Build Bridges not Walls
Build Bridges not Walls
Common Marist Postulancy in Tudella – Ja-Ela
Building bridges not walls could be a simple definition of restructuring that the Congregation has been going through for the past number of years. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, became one Marist Province, under the same restructuring, taking the name, South Asian Province, since January 2007.
From the day of its birth, the Provincial and the Council of South Asian Province, has been trying to bring the Brothers together from these three nations, to build stronger fraternities, friendship and to center Jesus in our lives.
Keeping the same strategy in mind, the Provincial and council decided to start a Common Postulancy, in Sri Lanka, since it could serve as common ground for India and Pakistan.
The Common Postulancy for South Asian Province started on Saturday the 21st of September 2009. Saturday being a day of Mary, there was a meaningful liturgy organized, to induct the three young men into Postulancy.
Bro. Paul Bhatti welcomed all Brothers, novices, our prospective candidates and especially the Postulants. Having lighted the traditional oil lamp where, each postulant took part in lighting it, including number of brothers.
Br0. Chinnappan (the novice master) who is from India presented Jude Paradeep, and Bro. Mervyn Perera (who worked in Pakistan) presented Victor Ajiz and Zubair Yaqub to Bro. Chintana Nonis. Bro. Chintana, accepted the three young men, on behalf of Bro. Sunanda Alwis, who was away in Rome for the General Chapter. Bro. Chintana handed over the Postulants to Bro. Sumith Senadheera and Bro. Paul Bhatti, the master in charge of the Postulants, to initiate them into Marist way of life.
The Postulants were presented with a Cross, Bible and Water from the Rock, to nourish their lives as Christians and as Marists.
The liturgical celebrations ended with a simple fraternal gathering and dinner.
At the end, Bro. Paul Bhatti thanked all the Brothers, Novices and our Candidates for their presence and support.
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Bro. Paul Bhatti, FMS.
Master of Postulants