India

Website:

• http://lasaletteindia.com

Province Newsletters:

• Mysore Seminary Newsletter, August 2007 (PDF, 132KB)

Pictures:

• tour of Parakkadaqvu: http://web.mac.com/rongagne/India/Parakkadavu.html

(Top: Chapel at Parackavu; Bottom: new Bangalore residence)

Publications:

• SALETTE INDIA, La Salette Sadham, PB. No 22917, Electronics City PO., Kammasandra, Bangalore –, 561 229 SOUTH INDIA, Tel (91) 0811034259, Email: saletteindia@yahoo.com

A Brief Chronology of
the La Salette Matha Province, India:

• 1978: Father Efren Musngi proposed the plan for the recruitment of candidates from India. At the Council of the Congregation in Switzerland in July 1978, the plan was accepted and it was entrusted to the Philippine Vice Province.
• 1979: Fathers Orlando Sapuay and William Slight conducted the first vocation compaign in Kerala, India. Mathew Manjaly and Augustine Cheerakathil arrive in the Philippines as the first candidates for the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette.
• 1980: Fr. Rutiillio Mallilin recruites three candidates from India: Andrews Kolannoor, Jose Punnakunnel and Jose Kuzhinjalil.
• 1982: The Philippines attains provincial status. Antisirabe becomes a Province. Fr. Bill Slight recruites two more candidates from India: Job Callarackal and Joy Chukkananickal.
• 1985: Renewed and updated after Vatican II, the La Salette Constitutions are approved by Rome.
• 1987: Fr. Efren Tomas recruites four candidates from India: Thomas Vellappilly, William Kaliayadan, Jacob Vettathu and James Poovathingal.
• 1988: The two provinces in Madagascar merge into one. Fr. Jose Kuzhinjalil from India, trained in the Philippines, opens the mission in Vamanapuram, Trivandrum, Kerala (India).
• 1989: Alex Valummel, Jolly Ayyamkolil and Daison Areeparambil joined La Salette. Fathers Andrews Kollannoor and Jose Punnakunnel joined the mission in India. The minor seminary in Aloor, India is founded.
• 1990: August 17: The first La Salette house, named La Salette Bhavan at Parakkadavu, was inaugurated by Rt. Rev. Dr. James Pazhayattil.
• 1996: the 150th anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady at La Salette. A year of celebration throughout the world. Theological Studies for La Salette Missionaries begins in India.
• 1997: The second house of La Salette in India was inaugurated and named La Salette Sadhan, reserved mainly for those in philosophical studies.
• 2000: The third house of La Salette Missionaries, La Salette Nikethan, was inaugurated by Superior General Isidro Perrin, M.S. The postulancy program begins in India.
• 2001: October: the La Salette Community in India is raised to the status of a Region and named La Salette Matha Region. Fr. Mathew Manjaly became its first Regional Superior. The Novitiate Program begins in India. All levels of formation are now done in India.
• 2002: The Council of the Congregation was held in Bangalore, India. (April 7-20). Aug. 31 - La Sadhan, Bangalore was raised to a Regional House.
• 2003: June: Opened an Education Center, La Salette Vidya Nikethan, for the poor village children in Hunsur, Mysore.
• 2005: The Second Regional Chapter was held on January 5-12. Fr. Mathew Manjaly was re-elected as Regional Superior.
• 2007: On Jan. 24-26, the First Provincial Chapter was held. Fr. Andrews Kollannoor was elected as the first Provincial of the La Salette Matha Province.

(compiled by Fr. Rojan Cheriyadan, MS)

The History of La Salette Matha Region
by its first Regional Superior,
Fr. Mathew Manjaly, M.S.:

The La Salette mission in India was initiated by the Philippine Province. Fr. Efren Musngi, Superior of the Vice Province, was designated as one of the two delegates of the Association of the Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines to attend the Conference of the Major Superiors of Asia, convoked by the Congregation for Religious and held in Bangalore, India (Feb. 26-March 5, 1978). This meeting was presided over by Cardinal Pironio, head of the Congregation for Religious. Late Cardinal Mar Antony Padiyara was the President of the Association of Major Religious Superiors from India.

In this meeting Fr. Musngi realized that India is rich in vocations to the priesthood and religious missionary life, especially the state of Kerala. Fr. Musngi consulted his dream of bringing some candidates from India and train them in the Philippines and send them back to India and establish the La Salette presence in India.

