Brothers in India
In a country like India, the presence of Marist Brothers although seems to be a drop of water in a mighty ocean, is dynamic and remains a living witness to Jesus and his mission since the beginning of Marist missionary enterprise in the country. Although the number of Marist Brothers in the country is quantitatively less, this tiny minority of young and energetic Brothers are seeds of Marist missionary enterprise sown in the land which spans many different cultures, languages and religions. Their lives and their experiences mirror the ongoing struggles both in doing God’s mission and living an authentic community life.
The Genesis of Marist Mission in India:
In 1968 and even before, Marist Brothers from Sri-Lanka came over to Trichy in India for their secular studies. It was the time when they were enjoying the adventure of living in an unknown place with English as the medium of communication and doing their studies in an esteemed college, namely, St. Joseph’s College, Trichy, the idea of founding a Marist community blossomed in the mind of Mr. Louis Joseph who then proposed it to Br. Francis Silva who was his room-mate at the College.
That tiny seed of Mr. Louis’ humble proposal was carefully conceived, watered and cared by the Brothers of Sri-Lanka and Br. Paul Ambrose, the Councillor-General for the Marist Asian regions as they started Marist mission in Trichy on 21st June 1974 with four boys, namely, Devadoss Chinnappan and Isaac Chinnappan from Varadarajanpet, Kulandaisamy from Thennur, and Sebastian Lazar from Vizappllam.
Although the Province of Ceylon (now Sri-Lanka) was a great support to establish Marist mission in India, later, the political upheavals in Sri-Lanka, especially the ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese and Tamils, did not allow the missionary enterprise to develop and, as a result, the Brothers had to return to their respective countries. On the advise of Br. Clifford, the Provincial of Sri-Lanka at that time, the General Administration assumed responsibility for India which later came under the care of Australia. Today, India is one of countries in the South Asia Province under the leadership of Br. Sunanda Alwish, with great potential for missionary activity and with many young Brothers both in formation and on mission. The Brothers today look at those who have been part of their Marist journey with sincerity of heart and with full of gratitude and respect.
A Timeline:
1968 – Br. Francis Silva and Louis Joseph discuss the possibility of founding Marist India.
1971 – Br. Paul Ambrose meets Louis Joseph and four boys.
1974 – Br. Sri Lankan Brothers help commence the Indian Mission. First four juniors.
1975 – Postulancy at Ramilinga Nagar. Br. Raphael Navillod. Kumaran plot purchased.
1977 – Novitiate begins at No. 1, VNP Street, Trichy.
1978 – First Indian Brothers professed, 11.06.1978. Puthur
Scholasticate in Sri-Lanka
Novitiate at Arravangadu. Brs. Florentinus and Chinna.
1980 – Four Scholastics and seven Juniors at Puthur.
1981 – Kulithalai land purchased. Community set up.
1982 – Kulithalai becomes the Indian Novitiate. Br. Chinna Superior
1983 – Arockiam as candidate. Louis and Jeyaraj to Sri-Lankan Novitiate, Ragama. Br. Nicolas in Trichy. Riots in July. Brothers’ lives saved. Returning to their own countries. Indian Brothers left to themselves. Br. Chinna Superior. General Council assumes responsibility for India. Arockiam, Savarimuthu, John Peter as Postulants.
1984 – Br. Gregory Ryan arrives India. Br. Leo McVeigh. Br. Lazar to Elackurichi.
1985 – Br. Jeyaraj joins Br. Lazar. Br. Gregory made sector Superior. Br. Robert Goodwin. Mission Statement.
1986 – Withdrawl from Elackurichi. Br. Lazar to Thiruvadani, Kaikatti. Sesu as Postulant.
1987 – P. Udayapatti offered. Accepted. Brothers teach at R.C. School, Cantonment. Br. Chinna Headmaster. Fr. Susairaj.
1988 – Br. Aidan Smith. P.U. building commences.
1989 – Br. Claudius Mason. P.U. School opened. Br. Lazar to M.I.C., Nairobi; Samy to PNG. Visit by Br. Charles. Extraordinary visit by Brs. Al Sherry and Laurie McCane. Sesu and Arockiam to Lormeri. Savarimuthu’s N.F.E. experience. Br. Jeff Crowe…
1990 – Br. Jeff Crowe as Visitor. Sydney-Melbourne takes responsibility for Indian Sector. Savari to Lomeri.
1991 – Departure of Br. Gregory Ryan. Br. Mick Sexton and Con Keating. Con the Sector Superior. Return of Arockiam and Sesu, thence to M.A.C. Visit by Br. Jeff Crowe. Decision to sell V.N.P. Street.
1992 – Br. Claudius returns to Australia. Br. Hugh Reilly. John Peter to Lomeri. Br. Chinna to Australia – Quest Course. Louis returned – M.A.C. Kandy St, Beemanagar rented.
1993 – First Final vows taken by Indian Brothers Chinna and Jeyaraj in February; Lazar in August. Two candidates. Plans for house at Uyyakkondan Thirumalai. Building commences. Br. Jeffrey, C.G.
1994 – Bishop Gabriel – Br. Jeff Crowe open and bless the U.T. house. Br. Lazar superior and Master of Postulants. Br. Michael, Master of Candidates. Br. John Peter to M.A.C Br. Jeyaraj to Vidya Deepa; Brs. Arockiam and Sesu graduate from M.A.C. Go to P.U. Visit by Brs. Julian and Alexis. Br. Des Sullivan. Kandy retreat. Kilachery offer. Br. Charles Howard as Visitor.
1995 – Brs. Walter Smith and Darryl Slater. Departures of Brs. Michale and Cornelius. Development Plans.
2000 – Johnson, Inigo and Eugene for Novitiate, Tudella, Ja- Ela in Sri-Lanka; Br. Ranjith Perera as the Novice Master.
2001 – Albert Jeyraj, Anand Raj, Frank, Joseph, Rajakumar, SusaiManickam and Vincent Baskar enter Novitiate at Tudella.
2002 – First Profession of Johnson, Inigo and Eugene. Return to India. Go to MAPAC. Rozario, Saul, Ananth, James, Velankanni, Gnanam, Suresh to Tudella.
2003 – Operation Rainbow project – Br. Jeff. First Profession of Raj, Joseph, Vincent, Albert and Susai. Return to India. Raj continues studies at St. Joseph College. Susai at Operatoin Rainbow – a project for AIDS / HIV affected. Vincent teacher training at Palankottai.
2004 – Basilio Fraternity at Vasanth Nagar, Karumanadapam, Trichy.
2005 – Basilio Fraternity moved to Vasan Nagar, U.T. Malai, Trichy. Robin and Asirvatham to Sri- Lanka for Novitiate
2007 – South Asia Province – India, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka.
Currently Marist Mission in India:
Marist Higher Secondary School, Marcellin High School, Operation Rainbow for AIDS/HIV affected children, informal education – tuition centres, Tsunami Rehabilitation project, Catechetical work, Parish involvement.
Brothers in India:
Aspirants: 10
Postulants: 6
Novices: 3
Student Brothers: 14
Professed Brothers: 24
Brothers on Mission: 5
By,
Br. Rajakumar Soosaimanickam, fms
(Resource: A History of the Indian Sector of the Marist Brothers, compiled by Br. Cornelius Keating, fms. )
