Bishop John sends Message of Goodwill at the opening of a new house at Mitcham

I am very pleased to authorise and sanction the erection of the first religious House of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier or the Pilar Fathers in our Archdiocese at Mitcham, Surrey. This Missionary Society has been actively present in our Archdiocese and has been contributing much to our pastoral life, especially through their services to the Goan Chaplaincy and to our Parish of Saints Peter and Paul. Through the canonical act of the erection of this house at Mitcham, The Pilar fathers will now have a stable existence in our Diocese and will be able to have a Local Superior according to their constitutions and will therefore be able to live their community life in a better and fuller way.

 
While I wish to appreciate the pastoral work done by the Pilar missionaries here, I also take this opportunity to thank the Superior General of the Society, Fr. Tony Lopes whom I met recently, for collaborating with me in the work of the Church in this diocese through the gift of the members of the Society.

Dear Brothers in Christ, your Society is named after the great missionary saint and patron of the mission, St. Francis Xavier and the Charism and goal of your Missionary Society is to make Christ known to those who are indifferent to him or do not know him. I wish to encourage you to follow in the footsteps of your patron in announcing the Lord and his Gospel to all peoples with conviction, zeal and fervour. As St. Paul, one of the Patrons of the parish entrusted to the Pilar Fathers in our Archdiocese says in the Letter to the Romans, “"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"”

The Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier has been a gift to our Archdiocese as its members bring new gifts from their own cultures to our Diocese and with their missionary enthusiasm seek to proclaim the Good News here in our midst. The command of Jesus to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” is our common challenge.

I congratulate Fr. Lucas Rodrigues who will be the Local Superior of the newly erected house and his Councillors Fr. Peter Soares and Fr. Francis Rosario.

I welcome the Pilar Fathers and congratulate them on the erection of their first House. We wish them all God’s Blessings. May God, who in Christ has shown us his truth and love, make you messengers of the Gospel and witnesses to the divine love before all the world. May the Lord Jesus Christ, who promised that he would be with his Church until the end of time, guide your steps and fill your words with power. May the Spirit of the Lord be upon you, enabling you as you go through the world to bring the Good News to everyone.

+ John Hine

Titular Bishop of Beverley
24th March 2008