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You will be surprised to know that a modern teenager is well on his way to being declared a saint. Like all teenagers, he was tech-savvy; in fact, some of his friends thought he was a computer genius. But what sets this youth apart is that he linked his technological expertise to the greatest spiritual treasure we can think of – the Eucharist.

Carlo Acutis was an Italian Catholic, born on 3 May 1991 in London, as his parents were working there at that time. A few months after his birth they moved back to Italy and lived in Milan. That is where Carlo grew up. He did his high school studies in the Jesuit-run Istituto Leone XIII. A cheerful student, he was a daily communicant. When asked why, he is reported to have said, “The more Eucharist we receive, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of Heaven.”

Carlo had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and so loved praying the rosary. He regularly spent time in prayer before the tabernacle either before or after Mass. “To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan,” he remarked. Once every week he made his confession.

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Fr M A Joe Antony SJ

My friend’s uncle, an accountant in a major seminary, was very worried about handling the Local Sponsorships—a scheme that was initiated to avoid seeking financial help from abroad.  I joined my friend in trying to help his uncle to handle it easily.  After about three weeks of discussions and clarifications, he was happy to find a solution—to use Cloud Computing technology and maintain the data of the sponsors, which can be accessed through the Internet (or later by Mobile App) to get notifications and reminders regularly.  This solution helps the organization to have all the records, such as, demographic details, sponsorship scheme (tenure and amount), mode of payment, including online transfer, etc. It also helps the users (the sponsors) to track their sponsorship, receive automatic reminders, regular notifications, do online payment, track their beneficiary, and so on.

In other words, Cloud Computing helps the organization directly in a big way to maintain the information, which can be accessed through the I  nternet, by them and the end-users (customer, stakeholder, or users of the services).  Users are only at the receiving end of the services rendered by the company which uses Cloud Computing technology.

Cloud Computing is NOT merely a storing and retrieving option. If that is all we need, we can:

• Use storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Sync, OneDrive, pCloud, Canto DAM, SkyDrive, SugarSync, etc. All these are operated with Cloud Computing technology.
• Store the files in the space available in our own website.
• Send the file to an email, where the sender and the receiver will have a copy of it.

What is Cloud Computing?

Ninety-five percent of people who are already using Cloud Computing, like online banking and social networks, do not know that they are using Cloud Computing.

Cloud Computing is the use of hardware and software to deliver a service over a network (typically the Internet). Well-known providers of Cloud Computing are Internet giants like Amazon, Facebook, Google’s Gmail, and so on.  With Cloud Computing, users can access files and use applications hosted by providers from any device that can be accessed through Internet.

Traditional computing stores data on your PC’s local hard drive, whereas the data in the cloud is stored on many physical and/or virtual servers hosted by a third-party service provider.

Types

A PUBLIC CLOUD is based on the standard Cloud Computing framework which consists of files, applications, storage and services available to the public via the internet. Gmail is an example of a Public Cloud.

A PRIVATE CLOUD is comprised of files, applications, storage and services that are implemented and protected within a corporate firewall, under the control of a corporate IT department, only for their own use.  A Private Cloud is only for a particular group like a company, family circle, friends’ group, etc., and not for the use of all the public.

Pros and Cons

Some of the merits of Cloud Computing technology are cost-saving, high speed, back-up and restoring of data, automatic software integration, reliability, mobility, unlimited storage capacity, location and device independence, web-based control and interface, low-cost software, and so on.

In spite of the fast-growing technological development, every technology has its own demerits.  Cloud Computing too has some demerits, such as, lack of internet connectivity, variation in performance, security threat, and lack of connection.

Tips

For Educational Institutions: Some of the educational institutions are already on to Cloud Computing technology, where the management, staff and parents, as well as the students, are using various methodologies by way of getting status updates and monitoring information through SMS, Email, WhatsApp, Mobile Apps and Internet. It covers areas like admission, fees, time-table, attendance, exams, marks, library, announcements, payroll, accounts, communication, and other information.

For Major Superiors of Religious Congregation: As almost all the management or administrative departments of the corporate world use Cloud Computing technology, Religious Congregation too can use it for handling their resources.  It is also good to move on to modern technologies for digital archives, documentation, communication, websites, etc.  All these can be done on a Private Cloud and not necessarily on a Public Cloud.  It is also possible to make only some of it available to the public, while reserving other areas to members only.

