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God’s Best Ideas!

Fr Fio Mascarenhas (1998)

This publication is a concise guide to spirituality for the third millennium. The book, written in response to John Paul II’s call to “broaden horizons,” explores key Catholic doctrines in a simple, clear manner grounded in the Bible. The introduction focuses on the Fatherhood of God, revealed in the Old Testament and further expounded in the Gospels. Recognizing the crisis in today’s faith formation due to modern secularism, the author advocates for a fresh approach to Catholic spirituality and a new evangelization based on Trinitarian spirituality. The book begins with a reflection on God’s fatherhood, culminating in the teachings of Jesus in Matthew and John’s Gospels. Chapter 1 shares the author’s personal experiences as a seminarian and pastor, emphasizing the need for a more profound experience of the Good News rather than mere ritualization and intellectualization. Subsequent chapters explore Jesus, the spiritual experiences of saints like St. Francis and Ignatius Loyola, the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church, the Eucharist, the Bible, and Marian devotion. Throughout, the author emphasizes that God’s best ideas aim to bless, heal, strengthen, and provide abundant life. In essence, the book encourages disciples to be actively involved in the world, transforming it into a place where the upright feel at home.

Evangelisation: The Story of Jesus, His Apostles and Evangelists (2010)

Fr Joseph Parachalil

This book offers a fresh perspective on Jesus, tracing his ministry through the apostolic mission, Church fathers, and into the modern world via legendary saints and martyrs. Grounded in the Bible, it reveals historical insights often overlooked by the ordinary faithful. Emphasizing the Church’s essential missionary nature, the author calls for a revitalization of the Mission of Christ, echoing Jesus’ command to “preach the Gospel to the whole creation.” The book, spanning 23 chapters, explores the roots of the Church, the struggles of apostles globally, including India, and the challenges faced by later Churches. In our contemporary era, the author asserts the need to repeatedly share the story of Jesus and his disciples, translating the great message of salvation into daily life after encountering Christ. Dispelling misconceptions, individual chapters focus on prominent figures like Saints Peter, Andrew, James, Thomas, Matthias, Paul, Barnabas, John, Simon the Zealot, and even Judas Iscariot, followed by the evangelists. Noteworthy historical tidbits include St. Thomas as the acknowledged first apostle of India and the brief evangelization and martyrdom of Bartholomew (possibly Nathaniel) in North India around the same time. Ultimately, the book underscores that the mission of evangelization is achieved not through teachers and preachers alone but by the living examples of those committed to the cause, sharing their personal experiences.

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Even before the invention of thermometers, people knew when they or someone else had fever. Don’t you remember your mother putting her hand on your neck and saying, “You have fever”?

Similarly, what we today call “counselling” (or psychotherapy or whatever) did not start with the new academic pursuit called psychology. People faced emotional distress—depression, jealousy, anger, fear, worry, broken relationships, stress, confusion, despair, feelings of rejection or inferiority. It is normal to talk about such disturbing or stressful events or feelings with someone we trust. We have all done it. Most of us have listened to others who spoke to us about their distress. Many find relief when they pour out their disturbing or confusing feelings.

Today, we probably have a more systematic understanding of mental and emotional struggles, and of how help can be given. We have all heard this word, “counselling.” Let me make ten simple and basic statements about it—hoping this helps the reader to clarify issues and also to seek and give help when needed.

1. Everyone needs it: During my initial training in counselling, Carlos Welch, a wonderfully effective counsellor from the US who worked in India, told us one day that everybody needs counselling. I raised this objection: “Carlos, you told us the other day that, as adults, we need to stand on our own feet. Today, you are telling us that we need counselling.” He gave me a wise and practical answer: “Joe, standing on one’s own feet means that there are times when we realize and admit that we need help.”

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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In the Christian calendar, the season of Advent is a period of expectation and planning. It serves as a period of thought and anticipation before the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and signals the start of the liturgical year. Within the Church, there has been a growing understanding in recent years that the old ways of being and doing church need to change, to reflect the shifting social and cultural milieu. This essay analyzes the idea of Advent as a metaphor for the new way that the church will be and operate, stressing important ideas and practices that can direct this change.