As a followup to the meeting, he came to Kerala. Then, at the Council of the Congregation in Switzerland in July 1978, Fr. Musngi presented the proposed plan for the recruitment of candidates from India and to bring them to Philippines. The task was approved and then entrusted to the Philippine Vice Province.

In 1978 and 1979, Fr. Orlando Sapuay and Fr. William Slight conducted vocation campaigns in Kerala, India. On June 18, 1979, the first candidates (now Frs. Mathew Manjaly & Augustine Cheerakathil) arrived in the Philippines. In 1980, Fr. Ruttillio Mallillin recruited three more candidates (now Frs. Jose Kuzhinjaly, Joseph Punnakunnel and Andrews Kollannoor). In 1982, two more candidates were recruited by Fr. Bill Slight (now Frs. J. Callarakal & Joy Chukananikal).

Then in 1987, Fr. Efren Tomas came to India and recruited four more candidates (now Frs.Thomas Vellapilly, James Poovathingal, Jacob Vettathu and William Kaliyadan). In 1989, Alex Valummel and Jolly Ayyamkolil joined La Salette. Cyriac Mattathilanikal and Joby Cheradai followed in 1990. Benny Thadathilkunnel and Antony Palayoor joined in 1991 and in 1992 Jose Muttathan and Job Alugula left for the Philippines for further studies.

In August 1989 La Salette began its presence in India by taking care of a parish given entrusted to them by Bishop Dr. Jacob Acharuparambil (Bishop of Trivundrum, Latin diocese) by one of our La Salette priests Fr. J. Kuzinjaly. At the same time La Salette also began a Minor Seminary in India, in Aloor Irinjalakuda (residing with the diocesan seminarians) for one year and Fr. Joseph Punnakunnel was in charge of this program.

In 1990 La Salette was able to purchase a house and property of their own with the special help of Fr. John kollannoor, C.M.I., from the C.M.C. Sisters and with the blessing and approval of the Bishop of Irinjalakuda, Rt. Rev. Dr. James Pazhayattil. In this house La Salette began their own Minor Seminary Formation (candidates after their S.S.L.C.) of which Frs. Joseph Punnakunnel and Fr. Andrews Kollannoor were in charge.

In October 1995 the La Salette Missionaries purchased a parcel of land in Bangalore in view of establishing a Philosophy House, which became a reality by 2001. This was made possible with the special support of the General Council (Fr. Isidro Perin and team) and the generous financial support from the North American Province and also special financial support from the Italian Province and the generous help and assistance from the congregation at large.

In 1992 Philosophy studies began in India in Dharmaram College, Bagalore. In 1996 Bros. Paul Thoppilan, Johny Vadakan, Jose Muttathan and James Kalliath began their theological studies in Dharmaram, Bangalore, India.

Later in 2000, the postulancy (pre-novitiate) program began. In 2001 the Novitiate also began in the new house in Hunsur, Mysore, India. In that way, by 2001 all levels of formation were finally established in India.

In October 2001 the La Salette community in India became a Region and the first regional chapter was in October 2001. Fr. Mathew Manjaly was elected as the first Regional Superior with Fr. Alex Valummel as Vicar and Fr. Joseph Punnakunnel as Councilor and Treasurer. The Region was named
LA SALETTE MATHA REGION.

As of August 2004, the La Salette Matha Region has 28 priests (perpetually professed), 11 scholastic brothers in theology studies of whom five are approaching perpetual profession and fianlly ordination in 2005. We are expecting four novices and 6 postulants in 2005. We have 25 students in philosophy (3 years) and about 55 aspirant seminarians in college level in our minor seminaries.

In 2003 June La Salette opened an education mission for the poor village children in Hunsur, Mysore (all children are non-Christians). The regional office of the LSM region is in Bangalore, along with the philosophy study house. LSM region is ready to open a house, La Salette Ashram in Mananthavady, North Kerala for family counseling and renewal program by January 2005. The LSM region will have its Second regional pre-chapter and chapter from January 5-12, 2005.

With Our Blessed Mother Mary at our side and with the generous assistance and support of the congregation and many other generous persons, we are sure that we can accomplish great things in India and elsewhere as the La Salette Missionaries move forward.