BACKGROUND
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The Delhi Province
took root with the appointment of two of the Society’s members at the Sirsa Catholic
Mission Centre in 1960. Their legacy
was inherited and carried on by members that followed not only at Sirsa, but steadily
in other parts of North India. It was
indeed a pilgrimage of faith with the people that called for adapting to their customs,
traditions, learning their language, which led to a mutual enrichment of people
and messengers. The Delhi Province
pledges to carry on the charism and work in that same spirit, of pioneering the
Good News of Jesus Christ, and proclaiming the values of his Kingdom. The Province
pledges its service to the mission of the Church in the North.
Since 1961 the Delhi Pilar Fathers have grown in their outreach and serve people
at 13 centres in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan.
MISSION STATEMENT
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Keeping in view the Vision and the Thrust of the Final
Statement of the XVI General Chapter, the Delhi Province during its
elevation on 2nd July 2004, adopted the
Motto ‘Pilgrims of Faith, and Witnesses of Hope’. The motto is the
concrete expression of our charism and patrimony, of being pioneer missionaries
dedicated to the task of community building among all peoples. Being pilgrims of
faith implies a multi-religious context, where in we walk hand in hand with
people of goodwill of all communities in dialogue, enriching and bringing contentment
to their lives by sharing our Christian faith with them. Our mission is also being
witness of hope in this vast social situation were hopelessness, injustice
and exploitation that characterizes our country. It involves sharing our love and
service through the personal witness of our lives, and through social development
programmes.
During the First
Ordinary Chapter of Affairs we did a sincere assessment of our mission
work and spelled out certain key objectives
to guide us in the days ahead. Following were the objectives:
1. To evolve
a more effective mission apostolate.
2. Since the vitality of the ecclesial
community depends to a large extent, on its youth, they were to be given
utmost priority.
3. We took cognizance of the fact that
we need to lay more stress in the area of social action
4. To encourage collaborative spirit
in our mission apostolate.
HISTORY OF THE PROVINCE
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I. PIONEERING WORK AND SETTING UP OF COMMUNITIES
In the
early fifties Fr. Assuncao D’Souza and Fr. Gustavo Alvares worked with much zeal
in Hisar and Simla formerly parts of the Archdiocese of Delhi. In the late fifties
Bishop John Burke invited our Society to send four priests to work in his new Diocese
of Simla Chandigarh. Having the General Chapter of 1959 considered the request it
was resolved that the Society would send priests provided that they were not employed
in parish work but in the missionary field. With this aim in view, in 1960 Fr. Mariano
Pereira and Fr. Ovidio D’Cunha landed in Sirsa and established the first
community of Pilar Fathers in the area. In 1964 Fr. Anselmo D’Sa and Fr. Antonio
D’Sa teamed together to establish another local community in the new residential
mission station of Bathinda. On 6th January 1970, Fr. Filomeno
Almeida and Fr. Agnelo Pinto proceeded to Mandi-Dabwali to start the third
local community in a virgin area. In 1972, Fr. M. T. Anthony emnbarked on a new
missionary venture in Rania which in the course of years developed into another
local community.
The Mission of Punjab
Haryana suffered a set-back in the period of 1977-79 when some members abandoned
their mission posts and the people they had evangelized and baptized. The mission
took some years to recuperate from this severe blow. In the meantime a number of
English Schools were opened in the mission stations, which made the Region of Punjab-Haryana
financially stable. On 10th December 1989, Fr. Cristo Rei Rodrigues proceeded
to Hisar to lay the foundation of a new residential mission station and soon
after, in March of 1990, with the arrival of Bro. Peter D’Souza another local community
of Pilar Fathers came into existence. The Pilar Fathers lived in a rented quarters
and looked after the spiritual needs of the faithful also in Hansi and Ganga village.
In the same year, Most Rev. Angelo Fernandes, the then Archbishop of Delhi opened
the Narnaul mission station on 9th March 1990. There was no Christian
presence here and Fr. Jesuino Almeida began the pioneering work by conducting English
tuitions for college students for nearly two years. In April 1992, Mata Mariam Jan
Seva Vidyalaya was opened. In 1993, Fr. Eusebio Gomes joined him, besides a Regent,
as Principal of the School.
In April 1992, the
Pilar Fathers opened a School in a rented premises at Hisar. The Nursery
class had just one student for the first eight days. Like all pioneering ventures,
the task involved a lot of struggle and difficulties. Meanwhile the Society had
bought a plot measuring 15 acres at Talwandi Rana, Hisar. Fr. Menino Gomes and Fr.