1. Hope: A sense of expectation and hope marks the start of Advent. The Church also needs to foster a spirit of optimism for the future. In order to do this, the Church must reconsider its place in society, concentrate on the message of hope of the Gospel, and take an active role in addressing global issues.
2. Reconciliation and preparedness: Advent calls for reconciliation and preparedness. This entails accepting responsibility for past wrongdoing, working toward reconciliation, and laying the foundation for a more welcoming and caring community within the structure of the Church.
3. Community and Fellowship: The Church should place a high priority on community and fellowship, much as Advent promotes collective waiting and celebration. Within the Church, emphasizing connections and shared experiences helps increase the members’ feeling of purpose and sense of belonging.

Fr. John Singarayar SVD

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The Global Compact on Education (GCE), titled “Together to Look Beyond,” is not a plan for a new educational system. Instead, it is an invitation to dialogue and work together. It encourages us to come together to create a more fair and just world through education. In a meeting in May 2022, Pope Francis talked about how important education is for the strong foundation of society and for a better future. He said education can help create a fair and friendly world, letting people reach their full potential. With all the problems in the world, the Global Compact on Education comes at the right time, showing how important education is now. Pope Francis wants everyone to work together to build a better future through education.

Why the Global Compact?

Pope Francis presented the Global Compact on Education in September 2019 to address significant challenges in education worldwide. This initiative calls for people to work together to improve education. The goal is to create a fair and compassionate future while also taking care of the environment. Pope Francis believes that education is not just about learning facts but also about growing as a person. The GCE aims to ensure that everyone has access to education, treating each other with kindness and taking responsibility for the planet.

Fr Arnald Mahesh SDB

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Today we experience ‘a comprehensive crisis’ that cannot be reduced to any single sector. Pope Francis says, “The pandemic has led us to realize that what is really in crisis is our way of understanding reality and of relating to one another.” Since education is essential for achieving full human potential, developing an equitable, fraternal and just society, and promoting global as well as national development, it can be a vaccine for the comprehensive crisis of the present era. Analysing and comparing the educational dreams of the Catholic Church as well as those of India will throw light on the paradigm shift that the global education system has to undergo. Education needs a paradigm shift – from ‘syllabus memorization to critical thinking and problem-solving’ so that we come out of the ‘educational catastrophes’ of the present era. We need a renewed commitment to education that engages society at every level. A discussion on the ‘Global Compact on Education’ and the ‘National New Education Policy 2023’ of India will enlighten our efforts to create a ‘renewed global educational system.’
I. Global Compact on Education
On 12 September 2019, Pope Francis launched ‘an invitation to dialogue on how we are shaping the future of our planet and the need to employ the talents of all, since all change requires an educational process aimed at developing a new universal solidarity and a more welcoming society.’ For Pope Francis, education can no longer be reduced to what happens in the classroom. We need educational strategies that give a chance to the transformation and above all to the humanization of the world. To this end, he endorsed a ‘Global Compact on Education’ ‘to rekindle our dedication for and with young people, renewing our passion for a more open and inclusive education, including patient listening, constructive dialogue and better mutual understanding’.

Fr Binny Mary Das

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“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” These words of the third century Greek philosopher, Aristotle (who lived before Christ), are quoted frequently, so much so that it has become a clichéd jargon that many academicians use. Education refers to the transmission of knowledge, skills, experiences and character traits from one person to another, sometimes from one generation to another. There have been many teaching methods employed since the beginning of time; the first of them being oral tradition, wherein information was passed on orally, even before any writing system was known. Guru-shishya parampara in ancient India, Rabbinic teaching in ancient Israel, slowly evolved into the modern education system. From stone and clay tablets to papyrus, and from books to tablets, the education system has truly evolved. However, as it evolved, corruption started to seep into the education system. Only the affluent could access education; also, politics has a serious monopoly in education.

Sch. Denver A. Pushpam, SJ

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Fr. Joseph Thekkedathu was a reputed Church historian.   A man of slender frame and few words he had a prodigious memory.  He was considered a just and upright person.  Apart from his classes which were very much appreciated, what the seminarians remember about him is how he apologized to them for some decisions he had made as the superior of the community and tried to firmly implement, which he later realized was not to the best interests of the community.  His apology raised his esteem among the seminarians.  Humility has a power, all its own!

Why are Leadership Studies Dealing with Humility?

