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The Thrill of Following Jesus and Making Him Known

An interview with Sr Sheeba Thomas MSI, who has been a missionary in Brazil since her youth.

1. Sr Sheeba, as a girl or as a young woman, what gripped you?

 Growing up as a girl in Kalayanthani, near Thodupuzha, Kerala, I had no grand aspirations like becoming a doctor or teacher. Born into a lower middle-class family with limited opportunities, my father worked as a farmer while my mother was a housewife. In a family of four children, my parents, despite their own educational limitations, encouraged us to excel in our studies. My mother often motivated us by saying, “If you study well, your aunty will take you to Australia.” As a result, I focused on studying, playing, and assisting my parents in their daily tasks. I was an average student. I loved going to church even on weekdays with my younger brother as my constant companion.

I’m thankful to the sisters of our parish for instilling in me a deep love for Jesus and the Church. The Church services were never dull for me. The sisters, after Mass, would guide us children on living each day to make Jesus happy—helping at home, respecting elders, including others in play, and avoiding lies, bad words, and fights. Despite my enthusiasm, I often fell short but never gave up. A cherished memory is the “Cherupushpa Mission League” in our parish, encouraging acts of service, love, and renunciation. This ignited a missionary spirit in me, inspiring a desire to support missionaries through prayer and sacrifice.

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Pope Francis urged Catholics around the globe to prepare themselves for the Jubilee year 2025 by studying the documents of the Second Vatican Council, especially its four Dogmatic constitutions. In this article, I will explore some groundbreaking themes from what is known as the most important Conciliar document on the Church itself – Lumen Gentium.

Light of the Nations

When Vatican II titled its document on the Church ‘Lumen Gentium,’ which means ‘Light of the Nations,’ it aimed to articulate the Church’s role and purpose. In the same way as Christ is the light for all nations, the Church is tasked with spreading that illuminating presence throughout the world. Instead of giving a name that would have the Church focused on itself, in a masterstroke move, the Council Fathers opted for a Christocentric title.

The Church is to Christ as John the Baptist was to Jesus. The Church is just as John the Baptist was not the Light itself, but rather a witness to the Light (Jn 1:7-9). Adopting a spiritual stance akin to that of John the Baptist, the Church echoes his words about Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

In what ways can you let Christ shine through your life and actions?

The Mystery Of The Church

God does not call us to go to church but to be his Church. The Council fathers encapsulated this understanding by introducing a chapter right at the outset titled as ‘The Mystery of the Church’. The essence of the Church extends beyond physical structures or hierarchical arrangements. Pope Paul VI, would say that the Church is a mystery or sacrament, meaning it is “a reality imbued with the hidden presence of God”.

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Cloaked in Faith and Humility: The Life of St Gabriel the Fool for Christ

Runtime: 64 minutes

Director: Efstratios Papageorgiou.

Narrator: Ioannis Seraskeris.

This documentary presents the life story of the Russian Orthodox saint and monk known as the Holy Confessor Gabriel (Goderdzi Urgebadze). Born in 1929 in Soviet Georgia, during the oppressive Stalinist era, to atheist parents in a regime that actively suppressed religion, young Goderdzi developed a remarkable sense of the divine. Despite the atheistic environment, he first heard about Christ when he witnessed two neighbours quarreling and one of them said to the other “You have crucified me like Christ.” Mystified by the mention of Christ and his crucifixion, Goderdzi enquired about this and a church warden advised him to read the Gospel. Under miraculous circumstances he got a New Testament from a stranger and within a few years learned it by heart. Against his mother’s discouragement, Goderdzi rebelled, running away to join a monastery and became a wanderer. Eventually, his mother followed suit, embracing monastic life. At the age of 26, he became a monk named Gabriel, inspired by the Greek saint associated with a miraculous icon of the Mother of God. In 1962, defying the atheist government, Gabriel single-handedly built a church in Tbilisi, salvaging sacred objects discarded during persecution. Openly defying authorities, he burned a portrait of Lenin and endured imprisonment, torture, and was declared a psychopath. Despite being banned from religious ceremonies, Gabriel practiced extreme austerities, living in a broken hen pen and going barefoot in winter. His mother joined him in the monastery, and he passed away in 1995. The documentary includes eyewitness accounts of his miracles, showcasing a life marked by unwavering faith and defiance against oppression.

The Reluctant Saint (1962) (Runtime: 105 minutes)

Director: Edward Dmytryk

Cast: Maximilian Schell, Ricardo Montalbán, Lea Padovani, Akim Tamiroff, Harold Goldblatt.

