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Editor: The La Salette Missionaries are a worldwide order of religious men. From Mary’s own words, “You will make this (message) known to all my people”, we are happy to serve in about 25 countries. Each year, new members enter our religious order when they complete their novitiate. Our La Salette Rule describes the purpose of the novitiate:
Fr. Sibi Kunninu, M.S., Novice Master for the Indian
La Salette Province, with his latest class of novices
The novitiate increases the candidate's understanding of the mystery of Christ and the role of Mary so that his whole life may be imbued with the spirit of the Gospel. It leads the candidate to appreciate and live the religious life and to be penetrated by the mystery of reconciliation and the relevance of the teaching put forth in the La Salette event.
It provides a setting for prayer, reflection and study, an intensive experience of community life and formative apostolic activity. Thus the candidate will be equipped to commit himself freely and maturely to the life and mission of the Congregation. (La Salette Rule, #34)
At my request, Fr. Sibi Kunninu, M.S., Novice Master for the La Salette Indian Province, was kind enough to send me information on this year’s Novitiate Class who recently took their first vows. I hope you enjoy meeting these young devoted men who will, by the grace of God, spend their lives making Mary’s message known as priests in India and elsewhere in God’s world.
This is the first of two sets of profiles for your enjoyment.
What is your name?
My name is Brother Anit Jacob Mavathara, M.S.
What is your family background?
I was born in the city of Bharananganam, in the state of Kerala, in the southwestern tip of India. My father’s name is Jacob Antony, a farmer, and my mother’s name is Merly Jacob, a full-time housewife. I have two siblings: Anish Antony Jacob and Rose Mary Jacob, a nurse.
What was your first contact with the La Salette Missionaries?
It was my cousin brother, Anil Plathottam, who was in the La Salette Seminary, who introduced me to the La Salettes. So after my High School, I decided to join in their Congregation. Fr. Jose Muttathan, M.S., my vocation promoter, came to my home and explained more about the congregation, its charism and mission.
What attracted you to the La Salette Missionaries?
The tears of mother Mary attracted me to join in their congregation. For me her tears represent her love towards the humanity. It is because of her great love that she weeps for our sinful world.
What do you particularly like in Mary’s message at La Salette?
When Mary appeared at La Salette she gave us the nine messages of reconciliation. Among them the last message, “make this known to all my people”. This in particular attracted me – that I could share in that mission thereby giving great meaning to my life on the earth. I believe that I am chosen by God to partake in his mission – to establish a reconciled world.
What are your feelings about taking your first vows?
At the end of my Canonical Year of Novitiate, I feel so happy and joyful because one of my long-awaited dreams has been accomplished; that is, making my first profession of vows. By taking these vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience, I believe that I will be able to follow the path of Jesus in order to continue his mission in this world. As I am called to be a La Salette Missionary, I hope that taking these vows will help me to become a better instrument of mother Mary to further establish a reconciled world where Justice and Peace can take hold more strongly each and every day.
What is your name?
My name is Brother Jesbin S. Pulavelil, M.S.
What is your family background?
I was born in the town of Kuravilangadu, in the state of Kerala. My father’s name is Sebastian Joseph and he is a farmer. My mother’s name is Mary Sebastian and she is a full-time housewife. I have two siblings: Jimmy Sebastian and Jens Sebastian.
What was your first contact with the La Salette Missionaries?
After completing my College studies in 2007, in order to fulfill my dream to be a religious priest, I decided to join with La Salette congregation. By the grace of God through, Fr. Alex Valummel, M.S., I came to know about La Salette Missionaries, and with his advice I contacted Fr. Jacob Vettathu, M.S., who was the vocation promoter at that time. With great joy he accepted my request and I was granted admission to our community.
What attracted you to the La Salette Missionaries?
I am really attracted by the way of life and the fidelity of our Missionaries to the La Salette event and mission. In a special way I am especially interested in our never-ending charism of “reconciliation” which has a central place of importance in the life of every follower of Christ.
What do you particularly like in Mary’s message at La Salette?
I am especially drawn to her words: “Come near, my children, do not be afraid”. These strengthening words are my encouragement and motivation to move forward courageously in my vocation. I am sure that Blessed Mother wants me to work for her Son fearlessly by her motherly concern and love for me. As long as she intercedes for me in heaven, I need not worry to live my radical way of following Christ amid this consumerist world of ours.