Peter D’Mello were deputed to envision a master plan for the development of the
plot. On 17th October 1993, Bishop Gilbert Rego laid the foundation stone
for the new school building in the Society’s 15 acre plot. The school was inaugurated
in July 1994.
In 1993, the Pilar
Fathers were invited to work in the Archdiocese of Agra and were entrusted
with the administration of St. Mary’s Church. Fr. Shivaji Henriques was its Parish
Priest. He was assisted by senior theology students Norman D’Souza and Rupert Travasso.
Later, Fr. Eusebio Gomes and Fr. Rosario Antao took over.
The Pilar Fathers
entered Rampuraphul, 30 kms away from Bathinda, in 1994. Fr. Menino Gomes
and Fr. Agnelo Gomes at the behest of Rampuraphul Education Society were invited
to take up a former St. Joseph School that was on the verge of closure and reversed
the downward trend of the school by re-structuring and re-naming it as St. Xavier’s
School. An additional 2.5 acre of land was bought to further develop the school.
The Pilar Fathers
had purchased a farmland of 6 acres at Talwandi Sabo, 31 Kms from Bathinda.
Since 1984, a small community hall with two rooms existed to serve as dispensary
for the villagers. The Fathers and Sisters used to visit the centre from Bathinda.
The Regional Superior, Fr. Diogo D’Souza and his Council decided to open the new
mission station of Talwandi Sabo and Frs. Saturnino Mascarenhas and Fr. Marden were
deputed in 1995 to do the pioneering work. Shortly after with the inauguration of
the Bal Niketan building, Talwandi Sabo had a full-fledged residential unit. Regular
Sunday services were held for the neighbouring villagers.
The Pilar Fathers
opened a unit in Mansa in the late 1990s. Fr. Marden Pereira was sent to
do the spade work of locating a suitable land and ended up purchasing an 8 acres
plot. The kindergarten school began in rented rooms under the charge of Fr. Seby
Rodrigues and Fr. Rosario Antao. The former also supervised the construction of
the first phase that was completed in the year 2000.
The transit House
at Jangpura, New Delhi was opened on 7th October 1999. It was
blessed by the late Archbishop of Delhi, Rt. Rev. Allan De Lastic and inaugurated
by Fr. Diogo D’Souza. Fr. Menino Gomes was the Regional Superior of the Northern
Region.
In the year 2000,
at the request of Bishop Peter Celestine, OFM. Cap., the Pilar Fathers ventured
in the missionary Diocese of Jammu-Srinagar, keeping in mind the vision of expansion
and to strengthening the missionary endeavors. In 2001 the Bakshinagar parish
was handed over to the Pilar Fathers to cater to the spiritual needs of 800 odd
people who were basically municipality workers. Fr. Amaro Martins was appointed
the Parish Priest. Fr. Amaro Martins and Fr. John Fernandes took upon themselves
the responsibility of constructing a Church which was inaugurated on 19th
December 2004. Attached to this parish are two more mission stations Battoo (about
135 kms from Jammu) and Mandal (15 kms). The parishioners are basically farmers.
Plans are on to build up more Churches and Schools in the area. Pilar Fathers in
the person of Fr. Peter Fernandes, as the Assistant Parish Priest also served at
the Cathedral Church of St. Mary’s, Jammu for nearly two years.
In the year 2001,
with the concern of concentrating on evangelization, and developing the mission
of Dholpur, the Pilar Fathers were relieved of St. Mary’s and given the charge
of the small flock at Dholpur in Rajasthan. Fr. Eusebio Gomes and Fr. Rosario Antao
explored the area to obtain a plot of land for the Society of Pilar. A centre for
English Speaking Course for school and college students was opened which helped
to interact with the people of all walks of life. The catholic community was very
small with just 45 families. Three sub-stations were opened at Bari (35 kms away),
Baseri (46 kms) and Raja Khera (40 kms away). Fr. Marden Pereira explored the nearby
villages and identified areas for the implementation of Caritas sponsored projects.
After residing for three years in four different rented houses, the ‘Pilar Niwas’
residence was blessed by Archbishop Oswald Gracias and inaugurated by late Archbishop
Emeritus Cecil D’Sa. Fr. Paixao, the parish priest along with Fr. Marden Pereira
undertook the arduous task of the construction the new Church building which was
blessed and inaugurated on 5th February 2005 by the Archbishop Oswald
Gracias of Agra.
It must be noted
that since 1993, the Province had been sending young priests to serve Parishes in
Jalandhar Diocese in order to have pastoral experience and to learn Punjabi
language and culture. They acquired sufficient knowledge of the local Punjabi language
during their stay in the Parishes. Bishop Symporian Keeprath and the people of the
diocese appreciated the services of the priests. Fr. Dominic Dias was the first
Pilar priest to be sent to Jalandhar diocese and he worked at St. Patrick’s Church,
Amritsar. Fr. Seby Rodrigues and later Fr. Franky D’Cunha served in the capacity
of Parish Priest in Punga (3 kms away from Pakistan border) till 2006.
