NOV - DEC The Voice of St. Jude

Transcription

1 NOV - DEC

2 NOV - DEC vkn kz iqj fgr (Mrs. Rita Baines) lqu ân; esa lpph vkgv py imk igpkuus viuh cqykgv lkeuk D; a u djuk ims] vusd dmokgv fqj Hkh psgjs ij jgrh gs eqldjkgv pydj à k&firk dh vkkkv a ij] djrs lsok nhu&ghu a dh Hkw ij] jgrs lnk e g&ek;k ls Åij] v j fur pyrs lr ifk ij tsls dud rirk ikod esa osls gh rirs ; s d V a esa g rh budh Hkh ijh{kk vfxu esa rc ;s lt tkrs osr&/koy ifj/kku a esa cmk dfbu gs iqj fgr cuuk la?k kz fujurj djrs jguk imrk gs yeck thou ikj djuk Bku fy;k lppk f k ; gs cuuk lpps cfugkj cuus d fy;s?kj&}kj viu a d rtus d fy;s g tkrs rrij ßijÞ lsok d fy;s rc ;s ÞQknjÞ cu tkrs lc d fy;s iqj fgrkfhk ksd d fnu lg kz os vfhkf kdr g rs à oj ls os dqn thou,slk thus dh os djrs ÁfrKk tu leeq[k os lkalkfjd lq[k a d rt dj os ÁHkq opu ij fur pydj os nfjærk] ifo=rk&vkkkdkfjrk dh] djrs ÁfrKk eu&opu o dez ls os bl Ádkj vkn kz iqj fgr cudj nhu&ghu os Lo;a cudj nsrs mnkgj.k vius thou ls Mj u dfbukb; a o >a>kcr a ls djrh gw ÁkFkZuk gj iqj fgr d fy;s à k firk rw mudk ekxzn kzu dj thou Lo;a dk lkfkzd dj ped os lnk,d Þvkn kz iqj fgrþ cudj 2

3 NOV - DEC Editor s Point...2 Shepherd Voice...3 Baptism of Fire...4 Christ Minus Carols...9 Charismatic Healing Convention...10 The Nostalgic Feast...12 Photos of Feast Reminders for Good Catholic Life...27 CONTENTS India s Tipping Point...29 Jesus Also Prayed...32 Sex & The Synod...36 From Peshawar To Bethlehem...40 Family an Active Mediator in the Transmission of Christian Faith...42 From the Pilgrims...46 WITH ECCLESIASTICAL APPROBATION OFFICIAL ORGAN OF: St. Jude s Shrine, Civil Lines, JHANSI (U.P.) India Shrine Office: Parish Priest: Pastoral Centre: stjudesshrine@rediffmail.com stjudesshrine@yahoo.co.in Website: PATRON : Most Rev. Peter Parapullil Bishop of Jhansi EDITOR : Voice of St. Jude, Jhansi Ph : voiceofsaintjude@gmail.com LAYOUT & PRINTING : Jyoti Printers, NOIDA : SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Annual Rs. 50, Two Years Rs. 95, Three years Rs. 140, Five years Rs. 220, Ten Years Rs. 400/- By Airmail per year US $8 PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY 1

4 NOV - DEC Editor s Point FOLLOW THE RIGHT STAR! Dear Friends, Christmas reminds us of stars. As you move around these days, one is sure to find stars in plenitude. All of these remind us of Jesus born 2000 years ago. The Star of Bethlehem was moving high in the sky on that gracious day, guiding the humanity towards a baby. This was seen by many, observed by some, but followed by a very few. Two millennia have passed after the birth of Saviour. Today, Christianity has been accepted by the world majority as way to salvation. Yet, the quench and search for the true star continues. Yes, the fact remains - Even today, a tiny few know the right star and genuine followers could be counted on fingertips. You must have surely known the Star of Bethlehem, a marvellous movie attempting scientifically to find the divine light. It is an astronomical thriller by Mr. Stephen McEveety. I know there are more attempts such as these worth our sincere appreciation. These men of remarkable depth communicate a message: Right star would take us to right destination and wrong one would mislead us. Yes, the Star of Bethlehem took the wise men to new-born Jesus. Following the wrong one would be disastrous. Of course, following the right star is risky (danger-filled) and adventurous (full of challenges and excitement). This is also true that a star symbolises grace and providence. When in trouble, when one is uncertain and confused, God would provide a silver line. Whenever humanity looked upto God to seek his will, Divine Providence supplied us with signs. This happens even today to everyone who places his trust in God. Troubles and hardships do come like they had come to Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. No place to stay, life- threatening situations from Herod, refuge in foreign land... These only strengthened the faith of the members of Holy Family. God stood by them. God stands by us when we place our trust in him. Signs and symbols like stars and angels, dreams and visions are enormously provided. I hope and pray that this Christmas and during the coming year (2015), you follow the right star, make right choices and do the right thing with the timely directions and interventions from above. May God bless us with signs and stars from above (and within) to lead us in the right path. Happy and God-intervened New Year 2015! 2

5 NOV - DEC Shephered Voice Dear Devotees, The occasion of birth of a baby is welcoming joy and happiness in all cultures and civilizations. The ways of celebration differ from place to place but all human beings celebrate the birth of a child in their midst. Why? Baby signifies life and life is significant and connected with celebrations and merry-making. This is true with Christmas. Son of God is born into the world to make the humanity rejoice. The Word became flesh and dwelt amidst us. The Word was in God and God uttered His Word so that it becomes flesh and dwells amidst us. For the Word to become flesh, there is the need of faith. If there is no faith, the Word would continue to remain as it is and it would not become flesh. Similarly, it is faith that makes you to help a man in need in your neighbourhood. If you do not have faith, it will not actualise and become flesh. You pass by your brothers and sisters as priest and lawyer in the parable of the Good Samaritan. In the case of Good Samaritan, it took flesh as he reached out to the wounded person generously. This is how the Word becomes flesh. I wish and pray that all the faithful would understand the fact that our faith teaches us to see Jesus in every needy person so that we are able to reach out to people who are suffering and see that no one is in want. Everyone has sumptuous to eat and to spare. Let us pray that this Christmas and the coming year will inspire many to reach out to the poor and needy. May the new-born Infant in the manger inspire us to help the downtrodden in our neighbourhood. Special attention has to be set to the care of sick and lonely. Let this Christmas and the New Year be a time of sharing what we have with others. +Peter Parapullil 3

6 NOV - DEC BAPTISM OF FIRE ASSAULT ON FAITH On Monday morning, I received a call from a Catholic priest and friend that the St. Sebastian s Church at Dilshad Garden in Northeast Delhi has been burnt. He told me that the altar, the crucifix, the Bible and the tabernacle were burnt down. A loss becomes greater when we can identify with the loss. All deaths do not affect us, only the deaths of those who are dear to us. Suddenly, I remembered making a telephone call to another priest-friend a few months ago. He picked up the phone and told me that he was about to start the mass at St. Sebastian s Church and was switching off the mobile when my name flashed on the screen. Before disconnecting the phone, I told him to pray for me also. Surely, he answered. AJ Philip When this realisation dawned on me, I felt the pangs of loss of a church, where a priest made a prayer for me. I checked the Facebook Timelines of some Christian leaders to get more information. For the first time, Google failed to throw up any information. So I made bold to write a few lines about the arson in the church on my own Timeline and alert the world about someone s perversity. It was just a few days earlier that I had written about the harrowing experiences of the Christians of Chhattisgarh, who were increasingly coming under attack from the so-called volunteers of Hindutva. I also wrote about the razing to the ground of three churches, denial of ration cards to those who profess the faith of the cross and the ban on their movements in some villages. Everything that I mentioned in my column amounted to an assault on the fundamental rights of we the people who gave unto ourselves a Constitution, one of the most secular and egalitarian bodies of law. Even so, I

