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About Santvana Family
History and Evolution of Santvana Family
In 1989 while Fr.Dheeraj Sabu I.M.S. was serving in the I.M.S. Retreat Centre in Alleppey, down south of India he heard a call - a compelling inspiration from the Lord to go to North India .The message he received from the Lord was to preach the Gospel and to prepare the laity for evangelization, the implication of which he did not understand then. Initially he began a ministry known as ‘Suvishesha Kahalam’, which means the Trumpet of Good News, aimed at motivating Christians for evangelisation. Then in collaboration with Jesus Youth, he set about gathering people who are interested and bringing them to the north for an exposure to the missions. The ministry now came to be known as ‘Preshit 2000’. The word preshit means ‘the sent’. In December 1994 the team pitched its tent in Varanasi. Since then the team was called “Santvana” and gradually it developed into a Community.
This is how the Community got the name Santvana. Once, in 1995, the team went to pray for a burn victim who was dying. As the prayer ended, the lady kept repeating the word “Santvana”, used in the course of the prayer, over and over again. Listening to the word being repeated, we the team realised that this was what the Lord wanted to do through this budding group of evangelists. Santvana is a call to receive consolation from the Lord because we realise that we ourselves are wounded people and are in need of the healing touch of God. Santvana is a ministry “to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God” (2 Cor. 1:4).
Three major factors that contributed to the formation of Santvana
"New in its methods and New in its expressions”
(Pope John Paul II)
The declaration of the decade of evangelisation and the call for a new evangelization gave a powerful impetus to form a team for the ministry of proclamation. The Church documents explicitly mention the need for all faithful to participate in the mission of the Church. “The need for all the faithful to share in this responsibility is not merely a matter of making the apostolate more effective; it is a right and duty based on their baptismal dignity, whereby “the faithful participate, for their part, in the threefold mission of Christ as Priest, Prophet and King”; Therefore,
“They are bound by the general obligation and they have the right, whether as individuals or in associations, to strive so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all people throughout the world” (R.M.71).
Therefore the Community strives to make known the message of salvation to all people and to motivate, empower and equip the laity everywhere for the ministry of Prayer and Proclamation of the Word.
The Constitution of the Indian Missionary Society.
The Constitution of IMS states: “Sharing in the mission of the church, this Society has pioneering evangelization as its specific aim and the reason for its existence.” The Santvana Community has drawn inspiration from the constitution of the IMS, to dedicate itself to the ministry of Proclamation which is “The foundation, centre and summit of...dynamism” (Redemptoris Missio, 49) of the complex reality of evangelisation. The Constitution of IMS, Articles 18 & 19 enjoin on us the duty to involve the laity as collaborators in the apostolate.
Art.18. “Moreover, we instil in this Community an awareness of its missionary responsibility towards the whole Church so that one day it will be ready in its turn to pass on the message of salvation which it has received from others.”
Art. 19. “Conscious of the role and potentiality of the laity in the building up of the Christian Community we shall endeavour to involve them as our collaborators in the apostolate…”
In 1989 while Fr.Dheeraj Sabu I.M.S. was serving in the I.M.S. Retreat Centre in Alleppey, down south of India he heard a call - a compelling inspiration from the Lord to go to North India .The message he received from the Lord was to preach the Gospel and to prepare the laity for evangelization, the implication of which he did not understand then. Initially he began a ministry known as ‘Suvishesha Kahalam’, which means the Trumpet of Good News, aimed at motivating Christians for evangelisation. Then in collaboration with Jesus Youth, he set about gathering people who are interested and bringing them to the north for an exposure to the missions. The ministry now came to be known as ‘Preshit 2000’. The word preshit means ‘the sent’. In December 1994 the team pitched its tent in Varanasi. Since then the team was called “Santvana” and gradually it developed into a Community.
This is how the Community got the name Santvana. Once, in 1995, the team went to pray for a burn victim who was dying. As the prayer ended, the lady kept repeating the word “Santvana”, used in the course of the prayer, over and over again. Listening to the word being repeated, we the team realised that this was what the Lord wanted to do through this budding group of evangelists. Santvana is a call to receive consolation from the Lord because we realise that we ourselves are wounded people and are in need of the healing touch of God. Santvana is a ministry “to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God” (2 Cor. 1:4).