The Provincial Superior,
Fr. Menino Gomes has been appointed as the Central Delegate Superior of the mission
of Nepal. By his regular visits he takes stock of the development and progress
of the unit. Fr. Eusebio Gomes and Fr. Anthony Manuel Fernandes are lending their
services in Nepal. On 23rd September 2006, His Excellency, Most Rev.
Pedro Lopez Quintano blessed and inaugurated the new School building at Pokra, Nepal.
MISSION STATUS
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Initially all the
local communities of Punjab Haryana were grouped into a Mission under a Superior
of the Mission. With the approval/promulgation of the Constitutions in 1982, the
Mission came to be known as District having at the helm of it a District Superior.
In 1983 the Society Assembly raised the District of Punjab-Haryana to the status
of a Region and Fr. Anthony Paul Vaz became the first Regional Superior.
On
2nd July 2004, the Northern Region of the Society of Pilar was elevated
to the status of a Province bearing the name, ‘Delhi Province’ and Fr. Menino Gomes
was installed as its first Provincial. Fr. Diogo D’Souza, Fr. Anthony Rosario Fernandes
and Fr. Albert Fernandes were his Councillors. Fr. Stephen Dias was the Provincial
Treasurer.
On
3rd April 2006, Fr. Menino Gomes was reappointed as Provincial Superior
of Delhi Province for a second term. His Councillors were: Fr. Max Gonsalves, Fr.
Albert Fernandes and Fr. Roque Rodrigues. The Provincial Treasurer was Fr. Peter
Fernandes.
On
3rd April 2009, Fr. Albert Fernandes was appointed as Provincial Superior
of Delhi Province. His Councillors were: Fr. Dominick Falcao, Fr. Diogo D’Souza
and Fr. Peter Rodrigues. The Fr. Peter Fernandes was reappointed as the Provincial
Treasurer for the second term.
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Registered Bodies of the Province: (a) Society of Pilar, Punjab-Haryana. (b) Society
of Pilar, North India.
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Area of the Province: A part of the Diocese of Simla Chandigarh (Districts of Bhatinda,
Sirsa, Hissar, Mansa, Bhiwani.), part of Agra Diocese (Dholpur), part of Jammu-Srinagar
Diocese (Bakshinagar). The Provincialate House is in Delhi Archdiocese (presently
at Jangpura Extension, later to be shifted to Najafgarh)
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Number of Members: 53 priests and 1 Lay Brother
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Pilar House/Communities: Bathinda, Mansa, Talwandi Sabo, Rampuraphul, Sirsa, Rania,
Dabwali, Hisar, Narnaul, Dholpur, Bhaksinagar.
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Nature/Characteristics of Pilar Communities: a) Apostolic (Missionary) similar to
Religious duly established and functioning mostly in Parish Houses with a Local
Delegate Superior/House Council and Bursar with regular community life, community
prayer, programmes, celebrations and animated by the three evangelical counsels.
b) Working in the Mission stations to preach the Gospel and establish the Church.
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Church structures in the Area of the Province:
a)
Diocese/Dioceses to which the Province is limited/extended:
i.
Diocese of Simla Chandigarh. Local Ordinary:
Rt. Rev. Ignatius Mascarenhas
ii.
Diocese of Jammu Srinagar. Local Ordinary:
Rt. Rev. Peter Celestine, ofm. Cap.
iii.
Archdiocese of Agra. Local Ordinary: Rt. Rev.
Albert D’Souza
iv.
Archdiocese of Delhi. Local Ordinary: Rt. Rev.
Vincent M. Conceissao.
b)
Ecclesiastical Status of the Territory: Province
c)
Ecclesiastic Authority appointed by the Bishops in the Area of the Province where
the Pilar Fathers are working: Parish Priests and Assistant parish priests
d)
Members holding diocesan/ecclesiastic offices (other than the ones at Parish level):
i.
Consultor: Fr. Dominick Falcao (Simla – Chandigarh)
ii.
Youth Animator: Bro. David Masih (Simla – Chandigarh)
iii.
Priests’ senate members:
Fr. Dominick Falcao, Fr. Amaro Martins, Fr. Norman D’Souza, Fr.
Anthony Pinto (Simla – Chandigarh)
iv.
Diocesan Pastoral Council: Fr. Dominick Falcao
(Simla – Chandigarh)