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The second volume of the Council Notebook delves into the theme of ‘Revelations as the Word of God,’ particularly focusing on Dei Verbum 1-6. Continuing the tradition established by the Council of Trent and the First Vatican Council, the Second Vatican Council emphasized the Doctrine of Divine Revelation. The aim is to ensure that the message of new life is heard by the entire world, leading to belief, hope, and love. This volume consists of four concise chapters: The Word of God; Written Word; The Response to the Word of God; The Word of God in Action.

God’s Ongoing Communication

Reflecting on Dei Verbum is akin to revisiting the entirety of the Second Vatican Council’s history. It’s the final constitution approved by Vatican II, serving as the cornerstone for interpreting all its teachings. Through this document, we can reconnect with Sacred Scripture in a lively and dynamic way, understanding the event of Christian revelation. Dei Verbum delves into the profound ways of how God reveals Him/Herself and communicates with humanity. Biblical history unfolds as a series of revelations, culminating in Jesus Christ revealing the true nature of God as a loving Father and Mother. Emphasizing that “God has spoken,” Dei Verbum underscores that this divine action isn’t confined to the past but continues to impact the present. God’s ongoing communication with His Church unveils hidden truths and deepens our understanding of revealed truth.

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Sr Shalini Xavier CTC

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This is how Sr. Norma Pimental, MJ, began a TED talk: “In 2014, I visited a detention facility where hundreds of little children, immigrant children, were detained for several weeks in conditions that were very heartbreaking. They were dirty and muddy and crying. Their faces were full of tears. I had the opportunity to go in and be with them. And they were all around me. They were little ones, some of them not older than five years old. And they were saying to me, ‘Get me out of here. Please, help me.’ It was so difficult to be there with them. I started to cry with them, and I told them, ‘Let us pray.’ And they repeated after me, ‘God, please, help us.’  As we prayed, I could see the Border Patrol officers looking through a glass window. They were on the verge of tears, as they heard the children praying. A little boy came closer and told me, ‘Please, help me. I want to be with my mother.  She was here, I was separated from her.’  When I walked out of the cell, an officer got close to me and said to me, ‘Sister, thank you. You have helped us realize that they too are human beings.’”

Sr Norma Pimentel, who belongs to the Missionaries of Jesus Congregation, has been for many years the Executive Director of Catholic Charities, the charitable arm of the Diocese of Brownsville in Texas, U.S.  In 2014 thousands of families tried desperately to leave their countries in Central America and seek asylum in the U.S.  Responding to this crisis, she set up Humanitarian Respite Centers, where hundreds of American volunteers took care of these poor and hungry asylum seekers. These efforts brought Sr Pimentel worldwide recognition. In March 2015, Pimentel spoke at the U.N. Headquarters in New York City. During the Papal visit to the U.S. that year, Sr Pimentel met Pope Francis in New York City and presented him with one of her original paintings of an immigrant mother and child. Before coming to work for Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, Pimentel was one of the leaders who directed Casa Oscar Romero, a refugee shelter that served Central Americans fleeing their war-torn countries in the 1980s. The shelter provided emergency relief and temporary housing for hundreds of thousands of refugees. It is there that she developed a passion for helping refugees and asylum seekers.

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Fr M.A. Joe Antony SJ

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Jesus: A Pilgrimage (2016)

James Martin, S J

The bestselling author James Martin was an American businessman before becoming a Jesuit.

This book is the result of a visit to the Holy Land that the author undertook in the company of his colleague Fr George Williams. It is an extraordinary book, a combination of travelogue, memoir, Bible scholarship, historical document and spiritual retreat. Through vivid storytelling and personal reflection, Martin invites readers to join him as fellow pilgrims, exploring the sacred sites of the Jesus story. Along the way, he highlights lesser-known facts and connects the ancient narratives with the author’s own life experiences. From Bethlehem to Jerusalem, the narrative unfolds, weaving together historical context, geographical details, and theological insights. Martin’s journey is not merely an academic pursuit but a spiritual quest, grounded in prayer, experience, and pilgrimage. As readers journey through contemporary Israel with Martin, they encounter Jesus not just as a figure in the Gospels but as a living presence.

