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In July 1991, the British physicist Andrew G. Lyne and two of his colleagues published a paper in the prestigious science journal, Nature, claiming that they had discovered a planet orbiting around a neutron star.  It was considered a major discovery.  But six months later, on 15 January 1992, before a crowd of astronomers who had gathered for a conference where Lyne was supposed to make a presentation of his discovery, he admitted that he had made a mistake in his calculations and the planet did not really exist.  As he finished admitting his mistake the scientists gave him a standing ovation.  John Bahcall, an astrophysicist who was at the meeting said that “it was the most honorable thing I have ever seen.”

            All of us make mistakes.  However, we are often reluctant to admit our mistakes.  We find it difficult because we feel ashamed.  We think that to admit being wrong is to admit before others that we are incompetent and amateurish.  This, we believe will make us lose face in front of others hurting our self-esteem.  We fear that admitting mistakes will have negative consequences: others will look down upon us, we will be made fun of, we might lose the trust of others, and we might even be punished.  Being reluctant to admit mistakes we try to cover it up, attempt to justify it or worse, lie about it.

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Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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When we come across different call narratives in the Bible – there is this stereotype called Call-narratives. It is always God who takes the first step. It is God’s initiative and He has a plan for each one of us. All those who are called are picked up from where they are: often busy with their own routine work. They are always given a specific task. There is always a feeling of inadequacy in the people called and they try to escape. Finally, there is the reassurance from God saying that He would accompany ‘the called’ till the end. The following are some of the characteristics that would be visible in a person called by God:

Readiness to do God’s Will:  This is the greatest desire of Jesus: to do the things that pleased the Father (Jn. 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:29; 15:10; 17:4; Lk.1:38; Acts 5:32). The spiritual person is one who walks by the Spirit. Holiness is not an achievement but a growing self-surrender to God. It is not a moral perfection to be acquired but an emptiness before God who fills you. The person is ruled by Grace – like Our Lady. But, like her we have to “let go”. Let God take control of my whole life. I become a person of faith, discernment, actively searching for God’s Will (Phil. 1: 9-10).

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Fr Richard Mascarenhas SJ

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This is the second part of the article preparing for the jubilee year in 2025. The first part was published in December 2023. Sr. Celine reflects on the motto, logo, hymn, and the specific areas we need to focus on as we move forward towards the Jubilee year 2025.

JUBILEE 2025 – A GIFT OF GRACE

Every Jubilee Year is a special Year of Grace. The Pope inaugurates the Holy Year with the rite of the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica. After that, the Holy Doors of the other Papal Basilicas – St John Lateran, St Paul Outside the Walls, and St Mary Major are opened, and remain open, until the end of the Jubilee Year. Every Holy Year in the history of the Church, since Boniface VIII declared the first Holy Year in 1300, has its own significance. Pope Francis describes it as a ‘Gift of Grace” to be experienced through ‘pilgrimages, indulgences, living testimonies of faith and full expression of God’s Mercy.’ It is an occasion for all of us to live these years of preparation with the utmost enthusiasm that a Jubilee dedicated to Hope demands and to keep burning the torch of Hope that has been gifted to us, so that, everyone regains the strength and certainty to look to the future, as Pope Francis says, “with an open spirit, a trusting heart and a far-sighted vision. The Jubilee Year can greatly contribute to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire.”

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Sr. Celine D’Cunha FMA

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Recently I visited a friend of mine, a former provincial.  During the course of our conversation he mentioned the name of a young priest who would soon be going for higher studies in spirituality.  Having known something about the community where this priest had worked, I remarked that he had not done too well there.  To this my friend replied, “He does everything by himself.  He does not like to consult anyone.  It would be good for him to listen to others.”  This priest, in other words, was lacking interpersonal humility.

            We have described humility as the capacity to have an accurate knowledge of oneself, value others, be open to learn and see oneself as part of the greater reality.  There are different types or dimensions of humility each emphasizing one or other aspect of this virtue.  Knowing these dimensions can help a leader to interact with others more effectively.