Three major factors that contributed to the formation of Santvana
- Catholic Charismatic Renewal in India
- The Call of Pope John Paul II for a new evangelization
"New in its methods and New in its expressions”
(Pope John Paul II)
The declaration of the decade of evangelisation and the call for a new evangelization gave a powerful impetus to form a team for the ministry of proclamation. The Church documents explicitly mention the need for all faithful to participate in the mission of the Church. “The need for all the faithful to share in this responsibility is not merely a matter of making the apostolate more effective; it is a right and duty based on their baptismal dignity, whereby “the faithful participate, for their part, in the threefold mission of Christ as Priest, Prophet and King”; Therefore,
“They are bound by the general obligation and they have the right, whether as individuals or in associations, to strive so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all people throughout the world” (R.M.71).
Therefore the Community strives to make known the message of salvation to all people and to motivate, empower and equip the laity everywhere for the ministry of Prayer and Proclamation of the Word.
The Constitution of the Indian Missionary Society.
The Constitution of IMS states: “Sharing in the mission of the church, this Society has pioneering evangelization as its specific aim and the reason for its existence.” The Santvana Community has drawn inspiration from the constitution of the IMS, to dedicate itself to the ministry of Proclamation which is “The foundation, centre and summit of...dynamism” (Redemptoris Missio, 49) of the complex reality of evangelisation. The Constitution of IMS, Articles 18 & 19 enjoin on us the duty to involve the laity as collaborators in the apostolate.
Art.18. “Moreover, we instil in this Community an awareness of its missionary responsibility towards the whole Church so that one day it will be ready in its turn to pass on the message of salvation which it has received from others.”
Art. 19. “Conscious of the role and potentiality of the laity in the building up of the Christian Community we shall endeavour to involve them as our collaborators in the apostolate…”
Our Positioning in Catholic Church
In its early years Santvana team functioned and spread out to the Archdiocese of Agra and the Diocese of Meerut as a ministry of Varanasi Province of the IMS. Later, considering its steady growth as a Community, with the recommendation of the Major Superior of the Indian Missionary Society, the Community was canonically erected, having temporarily approved the statutes, ad experimentum for three years, as a private association of the faithful in the Archdiocese of Delhi by The Archbishop of Delhi, His Grace Most Rev. Vincent M. Concessao on July 7, 2003. After having accepted and approved the statutes of Santvana, the Archbishop of Delhi on July 7, 2007 by a decree canonically erected the Santvana Community of Disciples on a permanent basis as a private association in the Church. The charism or the mission that is entrusted to the Community is building the Kingdom of God through “PRAYER and PROCLAMATION of the Word.
The Logo
The Symbols contained in the logo are the globe, a lighted candle and an open book. The candle lit is the symbol of disciple of Christ. It is aglow with the light of Christ. It glows, spending itself, and disappears in order to give light and warmth to others. The open book represents the Holy Bible. Disciple is the candle that gives light to help all people of this world to see, read and understand the word of God.
Why Santvana?
Refocusing on “prayer and ministry of the Word” (Acts 6: 4)
Santvana Community’s focus is on “prayer and proclamation of the Word”. To understand the setting of Acts 6: 4, we must read Acts 4: 34-35 which says: “There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need”. As good stewards, taking care of the money entrusted to them by new believers and caring of the needs of every person in the community was indeed an enormous task for the apostles that demanded much of their attention and time. It might have surely resulted in having no time and energy left for prayer and the ministry of the Word, leading to the negligence of mission, which was more specific to them. “So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the Word of God to serve at table” (Acts 6:2). Thus they came to the most important decision to re-focus saying “whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word”(Acts 6: 4). Provisions were also made to take care of every important responsibility of the community of believers by appointing Deacons.
Today the Church needs to refocus once again on “prayer and on the ministry of the Word”. Presenting the Gospel to the multitudes who have not heard or experienced the Gospel of salvation must be first the priority. The Lord had said that he would leave the ninety-nine and go in search of the one that is lost. Most of the pastors are probably busy today with the one that is not lost and more concerned about the institutions, forgetting the ninety-nine that are lost.
Difficulties both internal and external have weakened the Church’s missionary thrust towards non-Christians, a fact which must arouse concern among all who believe in Christ. (Redemptoris Missio 2.2).
The Lord brought Santvana Community into existence to focus on the need to bring the Gospel of salvation to the multitudes who have not heard the Gospel of Salvation.
