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Fransalian International

"Be what you are, Be at its best!"      - St. Francis de Sales

Editorial  SFS  Fr. Mermier  General Curia  SFS Publications      News from the Provinces Brazil   East Africa England Franco-Swiss North-east India Nagpur  Pune   South-west India Visakhapatnam     Hearty Congratulations Fr. D. Kuzhupil  Fr. E. Mayoraz Fr. A. Fernandes Fr. A. Mookenthotam Fr. A. Mangatt  New Priests   Vol. 3  May 2001

Fransalian International

"Child is father of the man", said the great poet William Wordsworth. One cannot deny that there is a great deal of truth in this axiomatic quote. Potentialities that are inherent but lie hidden in the child blossom over the years of the person's growth into adulthood. From a very ordinary background of a Goan village, bereft of any pretensions to any kind of sophistication, Fr. Agnelo Fernandas today stands before the Fransalians (MSFS) as the undisputed leader of the Congregation which is an international Religious Institute with a very glorious past and bright future.

A brilliant student throughout his academic life, Fr. Agnelo holds a Master's Degree in English Literature from the University of Nagpur and a Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of Bombay. He is also a recipient of a gold medal from the Nagpur University. Blessed with a sharp intellect and an analytical mind, a deep thinker and hard worker, he finds no difficulty to grasp any complex situation and to articulate his thoughts in very precise language. He is a well-read person who keeps himself abreast of the latest in the fields of education, scripture, spirituality, religious life, formation, etc.

His deep faith in God sustains him and enables him to face the stark realities of life.  Deeply spiritual and prayerful, totally committed to the religious way of life and dedicated to priesthood, attached to the Congregation and available for any responsibility that is entrusted to him, Fr. Agnelo comes across as an ideal and a challenge for many people.  Many of us wonder how he is able to integrate all these aspects into his personality!  Perhaps the answer is that God has been preparing him for responsibilities, which would demand a combination of all these qualities in him.

A Community-man to the core, he loves every Confrere with a genuine love and is ever willing to spend himself for the other.  He is the person you would want to have as a friend, philosopher and guide because he is totally dependable and trustworthy.  There is a characteristic joy that he reveals through his words and deeds.  There is about him an atmosphere of peace.  He instills confidence by his presence.  He can calm the storm by his patience; reconcile the irreconcilable with his spirit of forgiveness and words of encouragement.

At a young age the Congregation entrusted him with the task of leading the Maharashtra-Goa Province of the MSFS as its Provincial.  On account of his efficiency in leading the Province, he ended up leading it for nine years at a stretch.  During these nine years he was instrumental in expanding and consolidating the Mission activities of the Province.  A visionary by nature and meticulous planner, he looked ahead and planned for the future.  He was also able to carry the whole Province with him in all his plans.  Renewal was his watchword and he encouraged every member to undertake self-renewal on a priority basis because, as he believed, a renewed member will be able to renew the Community, and renewed Communities constitute a renewed Province.

Fr. Agnelo Fernandes

Fr. Agnelo Fernandes believes in simple living and high thinking.  Hard on himself he is very generous towards others.  With malice towards none, but charity for all, he befriends any person who comes in contact with him.  In his relationship with others he follows the principle of St. France de Sales, his Patron, who said, “Truth which is not charitable springs from a charity which is not true.”

With such qualities of head, heart and mind, unassuming, soft-spoken, and never imposing himself, Fr. Agnelo kept a very low profile.  Nevertheless, the Congregation easily discovered in him the leader that it needed at the beginning of the Third Millennium.  It’s our hope and wish that he may experience the constant inspiration of the Holy Spirit to enable him to carry out the very challenging task of leading the Congregation as its Superior General.  We, his confreres, wish him the very best, and assure him our whole-hearted support.