            Intellectual Humility: This refers to an awareness of the limits of one’s knowledge, willingness to admit one’s mistakes, openness to feedback and readiness to learn from others.  Intellectual humility can be considered from different perspectives:

1. internal, that is at the level of thoughts and musings that remain within oneself without being outwardly expressed. These can be a) about oneself, this needs inquiring within, e.g. am I seeing clearly? or b) about others, this requires focussing on others, e.g. what is it that the other person is really believing?
2. expressed, that is at the level of action and behaviour that can be seen. This also can be a) about oneself, this requires integrity, e.g. is my action consistent with what I believe? or b) about others, this calls for relating respectfully and with trust e.g. Is my treatment of the other respectful even though the other’s views are different?

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Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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“Your perception creates your reality. You can look at life and see scarcity or abundance. It depends on your mindset.” – Joe Vitale

We ended the previous article with a promise to discuss a very special quality namely, PERSPECTIVE-TAKING, which I believe, is the highest manifestation of the cognitive dimension. This is the second important and essential quality in the wholeness paradigm. It is good to remember the first important quality in our paradigm is CONSISTENCY, which is the highest manifestation of the physical dimension.

Steven Covey’s concept of Vision 

The whole-person paradigm of Stephen Covey considered Vision as the highest manifestation of the mind. In his book, The 8^th Habit, Covey suggested that vision is, “seeing a future state with the mind’s eye. Vision is applied imagination.” (p. 70). He continued to claim that we create all things twice: first in the mind and then in reality. It’s like having a blueprint of the house in hand before setting out to construct the house. For him, the cognitive faculty of a person finds its highest manifestation when that person is able to envision in one’s mind the future course of action. He claimed that the most important vision of all is to “develop a sense of your own destiny, a sense of your own unique mission and role in life, sense of purpose and meaning” (p. 72).

According to Covey, vision is a futuristic quality, something that prepares you for the future, a special capacity to achieve great things in life. Of course, for Covey, vision is not only achieving something or accomplishing a task. It is something more than that: it is about discovering one’s inner potential, expanding one’s capabilities and ultimately, realizing one’s full potential. Therefore, to summarise Stephen Covey’s concept of vision, we can say that those who possess vision, they also possess clarity and farsightedness about what they want to do in life.

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Fr. Dr. Joseph Jeyaraj, sdb

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When I was teaching in a school at Bellary, Karnataka, many years back, a mother approached me, expressing her desire for a personal conversation. She revealed her unfulfilled dream of becoming an engineer due to financial struggles. Now, with the means to support her children’s education, she wanted her daughter to be a doctor and her son an engineer. She urged me to pressure them to excel academically. This situation may resonate with many parents. This prompts me to ask the question: Are we projecting our unfulfilled dreams onto our children, or are we allowing them to discover and pursue their own passions? As teachers and parents, let us support our children in uncovering their hidden potentials and fulfilling their unique aspirations.

Relentless Competition

After attending parent-teacher meetings and signing their children’s Progress Reports, many parents are eager to know the grades of other students, fostering a sense of competition. However, it is crucial to question whether we are teaching our children to compete with themselves. Rather than encouraging healthy self-improvement, an excessive focus on outperforming others can lead to a lifelong pattern of relentless competition. It is essential to guide our children to compete with their own capabilities. If we instill a mindset solely focused on surpassing others, they may carry this attitude into their professional lives, creating a stressful and potentially harmful work environment. This hyper-competitive spirit may drive them to constantly pursue material success, leaving little room for life’s joys and potentially harming relationships with others.

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This article based on a recent presentation given to Jesuit Counsellors and Psychologists Forum, explores the multifaceted aspects of addictions, shedding light on the profound spiritual sickness that lies beneath the addictive cycle.

1.  Addictions around and within

Today, it is uncommon to find an individual or family whose life has not been directly or indirectly affected by some form of addiction.

Therapy is necessary not only for individuals struggling with addiction but also for family members who endure the associated trauma. Trauma due to addictive parent(s) falls under the category of ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences), mandating the need for healing and counselling; something novitiate programs need to take into account.

Irrespective of where we live, there will be no shortage of people trapped in severe addictions. Ministering to individuals and families grappling with addiction is undeniably a vital necessity within the Church today, even as new forms of addictive behaviours emerge.

2.  Cyber addictions and Workaholism

One of the rapidly expanding addictions in contemporary times is internet related addictive behaviours. And this concern extends to religious as well and very little is being done in formation (initial and ongoing) to address this concern.

