Spread Devotion to The Miraculous Novena Prayer to The Holy Trinity

Contact Melvyn Brown if your Prayers have been fulfilled or to place Prayer Petitions at the
Chapel of Divine Mercy at 3, Elliott Road, Calcutta-700 016. West Bengal. India.
Email: melvynbrown21@gmail.com
Mobile: 9433 989419
Phone: 033 2217 1542

Spread Devotion to The Miraculous Novena Prayer to The Holy Trinity

ST. MARY’S PARISH FEAST DAY WAS BREATHTAKING By a Correspondent

The early Sunday morning air (15 September) had the fragrance of fresh flowers circling the parish church of St. Mary’s, Calcutta. The bell rang to announce the feast day of the parish dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Soon the rush to complete the last minute preparations; after all, the Archbishop was to arrive for the Trilingual Mass at 9 a.m. It would be a concelebrated high Mass.

The Catholic spirit of love showed itself in the unlikeliest of places. An infirm lady was carried up to the first floor for the Mass.  A gentleman told his wife on the steps of the church as they waited for the Bishop’s arrival: “Let’s have a simple breakfast when we go home.” He then turned around and put a fifty-rupee note in the hand of a destitute woman with a child.

It was a sentiment the catholic parish could endorse. Crowds of parishioners filled the pews. The church looked beautiful with colors adorning the altar and with women and girls turning out in multi-colored saries, dresses, jeans and kurties along the polished pews, while the men wore strong sprays of musk and deodorant. Surprisingly, the catholic communities were very noticed in their respective places – all prepared to join in the Bengali, Hindi and English hymns.

The entrance hymn was followed by the welcome address given by Father John Mohandas, the parish priest. The Archbishop, Thomas D’Souza spoke a few words in his soft and serene voice. He was happy, he said, to be at the parish Feast Day. (See pictures).

Symbolic offerings were given to the archbishop from the various parish groups: the altar-servers, the parish council, the catholic women, the Sunday-school children, the S.V.P and the C.A.B. among others. It was a welcome surprise when the first parish newsletter was released by the Bishop.

At the end of the High Mass a special gift on behalf of the parish was presented to His Grace by Melvyn Brown, founder of the Ambassadors For Jesus.

This year’s parish Feast Day was an awesome gesture of pastoral spirituality.

Altar-Servers Sodality Initiated at Saint Mary's Church- Ripon Street- Calcutta

Saint Mary’s Church, Ripon Street, Calcutta, celebrated Altar-Servers Day on Sunday. The church was well attended. The altar was decked with flowers and looked resplendent with the altar-servers, the three priest-celebrants and the choir at the far-side of the altar.
The new sodality of altar-servers was graced with over forty boys and girls in special red and white dresses. They were each presented with a cross on a ribbon and those who deserved credit for outstanding service at the altar were given gifts. An appropriate blessing was part of the happening. The altar-servers made a pledge to do their best in service and to be regular in their attendance.

The Ambassadors For Jesus and the AFJ Catholic Women United were represented by Founder Melvyn Brown who congratulated the children, said a few inspiring words on the event and thanked Fr. John Mohandas, the parish priest for his dedicated spiritual and pastoral work in the parish, also for having established the Altar-Servers Sodality in a move to enrich the new evangelization in the parishes. This will be a significant moment in the history of the church on Ripon Street.

Melvyn Brown spoke on behalf of the AFJ and presented Miss Angela Ambrose,11 years old, with a Citation for her pious devotion and dedication as a server at the altar (see photos). The parish priest gave a warm word of thanks to the children. Fr. John Mohandas requested parents in the congregation to encourage their children to come forward and join the sodality. He said the sodality was dedicated to Saint Dominic Savio, the patron saint of altar-servers.
Young Ashton Domingo, 4 years old was called up to the altar along with his father to be blessed on his birthday. The choir sang ‘Showers of Blessings’. Later refreshments were given to the participants and their parents. It was a day to long remember.
Praiseworthy is the word. “I imagine nothing more could have been done to make the Altar-Servers Day a better success,” said a proud mother, and most notably, 40 children in the event was a pastoral triumph.

