Welcome, Fr Soosai Mani, New Provincial
At the evening celebration on August 15, 2020 Provincial Fr. Sebastian Jeera presided over the first part of the Eucharist and preached the homily while the Provincial-elect, Fr Soosai Mani con-celebrated. After speaking about the twin feasts celebrated on the day, he reminded the small congregation of Delhi Jesuits in Delhi gathered at the NRC Chapel what our Constitutions speak of the responsibility of the Major Superiors: “After the example of Christ, whose place they hold, superiors should exercise their authority in a spirit of service, desiring not to be served but to serve. Government in the Society should always be spiritual, whereby superiors direct our members with discerning love rather than through external laws, conscious before God of personal responsibility and of the obligation to rule their subjects as sons of God and with regard for the human personality. Government should also be strong where it needs to be, open and sincere. [349 § 1] “Their greatest duty is to guide all their subjects, especially the younger ones, to ever increasing responsibility and freedom, so that they observe the provisions of our institute not in the spirit of fear but from an intimate personal conviction rooted in faith and charity. Therefore, they should promote religious discipline both paternally and forcefully; they should warn and if necessary, correct those who neglect or violate it even those who are older and respected, and even superiors if they are deficient in their office.” [349 § 3]