13th Anniversary of the Episcopal Consecration
Most Rev. Dr. M. Devadass Ambrose
Bishop of Thanjavur

Date of Episcopal Consecration: 24th September 1997
Your Excellency,
May Jesus Christ Our Lord guide you with his love to lead the Diocese of Thanjavur to a deep God Experience and progress in every field. May the intercession of Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni shower God’s choicest blessings upon you.

Priests, Religious and Laity
of the Diocese of Thanjavur
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Kindly Note - Annual Retreat
Annual Retreat of our Diocesan Priests is arranged in two batches.
1. First batch from 10th Evening to 15th October 2010 at Pastoral Centre
Thanjavur.
2. Second batch from 17th Evening to 22nd October 2010 at Retreat Centre,
Vailankanni.
This information is publised well in advance, so that you could arrange your programme in such a way as to make yourself free to attend the annual retreat. if you choose First batch do inform The Director, Pastoral Centre, Thanjavur and Second batch do inform The Director, Retreat Centre, Vailankanni about it before 1st October 2010, so that he would make the necessary arrangements. Where there are two priests working in parishes / institutions, they could take their turn and attend the retreat.

+ Most Rev.Dr.M.Devadass Ambrose
Bishop of Thanjavur
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Senate Meeting on 30th July 2010.
The following points were taken for discussion:-
1. The report of the committee to study the place for parish church at Old Housing Unit, Thanjavur was presented.
There were five possible proposals. Among them two were taken up and discussed.
2. Diocesan Survey:
The Bishop highlighted from the report of the TNLBC the necessity of taking the population survey on the basis of caste for the civil and the Govt. purposes. It was also discussed that the survey should be purely in the nature of population data collection and to carryout this work a team was constituted by the Bishop with the following of members (1) Rev.Fr.Chancellor, (2) Rev.Fr.Victor Maria Susai, (3) Rev.Fr.T.Gnanapragasam, (4) The Secretary of TMSSS and (5) The Secretary PMSSS.
3. Diocesan synod:
The canonical procedure and the implications of the Diocesan synod were discussed. Instead of Synod a participatory form of consultation with all flexibilities with the priests, religious and lay members was also suggested. Finally it was suggested a committee is to be formed to frame the visions and Mission of the Diocese. Taking the salient features from both the synod and the participatory form of consultation.
4. The chairman invited to propose the topics to be dealt in the ongoing formation of priests.
5. Munnayampatty Parish:
The claim of the Vallam Puthur Villagers to remain in Vallam Parish was discussed and it was decided that they should be remain in the newly erected Munnayampatti Parish. And they should go for the sacraments to Munnayampatti and for mass they may attend in Vallam.
6. With regard to their problem of Mannargudi Parish, the Bishop placed before the senate that he would initiate canonical procedure Rev.Fr.P.Xavier, Parish Priest, Thiruthuraipoondi and Rev.Fr.R.Lourdusamy, Parish Priest, Needamangalam were appointed to go through the proceedure.
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Excerpts from TNBC Meeting
Sexual abuse
The phenomena of Catholic priests having sex-related problems were discussed. After much discussion the following suggestions were made:
a. When it is sufficiently, clear, after due enquiry, that a priest has had occasional or habitual sexual relationship, with a person of the same sex or of the opposite sex; whether the other person is a child, adolecent or adult; whether the priest accepts the fact or not, the first thing the Local Ordinary has to do is to remove the priest concerned from active pastoral ministry.
b. Next the priest has to be suspended from all pastoral ministry and the suspension must be made public in order to avoid scandal.
c. Next is to initiate the process of Laicization taking up the matter with the Holy See.
d. In case a priest sincerely repents of his mistake and there is no human rights issue involved on the part of the child, adolescent or woman involved and the priest demonstrates over a long period that he is really sincere in his repentance, and if he fulfils all the Canonical requirements in this regard, the matter has to be referred to the Holy See for eventual guidance and decision. If the priest has proved his innocent behavior beyond doubt, with the approval of the Holy See, the repentant priest may be sent for pastoral ministry to a far away place, where his case is not known, if a benevolent Bishop is ready to accept him after knowing his story and is willing to take him either permanently or temporarily.
e. In case of priests violating minors, when there is strong evidence, immediate suspension and dismissal are advised by the Holy see.
f. After the initial suspension, in the process of proving the guilt or innocence of the accused priest legal remedy may be sought for.
g. In all the cases of this type, the good of the priest, the good of the Church, human rights and justice to the other parties involved and the scandal to the public are all to be considered. Bishops were urged not to be slow or and unmindful to take action in such cases about priests.
h. Even in the case of a priest not accepting the serious accusation that he has sexual misbehavior with the person of the same sex or of the opposite sex, if there is sufficient evidence the matter of the accusation, he has to be removed from ministry until his innocence is proved.
i. Any attempt on the part of the Bishop, or other priests or by the people to save such priest by disregarding the accusation is serious offence to the justice of the people involved and a serious damage for the good of the Church.
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Canonical Procedure for Marriage
Preparation:
a. In order to write banns for marriage on has to have the following documents: (a) Baptism Certificate; (b) Certificate of participation in the Marriage Preparation course.
b. After collecting the above documents, fix up a date and time for writing banns. While writing banns, request the parties to fill up the Prenuptial Enquiry from themselves and authenticate it by your signature and seal.
c. After writing the banns arrange to give short catechesis to the parties on marriage as immediate preparation.

