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John Paul II: Man of the Millennium, a Biography
By Luigi Accatoli
Translated by Jordan Auman OP (St. Paul’s Publications)

This concise biography provides an easily readable picture of the Pope John Paul, the most remarkable world leader of the closing decades of the 20^th  century.

He was born Karol Josef Wojtyla, the son of a Polish Military officer in Wadowice Poland in 1920. He lost his mother and siblings early on and grew into maturity under the watchful eye of his father. Educated in classic literature and Polish language, he loved sports and in high school developed a passion for theatre and poetry. After brief period of freedom, Poland suffered another four decades of suffering under Nazism and Communism. During World War II, Wojtyla was part of the peaceful underground resistance which took the form of cultural activities. In 1942, a year after his father’s death, he responded to his call and joined a seminary in secret while working as labourer in a stone quarry. Ordained in Rome in 1946, he returned home to a Poland that had become satellite state of Stalinist Russia. He taught at Lublin University while performing his pastoral duties under persecution from the Communist puppet government. His confrontation with Communism that began in those days may well be said to have concluded years later when as Pope he was destined to be an instrument of its dismantling the world over. There are quite a few things that make him unique. He is the first Pope who came from Eastern Europe. The Key themes of his life mission were forgiveness and reconciliation in a shattered world. He showed it to the world through personal example, as when he met and forgave the man who had shot to kill him. The most widely travelled pontiff ever, he extended his hand in a show of brotherhood and charity to worlds outside Christendom, especially Islam. His bold and path-breaking leadership has left its mark deep in modern history.

God’s Pauper St Francis of Assisi
by Nikos Kazantzakis.

The celebrated Greek novelist and poet presents the life of the most popular saint of Christianity in an engaging lyrical novel. It is a poetic reinterpretation that the popular reader will find deeply moving. Narrated by Leo, a fictional disciple and companion of Francis, it explores the inner and outer struggles of St Francis as a human being: a passionately romantic young man who turns his back on a life of luxury and social acceptance to embrace a life of poverty and suffering driven by his love for Christ.

Leo meets Francisco Bernadone, the romantic son of a wealthy merchant of Assisi who did business at his father’s cloth shop during the day and sang serenades below the windows of the local beauties. Himself a restless soul, Leo is a wandering beggar in search for God when he meets Francis. Francis tells Leo that he lacks nothing. Leo tells him, “I pity you.” Francis is mystified. For him “heaven is too high” and the earth is “too good” and “near.”

Leo witnesses Francis’s renunciation of his father’s inheritance. Accused before the bishop of insanity by his father, Francis has no defense except to take off his garments and hand it over as the last thing he owns from his father. Christ visits Francis one night in the guise of a wounded tramp and gives him the gift of the Stigmata, which Francis bears joyfully all his life. Francis embraces lepers, does servile jobs for anyone, and preaches to birds animals and trees. He works miracles and gathers a large following around him.  When they visit Rome for the Pope’s sanction for the new order, the Pope is mystified by the manner and appearance of Francis.

Francis took everything as a gift—sadness and joy, rejection and praise, darkness and light.  He brought about a spiritual revolution in the church and in the world. While preparing for death, Francis gives his life message “What is love? It is not simply compassion, not simply kindness. In compassion there are two: the one who suffers and he one who feels compassion. In kindness there are two: the one who gives and the one who receives. But in love there is only one; the two unite, become inseparable. The ‘I’ and the ‘you’ vanish. To love means to love oneself in the beloved.”  And his final message is, “Poverty, peace and love. Nothing else.” Kazantzakis fills up the gaps in the Francis legend with his brilliant imagination to make the characters appear as real people. The novel takes us to the heart of the Franciscan spirit.

Dr Gigy Joseph

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The King’s Speech         
Director: Tom Hooper.  Cast: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Derek Jacobi. 2010. 120 minutes.