By The All-Parish News Reporter. Calcutta. India

CHAPEL OF DIVINE MERCY PRAYER

JESUS ,  I  TRUST  IN  YOU

     CHAPEL  OF  DIVINE  MERCY  PRAYER

                         Jesus ,  Divine Mercy , I implore you to hear my humble prayer.

                         Jesus,   Divine Light  , guide me away from the darkness of sin.

                        Jesus ,  I Trust in You , in Your Mercy and forgiveness.

                        Jesus, make me feel Your Presence in my daily actions , and struggle.

                       Jesus, hear my petition and help me bear my sorrows.

                      Jesus, touch my soul and heal me to be a better person.

                       Jesus, Divine Mercy , I Trust in You. ( 3 times )

                                                                                         Amen.

                                                                                      Composed by Melvyn Brown

                                                                                              29 April 2013

                                                                                  Feast of St . Catherine of Siena                   

INAUGURATION OF THE RENOVATED CHAPEL OF DIVINE MERCY

FR. CARAPIET  SHARES  MIRACLE  NEWS ON THE  INTERNET

A bright blue sky and shimmering sunlight greeted devotees on Sunday morning , 28 April 2013 as they came down from distant places to attend the inauguration of the renovated chapel of Divine Mercy at 3 Elliott Road, Calcutta. Melvyn Brown, Founder of the Ambassadors For Jesus, a lay Catholic movement welcomed the people.

Fr. Basil, asst. parish priest, St. Mary’s Church , Ripon Street blessed the Chapel’s altar (see pic). He read a passage from the gospel, and involved those present in prayers to Mother Mary and Jesus. Fr. Basil blessed the people, and the inner rooms of the Chapel, the home of Mr. Brown.

Melvyn Brown was asked to narrate his experience of the miracle light.  He was emotionally moved by the gravity of the event. Melvyn said, with his charismatic flair, that this was truly a welcome Message for this Holy Year of Faith. It was said AFJ Founder , a seed cast for the sharing of our Catholic faith among all people. Indeed, the social dynamic of the miracle had already, in a few days, lit and uplifted the faith in many hearts in the city, and elsewhere around the country.

The Secular Citizen (Mumbai), a Catholic weekly, splashed the miracle news in colour in their issue of 15 April , 2013.

A Catholic priest, Fr. Mervyn Carapiet (Calcutta), stated that there was a message from Jesus: “YES, the message is clear, Jesus Divine Mercy wants people in the city to know of His Presence here.”  On the internet, Fr. Carapiet wrote : “ Friends, Please download and see for yourselves. You may go to Elliott Road, Kolkatta and see the place where it happened. Blessings, Fr. Mervyn Carapiet . “

Indeed, the social impact of this miracle is, perhaps, the Lord’s way to bring His people together in the Holy Year of Faith.

UNEXPLAINED LIGHT AT DIVINE MERCY CHAPEL ON GOOD FRIDAY

UNEXPLAINED LIGHT AT DIVINE MERCY CHAPEL ON GOOD FRIDAY By Melvyn Brown, AFJ

Amazing . That was the only word used by a devotee who failed to say anything more. The burst of light on the altar of the Divine Mercy at 3 Elliott Road, Calcutta, happened at 5:15 p.m. on Good Friday.

Keeping to the annual practice the statues had been covered since Maunday Thursday ; and the door of the chapel was kept open from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight for pilgrims who go visiting seven to nine places of worship in the city.

On the following day, Good Friday, from 6 a.m. to 12 noon the chapel door was kept open till noon. Some 300 devotees had visited the chapel. The count was kept by the distribution of free medals and prayer cards. The Good Friday service at St.Mary’s church started at 3 p.m. After the service I returned home , closed the door and window and went into the inner room to rest.