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Rocky

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MY LIFE
Director: Bruce Joel Rubin. Cast: Michael Keaton and Nicole Kidman. 1993. 117 minutes.

A touching human story featuring two famous Hollywood stars, Michael Keaton and Nicole Kidman.

The movie begins with Bob as a little boy in his immigrant home in Detroit. He prays to God to send a circus to his house, and invites his classmates to come and see it. They come, and find there is no circus. Bob is angry with God and withdraws to a tiny room.

In the rest of the film, we see Bob as a young and successful businessman in California, who has no interest in connecting with his parents and brother. His wife is pregnant with their first child, a boy. They receive the crushing news that Bob is diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer, and will die soon. So, he makes a video for his son, teaching him things that a father would like to teach his child.

An oriental healer he goes to tells him there is much anger in his heart, and asks him to let go. Bob finds it difficult. His visit to his parents does not go well. He is ashamed of their poorer financial status and immigrant ways. They resent his ways, including his changing his surname.

The cancer advances. His parents come to visit him, and show him much love. As his father shaves him one day, Bob is able to tell him that he loves him. As he gets weaker and weaker, the family prepares a surprise for him—a real circus in his backyard—which he missed as a little kid.

His child is born. Bob, now extremely weak and nearing death, talks to his son, pouring his heart out. He lets go of his anger. He dies surrounded by loving family members. In the movie’s last scene, his wife plays his video to their baby.

This well-acted movie touches several central human themes: Loving family ties, even when two generations differ in many ways; the need to let go of anger and resentment; an external show of success hiding much loneliness; the power of love and forgiveness to overcome years of separation.

THE BUCKET LIST
Director: Rob Reiner. Cast: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman. 2007. 97 minutes.

Carter Chambers, a mechanic, and Edward Cole,  a multi-millionaire, meet in the hospital that Cole owns. They share the same rooms. Both are diagnosed with cancer. Cole, a four-time divorcee now estranged from his only daughter, does not care about people; Carter is a loving family man. His wife visits him often.

Cole makes spiteful comments about Carter at the beginning, but slowly, they begin to relate. Carter had made a “Bucket List”—a list of things to do before “kicking the bucket” (slang for “dying”), but now, realizing he does not have much time left, throws the paper away.

Cole picks up the sheet, and coaxes Carter to join him on an adventure—to complete the things on the bucket list, offering to pay for their travel around the world. After all, he has money in plenty, but no family. Carter has a loving family, but very little money.

So, against the wishes of Carter’s family, the two travel to Egypt, India, Nepal, Hong Kong, Tanzania.

They share deeper aspects of their lives, and become close friends. Carter speaks of his diminishing love for his wife. Cole tells him about his estrangement from his only daughter.

Cole arranges for a prostitute to be with Carter. Carter refuses, and asks to go back home. He returns to his loving family, but collapses, since the cancer has spread to his brain. At his funeral, Cole makes a moving oration, stating that the three months with Carter were the three best months of his life.

Cole gets reconciled to his estranged daughter. When he dies, at age 81, his assistant buries his ashes to the Himalayas.

This movie contrasts two lives—one, a brilliant man who could not become a professor for lack of money, but has a loving family; the other a super-rich cynic with no family ties and committed to no one. With humour and pathos, it confronts questions such as: What is success? What is wealth? What are the things we really want to get done before we “kick the bucket?”

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Fr Joe Mannath

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John C. Maxwell: TODAY MATTERS: 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrow’s Success
(Hachette, 2014)

A motivational teacher and a best-selling author, John C. Maxwell presents twelve daily practices to guarantee a successful career. He shows us how to seize the day. This is significant because the way we live today impacts our tomorrow. Success is created by focusing on today. He highlights the common mistake we all make in overexaggerating yesterday, overestimating tomorrow and neglecting today.

He presents twelve questions we need to ask ourselves. These questions involve key strategies to plan and live one’s life well each day. When honestly answered and practised, they can undoubtedly assure tomorrow’s success. What are these questions? They are meant to check these twelve areas of life: attitude, priorities, health, family, thinking, commitment, finances, faith, relationships, generosity, values and growth.

Maxwell says, “Priorities matter.” Stressing that time is our most precious commodity, he adds, “Money mistakes can often be corrected, but when you lose time, it’s gone forever.” He insists that “Priorities help us to choose wisely,” for priorities determine how we spend our time, and time is precious. He further points out that we choose our life by how we spend time. This goes along with sorting out important priorities daily and making the decision to determine and act on them. If anyone ever thinks he/she needs more time, the answer is that no one gets more time. There are 1,440 minutes a day. No matter what we do, we won’t get more today.