Time: The tense years just before World War II. Prince Albert Duke of York ( later King George VI), has an embarrassing speech handicap. He is bullied by his older brother, and scared of his father. When the older brother abdicates (because of his marriage), Albert has to ascend the throne. But how will he address the nation on radio if he cannot overcome his stammering?

As a last resort, his wife takes him to an unconventional, self-taught speech therapist, Lionel Logue, who understands that the prince’s stammering is the result of childhood trauma. Though initially put off but the tutor’s informal and unusual ways, the prince slowly warms up to the teacher, and makes remarkable progress.  Patiently using his own improvised means of coaching. Logue trains the Duke to make public speeches during his coronation. Albert is now able to speak without a stutter. The climactic point is when the new King has to make the historic declaration of war against Nazi Germany over the radio in 1939. The movie provides inspiration and insight into what teachers can do to improve the quality of life of their pupils by inspiration, empathy, patience and faith. The movie was honoured by several international awards, including the Oscar.

Freedom Writers
Director: Richard La Gravenese. Cast: Hilary Swank, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey. 2007. 123 minutes.

This movie is about the true story Erin Gruwell, a young and idealistic teacher who starts teaching in a poor school in Los Angeles, located in a gang-infested area. The students come from broken homes, have witnessed murders and other acts of violence, and have no interest in studies. The teachers too expect nothing from this class, which they consider unfit for education.

Erin finds the going very tough. But slowly, she enters the world of these teenagers who come from a background so different from her own privileged setting. She gets them interested in reading and writing. The class raises money to bring to the school Ms Miep Gies, the courageous Dutch women who had sheltered Anne Frank and her family during the Nazi terror. Ms Gies tells them that she is an ordinary woman, and that she admires them as the real heroes. Meeting Miep Gies moves the students deeply.

Slowly, Erin gets her students involved in a writing project, where they tell their stories. The book became known as the Freedom Writers’ Diary.  Under her guidance, the students find the courage to take a stand for justice, and believe in themselves. One of students, a young woman from a poor family who has suffered much, writes, “Nobody ever listens to a teenager. Everybody thinks you should be happy just because you’re young. They don’t see the wars that we fight every single day. And one day my war will end. And I won’t die. And I will not tolerate abuse from anyone. I am strong.”

The movie is a powerful statement about how a determined and caring educator can have a deep and lasting impact on the students—even if they come from very deprived and even violent backgrounds.

Dr Gigy Joseph

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India has one of the most massive school systems in the world. At the tertiary (college) level, it has the world’s largest number of institutions. At both school and college levels, the quality varies greatly—as all of us know.

One of the major and most influential players in this field is the Catholic Church, which has a huge presence in education all over the world, and a very distinguished history. Its pioneering role and committed service in education in India is practically unmatched.

We look at what our schools and colleges are meant to do, are actually doing and where we fail. Instead of quoting dry statistics, we asked four experienced educators known for their wisdom, experience and distinguished service in the field.

I wrote to each of them:

“The goal of good education (as our Catholic schools and colleges are supposed to impart) is to form professionally competent, morally upright, socially conscious leaders who will not only lead good lives personally and professionally, but also make a difference for the better in society. This supposes that the student sees these values lived (not only taught) by the educators and practised in the school or college.

“Do we, Catholic educators, have and live this vision?…

“You are an experienced and visionary educator. Please share with us your vision of (Catholic) education, what a good school or college is in your opinion, what you see as the main tasks of an educator, what pitfalls you see in this ministry, and your suggestions to today’s educators.”

We are honoured to publish their replies, as four cover stories in this issue. Here are the four respondents:

Archbishop Thomas Menamparambil SDB is an unusual combination—a man of vision and wide experience known for his effective pastoral leadership as a bishop in the North East, and invited by universities who esteem his intellectual calibre. He speaks of the need to train effective leaders.

Sr Marian Mathew PBVM, with over thirty years of experience as a teacher and principal, and noted for her simple life and love for the poor, shares touching experiences from her years of service in education.

