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St. Francis of Assisi was the first to create augmented reality of the Christmas event as he made the 4D Crib which the Franciscan history vouches was a living crib, wherein the Christ-Child came alive.  It was the beginning, a beginning that set to flame the saga of many a Christmas event re-enacted in every believing heart.

The humus-effect—The Humility-Effect—of Jesus, is so overwhelming an experience that Francis of Assisi who had dwelt on it, became so Christ-intoxicated, hence a transformation so complete.  Tradition says that the early Christmas Cribs were made with mud and clay. I am certain many of us who belong to a different generation, blissfully different a generation, have had some experience of actually creating the idols and figures from the clay and mud. The Second Adam who is the Creator of the first Adam decided to be born as a human being in extreme humility and poverty. A humble person is known to be down to earth.  The word humility originated from the word humus which means soil, dark soil, fertile soil, earth etc. St. Francis saw the humility of God in the Christ Birth and the entire Jesus event.  He marveled at the sublime humility of God – The humility of God in the Eucharist, and at every Christmas event celebrated in the shadow of the Cross.

The Christmas event, the greatest of all events marks the beginning of the God-Man, Jesus, teaching us the story of humility, the humility of a God who was born on the earth, down to earth to raise the down-trodden to heights.  The path to Christ’s birth was not an easy one, no comfort was provided to the parents of the Divine Child. Jesus Himself from womb to tomb lived outside the comfort zone.  It was humility in its highest superlative, life in its extreme margins lived by the Lord Himself, as an itinerant, barefoot traveler, preaching and reaching out.

Sr Babitha Abraham FMM

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Christmas for me symbolizes a season of new beginnings; a new beginning when all hope is lost and suddenly, God shows up in the situation and changes all things around for our good.

A Blessing & Privilege

It had been a blessing to work with underprivileged students in St. Mary’s community College, Jharsuguda, Odisha. I had the opportunity to understand their difficulties, comfort them in sorrow, accompany them in their pain.  Their study is adversely affected by family problems such as alcoholic parents, family disputes, deceased parents, death of siblings and loved ones. Some of them are being brought up by a single parent.  Parents are mostly farmers and daily labourers. Most of them are school and college dropouts, young widows, those who were once involved in begging, have had bad relationships, part of child labour, and have experienced homelessness and suicidal thoughts, and many have also been victims of domestic violence.

The job that they are offered after their training, seems to really help them, this enables them to have a reason to believe in themselves, to feel accepted, and take control of their lives in a respectable manner.

I Made a Difference

Working with the underprivileged has helped me realize that I made a difference in their life. Sometimes it was difficult for me to handle them, or manage the finance. Many times I felt helpless. I simply brought all my anxiety and worry to the Lord during the holy hour from where I drew immense strength.  However, through a series of divine intervention, the God of new beginnings showed up and gave me grace to understand and love them and support them emotionally and financially. I felt proud that I was able to involve myself in the life of young people.

Sr.Ranjita Tirkey HM

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Recently while browsing through the internet, I came across the life stories of two ordinary children who became extraordinary persons because of what they did, the new possibilities they envisaged for themselves, others, the world and creation.  The first child is Gauravi Kaushik from Jaipur.  The second one is Ranjitha from Orissa.  The theme for this issue of the Magnet, New Beginnings, was inspired by them.   This in addition to the fact that Christmas always has a spontaneous delight which leads us to a recommitment of our selves.

Gauravi’s Little Steps

Gauravi Kaushik is presently a 16-year-old teenage high school student.  She is the Co-Founder of NGO R-4.  What does the 4 Rs of this NGO stand for? – REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE and RESTORE.  Where did Gauravi get her vision? What was that extraordinary event that pushed her on to something new?

In fact, there is nothing extraordinary.  When she was ten years old, she saw her elder sister collecting and storing kitchen waste for a few days and converting it into manure for plants. She was thrilled.  That day, says Gauravi, ‘I found my vision.  I realized I will embark on a journey towards making this society, this country and finally this world a better place to live in.’

Gauravi along with her sister first started a number of environmental initiatives in their school in Jaipur. In 2013 when Gauravi was 7 and her sister 13, they started R-4.  Initially they managed the project together and gradually they developed a network of 200 volunteers and 650 followers on Facebook.

What is their mission statement? – Reading and preaching about conservation is not enough. We have to act, and act now.

What did/do they do?

• They started with waste management projects which spread throughout Jaipur.
• They worked for sustainability along with volunteers.
• They helped with planting trees, made people aware about the importance of segregating waste through waste collection marathons, theatre festivals like Jairangam and other events.
• Presently, they organize annually a campaign called Meri Bhee Diwali event for which the vision is to see every child happy on the festival of Diwali. In view of this vision, they organize a collection drive for old festive clothes and foot wear every year – since 2016 to date.  They are then washed, packed and distributed to those in need.

