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“The need for a discerning Church is a key emphasis of Pope Francis’s reform,” says Fr Nicholas Austin SJ of Campion Hall, Oxford (The Way, 58/4 [October 2019], p. 11.)

Why? What does it mean in practice?

Let us take the tough situation the world is in right now because of the pandemic and the lockdowns.

Nobody has perfect or ready-made answers. We need to listen; we need to speak up; we need to work together. Only God knows the best way out. We seek His guidance, and do all we can to face the facts, seek solutions, and move in the best possible direction. We need discernment.

Is the Church a top-down institution where a few on top claim to know all the answers and tell others what to do? No! The Holy Spirit can speak through anyone—through the laity, through the bishops, through the youth.

Such a stand enthuses some, confuses others and enrages a few.

Some prefer a church of clear-cut answers. “Tell us what we are supposed to do!”

Others realize that the path Jesus showed is the path of mercy. Reaching out to heal, listening to the wounded and the confused, is more important than having theoretically perfect answers. To listen to each other, to listen to people whose voices are seldom heard, is more important than producing a neat, logical document.

Is it the main duty of the church to listen to all, and “form consciences” or be a substitute for people’s conscience?

These two views—and their stricter or looser versions—do exist. Hence the arguments, the mutual criticisms.

Pope Francis has been convinced that we need a new way of being church—close to the people, especially to the poor, and help create a more human and just world. But he does not claim to have a ready-made plan or blueprint. So, he insists on listening—to families, to youth, to one another.

“A synodal Church is a discerning Church, in which everyone listens to each other, in order to listen to the Holy Spirit. One condition of the discerning, synodal Church, for Francis, is not merely listening, but speaking….a cardinal had written to him saying that it was a shame that some bishops declined to say certain things, either out of respect for the Pope or fear he would disagree. Francis responds, ‘This is not good, this is not synodality; … it is necessary to say all that, in the Lord, one feels the need to say: without polite deference, without hesitation.’” (Nicholas Austin SJ, p. 12)

In our private and public lives, we need both bold speech and humble listening. No one has the grasp of the whole picture. No one’s voice should be ignored. Together, speaking and listening, and through it all, listening to the voice of the Spirit, we learn to discern God’s loving plans better. We build a better world together.

This is discernment. It is crucial for a good and happy life—and a distinguishing mark of genuine leadership.

Fr Joe Mannath SDB
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The Surprise of a Jubilee Year:

Pope Francis is a man of surprises. On his election as Pope in 2013, he took the name of “Francis,’ a saint whose conversion was associated with listening to the words of the Crucified Lord in a country chapel on the outskirts of Assisi: “Francis, go and repair my house which, as you see, is falling into ruin.” In 2015, Pope Francis published the encyclical letter Laudato Si’ which significantly carried the subtitle, “On Care for Our Common Home.” On 24 May 2020, on the fifth anniversary of the encyclical, Pope Francis went on to announce a Special Laudato Si’ Anniversary Year. He invited “all persons of good will” to celebrate the Special Anniversary Year running from 24 May of this year to 24 May of next year and “take care of our common home and our more fragile brothers and sisters.”

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Fr Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam SDB

There are many images seared into my memory during the Corona virus crisis. Two are from the hospital. One of these is that of a young doctor in her green medical outfit sitting on the floor of the hospital corridor, her stethoscope around her neck, her head bent, supported by her two hands resting on her knees – clearly overwhelmed and distressed. The other is that of two medical professionals dressed in their Personal Protective Equipment hugging each other, heads leaning into each other’s shoulders, clearly overwhelmed, but still wanting to comfort each other.

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Fr Jose Parappully SDB

An enthusiastic young Sister from the North East gives her frank and evidently intelligent answers to the questions MAGNET sent her. We are impressed by your religious convictions and your mature way of thinking, Madonna. May you do much good, and be a happy, loving woman of God.–Editor

I am Sr Madonna Shadap MSMHC.  Our congregation, the “Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians,” founded by Venerable Stephen Ferrando SDB on 24^th October 1942, with direct evangelization as our main charism, is the first indigenous Congregation in North East India.

1. Why are you a religious?

As far as I can trace my memory, I wanted to be a religious since my early childhood. In those days I aimed to be a religious because I wanted to be holy (as I thought religious sisters were the holiest people) by wearing the white and spotlessly clean habit. I also liked the different works they do, like touring the villages, visiting families, conducting youth centres for children, etc.

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Sr Madonna Shadap MSMHC

July 07: International Indigenous Day

The scene was worse than pathetic. We have seen it in the press, or directly on our roads: men, women, and children walking for days on the national high ways and railway tracks to reach their home during the abrupt lock down—walking for days in the sun, hungry, thirsty, without a place for rest, and often beaten by the police. Thousands of migrants were crisscrossing each other on their way home from cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluri, Hyderabad, Benares, Bhopal, and Nagpur. These are the excluded and the most vulnerable persons in the Indian society. They belong to the ST/SC/OBC/ Dalits and other marginalized groups. They are farmers, daily wage earners, domestic workers, unskilled laborers—the unorganized workers who make up 92% of the working class in India. They are deprived of the human rights and human dignity enshrined in the Constitution of India. They are out of the “mainstream” of the Indian society, who are educated, earn well and have political clout.

It is our moral responsibility to include the excluded in the mainstream of Indian society—which is precisely what many powerful people do not want. How do we do it?

