by Br. James Donegan 

Our Province has been in a fraternal collaboration with Holy Trinity Province, Karnataka, India, for decades. We provide financial support to our brothers’ apostolates in Karnataka. Our Holy Trinity brothers serve with distinction in the Province as parish priests, as hospital chaplains, in formation, and in mission in our delegations in Guam and Okinawa.

Our brothers of Holy Trinity Province gathered April 22-26 at their tenth ordinary provincial chapter at Shanti Sadhana (Franciscan Institute of Spirituality, India), the Capuchins’ study and research center for Franciscan formation in Bangalore. Fr. Lawrence Sousai Nathan, a general councilor of the Order from the province of Southern Tamil Nadu, India, presided. The theme of the chapter was “Rooted in Faith, Journeying in Hope, Driven by Love, Anchoring Into Capuchin Franciscan Charism.”

The chapter began on April 21 with a candlelight procession, an opening prayer to invoke the Spirit, Eucharist, and introductions. The second day, April 22, was taken up with provincial reports.

On the third day, April 23, the brothers elected their provincial council. Fr. Robin Victor D’Souza was elected the provincial minister.

The remaining days were taken up with addresses from representatives of circumscriptions with which Karnataka is in fraternal collaboration, including the Italian provinces of Emilia-Romagna and Foggia; reports from Karnataka’s missions, including the Delegation of Turkey; and discussion of the chapter agenda. 

As the mission director of the Province of St. Mary, I gave an address about Holy Trinity Province’s collaboration with our Province. Fr. Maxim D’Souza, provincial delegate of the Delegation of Japan, also gave a report to the chapter. Additionally, the friars heard reports from their confreres who are responsible for custodies and delegations of their province.

Resolutions and recommendations were taken up on the last day of the chapter, April 26.

We congratulate and pray for the newly elected brothers. We thank Fr. John Alwyn Dias, the outgoing provincial minister, for his friendship and collaboration with our Province.

We also take a moment to thank all the Holy Trinity Province friars who serve faithfully around the Province and in our missions:

• Fr. Vika Dominic Chishi, delegation of Japan
• Fr. Augustine D’Souza, guardian, Infant Jesus Residence, Port Jefferson, N.Y.; chaplain, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, Smithtown, N.Y.
• Fr. Claver Anthony D’Souza, delegation of Japan
• Fr. Johnson D’Souza, delegation of Japan
• Fr. Maxim D’Souza, provincial delegate,delegation of Japan
• Fr. Norbert D’Souza, assistant director of post-novitiate formation, Jamaica Plain, Mass.
• Fr. Anil Silvano Fernandes, delegation of Star of the Sea
• Fr. Denis Fernandes, delegation of Japan
• Fr. Joseph Francis, fraternal vicar, Infant Jesus Residence, Port Jefferson, N.Y. ; chaplain, St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson, N.Y.
• Fr. Divya Karunesh, parochial vicar, Our Lady of Sorrows/St. Mary Parish, New York City
• Fr. Vincent Praveen Kumar, second councilor, delegation of Japan
• Fr. Robert Lasrado, guardian and parochial vicar, St. Joseph Parish, New Paltz, N.Y.
• Fr. Stephen Claud Mascarenhas, delegation of Star of the Sea
• Fr. Poul Karun Mascarenhas, delegation of Japan
• Fr. Hubert Sangtam, delegation of Japan
• Fr. Naveen Joseph Sequeira, first councilor, delegation of Japan
• Fr. Henry Vas, chaplain, St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson, N.Y.

Let us pray for our brothers of the Karnataka Province as they make their efforts to be renewed in our shared Capuchin Franciscan charism both in the chapter and beyond, just as we strive for renewal in our lives in our own Province!