Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Assisi Vihar, Karwar, Karnataka

Karwar is the headquarters of the diocese of Karwar….it is one of the flourishing and growing dioceses There are more than 150 diocesan priests and other religious men. The diocese has got few huge pockets of Catholic presences. The diocese has given to the Church of India many religious men and women vocations. The Catholics are very simple and poor too. Most of them depend on farming, many of them have migrated for work purpose to overseas and other parts of India. The Catholic community is vibrant and religious too.
The Capuchins are already in the diocese for number of years in Honavar. The bishop invited them to open up another house to take up pastoral ministry. The friars bought a property from the Bishop himself and put up a retreat and prayer house for the friars and for others too. The presences is now about 12 years old. The friars have no pastoral work but will have to wait for someone to invite you. They cannot go looking for it. The other religious men and women who come here for silence and retreat are vert few. The friars are involved in giving recollections and celebrating masses for the sisters around but it is limited. 
This place is called Shirward in Karwar town. It is about 8km away from the city and from railway station about three kilometres. The friary has all around the western ghat hills…..which are ever green. The climate too is very pleasant and fine. It is very quite place and the people who live here too very quite and peace loving. The Bishops house and the parish church is about 5 minutes walk.  The friars are always available for the Bishop for any spiritual ministry or any other works…..
There there four friars in the fraternity. They find some ministry every now and then. Br. William Andrade is busy with retreat preachings to religious men and women. The others also go but it is limited.
 The western ghat Hills adorn the place....it looks stupendous early morning...with dew and mist....the birds singing in the background....the animals welcoming the dawn with their sweet voices....the friars praising and singing to the Lord with Psalms.....
 The chapel and friary....amidst the coconut grove ,,,,,,,,,gently breeze blowing the whole day...birds singing to make your day memorable....


 A small shrine of St. Anthony,.....all those who pass by hello him by making a sign of the Cross....they stop a while and say a small prayer.....the hills are mute witness of the devotion of the people

 The place has a natural beauty.....looks great.....invites one to enter into union with the Lord in silence and quietness

 Two senior friars William and Canute.....
 The only Dog.....one is taken away by the wild animals.....this dog by evening puts its tail down and gets into the parlour to escape from the attack....you don't hear it barking ........

 Friars Canute, William and Simon Horta (Guardian).....



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