Pushpa Joseph

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This article on the National Education Policy 2020 is a continuation of the cover story of the November issue.  Prof. Bernard Sami a visionary in Higher Education, and an experienced Professor teaching in Loyola College, Chennai has more to educate us on the implications of NEP 2020 for our Higher Education Institutions in India.

The governments of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh have taken the lead in implementing NEP 2020, while other states are being, directly or indirectly, coaxed to implement it.  Some States like Tamil Nadu have opted for developing a State Education Policy (SEP) as an alternative. The implementation of the NEP is creating problems for the existing colleges and Universities as it mandates radical structural changes in Higher Education.  This article highlights the features of NEP 2020 and some serious concerns it raises in its execution.

Highlights of the NEP 2020 in the area of Higher Education (HE):

• The draft NEP had 484 pages, but the document that the Cabinet passed in July 2020 has 66 pages. The team headed by Dr Kasturi Rangan that received the feedback, scaled it down to a thinner policy cancelling state-level mechanisms such as Rashtriya Shiksha Aayog and other heavy bureaucratic systems.

• The importance of liberal arts education has been recognized and the starting of five Indian Institutes of Liberal Arts (IILA) to award four-year degrees is mentioned in the policy.
• Three kinds of institutions are envisaged – institutions with a focus on Research; Teaching, and Autonomous Colleges with degree awarding powers. Draft NEP envisages Tier I, Tier II and Tier III system.
  • Under Tier I – 300 research universities and 3000 teaching universities with a predominant research component with some teaching.
  • Under Tier II Universities devote time to teaching and carrying on some research with 25000-30000 student capacity, and
  • Tier III 40000 colleges with 2500-5000 institutions mainly comprising colleges to become autonomous colleges and degree awarding colleges.

However, it says nothing about funding, indicating that growth in higher education will be dependent on the private sector.

Dr Bernard D’ Sami

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We, the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (M.S.F.S.) better known as Fransalians, commemorate the 400th death anniversary of our heavenly Patron St. Francis de Sales on December 28^th 2022. In the spiritual life, saints show us the way to perfection. They are our real ideals, whom we emulate and have recourse to for our spiritual growth. We do bear their names, which reminds us of that particular saint and his or her teachings and principles of life to follow, in our lives. It was St. Francis de Sales’ life that influenced our Founder and Servant of God Fr. Peter Marie Mermier, to found the MSFS Congregation under his patronage. Since 1838, for the last 184 years, the Congregation is known worldwide and is contributing a lot towards the growth of the Universal Church. Hence it is very appropriate for us to reflect on the brief biography of our patron St. Francis de Sales from his birth till the last breath and days of his earthly life.

Francis de Sales – A Biography

Francis de Sales was born in Thorens, Savoy, France on 21st August 1567. He was a student of law and theology at the University in Padua, Italy. It was here that he obtained his Doctorate in Civil and Canon law in 1591. He returned to Savoy in February 1592. He was appointed Provost in 1593 and took charge of the diocese of Geneva, Annecy. He was ordained deacon on 18th September 1593 and ordained a priest on 18th December 1593. On 14^th September 1594, he volunteered for the difficult and dangerous Mission of Chablais. He worked for almost six years with his innovative ways of winning the hearts of the Calvinists and gradually conversions took place and they all returned to the Catholic fold. On 8^th December 1602 he was consecrated as the Bishop of Geneva.

Fr. Johnson Gonsalves MSFS

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Sr Martha (who is on the staff of a formation house, came to speak to me recently). Evidently sincere and eager to help the formees, she expressed several doubts.  How do I correct young women? How do I point out their mistakes without anger? How do I express my own views to other staff members without hurting them? All normal doubts and queries.

I told her some simple truths that many of us know.  We, religious and priests, while meaning well, tend to overdo two things: advice-giving (or exhortations) and moralizing.

“Try to be more patient.” “Do not be jealous of others.” “Let us be prayerful like our mother foundress.”  “You should control your temper.” “You should not waste time.”

A whole series of “Let us…” and Do’s and Don’ts.  Most of these do not help the hearer.

They know that they should not be jealous, or that they need to be more patient and prayerful. Exhortation is not what they need.

What they need—and look for—is example. To see loving, caring grownups who are not jealous of each other, who love and support one another, who look happy, who create an atmosphere of warmth and care.  And who are willing to share how they themselves handled their weakness, and moved from jealousy to collaboration, from fear to confidence.

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584), Bishop and Confessor, was called by God to execute a true reform in the Church. The happy conclusion of the Council of Trent is in great part due to his prudence. He was a Cardinal at the age of twenty-three and was given the archbishopric of Milan. He presided over Synods and Councils, established seminaries and congregations, and renewed the spirit of his clergy and the religious orders. He is also the patron of Catechists. Pope Francis has convoked Synod 2021-2023 for greater communion, participation and mission in the Church, something that St. Charles Borromeo did well.

