priest who has given an opportunity to evangelize in the Shrine through Cultural Programme.
|
| CHARISMATIC RENEWAL COMMISSION |
- Round the Town at Night with St. Paul: Instead of conducting full night prayer regularly at Epiphany Centre on 2nd Saturday,this year we have organized a full night prayer at Town Parishes os Salem one by one in each month. On 12.7.08 we started at Cathedral. To great surprise around 400 people participated in this prayer service and received the Holy Spirit and Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Leaders’ Formation Camp: On 19, 20.07.08 the Charismatic leaders from all the parishes gathered together and had Programme Formation for 2 days at Epiphany Centre. The Bishop of Salem, Fr. Jacob from Erode and Prof. Constantine from Kerala were the resource persons. It went on well and all of them re-dedicated themselves to their call and ministry to the Lord. At the end the year plan for the Charismatic Commission was sketched out by Fr. Director.
- Intercessory Prayer at Diocesan Shrine: On 21.07.08 a special adoration was conducted by the group of priests for the people at Mathiampatti. On 22.07.08, feast of St. Mary Magdalane the diocesan service team led the intercessory prayer meeting from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. All the faithful involved actively and prayed for the intentions and the needs of their family members & neighbours. A special thanks to those who helped.
- TNBC Meet: On 23.07.08 Fr. Secretary attended the annual meeting of TNBC Charismatic Renewal Commission at Emmaus. The new Bishop of Kumbakonam, who is the Chairman for this Commission in Tamilnadu, presided over the meeting. A Zonal level leaders’ training programme was suggested for this year. The Statutes of the Charismatic Renewal in Tamil will be printed soon.
|
| BIBLE COMMISSION |
St. Paul in Salem Town – Parish Priests’ Meet: On 16.07.08 Fr. Director of Epiphany Centre called for Salem Town Parish Priests’ Meeting and 9 Parish Priests were present with their Assistants. It was planned that each parish will choose one particular day in all the months throughout this year and that day was made known to the people as “St. Paul’s Day” in every month. For instance the 1st Thursday was selected as “St. Paul’s Day” at Cathedral. Now in each month, on their dates, a common, creative and regular programme on St. Paul will be conducted in all the parishes of the Salem Town. A team of Priests from Salem will be working at it. If possible, it could be done in all the Vicariates. |
| Fr. V. Jai Bernard Joseph |
| PRISON MINISTRY |
| Executive Meeting for Prison Ministry Team was held at St. John‘s hostel. All the members participated in that meeting. Last year’s report was read out to the members. The action plan for this year was proposed and discussed. |
| Fr. Vimal Dass, Director |
| NEWS FROM VICARIATES |
| SALEM VICARIATE |
Arisipalayam: 12 Catechists from our diocese visited 10 Anbiams on 30th June. They visited the houses from 10 Anbiams and taught the new methods concerning Anbiam.
Corpus Chrsiti was celebrated in Arisipalayam Parish on 13th July. More than 1000 people participated in this big event . |
|
| Fr. Peter John Paul, Asst. Parish Priest |
| Steel Plant: We organized a grand, colourful and meaningful event titled ‘JUBILEE SUNDAY’ on 06th of July. What went in to make the event was to offer a thanksgiving mass as a parish together, for and along with all those who have completed 25 years of service in their daily bread winning jobs in different capacities. Working in different capacity includes working in the government companies or private firms or own business and even the unskilled jobs which includes the coolie work. Since the event was first of its kind, we included even the people who are retired after working for minimum of twenty five years. The day was marked with the thanksgiving mass and on this occasion each of the jubilarian was given a rose and a memento followed by breakfast for the whole parish community. Each family was also given a memento in remembrance of the Jubilee Sunday. SSLC and Twelfth Toppers of the parish Miss. D. Jennifer and Master Xavier Mathew were felicitated with shield and cash award. It was a joyous, memorable and happy event marked with community building activity. |
| Fr. Manuelraj, Parish Priest. |
| Shevapet: “Eucharist is the Source and Submit”. Commemorating the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, we had Eucharistic Procession on 6th July 2008. The procession started at Annai Velankanni Church, Shanmuganagar at 5.00 p.m. and proceeded towards St. Mary’s Church, Shevapet through Annathanappatti. Bishop of Salem headed the procession and preached on the theme “Eucharist is the source and summit of every Christian Life” and ended with the Eucharistic Adoration. More than 500 people participated. |
| ATTUR VICARIATE |
Attur:On 30th June 2008 Teaching Catechism in the vicariate of Attur was solemnly and officially inaugurated. At 3.00 p.m. There was Eucharistic Celebration presided over by our Bishop. During the homily Bishop stressed the importance of learning catechism and the duty of the teachers to help the students in their endeavour to learn the divine truths. Then followed the inaugural function, in which the students, who stood in the first three places in the Catechism Examination of the previous year were awarded. Teachers who taught Catechism were also honored.
