August 2025

Dear Friends in the Lord, 

Christ’s Peace! 

At the outset I like to thank you for your active participation in the Liturgy of Solemn opening of the Diocesan Inquiry for the cause of the Beatification and Canonization of Constantine Joseph Beschi (Veeramamunivar) held at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry on 3 August 2025. Sincere thanks to the Co-postulators, Core Team members, Conveners and members of various committees, our collaborators and all those who prayed very specially for this event. This is only a beginning. With same spirit and enthusiasm, we need to collectively undertake a long journey to accomplish the task of elevating Veeramamunivar to the altar.     

Most of the Feast days in the month of August and the 79th Independence Day of our country seem to have one message in common, that is, Invitation to become sensitive to the needs of our neighbours and to transcend one’s own self. Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish Franciscan Martyr, who had been imprisoned by the Nazis in the Auschwitz death camp in 1941, offered his life for his co-prisoner Franciszek when he was about to undergo death sentence. Literally he lived out the teaching of Jesus, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13), by being sensitive to the fact that Franciszek had a family to be cared for. 

On realizing the dire needs of the disadvantaged youth of Chilea, St. Alberto Hurtado spent sleepless nights and started homes to give shelter and food to 1, 41,000 disadvantaged youth with the financial support of many women to whom he preached several times. Blessed Virgin Mary whose glorious Assumption into Heaven we celebrate on !5 August, went with haste to help Elizabeth during her pregnancy, sang the need for structural changes in the society in her Magnificat, voiced out her concern during the wedding at Cana and silently accompanied Jesus, the apostles and others.  

Not only saintly figures but also the patriots who selflessly fought for the freedom of our country transcended their own selves in order to respond to the needs of the people. In the Independent India along with the denial of freedom of speech, religion, franchise, etc. and insecurity and intimidation experienced by the minorities especially women Religious, there is continued denial of Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Catholics and Dalit Muslims. In the Churches of India, August 10 is observed as Black Day to fight for this right. By being sensitive to these needs of our brothers and sisters let us transcend ourselves and bring an end to denial of rights.  

Thank you very much for showering your blessings upon me through your Prayers when I assumed my responsibility as Provincial. Kindly continue to pray for me.    

Britto Vincent

Provincial – Chennai Jesuits