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Today’s complex world has for many turned their “normal life” upside down.  These challenging times of pandemic virus, resulting in serious health concerns, isolation, unemployment, food shortage, and uncertainty about the future, bring fear and confusion. In addition, across the world, social justice issues arise in ever more striking ways, causing us to reconsider the very structure of society. Violence against marginalized peoples is no longer hidden but rather displayed daily on our social media and in our streets.  And we are all faced with the question, to what is all of this chaos calling me?  Who am I in the midst of such turmoil and pain?  Who have I been and who do I desire now to be? What is my response today and what will it be tomorrow?  We are all now called to look at the very fiber of ourselves and our society, but where and how to begin?

Life, even in its whole and healthy form, brings change, brings movement, and calls forth from each of us a stance, a way of being. To live our life in an intentional way, then, each of us needs to enter into and live out of discernment. As Parker Palmer in his short but powerful book, Let Your Life Speak, reminds us, “Embracing one’s wholeness makes life more demanding – because once you do that, you must live your whole life.”

Sr Sharon Gray SCN

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Crystal and Kevin bring to the discussion their rich background as educated and committed lay persons. See how practical their understanding is!—Editor

CRYSTAL

One of the most delightful aspects of being a regular contributor to this magazine is the opportunity to reflect on topics that we as Catholics should be familiar with.  Unfortunately, this Catholic is not always as well-read as others. And so it was with a sense of wondering what Fr Joe meant when he said that discernment is one of Pope Francis’ favourite topics that I began to do a little internet research and discovered a beautiful array of the Pope’s reflections on the subject.

Crystal and Kevin Sullivan

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This article looks at the basic meaning of discernment, its key role in life, the obstacles to right choice, and the clear and lovely outcome of a life lived with discernment.—Editor

God made us in His own image and likeness. He endowed us with intelligence and free will. He has also poured out His Spirit over us and into us, so that the inbuilt conscience within us will lead us on along life’s journeys, steadily and surely … if only we listen to it. We could call this the gift of discernment – to differentiate between what is good and what is bad, between what is good and what is better, and to make our choices accordingly. There is no ‘neutral’ stand. We cannot opt to be bystanders or onlookers. Life is too precious for that. We have to take a stand to make this world a better place to live in – one in which every person is my neighbour, my brother, my sister…  Who we are and what we do either makes us and this world, better or worse. We need to single out the path that God seems to be opening up for us, individually and collectively.

SR ESME DA CUNHA FDCC

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Here is my vocational discernment story. I learnt discernment, not through reading or lectures, but through personal struggle and the wisdom and love of some good people God placed on my path. They didn’t discuss discernment; they helped me to discern. Friends who read this account tell me it will help others. So, here it is. I will try to be as honest as possible, and put things simply, as they happened. I hope it helps some of you at least.

Doubts and Troubling Experiences

Right from my high school days with the Salesians, I had the conviction that, to be happy, we must do God’s will. My problem was: How do I find out what God wills for me?

This was always a struggle for me. I did not (and still do not) understand how some people find it very easy to “find and follow their vocation.”

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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One of the heartwarming films I could watch during these dull, dreary days of the lockdown is called A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood. If it is just fiction, I can’t obviously be writing about it here in this column that focuses on real people who can be held up as candles that light up our way.

This film is based on the life and contribution of a real life hero – Fred McFeely Rogers. He was an ordained Presbyterian minister, but Americans see him as the creator of a television series that helped generations of American pre-school children come to grips with things that adults would not easily talk to them about—like divorce or death. He was the creator and host of the highly popular TV series called Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which ran for—believe it or not!—thirty-three years, from 1968 to 2001!

M A Joe Antony SJ

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Finding God in Everything

Jesuit Saint John Berchmans’ rector wrote the following about the young saint after his death:

“What we universally admired in him was that in all the virtues he showed himself perfect and that, with the aid of divine grace to which he responded to his utmost, he performed all his actions with all the perfection that can be imagined” (in Au & Cannon, Urgings of the Heart, 1995, p. 67; emphasis added).

The above description of John Berchmans is a reflection of the understanding of holiness in vogue for many centuries. Holiness was all about being perfect! In this understanding, holiness would appear an impossible ideal for us weak, flawed human beings. Thankfully, notions of holiness have changed.