Family Renewal Programme for Attur vicariate was conducted on 06.07.2008 in Attur parish by the Director of Epiphany. 460 people from the vicariate benefited from that programme. There was also a sharing regarding þ¤Ýmk kVµ¡öç\ ÖBÂïD by Rev. Fr. Edward Rajan.
St. Sallette Anbiam of Attur parish celebrated its 50th anbia gathering on the feast of Sts. Peter & Paul with the holy mass. They had a cultural programme in the evening. 150 people participated in the programme. Fr. Gnanaraj, Asst. Parish Priest. |
|
Koneripatty: The Feast of St. Antony of Paduva was celebrated at Mankaradu, Thammampatty, on 8th July 2008. In the evening Eucharist was celebrated. Then followed the car procession. People of all faith participated in the celebration.
A new batch of nearly 70 Sri Lankan refugee families have arrived at Nagiyampatti refugee Camp. Considerable number of them are Catholics from the Diocese of Mannar. To cater to their spiritual needs, every week we celebrate Eucharist and conduct prayer service. |
| Fr. Irudayaselvam, Parish Priest. |
|
| NAMAKKAL VICARIATE |
| Kosavampatti: Nine Houses were built by the ICHEC Housing Project, Belgium at Karaikurichy Pudur in Kosavampatti Parish. The New Houses were inaugurated on 21st July 2008 and blessed by our Bishop. The students from Belgium put their heart and soul while working with the local people for constructing the houses. Thanks to Mr. Vincent, the students from Belgium and our Bishop. |
Fr. M. Clementraj, Parish Priest. |
| THRUCHENGODE VICARIATE |
| Mathiampatti: The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene at Mathiampatti, was celebrated on 22.07.08. Bishop of Salem celebrated the feast mass at 7.30 a.m. There were healing prayer service, silent adoration, sound and light programme on Our Lady of Fatima by the parishners of Jalahalli, Bangalore, Sandana Siluvai by the Epiphany centre and beautiful car procession. Good number of priests, sisters, catechists and lay people from so many places participated in the festival |
. Fr. Selvam, Parish Priest. |
| Pallipalayam: St. Antony’s Church at Pallipalayam was erected as the New Parish by our Bishop on 01.07.2008. The new Parish has 170 Catholic families and 12 Anbiams. |
| Fr. Arul Francis Xavier, Parish Priest. |
| METTUR VICARIATE |
| Jayarakkininagar: Nine Houses were erected on 21st July 2008 by the ICHEC Belgium and blessed by our Bishop. Students from Belgium were at Jayarakkini nagar from 30th June 2008. They also worked along with the local masons. Thanks to Mr. Vincent and the students and our Bishop for the new houses. |
| Fr. A. X. Irudayam, Parish Priest. |
| R.C. Settipatti: St. Peter and Paul feast was celebrated at R.C. Settipatti on 29th June 2008. It was presided over by our Bishop of Salem. For the Jubilee Year of St. Paul Bishop announced St. Peter and Paul Church at Settipatti as Pilgrimage centre for this year 29th June 2008 to 29th June 2009. |
| Ignatius Fidelis, Parish Priest. |
| Mettur: Catechism Inaugural Mass was celebrated on 3rd July 2008 for the Mettur Vicariate by Fr. Gopu, V.F and was concelebrated by vicariate fathers. After the mass the prizes were distributed to the winners in the Catechism Exam conducted last year. Fr. Gopu thanked all the prize winners and thanked all the Catechism teachers in all the schools for their dedication. |
| Fr. C. Sagayaraj. |