Around 5:15 p.m. the burst of light on the altar made me rush out. I snatched the camera which I had used in the morning to take pictures of the devotees. After the photo was taken the light was gone in a few seconds. It cannot be explained.

Faith in the Christian Family

CHRISTIAN PARENTS AND FAITH IN THE FAMILY  By MELVYN BROWN

Young people sense the Divine Presence of God in the world. Parents and many adults have the opportunity to nurture the gift of faith in children; faith which will sustain them through life and as adults in the future.
Parents, in guiding their children in faith will not always have all the answers.  “It’s all right to say you don’t know,” said Cardinal Ronald Hart. There’s a lot of mystery about faith. Don’t give simple answers because some answers are not so simple. It will take a lifetime to under-stand them. Robin Bose, a catechist said, “ The most important thing that parents can teach their children is that they are not alone in the world. They are loved by a God who is the source of all love.”
God can be found in everyday moments which parents can share with their children. One Bengali-Catholic mother found that she and her six-year old daughter got their day off to a good start when she played ‘Christian music ‘.
A lady I know spends time at home and says, “It’s good for your children to see you at prayer. This teaches them more effectively than a lecture. “
“If a child sees the parent struggling to do the right thing, sometimes failing, the child will have compassion “, said Mary Mathew, a junior school teacher. She suggests that a parent who tries to live by the Gospel’s values, strives for a healthy spirituality, respects human dignity and is sensitive to the needs of others.
While many parents are eager to pass along the faith that has meant so much to them, some struggle with how to introduce religion to their children. One parent said; “What are they going to believe when we don’t know what we believe? “ The answer is found in prayer, self-performance, in helping the helpless, in attending services and asking God to guide and help.
When one parent enrolled her daughter in the local parish Sunday School, she discovered her own faith rekindle. She believed that she had to do more leading by example.
Youngsters have a spiritual sense that can be tapped. The large numbers who turned out to greet Pope John Paul II during his visit to Calcutta indicated this interest.
Faith is a great legacy. Yet, ultimately it is a gift of God – as individual, as unique as each of His beloved children.
Psalm 25: 4-5 says, “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in Your truth, and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. “
A Catholic priest once impressed me when he said : “ God speaks most powerfully in the wilderness experience, for instance, when the family faces divorce, unemployment, illness or other trouble, God is with us throughout life and ‘ can do things in you if you’re open to Him’. So, let us as a family open the door of Faith in our own family, each to his own.

Anglo-Indian Article in Ei Samay (This Moment)

An article in a local Bengali Newspaper on the Anglo-Indian community, has been published today the 6th of January. Today is the first day of the Ninth International Anglo-Indian Reunion being held in the city of Calcutta(Kolkata) in India.
The title of the article published in Ei Samay(This Moment) read, "Bread, Butter and Halwa Puri"..