What are your feelings about taking your first vows?
I am really overcome with joy in these moments of preparation for professing my first vows. Through this Canonical Year of Novitiate I have come to discover more deeply the importance of the Evangelical Counsels to the life of a religious. The gradual growth in my faith that I received during this special year is certainly a result of the dedicated support of my formaters and my community members. I believe that by the grace of God and with the support of my fellow La Salettes, I will continue to be committed and dedicated to the spirit of our congregation.
| The novices praying together in their chapel |
What is your name?
My name is Brother Jobins Jose Veluthedathu Parambil, M.S.
What is your family background?
I was born in the city of Nadavayal, in the state of Kerala. My father’s name is V. M Jose and he is a farmer. My mother’s name is Shiny Jose and she is a housewife. My sibling’s name is Robin Jose (B.com).
What was your first contact with La Salette Missionaries?
During High School, I came to know about Fr. Jose Muttathan, a La Salette Missionary, who was assigned as the Assistant Parish Priest in my home parish for a year and a half. Through him, I was able to come to learn more about his congregation for the first time. Secondly, within our parish territory, the La Salette Missionaries marked their esteemed presence through establishing the La Salette Ashram Community in the year 2005, the same year I completed my High school education. Through both these influences I became attracted to the La Salette Missionaries.
What attracted you to the La Salette Missionaries?
The Marian devotion has become a central part of my life as a Catholic believer. Thus, I was also well rooted in reverence of Mary from the strong influence of my family. So I had a special devotion to mother Mary. I was delighted when I heard about the La Salette Missionaries because they are founded on Marian devotion and her La Salette message.
What do you particularly like in Mary’s message at La Salette?
I love her opening words: “Come near, my dear children, do not be afraid”. It was a maternal invitation made by Blessed Virgin Mary to approach her more closely. Mary, by her encouraging words, draws people who might be somewhat hesitant but nevertheless desire conversion. I consider this as an outpouring of her motherly affection and love by her invitation and encouragement to fear not and draw closer to her.
What are your feelings about taking your first vows?
For me religious life is a call from our Heavenly Father to conform myself to Christ through the Evangelical Counsels of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience. The profession of these counsels becomes the guidepost for my journey as a religious to perfection, the perfection to which Christ calls us. This is the same life which Christ lived. Thus to follow Christ radically and faithfully, the Evangelical Counsels are helpful tools in following him.
What is your name?
My name is Brother Joemon Joy Edakkala, M.S.
What is your family background?
I was born in the town of Naduvattom, in the state of Kerala. My father’s name is Joy and he works as an overseer in a brick factory. My mother’s name is Marina and she is a housewife. My sibling is Jojo and she is a private employee.
What was your first contact with the La Salette Missionaries?
After I completed High School, I first came into contact with a La Salette Missionary, Fr. Jose Muttathan, M.S., who was also my vocation promoter. He introduced to me about the La Salette Congregation, its origin and mission. This was all quite new information for me.
What attracted you to the La Salette Missionaries?
I would say that it is Blessed Virgin Mary who initially attracted me to the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. Secondly, I was impressed by its charism of reconciliation that was entrusted to Maximin and Melanie by Mary herself at La Salette.
What do you particularly like in Mary’s message at La Salette?
I am so touched by her words: “How long a time I have suffered for you”. They remind me of my sins and those of the world. Therefore as her child, it is my duty and obligation to console mother Mary as well as to support her by being reconciled. Perhaps through my own prayers and penance, I can help to make up for the sins of humanity.
What are your feelings about taking your first vows?
I would like to consider my first profession as the annunciation event of my religious life. For the reason that, as in the life of Mary, this is my opportunity to say ‘yes’ to Jesus that I am ready to live his life through the Evangelical Counsels of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience. I hope and pray that all the people who see me may be able to experience that same relationship with Jesus who lived on this earth so long ago. And I am glad to say, along with St. Paul, that “I live, but no longer I, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20).
Editor: I hope you enjoyed meeting these young men, newly professed members of the Indian Province of the La Salette Missionaries. Please pray for them that they will be faithful to their vocation and to Mary’s mandate to “make (her) message known to all her people.”
The novices outside their formation house