Motivating the Faithful to Participate in the Mission
“The need for all the faithful to share in this responsibility is not merely a matter of making the apostolate more effective; it is a right and duty based on their baptismal dignity, whereby “the faithful participate, for their part, in the threefold mission of Christ as Priest, Prophet and King”; Therefore, “they are bound by the general obligation and they have the right, whether as individuals or in associations, to strive so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all people throughout the world” (R.M. 71). Today vast majority of Christian faithful are not aware of this obligation and are indifferent to the mission. Therefore, the Community strives to motivate, empower and equip the laity everywhere to participate in the evangelizing mission of the Church. For this purpose, the Community offers School of Love, School of Prayer, School of Evangelization.
In its early years Santvana team functioned and spread out to the Archdiocese of Agra and the Diocese of Meerut as a ministry of Varanasi Province of the IMS. Later, considering its steady growth as a Community, with the recommendation of the Major Superior of the Indian Missionary Society, the Community was canonically erected, having temporarily approved the statutes, ad experimentum for three years, as a private association of the faithful in the Archdiocese of Delhi by The Archbishop of Delhi, His Grace Most Rev. Vincent M. Concessao on July 7, 2003. After having accepted and approved the statutes of Santvana, the Archbishop of Delhi on July 7, 2007 by a decree canonically erected the Santvana Community of Disciples on a permanent basis as a private association in the Church. The charism or the mission that is entrusted to the Community is building the Kingdom of God through “PRAYER and PROCLAMATION of the Word.
The Logo
The Symbols contained in the logo are the globe, a lighted candle and an open book. The candle lit is the symbol of disciple of Christ. It is aglow with the light of Christ. It glows, spending itself, and disappears in order to give light and warmth to others. The open book represents the Holy Bible. Disciple is the candle that gives light to help all people of this world to see, read and understand the word of God.
Why Santvana?
Refocusing on “prayer and ministry of the Word” (Acts 6: 4)
Santvana Community’s focus is on “prayer and proclamation of the Word”. To understand the setting of Acts 6: 4, we must read Acts 4: 34-35 which says: “There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need”. As good stewards, taking care of the money entrusted to them by new believers and caring of the needs of every person in the community was indeed an enormous task for the apostles that demanded much of their attention and time. It might have surely resulted in having no time and energy left for prayer and the ministry of the Word, leading to the negligence of mission, which was more specific to them. “So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the Word of God to serve at table” (Acts 6:2). Thus they came to the most important decision to re-focus saying “whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word”(Acts 6: 4). Provisions were also made to take care of every important responsibility of the community of believers by appointing Deacons.
Today the Church needs to refocus once again on “prayer and on the ministry of the Word”. Presenting the Gospel to the multitudes who have not heard or experienced the Gospel of salvation must be first the priority. The Lord had said that he would leave the ninety-nine and go in search of the one that is lost. Most of the pastors are probably busy today with the one that is not lost and more concerned about the institutions, forgetting the ninety-nine that are lost.
Difficulties both internal and external have weakened the Church’s missionary thrust towards non-Christians, a fact which must arouse concern among all who believe in Christ. (Redemptoris Missio 2.2).
The Lord brought Santvana Community into existence to focus on the need to bring the Gospel of salvation to the multitudes who have not heard the Gospel of Salvation.
Motivating the Faithful to Participate in the Mission
“The need for all the faithful to share in this responsibility is not merely a matter of making the apostolate more effective; it is a right and duty based on their baptismal dignity, whereby “the faithful participate, for their part, in the threefold mission of Christ as Priest, Prophet and King”; Therefore, “they are bound by the general obligation and they have the right, whether as individuals or in associations, to strive so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all people throughout the world” (R.M. 71). Today vast majority of Christian faithful are not aware of this obligation and are indifferent to the mission. Therefore, the Community strives to motivate, empower and equip the laity everywhere to participate in the evangelizing mission of the Church. For this purpose, the Community offers School of Love, School of Prayer, School of Evangelization.
Houses
Mother House, Delhi
This is the headquarters of the Community and is located in Burari Village in Delhi. The Community was living in Delhi from 2001 onwards but was put up in rented houses. On July 26, 2009 our new house in Burari was inaugurated. We have our Main Office and an Animation Centre in this new building. The Shepherd and the Servant Leader of the Community and a few other members reside in the mother house.
