The First Profession in India District

After around eleven years here in India, the SCJs are trying to change the history and face of the congregation. Ever ready to respond to call of God, 13 young Indians did their first Religious Profession in the Congregation on eve of 1st of May2005.
The District of India had already had decided that in the coming year the First Religious Profession will be on 1st of May. All these Young Brothers were doing their Novitiate for the last one-year. And the last week of their Novitiate was in silence of retreat under the guidance of Fr. Heinz Lau scj, the Novice master. And the day arrived with many good well wishers and Friends and the members of the Congregation.
The program was begun at 5 PM. Fr. Martin Van Ooij, SCJ, the District Superior was the main celebrant. And many con-celebrants were there too. And after a short introduction to the Mass by Fr. Martin, and followed by the readings. And then Fr. Sebastian read the Gospel. And Fr. Heinz invited the candidate to come forward and Fr. Beppe, gave a short introduction about each of them and they all answered one by one " Here I am Lord, I come to do Your Will"
This followed by the sermon By Fr. Martin. A very special and touching words should be resounding in the heart of all the Newly professed Brothers and all who attended the Program. Because it was very meaningful and real sermon. His words were mainly about a real SCJ Religious vocation. Saying that we need to find a new ways to do the SCJ mission here in India. The call to go to North of our nation remains our Priority. And " Going to the People" will be our concern here India. As real Missionary children of Fr. Dehon His invitation should resound in our ears. A very realistic understanding of mission in India. At the end of his sermon he read the letter from General Superior. He called all the SCJs to be proud of being a member of the Congregation. And you are all belong a big family of SCJ from all over the World and even in India itself, be simply proud that you belong to SCJ- a very good invitation to the Congregation.
After the meaningful sermon the Novices came forward and pronounced their determination to follow Christ more closely in the form of pronunciation of Vows. And Fr. Martin accepted their vows in the name of the Church to the Congregation.
After receiving their cassock they went out to wear and by the time there came eleven SCJ brothers to renew their vows. And this eleven 9 of them were renewing their vows for the second time and two of them for the first time renewal.

And the program was followed by the offertory and the mass continued and after the receiving of the Holy Communion the Newly professed brothers and the Novice master sang a beautiful song. And Fr. Heinz said a very beautiful way of expressing his gratitude to all who were helping this one-year of Novitiate. His words were simply expressing thanks from the bottom of his heart. It was very emotional to hear his heart touching words. And Bro. Michael Augustine too came forward to say thanks to all who were on their way to the front of alter to do their first religious vows. And with a solemn blessing to all the mass was ended. Fr. Martin said " the Mass is ended but the life begins".
Then the cutting of cake and started the dinner. It was very much to see how much people of Numbur loved our Novitiate and the brothers, many people were there to participate in the ceremony. And all had a very beautiful time in the house and all were done in a well arranged in a very beautiful way. And at 10 in the night the program got over, but then 13 new little Religious Flowers were born to the garden of the Lord.
As I look at this things there was a very silent man who did all these miracles with the Lord and that is none other than Fr. Heinz Lau SCJ, the first missionary from Germany to Indian District. It is his saintly which touched the 13 of our novices to dedicate their life to Lord. A very big word of thanks to the Province of Germany for sending Fr. Heinz for our district for one year. This was the sabbatical year of Fr. Sebastian, which gave Fr. Heinz an opportunity to come and be the novice master of this bath and I believe that he did his part in a very special and touching and life changing way. Thank you Fr. Heinz and Dear Fr. Beppe you all will be rewarded a hundred fold for your selfless service by the Lord.
Among the 13 brothers who did their first Religious Profession, three of them will be going to do their regency in our three of the formation houses of which two are in Kerala and one here in Andhra Predesh. And the other 10 brothers will start their Theological studies here in Eluru community. And all of them and us require your valuable prayers and support. And the grate miracles can happen through your prayers. Why you are not proud to be in part with Lord in doing miracle for us???
As a conclusion I would like to share two points about vocation. One from the SCJ Rule of Life and the life story of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
To express and actualize
Our full consecration to God,
And to unite our whole life
With oblation of Christ
We profess the evangelical counsels
Through the vows of consecrated celibacy,
Of poverty and of obedience
Which free us for true love
In accord with the spirit of the Beatitudes.
(Constitutions No.40).

In 1946 I was going to Darjeeling to make my retreat. It was on that train in heard the cal to give up all the follow Him into the slums, to serve Him among the poorest of the poor.
I knew it was His will and that I had to follow Him. There was no doubt that it was going to be His work.
It was a call with my vocation. It was a second calling. It was a vocation to give up even Loreto, where I was very happy, to go out in the streets to serve the poorest of the poor.
Prepared By Sanil Micheal SCJ