A bigger concern or a false god among religious is workaholism or the preoccupation with work, even outside working hours. We worship work and feel unimportant if we are not working enough. Short questionnaires at the bottom here could reveal whether you could be an addict to work and/or the internet.

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Br. Sunil Britto CFC

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The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story (1983)

Director: Delbert Mann

Cast: Lee Remick, Polly Holliday, Angela Lansbury, Michael Higgins Joe Warren, Michael Pearlman, Mart Hulswit.

“The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story” (1983), directed by Delbert Mann, is a heartwarming Christmas drama adapted from Bess Streeter Aldrich’s short story ‘The Silent Stars Go By.’ It centers on the life of Janet Broderick and her family in Ohio facing financial crisis during the Christmas season. As the store faces bankruptcy and Janet’s marriage with Neil strains, a series of events, including the sudden death of her mother, push her to the brink of a nervous breakdown. Janet is put to bed, and enters into a long sleep lasting two days.  In this state she  experiences a magical time travel to her childhood home in Vermont, rediscovering the warmth of her family and the true meaning of Christmas. The narrative weaves in Janet’s relationship with Neil, her Aunt Minerva’s lost love, and the mysterious visits of a ‘Christmas ghost’ linked to the children’s adventures. The climax unfolds on the night before Christmas eve when Michael goes missing in the snow, leading to a desperate search. Janet learns from her mother about the true ‘secret place’ – a space within the heart where love resides and miracles happen. This revelation transforms Janet, bringing about a heartwarming reunion and a joyful ending with carolers singing at their door. The film emphasizes the enduring power of love and faith.

A Hidden Life (2019)

Directed by    Terrence Malick

Cast: August Diehl, Valerie Pachner, and Matthias Schoenaerts, with Michael Nyqvist and Bruno Ganz

The movie presents to us the inspiring life story of Franz Jägerstätter, the hero and martyr of the German church who became a symbol of resistance against the Nazi war machine during World War II. The film draws its title from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians 3:3, reflecting on the notion that one’s life is hidden with Christ in God after death. Franz Jägerstätter, initially a simple farmer, undergoes a profound transformation into a devout and committed Catholic. He was part of a vibrant rural parish set in the mountain village of St. Radegund, where he and his wife Franziska (Fani), raised three daughters. Soon Austria is annexed by Hitler’s Third Reich. Their happy life is disrupted when Franz is drafted into the German army separating them for months. When France is annexed and the war seems to be ending, Franz returns home.  However, when the war intensifies, Hans along with the other young men of his village are ordered back to the field. Hans despised the Nazi ideology on grounds of his strong faith and refused to take the required oath of allegiance to Hitler and his regime. Facing ostracism from his community and the disapproval of the local bishop, Franz remains steadfast in his refusal, knowing it means almost certain execution as a traitor. Throughout his imprisonment, Franz engages in an active correspondence with Fani, finding strength in his unwavering faith. Meanwhile, his family endures criticism and victimization from their village due to Franz’s bold decision. Despite months of torture, threats, and temptations, Franz refuses to declare loyalty to Hitler. On August 9, 1943, Franz Jägerstätter was executed by the Third Reich. His family, including Fani, survives him, and his legacy endures. In recognition of his unwavering commitment to his principles, Franz was beatified by the Church in October 2007.

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The first time I caught a glimpse of her was on a November afternoon in Bogota, while riding the bus one. I was utterly stunned and couldn’t believe my eyes. Determined to confirm what I saw; I made it a point to get a good look at that particular statue of our Lady in the front garden of a big house in the northern part of the city the following week. Fate, however, was not on my side, as I found myself standing and unable to get a closer look. Undeterred, the third week, I decided to interrupt my journey and got off the bus. And there she was—the unmistakably white statue of the Virgin of the Poor.

            It took me a few more weeks to muster the courage and finally knock on the door. You see, we Missionaries of Charity Brothers share a special connection with Mary under this title. The year was 1999 and statues like this were exceptionally rare to come by. This particular representation of Mary is striking in simplicity—a young woman, slightly inclining forward, her hands folded in prayer, dressed in a long white gown with a blue sash and a transparent white veil. Her only one foot is visible,  on top of which lay a single rose.

