Maria
Bhavan, Bengaluru: The community of Maria Bhavan was joyful to
welcome Fr. Fitz Simmons SMM from the USA. The primary intention of his visit
to Maria Bhavan was to meet the scholastics, He met us on 30th June at 07:30
pm. The brothers were enthusiastic in listening to the words of Fr. Fitz. He
inspired the brothers telling that formation is not just learning alone but
discerning. Discerning is not for the personal fulfilment of what makes one
happy but what God wants one to be. The process of discernment will cause us to
fear, questions and at times perplexity.
Therefore, our attitude should be that which is expressed in the Lord’s
Prayer and at the prayer of Jesus at Gethsemane, ‘Thy will be done’. Fr. Fitz
asked everyone to hold on to Mother Mary who is the model for us as
Montfortians. There was also a question particular to all the brothers which
need to be asked to ourselves every time that is “am I the answer of the prayer
of Montfort which he prayed 300 years ago.”?
Sharing
the incidents from his own life he stated that when we choose to love we choose
to belong. We are called to love and belong to God and the people sometimes
even strangers. Fr. Fitz concluded his talk with a little phrase which has
paramount meaning “Learn and Discern”. Promising his prayers for all the
scholastics he blessed everyone.
Bro. John Bosco
Bangalore, India