7 NOV - DEC believed that Chhattisgarh was not India and such attacks could never happen in the national Capital, where people of all faiths, speaking all languages and dialects lived together as Delhiites. True, the mutineers of 1857 attacked churches and killed some Christians on their way to the Red Fort from Meerut. They had a perverse justification to do so, for they were attacking the British, not Indians. But in the second decade of the 21st century what logic was there to burn a church which stood cheek by jowl with a South Indian Ganapati temple? It was named after St. Sebastian a proto martyr, whom artists, down the centuries, have portrayed as standing with his hands tied to a tree and arrows in his bare chest. I also believed in the rhetorical claim that now that a 56-inch-chested Prime Minister was in power, riots were simply unthinkable, at least in states ruled by his party. Some of my friends who are supporters of Narendra Modi are never tired of saying that once he established himself in power in Gujarat, he never allowed any riot to occur in the state. The recent Trilokpuri riots in East Delhi was a reminder that Modi being in power was not a guarantee that riots would not occur. What s worse, he allowed violence to fester for a whole week, though he had all the powers and the resources to round up the rioters and establish peace in a few hours. I have discussed with several retired police chiefs the psychology of the rioter, who is a coward at heart and would cower in fear if he sees a policeman determined to enforce the law. In 1947 when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru heard that some people were being attacked in the national Capital, he rushed to the spot wielding his walking stick and brought the situation under control. Modi has proved that it is easy to rubbish Nehru but difficult to emulate him. For once, the master of social media, who has tens of thousands of people following him on Twitter, failed to condemn the rioters of Trilokpuri. Many saw the riots as preparing the groundwork for Modi s victory in the coming elections to the Delhi Assembly. As a political observer for nearly half a century, I have observed that riots have always benefited the party that claims to represent the majority community in a given area. In the late-eighties, I remember meeting a popular Muslim minister from Hazaribagh at his house, two days after riots hit the land of a Thousand Gardens. He was accused of instigating the riots. This is a Hindu-majority constituency and I have always won with the support of Hindus. My enemies have engineered the riots to defeat me in the next elections. I am certain that my political career is in ruins. As he himself predicted, in the next elections, he lost by a big margin. A recent study of communal riots in India by Yale University has proved this point. However, the burning of the church did not conform to any pattern. I enjoy going to different churches of different denominations to know that despite all their differences they are one in their faith in their saviour. On a three-day visit to Kandhamal in Odisha, I saw so many churches fully or partially destroyed by the hate-mongers. It took several months to overcome that sickly feeling. Yet, I wanted to see the Dilshad Garden Church to know what had actually happened. 5

8 NOV - DEC I remembered visiting the area nearly two and a half decade ago to see some Ghaziabad Development Authority flats at Indirapuram for sale. I had a brochure that had a rudimentary map of the area. The whole area looked deserted. The Rajiv Gandhi super-speciality hospital, which is today a major landmark in the area, was just a dot on the map. There was life only in the Leprosy Colony. The rest of the area looked like the cover page of the late Nirmal Verma s celebrated Hindi novel Antim Aranya, translated into English by my friend Pratik Kanjilal for which he won a Sahitya Akademi award. By the way, the Akademi has k instead of c. This was done purposely to distinguish it from Western academies. To come back to the subject, when my friend picked me up from the Metro station and drove me to the church, I could not imagine that this was the place where I lost my way in the eighties and after much effort, I reached a bus stop. It was far more crowded than Dwarka where I lived. The hospital I mentioned is now spread over a sprawling area and one of its gates overlooked the St. Sebastian s Church. Four buildings stood in a row. The first was the Sree Varada Ganesh Mandir. Long before Modi claimed that the elephant-headed God, a later entrant into the Hindu pantheon, was proof that Indians were the originators of plastic surgery, I have been his ardent lover. After all, he is the patron deity of writers, artists and accountants. All Carnatic musicians start their recitals by paying tributes to the pot-bellied God, who is easily pleased. The temple and the church are like Siamese twins, though the gopuram, done in South Indian style, and the spires reveal their distinct identities. Half a dozen policemen, led by an inspector were sitting outside the church when we got down from the car. I could see small groups of people, Christians and non-christians, going in and out of the church. External- 6

9 NOV - DEC ly, there were no signs of arson, though there were some traces of smoke on the walls. A placard kept on the church s window lifted up my spirits and it said, You can burn our place, not our spirit!. I could only salute the person who thought of it and scribbled it. Oh, he must be one of those who took part in the demonstration in front of the Delhi Police Headquarters at ITO. There were many who brought such placards and displayed it during the demonstration. I was told that the Delhi Police were taken unawares by the large turnout of Christians. They came in droves from all over the city by Metro, buses, auto-rickshaws and on foot. They were not herded into the place as is often done in political rallies. They went there of their own volition. Nobody knows the exact figure. They might have been 5,000 or 10,000. What was significant was that many of them came singing hymns or saying silent prayers. The previous day I had checked why the electronic media were ignoring the church burning story. No, we do not want to inflame passions, said an editor. I wish all the editors were present at ITO to realise that when passions were inflamed, Christians fasted and prayed. After all, the greatest Passion Play was enacted at Calvary, also called Golgotha, about two millennia ago! In contrast, a Swamiji was shot at Kandhamal, as proved, by the Maoists, who recently killed over a dozen armed CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh. The murder was used as a ruse to knock down church after church and purge village after village of their Christian population. Despite such savagery, there was no retaliation from the Christians who only intensified their prayers. The sight inside the church was heart-rending. A reporter of CBN was speaking into the microphone with the charred crucifix and the burnt altar as her backdrop. A mother and daughter were closely examining the tabernacle which, more or less, withstood the fire keeping the sacraments, the efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and by which divine life is dispensed, almost intact. The tabernacle remained as an oasis in the large desert of soot and carbon. Fr Anthony Francis, Vicar of the church, who took charge just a few months ago, was informed about the fire and rushed to the church from his parsonage, a little away. Before that, someone had informed Fire Brigade and the Police. It is a different matter that by the time the fire tenders arrived, the altar was burnt down. Even the fans and the carpets were burnt. One portion of the sanctuary was safe with the furniture while the rest was gutted. There was never any dispute with anybody. Some four or five years ago some miscreants had thrown stones at the church, said Fr Francis. What upset him was the lackadaisical approach of the local SHO, who came, saw and went away. A police officer visited the church and gave his expert opinion that it was a case of short-circuit. Who does not know that short-circuit is the best scapegoat for it absolves the police of the responsibility of catching the arsonists? The police took the matter seriously only when church members began protesting against the cavalier manner in which they conducted the investigation. The police said that the forensic experts would soon arrive. It took 11 hours 7

10 8 for the forensic team to arrive, when it should not have taken more than one hour. They took samples from the church. There were many reasons to disbelieve the short-circuit theory. The electricity was on when I reached the church, i.e., after the Fire Brigade had extinguished the fire. In fact, it was I who switched it off, said the priest. Even I could see the lights on in the inverter connected to the electric system. In other words, the electric system was intact even after the fire. When fire occurs due to electric reasons, it spreads in a uniform manner. Fire will not jump from area to area. Everybody says there was a strong stench of kerosene. Some bottles were also recovered from the area. The miscreants had probably gained entry into the church by jumping over the low boundary wall and had thrown kerosene from the balcony at the pulpit and other places. No, I am not a forensic expert but I go by the theory of probability. In this case, it was a case of arson. Now, who did it? I believe that the police would never be able to catch the culprits. If they were serious, they could have already laid their hands on the culprits. In 1933, the Reichstag, the seat of power in Germany, was burnt. Hitler attributed it to the Communists and used it to consolidate his hold on the Germans like Modi used the Godhra fire to strengthen himself by attributing it to a Muslim conspiracy. No, I do not have the evidence to point my accusing finger at anybody for the arson. All I can say is that it was the handiwork of anti-social elements, whatever might have inspired them to do so. Injustice is something which nobody can tol- NOV - DEC erate. In the instant case, the Christian community expected some soothing words from the Prime Minister. I received Modi s twitter message condoling the accidental death of an Australian cricketer. He could have issued a statement or a twitter message or invited a Christian delegation and assured the community that he condemned the incident and would not tolerate such nonsense. Modi claims that he micromanages the country but allows his own ministers to spread hatred like Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti who divides people into children of Ram and illegitimate children. Instead of sacking her and claiming the moral high ground, he advised her in private to apologise. Of course, if he were to use such exacting standards of probity and decency to take action against his colleagues, he would really be fulfilling his promise of at least minimum government. Fire is sacred for the Hindus. The Vedas have several shlokas to invoke the fire God. Unlike water, which is also a cleansing agent but dirties itself while cleaning, fire does not become impure while destroying all impurity. In the case of the St. Sebastian s Church, the fire did something positive. For once, the Christians learnt that they could be targeted, as they were targeted once at Dangs in Gujarat, even in the national Capital. The fire engendered greater ecumenism among the Christians belonging to various denominations. It also reinforced their belief that their strength was in their prayers and in their righteous conduct. As the placard wielder wrote, You can burn our place, not our spirit!. The writer is a senior journalist and can be reached at ajphilip@gmail.com Courtesy: Indian Currents