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Br Carmel Duca MC

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Embark on a compelling exploration of faith and leadership as Cardinal Gracias shares profound insights in a candid conversation with Janina Gomes. Gain a deeper understanding of his trans-formative journey as a prominent figure steering the course of the Church in India.

1. Tell us something about your early years and how you felt called to the priesthood.

I come from a deeply Catholic family. Family prayer was important, our parents taught us Gospel values and love for the Church. Besides, I had three uncle priests in Goa, so the parish fathers would regularly come to visit my parents. Also, I was deeply impressed by the life of Msgr. George Fernandes, (now Servant of God) who was my parish priest and School Principal for many years. He was much esteemed and loved by all the people. He actively encouraged me to join the seminary.

2. As former President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI)  what is the direction in which you led the church and what were your priorities?

Yes, I was very involved both in the CBCI and the CCBI, first as Secretary General of the CBCI where I had the responsibility of preparing new Statutes since St John Paul II had asked the Bishops of India to start a new Episcopal Conference for the Latin Rite bishops. Later, I was the CBCI Vice President for two years and then the President for eight years. My focus at that time was to strengthen the functioning and public relations of the CBCI: fostering good relations with the Government, with the other Christian Churches and with the Media. I had an efficient resident Deputy Secretary General and a united Staff, and we worked as a good team.

As for the CCBI (Latin Bishops’ Conference), I was the President for twelve years. Initially the CCBI had no clear self-identity, since the CBCI was already functioning effectively to the satisfaction of the bishops. The Bishops felt there was no need for another Episcopal Conference but there were some canonical problems so the Holy Father intervened. My specialization in Canon Law was a help. So I attempted to give the CCBI an identity with appropriate structures and to make it what the Vatican Council wanted Episcopal Conferences to be. There was now a new situation in India, we had the CBCI and the CCBI, two distinct episcopal bodies. It helped for coordination that I was for some time President of both – the CBCI and the CCBI simultaneously. I tried to ensure that there was no rivalry and competition as St. John Paul II had explicitly advised in his letter to the bishops of India. I am convinced that a strong CBCI is necessary for a strong CCBI and a strong CCBI is necessary for a strong CBCI. It would weaken the Indian Church very much if these two Bodies do not work in harmony. I am presently on a small task force appointed by the Council of Cardinals to study the nature of Episcopal Conferences and their future possibilities. Our Indian situation is truly unique. We have many challenges. This is still a work in progress.

3. As former President of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) what issues were taken up at the Asian Level?

Asia is not homogeneous, and each country has its own special challenges. Being FABC President was a unique learning experience. I wanted the FABC to assist our smaller Churches. We did make a beginning! We also had the first ever FABC General Conference in Bangkok in October 2022. It was called FABC 50 because it was celebrated on the Golden Jubilee of the FABC foundation. It was a successful event and I think it could give a new thrust to the Church in Asia. I am sure it will help the synodal process and the synodal process will help the FABC. At the structural level I tried to ensure that the different Offices at the FABC collaborate with each other and have joint projects. This has still to be improved. Fr. Ray O’Toole was the Secretary General of the FABC for many years and worked much towards this. Plans were moving ahead for revitalization of all the offices, but he unexpectedly fell ill and never recovered.  The FABC now has a good identity, and its voice is heard at the universal Church level.

4. At the international level you are part of the 8 member Council of Cardinals, to assist Pope Francis, and help in the governance of the Catholic church. What changes in the church have you been part of at this decision-making level?

Our Council of Cardinals has been very active and meets with the Holy Father five times a year, with each meeting lasting three days. We discussed whatever the Holy Father wanted us to advise him about. He set the agenda. Specifically, we tried to see how the Roman Curia could be more at the service of the Holy Father and of the Bishops in the local Churches.  We discussed in great detail about the functioning of the Roman Congregations, now called Dicasteries, and hence our Council made a contribution to Praedicate Evangelium. We discussed many important topics for the Church: evangelization, appointment of Bishops, transparency in finances, the media, etc.

5. As a member of the Roman Rota and Member of the Congregation for Catholic Education, what have been your unique contributions to these bodies?

