Very Good Quality
This letter is long overdue, as I am a regular recipient of the complimentary copy of Magnet, your monthly publication. Thank you very much for sending them month after month without fail.
I go through most of the articles and I must say that they are of a very good quality and truly relevant to the time and context of the month of publication. It contains articles meant for every one – priests, religious and even lay people. The magazine is attractive and its design and lay out with good quality photos and graphics make it unique. The paper quality too is good – not too cheap nor too expensive – but more than enough for all of us to feel like going through all the pages.
My hearty congratulations to you and your team.
Bishop Jose Chirackal, Tura, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya
Thank you! Continue! Publish an International Edition
I would like to thank you for continuously publishing very good articles in MAGNET, especially that of Fr. Jose Parappully, entitled “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” (June and July 2021) and of Joe Mannath entitled “Learn a Bit of Counselling” (July 2021). People, especially in this time of pandemic, come to priests for advice or simply to have someone to listen to them. They come with various problems, difficulties, painful experiences, etc. For priests like me whose field is not psychology, Fr Parappully’s article is very helpful. It gives basic information about PTSD and offers different healing approaches and methods. Pointing out that PTSD is treatable is reassuring; it’s “good news.” The self-healing approaches and concrete steps he describes are extremely helpful. I find this article to be very pastoral. It presents hard facts but, at the same time, offers hope and concrete solutions. The article on counseling is also quite helpful. All priests need some knowledge and skill in counseling. People from all walks of life come to us priests when they need to be listened to, to be enlightened, to be guided, to be advised on what to do, etc. We must be able to respond to these needs competently and effectively. THANK YOU and CONTINUE with this great apostolate.
MAGNET is a journal not to be kept on library shelves. It is to be read and placed where it can be readily accessible whenever someone in ministry needs to re-read an article useful for his/her work or for someone seeking his/her help.
By all means, come up with an international edition. Include the Pacific in your target area. It is a periphery where many religious sisters and priests do various ministries. They will certainly benefit a great lot from MAGNET. The digital edition is the most effective this time, especially of the pandemic
Fr Samuel H Canilang CMF, Manila, Philipppines
Suggesting a Topic
I would like to suggest a Topic which is missing in Magnet magazine. This topic on Formation…
Can you write some topics about FORMEES ….How do they have to prepare themselves for Consecrated Life? What are the attitudes they need to develop? How do they discern their vocation?T
this will help our formees. Thank you
Bro. Sagar FSF, Holy Family Brothers.
Disturbing Trends in Education
Kudos to Magnet over the magnificent August cover page on Reading Habit. Books taking wings lifting you from the mundane daily grind, buoying up your spirits to the sublime heights, to the fabulous realms of the mind and spirit. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and inspiring writers will help you trace your way back to the life crowning Word.
Some bookshops as well as some book publishing companies are closing down today. This alone is disturbing evidence of the fall in the reading habit of people.
The problem has its roots also in some schools which labour under the misconception that computers and mass media make libraries outdated and irrelevant. In the craze for scoring high marks in public exams, library periods are slashed and borrowing of books from libraries suspended in some schools. General knowledge tests are banished to limbo. Linguistic skills take a beating from the undue weightage given to technology today.
Today’s education can produce efficient technocrats but few good thinkers and writers on the art of living, like the classical authors. Lack of exposure to imaginative writing and good authors stunts imagination and emotional growth of the young. Poor acquaintance with the wisdom of the ages produces a mediocre crop of leaders in society.
Good readers make good writers. A look at current school and college annuals will lay bare the poor standards of writing and a marked bias towards colourful visual display.
Good reading challenges our lifestyles. So even a highly impactful magazine like MAGNET is rarely thumbed by many religious . Doing commands a higher premium over being in contemporary religious culture.
Fr Matthew Adukanil SDB, Tirupattur, Tamilnadu
Excellent Issue on Seniors
I just finished reading the July issue of Magnet, on Seniors. As always, very excellent articles, especially the cover stories. I am always inspired and made a little uncomfortable by Brother Carmel’s column–he is amazing, and he really brings to life the humanity of the people among whom he ministers. I had never heard of the Sisters of the Destitute, but I was also inspired by that interview, as well as that with the Little Sister of the Poor (I have heard about that order since I was a young boy–my grandmother really admired them).
I loved the line in your editorial about not just adding years to your life, but adding life to your years. Good advice to me at 77!! And I loved all the tips for growing old gracefully–or gratefully as one of the quotations said. I was also struck by the sister who said that perhaps one of the reasons senior religious are unhappy is that they had seen their lives as a function, and now that they can’t DO things they don’t feel they matter. Again, good advice for me.
Among many other things, I loved the two additional ways of becoming a saint–gratefulness and assurance of God’s love for us. Sainthood isn’t something we achieve, is it? It’s really recognizing how much grace is around us in so many ways. I often quote the line of Gregory Boyle (the Jesuit who works with gangs in Los Angeles): “God delights in us–that takes some getting used to.”
Congratulations on an important issue of Magnet!
Prof Steve Bevans SVD, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, USA
Addiction is not a Solution!
I feel the cover page topic ‘A Secret, Widespread and Destructive Addiction’ was wonderful to read and reflect upon. Truly it was a magnet for me where I couldn’t resist but read when I had just glanced through the contents. Youth, and in some cases married couples, find it difficult to vanquish this addiction called Pornography. In most of the cases, as I find it, the significant reason is loneliness. When we don’t find any means to overcome this loneliness, we inevitably fall into such an addiction. The time has come to spread the awareness that addiction doesn’t become a solution for our loneliness. I am grateful to the MAGNET editorial team for bringing about such awareness to the people through this magazine.
Darwin D’Souza, Bangalore.
Lover extraordinary
The enlightening article (Volume V issue 9 and 10, October 2021) titled “Lover extraordinary” on Br Charles Cutlot, who later becomes Br Shantidas is quite amazing. His life has stunned me and made me want to give myself for the marginalized. I’m very grateful to the editor for publishing and also Fr M.A Joe Antony SJ for writing this electrifying and enkindling article which has motivated me and lit a sparkle within me to help the vulnerable.
Frewin D’Souza, Mount St Joseph, Bangalore
From Porn to Purity
This is with regard to the article published in MAGNET (issue 09 and 10 dated October 2021). This issue covers very helpful and thought-provoking articles on addictions. I was very happy to come across the topic ” From Porn to Purity” by Fr Aneesh Chacko SDB. This particular article gave me a lot of insights to live a pure life as a religious person. I was moved by the sacrifice made by Mr Aron Ralston to live his life and for his wife. It has shown me how to be free from addictions and not to feel guilty overtime rather than seek help from others. This leads us to live a pure life centered around Christ. I am grateful to the editor for suggesting many practical ways of handling our addictions. A billion thanks for your thoughts on this topic, which is the need of the hour for all younger generations.
Scholastic Pradeep D’souza SJ, Vidyaniketan, Dharwad
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