Several developments in science and philosophy in the last hundred years undermined what was known as the mechanistic-dualistic paradigm (see May issue of Magnet) and paved the way for the emergence of a new one – the Holistic paradigm.

Fr Jose Parappully SDB

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The vocation story and personal reflections of a young teaching Sister.

Why be a Religious?

I believe that vocation to religious life is like a sapling which needs to be planted, watered, pruned and tended. It requires constant attention and nurturing.  Life is a constant flow with unexpected changes and transitions; this is so true in the present situation of Covid-19 pandemic. This critical period has made us all reflect on the way we have lived our lives. I want to do something similar with regard to my religious vocation.

I have had the opportunity to look into my past and see how God has blessed me abundantly and I have grown in deep gratitude and look ahead with more confidence. In the light of that gratitude and confidence, I ask myself: Why am I a religious? To what way of life was I called? How did I know? These questions transported me back to my exciting initial call.

Sukirtha Kulandai PBVM

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December 10, 1979: Mother Teresa wins the Nobel Prize for Peace!

A few days preceding the award ceremony, Mother Teresa wrote to her sisters: On the evening of 5th December – I will leave for Rome and on the 7th we will have the professions there. On the 8th I will be in Oslo, God willing. As the Nobel Peace Prize Committee have sent two more tickets besides the one for me, and above all as a mark of love and gratitude to all our sisters of the first group for having the courage to join when there was nothing, the joy of having nothing & yet possessing Jesus to the full & because they loved Jesus they loved the poor, so I will be taking Sr M Agnes and Sr M Gertrude with me to Oslo.

But, I’m sorry to disappoint you. If you are expecting another article about Mother Teresa, this is not about her. As much as I love her, admire her and follow the charism she was given, I believe there is somebody who in my opinion is “greater” than Mother Teresa. Mother heard the Voice of God telling her to leave everything and take Him to the dark holes of the poorest of the poor. It was a clear voice, a strong order which she had to heed and obey. Deep inside her soul, Mother “knew” what it was and where it came from. She knew what she had to do. She had no doubts. Shubashini Das–better known inside the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity as Sr. Agnes—did not hear any voice. No inspiration was hers. Hers was a total trust and blind faith in Mother. We do not know whether Mother ever talked about the Voice and Vision she received from God to young Sr Agnes, yet she believed without seeing. The day Shubashini Das joined Mother on that March 19, 1949—just a few months after Mother Teresa came out of Loreto—at 14, Creek Lane (where she was given a room), there was NOTHING.

[1] Mother Teresa’s letter to the Congregation dated November 21, 1979, unpublished, copyright Mother Teresa Centre.

Carmel Duca MC

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Extra-ordinary Times

We are living in extra-ordinary times, with high uncertainty about the future. Anxiety and fear are mounting by the day. There is an increasing sense of helplessness, without much sight of the light at the end of the tunnel. Most spheres of life have been disturbed and affected. All plans, calculations, dreams, have gone topsy-turvy. The ongoing lockdowns have resulted in reduced business, job loss, dwindling  pay checks, migration of labour, fear of hunger, fear of death, growing incidence of depression and suicides, … a worrisome situation. No one knows when this pandemic and its collateral effects will end.

Fr Trevor D’Souza OFM

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Inspired by the enthusiasm of a campus youth group, this young woman discovers the beauty of faith, goes as a missionary to Assam, finds answers to intense loneliness, and discovers God as her one and never-failing love. She has some good suggestions for church personnel.–Editor

 You are a member of Jesus Youth. Why? What does being a JY mean for you?

My call to Jesus Youth Movement was a very special choice from God. During the initial days of my college, I came across a very different and vibrant group of youth who always radiated an extraordinary and exceptional kind of energy which I had noticed in no other group. As the days went by and I became more familiar with my college and its normal life, I came to know about the Jesus Youth team in the college and, surprisingly, this energetic folk were the active members of the JY group. Then I realized the cause of their distinct characteristics.  I too was attracted to that movement.  Eventually I became an active member of the group. Later on, I was elected as a campus coordinator of Jesus Youth.   Since then, JY has been continuously forming and moulding me in such a way to get to know my Lord in a very personal way. JY gave regular formation for being committed to Jesus and a life-style which is focused on personal prayer, sacraments and the Word of God. Being a Jesus Youth always reminds me to radiate the youthfulness of Jesus.

Malu Thomas

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