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Where there is less of our will, there is more of God’s will. (SFS)
- St. Francis de Sales
"I persist always in telling you that you must serve God where you are and do what you are doing. Have good courage to cultivate this vineyard, contributing your little effort to the spiritual good of the souls that the Lord has reserved for Himself. Do not be surprised if the fruits do not yet appear because if you do the work of God patiently, your labor will not be “in vain in the Lord."
- St. Francis de Sales
"The virtue of devotion is nothing other than a general inclination and readiness of the soul to do what it knows to be agreeable to God. It is the joyful expansion of the heart spoken of in the psalms: “I have run in the way of your commandments since you have set me free.” Ordinary people walk along the path of God; but devout people run, and if they are very devout, they fly."
- St. Francis de Sales -
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At a glance ...
Vice Provincial Fr. Tomy Joseph Puliyanampattayil, MSFS Province Councillors Fr. Davis Chackaleckel (Councilor and Admonitor) Fr. John Peter Arul (Councilor) Fr. Mathew Elayadathamadam (Advisor) Fr. Sunny Punnakuzhiyil (Advisor) Fr. Joseph Pottemel (Bursar) -
Fr. Tomy Joseph Puliyanampattayil, msfs - Vice Provincial
Dear Confreres,
Beloved Brothers, As we are celebrating the feast of our heavenly patron, may I use this opportunity to wish every one of you a blessed feast of St. Francis de Sales. May he intercede for us and all his spiritual sons and daughters. May he show us the light on our path that we can become effective and productive in our ministry as his sons. Happy feast to all!Blessing of the Fransalian House Loganville, Georgia!
The Fransalian House was blessed along with a Eucharistic Celebration on May 1, 2018 on the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker; by Fr. Tomy Puliyanampattayil, the Vice-Provincial of the USA Vice-Province in the presence of Fransalians, other priests, and Fransalian Associates from the Atlanta Area. It was a great gathering of unity, fellowship, and Fransalian spirit. We had our priests traveling from Tennessee to be part of the celebration. There was also a delicious dinner after the ceremony. A word of thanks to all the participants, especially to Fr. Joseph Pottemmel, the Bursar of the Vice-Province for his hard work, and the members of the Fransalian Community of Atlanta. Thank you and God bless you, dear confreres, for the good job!
New Parishes Entrusted to the Vice-Province on a Long-Term Basis
Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas: The Archdiocese of San Antonio and the U.S.A. Vice-Province of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales has entered into a memorandum of pastoral understanding to take care of the following parishes on a long-term basis beginning from July 1, 2018. Fr. Anthony Bonela has been appointed as the pastor of both the parishes and the mission. Fr. I. Jesuraj who will be arriving as a designated member for the U.S.A. Vice-Province from Pune Province will serve as the associate pastor.
The Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida and the U.S.A. Vice-Province of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales has entered into a memorandum of pastoral understanding to take care of the pastoral needs of Holy Spirit Catholic Church on a longterm basis beginning from July 1, 2018. Fr. Amarnath Nagoth from Vishakhapatnam Province who has been functioning as an Administrator is appointed as the pastor of the parish.A hearty welcome to our confreres for pastoral ministry in the USA
• Fr. Arokiaselvam Nithiyaselvam from Southeast India Province has arrived to the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee to work in the Alexian Village in Chattanooga, TN.
Fr. Francis Thadathil from Northeast India Province has arrived to the Diocese of LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
• Fr. A. Dharmaraj from Southeast India Province has arrived to the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana
• Fr. Pankairaj from Southwest India Province will be arriving next month to the Diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
• Fr. Nusi Konda Reddy and Fr. Nannnam Ratna Swamy from Vizhakapatham Province have arrived to the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas
Fransalian Annual Retreat 2019The next annual retreat for the Fransalians will be held from Monday, September 9, to Friday, September 13, 2019. It will be animated by Reverend Dr. Joe Boenzi, SDB. More details about the retreat animator will be available soon. Please make sure that you do not pick up holidays, pilgrimages, or any other commitments during this time so that all of us can come together as a Fransalian family and spend some quality time with one another. Hereafter we will try to keep the annual retreat in the month of September. It is also an important month for us Fransalians as we are celebrating our founder’s day on September 30, our patroness’ day on September 15, and the nativity of Blessed Mother on September 8. Let’s keep this month for spiritual renewal and family bonding.