Sales consultant and author Myers Barnes says, “Time management has nothing to do with the clock, but everything to do with organising and controlling your participation in certain events that coordinate with the clock.” Maxwell says, “Since you can’t change time, you must instead change your approach to it.”

The author includes practical exercises at the end of every chapter to help us integrate the twelve practices into our life. This will help us design our daily agenda, manage our time well and find success in life.  Maxwell makes it clear how to MAKE TODAY MATTER THE MOST.

John C. Maxwell: Sometimes You Win; Sometimes You Learn: Life’s Greatest Lessons Are Gained From Our Losses (Hachette, 2014)

John C. Maxwell’s primary goal in life is adding value to people. In this book, he offers advice on how to look at losses as opportunities for growth through learning. “Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn”—this is the attitude of successful people. The author presents the positive way of reacting to negative experiences. Failure is not to be brushed under the rug. The losses are going to come and hit us in every area of our life; yet they are life’s greatest lessons if approached the right way.

Maxwell wrote this book to answer the questions about learning from losses. He says, “…if your desire is – to become a learner from losses – you need to change the way you look at losses, cultivate qualities that help you respond to them, and develop the ability to learn from them.”

To do this, he gives the following roadmap:

Humility:              The Spirit of Learning

Reality:                 The Foundation of Learning

Responsibility:   The First Step of Learning

Improvement:   The Focus of Learning

Hope:                    The Motivation of Learning

Teachability:       The Pathway of Learning

Adversity:            The Catalyst for Learning

Problems:            Opportunities for Learning

Bad Experiences: The Perspective for Learning

Change:                The Price of Learning

Maturity:             The Value of Learning

Following this roadmap will help us, not only to learn from our failures, but also to re-examine our values and priorities. We can then bounce back from losses and avoid the tragedy that comes from suffering without learning the lesson or giving in to the downward spiral. The book offers not just suggestions how to get through tough times, but also the most treasured gift – HOPE.

It is filled with real life stories of people who learnt precious lessons from failure. This makes the book a fast and easy read, which can be applied to our own life, especially our failures.

Maxwell convincingly writes, “Losses in life are never fun, but there is one loss no one can afford to experience – the loss of hope.” Read the book and discover that the winning attitude is never: “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose,” but rather: “Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.”

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Sr Theresa Phawa FMA

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Your article – Religious Leadership Today – The Magnet, Nov 2019 Issue is so rich and soaked with practical “how to’s”.  Most articles stay with the ‘what’ and that makes them too academic. I could see the Leadership Pyramid Stephen Covey talks about in his video “Leading by Example” come alive.  The foundation of the pyramid is “Modelling”.  That’s what is seen.  Modelling is both character and competency. One without the other serves no purpose.  The second block on the pyramid is “Mentoring”.  This is what is felt.  Subordinates do not care about how much the superior knows unless she /he knows how much she cares.  This builds Trust. And finally, at the summit of the pyramid is “Teaching”.  Teaching is heard.  Jesus and founders of religious organisations were teachers, their followers heard what they had to say. Subordinates and colleagues will hear if they can also see and feel.  This is so essential for the Leader’s vision to take shape.

You have bought out these principles so beautifully in the eight essentials for a Religious Superior.

Thanks you so much Fr, Joe Mannath for your inspired writing.

Leslie D’Souza
Mumbai, Maharashtra

Versatile and Attractive!

I sincerely acknowledge the wonderful magazine you bring out. I love to read the magazine from the start to the end at one go – such is the intensity of the coverage. Moreover, the graphical presentation and versatility are also very attractive. Congratulations to you and your team.

Fr. Adrian Fernandes
Rome

It is Possible!

As I held the magazine Magnet I felt that I am holding  a bouquet of  flower with different colours  and scents. The authors, topics and  pictorial representation are varied  and interesting. Covering from psychology to law, from spirituality to entertainment.  From priest to laity. Congrats to the team for the MAGNET, truly attractive in all the ways.  The magazine is  interesting, innovative and enlightening. The success of the magazine is not only the intelligent writing or the choice of the topic but that it also moves the readers’ hearts. I was inspired by the twelve touching testimonies which helped me personally to move towards inner journey and be a seeker. For most of the people the word Holiness is often perceived as austere, hard, distant, meant for few, but the magazine  strongly portrays  holiness  as part of every day journey with love and faith which can be witnessed in the “next door neighbour,”-  The  honest  Tahsildhar, committed priest, loving mothers, youth animator etc. Indeed a very genuine invitation to humanity to live the life of holiness. Thanks for inspiring people of all walks of life to believe that it is possible to live a life of holiness and wholeness in this era of technology  according to their choice of life. All the best for the team.