I discussed many canonical matters especially with the Dean of the Rota. We particularly studied how Tribunal procedures would be speedier and smoother. I am also a member of the Council for Legislative Texts and I look forward to seeing how we can bring Synodality into the Code of Canon law. I regret I was not able to contribute much to the Congregation for Catholic Education because I was on different Roman Bodies and the meetings of this Dicastery always clashed with some important meetings in Rome or back home in India. However, I represented the Dicastery at its Asian Meeting in Bangkok.

6. As Bishop of Agra for six years, what were the challenges you faced in North India?

I was new to Agra and new to being an independent Archbishop. I was apprehensive because when I went to Agra it was my first visit to the place and I did not know any priest or religious there,  nor had any idea of the pastoral challenges of the place. Would I be accepted in Agra or treated as an outsider? I had six very joyful years there. My priority was to establish good relations with the civic officials and the local people. There had been a bit of violence against Christians just before I went there and Archbishop Vincent Concessao, my predecessor, had a challenging time. Things gradually improved. Since Agra was a small Archdiocese, I had the possibility of trying new pastoral methods and putting systems in place. The Clergy was very supportive and so were the religious. We worked together with a common vision. When I was transferred from there after six years, I felt I should have stayed there a couple of years more to consolidate what I began.

7. As Archbishop of Bombay what are your chief joys and challenges?

Bombay is a very established Archdiocese with all required structures in place, its set traditions mainly because of my very illustrious predecessors, Cardinal Valerian Gracias, Cardinal Simon Pimenta and Cardinal Ivan Dias. Each made his unique contribution to the growth of this Archdiocese. My comment on my first visit to the Seminary when I returned to Mumbai after six years in Agra was that it was too much an inward-looking Church. However, because of its long tradition it was difficult to change much. It is a big Archdiocese and I feel we should help the smaller churches more. CCBI’s “Communio” was born out of this desire. On the other hand, I regret that because of my many national and international commitments I was not able to concentrate sufficiently on the Archdiocese. I had, of course, good auxiliary bishops, competent and able to replace me in my absence. But I wish I did concentrate more on the Archdiocese.

8. What would you say you have gained and learnt through your interactions at the international level?

I met the Holy Father often and I am very inspired by him. The more I work with him, the more I understand his deep spirituality and his vision of the Church. I enjoyed very much my interaction with my brother Cardinals: in particular the camaraderie, commonality of vision, desire to work for the Church and loyalty to the successor of St. Peter. It has also helped me to grow spiritually. I realize more and more it is the Lord’s Church which works so well in spite of our human frailty.

9. What difference do you think synodality has made in the functioning of the Archdiocese in Bombay?

Synodality is work in progress. We had very successful preparatory meetings in the Archdiocese guided mainly by my Auxiliary, Bishop Allwyn D’Silva to whom I had delegated this responsibility. We will surely make greater progress in Synodality and have greater clarity as we go ahead. The Roman Synod in October 2023 endorsed what was done and gave us encouragement to continue. We will use the year ahead to have more programmes so that we get as many involved in the church as possible. I am hopeful and even excited about this.

10. The church is today functioning in a hostile environment in India. What would you advise your flock to do in the face of so much violence and victimization?

I would not exaggerate the challenges. One must have faith, hope and trust in the Lord. The Lord has risen indeed! We must adapt all our Church policies according to local circumstances. There is so much we can do for the spread of God’s Kingdom. My advice is: Deepen in your holiness. Trust in the Lord. And continue to do your good work. Never get discouraged!

11. Do you have any Christmas message for the Religious of India?

Christmas is a time for rebirth and recommitment, a joyful time. Since I am writing for the Magnet, I must have a message to the Religious. I wish the Religious in India and the Bishops worked more in deeper collaboration. I have been a bishop for a fairly long time. Collaboration was a challenge for us twenty-five years ago and remains a challenge even today. As President of the Episcopal Conference, I could have worked more for this. We are one Church. The Religious are doing such marvellous work with great dedication. Our bishops are committed and self-sacrificing. I know how good they are and how much they do. What a great impact it would make on the lives of many if we worked more in coordination. This is the challenge for both of us, the CBCI and CRI.

12. Is there anything you would like to add?

Magnet is a good means for spreading the Good News and it could be a good instrument for ongoing formation of the religious. I have always found the articles informative, educational, and helpful for the apostolate. I thank the CRI and the Editorial team for all that they have done. God bless you. Do continue your good work!

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Cardinal Gracias Speaks

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