11 NOV - DEC CHRIST MINUS CAROLS (Ditties that seem to be the flavour this Christmas season) # chhotebhai Silent Knight shining bright Despite 288 warriors upright He has not the might To address the house aright Oh what a pitiable sight! Jungle bells, jungle hell The yeoman does yell. The others will go to hell For all is now not swell When such ideology they sell. Novel. Novel the agents did say Remove all those cribs and hay Today is Good Governance Day This is the novel new way Or a heavy price you will pay. The three wise men from the East Namu, Amtu Mohu have a tryst They are the leaven and the yeast Bethlehem shan t have cow or beast Nor star, tree or other feast. Oh come all ye faithful Listen to this mouthful. If you want to be ever youthful Don headgear that is featherful Though skullcaps are awful. Thou shalt not henceforth convert If you do you are a pervert. Your plans we shall subvert For our ancient culture you hurt. Home-coming is only to revert. CHRISTMAS

12 NOV - DEC CHARISMATIC HEALING CONVENTION Witness the Miracles... Experience the Lord s Power JOHN 11:40 If You Would Believe, You Would See The Glory Of God: Christ the king college was blessed by this munificence and grace as it saw the healing power of the Lord, the redeemer. Jhansi Catholic Diocese, under the sacred and most pious patronage of His Lordship Most Rev. Peter Parapullil, Bishop of Jhansi hosted the life-changing event that washed away the darkness of sin and brought forth the light of the world. Thousands thronged; ailing, suffering, battling with life s odds and the hopeless found solace and comfort in the dazzling presence of Lord, our Saviour. Mark 11:24 When you pray, believe that you receive. Faith moves mountains. Thus, all those grief stricken multitude reposed their unflinching faith in the Lord s healing power and within the twinkling of an eye, they experienced His goodness. Holy, indeed, most Holy Lord of Hosts, did wonder by touching the broken hearts and souls in despair. Even we move to the farthest ends of the world, Lord s help is always within our reach. If we seek him diligently, we find him within us. No matter if, the doctors have given up on you, no matter if the medication fails, yet so long as you remain steadfast in faith and trust, certainly the Loving Abba Father wipes out every tear of our eyes and redeems us from the dark clouds of hopelessness. Psalm 103:1 Bless The Lord, O My Soul; And All That Is Within Me: The healing convention saw some historical moments, the parishioners witnessed Jesus amidst them, they realised that we worship the living God who is always there by our side, especially in times of trials and tribulations. What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear; the moment we experienced His mercy, we surrender unto Him with a grateful heart.

13 NOV - DEC Psalm 7:1 O Lord, My God, In You I Put My Trust: The charismatic convention was not man s effort, but the will of God. It was his providential outpour that such a prayerful convention should be held. The convention brought revelation and revival within the lukewarm souls. Untreatable diseases and perennial sufferings of the believers vanished as we prayed in the name of Jesus, our healer. He never slumbers, he never forsakes us, he watches us both day and night. Amid all our forgetfulness of him, he never forgets us. He is our great tower of strength and our refuge in the tempestuous times of trouble. Psalm 71:8 Let My Mouth Be Filled With Your Praise: The miracles were seen and our faith was increased. From a tiny mustard seed, it grew into a plant. Thus, we plant ourselves wholeheartedly in God s undiminishing kingdom. He comforts us, he heals us and he brings a ray of hope for those hopeless groping in darkness. It was a joyful and triumphant for the devotees to attend this convention. THE GUEST SPEAKERS: Rev. Fr. Mathew Naikomparambil, Rev. Fr. Jose Prakash, and the team from Potta, Kerala conducted the convention with zest and zeal. They prayed fervently, they prayed continuously for the Lord s assistance and guidance. Almighty and ever-living God heard their prayers and poured out his Holy Spirit who guided us throughout the convention. His Lordships Rt. Rev. Peter Parapullil and Rt. Rev. Frederick D Souza presided over the Holy Eucharist. Celebration of the Sacred Mysteries added fervour of religiosity and divinity. Different committees put in immense efforts for the success of the convention. The organizers of the convention deserve much appreciation for their laudable efforts. Rev. Fr. Richard Arul, Rev. Fr. Vianney, Rev. Fr. Varghese, all the clergymen along with religious priests, sisters and brothers put in their heart and soul to make this convention a big success. - As reported by the Convening Team 11

14 NOV - DEC THE NOSTALGIC FEAST Fr. Oswil D Souza 12 Finally, the curtains were raised after concerted efforts put in by one and all devotees of St. Jude on the 19 th of October His Lordship Rt. Rev. Frederick D Souza, Bishop Emeritus of Jhansi was driven straight to the left door of the shrine from the hospital bed to bless the long awaited spiritual event with the hosting of the flag of St. Jude - the emblem of devotion followed by the Holy Eucharist in English flanked by 10 concelebrant priests with altar servers, torch bearers and incense bearer. The choir was led by Rev. Fr. Joseph Mendonca representing the shrine parish. The backdrop of the shrine altar beautifully decorated corresponding to the theme of the day and a couple of days to follow, reflected on the loving and compassionate father. The homily spoke the theme and the novena relic veneration concluded the inaugural liturgy. The evening Hindi liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Sadanand together with 13 priests and a deacon. The liturgical melody was from Babina led by Fr. Richard Sequeira. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Bhandara supplied to the physical needs of the devotees. The 20 th morn had Rev. Fr. Ronald Tellis as the main celebrant together with 10 priests and bishop emeritus as concelebrants. The homily reflected the theme: Jesus God s gift to hu-

15 NOV - DEC manity as put up on the backdrop. The choir was led by Fr. Joseph Mendonca, the Cathedral College Choir. The evening liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Richard Sequeira together with 5 priests and a deacon. St. John s Premnagar parish choir was led by Mrs. Bodita at the liturgy. The 21 st morn had Rev. Fr. Joseph sdb as the main celebrant together with 10 priests as concelebrant. The theme Holy Spirit gift of Jesus from the Father was explained in the homily. The choir represented St. Anthony s Cathedral with Fr. Joseph Mendonca in fine tune. The evening liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Arulraj T. with his own parish (St. Peter s, Talbehat) choir led by Fr. Kanthraj on the organ and Fr. Vianney as the music conductor. The 22 nd morn had a new background with reflection on Church: The compassionate mother. Rev. Fr. Richard A was the main celebrant with 6 concelebrants and the choir of Christ the King Senior Section led by Mr. Sanjay Dunn. The evening liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Ronald D Souza and the choir was a symphony comprising of the fathers, sisters, brothers, novices, candidates and others from Judepur Parish with Fr. Joe Mendonca giving the lead. On 23 rd the Eucharist in relation with the poor was the theme. Rev. Fr. Franky Mathias along with 6 concelebrants accompanied by the Don Bosco school choir with the principal Mrs. Ameilia on the lead, dealt on the theme of sharing. The evening mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Kanthraj with bishop emeritus, 10 priests and the deacons as concelebrants. The choir was led by John Murmu on the keyboard. On the 24 th Fr. VJ Thomas was the main celebrant with 6 concelebrants. The choir was a beautiful melody comprising of CKC primary children and few staff members. Fr. Joseph Mendonca led the choir. The theme was Inspired by the word and animated by love. The evening Eucharist was celebrated by Fr. Frederick A. together with 19 priests and the deacons. Sacred Heart parish officiated at the choir with Sr. Mariella giving the lead at the organ. The solemn triduum commenced on the 25 th of October with Fr. KJ Thomas OSB as the main preacher in English for all the days. Fr. Sebastian celebrated Holy Mass with 11 priests concelebrating. The challenging theme gripped all: You shall be witnesses. The Judepur choir was back with its symphony conducted by Fr. Julian with Fr. Joseph Mendonca at the organ. The evening preacher in Hindi was Fr. John Paul who preached the triduum. Fr. Alexander together with bishop emeritus, 17 priests and a deacon, presided over the Eucharist. The choir was led by Sr. Hilary and team of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour parish. The diocesan musical meet finals and prize distribution followed the Eucharist. Fr. Kanthraj, the director of Jhansi Rani Communication with the competition judges melodiously concluded the evening gathering. The second day of the triduum saw the theme Confession of faith and commitment to the society. Fr. Lazar offered the Eucharist along with 8 concelebrants. The melodious choir of St. Francis College comprising of Sisters and teachers sang their hearts out. The preacher gripped the congregation to the point. In the evening Fr. Peter Sylvester offered the Eucharist with 18 priests and a deacon. The choir was lead by Fr. Franky Mathias from Gursarai with Fr. Kanthraj on the keyboard. The evening saw the cultural programmes being conducted by various schools, institutions and 13

