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While preparing this issue of MAGNET, I was struck by a quote from Stephen Covey, the legendary expert on effective living: ““Time management is really a misnomer. The challenge is not to manage time, but to manage ourselves.”

How true.

Time is a gift. I cannot give it to myself. That I am alive today and healthy enough to write this article, and you are alive and well enough to read it—both these are gifts we can acknowledge (or ignore). We cannot give it to ourselves. As Jesus said, we cannot add a little bit to our lifespan by worrying about it.

I can only hope that I will be alive until tonight. I cannot give another day to myself, nor can anyone else guarantee it.

Covey is right. What I need to learn is to manage myself within the time I am blessed with.

Do you agree?

Time is money? No!

Taking cues from the business world, some of us tend to say things like, “Time is money.” I disagree. Totally.

If the value of time were measured by the money we make or lose, then the best things we do in life would be worthless—spending time with loved ones, visiting  a sick relative, holding one’s children in one’s lap and playing with them, praying, enjoying nature, reaching out to a needy person, …

And some of the world’s best human beings—who spent their lives doing good, without getting paid for it—would have wasted their life

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

For most of my life as a Catholic, I have heard that to be faithful stewards of Christ we must share our time, talent and treasure. Each of these three gifts are valuable in their own way and for different needs.  At times, it may be that money is the most immediate need, such as if there is a leaky roof or emergency situation in a far away country where we are physically unable to be present to serve. At times, our talent is most needed, to perhaps lead a group in a new project which requires particular skills and experiences, or when a budget needs to be drawn up. And then there is the stewardship of our time, which is such a valuable commodity in this busy world of ours. The enthusiasm with which we spend our time on various aspects of our life often reflects the true values we hold in our hearts.

At a workshop long ago, I heard that we should always make time for the things that we really care about. As part of an exercise, we were asked to place rocks into a jar.  There were several large rocks and many more small rocks.  We were asked to put all the rocks into the jar if possible.  For those who put all the small rocks in first, the large rocks no longer fit.  But for those who put the big rocks in first, the smaller ones fell around them and through them and there was plenty of room for both. The lesson is that what we believe to be the most important use of our life should be a big rock and be given the priority of time.  It could well be that when we get our priorities right, there will still be time for other things that are good but not quite as valuable.  For example, over the years I simply stopped sending out Christmas cards to the 150 people in my address book. It all started when I decided to dedicate more time for remaining calm and prayerful during Advent…

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Crystal and Kevin Sullivan

You did not choose me; it was I who chose you and sent you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last” (John15:16).

God has his marvelous plan for each one of us. When I was a child, our parish priest was a missionary from Turin, Italy. I was fascinated by the dedication and courage of the missionary priests and of the Missionaries of Christ Jesus (MCJ) Sisters, who worked in our Parish. When I went to the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco as an aspirant in 1984, I saw our missionary sisters and I was always fascinated by their courage and joy in their service. I joined them. During my novitiate experience in Bellefonte, Shillong, living with our missionary sisters as a novice and later as an “assistant” (a junior staff member) of novices, my desire for mission grew stronger. After my profession in 1988, I asked several times to be sent to the missions, but I was not sent. I kept on praying. The missionary flame in me never died out.

It came, however, as a surprise in 2010 when my provincial called me and asked me if I would like to go to the mission, since our Mother General asked for one missionary from our province. It was a tough decision, as I was animator of the community, and had also made plans for many projects and activities in that mission. I spent time in prayer and discernment. Then I felt God speaking to my heart, saying: “You are useful, but not indispensable.” Oh! That was the answer. So, I said my ‘Yes’ to be a missionary Ad Gentes.

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Sr Magadalene Synnah FMA

Childhood and Marriage

I had a childhood without want or worry. I grew up in a luxurious, cosy environment, with no awareness of the stark realities of life.

This came to an abrupt end, however, when I got married—very young, without knowing the responsibilities of running a family. However, I felt supported. I often used to ask myself, “Is this the real life? If so, then life is really wonderful!” As I matured in age, I asked the same question. Then came a moment when I realised that LIFE was really a gift of God. He wanted me to face everything and decide.

After few years, my husband left his previous job, and we shifted to a new setting with many challenges and hardships. The transition was difficult. The path was no longer smooth and comfortable like that of my childhood. I thought to myself: There must be others in the same situation. I decided to come out of my shell and voluntarily help those who are in worse conditions than me. My prayers were answered, and a new journey started.

As a human being, I strongly believe in making a difference in people’s lives in whatever possible, even in the most insignificant ways. Since early childhood, I was always eager to help others. As I grew older, I try not to judge people and always remember that “we are human beings first.”

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SONIA GOTHORP

The writer, a young Salesian, presents the two big supports that have helped him to overcome hurdles and be a joyful religious.  

I joined the Salesians at the recommendation of my parish priest.  In the beginning, I did not know the difference between becoming a diocesan priest and joining a religious congregation. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my early years of formation in the Salesian setting. I came to know my strengths and weaknesses.

Being with the Salesians, I had ample opportunities to grow in all aspects of life. There was lot of love, joy, and food! As I entered the Novitiate, the love increased. The formators were very kind and gentle. Years passed. I moved on to study philosophy for three years, did one year of regency in the novitiate and two years of postgraduation as Master of Philosophy. Right now, I am what we Salesians call the “assistant” (regent in charge of a group) in our Philosophy study house at Karunapuram (Warangal, Telangana). My short journey, from being a student to a teacher of philosophy, has been a wonderful experience.

