Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Visitation in St. Joseph Province, Kottayam begins. Ranigiri Ashram, MANNANTHALA

 The provincial secretary Br Antony and Br. Lawrence drove me by Car from Kottayam to Trivandrum. it took us almost four hours....the roads are good but monsoon season and you can expect some roads to be bad.....It was a lovely and good journey...halted once for a hot cup of Tea and some special snacks of Kerala.....The visitation of st. Joseph officially began today......
 This is Ranigiri friary and the parish church....four friars are fully busy with pastoral work....there are about 350 families in the parish and Br. Thomas is the guardian and parish priest.....it is on the main road....The friars are available for the confessions and counseling ministry.....
 The friary is small but very homely ......no much place around but little place that they have is being cultivated....vegetables and bananas are produced by the friars....Br. Joseph works in the garden...he was the missionary in Assam and worked there for 16 years....he returned due to sickness....he has a strong desire to return to the mission...


 simple church unlike all the churches in Kerala....most of the churches are very huge ....this capuchin church is small but very conducive for prayer.....

 Br. Thomas, is the guardian and parish priest.....he has been guardian and preacher....he has licentiate in spirituality....very efficient friar.....
 Friar Sijoy, is the advocate in High court here...he has completed his LLM.....now practicing in the court....helping poor people to get justice...very fraternal and simple friar....wants to do more in the field of getting justice for the poor.....he says that it is tough for a priest to practice in the court as the interests are very different....the others don't see the priests with good sense...
The fraternity of four friars....all of them doing their best.....Friar Francis is senior most among them....he too has a lot of experience....

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