16 14 parishes of the diocese to felicitate Rt. Rev. Peter Parapullil, Bishop of Jhansi and the pilgrims. Frs. Victor Babu and John Paul were the organizers. The final day of the triduum called us all to Walk the road Jesus walked. Fr. Valerian offered the Eucharist with 9 concelebrants and Nirmala convent choir directed by Srs. Rachel and Poonam sang at the mass. In the evening, Rt. Rev. Joseph Kaithathara, Bishop of Gwalior offered the Eucharist with two more bishops Peter and Frederick together with 21 priests and a deacon. Fr. Joseph Mendonca led the choir. Thereafter, the cultural programme welcomed the guest bishop, Rt. Rev. Pius Thomas D Souza to his felicitation. Bishop prepared the congregation for the feast to be celebrated on the following day. All through the novena, we had a Marathi mass celebrated at 8 in the morning. Frs. Jadav and Barthol Machado were the celebrants who shared the responsibility for 5 days each along with procurator who daily concelebrated. A few joined in the concelebration for few days. Mr. Charlie D Silva and his magnanimous choir were a treat for the ears. The liturgy followed by novena was so meticulously prepared. On the penultimate day, the Marathi organizing committee felicitated Bishops Peter Parapullil and Pius Thomas D Souza and the former and present procurators. The feast day preceded with the burning of the midnight oil with the CTC sisters, few lay faithful, few devotees and the staff of the shrine which they did from day one of the novena. The 28 th of October began with the chime of church bell as usual to be followed by the Marathi mass at 6.45 offered by Fr. Barthol Machado concelebrated by 3 priests, NOV - DEC then immediately followed the next mass in English, celebrated by Fr. Frederick Mendonca and concelebrants. The solemn feast mass was celebrated by the chief celebrant Most Rev. Pius Thomas D Souza together with 3 bishops and 85 concelebrants of various parishes of Jhansi and other dioceses. The choir organized by Frs. Kanthraj and Joseph Mendonca with the sound system carrying the melody effectively across. The choir consisted of Sisters from Nirmala Convent, Youth from Cathedral, St. Jude s Shrine parishioners and brothers from St. John s Minor Seminary, Judepur who sang with full gusto and devotion. The midday mass was celebrated by Fr. Vinu George. The mass at 4 pm was celebrated by Fr. Denis D Souza immediately after which followed the candle light procession with the relic and statue of St. Jude via Station Road, Allahabad Bank Cross Road, Rani Laxmi Bai Road and entered the Bishop s House Road alongside Christ the King College. Rosary was conducted all through the procession, complemented well by the choir singing religious hymns and bhajans conducted by Fr. Denis Mascarenhas. The general blessing of the sick with the relic by Bishop Peter Parapullil was followed by the benediction of the most blessed sacrament by Bishop Pius Thomas D Souza. Both the blessings brought heaven down to earth, made the faithful feel the divine presence. The finale was spiritually and emotionally elevating. Thus came the end of the feast day. The shrine saw thousands of people being blessed with the holy oil at St. Jude s Shrine from 1 pm till 10 pm. On the marrow, holy mass was celebrated by Bishop Peter after which the flag of St. Jude was lowered with great honour.

17 NOV - DEC Diocesan Music Meet 15

18 NOV - DEC Diocesan Music Meet 16

19 NOV - DEC Cultural Programme 17

20 NOV - DEC Cultural Programme 18

21 NOV - DEC Cultural Evening 19

22 NOV - DEC Cultural Evening 20

23 NOV - DEC Solemn Feast Mass 21

24 NOV - DEC Solemn Feast Mass 22

25 NOV - DEC Solemn Feast Mass 23

26 NOV - DEC Bhandara 24

27 NOV - DEC Procession 25

28 NOV - DEC Procession 26

29 NOV - DEC REMINDERS FOR GOOD CATHOLIC LIFE Jubel D Cruz, Mumbai HOW TO MAKE A GOOD CONFESSION Pick a fixed day every two weeks or every month and protect it. Frequent confession brings many graces to the sinner and creates a greater desire to grow in virtue. Daily examination of conscience helps to remember sins in a more systematic way. Make a list of all the sins you have committed. See this Sacrament through the perspective of friendship with Jesus Christ; even the small sins you have committed can affect the quality of this friendship. Be attentive to the counsel of the priest. The Holy Spirit is usually very active in this Sacrament. Spend a little time in prayer after your confession to make a concrete resolution to improve yourself. Before making your confession, examine your conscience thoroughly. Be sincerely sorry for all the sins you have committed. Confess your sins only to a priest. Do not confess them to a layperson. Resolve to amend your life. After your confession, do the penance the priest assigns you to do. 16 THINGS TO DO AND NOT TO DO DURING MASS 1. Fast for at least an hour before the Holy Eucharist. It is good Catholic custom to fast for at least an hour before receiving the Holy Communion. Exceptions are medicine, water or unless someone is sick and needs to eat something. 2. No food or beverages to be consumed inside the church, especially when the Eucharist is being celebrated. Exceptions would be milk for infants, water for the priest or the choir members, and water for those who are sick. 3. Men should take off their hats when they enter the church. It s disrespectful to wear a hat on entry into any church. 27

30 4. Do not chew gum inside the church. It breaks your fast and it s distracting. 5. Cross yourself with Holy Water on entering and leaving the church. This is a reminder of our baptism, which made us members of Christ s Body. 6. Dress modestly and appropriately. Wear your best Sunday clothes. As Catholics, we believe that God comes down to meet us at every Mass. 7. Show up at least a few minutes early. If you cannot make it on time, be seated at the back so that you don t disturb others. 8. Switch off your mobile phones. They should never be used during Mass for calling people or texting messages to them. 9. When you enter or leave the church, genuflect toward the tabernacle. Christ is present for our sake. By allowing our right knee to hit the floor, we acknowledge He is our Lord and God. If someone is physically unable to genuflect, then a bow is sufficient. During Mass, if you pass in front of the NOV - DEC altar or the tabernacle, bow reverently. 10. Sit quietly while in church. If you must talk, do so as quietly and briefly as possible. Remember that your conversation might be disturbing someone who is in prayer, which is much more important. 11. Take noisy little children to the back. Your baby will bother you one day anyway. 12. Prepare your offerings before the Mass could start. Christ tells us not to let the left hand know what your right hand is doing when you make offerings. 13. Do not read church bulletins, newspapers or magazines during Mass or inside the church. 14. Bow reverently before receiving the Holy Communion. 15. Do not leave the church before the recessional hymn gets over. 16. Sit in the church and pray after Mass. It is a good custom, though not required, to offer a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord after the Mass gets over. The perfect family doesn t exist, nor is there a perfect husband or a perfect wife, and let s not talk about the perfect mother-in-law! It s just us sinners. A healthy family life requires frequent use of three phrases: May I? Thank you, and I m sorry and never, never, never end the day without making peace. (Meeting with engaged couples, Feb. 14, 2014). 28