Santvana Prayer House , Burari, Delhi
This is the first Perpetual Adoration House of the Community. It was inaugurated on 3rd Oct.2004 on the occasion of the inauguration of the year of the Holy Eucharist. Our prayer warriors continuously pray for the whole world and for all the intercession requests which pours out from the whole world.
Santvana Mission House, Agra
In Agra Santvana Community’s mission is to help the seekers to grow in the faith and discipleship of Christ and to assist the local Church in its mission of evangelisation.
Santvana Mission House, Memuri, and Santvana House, Kottayam
Creating missionary zeal among the Christians, conducting Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and intercessory prayers to support missionary activities of the Church are the goals of Santvana’s ministries in Kerala. At Memuri near Kuruppenthara, Santvana has its second Perpetual Adoration Center.
Members
MISSIONARY FAMILIES OF SANTVANA
Chittilappilly family- making disciples
It was the time when all were talking about evangelization 2000. Our hearts too were set on fire. The thought came to us that until someone was willing to fore go their security in life this hype about Evangelizing the world would only be ‘Big talk’. Someone would have to pay the price and give up one’s own plan so that the Lord’s plan could be realized. This thought made us take the plunge. A Word of God that gave us courage was, “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” Mt 16:26. Now after 14 years ( 1997- 2011) on looking back there is a sense of fulfillment that we were found worthy to be His instruments.
- Mr. Santhosh J. Chittilapilly MSc Bed (Physics) Age 43
- Mrs Sali Santhosh BSc Bed (Maths), Age 40
Children:
- Joash John Santhosh (12)
- Joanna Mary Santhosh (10)
- Elizabeth Santhosh (8 +)
- Jonathan Santhosh (6+)
- Agnes Santhosh, (4+)
Pallan family- building net work of evangelizers
Motto: To build His Kingdom for His Glory pursuing path of Love.
The hunger and thirst to make the Lord known inspired by the experience of God's love made us to take the commitment as a full time missionary family. We find it a privilege and for that very reason a greater obligation of bearing witness, participating in the mission of the Church. Pursuing love in the community life , we strive to become a total, free, sincere, fruitful self gift to God and to the people.
- Mr. Alexy Pallan B. A. Age 45
- Mrs. Shiney Alexy,LLB, Age 41
Children:
- Savio Joseph (13)
- Veronica Celine (12)
- Rosa Rose (10)
- Daniel Raphel (6)
- Ruth Ann (5)
Lobo family- dynamic organization
Motto: To be rooted in His love to proclaim Him.
After our personal encounters with the Lord, both of us were motivated to surrender our lives to Him. For us Santvana is a big family where we have the freedom to learn, make mistakes, to be ourselves, i.e. to be fully human and to aspire to become divine in the nursery of love. After our personal encounters with the Lord, both of us were motivated to surrender our lives to Him. For us Santvana is a big family where we have the freedom to learn, make mistakes, to be ourselves, i.e. to be fully human and to aspire to become divine in the nursery of love.
- Mr. Naveen Lobo, B. Com Age 40
- Mrs. Jini Lobo, B. Tech. Age 34
Children:
- Judith Mary Lobo (6)
- Joshua Joseph Lobo (2)
- Naomi Ann Lobo (1)
Santvana Associate Missionary Families
Chittilappilly family
- Mr. Joju C.C & Sapna Joju
Children:
- James Prakash
- Teresa Prakash
- Jose Prakash
- Sebastian Prakash
- Francis Prakash
Kulakkattil family
- Mr. Sugathan Paul B. Com Age 48
- Mrs. Sandhya Maria, Age 35
- child: John (4)
Missionary Brothers and Sisters
- Bro. Anthony Doss, Age 68
- Bro. Manish Thomas (Jinu), Age 34
- Bro. Jeevan Kumar, Age 33
- Bro. Amit Paul Kerketta, Age 26
- Bro. Kalyan Ekka, Age 35
- Bro. Anthony Xavier, Age, 36
- Sr. Pally Thresia, Age 65
- Sr. Celine K. K. Age 61
- Sr. Reena Kujur, Age 26
Associate Missionary Brothers and Sisters
- Anto Cherian age 40
- Nazian Ekka, Age 26
- Mariam Kachap, Age 80
- Thresiamma, Age 55
Spirituality of ‘Prem Marg’- Path of Love
The Lord chose his disciples to be with him and to be sent forth. The goal of our spirituality is to nurture one’s intimacy with the Lord and to learn to make his new commandment the norm of our day to day life. The Spirituality and mission of the Community are inseparably linked to each other. The Holy Bible reveals that “God is love” and “he who does not love does not know God” (1Jn. 4:8). The knowledge of God is inseparably linked to true love. The ultimate goal and the deep longing of every human heart is to reach God who is love. The documents of the Church also have stated “perfection in love” as the basic call of Christian life.
