Jesuit Provincial of South Asia Fr George Pattery interview.

‘Challenge is to take forward the thrust Pope is giving to Church’     Sakal Times
- CAMIL PARKHE Sunday, 22 June 2014 - 02:17 PM IST
Tags: Father George Pattery, Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth , Jesuits, Camil parkhe

Father George Pattery, acting president of the Pune-based Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth (JDV), has been appointed the Jesuit Provincial of South Asia. Earlier, he had taught at Visva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan in West Bengal  for 10 years and later  served as head of Kolkata Jesuit province. Fr Pattery spoke to Camil Parkhe about  his new role.

What are the responsibilities of the Jesuit Provincial of South Asia?

There are nearly 4,000 Jesuits working in 20 Jesuit provinces in this region. There are more than  100 high schools and colleges, besides many centres of social concerns.  Jesuits, the members of Society of Jesus, are mostly engaged in education at the school and graduate levels. Social involvement, especially with tribals and dalits is one of the major thrusts; so also dialogue with religions and cultures. My role  is to support these Jesuit missions in education, social involvement and spiritual animation. I will have to strengthen the common works of these provinces, especially in social involvement and formation of our men. Besides I will have to network with the international Jesuits community, especially with our headquarters in Rome.

What will be your priorities?

My priorities will be  to strengthen the three faculties of the Pune-based  JDV, Vidyajyothi  in Delhi and Satyanilayam in Chennai in their philosophical and theological studies;  to respond to the socio-political issues in South Asia and to train our men for the challenges of our mission of 'being men for others'.

What are the challenges you perceive in the present circumstances?

My challenges are to take forward the thrust that Pope Francis is giving to the church and to make visible the gospel values of compassion and gentleness, to respond to the growing religious and cultural fundamentalism and violence and to care for the poor and to receive their gift of generosity.  The patrimony that we have inherited from  our founder  St Ignatius of Loyola is  the spiritual tool of being 'contemplative in action'; it is one of the riches that we share with men and women of all religions and cultures.

At 101, Fr Neuner has a quiet birthday

Sakaal Times Pune August 20, 2009
At 101, Fr Neuner has a quiet birthday celebration CAMIL PARKHE
Pune: Fr Joseph Neuner, veteran Indologist, theologian and spiritual advisor to Mother Teresa, celebrated his 101st birthday at Sanjeevan Ashram, headquarters of the Pune Jesuit province, here on Wednesday.Fr Neuner, born on August 19, 1908 at Feldkirch in Austria, has been a Puneite since 1938. As professor of theology at Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth, he has taught thousands of priests, some of whom rose to be bishops and cardinals.
The centurion was in a cheerful mood, receiving greetings from people when this Sakaal Times reporter called on him on Wednesday. The priest was greeted by his fellow Jesuits and others on his 101st birthday."Fr Neuner did not want a big celebration and so we did not invite many people for the birthday," said Fr Anil Soares, one of the priests residing at the Jesuit provincialate.
Although his movement and activities have now been restricted, Fr Neuner still follows the community routine at the Jesuit house. He has meals and tea along with other Jesuits. Refusing to be assisted, he comes to the dining hall with the support of a walker. He converses with others on the latest happenings although in the recent past, he has been hard on hearing. "But he never misses his exercise of walking in the passage with the walker,"adds Fr Soares. Neuner, who for a few years, stayed on the first floor of `Sanjeevan Ashram' was shifted to the ground floor when he neared his century.
Before his arrival in India, Neuner had completed a doctorate thesis at Rome-based Gregorian University on the theme, `The idea of sacrifice in the Bhagvadgita'. During World War II, Neuner along with other German nationals in the country, was detained by the British government and was incarcerated for over five years, initially in Ahmednagar and later at Dehradun.
Neuner served as an expert at the Vatican Council II, which is said to have ushered in reforms in the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church had appointed Neuner as censor theoloigicus in 1999 for the proceeding launched for beatification of Mother Teresa.His job was to study the nun's published writings to find if they contained any heresy. The Mother was declared a Blessed, a step towards sainthood, a few years later.

Neuner Centenarian inspires all

Centenarian who inspires all
Camil Parkhe
Sakaal Times
Wednesday, October 01st, 2008 AT 10:10 AM
Tags: centenarian Joseph Neuner
...
All’s well: Joseph Neuner
PUNE: The German who left his country 70 years back to make Pune his home, Fr Joseph Neuner, who celebrated his 100th birthday on August 19, is one of the few centenarian Puneites who have seen the city changing over the years.
The priest with a sharp mind and a soft heart had taught theology at the De Nobili College in the city for several years. Some of his students are now bishops in India and abroad. Born in Feldkirch in Austria on August 19, 1908, he was ordained a priest in 1936 and came to India in 1938.
During the Second World War, he along with other German nationals in India, was imprisoned and detained first in Ahmednagar and later in Dehradun.
Fr Neuner was having evening tea at his residence, Sanjeevan Ashram, on Dhole Patil Road when this correspondent called on him on the eve of the Senior Citizens Day.
Being one of the experts from India who participated in the Second Vatican Council held in Rome from 1963-65, he had also drafted the speech for Pope Paul VI when the pontiff addressed a multi-religious gathering in Mumbai in 1964.
“Even at this age, the centenarian is very particular about his daily routine exercise and likes to walk around with the help of a walker,” says Fr Edwin Sequeira (80), a companion of Fr Neuner at Sanjeevan Ashram. “He also likes to eat sweets, especially chocolates,” he added.
Fr Neuner wrote his autobiography ‘Memories of my life’ when he completed 95 years in 2003.
“The clergyman enjoys normal diet, including non-vegetarian. Two years back, he broke his hip bone after a fall and since then moves around with a walker. Although now he is hard of hearing, he detests the idea of using a hearing equipment,” said Fr Sequeira, adding, “He keeps himself abreast of happenings around the world and likes to be part of the conversation at the dining table.”