From The Young

Carlos Welch, one of the founders of the Christian Counselling Centre, Vellore, and a counsellor who helped many, used to tell us, “Everybody needs counselling.” He also said, “As adults, we should stand on our own feet.”

I once asked him, “How do you put these two statements together?” They seemed to contradict each other.

His reply was simple and wise, “To be mature means to realize when you need help and seek it. There are times when the best thing we can do is to go to someone trustworthy and say, ‘I need help.’”

That is right. We all need help. No one is always strong.

Three Concentric Circles

Years ago, I saw the levels of our personality represented in a drawing. It was of three concentric circles.

Fr Joe Mannath SDB
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St Joseph Cafasso, considered a model priest, lived in the city of Turin, Italy, in the 19^th century. He was given the nickname “the Priest of the Gallows” for his pastoral care of criminals, especially those condemned to death. He stood by their side as they were lead to the execution.

After his ordination, he went to Turin to attend one of the post-graduate courses at the Convitto Ecclesiastico (a resident institute for priests). He was then asked to teach there, and proved to be a brilliant lecturer.  He aimed at making the young priests not only learned but saintly men and efficient ministers of the Gospel.

Fr Cafasso spent long hours in the confessional. His fame for learning and sanctity attracted great numbers of penitents there. Besides teaching, he found time for other forms of apostolate, the chief of which were teaching catechism to poor children, visiting the sick and the various prisons of the city.

Visiting the Prisoners

The prisons during Fr Cafasso’s time were gloomy places infested with vermin. The prisoners were free to communicate with each other and the worst of them had the greatest influence in the prison. It was among these outcasts of society that Fr Cafasso spent most of his free time. He visited each prison at least once a week, and some of them once a day. He returned home each night bringing with him the vermin of the prison, which he jokingly called “living silver and moving riches.”

Fr Leon Cruz SDB

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Here are short prayers from the heart written by female undergraduates from various religions.  We thank Sr Mariola Sequeira MSA for meeting with the students and gathering these prayers. Note two lovely traits: Many of the prayers show a deep sense of gratitude to God and the desire to be good persons.

Oh Lord, I thank you for giving me such a beautiful life. I thank you for giving me happiness. I thank you for giving me parents and friends for overcoming my loneliness. Thank you, Lord! I want to thank you for each and everything you have given to me in my life.

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Lord, you have made the Sun to rule over the day, and Moon to rule over the night. You are my merciful Father. I believe that I receive what I ask in your name, Lord. Today I thank you for being there for me always. I will always adore you and worship you, Amen

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Loving Sweet Jesus, thank you for all the blessings you have showered on me at every moment of my life, whether good or bad. Thank you for being such a nice friend who knows my mistakes, my weaknesses but still accepts me and is always ready to help me whenever I need. Thank you for being a reason for a smile on my face. This life may be full of sins and disappointments, but with you I can overcome any obstacle. I love you Jesus. Praise you for all the miracles you have done in my life. Amen.

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Almighty God, words cannot describe, and my little actions cannot define, the mercy you have showered upon us. Today with all my heart and mind I would like to ask you for one most important thing, my father. Please, once again establish peace and bring your kingdom to this earth. Amen.

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Oh Lord, I your humble child, come into your presence to ask for forgiveness for all the bad I have done to others and to myself.  Lord, keep your loving and guiding hand on me and please forgive me. Amen.

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Lord, please help all the poor people. Always stay with me, Lord. Bless me and my family. Oh, Heavenly Father, please help the girl child.

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Baba, you have always been the best part of me and my life. Thank you for all the little things that you do and the wishes that you fulfill even if I forget them. I just wanna pray: always be at my side in all the happiness, joy and sorrow. I love you; you are my best friend.

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Dear God, I would like to tell you that I really don’t like asking for myself, so I would rather ask you to protect my mamma, daddy, and my younger sister and would like to thank you for making me fall in love with music. Keep loving us.

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Thank you, God, for giving me a beautiful life. Thank you, God, for being with me. Thank you for giving me a loving family and friends. Thank you, God, for my happiness. Thank you, God, for loving me. Thank you, Lord.

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