Perfection in love does not happen automatically. As it is said, ‘love works if we work at it.’ The sacred scripture exhorts the believers to have love as their goal of life and to ‘strive’ and “pursue love” (1Cor.14:1) ‘Prem Marg’ which means Path of Love contains both the spirituality and the mission of Santvana Community of Disciples. “In the complex reality of mission, initial proclamation has a central and irreplaceable role since it introduces man into the mystery of the love of God and invites him to enter into a personal relationship with himself in Christ and opens way to conversion” (Redemptoris Missio, 44). Introducing people into the mystery of the love of God through Prayer and Proclamation of the Word is the mission proper to the Community.
The Lord chose his disciples to be with him and to be sent forth. The goal of our spirituality is to nurture one’s intimacy with the Lord and to learn to make his new commandment the norm of our day to day life. The Spirituality and mission of the Community are inseparably linked to each other. The Holy Bible reveals that “God is love” and “he who does not love does not know God” (1Jn. 4:8). The knowledge of God is inseparably linked to true love. The ultimate goal and the deep longing of every human heart is to reach God who is love. The documents of the Church also have stated “perfection in love” as the basic call of Christian life.
Perfection in love does not happen automatically. As it is said, ‘love works if we work at it.’ The sacred scripture exhorts the believers to have love as their goal of life and to ‘strive’ and “pursue love” (1Cor.14:1) ‘Prem Marg’ which means Path of Love contains both the spirituality and the mission of Santvana Community of Disciples. “In the complex reality of mission, initial proclamation has a central and irreplaceable role since it introduces man into the mystery of the love of God and invites him to enter into a personal relationship with himself in Christ and opens way to conversion” (Redemptoris Missio, 44). Introducing people into the mystery of the love of God through Prayer and Proclamation of the Word is the mission proper to the Community.
Our Charism
“Santvana is a Community of disciples committed to strive together to follow the Lord in the PREM MARG - PATH OF LOVE, to build the Kingdom of God through PRAYER and PROCLAMATION of the Word.”
Art. 6. Santvana’s threefold missionary tasks:
“Santvana is a Community of disciples committed to strive together to follow the Lord in the PREM MARG - PATH OF LOVE, to build the Kingdom of God through PRAYER and PROCLAMATION of the Word.”
Art. 6. Santvana’s threefold missionary tasks:
- Presentation of the Gospel of salvation to all people who have not yet received it. Exploring the possibilities of meaningful presentation of the Gospel, in the power of the Holy Spirit, in the milieu of an emerging global culture.
- Making the Eucharistic presence of the Lord available to all people through perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, interceding for all people in need and for missionaries all over the world.
- Motivating, equipping and empowering Christian faithful to live and share the Gospel and thus to fulfill their responsibility of participating in the Mission of the Church.
Our Beliefs
"His new commandment is our rule of life, His last commandment is our first mission." His New Commandment, “Love one another, as I have loved you”
"His new commandment is our rule of life, His last commandment is our first mission." His New Commandment, “Love one another, as I have loved you”
- Love and respect people of all religions, cultures and languages.
- Respect the dignity of every human person from conception till death, and beyond.
- Believe that the greatest fulfilment of a human person is in giving oneself to serve the needy, even sacrificing one’s own life.
- Help someone to face the struggles of life with courage.
- Empower the underprivileged to find the way towards a more meaningful and wholesome life.
- Believe that the Earth is the Home of every human being and all other living beings. Human selfishness and greed has destroyed the earth, made life very comfortable for a few and difficult for the rest of the world. The Earth needs to be cared for.
- Present the Gospel of salvation to all people who have not yet received it, through person-to-person communication, with respect and esteem for the listeners
- Make the presence of the Lord available to all the people through perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- Bring divine consolation and healing upon people through prayer of intercession
- Motivate, equip and empower the Christian faithful to live and share the Gospel.
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