31 NOV - DEC INDIA S TIPPING POINT Chhotebhai When Namo thundered from the Red Fort ramparts on Independence Day that what India needed was more thunder boxes (loos) many of his admirers were askance, thinking that he had a loose hinge! Not me. I genuinely felt that it was the most exciting thing to happen since the election of Pope Francis. Let me tell you why. A seemingly unrelated incident was the board meeting of the Kanpur Electric Supply Corporation (Kesco), held in Lucknow. There was a Rupees One Thousand Crore proposal for the long term restructuring of Kesco, One Hundred Crores for immediate upgradation of transformers and transmission lines, and a seemingly innocuous One Crore for blue uniforms for the staff. The mega projects sailed through, but the uniforms were a sticky point. Surely not for the money, but perhaps for the idea a brainwave of Dr Roshan Jacob IAS, the visionary District Magistrate of Kanpur, who was given additional charge of Kesco, because of her administrative acumen. What s the connection between Namo s loos and Jacob s blues? Much, much more than meets the eye. For this I revert to the gyan that I picked up from the book The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. Its subtitle is How little things can make a big difference. Significantly, it has the image of a matchstick on its cover. A small match can cause a huge inferno. Small is big. Astrophysicists tell us that the smallest particles that were formed immediately after the Big Bang of creation pack the deadliest punch. The particle collider at the CERN laboratory in Switzerland is 25 kms in diameter. So small is big, powerful and effective. Little things should never be underestimated. It is in this context that I see the loos and the blues. What their visionaries are trying to tell us is; start somewhere cognizable, to make the effect recognizable. Gladwell s best-seller is full of fundas and real life illustrations. The one that had a major impact on me was on how crime was arrested in New York City (NYC). To understand this phenomenon I will first quote some of the phrases used to describe Gladwell s book crossing a threshold, tipping the scales, taking off, wildfire proportions, epidemic of contagious diseases, achieving critical mass, exponential overdrive, virulent virus, stickiness; and individuals can make a difference. See where I am heading. So let us follow the case study of how crime was arrested in NYC. In 1980 it had over 2000 murders and 600,000 felonies (crimes). Conditions in the subway transit system were chaotic, filthy, littered and the 6000 coaches were covered with graffiti. The system was also losing $ 150 million annually from ticketless travel. In 1984 there were 15,000 felonies on the subway alone, and they climbed to 20,000 by In stepped William Bratton, and felonies dropped by 75%. How? By a change of environment. Gladwell propagates the Broken Window theory. A broken window on a coach is indicative of callousness, which 29

32 in turn, acts as a trigger to petty crime. It sends out a message that such small things don t really matter. The converse is actually true they do. Gladwell claims that crime is the inevitable result of disorder, and the graffiti was symptomatic of such disorder or disregard; like the broken, unattended windows. Crime, like fashion, is contagious, and disorder is the perfect breeding ground for it, claims Gladwell. He propounds the theory that the impetus to engage in a certain type of behaviour is not coming from a certain type of person, but from a feature of the environment. So if we want to change societal behaviour we need to first change the environment in which we live. When David Gunn took over as the Director of the subway system he insisted that the allpervasive graffiti was symbolic of the collapse of the system. So he got cracking, ensuring its erasure during the changeovers. He was sending out an unambiguous message the time for change had come, and he was in charge of the situation. The clean up took all of six years, but he didn t give up. I here recall an incident that dates back to 1986, when there was just a bi-weekly train to Bangalore. I arrived there in the morning and returned the same evening. Coincidentally I was in the same bogey and berth as for my outward journey. At that time I had noticed that there was a slash in the upholstery. During the changeover it had been mended. This prompt action for a broken window left an indelible mark on me. Now back to the NYC subway. Bratton cracked down on ticketless travel, a small expression of disorder that invited much more serious NOV - DEC crimes. There were then 170,000 daily ticketless travelers; eventhough the fare was a measly $ To curb the menace Bratton gave exemplary punishment. Instead of lengthy legal procedures, he just handcuffed the offenders and kept them at the stations for a few hours. It had its intended deterrent effect. Bratton also found that several of these petty offenders were also involved in more serious crime. Seeing his success, NYC Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani appointed him as the chief of the police force. Here too Bratton began small. He cracked down on public drunkenness, urination and littering. He asserted, Minor misdemeanours were Tipping Points for violent crime. From identifying the root causes of societal behaviour, or rather misdemeanour, we now move to the solutions. I have always held that if one bad apple can cause the entire basket to rot, then it is equally true that one injection can heal the entire body. Gladwell puts it thus, A social epidemic (contagion) can be reversed (tipped) by tinkering with the smallest details of the immediate environment. This is because even a criminal is sensitive to his environment, and commits crimes based on his perception of the world around him. Gladwell concludes that What really matters is little things you don t have to solve big problems to solve crimes. So the loos and blues are not merely symbolic acts; they have a far deeper portent. They are sending out an unambiguous message Enough is enough. Shape up or ship out. Much has already been written about the Swatch Bharat campaign, so I won t say more about the loos, except to reiterate that 30

33 NOV - DEC it should be truly significant, and not stop at mere symbolism. What of the blues the uniforms? There are three inherent qualities in a uniform. The obvious one is that it bestows a distinct identity. The second is similar, that it commands respect. The third is not so apparent, that it is a deterrent to wrongdoing. We see defence personnel in uniform and we respect them. We also see police in uniform and we tend to detest them. If we see religious leaders wearing a distinctive dress we are inclined to venerate them. What we wear creates an environment, an aura around us. Here again the converse is equally true. Not wearing a uniform gives anonymity, and by default, the liberty to indulge in one s passions. This is one of the reasons why sexual offences by Catholic priests increased alarmingly after the obligation to wear clerical dress was watered down about 50 years ago. Unfortunately, today most Govt employees, including those who come to our homes, like postmen and telephone linesmen, seldom wear their prescribed uniforms. So they can easily shirk work, as they cannot be easily identified. Surprisingly, even many traveling ticket examiners on trains are not in uniform. This encourages imposters collecting money on trains; or others posing as linesmen, gaining access to houses, and committing heinous crimes. For the last 40 years I have worn a distinctive form of dress except when I am on holiday. It is a simple kurta-pyjama with a wooden rosary and crucifix worn around my neck. On the one hand it bestows a distinctive identity on me (many find me an oddity), while on the other it acts as a powerful deterrent against any wrongful or immoral act. Simply put, I can shame myself, but not the One that I signify. So I see a uniform as an inbuilt mechanism for self-discipline. Isn t self-discipline integral to both sanitation and progress? Can we start with ourselves not spitting, shitting or littering in public, not breaking traffic rules, standing in line, not rushing for ice-cream and gulab jamuns at our lavish weddings, not getting into reserve compartments without proper tickets, and generally respecting the dignity of the other? Even small things like personal hygiene and keeping our homes clean do matter. Else Namo s loos and Jacob s blues will just be so many straws in the wind. If we want to tip the scales and make a difference, let us begin somewhere. Remember that it is usually just one small addition that tilts the scale, and one small step that makes a difference. Wouldn t that be a wonderful New Year resolve? * The writer is the Convenor of the Kanpur Nagrik Manch The Lord never tires of forgiving. It is we who tire of asking for forgiveness. (First Angelus as pope, March 17, 2013). An evangelizer must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral. ( Evangelii Gaudium, Nov. 24, 2013). 31

34 NOV - DEC JESUS ALSO PRAYED Wallace Jacob QUESTION: Did Lord Jesus Christ also pray while on earth? ANSWER: According to Matthew 14:22-23, Then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people away. After sending the people away, he went up a hill by himself to pray. Then between three and six o clock in the morning Jesus went to his disciples, walking on the water. Which implies that Jesus prayed for a very long time before walking on the water. According to Matthew 26:26, While they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks... Mark 1:35 says Very early the next morning, long before daylight, Jesus got up and left the house. He went out of the town to a lonely place, where he prayed. According to Luke 3:21, After all the people had been baptized, Jesus was also baptized. While he was praying, heaven was opened According to Luke 5:16, But he (Jesus) would go away to lonely places, where he prayed. According to Luke 6:12-13, At that time Jesus went up a hill to pray and spent the whole night there praying to God. When day came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he named apostles which implies that Jesus Christ prayed to God for one entire night before choosing his apostles. Luke 9:18 says, One day when Jesus was praying alone, the disciples came to him. According to Luke 9:28-29, About a week after he had said these things, Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up a hill to pray. While he was praying, his face changed its appearance... According to Luke 22:31-32, Jesus says Simon, Simon! Listen! Satan has received permission to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must 32