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Kadiyam Prasanna Kumar SDB

Certain principles and guidelines to the State set forth by the Constitution of India (CoI) while governing and framing laws and policies are known as Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).  These provisions are contained in the CoI, Part IV, articles 36 to 51.  They embody the concept of a ‘welfare state,’ which was absent during the colonial era. Being the soul of a welfare-state, they provide guidance to the interpretation of fundamental rights and statutory rights.  In short, they lay down fundamental principles for governance of the country.  DPSP, deriving from Ireland, substantiate concepts of social justice, economic welfare and foreign policy in legal and administrative matters.  While outlining the intention of the Constituent Assembly, Dr Ambedkar said, “They should be made the basis of all executive and legislative actions that may be taken hereafter in the matter of the governance of the country.”

A Constitutional Mandate

Unlike Fundamental Rights, the DPSP are non-binding in nature. This means they are not enforceable by the courts for their violation.  Yet they impose a duty on the state to apply these principles in making laws to establish a just humane society.  They are fundamental in the governance of the country and it shall be the duty of the state to apply these principles in making laws. Hence, they impose a moral obligation on the state authorities for their implementation.

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Fr Ravi Sagar SJ

Properties are bought for a particular purpose of the Registered Society.  Broadly speaking, they may be for educational, social, religious or agricultural purposes, depending on the objectives of the society.   Whatever category they belong to, properties, as well as the income from them, are basically used for the society’s objectives.  Depending on the available resources, some societies may have just enough land for their own use, some a little extra and some others more than what they need.  Here we are concerned about those societies who have just enough land for their own use and those who have excess land and have left the excess unused.  Whatever the case may be, there is a possibility in many cases to use the land for some additional purpose for the benefit of the society at large or to earn some extra income for the Society. This article explores such possibilities.

In the urban areas, many have given up agriculture for various reasons, such as, non-availability of labour, financial unviability, lack of knowledge of farming, etc.  Even in rural areas, many farmers have given up farming due to one of the above reasons or simply due to lack of water for irrigation.

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Fr Alex Gnanapragasam SJ

Anisha is a smart and hardworking novice.  She was in our community for her community experience.  She was very enthusiastic to go to the villages with the Sisters and teach catechism.  She was good with kids and engaged them with various activities.  I liked her behaviour and I gave a good report about her to the provincial.  To my surprise, she was not accepted to make her profession and was asked to continue the novitiate for another six months.  On enquiry, I learnt that she had failed twice in the examination on our Constitutions.  But she fared well on other subjects.  Could they not give an exception to her, as she did well for all the other subjects?

They could not.

Let us discuss Anisha’s case in detail. A thorough knowledge of the Constitutions is of paramount importance to every religious, and novitiate is the period set apart for its study.  The Eastern Code (c. 459 §2) presents this requirement in detail. “During the novitiate, the novices are to strive continuously so that, under the guidance of the director, their hearts are formed by the study of the typicon [Constitutions], by pious meditations and assiduous payer, by thoroughly learning what pertains to the vows and the virtues, and by suitable exercises to root out vices, to curb passions and to acquire virtues.” CIC (c. 646) deals with the purpose of the novitiate.  It “is to give the novices a greater understanding of their divine vocation, and of their vocation to that institute.  During the novitiate the novices are to experience the manner of life of the institute and form their minds and hearts in its spirit.  At the same time, their resolution and suitability are to be checked.”  While CCEO assigns more responsibility to the novices, CIC gives it to the formator.

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Sr Licia SMI

She would never miss a single day’s work. Rain or shine she would arrive punctually at 11.00 a.m., driven in a taxi, which would leave her at her place of work—in front of the Avianca building going down the steps to the shopping mall called Colsubsidio in downtown Bogotá (Colombia). She would alight from the vehicle, fix her clothes and there
she goes, “Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto . . .” (“Thanks to life, which has given me so much!”) singing at the topof her voice. I tell you, she was definitely not the Colombian version of Ranu Mondal, who was discovered singing on atrain platform at Ranaghat station. Olga Lucía literally screamed!

At that point, the people on the intersection of 7th Avenue and 16th street would stop, look at each other and smile. OlgaLucía “opened shop.” Everybody knew her, especially the office workers around the area who would come out for theirlunch break.

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BROTHER CARMEL DUCA MC

Integrity that we explored and reflected upon in the previous issue of Magnet calls for atonement, understood as at-one-ment, becoming one, becoming whole.

An essential challenge here is to work through and heal from the painful feelings and experiences we have carried with us into midlife.

“At-one-ment” involves reconciliation—making peace with self, with others and God, something that most of us find a real challenge.

Reconciliation

To experience atonement, we must come to terms first of all with guilt over our own wrong doings. We need to forgive ourselves for our foolish choices and decisions, for messing up our lives, and turning a deaf ear to the deepest longings of our soul.

We need to let go our grievances against others for the real or imagined damage they have done to us. We need to forgive and reconcile with people who we feel put us on the wrong track or stood in the way of fulfilment of our dreams.

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FR JOSE PARAPPULLY SDB