At the heart of the book lies a fundamental question: “Who is Jesus to you?” Drawing inspiration from the Caesarea Philippi episode in Mark’s Gospel, Martin explores the dual nature of Jesus as fully human and fully divine. He emphasizes that Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions and challenges but remained free from sin. Rooted in Ignatian spirituality, Jesus: A Pilgrimage offers readers an opportunity to deepen their understanding of Christ and their own faith. Each chapter includes questions for personal reflection or group discussion, inviting readers to engage with the material on a deeper level. Ultimately, Martin’s retelling of the life of Christ serves to illuminate the central message of the Gospels while staying faithful to church teachings and traditions.

The Book of Joy. Lasting Happiness in a Changing World (2016)

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams

This book stems from a unique collaboration between two eminent spiritual leaders and Nobel Peace Prize laureates: Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Both were deeply involved in political struggles against oppression – Tutu against apartheid in South Africa and the Dalai Lama against Chinese aggression in Tibet. They are highly qualified to discuss this topic, as they represent two major world religions and have personally endured cruelty, exile, and violence. Despite these hardships, they emerged as exceptionally joyful individuals, speaking of human happiness not despite these challenges, but because of them.

In 2016, Bishop Tutu visited the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. They spent seven days together, during which Douglas Abrams recorded their discussions and friendship. Their main focus was on human joy. The book captures their lively interactions, playful teasing, and warm exchanges, all while they reflect on today’s challenging global issues.

In their joint statement, titled “Invitation to Joy,” they assert that the future is not determined by fate but by our actions. Three key lessons evolve from their discussions.

• Suffering is inevitable in life, but adopting an attitude of compassion towards others can help alleviate it.
• While we can’t always control suffering, we can develop mental resilience to cope with it better.
• Instead of letting anger and stress consume us, cultivating compassion and sadness can lead to productive responses. Converting fear into joy and reflecting on sadness can empower us to take positive action to address challenges.

The book ends with a chapter on “Joy Practices,” offering practical tips for cultivating daily joy. Additionally, it provides insights into the life and rituals of the Tibetan Buddhist community in Tibet.

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What is culture?

“Culture is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups. Culture often originates from or is attributed to a specific region or location.” (Wikipedia)

“The written and spoken languages, food, lifestyle, dance forms, art, music, choice of clothing, talking to others, working style all come under the huge umbrella of culture. In India, with 28 states and 7 union territories, the culture differs from one region or state to another.”

Thus, we can speak of Indian or Chinese culture, Bengali or Tamil culture, Eastern and Western cultures, etc.

Some Truths We May Forget

No one chooses one’s own parents or mother tongue or place of birth. We find ourselves as Indians or Japanese, as having this or that mother tongue, or belonging to a particular ethnic group or nation. These are parts of who and what we are. They are neither merits nor demerits. A person cannot be praised or blamed for belonging to a particular culture. Someone from a particular culture has no right to look down upon another culture or despise its expressions.

To speak of superficial examples: A typical European is used to eating with cutlery. A typical Chinese or Korean eats with chopsticks. Most Indians eat with their hands.

So, too, with ways of dressing, ways of relating in the family, ways of expressing affection or anger. Thus, Italians and Spaniards are used to hugging and kissing. Not so in India or Sri Lanka.

Indian women wear the sari or churidar. The men wear kurta and pajamas or dhoti and shirts.

Arranged marriages as in India will sound absurd and unjust to a typical European or American. Parents in old age are looked after by the sons, or one son, in India, while a Western family has no such practice.

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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All through the day and night I found her toiling

Along with the wake-up call,

I heard her sweetly humming a song invoking God’s blessings

Then I saw her cleaning up the courtyard

Gently arranging the rooms in order

And well decorating the Altar.

Then she moved like a flying disc to the kitchen door

Opened the treasures of the kingdom one by one

Pots and pans….milk and rice….vegetables and pulses

Gas cylinder on, fridge open, taps on….