35 NOV - DEC strengthen your brothers. According to Luke 22:41, Then he (Jesus) went off from them about the distance of a stone s throw and knelt down and prayed. According to Luke 22:44-45, An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Rising from his prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, worn out by their grief. He said to them, Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation. There are numerous instances in the New Testament which exhibit that Jesus also prayed, although he was the Son of God. We are only human beings and therefore we need to pray all the more to God. QUESTION: What was Jesus s age when he began his work and for how many years did Jesus continue with his work? ANSWER: Luke 3:23 says When Jesus began his work, he was about thirty years old. [Note: When Jesus was twelve years old, and his parents had taken him to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival, the boy Jesus stayed back in Jerusalem and his parents started on their way back home. Jesus sat in the Temple amidst the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions. Thus, in one way, Lord Jesus began his work during his childhood days.] Jesus went to the Temple at Jerusalem when it was almost time for the Passover Festival and found men selling cattle, sheep, and pigeons, and also the money-changers sitting at their tables (John 2:13 14). John 6:4 says The time for the Passover Festival was near. John 11:55 says The time for the Passover Festival was near. The aforesaid statements imply that Jesus was a part of three Passovers during his public ministry. [Note: Passover is also known as Pesach. The Jews celebrate Passover in commemoration of their freedom from slavery under the Egyptians.] Thus, we can draw the inference that Jesus must have spent a little more than three years in public ministry. JOHN THE BAPTIST QUESTION: Who is John the Baptist in the New Testament? ANSWER: When prophet Isaiah said: Someone is shouting in the desert, Prepare a road for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel!, he was referring to John the Baptist (Matthew 3:3). John the Baptist was the son of a priest by the name of Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-80). The birth of John the Baptist was announced by angel Gabriel (who had also announced the birth of Lord Jesus to Mary) to Zechariah in the Temple. John the Baptist was born six months before Lord Jesus Christ was born (Luke 1:26 and Luke 1:36). John the Baptist lived in the desert and used to preach in the desert of Judaea (Matthew 3:1). John s clothes were made of camel s hair, he wore a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey (Matthew 33

36 3:4). John used to fast and drank no wine (Matthew 11:18). People who used to repent were baptized by John in the Jordan. People came to John from Jerusalem, from the whole province of Judaea, and from all the country near the River Jordan. The people would confess their sins and John would baptize them in the Jordan. John was the person who had baptized Jesus, although John tried to make Jesus change his mind when he said to Jesus, I ought to be baptized by you, and yet you have come to me!. John was the person who had said, I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. [The Acts of the Apostles 2:3-4 tells us that tongues of fire spread out and touched the believers on the Pentecost day after the ascension of Lord Jesus Christ. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages.] John was put into prison (Matthew 4:12). John the Baptist was a great person According to Matthew 11:10, Lord Jesus said, For John is the one of whom the scripture says: God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you. I assure you that John the Baptist is greater than any man who has ever lived. According to Matthew 11:14, Lord Jesus said, John is Elijah, whose coming was predicted. NOV - DEC John the Baptist was also having disciples. According to John 1:35-40, Andrew (Simon Peter s brother) was earlier John s (John the Baptist) disciple). One more apostle of Lord Jesus could be initially a disciple of John the Baptist, but it is difficult to determine his identity. According to John 1:35-36: The next day John was standing there again with two of his disciples, when he saw Jesus walking by. There is the Lamb of God!, he said. John 1:40 tells us that one of these two disciples was Andrew. But it is difficult to ascertain who the other disciple could be. At the same time, it is obvious that the other disciple cannot be Andrew, or Peter, or Philip or Nathanael (this information can be gleaned from John 1:35-50). According to Matthew Chapter 11 verses 2 and 3 John the Baptist sent some of his disciples to Lord Jesus in order to enquire are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else? John the Baptist s disciples carried away the body of John (after he had been beheaded on the orders of Herod), buried it; and then informed Jesus about it. Thus, it can be ascertained that John the Baptist was having disciples. John the Baptist recognized Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit According to John 1:29, when John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said, There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! and in John s Gospel Chapter 1 verse 34, John (the Baptist) says and I tell you that he is the Son 34

37 NOV - DEC of God. According to the gospel of John (1:32-34), John the Baptist had seen the Holy Spirit come down on Lord Jesus. John gave this testimony: I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and stay on him. According to John 1:34, John the Baptist says, and I tell you that he (Lord Jesus) is the Son of God. The Teachings of John the Baptist John explained to the crowds that it was not possible for them to escape from the punishment God was about to send and they should do those things that would show that they have turned away from their sins. John taught, Whoever has two shirts must give one to the man who has none, and whoever has food must share it (Luke 3:11). John told the tax collectors that they should not collect more than what is legal (Luke 3:12-13). John told the soldiers that they should not take money from anyone by force or accuse anyone falsely and they should be content with their pay (Luke 3:14). John preached the Good News to the people in many different ways and urged them to change their ways (Luke 3:18) Details about the time when John the Baptist used to preach It was the fifteenth year of the rule of the Emperor Tiberius. At that time Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judaea and Herod was the ruler of Galilee. Herod s brother Philip was the ruler of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene and Annas and Caiaphas were high priests. The Death of John the Baptist King Herod, the ruler of Galilee had married Herodias. Herodias was the wife of Philip and Philip was Herod s brother. John the Baptist explained to Herod that it was incorrect on the part of Herod to take his brother Philip s wife. Herod and Herodias wanted to take revenge and kill John the Baptist. John the Baptist was arrested on the orders of Herod. On Herod s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in front of the whole group which pleased Herod and he swore that he would give her anything she asked for. On her mother s insistence, she asked for the head of John the Baptist on a dish! Herod then had John beheaded and the head of John the Baptist was brought on a dish and given to the girl who gave it to her mother (Matthew 14:1-9). Endnote: Interestingly, according to Matthew Chapter 11 verses 2 and 3 John the Baptist sent some of his disciples to Lord Jesus in order to enquire are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else? According to the gospel of John (1:32-34), John the Baptist had seen the Holy Spirit come down on Lord Jesus. But in the gospel according to Matthew it appears that John the Baptist perhaps entertains some doubts because of which he sends his disciples (because John the Baptist himself was in prison) to Jesus to ascertain the true identity of the Lord. This behaviour of John The Baptist appears confounding. 35

38 SEX & THE SYNOD NOV - DEC Chhotebhai 36 Sex & the City and Desperate Housewives are two American serials that come on our Indian TV channels. I haven t watched either, eventhough their titles are alluring to a normal male like me! Sex workers are sometimes referred to as hookers, who hang out the bait to hook the client. Some writers also use the hook to catch the attention of their readers. Hopefully I have succeeded in doing so on a topic that otherwise may not have done so the recently concluded Family Synod (FS) in Rome. Its actual name is The III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization (5-19 October 2014) Phew! Imagine any sane writer using that as his opening line. So I hope to be pardoned for the raised eyebrows for the title. As a seasoned writer, from the hooking, let me go to the lead in. The FS was keenly followed by both the Catholic and secular world. Compassionate Pope Francis generated much media hype with his statement on homosexuals, Who am I to judge? Expectations of the LGBT community skyrocketed. Other major issues in the minds of most concerned Catholics were: (1) Revocation of the 1967 ban on artificial contraception, after Pope Paul VI s encyclical Humanae Vitae (HV) (2) Communion to Divorced and Remarried Catholics (DARCs) (3) Co-habitation & Civil Unions (4) Expeditious Annulments and, in the case of India and Japan, (5) The increasing phenomenon of Interfaith Marriages. These contentious issues seem to have split the church down the middle, with the silent majority actually not caring a damn Let the church say what it wants, we will do what we want. In that sense, the entire synodal exercise becomes redundant and infructuous. On the right extreme we have conservatives, who are well-oiled and well-heeled, especially in the USA. They were screaming themselves hoarse that the Church was in grave danger. At the other end of the spectrum were the liberal activists who expected all those red-liveried cardinals to cow down yellow livered, and bestow a religious sanction on homosexuality and same-sex marriages. In the midst of this I was quite literally reminded of the Latin adage Virtus stat in medio (Virtue lies in the middle). It is this middle path that the FS seems to have adopted in its final report termed Relatio Synodi (RS). Before delving into the nitty-gritty of the RS, we need to understand how the Catholic Church functions, whether or not we agree with it. The First Vatican Council (Vatican I) focused on papal infallibility. That was over 150 years ago. Vatican II was held from , with over 2000 prelates from across the globe deliberating for, hold your breath, 3 years, split over several sessions. Sixteen documents, collectively referred to as the Documents of Vatican II, emerged. Ecclesiologists describe them as a watershed in the church s self-understanding, and its resultant approach to science, other churches, other religions, the laity etc. In the light of the FS, we need to recall the principle of collegiality in

