Congratulations on the launch of the new Website of the Guwahati Province of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales!
You have put in a lot of thoughts, imagination, and creativity into this Website to present the vision and mission of the MSFS.
A Website is a virtual place that will provide a comprehensive, in-depth review of the Province with its missionary endeavors and commitment to the people and communities.
I am pretty sure that browsing through this Website will strengthen communication and connectivity that will educate and inspire every visitor to the site.
One of the essential functions of a Website is to communicate with visitors. Communication builds community. A Website is also a place of encounter where confreres present their life together as consecrated men witnessing to MSFS Charism and the on-going renewal to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
MSFS Charism is to live as a community of brothers and missionaries of Christ in the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales. I pray that the Website will serve as a tool to disseminate the Charism of our Founder, Father Peter Mermier, at the service of the Gospel and the Church.
I congratulate Rev. Fr. Sabu Francis, the Provincial, and his collaborators for the new Website with this message.
Live JESUS!
Father Abraham VETTUVELIL,
MSFS Superior Genera
Dear Reader/Visitor of our Website,
St. Francis des Sales, the patron of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS), is the patron saint of the writers and journalists. In other words, he is the Patron Saint of Media. Francis de Sales used the latest tools of media available to him in his mission of evangelization. Today, one uses all the tools of social communications; social media, digital technology and the internet for evangelization. Taking Bill Gates’ words seriously “If your business is not on the Internet, then your business will be out of business,” I think this Website is an “aggiornamento” of walking in the footsteps of our patron, St. Francis de Sales.
With the creation of MSFS Guwahati Province on 24.01.2020 by dividing the erstwhile Northeast India Province, a new era has dawned in the history of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales. Demographically vibrant and culturally conglomerated, Northeast India is a symbol of the Indian dictum “unity in diversity”. The culture, the tradition, the mentality and the philosophy of the people mould Northeast India to a unique region to work in, a distinctive folk to work for and a sublime cause to commit oneself unconditionally. Motivated by the motto of St. Francis de Sales Live Jesus, a Fransalian places himself at the merciful service of humanity, especially the poor and marginalised. A Fransalian is called to know, love and imitate Christ today and here. The tremendous response to faith, the great discipleship and the charismatic local leadership are salient features of Northeast India. Catering to the social, economic and religious needs of these people, make the life a Fransalian worthy of his vocation; “I want Mission,” the clarion call of the founder Fr. Peter Marie Mermier.
This website expresses something about who we are. It is my earnest wish that every visitor to this website may get a bird’s eye view of Northeast India and the vision and mission of the Fransalian community. May this website help every member of the province to recommit himself to the charism and apostolate of the congregation. In our times, when the Internet accessibility is becoming almost a fundamental human right, it is immanent that we have a website to relive; Veni, vidi, vici - I came; saw; conquered!
May God bless you all!
Yours sincerely,
Fr. Dr. Sabukuttan Francis MSFS
Provincial, Guwahati Province