Spoons and knives in hand

Sprinkled masalas, boiled water, and cooker whistled away.

Husband and children heard the wake-up call

And sat up to sip the bed coffee

No one bothered to ask, “Darling, Ma, have you sipped a sip?”

For they knew that she is she who has ability and utility.

One by one got ready – brushing, bathing, dressing

All the items were provided in a serial order

To the Sweet Heart, Chubby cheeks, Dimple chin, and Rosy lips

And all got ready and sat up at the table for breakfast

Zoom came mother of the universe

With hot parathas, coffee and a sweet dish.

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Sr. Mariella CTC

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Recently in one of the formation communities where I worked there was a change of administrator/bursar.  The old administrator always found it difficult to get volunteers for some work that had to be done.  But the new administrator had no difficulty in finding volunteers in similar circumstances.  What made the difference?  The works were the same.  The formees were the same.  The difference was in the administrator’s approach.

            As superiors there are many occasions when we have to persuade people, e.g. to change a certain type of behaviour (correction), to accept a new idea, to take up a new work.  There are principles of persuasion/influence, popularised by Robert B. Cialdini in his books, Influence: Science and Practice (1984) and Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade (2016) which are widely used in the business world which could be a help also for us.  Here we will present all the seven principles which he enunciates although all of them may not be equally applicable in the community context. 

What is Persuasion?

            Persuasion is the process of influencing or motivating someone to adopt a particular idea, attitude, behaviour, or course of action.  It involves the use of communication and reasoning to assist people to accept something.  It could take different forms like dialogue, written communication, visual presentation or other ways of communicating information.  For Cialdini, persuasion or “influence means change.  That change can be in an attitude, a perception, or a behaviour.  But in all instances, we can’t lay claim to influence until we can demonstrate that we’ve helped create a change in someone.”

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Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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(In this article on racism, Sr. Lini shares a story about a fellow sister who still feels the effects of discrimination years later. The writer’s questions prompt us to think about how we still discriminate against others. It reminds us of the importance of empathy and listening to help people heal and feel valued again.)

“I was a young religious sister traveling by train in 1960 in Namibia, a territory under South African administration at the time. Due to Apartheid, a system of racial discrimination and segregation unique to South Africa, enforced by white Europeans settled in the region, people were divided into whites and non-whites based on their skin colour. On that particular day, there was no room in our blacks-only carriage, so I moved to the whites-only carriage. Almost instantly, a man charged toward me with furious eyes and red cheeks, demanding to know why I was in a whites-only space.

Shivering, I whispered, ‘There was no place in the blacks-only carriage, that’s why I came here!’ The man threatened violence, shouting, ‘If you don’t move immediately, I will throw you out of the window.’ Terrified, I fled back to the black-only carriage, holding my breath.”

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Sr Lini Sheeja MSC

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From February 1st to 4th, 2024, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (DICLSAL) convened a conference for consecrated men and women under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope on the Path of Peace.”

From every country up to 4 representatives were invited – one male religious and one woman religious, one member of the Ordo Virginum and one member of a secular institute. Among the delegates from India were Elsa Muttathu, Alice Joseph, Sarita Nazareth, and myself.

The purpose of the meeting was centered around the preparation for the Jubilee year 2025. The participants would return to their own countries and prepare other consecrated persons to live and participate in the Jubilee year.

DIVERSITY

There were around 300 consecrated men and women attending the gathering. Participants came from more than 60 countries, indicating a diverse and international representation. This included five language groups and at times, it was a challenge to communicate with delegates from other language groups.

Fortunately, the English language group was among the largest, and so it was possible for me to have profound conversations with numerous delegates. One conversation, in particular, left a lasting impression. It was with a young Ukrainian sister named Natasha, who vividly described the uncertainty, devastation, and suffering that she and her fellow Ukrainians have endured over the last two years.

