Decisions

April 22, 2009

Dear Fathers and Brothers

Let us greet one another our profession day. It is something very special of our province that the profession day of all our members, is on May 1. In a special way I would like to greet Fr. Augustine Cheerakathil, MS and also Fr. Job Callarackal, MS (though in the Philippine Province but served one year in our province) 25 years of Religious life. Congratulations and prayers for you.
Congratulations and special prayers for Bros. Jiju and Sebastian on the day of their perpetual profession, and Bros. Siby, Jobit, Prince, Jojo, Bineesh, Jiss, Dileesh, Jeneesh, Anoop, Suresh, and Anil on the day of renewal of their vows.

Here in Argentina very hard to find persons having the same date of profession due to the lack of vocations as well as perseverance. There are now 16 perpetually professed members here (5 Americans, 4 Bolivians, 7 Argentinians). Of course Fr. Joseph and myself proudly belong to our La Salette Matha Province. No temporarily professed ones here. There 3 postulants who are preparing themselves to go to Brazil for novitiate in the coming year. There are 2 other seminarians, one is first year now, and the other one returned after a year of leave.

Fr. Joseph and myself are completing our one year of mission in Argentina on May 04, the date of arrival here. So we have got less than 4 years left. Days and months go very fast. After the initial struggle to pick up the language, accustom to culture etc., it is quite enjoying serving in this mission. 5 years will pass like any assignment anywhere, but the experience we get is very special. If Jesus asked his disciples to go to the end of the world, looking from India, this is the farthest that we can reach. We came here with a luggage of 25 kg, things of emergency need, as Jesus told not to carry extra.

In the school where we studied Spanish, there are students from other countries of North America and European countries, who come to learn the language in a country where it is alone spoken. What a blessing to learn this international language, second to English in the world. There is no necessity to insist a rule of language as in the seminary, here only Spanish is spoken everywhere and all walks of life. So naturally you will pick it up. Fr. Joseph is enjoying now after the initial difficulties, he too became convinced that he has the capacity to learn a new language. He says he is better in Spanish than English, and only Spanish words are coming from his mouth. Our professors of Philippines in the SVD School used to say that the best time to learn a language is before the age of 25. But we took the challenge and changed that theory. ¨Pen is mightier than sword¨ is the proverb.

I am happy to read from the community news that our theologians of Goa are having their exposures in the different parts of India as part of their curriculum. I remember how hard it was one time to move the studies of our seminarians from Kerala to others states, seeing the challenges of culture and language. Let us congratulate one another, we have faced and overcome that challenge very successfully, and the best fruit is our Andhra mission. Congratulations in a special way to Fr. Jenson and Fr. Bino. But not yet time to sit back, we have more to go. In my reflection, our province and members are more atone to mission commitment, and let us encourage one another to march forward, our pilgrimage together to the heavenly Father.
Congratulations and prayers. Happy Profession Day to all.

Yours in Christ & Mary
P. Jacob Thomas Vettathu, MS

I am now assigned in the parish of La Salette at LA BANDA , in the Province of Santiago del Estero , about 400 klms from Cordoba and I am going there on Dec. 17, 2008, and my postal address and phone number at La Banda is given below. And it is the same in the La Salette Directory (Ilungus) p.16.

P. JACOB THOMAS VETTATHU, MS
Parroquia Nra. Sra. de La Salette
Pellegrini 1216
4300 La Banda
Santiago del Estero
ARGENTINA
Tel: 0054-385-427-1295

The Parish Priest in La Banda is Fr. Fernando, 40 years old, ordained in 2002 and was with Frs. Benny, Joseph and Joy Porathur when they had the young clergy meeting in Rome. He was assigned in that Parish since his ordination, and he is from the other parish of La Salette in Santiago del Estero Province called Las Termas (100 klms from each other). I am asked to reach La Banda on Dec.. 17 because on Dec. 18^th will be the last Presbyterial meeting of the diocese of the year, and I could be introduced to the Priests of the diocese.