Fransalians 20/30 Master Plan: Atlanta, USA:
(A master plan that can be achieved within 20-30 years, approximately by 2045-2050) GOAL: Establishing a “Fransalian Campus” in the existing property of 14 acres of land on Rosebud Road Loganville-Atlanta with the following physical developments: 1. MSFS Provincial House with 5 administrative offices: 2. DeSales Clergy Home: 3. Spirituality & Retreat Center: 4. Chapel for 24 Hours of Perpetual Adoration 5. Facility for Spiritual Direction & Confessions (retired priests can be made available) 6. Fransalian Counseling Center 7. Fransalian Media & Publication Center 8. DeSales & Mermier Research & Study Center -
About Us
Our mission in USA is growing. In the beginning of 1996, we were only seven priests in pastoral ministry in USA. Today, sixteen years later, we are 49 priests in pastoral ministry in different dioceses in thirteen states in USA.
Brief History:
Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales have been present in USA for more than 50 years. Confreres from Europe, England, India and USA have been in ministry in parishes in USA during this period of time. There has always been a desire to implant the Congregation in USA. Attempts had been made as early as 1935 to start some sort of mission in the country, but without success.
In 1990, the American Mission of the Congregation became an autonomous mission directly under the authority of the Superior General with Fr. Ken Bayer as Mission Superior.
In 1996, Fr. Emile Mayoraz, then Superior General, commissioned Fr. Augustine Tharappel, from the South West province, to establish a ministry in USA, which was unique to the Fransalian charism in view of raising the then American Mission to a Region. Fr. Augustine began his ministry in the Diocese of Tyler as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in May 1996. After eighteen months of pastoral ministry, he established Wellspring, Fransalian Center for Spirituality, on January 24, 1998.
Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, Superior General, invited Fr. Augustine Tharappel, Coordinator of Fransalians in USA, to a joint meeting of the General council and the provincials on January 3, 2007. At this meeting after prayerful discernment, a unanimous decision was made to raise the status of the present American Mission to that of a Region of the congregation under the direct authority of the Superior General, thus form the “Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales, USA Region” henceforth referred to as “MSFS USA Region.”
On Tuesday, July 3, 2007, on the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, the “Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales, USA Region” was inaugurated and Fr. Augustine Tharappel was installed as the first Regional Superior during the celebration of the Eucharist with Most Rev. Alvaro Corrada, the Bishop of Tyler, officiating.
There are 11 permanent members in the Region and 42 short-term members, organized into eight communities. The Region has a house and property in Snellville, Georgia in the diocese of Atlanta, Georgia and one in Whitehouse, Texas, Wellspring Spirituality Center, in the diocese of Tyler, Texas.July 3rd 2013 the feast day of St Thomas the apostle was a great day for the Congregation of the Missionaries of St Francis de sales and in particular for the members who are working in the United States of America because the existing MSFS USA Region was raised to the status of a Vice Province. The newly elected Vice Provincial, Fr. Augustine Tharappel was installed as Vice Provincial on that day in the presence of a number of confers and a large crowd.
Key Apostolates:
The priests of the USA Region are involved in many different aspects of ministry. Our fifty two priests are involved in pastoral ministry, counseling, spiritual direction and hospital ministry. Several of our Fransalian priests preach parish missions and hold retreats for both individuals and groups. Prayer and contemplation is a daily part of the Fransalian way of life, and our missionaries teach others the contemplative way of life.