THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY AT SACCIDANANDA, CAPUCHIN
PROVINCIALATE BANGALORE
It was an auspicious day to the friars of the Community of Saccidananda
who gathered, with the invitees, for the celebration of the Solemnity of
Most Holy Trinity in the Chapel of the Provincialate, Saccidananda,
Bangalore. The Capuchin Province of Karnataka is dedicated to the Most
Holy Trinity and it was an apt occasion to thank the Triune God for
every blessings showered upon each friar of the Province, both of the
past who have gone before with the sign of the Cross and the friars who
serve in and through different ministries and apostolates both in
missions in India and around the world. The friars of the Karnataka
Province celebrate it as " Province Day " and offer thanks to the Most
Holy Trinity.
The festal Holy Eucharist was officiated by the Carmelite Provincial
Minister of Goa, Karnataka Province, Very Rev. Fr George Santhumayor,
who in his sermon wonderfully explained the importance of the Most Holy
Trinity in our life as Christians, as being the center of our faith. {1
Timothy 6:16} directs us to the fact that GOD " who alone is immortal
and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.
To him be honor and might forever. Amen." Every day we begin our
prayers with the invocation of the Holy Trinity. The Triune God is
inaccessible, inexplicable and immortal. It is a mystery, a depth which
our mind cannot comprehend … our Triune God is Divine. He is so in love
with us even though we are limited. " For God so loved the world that
he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life. " {John 3:16}. We are all baptized
by invoking the Name of the Holy Trinity, and through our Baptism we
experience the indwelling of the Triune God in us. God works in
different ways in our lives. The Holy Trinity models us, our families
and community. It is not we who serve God but God who serves us, takes
care of us, lives in us and with us all the days of our lives.
{Acts 1: 8} says, " You shall be my witnesses. " Just before Jesus
ascended into heaven He told His disciples what they were to do when
they received the Holy Spirit. They were to be witnesses of all they
have seen. This was not an option; they were mandated by their Master to
go into all the world and proclaim the glorious gospel message that
reconciliation with God was available through Jesus Christ. Thus we are
called to be witnesses of the love, unity and sacrifices of the Triune
God. The sermon concluded with the prayer to the Holy Trinity by St
Elizabeth of the Trinity, " O my God, Trinity whom I adore, help me to
forget myself entirely that I may be established in You as still and as
peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity. May nothing trouble my
peace or make me leave You, O my unchanging One, but may each minute
carry me further into the depths of Your mystery. Give peace to my soul;
make it Your heaven, Your beloved dwelling place and Your resting place.
May I never leave You there alone, but be wholly present, my faith
wholly vigilant, wholly adoring and wholly surrendered to Your creative
action." After the Holy Eucharist, Fr Vijesh Menezes, Provincial
Treasurer, thanked everyone for their presence at the Holy Mass and for
worshipping the Holy Trinity. The Provincial Minister of the Holy
Trinity Capuchin Province, Rev Fr John Alwyn Dias expressed his
gratitude for the services, support and prayers offered by the generous
benefactors, well-wishers, the Provincial Council of the past and
present, the community members, every friar of the Province both working
in missions and in the Province, all the domestic staff, Saccidananda
extended family, service providers, legal aid, professional service
providers, all those who sacrifice and help the Province in various
ways. Thereafter Fr Robin Victor D’Souza said the grace before the
fellowship meal that was served to enhance the joy of the celebration.
Many faithful gathered for this celebration of the Solemnity of the Most
Holy Trinity and around 20 priests concelebrated the Holy Eucharist. May
the Holy Triune God bless us, protect us, guide us and lead us to the
path of holiness