Santiago del Estero is one of the least developed provinces of Argentina , salaries and wages are low, students go to Cordoba or Buenos Aires for higher studes. La Salettes have got two parishes in Santiago del Estero province. The Parish at Las Termas is rather rich because it is the only parish of the big town which is famous for Tourists because of the warm water of the place. And it is also a big parish with about 50 substations. Fr. Alfredo Velarde is the pastor (former Regional Superior) with two older American La Salettes Fr. Santiago weeks (76) and Fr. Juan Miguel (83), and a perpetually professed brother Bro. Adrian.

La Banda is a parish started by La Salettes 24 years ago in the name of La Salette, and it is a parish in a poor village area. There are 8 sub stations attended, and many more not yet attended. Except at the town proper all the roads are mud roads. People are very poor, and in the substations their houses are also very poorly made to shelter them. When it rains it is really difficult to reach them. Fr. Fenando is teaching in the university part time to have additional income. The lunch is usually arranged in different families by the parish itself to meet the food expenses of the priest. Because of all these things very few priests are willing to be assigned in La Banda but Fr. Fernando says he is ready to serve there another 6 more years. When the Regional superior asked me my opinion of going there, I told him that we are here to assist them, and he can assign me anywhere he finds that my help is needed. So he was really happy. Fr. Fernando is really very friendly, and it was due to his initiative, we were able to visit La Banda one week and Las Termas two weeks during last July during the winter vacation. He speaks a little English too, but slowly and not too fluent. The parish has an old FORD pick up to go to the substations. All other travels are by the public bus. Fr. Fernando has a computer and internet, and it will be still possible to communicate through emails from there.

Regarding climate, Santiago del Estero province is warmer in winter and summer is really very hot. My pain on the leg and back bone is reduced to a good extent but still there. So I am careful not to increase it. So the warm climate in La Banda will be better than the cold one in Cordoba for me.

Fr. Joseph will still be in the same parish in Cordoba . In the zonal divisions of La Salette , there are 3 zones for the Region: one is Bolivia , and in Argentina - Las Termas and La Banda form one zone, and Cordoba and Santa Fe form another zone. So Fr. Joseph and myself are going to be in two different zones, and we will meet each other mostly on general assembly meetings of the community or if I come down to Cordoba for any emergencies. So we will be more now on phones and emails.

At home, my mother is right now in the hospital at Moolamattom.. She had been not even able to sit on her bed, and a week ago she was found no more responding at all and she was given Last Anointment immediately and taken to hospital in Moolamattom. After a week now, she is improving. She has developed some bed sores also on her back. My sister in law who was taking care of my mother was also bedridden with weight on both legs and under treatment due to some back bone problem. So the attention and care to mother was not proper for some time. Right now a full time home nurse is placed for attending my mother. Include my mother and family members in your prayers

I take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. You are in my love and in my prayers too.

Greetings from Argentina. We are all doing fine. Tomorrow, October 10, Friday, we are going to celebrate mass in honor of Saint Alphonsa in the Parish church. Earlier it was planned to celebrate in the regional house chapel, but then we changed the plan to have it in the parish for the parishioners also to particiapate. Fr. Norman will preside of the Concelebrated Mass of the whole community in Cordoba, Fr.. Joseph will read the Gospel, and I will share an explanation of the life of Saint Alphonsa, and the seminarians are preparing the introductions, songs, and prayers of the faithful. I got printed a bigger picture of Saint Alphonsa to place in front of the Altar. Thus we are going to have a grand celebration in honor of Saint Alphonsa. The latest text prepared and is given to them.

We have already presented our papers for the Brasilian visa and it is all set, and we are asked to collect it any time from October 16 afternoon. Our travel to Brasil will be on November 1st and we will be back to Argentina on October 25. Fr. Norman will go to the States to attend the US province general assembly and will be coming from there to attend the International encounter in Brasil. Fr. Marcelo Palacias and Fr. Jose Daniel will represent the region of Argentina-Bolivia, and we two represent India. We are going and coming back together with Fr. Marcelo while Fr. Jose Daniel will come from Bolivia because he is assigned in Bolivia right now.