39 NOV - DEC the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church (LG). This effectively means that Jesus instituted a college (group) of apostles, each with his own inherent right, derived from Jesus, not Peter. It is on this premise that apostolic churches like the Syro-Malabar Rite in India, claim apostolic succession, and a degree of autonomy. Synods were an offshoot of collegiality. Synod is a Greek word that etymologically means walking together. In Christian parlance it means walking together with Jesus, as on the way to Emmaus. So a synod is not a papal one-man show. It is a collegial experience that we need to understand while assessing it. Without understanding these subtleties, we would make the same mistake of some early commentators, that the FS was a comedown for the liberal Pope Francis. My reading of the RS, however, leads me to the opposite conclusion, that it has Pope Francis stamped all over it. What is the RS? In its concluding remarks it refers to itself as proposed reflections (No 62) that took place in an atmosphere of great freedom and reciprocal listening (ibid). If we look at the RS as a work in progress then we can evaluate it more fairly. I would give it an all-round rating of 60/100. Now let me rate specific issues that agitated us. 1. FAMILY PLANNING (Rating 5/100): This issue is addressed in paras 18 and 58. Both paras say nothing new; they merely parrot the teachings of HV and natural methods of responsible procreation (No 58). Was there too little sex at the synod? I would have given this issue zero, but for this line, the need to respect the dignity of the person in morally assessing methods in regulating births (ibid). So there is a grudging respect for those who dissent. All the surveys that I have had access to have unequivocally stated that the people have either rejected or bypassed the Church s official teachings on family planning. As I have said hereinbefore, regardless of what the Church tries to teach on this score, the people will resort to what they think best. So there! Fortunately the RS did not commit the earlier fatal error of HV, of declaring all other forms of contraception as sinful or immoral. 2. DARCs (Rating 80/100): This issue is addressed in the section on Caring for Broken Families (Persons who are Separated, Divorced, Divorced and Remarried and Single Parent Families). This section, while referring to the Emmaus experience, also uses a beautiful phrase to remove one s sandals before the sacred ground of the other (No 46). It admits to instances of maltreatment, saying to forgive such an injustice is not easy (ibid). It identifies children as the innocent victims of the situation (ibid). Coming specifically to the DARCs it recommends careful discernment and great respect (No 50). Discrimination should be avoided (ibid) and this should not be misunderstood as a weakening of faith (ibid), but an expression of charity and concern. This is good stuff. In the next para it goes on to consider the possibility of giving the DARCs access to the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist (N0 52). It wants them to be treated on a case-to-case basis (not some kind of general amnesty), referring to irreversible situations (ibid) and the Church s moral obligation towards children who would have to endure unjust suffering (ibid), obviously for no fault of their own. It draws from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1735) to boldly aver, 37

40 imputability and responsibility for an action can be diminished or even nullified by ignorance, inadvertence, duress, fear, habit, inordinate attachments, and other psychological or social factors (ibid). It therefore makes bold to state, access to the sacrament might take place if preceded by a penitential practice determined by the diocesan bishop (ibid). This is as great an admission as could be expected; going to the extent of saying that the issue is not so grave as to invite pontifical intervention. The diocesan bishop himself could resolve it. This is collegiality at its best. At this stage I don t think that we could have asked for more, so I rate this section very high. 3. CO-HABITATION AND CIVIL UNIONS (Rating 70/100): To give them religious sanction would be to totally negate the Sixth Commandment, and to open up a Pandora s Box for free sex. I don t see that ever happening in the Catholic Church. It would also totally destroy the institution, as also the sacrament, of marriage; and by consequence, that of the family. The RS makes some legitimate differentiations. At first there are those who after having lived together for a long period, request the celebration of a marriage in the Church (No 42). Pope Francis himself celebrated some such unions. It also looks at those who are unable to get married because of job insecurity, wedding expenses and material poverty that leads people to defacto unions (ibid). It says that such situations require a constructive response (No 43) and that such couples need to be guided patiently and discreetly (ibid). Far from condemning, the RS exhorts the Church to sensitivity to the positive aspects of civilly celebrated marriages (No 41). It is NOV - DEC even willing to learn from the constructive elements in these situations (ibid). Does not this bear the hallmark of Jesus compassion, Vatican II ecclesiology, and Pope Francis nonjudgmental approach? Is this also not proof that the voice of the people is being heard in the corridors of power? I rate this issue as finely balanced. 4. EXPEDITIOUS ANNULMENTS (Rating 60/100): The RS admits to this need and even makes some actionable recommendations, despite opposition from a section of the Synod members. It has recommended the dispensation of the requirement of second instance for conferring sentences; the possibility of establishing an administrative means under the jurisdiction of the diocesan bishop; and a simple process be used in cases where nullity is clearly evident (No 48). It is worth noting that here again the issue is relegated to the level of the diocesan bishop, not meriting higher intervention. I would rate this higher only when these recommendations are implemented on the ground. 5. INTERFAITH MARRIAGES (Rating 50/100): There was a time when these were considered a threat, as evidenced by recent pronouncements by some bishops in Kerala. Using the SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) analysis the RS approaches this as an opportunity rather than a threat. It states, such marriages can exhibit great potential in favouring the spirit of ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue in a harmonious living of diverse religions (No 7). This sounds wonderful from an ecumenical or evangelical point of view. But that is furthest from a couple s mind when they decide to marry! It doesn t resolve existential bread 38

41 NOV - DEC and butter issues, especially for women, who may have to compromise their faith, and the ambiguity of where the children stand. However, the RS again reverts to Vatican II teachings when it refers to natural marriage and the valid elements present in other religions and cultures based on a stable and true relationship of a man and woman (No 22). Perhaps this is as far as the FS could go. It may have delved deeper if it had more delegates from Asia, where Christians are a miniscule minority and, as stated by the Japanese bishops, 75% of the marriages are interfaith ones. 6. LGBTs (Rating 70/100): Pope Francis off the cuff remark on homosexuality was much hyped before the FS. Those in such situations/ relationships would, but naturally, have experienced a let down. I must here admit that my judgment could be coloured by my personal perceptions, and may not seem politically correct. (Jesus seldom was). I would go along with what the RS says, There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God s plan for marriage and family (No 55). This is very much the general feeling in India, and in no way limited to the Catholic Church. At the same time parity is maintained with the philosophical principle that an affirmation of one thing is not a negation of another. So the RS is again nonjudgmental. Following the earlier approach of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the RS states, Nevertheless men and women with a homosexual tendency ought to be received with respect and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in this regard should be avoided (ibid). Where the RS really shows some spunk is in its refusal to be coerced into submission calling such acts totally unacceptable (No 56). It even stands up to international organizations that link their financial assistance to poorer countries with the introduction of laws to establish marriage between persons of the same sex (ibid). SUMMATION: In conclusion I would say that Pope Francis has indeed left his stamp on the Synod. The word mercy is often used, but I find that a bit condescending. Where I really fault the FS is in treating the family as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. So we have an introductory statement like the family needs to be rediscovered as the essential agent in the work of evangelization (No 2). This is wholly unacceptable. We must address the family for its own sake, and not for the church. Is the family for the church, or the church for the family? Long ago Jesus had asked Is the Sabbath for man or man for the Sabbath? (Mk 2:27). Where I am sorely disappointed is that several issues raised by the Indian laity, that were submitted to the six delegates from India, find scant mention in the RS. Were our Indian delegates mute spectators, or insensitive to our needs? We have sought their response. But we will not keep quiet. If the Extraordinary Synod 2014 scored 60/100 we shall work together to ensure that the Ordinary Synod 2015 goes much further than proposals to actionable points on every issue concerning the family, whether or not it concerns the hierarchical church. We want sense, not sex, from the Synod! *The writer is the Convenor of the Indian Catholic Forum that was formed in response to the demands and expectations of the Family Synod. Interested laypersons may contact him at noronha.kp@gmail.com 39

42 NOV - DEC FROM PESHAWAR TO BETHLEHEM Chhotebhai Writers are seldom at a loss for words. Post Peshawar 16/12 I was shell shocked, and am still struggling to piece together my thoughts. No words suffice to condemn this carnage, described by some as beastly or insane. I beg to differ, because this is not animal behaviour, nor were the perpetrators of this crime against humanity insane. They were as highly focused as the SS Nazi troops of Hitler, who exterminated millions of Jews during World War II. Most perpetrators of genocide justify their acts under some ideology or other, especially when they perceive somebody else as the other. So they are not insane, nor their actions inane. They are so strongly motivated, brainwashed if you like, that they are actually inured to the other s pain, and even their own impending suicidal death. Religious fundamentalists, under the pretext of Islam are killing indiscriminately in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, and Kenya; and most recently in Australia and now Peshawar. Be it the ISIS, LeT, Boko Haram or the Taliban, they all have a common denominator to decimate the other. History is replete with religious wars in the name of crusades, jihad, dharamyudhs etc, in which the perpetrators justify their actions. I am no one to judge the past, or see things out of context; but such actions have absolutely no place in our modern world; where there are ample opportunities for dialogue and dispute resolution with the support of information technology and international arbitration. Since Peshawar happened just a week before Christmas my thoughts flew to Bethlehem, the place of Jesus birth, which we are now commemorating. At that time the angels heralded Glory to God in the highest and peace to people on earth. This touching nativity scene, popularized in Christmas cards, cribs, carols and tableaux, was rudely shattered shortly thereafter. The reigning Jewish king, Herod, perceived a threat to his hegemony. Who was this other, this pretender to the throne? The 40