            In the past it was not common to associate humility with leadership.  However, this is changing.  Some of the reasons why research on leadership is now dealing with humility are the following:

• Interdependence and the need to cooperate: Today, more than before, organizations and marketplaces are becoming interdependent. Let us take the simple example of a school.  Earlier, the principal and the teachers could manage a school more or less well.  Today they are dependent on agencies that sell the books, shops that provide the uniform, organizations that run the school bus, different technicians to deal with the various gadgets they use, the electricity board, the water authorities and a host of other service-providing agencies.  This calls for a capacity to collaborate and elicit collaboration.  Humility is a help for this as it enables a person to change one’s views and be open to the views of others.

Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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I’m among those who firmly believe in the importance of building a strong and healthy personality and character through an internal structure rather than seeking an external structure such as a geographical solution. I often use the example of a drug addict who, even after moving to a totally new city, can quickly find the whereabouts of drug dealers in less than 24 hours.

However, Diego proved me wrong. His story challenged my perspective. Diego is one of the residents in our Hogar de la Paz in Peru, and he faces deep mental challenges. He is locked up in his own world, he does not talk or interact with anybody. Diego suffers from a condition known as coprophagia, which means that he eats his own faeces.

It comes as no surprise that very few people are inclined to approach Diego. Who would want to sit next to someone whose hands, nails, mouth, and teeth are persistently dirty and stinking? And this reluctance to engage with Diego, most likely worsens his self-isolation, pushing him further into his own fetish, to the point of self-harm. It’s as though he is caught in a vicious circle. I think it was Ionesco who remarked: ‘Take a circle, caress it, and it will turn vicious.’

Br Carmel Duca MC

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The recent Notification No. 7/2023, issued on 21st February 2023, by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) mandates the use of new audit reports, namely Form 10B and Form 10BB, for charitable and religious trusts. It is essential to determine which of these forms applies to our organization. Previously, Rule 16CC required Form 10BB for organizations under section 10(23C) and Rule 17B required Form 10B for those under section 12AB. This has now been completely changed. Understanding this change is crucial for complying with the updated regulations and managing our income accordingly.

Common Form depending on certain criteria

Rule 16CC and Rule 17B of the Income-Tax Rules, 1962 have been substituted with effect from 1^st April 2023 through the Income-tax (3^rd Amendment) Rules, 2023.  As per the amended Rules, common forms have been prescribed for organizations registered under section 12AB and those registered under section 10(23C) subject to fulfillment of certain criteria.

Fr Alex G SJ

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Saints, in their essence, were quite ordinary individuals who transformed into the extraordinary through dedicated efforts. In his reflections, Fr. Johnson shares the youthful path of Francis de Sales, illustrating how he grappled with inner struggles much like any young person today. However, Francis transcended these challenges by placing his trust and surrendering to Jesus, thus becoming an enduring inspiration for today’s youth.

Mark your calendars! The Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales has designated the period from April 2023 to March 2024 as the “Year of Fransalian Youth.” Get ready to be inspired and motivated!

Studies in Paris

At the tender age of 11 or 12, Francis de Sales embarked on his educational journey, completing his initial studies in La Roche and Annecy, France. Accompanied by three cousins, he departed Savoy on the 25th of September 1578, bound for Paris, where they enrolled in the College of Clermont. During their time in Paris, they resided at Rose-Blanche, in close proximity to the college. Their academic curriculum was modeled after the Jesuit program and adhered to the rules of the University of Paris. Over the course of a decade, Francis diligently pursued his studies, covering a wide range of subjects. He mastered courses in grammar, humanities, and rhetoric, even delving into the intricacies of Greek in pursuit of his B.A. degree. Additionally, he completed coursework in philosophy, natural history, and music, culminating in his pursuit of an M.A. degree, a prerequisite for joining the faculty of Law. In addition to his academic pursuits, Francis’s father, Lord of Boisy, held aspirations for his son to excel in martial arts. Consequently, Francis dedicated himself to mastering fencing, horseback riding, music, dance, and various other skills to fulfill his father’s wishes. Throughout this period, Francis left a profound impression on his teachers and peers. He was known for his sharp intellect, humility, deep religious devotion, and impeccable manners. Following his father’s guidance, Francis actively cultivated connections with noble families in France and even ventured into the royal court. By mingling with these influential circles from a young age, he gained invaluable insights into the highest echelons of French society and politics.

Youthful Struggles

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