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Fr Alexander Ekka SJ

In the past issues, I have attempted to bring home the essential provisions of the Consumer Protection Act – 2019 (CPA-2019). In this issue, I sum up all that has been discussed so far on consumer laws. CPA-2019 was enacted to protect the rights of consumers in the modern consumeristic-competitive-market. A speedy and simple redressal mechanism, in addition to a convenient and inexpensive procedure for the redressal of their grievances, is the main feature of CPA-2019. Competent authorities, namely, Commissions and Councils, have already been established for timely and effective administration and settlement of consumers’ disputes providing effective safeguards to consumers against various types of exploitation and unfair trade practices. CPA-2019 recognizes certain basic rights of consumers and enumerates them in section 2(9).

Consumers’ Rights

1. A consumer has a Right to Safety from marketing of goods and services hazardous to life and property. Unsafe goods and services may cause death or serious injury to the user. Therefore, the manufacturers and traders must ensure that the goods and services are safe for the users.

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Fr Ravi Sagar SJ

As if COVID 19 was not enough! We had to have Amphan!

Since last March, when we started to talk about COVID-19 here in India, I was scared. On opening my eyes in the morning, I used to ask myself, “Is it over yet?” “Maybe today will be the day when somebody announces that it is over!” But the reality would soon hit me, “No, it is still here, and here it is to stay.” And then I would go on my knees and pray the Serenity Prayer, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change (the virus, whether my family members would get it or whether my mother, who lives on her own, is observing strict lockdown), the courage to change the things I can (wash my hands, wear a mask, keep a proper distance), and the wisdom to know the difference.” And believe me, this kept me going for the past three months or so. I live in a fairly large compound, with a lot of fruit trees and space to walk around. So, staying inside was not a big deal (so I thought!). I had a lot of work to do; I was connected via the internet and mobile. So, I was all set!

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Bro Carmel Duca MC

What is a document?

According to DK Illustrated Oxford Dictionary, a document is a piece of written or printed matter that provides a record or evidence of events, an agreement, ownership, identification, etc.  It is a way of providing a proof or evidence. The word “document” comes from the Latin word, documentum, which means “proof.” In our present context, documents also include information stored on electro-magnetic devices, such as, hard disks,  floppy disks, pen drives, cloud,  and  other digital formats and include documents filed electronically using digital signatures.
Documentary means “consisting of documents” (e.g., documentary evidence), providing a factual record or report.
Documentation is the accumulation, classification and dissemination of information relating to a process or event.

From Written to Electronic Documents

According to Indian Evidence Act 1872, a fact (word or action) must be authenticated by verifiable proof and evidence, preferably in written form.  With fast-moving times, the Information Technology Act 2000 brought sweeping changes to the understanding of the word “document” and the way business can be conducted.  ITA 2000 provides legal recognition to transactions carried out by means of electronic data interchange and promotes e-commerce, eliminating to a great extent the paper method of communication and storage of information. With this legal recognition was also granted to e-filing of documents, electronic form of book-keeping, transactions done in electronic mode, and digital signatures for accepting agreements and documents. However, some transactions must be done physically only, for example, attestation for giving power of attorney of property, contract of sale of immovable property, for making a will,  and for creating a trust.

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Fr Trevor D’Souza OFM

A young woman executive shares her experience of meeting God in silence—and how it is particularly relevant during this pandemic. –Editor

“God speaks the language of silence.” I heard this for the first time when I went for a meditation retreat and it has stayed with me ever since. I was fascinated, thrilled at how meditating on nature, on scripture, on our body can give us such insight; that we could hear Him whispering through the promptings of our heart. It is also said that when it comes to this language of silence, we aren’t fluent in it, but God masters it and therefore it necessitates that God be in control, He takes charge.

Silence—and a Chance to Move Inward

During this lockdown period, I’ve found ‘listening’ to be a theme that has been emerging for me. It started off with the reduced noise levels in the outside world due to reduced traffic. I began to hear birds chirping, the sound of nature, His creation. I was delighted to spot four varieties of birds that I hadn’t seen before outside my window! Almost like an invitation to listen, to observe!

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Pearl D’Souza

CRYSTAL

As a child growing up in the United States, my first understanding of the notion that we are personally and collectively responsible for the care of creation came when I was about six years old. At the time, it was not atypical to witness passengers in other cars throw out their trash as they drove along the highway. At the time, my understanding of “right from wrong” came from what I was taught by my parents. Shortly thereafter I started hearing them talk about the need to be respectful of our environment. What I later learned was that a campaign called “Keep America Beautiful” was founded in December 1953 by a group of nonprofit organizations, government agencies and concerned individuals in reaction to the growing problem of litter that followed the construction of the Interstate Highway System and an increasingly mobile and convenience-oriented American consumer. The original goal of the organization was to reduce litter through public education. In 1961, the idea that every individual must help protect against the effects litter has on the environment came up with the slogan “Every litter bit hurts.”  The effectiveness of the campaign can be seen today throughout the American landscape as miles and miles of roads are cleared of litter by volunteer groups who “adopt’ segments of the highway. Eventually, public education has changed this common practice of littering to something that is now socially unacceptable behavior. For me this highlights how effective it can be to tackle a widespread problem by calling on individuals to do their part to effect social change.

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Crystal and Kevin Sullivan