Anglo-Indian Gallery for a Calcutta Spring by A Correspondent

Befitting a city known for its multicultural and multilingual extravaganzas , the opening of the Gallery for Anglo-Indian Heritage at Calcutta adds a new dimension to its perspective. The Gallery showcases some of the most important encounters with people of courage and compassion who had shaped the history, heritage and culture of the race.
The Anglo-Indian Spring has also arrived.
The Ninth International Anglo-Indian Reunion is being held (6th –12th. January 2013) at Calcutta. On Park Street , a week long street celebration had colourful food stalls dotted along the pavements, some with Anglo-Indian cuisine in between the food delights of other communities. On the 31st December 2012, Anglo-Indians poured into the dance halls across the metropolis : Dalhousie Institute, the Rangers Club and the Grail Club were packed to the hilt on New Year's Eve.
Add to the good of all this, comes the timely introduction of the Anglo-Indian Gallery ,founded and directed by Melvyn Brown at 3 Elliott Road, Calcutta 700016. Books on the history and heritage takes a stand among the popular films made on the race in English and Hindi. It is also a first to observe the display if tapes on “Anglo-Indian Oral History” – voices from the past recalling many a historic moment. Magazines and newspapers with articles on the community are displayed.
Today, Anglo-Indian men and women are playing a dramatic role in the Anglo-Indian Spring. They are contributing much to their peoples pride of place in a nation where their mother- tongue is English. Once again they can galvanize, as before, in the fields of sport, education, armed forces and the fine arts. Despite the odds they face the Anglo-Indian Spring is refresh-ing to come by. Today’s youth are in centre-stage to confront any distraction or economic challenge.
The B.B.C. in London has a special corner in their library with Anglo-Indian books and literature. In a recent series called, “Who do you think you are” one of the personalities who thought he was a Scotsman turned out to be Anglo-Indian : he was Alistair McGowan, a British actor and comedian. He now belongs in the Anglo-Indian tapestry.

Anglo-Indian Reunion Calcutta 2013: What Might Have Been by Melvyn Brown

The International Reunion of Anglo-Indians over the years has always been a warm, welcome and invigorating experience for all. It brings back memories ,opens the doors to meet and greet others of the community : to bond with the circles of those who try to dilute the pain and suffering of those others based in austere economical conditions ; who live in broken shelters of home and hearth. Every Reunion has a symposium, the theme always revolves around what can be done and should be done for the upliftment of the tragic few “left behind”.
Sorry, there are no destitutes among Anglo-Indians in Calcutta. Sorry, there are no cases of Anglo-Indians starving and dying of malnutrition in Calcutta. The word ‘destitute’ means , not having a single coin to their name. And ‘starving’ would mean not having anything to eat. Highlighting these aspects would be ridiculous. Yes, the poorest of the poor Anglo-Indians in Calcutta are struggling in our midst.  They are , you could say ‘below-the-poverty line’ : if you wish, the ‘lower-middle-class’.
Tentatively talks at Reunions agree and disagree on taking courses of action which often pleases both sides and leaves the poor poorer . A mother received one kilo of edible oil (in her rations) ;she sold the oil to buy her newborn child milk – and personally, had not much left for her food. The rice (in her rations was collected over the weeks and sold to pay the house rent). Speakers at Reunions elaborate on economic strife. The rupee value per family in the open market is seldom considered. There is a ‘pension’ allotment for the aged tied with a short fuse. How about calling it ‘personal help’ allotment ? All this is incredibly sad, if you see the other side of the picture.
Celebration plans for Reunions have never failed to amaze. Every one of the eight Reunions, so far, have been praised and justified for their prodigious sunshine and energy in plan layout and eventual success. Rightly so. All previous Reunions have had the’ poor Anglo-Indians’ at heart. The poor, especially in Calcutta.
Now, for the first time the Ninth Reunion is being held at Calcutta itself. The host is the Calcutta Anglo-Indian Social Service.  The decision to host the event in Calcutta was a welcome chord. The opportunity to directly be in touch with the poor was a dream come true for the community’s most-in-want. It was a significant first step.
After all the eight Reunions across the globe one might have welcomed a special Day in the program when poor Anglo-Indians could be made to feel welcome without having to buy an event-ticket : to enjoy a sumptuous lunch, have fun and games, and to leave with a special gift which would be engraved in each poor heart for generations to come.
Imagine, all those from abroad who subscribed to every Reunion stepping forward to shake the hand of poor Anglo-Indians. At a Calcutta Reunion there should be no time for a Symposium – only for the poor in the community. Also, the river cruise could have been kept aside. After all, being witness to the smiles and laughter of the poor no amount of money could ever buy.
It is now virtually certain that what might have been may yet be possible somewhere else, when Calcutta’s poor Anglo-Indians can be taken on a tourist flight to shake hands with their better off brethren. Love can work miracles.