Sr. Jayaceli Ambrose
Tirupattur, Tamil Nadu

I’m highly appreciative of MAGNET. It is a very inspiring Magazine with excellent contents. The December 2019 issue is especially attractive with a special Topic: Holiness Today. The twelve writers in their answers to the questions on ‘Holiness’ have touched me personally through their sincere and genuine understanding and witness of holiness. Yes, holiness is a call to everyone, not a privilege of the few. Pope’s Francis exhortation is appealing and convincing that holiness is possible in our everyday life. Many of us think of holiness as ‘thing of the past’ and almost unattainable in these modern days.

Thanks to Magnet team for the creative way in which you present the various views on how we can live holiness in our homes, work places, neighbourhood, etc… I am also personally touched by the phrase, “the saints next door” –  This is next to never-thought-of idea. The magazine has indeed made available the simple ways to be saints. Congratulations!

Isidore Budding
Nasirpur, New Delhi

A Real Magnet Indeed!

I am really grateful to MAGNET for providing me with variety of articles. I enjoy going through them for my own personal growth as religious. They really enrich me and enlighten me on various issues like social, psychological, moral, affective, spiritual and apostolic. The magazine is very true to its title MAGNET with creative, innovative, attractive, interesting and formative articles. Kudos to the editor and all who contribute to this beautiful magazine MAGNET. I am glad to have come across a magazine MAGNET.

The 40^th issue of December 2019 on HOLINESS TODAY is a fantastic one. It is a well-chosen, appropriate and timely topic where the priests, religious and lay faithful have come out with their understanding of holiness. They have not only expressed their views boldly and spontaneously on the topic but also they have challenged the readers to know what holiness is, who lives it and do the young see it? Congratulations dear friends for sharing your views, experiences and understanding on HOLINESS. My best wishes to the editor and team.

Richard Mascarenhas SJ
Dharwad, Karnataka

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An experienced senior collector at Delhi customs had been observing a Naval officer for years. He found it hard to believe that someone could be so upright. No bribes. No smuggling. No putting down others. No seeking favours. When praised, this officer would often respond that the credit should go to someone else. He helped others silently, with no fanfare. His former students revered him. He was evidently brilliant, and, with a sparkling sense of humour, fun to be with.

After years of silent admiration, the customs official told the Navy commander, who was a Catholic: “I have been observing you for years. Whenever I praised you for something, you tended to give the credit to someone else. What if I tell you that you are the finest human being I have ever come across?”

Many others who knew this man felt the same way. I knew him very well. He has been a great inspiration in my life.

Isn’t this the best that a person can aspire to—to become as fine a human being as we can be?

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Fr Joe Mannath

JOY IS ALWAYS ATTRACTIVE
Bishop Agnelo Gracias

‘Holiness’ is an abstract term.  I prefer to answer in the form of three qualities I would expect to find a holy person: (a) Pliability to God: a growing self-surrender to God, a person possessed by God; (b) Compassion: Holiness must lead us to reach out to others, especially those in need or suffering; (c) Joy: The Christian life is ‘joy in the Holy Spirit’ (Roman 14:17).  This joy keeps on growing until the end when Jesus says to each of us: “Enter into the joy of the Master” (Mathew 25:21).

As for persons living this: Yes, more than one person! To mention two or three:

+ My former rector, Fr. Daniel Ferrando, who exemplified love.

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What follows are personal replies to five questions we put to special invitees:

1. What do you understand by holiness today?
2. Have you known anyone who lives this today?
3. Who is your favourite saint? Why?
4. Do you agree with Pope Francis that “holiness is not the privilege of a few, but the duty of everyone”? Are we (especially religious and priests) living this out?
5. How to make holiness appealing to the young?

I asked twelve persons, most of whom I know personally. I trust their genuineness.

Their replies have been honest, down-to-earth and rewarding to read.

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

In his Apostolic Exhortation “Rejoice and be Glad,” Pope Francis suggests practical ways of achieving holiness in our daily life. “Holiness does not mean doing extraordinary things, but doing ordinary things with love and faith,” he says.