Positive Progress through Synods

Reforms will always be needed within the Church as long as there exists human beings and Catholicism. This is a mark of vitality of the Church—the people of God. The Council of Trent was the turning point of the Counter Reformation. St. Charles Borromeo, accepted the realities of the time, urged the Fathers of the Church – Bishops, to grasp the urgent matters of the age, to seek solutions which strengthened both the Church and her teachings. From a Church which was alert to the dangers of its time, he reformed it and hoped for a positive progress. In Milan, Diocesan Synod followed Diocesan Synod in quick succession. Archbishop, Monsignor Ormaneto reached Milan and at once carried out Charles’ instructions by calling together a Diocesan Synod for the promulgation of the decrees of the Council of Trent. There were 1200 priests at the Synod. The Synod was followed by a visitation of the diocese by Monsignor Ormaneto. St. Charles announced that the reform must begin with the prelates: “We ought to walk in front and our spiritual subjects will follow us.”

Sr. Sheila Corda SCB

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Some time back I lost my residence permit.  I searched for it everywhere but could not find it.  In my mind, I played back again and again my movements during the twelve hours preceding the realization that I had lost the permit trying to ascertain where and how I could have lost it.  I recalled time and again all the difficulty I had in procuring the document and all the trouble I would have to undergo in the future to get a new one.  I told myself what I should have done and how I should have carried it so that I would not have lost it.  I blamed myself for being careless.  I felt sad, angry, anxious ashamed and discouraged.  It was a day on which I had to attend an international seminar, but I could not concentrate.  The thought of the document, how I had lost it, what I should have done in order not to have lost it, how I should be careful about the other documents, these thoughts and the feeling of being foolish and miserable kept on repeating themselves in my mind.  I saw some old friends who had come for the seminar but did not feel like talking to them.  I had no enthusiasm, no appetite.  I felt almost paralysed.  In the afternoon I lay down exhausted not knowing what to do.  Somehow, I lived through the day.  But at night as I lay down to sleep, I began repeating to myself the same things.  I woke up earlier than usual and continued lying on my bed replaying once again the same things.

            Experiences like this are quite common in our life.  They may not have the same intensity but they are similar in as much as the mind keeps replaying and repeating to itself the same things endless number of times.  As a result, we feel stressed, exhausted and unable to concentrate.

Jose Kuttianimattathil sdb

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 Stories are powerful tools to affect changes in us. That is why I would like to very briefly choose a theme on the Christmas Spirit from Louisa May Alcott’s: “A Christmas Dream and how it came to be true”.  It is based on the story of a rich 10-year-old child, Effie who is bored with the thought of Christmas, whilst she watches her mother arrange a pile of gifts two days before Christmas. Her mother reminds her about Charles Dickens’ protagonist, Uncle Scrooge, who hated Christmas until a strange dream showed him how dear and beautiful it was and that made a man of him.

When Effie’s mother asks her why she is tired when it should be the happiest time of all the year, the little child responds that perhaps it wouldn’t be so, if she had something new this Christmas. The little girl tells her mother that it seems poor children have a better time than the rich at Christmas, because they are freer from the entrapments of the rich. Effie wistfully says she would like to be like a beggar girl.

That night Nursey, the little’s girl’s nurse, tells her the best of tales so that when she goes to bed, her head becomes a curious jumble of Christmas elves, poor children, snow storms, sugarplums and surprises. Effie dreams of herself sitting on a stone, alone, cold, thirsty, tired and totally forgotten by others, in the middle of a great field. In her dream she hears a voice and sees a light that steadily gets brighter and then encounters a Christmas Spirit. The Christmas Spirit tells her that he was on a holiday to find children from all parts of the world once a year, to make them merry. The Christmas Spirit then shows her the place where he lives and where she sees all the other Christmas Spirits getting ready to go on a holiday. On this one day, they are allowed a holiday to roam about the world and bring happiness to children who would let them in.

Janina Gomes

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When freshers are appointed as Treasurers, they are often at a loss because they have no knowledge of the Income Tax rules applicable, no knowledge of accounts, no idea as to what is to be done and how to go about the procedures. This article is to help such people in the area of the income tax rules applicable to us.

The first thing that we have to understand is that unlike other individuals and legal entities who have to pay Income Tax on their income if it is beyond the basic exempt limit of Rs 2,50,000, the registered society we belong to is registered for Income Tax exemption under section 12AB of the Income Tax Act, because we are charitable in nature. It means that income of the charitable societies is exempt because of the charitable works they are involved in. This is the basic difference between the business groups that exist for the purpose of making money and charitable societies which exist purely with a service motive for the needy public.

But the tax exemption that we enjoy is not a blanket exemption. Our exemption is based on certain terms and conditions. As long as the activities of our societies remain charitable and we comply with the terms and conditions given in the Income Tax Act, we will enjoy the tax exemption. Some such basic conditions can be listed as below:

Fr Alex G., SJ

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