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Br. Sunil Britto CFC

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The Awakening of a Giant (2017): 95 minutes

Director: John Ziberna, Valeria Baldan

Cast: Diana Hobel, Abigail Pintar, Stella

The movie is a powerful meditative narration of the amazing life of St Veronica Giuliani, the17th century Franciscan mystic and doctor of the Church whom Pope Pius IX described as a “giant of saintliness.” Born in 1660 in the aristocratic family of Francesco and Benedetta Mancini Giuliani in Urbino, Italy, Veronica was baptized Ursula, the youngest of seven sisters, three of whom chose the monastic life. From infancy she exhibited a profound connection to Jesus and Mary, often experiencing visions and conversing with them.  Veronica Giuliani, from a young age, prioritized helping the poor over her own comforts. At 16, she had a vision that strengthened her resolve.  Veronica’s diary shows her struggle to let go of material desires when her father’s promotion elevated their social standing, and he introduced her to high society in hopes of finding a suitable marriage partner. Despite her family’s expectations for a conventional life, Ursula became a Franciscan at the age of 17, choosing the name Veronica in honour of Christ’s Passion. The bishop who officiated predicted that Veronica would one day be a great saint. The movie delves into Veronica’s inner struggles and spiritual journey, marked by intense encounters with the supernatural and her unwavering commitment to emulate Christ’s suffering out of love for Him. Despite facing skepticism and scrutiny, including the receiving of stigmata, Veronica remained resolute in her faith until her passing in 1727, leaving behind a journal chronicling her heroic journey. Beatified in 1804 and canonized in 1839, St. Veronica Giuliani’s legacy endures as a testament to unwavering faith and devotion.

Io Capitano (2023): 122 minutes

Director: Matteo Garrone

Cast: Seydou Sarr, Moustapha Fall, Issaka Sawagodo, Hichem Yacoubi, Doodou Sagna.

This internationally acclaimed movie tells of the Immigrant/ refugee crisis that is of much political and social concern today. Drawn from the experiences of several such immigrants who have found better life in Europe, away from their Afro- Asian backgrounds it provides the point of view of African immigrants fleeing from poverty and oppression in their native lands in search of better life in the West. Apart from presenting the sufferings of refugees it is also the story of two African teenagers being initiated into the trials of life, outgrowing their innocence and naiveté, into maturity through sufferings, holding on to hope and determination. “Io Capitano” is a gripping tale that follows the journey of Seydou and Mousa, two African teenagers, as they bravely navigate the perilous path from Senegal to Sicily in search of a better life. Determined to escape poverty and oppression in their homeland, they embark on a clandestine odyssey fraught with danger and uncertainty. Their quest takes them through Mali, Libya, and the unforgiving terrain of the Sahara Desert, where they confront various obstacles, from border patrols and bribery to imprisonment and exploitation. Seydou’s unwavering resolve is tested as he grapples with the brutality of detention centers and the challenges of forced labor, all while striving to protect himself and his injured cousin, Mousa. Despite the odds stacked against them, Seydou and Mousa persevere, fueled by their dreams of a brighter future. With the help of a human trafficker, they embark on a treacherous sea voyage across the Mediterranean, with Seydou assuming the role of an unlikely captain. Their journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of hope in the face of adversity.

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I’ve had the privilege of knowing these remarkable women for the past forty years and I can only describe them as beautiful, intelligent, independent, dynamic, innovative, and resilient. Our journey began in our teens, when Katrine, Danielle, and I, as young volunteers, dedicated our time to visiting families in need in Malta. My relationship with Nora was different. In the 80s, when I first met her, Nora was already a qualified social worker. She became a guiding force, directing and supporting me through the difficulties of the families we visited. We were young, enthusiastic, full of energy. Today, all three have evolved into “successful,” women.

Katrine Camilleri

As a law student, Katrine undertook research on access to rights and protection for refugees. After her graduation from the University of Malta in 1994, she began working in a small law firm, where she came in contact with refugees. It was during this time that a lot of boat people were arriving in Malta from Libya and other African countries. In 1996 she started working with the Malta office of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) first as a volunteer, then part time and eventually full time. JRS became the first organization to offer professional legal services on a regular basis to refugees detained in Malta.

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Br Carmel Duca MC

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