Procedure
a. The parish priest of the bride may write the banns first (not Canonical but customary practice) and send the Form “Procedure before Marriage” marking No. 1: You may write the banns for.... And send it to the parish priest of the place where the banns will be written for the bridegroom.
b. The parish priest of the bridegroom will write the banns and send a fresh Form “Procedure before Marriage” marking no.2: you may publish the banns for..... and send it to the parish priest of the bride. After getting this form, he may start publishing the banns.
c. Once the publication of the banns is over, the parish priest should send a fresh Form “Procedure before Marriage” marking no.3: You may assist at the marriage of...... to the parish priest where the marriage is celebrated. If the marriage is to be celebrated in the third place, other than the parishes where banns were written both parish priests of the bride and the bridegroom are to send the Form: “Procedure before Marriage” marking no.3: You may assist the marriage of...... together with a copy of the prenuptial enquiry duly filled in and the Baptism certificate to the parish priest where the marriage is celebrated.
d. After the marriage is celebrated, the parish priest of the place where the marriage is celebrated, should send the Form: “Notification about Marriage” duly filled to the parish priests of the place baptism of the bride and the bridegroom. The fact of the marriage is to be entered in the baptism register wherever it is.
e. Once the Form: “Notification about Marriage” is received the parish priest has to enter it into the baptism register of the concerned party.
f. The same Form “Procedure before Marriage” should not be sent to and fro between the parishes. Each time a new form is to filled in and sent, keeping the original form or the form received in the parish files.

Remarks
a. The banns are to be read in the parish of the party only in case of disparity of cult and mixed marriages. There is no need to publish this in the parish where the non-Christian or non-Catholic party resides, unless the other party converts before marriage.
b. The marriages of disparity of may not be celebrated in the Holy Mass in order not to cause embarrassment for the non-Christian party.
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IMPORTANT EVENTS - August 2010
1. Bishop celebrated Jubilee Mass along with Eight Silver Jubeeliarians on 4th August 2010 and the conclusion of the year for priests was also announced. There was a small felicitation function for the Jubeeliarians.
2. The diocesan new Charishmatic centre building was blessed and opened by our Bishop on 6th August 2010 at Madhakottai.
3. A meeting was held for the Sisters working fulltime in pastoral ministry at Thanjavur, Pastoral Centre on 9th August 2010, in which 22 sisters participated.
4. Bishop celebrated the Mass for the centenary Birth of Mother Theresa in Vailankanni on 11th August 2010.
5. Bishop blessed and opened the extended building in St.Mary’s Minor Seminary, Thanjavur followed by feast mass on 14th August 2010.
6. Thiruvarut Peravai (a group conisisting of members from all religious who promote religious harmony) held in Besant Lodge in Thanjavur on 16th August 2010. Bishop and representatives of other religions were participated.
7. Bishop attended function of the commissioning of the lay Evangelizers at Solagampatti, Mayiladuthurai Parish on 21st August 2010 organized by the Sacred Heart Brothers. The Diocesan Secretaries of the Chrismatic Centre and the Biblical & Evangelization Commissions participated in it . 23 lay evangelizers were commissioned to proclaim the Word of God.
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Let us Remember our Departed Brethren