Brother Brendan CFC avoided all sweet talk, and told me simply that we have largely failed. His painful analysis of what went wrong, and where we need to act, can provoke us to meaningful action.

Mrs Rekha Mathews, a brilliant and committed laywoman working in a Catholic college, looks at the good things Catholic institutions do, some of our failures and what education can do.

Read and see. Education is the main ministry religious and many lay persons in India are engaged in. We can be real game-changers for vast numbers of students and their families, if we are visionaries, or fail them badly if we are mediocre, or sink to the level of a business, or forget why we run schools.

I must also confess that, while preparing this issue, I heard from a number of religious and lay persons that the quality of leadership in Catholic institutions has fallen. A real note of alarm, if it is true.

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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WHAT EVERY NEW ADMINISTRATOR NEEDS TO KNOW

For most priests and religious in India, the month of May is the time for transfers or appointments.  I am therefore addressing the issue related to transfers and appointments from the point of view of administration.

It is only natural for anyone to feel uncertain and to some extent nervous and frightful too, when he/she is appointed the first time in any administrative post—be it the Bishop, Provincial, Vicar General, Councilors, Bursar/Procurator/Treasurer, Superior, Principal, Secretary, Manager, Director, Parish Priest,  Minister, Administrator,  farm or kitchen in-charge.  If the person has no one to guide him/her, then the feeling of insecurity is all the greater.  This article is an attempt to guide such persons.  Some may be given more than one responsibility, such as Principal and Superior, Minister and Treasurer, Secretary and Treasurer, etc.

We will first discuss one of the most important topics applicable to us, namely, administration, and then within the administration, what is common for all, irrespective of what post one is to take up, and then deal with the matters specific to the general administration, financial administration and property administration.  Finally, we shall also see the roles (job description) of some important officials in administration.

What is administration?

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Fr Alex Gnanapragasam SJ

Using her experience and knowledge as a lawyer, administrator and provincial, Sr Regis presents the basics of administration for superiors and administrators.

1. Registered Society
A Registered Society is a juridical person or a legal entity. In legal terms it is known as Association of Persons. It has a registered office.
Each society is an independent legal person. It is represented by the President and is governed by the governing body. The registers and reports of the Society are to be maintained up-to-date by the secretary.

2. Five Documents
A registered Society has 5 important documents: Memorandum, Society Registration Certificate, 12A Certificate, FCRA Certificate and PAN Card. The name and all other information in all the documents should be the same. All the units attached to a particular society will use the same documents for any needs, like KYC for bank accounts, registration of vehicles, payment of TDS, etc. So we need to keep a copy of these documents in every community in the province.

3. Memorandum
Just as every Religious Order has its Constitutions and Regulations, every registered association has its Memorandum with its rules and regulations. A memorandum has Two parts: Aims and

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Sr Regis Savarimuthu SMI

She was in love. Her parents did not approve. She ran away from home  in the middle of the night to be with the one she had chosen.

When Love required that she leave her country, Italy, there was no looking back. She remained in her adopted country, and never went back. She never saw her family again. With her beloved she lived happily ever after, as in the fairy tales.

Sounds like the stuff romantic novels are made of, right? It is a love story—with this twist: Our ‘heroine’ was real, the one she was in love with was Jesus and when she left her home it was to become a religious Sister.

I first met Sr. Flamenia when I joined our congregation in Canada. She had what we would call a “humble job.” She was in charge of the hospital’s laundry department. She also took care of one of our Sisters who had remained partially paralyzed after a surgery.  She looked quiet and plain, but when I came to know how she had become a sister I was intrigued.

She wouldn’t speak much but I soon noticed two things about her: the constant quiet joy on her face and the patience with which she looked after the Sister entrusted to her care.

Some thirty years ago, when clothes were washed in common, I would see her pick up soiled clothes or linen without making a fuss or showing disgust. The way she worked gave dignity to whatever she did. She held herself with such serenity and grace that I could not think her work as demeaning or ‘low.’

