Province of South Asia

It was a solemn and memorable occasion in the life of Susai Manickam and in the annals of the Marist Brothers in India. The ceremony, in 7 July, was very carefully organized by Brothers in the Trichy community. Johnson was the master of ceremonies and Suresh conducted the parish choir. Saul and Raj along with Riyas, Jiji and the new aspirant Balan were hard at work attending to the minutest details of the ceremony. The Sisters of St. Anne decorated the parish church.

The ceremony began with the Vicar General of the Trichy Diocese, Very Rev. G. Thomas Paulsamy as the chief celebrant. The parish church was packed with relatives, friends, Religious Sisters and Brothers from the neighborhood, including all the Marist Brothers working in Tamil Nadu. It was noteworthy to see the presence of many priests from Sivagangai, Susai’s Diocese. Holy Mass began with a cultural dance. The whole ceremony was interspersed with choice Tamil and Indian cultural aspects. At the end of the Holy Mass, Br. Shanthi, the Provincial Superior of the South Asia Province expressed his gratitude for the presence of the faithful, including Susai’s father and family members (his mother is deceased). This was followed by a reception for Susai. Bro. Provincial, the Vice Provincial and Br. Godfrey were also welcomed by Susai’s family and the Parish Council of Trichy.

It was heartening to observe the diverse talents of the young Brothers working together as one, as Fr. Champagnat yearned for on his death bed, that the Brothers have “one mind and one heart.”

India foreshadows a bright future for the Marist world.