The Indian Priests, Sisters and Brothers Union

Un illustre ex alunno dell’Università Urbaniana, S. Em. Il Card. Simon Lourdusamy, nel 1950 fondò l’Unione dei Preti, Suore e Fratelli Indiani che raccoglie in associazione tutti i religiosi presenti a Roma originari del subcontinente indiano. Nel corso dei suoi 55 anni di storia, l’Unione ha raggiunto oggi oltre mille aderenti, di cui un buon numero studenti della nostra Università e ospiti dei Collegi di Propaganda. Ogni anno l’Unione pubblica un annuario contenente i riferimenti e le statistiche di tutti i suoi membri. Al nuovo Presidente dell’Unione don John Benito Anthony i migliori auguri per un fruttuoso lavoro di coordinamento e sviluppo delle attività dell’Unione.

Presentazione dell’IPSBU

At a glance....

"The Indian Priests, Sisters and Brothers Union" ( IPSBU), founded in the year 1950, is made up of priests, religious and seminarians from India, with His Eminence Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy as the Patrono AlI ecclesiastics from India, who find themselves in Rome, either for studies, or for some mission in the social, educational, archaeological or social communication fields, are ipso facto members of IPSBU Thus, besides the students, many of its members are distinguished Professors and Teachers in different Ecclesiastical Universities and Catholic schools, while others are working as formators in Seminaries and Convents, or are rendering some important service to their respective Congregations, even as Councillors and Superiors. Quite a few are also serving in the Secretariat of State ofVatican City, in different Congregations and PontificaI Councils of the Roman Curia, in the Vatican Radio, or are engaged in pastoral activities in the parishes of Rome.

The members ofIPSBU, whose motto is "SERVIRE DEO ET INDIAE ", come together for certain common celebrations and have for their protectors S1. Thomas the Apostle and S1. Francis Xavier. IPSBU "has primarily in view the object ofbringing together alI its members for religious, intellectual, cultural and national purposes. It desires to foster a friendly atmosphere in which members may have a better opportunity to be acquainted with one another and to share their views and experiences" ( cf Constitution of the Indian Priests' Union ). India, the birthplace of many ancient spiritual traditions, is renowned world-wide for her spirituality and philosophy. Despite the adverse influences of modernisation and secularisation, this great nation, known for her marvelIous spirit of religious tolerance and harmony, has a great capacity for constant renewal and pursuit of genuine human values. According to tradition, at the very beginnings of the Christian era, the Apostle Thomas brought the Good News of Christ to our land. Later, about the year 1500, missionaries from Portugal arrived, among them S1. Francis Xavier, who worked ever zealously to spread the message of Chris1. It is a great privilege for us, priests, religious, and seminarians from India, to live in this holy city, though for a short while, and to experience the life ofthe Church in Rome, which receives its priority due to the blood of the Apostles Peter and PauI, and which is, in the beautiful expression of S1. Ignatius of Antioch, "the Church that presides in charity". It is here that we encounter brothers and sisters from alI over the world who profess the same faith as we do. It is in this Eternal City that we leam to make our own, the words of S1. John Chrysostom, "qui Romae sedet, lndos scit membrum suum esse" (he who dwelIs in Rome knows those in the distant parts to be his members). It is here that we come to a deeperunderstanding of the unity of our faith and the Catholicity of the Church. It is here that we recognise the Church as a communion communities.

In different moments of history, according to different needs and historical situations, God inspires various holy Christian men and women to found religious communities, highlighting various dimensions of the Gospel, in the fields of education, medicine, justice, promotion of human rights, values of the human person, dignity of women, liberation of the poor and so on. Many of the Institutes for Consecrated Life find their Mother Houses in Rome. Living in the Church ofRome gives us a unique opportunity to witness the diverse charisms of the Spirit present in the Church, understood as the Body of Chris1. We are grateful to God for this rich and unique experience.

We, priests, sisters, and brothers from India, are privileged to enjoy the presence and support ofHis Excellency, the Honourable Himachal Som, the Ambassador of India to lta1y, and of His Excellency, the Honourable Praveen Lal Goyal, the Ambassador of India to the Holy See. Their availabUity and dedication to the cause of Indians here, which has always been a source of inspiration to IPSBU, deserve a special mention. We extend to them and to alI their collaborators at the Indian Embassy our sincere wishes for the very best in every endeavour of theirs.

India is blessed with a rich and varied heritage. This is true also of the Church in India, which not only enjoys the great spiritual riches of the diverse rites, but also identifies herself with the Indian cultures and speaks her numerous languages. The contribution of the Christian Community of India to our nation is spectacular. Christians do not even make up three percent of the total population of India, but their contribution to the welfare of the sub-continent has been immense. Even in the spate of persecution, the Church in India has in no way diminished Her service to humanity, and prays that the loving hands of the Almighty may enlighten the trouble-makers to walk in the path of righteousness and justice, following the principles of satya and ahimsa, shown to us by Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our nation.

The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II has proclaimed this year (2004-2005) as the "Year of the Eucharist" calling upon us to reflect profoundly on this most Holy Sacrament, "the source and summit of Christian life". Focussing on this Sacrament par excellence, from which the Church draws her life, will give us a new impetus to increase in holiness and live our vocation more relentlessly. Among the many celebrations in particular to the Church in India this year, the solemn Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St. Francis Xavier, the Patron of the Missions and of the East Indies, occupies a unique pIace. Pilgrims from all over will flock to pay their homage to the Saint who spent alI his energy trying to give Christ to others. Today, so many of our Indian brethren - priests, religious and laity - inspired by the zeal of this great Jesuit missionary, continue to carry the torch offaith and strive to build the Kingdom of God with outstanding zeal, even in the midst ofhostile circumstances. We raise our hearts in gratitude to the Almighty, who continues to shower His blessingson our great nation and on her people. As we live this scholastic year 2004-2005, let our one desire be that ofthe disciples who were journeying towards Emmaus: uMane nobiscum Domine !"