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Sr Marie Gabrielle Riopel SCSM

Everything in the universe, being a system, works in a systematic way.  Each system has its own uniqueness and peculiarities.  Hence, when I am placed within a system, the rules of that system will apply to me and influence me. Even my survival may depend on that system.  Hence, I must have a fairly good knowledge of the system – how it operates and applies to me.  Similarly, knowing the Indian Legal System  is of immense help in our day-to-today living.

Components of the Indian Legal System’ (ILS)

One is able to get things done easily and efficiently when one knows how a system operates and the inter-connectedness of its components.  In the same way, ILS and its components have their own way of functioning in the justice delivery system.  The practice of the court is the law of the court (Cursus Curiae est Lex Curiae).  If you are compelled and dragged to the court in an inevitable litigation, you must know the rules of the game, lest you be an odd player.  On the play-ground, a player cannot say that he does not know the rules of the game.  In the courts, one is called upon to show that there is not only violation of law but also miscarriage of justice, whether it is in the civil, criminal, labour, revenue or administrative matters.  I shall enumerate six major components of ILS around which any litigation will revolve.

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Fr Ravi Sagar SJ

Youth are the NOW of God!

A warm, personal letter to the young—and to everyone else

This Papal Exhortation differs from other Vatican documents in contents and style. It is not only addressed to the young. Its contents and language will make the young want to read it. The heroes and chosen ones it mentions are young people—from the Old Testament right down to our days. It is a long document—in 299 articles, followed by 164 footnotes. This summary cannot really do justice to its rich contents.

The document starts on a note of enthusiasm: “Christ is alive!…He brings youth to our world…He wants you to be alive!”

The Pope then adds more words of hope: “He is in you, he is with you and he never abandons you. However far you may wander, he is always there, the Risen One. He calls you and he waits for you to return to him and start over again. When you feel you are growing old out of sorrow, resentment or fear, doubt or failure, he will always be there to restore your strength and your hope.”

He addresses this “Apostolic Exhortation” to all young people “with great affection.”

To show the young their call to holiness, Pope Francis mentions the young people God called in the Old and New Testaments, adding that Jesus himself was a young man.

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

I press the doorbell of the convent. The door opens. Facing me is a beautiful young woman, all smiles. She welcomes me, takes my handbag, shows me my room.

When I joined the Sisters for tea in the evening, I see the same young woman again. I cannot but notice her presence and her charming smile. I ask the Sisters about her.

One of the Sisters tells me, “Neeta—all names in this article have been changed—is no ordinary girl. She was brought here by the staff of the government shelter home that takes care of runaways, trafficked women and children.”

Victim of Her Father’s Cruelty

I learn that several of these women and children have been betrayed and sold by their own family members.

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Sr Celine Vas BS

[I asked Ligia four questions: About the experience of being married to a Deacon (who has to combine family responsibilities and ministry requirements), about how she collaborates in Jaime’s ministry, about whether people open up to them easily and any other point she wanted to add.—Editor]

Married Life with a Deacon

My husband Jaime and I gave up our jobs in the year 2000 and began working full time in the Lord’s vineyard as we felt moved by the Holy Spirit to do so. So, after some years, when my husband told me that he felt moved to become a Permanent Deacon, I was open and supported his decision. At that stage it was something that we had not heard much about but were told more about it. I had to give a written permission for Jaime to become a Deacon. The preparation to be ordained as a Deacon took four long years.

As the preparation at that time was mainly in the weekends, it meant a lot of sacrifice, especially in the first few years when our son was still a teenager. At times I had to handle challenging situations at home,  additionally caring for two elderly persons at home. However, I began trusting and relying more on His Spirit to guide and lead me.

It was not easy for our children to accept the fact that their Dad was going to become a Deacon, dressing up like a priest and assisting at Mass, etc. Our son Ashish especially was afraid of being ridiculed by his friends. Our decisions can be tough on our children especially in today’s world when we see so much affluence around. Many times, I could see their pain too. But the Spirit also amazingly ministered to them in ways I never expected.

Ligia Fonseca

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