A Christmas message by Anil Severin sj c/o BBN

A Christmas message by Ashok Vaghela sj

Christmas message by Bishop Thomas [Ahmedabad Diocese]

Rev.Fr. Herbert A. de Souza, S.J -15th death Anniversary

A painting of Herbert D'Souza sj

Rev.Fr. Herbert A. de Souza, S.J. 

peacefully went to his Heavenly Father on Monday December 15, 1997, at 7.30 a.m., in Los Angeles. Fr. De Souza was born in Karachi (now in Pakistan) on August 14, 1918. His parents were from Goa. Fr. De Souza was a loving son and brother to his family, and a faithful Jesuit who spent his life in the service of others, especially the poor and downtrodden of India. After completing his doctoral studies in English Literature at Columbia University, Fr. De Souza became the founding president of St. Xavier’s University College in Ahmedabad, India. In a few years he made St. Xavier’s the top university college in the whole state of Gujarat. After fifteen years as president of St. Xavier’s he moved to Rome, and was made the counselor for education to the General of the Society of Jesus, Fr Pedro Arrupe, S.J. From Rome he came to Los Angeles and earned a Masters in Communication Arts at Loyola Marymount University. Later, he taught creative writing at the same university. Simultaneously, he was involved in the production of a number of nationally acclaimed religious television programs in Los Angeles. Fr. De Souza was a superb orator, whose skills were honed at Speakers’ Corner at Hyde Park, London early in his life. He was invited to give the commencement address at his own graduation at Loyola Marymount University. His talk is remembered even today. He was a much sought after speaker in lecture circuits across the continent. His range of knowledge of classical and modern literature, his mastery of the English language and outstanding wit kept his audiences enthralled. As a priest, his homilies touched many lives, and his popularity and immense. Fr. De Souza’s experiences with the mass media in the United States made him realize the tremendous potential of the media for education and human development in India. He made it his Mission to use media to empower the powerless. Gurjarvani, Xavier Centre for Culture and Communication, run by the Jesuits in Gujarat, enabled him to carry out this mission. With his extensive network of friends he guided and supported the outstanding work of Gurjarvani in the field of media for education and human development. His sole concern throughout the latter part of his life was the continuation of his Mission. Herbert de Souza was a very large-hearted man, whose sensitivity and compassion reached numerous people in India, the United States, and through out the world. He touched many lives profoundly. He created a family of friends who support his Mission for the poor in India.
 Rappai P sj

Fr Ordonez Last rites 8th dec 2012 5pm

Ordonez Ignace was laid to rest near the shrine.

Ordonez Ignacio is laid to rest at this Shrine

On the 8th Dec 2012 at 5 pm was the funeral service of Fr Ordonez at Unteshwari Srine [ Unteshwari Mariam Matanu Mandir].
Teo Bishops and large number of local people attended the service.

Fr .Ordonez Ignacio (GUJ) 84/68 expired

Fr .Ordonez Ignacio

R.I.P.

Fr .Ordonez Ignacio (GUJ) 84/68 expired this morning due to heart  attack (08- 12-2012 ) at Unteshwari.

The funeral will be held at 5.00 p.m ( today) in  Unteshwari  Shrine, Kadi  on  08-12-2012.

Please remember him in your prayers.

Fr.Lawrence Dharmaraj SJ

Socius

GUJ

Personal Information

Birth: 23 -10-1928 9 (Spain, Navarra)

Entered SJ: 26-08-1944 ( Loyola Spain)

Priesthood: 24-03-1958 ( Anand- Gujarat)

Final vows: 02-02-1977 9 Nanakantharia)

Responsibilities held

Asst PP: Retreat house, Baroda—1960

PP at Gothada—1961

Asst PP at Bhilodas—1971-1973

PP at Nanakantharia -- !973-1983

Socius to the Provincial –1984-1989

PP at Meghrej –1989-1993

Asst PP at Meghrej—1993-1994

Asst.PP at Bhiloda—1994-2004

Asst.PP at Unteshwari—2004-2012

‘Christayan’ a Hindi Film on Jesus

‘Christayan’ a Hindi Film on Jesus
By Varghese Alangadan         Indore:                                      

A six-hour-long film on Jesus in Hindi, directed by a Catholic priest, was released on Dec. 2 after he worked seven years on it with a team of some 200 amateur actors and technical staff.

Divine Word Father Geo George's unique movie with the name ‘Christayan’ (the journey of Christ)
 was released in Indore.

Most part of the film was made in Madhya Pradesh but the team of actors had to visit 10 states including the northeastern part of India.

The team of over 200 people included scientists, professors, doctors, teachers, social activists, farmers, atheists, students, media persons, priests and religious sisters.

Ankit Sharma, a Hindu young man, acted as Jesus. Over 80 percent of the artists were "friends of Jesus" from other religions.

‘Christayan’ has an eastern flavor with Indian socio-cultural backgrounds and aesthetics interwoven with various genres of Indian music, rendered by some of the best singers and musicians of time.

Father George wrote the script, lyrics and also supervised the make up and costumes.

The priest had been a grass root level missionary in the interior villages of the state.

“Jesus, the living and loving God, is present with us and within us. So we need to experience Him amidst us as Indians,” he said. This faith in the Universal Christ is filmed with sociocultural worldview, he added.

The priest said his concept of making the film in an Asian context originated when he was a student of theology and came to know the meaning of ‘incarnation’.

His desire to know about what was happening to religions world over, the schisms, heresies, fatwas, excommunications, extremism and killing in the name of faith only intensified his passion to make the movie, he said.

He said that he has not made a film to increase the sentimental piety to Jesus and make him an object of worship.

“I have presented Jesus as a prophet committed to empower women and give them a dignified place in the society,” he said.

Jesus is presented as a person who is concerned about environment, defending the oppressed, teaching lessons of optimism and positive attitude, he added.

Inculturation is best expressed in the film by the celebration of festival of light. Bhagwat Gita and Vedas also find honorable presentation in the movie.

Neetu Joshi, a Hindu educationist, said the film should have happened fifty years ago. “It will remove misconceptions against Christ and Christianity,” she added.

Filmograph Film Festival

6th to 9th Dec 2012

At B.K. Hall
Pritamnagar Akhada
Nr Jalaram Temple.
Ellis bridge