Life of the Congregation (1)

In June, the wind blew from east to west: the grains, sown almost 10 years ago, had the strength, the resolution and the perseverance to grow and to bloom to the great joy of those who nurtured them directly or indirectly, as Fr Austin Hughes, Regional Superior, reminds us.

Today, like the joyful mysteries of the rosary God has given us 5 reasons to be joyful, and I thank God for the priestly ordination of my 5 younger Betharram brothers Saat, Nonthapat, Arthit, Pitak, & Thinakorn. Or perhaps I should say that we have 7 reasons to be joyful, like the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit, because we also have a new priest for the Chiang Mai Diocese and a new deacon for the Thai Missionary Society. But I know you will forgive me if I speak briefly about my 5 Betharram brothers, because they are the reason that I came 5,000 miles from England to be here on this joyful day. And even if from this day onwards they are called Father, they will always be my Brothers.

So firstly I want to thank the families that nurtured them and gave them life. When a new priest is ordained he has spent many years in study, and he has learned much about scripture, theology and pastoral work. But the place where he first heard about Jesus was in his own family. And I thank the families the teachers and the village catechists who helped make Jesus a real and living person for my brothers, and who planted in them the first seeds of their vocation.

And secondly, they are the perfect illustration of the scriptural saying: one man sows, another reaps his harvest (John 4.37). And it is a tribute to the older missionaries from Europe ... some of whom are still alive! .... that we have a beautiful harvest today. I say thankyou to those who left their own lands ... Italy ... France.. Spain ... Ireland .... to help spread the good news or who baptised our new priests or help to educate them and whose example inspired them. Like the apostles who followed Jesus I know that they have been rewarded.

Then thirdly I would like to thank the Formators present today and those who have passed away who helped form and educate these young men in their training.... the novice masters ... the students masters .. the seminary teachers and the pastoral supervisors. Your work is absolutely essential but it is not considered glamorous. In our Congregation of Betharram we always try to follow the example of St.Michael our founder who imitated the call of the prophet Isaiah and answered God’s call by saying ‘Here I am, send me!’. But we have a joke in our Congregation that if someone asks you to go and become a Formator, we say ‘here I am, send him!’. I often tell our Formators that working with young students, you cannot expect them to be very thankful for your work here and now, but if you are lucky they will thank you in 20 years time. So today I thank especially the Formators.

Fourthly I would like to thank the Bishops here present, Bishop Francis Xavier Vira and his predecessors who were always good friends to our Congregation, and also Bishop Joseph Piboon who has been so good to us in recent years as our brothers have worked in the western edge of Nakom Suwan Diocese. I always say that one of the first jobs of a bishop is simply to give encouragement, and that is something that we have certainly received in Thailand.

Fifthly I thank the many friends and lay people, who have supported our Congregation in so many ways, past and present. Some with their prayers .. some with their friendship ... some with their finances ... some with their love & devotion .... some with their example .... and some with their honest criticism. We priests and brothers are only human beings, and although we are minsters of the gospel, we are in constant need of repentance and conversion ourselves. As St.Paul put it: we are simply the old clay pots in which the treasure is carried. (2Cor 4.7) On a good day these clay pots can be as loving and as wise as Jesus the good shepherd. On a bad day the pots can be tired and irritable and stupid as a buffalo . So I thank God for all those who help us remember before God that we are human and that we can only work for him if we are in a constant state of conversion. Thankyou to all of you who love the clay pots and help us to safeguard the treasure.

Austin Hughes scj,
Regional Superior

The region “Fr Auguste Etchecopar” celebrated the Eucharist on the day of the Sacred Heart, Friday 27 June, with a great manifestation of ecclesial faith: the priestly ordination of Fr Wagner Aparecido Ferreira.

The City of Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro [our Lady of Perpetual Help] (in the State of São Paulo), in its centuries-old parish church packed with local faithful and many Betharramites come for the occasion, shared the solemn celebration presided by Mons Aloisio Pena Vitral, Bishop of Teofilo Otoni, “among trumpet sounds.”

Fr Wagner (nicknamed “Wagninho”), was moved and he thanked his parents and all those present who accompanied him in the fulfillment of his vocation.

In a festive and solemn atmosphere, the Brazilian Beautiful Branch thanked the Lord for this fresh “shoot” given to the Church.

Fr Wagner will carry out his mission in Uruguay while attending a course to prepare himself to be a formator of future Betharramites.