Provincial Minister
Rev. Fr. John Alwyn Dias, OFM Cap.,

Director
Rev. Fr. Robin Victor D’souza, OFM Cap.

Procurator & Program Coordinator
Rev. Fr. Robin Minin Lopes, OFM Cap.

Spiritual Director
Fr. Joseph Dolphy Pais

Staff
Fr. Maxim Robert Nazareth

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Pongal Celebration At Shanthi Sadhana-FISI
Pongal is a harvest festival. In Tamil Nadu, the word Pongal means "overflowing" which signifies abundance and prosperity. This Pongal celebration was celebrated at Shanthi Sadhana-FISI on the 17th of January 2020. We began the celebration at 6.p.m. with a Rosary and Prayer. Shanthi Sadhana - FISI had festive look with the colorful rangoli at the entrance. The entire community of FISI joined in preparing and we shared the sweet pongal and sugar canes.

Birthday of Fr. Robin Minin Lopez
17th December 2019, Fr. Robin Minin Lopez, celebrated his birthday at Shanthi Sadhana-FISI. Grand celebration began at 6.00 a.m. with a meaningful birthday prayer service for the occasion conducted by the Sisters, followed by Eucharistic celebration. The Eucharistic Celebration was further embellished by the meaningful homily by the Birthday baby and soulful choir by the Sisters. Later in the afternoon Fr. Joseph Dolphy Pais wished Fr. Robin Minin Lopez with a bouquet followed by a beautiful Cake was cut by Birthday Baby to mark this special occasion and Fr. Robin Victor D’souza appreciated the services of Fr. Robin Minin Lopez to the fraternity of Shanthi Sadhana-FISI and to the Province at large as a Program Coordinator and treasurer of the house. All the Sisters and Brothers gathered wished the birthday baby many happy returns of the day. A sumptuous spread for all our beloved guests added a generous taste to the celebration.

Community Picnic
Shanthi Sadhana, FISI, Franciscan Institute of Spirituality in India, organized one day picnic for the community on the 25th of November 2019. The picnic was organized to Mysore, thus the community members began the journey to Mysore, on the way we went to Srirangapatna to see the Summper Palace of Tippu and his Tomb and Rangaswamy Temple, followed by St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Mysore Palace, Zoo, Chamundi Hills & Anjali Ashram. After spending whole day with fun and relaxation, we reached back at 9.30 p.m.

Feast of Presentation of BVM at FISI
On the 21st of November as the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this auspicious day, the sisters of Franciscan sisters of the presentation of Mary (FSPM) who are doing their Franciscan Spirituality Course at FISI celebrated their 166th year of the foundation day of their congregation. Franciscan sisters of the presentation of Mary was planted in the year of 1853, 21st November in the soil of Karumathampathy, Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu by Rev. Fr. Joseph Louis Ravel, M.E.P. Just twenty days after his ordination arrived from France to India to serve with the missionary zeal. His arrival was traumatized to witness the level of religious intolerance and bigotry he found among the people. He realized that the need of the hour was an organization that would create awareness, and thereby help them to live in love, peace and harmony. Thus with three young girls and a widow he started the congregation. At present their Congregation had wide spread in five countries, nine states in India and 40 dioceses.

Birthday of Fr. Joseph Dolphy Pais
On 15th October 2019, Fr. Joseph Dolphy Pais, celebrated his birthday at Shanthi Sadhana-FISI. Grand celebration began at 6.00 a.m. with a meaningful birthday prayer service for the occasion conducted by the Sisters, followed by Eucharistic celebration. The Eucharistic Celebration was further embellished by the meaningful homily by the Birthday baby and soulful choir by the Sisters guided ably by Fr Robin Minin Lopez. Later in the afternoon Fr. Andrew Anil Sequeira wished Fr. Fr. Dophy Pais with a bouquet followed by a beautiful Cake was cut by Birthday Baby to mark this special occasion and Fr. Robin Victor D’souza appreciated the services of Fr. Joseph Dolphy Pais to the fraternity of Shanthi Sadhana-FISI and to the Province at large. All the Sisters and Brothers gathered wished the birthday baby many happy returns of the day. A sumptuous spread for all our beloved guests added a generous taste to the celebration.

Monthi Fest – Shanthi Sadhana
On the 08th of September as the Mother Church Celebrates the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary, the community of Shanthi Sadhana-FISI, along with the Sisters celebrated this traditional feast. The celebration began at 7.00 a.m. in front of the Portico, Fr. Robin Victor D’souza conducted the Novena Prayer, The gathered faithful as token of love and tradition offered the flowers to Mother Mary. After the brief opening ceremony the faithful along with the main celebrant Fr. Robin Minin Lopez, proceeded towards the Chapel for the Eucharistic Celebration.

About Franciscan Institute of Spirituality (FISI)
The primary objective of FISI is to help the participants revitalize themselves with the spirit of St. Francis by a live-in experience, an in-depth study of the Franciscan sources and other Franciscan themes of vital importance. A few other relevant topics essential to comprehend the deeper significance of consecrated life are also included in the nine months’ Diploma Course in Franciscan Spirituality offered here. Interiorization and integration is the methodology followed in this Institute, which envisages a harmonious blending of spiritual animation, study, research and active community living in all its dimensions.

Shanthi Sadhana: FISI: An Overview
Shanthi Sadhana, Franciscan Institute of Spirituality, India (FISI), Bangalore, is a unique centre of study and research with live-in experience of integrated, holistic spirituality – a blend of prayer and interiorisation, with close harmony of fraternal bonds with each other and with a bountiful panorama of Nature. This Franciscan Capuchin International Institute with about 80 self-contained individual rooms in a typical Indian ashram cum religious convent setting amidst lush ecological flower and fruit gardens creates an ideal ambience for community living as well as for personal study and reflection, even with a cave experience.

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