Superior General had met all the students in the houses of formation, addressing
them with words of encouragement, and answering to their questions. The
impression received is that, generally speaking, they are good communities
where a good religious life is conducted. With regard to the mission, it was
found that, generally, all confreres are giving example of good work, solidarity
with
the poor,
dedicated Guanellian spirit, and personal involvement.
A sore is the economy: very little is done to provide incentives for the
“local income”. We have insisted in all communities on the necessity of taking
some serious steps in finding alternative sources to the only one that comes from
the General Council. Some houses are working in this regard.
Poonamallee – a small American group which maintains about twenty stu-
dents of theology is being formed; the DGRC, succeeds to get some grants from
the Government, even though it is very little, but there is good hope for the future.
In Bangalore, other than the good income that comes from renting the old house
to the Orione Fathers, a joint venture agreement was signed for the construction
of houses and shops, which should bring a good income in the near future.
Problems regarding restructuring and new building
* The project of giving away a portion of land in Bangalore went ahead.
A contract was signed which gives to us the use of 30% of the whole area
which will be built completely at the second party’s expense, who will be in
charge also of the expenses regarding the changing of the land from green area
to construction area. On that land we will build a home for the aged and the
surrounding fence.
The future income should be about 10 lahks for every month (20.000 Euro).
* Reconstruction project of Vatluru: The work have begun and it will be
concluded in July. The funds for this work are already sent in the budget that
will end in March.
* Project-New Center for DGRC. The archbishop of Madras blessed the
foundation stone on 4 February. The work will begin in April, and the funds will
be sent with the new Budget.
* Land in Sivagangai: When we went to Madurai to visit Father Panneer
and our property, we went to Sivagangai to visit a land and a small facility
already functioning. The founder, a diocesan priest, and the local bishop would
like to hand over it to us. It is a land of 40 acres for the major part uncultivated
and abandoned. There is scarcity of water, and is situated rather outside the city.
It could be used for a center for rehabilitation of the disabled (through their work
in the fields), but it is not suitable for a home for the aged, and the least for a
seminary. After the visit, we met the bishop who was very gentle and agreeable,
and he placed in the agenda of his next Council the discussion about the
formalities of the transfer of the property. From our part, we have requested a
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complete donation of at least two acres of land for the religious house, and a
lease at least for 50 years of the remaining land. We do not know about the
result, but we have informed the bishop through email to send to the Superior
General a brief synthesis of what was decided by his council. We
have also made
known to them that this matter will be handed over to the decision of the new
provincial council.
* Land of Nagamalai and Achampathu. Father Alfonso Crippa remained
very much struck by the 3 acres of land at Nagamalai, where a seminary has to
be built together with a visible sign of our mission. An architect of Madurai
made the blueprints. It is a project that seemed to us at first very costly. We will
study it well when we will have in our hand the estimate.
It was suggested that to
meet the expenses of this new building, it would be appropriate to sell a part of
the land at Achampathu (a little ahead of Nagamalai). From the time it was
bought, the price has increased to 10 times more.
* Vatluru Parish in Andhra Pradesh. The Superior General and the bishop
have signed a contract for the parish administration. Unfortunately, nothing new
about the possibility of a land for a seminary.
* Parish of Kumbakonam: Here also, a contract was signed for the parish
administration. The buildings are primitive: there is a simple shed of tin sheets
corresponding to the half size of the future Church. The local bishop has said he
does not have any funds. The project includes the construction of the church and
of the parish house. We have told the parish priest to prepare a project, and to
request the funds, for the churches in mission territory, from the Propagation of
Faith. Let us see if we could do something. The bishop confirmed to lease a land
of the diocese a little far from the church for a good period of time, but we could
do nothing in concrete in this regard. In this case, too, we leave to the new
Provincial Council the matter to study the opportunity.
* Parish of T.G. Anna Nagar: the Superior General showed great
disappointment in seeing for the first time the chapel of St. Anthony, that was
elevated to parish church. It is situated at the crossroad of two big roads, without
any space for a possible development. From the discussion with the local
confreres, we understood that they do not want to leave the place. The bishop
should be the one that should buy some place else at least one acre of land for
the new church and for a small parish house and office. However, it seems that
the confreres working there do not show any intention to insist on that with the
bishop. The whole matter should be taken into consideration seriously by the
new Provincial Council. At the end, a common decision should be taken.
Philippines
We reached Manila on 22 February on time.
Accompanied by Father Luigi
De Giambattista and Father Battista Omodei, we were in the house within an
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