Saints: Our examples:

The saints who once were besieged human beings, are examples for us to keep moving despite our sinful nature. They guide us in our daily imitation of Christ. They teach us to persevere in the race towards reaching the goal set before us—holiness.  This is not a tag attached to a bishop, a priest or a religious. It is a call to everyone.

We find these examples in our own parents, community members, friends other loved ones or even persons whom we never bothered to pay attention to in our communities, society and in our streets, who live very ordinary way of life with love and great sacrifice. Pope Francis calls them “the saints next door.” In the same way we are called to be holy by living and fulfilling our ordinary lives with love and joy; for “There is no sadness in holiness.”

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Summary by Sr Theresa Phawa FMA

Advent:

When Pope Francis spoke to prisoners in Central America, he began by saying, “Standing before you is a man who has experienced much forgiveness.”

We all need forgiveness. We need to come back home. We need to strengthen our good side, and weaken our weak side.

Many Catholics “give up” something during Advent and Lent: Meat and fish, alcohol, extra amusements. Actually, the “giving up” required in a time of preparation—for Christmas or Easter—is not mostly about food and drink. It is about correcting (giving up) our bad habits.

We can fast from gossip, from laziness, from unnecessary expenses and use the money to help the poor.

We can fast from bad habits—excessive eating or drinking, wasting time on TV, accessing pornography (if we have that destructive habit), compulsive shopping.

Christmas:

Move from the four small C’s (crib, cards, carols, cake) to the big C: Christ, who became one of us out of love for us.

Five suggestions:

• List the ten (or 15 or 20) persons who mean the most to you. Do not take them for granted. Thank God for each one.
• At Christmas, write or say a personal word to each of them—not a routine “Merry Christmas.” Example: Write a WhatsApp message to your mother, saying: “I learned so many good things from you, especially your compassion towards the poor. I remember the time when you….”
• Visit (or write a personal note to) people who feel left out—older relatives, sick people, seniors living alone or in homes.
• Invite a poorer family for a meal on or around Christmas. Or pay for their meal in a restaurant.
• Train yourself and your children to GIVE rather than wait to RECEIVE. Will you, for instance, say No to a special meal or to a new dress and give that money to a poor family to buy the food or clothes or medicine they need?

Year-End:

• Think: The best help for personal growth is awareness. Do not simply live blindly or automatically. See the significant persons and events of 2019. What have been the best lessons? What do you need to do differently?
• Thank: Do not take the good for granted: Health of body and mind, healthy family members (e.g., normal, healthy children), ability to learn and work, people who have been nice to you, financial security, a house to live in, food on the table, safe surroundings, medical care. Thank God! Thank those who help you.
• Pray: Prayer is not our reminding God to help us. God needs no such reminders. In prayer, God reminds me of the essentials I forget. He invites me to come closer to Him.
• Bless: Never curse anyone in thought or word. Bless people in your heart and in your words. (Blessings and curses come back to us!)
• Forgive: As the Buddha says, “Anger is like keeping a burning coal in your hand, and expecting others to get hurt.” Let go!
• Apologize: When you say “Sorry” sincerely, it sets off a chain reaction of good feelings.
• Clear: Clear the mess—on your desk, in your house, in your life. We all tend to accumulate useless junk—whether physically or emotionally. A clean desk, a clean house, and, above all, a clean heart will lead to peace of heart and increased energy.
• Plan: Plan the new year. Divide the tasks into: (a) Essential; (b) Important; (c ) useful; (d) unimportant; (e ) harmful. Make sure to find time for the first three.
• Share: Have someone you trust deeply with whom you can share your plans, dreams, hopes, failures, fears. Such sharing can help us avoid pitfalls, discover our gifts better, correct our weaknesses in time, and function at our best.
• Celebrate: Celebrate life! You do not need a hotel room, or fancy clothes, or gourmet food or alcohol to celebrate. Just being with family and friends (or religious community) and enjoying the very togetherness brings deeper joy than costly parties. (Many partying types are lonely and lead empty lives.) You can, with your family, have an hour of prayer (in church or at home) from 11 pm to midnight, thanking God and each other. Then, attend the midnight Mass to start the new year with God. (“With God” means: God is always with me; but I may or may not be keen on His company. When I consciously make space for God in my life, the quality of my life changes.)

Will you try these ten tips to end the year happily, and to start 2020 even happier?

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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