43 NOV - DEC king would brook no challenge. The challenger had to be eliminated immediately. The Bible recounts the subsequent horrific act of infanticide. Herod was furious on realizing that he had been fooled by the wise men, and in Bethlehem and its surrounding district he had all the male children killed, who were two years old or less, reckoning by the date he had been careful to ask the wise men. Then were fulfilled the words spoken through the Prophet Jeremiah (Lk 2:16-17). Jeremiah had prophesied about 700 years earlier: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and weeping bitterly: it is Rachel weeping for her children, because they are no more (Jer 31:15). Rachel was the grand daughterin-law of Abraham, considered the patriarch of the Jews, Christians and Muslims. Ramah is in the vicinity of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. This genocide occurred during the Babylonian Captivity of the Israelites in what is modern day Iraq. The first case of infanticide recorded in the Bible was several centuries earlier when the Israelites were in Egypt. Feeling threatened by the increasing number and economic clout of the Israelites in his territory, Pharaoh issued this diktat, Throw every new-born boy into the river, but let all the girls live (Ex 1:22). God then sends Moses to reason with Pharaoh, to let the Israelites return to the land of their forefathers. But Pharaoh digs in his heels; so God sends ten plagues, in ascending order of intensity. Pharaoh doesn t budge. Moses again goes to Pharaoh to warn him of the impending tenth plague. God said through Moses, At midnight I shall pass through Egypt, and all the first-born in Egypt will die, from the first-born of Pharaoh, heir to his throne, to the first-born of the slave-girl at the mill, and all the first-born of the livestock. And throughout Egypt there will be great wailing, such as never before, nor will be again (Ex 11:4-6). These scenes were immortalized in the epic movie The Ten Commandments, with the parting of the Red Sea, and the free passage of the Israelites, led by Moses. It was Moses who gave the thumb rule an eye for an eye, oft referred to as the Mosaic Law. This is well documented in the Book of Exodus quoted above. It is significant that the three major Semitic religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam venerate Abraham, Moses and the first five books of the Holy Bible. The Jews refer to it as the Torah, the Muslims as the Toreth and Christian scholars as the Pentateuch (Greek for five books). The question that arises is, should we continue with the Mosaic Law of tit for tat? Here is where the heraldic tidings of Bethlehem come Peace, not war or revenge. It is for this reason that Jesus is referred to as the Prince of Peace. Even in his farewell discourse to his disciples he said, My peace I give to you, the peace that the world can t give. This Christmas after we have finished with the fun and frolic of cakes and carols, let us get back to the real task of promoting peace in the New Year. A good beginning would be to recognize the other as a brother or sister, and not as a threat. Let us all collectively strive for peace. That indeed should be the last word, not the loss of words. Peace Shanti Salaam! * The writer is the President of the Kanpur Catholic Association 41

44 NOV - DEC Family an Active Mediator in the Transmission of Christian Faith Deacon Mariyan Lobo, St. Joseph s Seminary, Allahabad. Family is the nursery of society says St Augustine. Family and society are interconnected; one cannot exist without the other. Family is the base for human society. Family sprouts from the seed of marriage. A Christian family springs from marriage, reflects the loving covenant between Christ and the Church. The self-gifting of man and woman to each other in faith adorns this sacrament. Through their marital bond, the couple add a covenantal dimension to Christian families. Family founded on the sacrament of marriage is like a house built on Rock of Christ who is the centre of Christian family. Familiaris Consortio speaks that family is the primary school and the parents are the first teachers of moral and spiritual values. Today consumerism and globalization have impacted the mindset of people. As a result, the lifestyle and philosophy of modern people have been altered dramatically. In the preceding years, parents were the role models of Christian living. Nearly everyone had basic education and at the same time only a few knew were literate. However, they were rooted deeply in Christian faith. Their life was exemplary and faith-enriching. Children would see their parents praying, and would try to be like them. As I cherish my childhood at this juncture, I have learnt Christian values from my parents, brothers 42

45 NOV - DEC and sisters. Parents not only lived the faith but also inspired and educated us to practise the Christian faith. In this cyber age, things have changed; children do not listen to their parents as they see themselves as modern and their parents as old-fashioned. Individualism becomes a real problem. Disobedience is the order of the day. Here, Pope Francis stands out as model for all of us. Whole world admires his humility and simplicity of life. He has said, In the family, faith is attracted together with mother s milk. During his audience once, the Pope sees children crying and exhorts mother to feed those children without any delay because they are the most significant people here. When an unmarried woman refuses to baptize her child since she is not married, Pope says that the marital status of the parents is not the mistake of the child. In fact, baptism often becomes a new beginning for the parents. All these illustrations accentuate that parents are the overseers of the faith, instead of becoming facilitators of the faith of the people. Family plays a predominant role in educating children. The best inheritance a person can give to his children is a few minutes of his time daily, says O.A. Battista. By and large, an affectionate accompaniment and loving guidance is the need of the hour to our present children. Healthy families could be built by creating an atmosphere of love and truth, by fostering opportunities to resolve conflict at various levels and bring justice. Yes, the problem could be solved by creating understanding, promoting dialogue, through reconciliation, harmony and by accepting each other as God s creation. From time immemorial, great men from different walks of life have said beautiful things about the family and its importance to the society at large. Will Durant states the family is a nucleus of civilization. George Bernard Shaw opines of a happy family as an earlier heaven. The Church proclaims family as the seed bed for inculcating faith and its values. I am very certain that many will agree with George Santayana when he said the only rock I know that works is the family. The former president of our country, APJ Kalam said If country has to be corruption-free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are key societal members who can make a difference. They are father, the mother and the teacher. God is the creator of family (Gen 1:28). Family can liberate and evangelize only by being instilled with the Spirit of Christ. Above all, the role of institutional Church is paramount as it has to live and show the way and be example in living the Gospel values. The institutional Church is hence obliged to be the creative force for ministry to families by building unity among its members and among families. Biblical knowledge, sacred pictures, regular family prayers or Rosary are ways or means to enhance the unity in the family. Church s teaching on marriage and family is to be taught. Regular family visit is a must for the pastor. Pastors should prepare a systematic program in order to enable the parents to do their role of transmitting Gospel values to their children adequately. The lay groups could be trained to assist the pastor in the family visits. As we celebrate the Year of Family, it is timely to recall that families are significant instruments in revitalizing the faith and every member of the family remains responsible in making it a vibrant family. 43

46 NOV - DEC From the Pilgrims FROM THE PILGRIMS My brother Ravi Monterio had resigned from his job for better job prospects, but ended up being jobless almost for one year and eight months. I prayed the novena to St. Jude and my prayer has been answered. He got a good job as per his expectation. Thanks to St. Jude for the favour received. (Reena Monterio, Bangalore) Dear St. Jude, You have always been miraculous in my case. Yes, I had chosen engineering as my undergraduate degree, but it was never my cup of tea. I faced so many problems throughout my 8 semesters. I thought of quitting it after the first semester, but for the support of my parents. Their prayers and my special prayers to St. Jude helped me to get a good result and I cleared all the papers successfully with 60%. Thank you St. Jude. (Sanya Joseph, Bhopal) I am a devotee of St. Jude. My son Anish Gilbert has gone to Dubai in search of a job. He got a job and he lost it within 3 months. He is jobless and his visa will get expired by 26 th of February. Before that he should get a job. I pray with hope and faith in St. Jude that my son be blessed with a job by 26 th. I honour you St. Jude. I am in despair, please intercede for my son. (Jancy Joseph) Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness, but a lamp which guides our steps in the night and suffices for the journey. To those who suffer, God does not provide arguments which explain everything; rather, his response is that of an accompanying presence, a history of goodness which touches every story of suffering and opens up a ray of light. ( Lumen Fidei, June 29, 2013). 44

47 NOV - DEC Flag Hoisting Ceremony 45

48 NOV - DEC