This film portrays the life of Joseph of Cupertino, a legendary saint of the Franciscan order and patron saint of aviators, astronauts, the mentally handicapped, and students. The movie blends humor and compassion in recounting Giuseppe’s life story. Born Giuseppe Desa in Cupertino during the 17th century, he faced challenges due to his simplicity and dull wit. Subject to practical jokes and cruelty, his mother tried various avenues for him, but it was his uncle, a Franciscan monk, who brought him to their friary. Giuseppe found solace tending to the animal farm there. Bishop Durso, impressed by Giuseppe’s humility, ordered him to train for priesthood. Despite struggles in his studies, Giuseppe miraculously passed his examinations, leading to his ordination. His life took a mystical turn when, during a quarrel, he displayed the power of levitation, marking the beginning of miracles. As word spread, Giuseppe’s levitation during Mass brought both popularity and trouble. Skepticism arose, and Father Raspi accused him of demonic possession. Despite an inconclusive investigation by the bishop, a dramatic climax during an exorcism revealed the true nature of Giuseppe’s miraculous abilities.

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“God sends the world saints when they are most needed, not men and women of ‘general holiness’, but specialized experts who fit into the pattern of the times and are capable of giving God’s tone to their century”, says Fr. Paul Aronica, SDB.

The Humble Beginning of a Great Missionary

In 1954, on a Christmas day in the peaceful Catholic hamlet of Rajakamangalam Thurai, along the sea coast of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, India, a luminous messenger of God’s love was born— Jesuadimai Emmanuel Arul Raj. His father, Mr. Jesu Adimai, the local school headmaster, and mother, Mrs. Cecilia, a wise homemaker, were known as Muthiah Vathiar and Muthamma. Blessed with nine children, the family upheld their Christian faith. After completing his schooling, Fr. Arul Raj was set to attend St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai, following his father’s wish. However, a turning point occurred when Fr. Immanuel OMI visited the village, inspiring young minds with stories of missionary life among the poor and neglected, sparking a passion for dedicated service.

Birth of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI)

Young Arul Raj, initially hesitant about priesthood, underwent a transformative shift inspired by the missionary zeal of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Accepting the call, he experienced a profound change from a “world-oriented life” to a “God-centered life.” A pivotal moment occurred at Pandravedu, deemed a forsaken area by both government officials and religious persons. Despite initial refusals, Fr. Arul Raj volunteered for this challenging mission. Witnessing the people’s misery sparked a second call to religious life. Recognizing the scarcity of committed personnel, he founded the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) on January 28, 1984, aiming to serve the poorest and oppressed. This venture stemmed from his personal mission experience and a deep conviction of God’s intervention, driving him to be a zealous missionary of the Father.

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He assured me he would only take a few minutes; just enough time to trim his toenails. That’s why I agreed.  We, the jail chaplains, had access to nail clippers, a luxury which the inmates did not possess. It was another service we provided! I had just finished a three-hour art session. The clock had struck 4:00 p.m. on that last Friday of October, and I needed to get out of jail as quickly as possible. I still needed to rush to the market for that evening’s dinner. I anticipated the crowds due to Halloween.

While David meticulously cut his toenails in my office, my mind went through the shopping list: onions, potatoes, tomatoes, fish—yes, it was Friday, no meat tonight. Amid my mental checklist, I heard David’s voice breaking the silence.

“Chaplain, I heard you are from Malta,” he said.

I confirmed his question with a nod.

“I have been in Malta,” he continued.

Encountering someone in an American jail who had visited my native Island was incredibly rare. By now, I had forgotten whether I intended to buy tilapia or bass. Now I was curious, so I shifted my chair closer to David.

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In this interview with Janina Gomes, we meet Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas SJ, a compassionate nurturer of young minds and hearts throughout his extensive tenure as an educator. His devotion to the Jesuit brotherhood serves as the cornerstone of his achievements.

1. Tell us something about your early life and formative years:

My family lived close to St. Xavier’s High School and so my early religious participation was at the School Chapel where I served as a regular altar-boy. My parents were devout Catholics and their faith was evident in the choices they made, especially that of my Dad seeking employment in England and later in Calcutta, in order to give me and my 4 brothers, a good standard of living and a good education, making the sacrifice of living alone away from us for some years. The 5 of us learnt good Catholic practices which laid a foundation for our adult faith.

2. As an alumnus of St. Xavier’s High School and St. Xavier’s College, the first seeds of your vocation must have been sown and nurtured in these institutions.

My vocation to be a priest and a Jesuit, took root in School and this got confirmed in College – the Jesuits we were dealing with provided the inspiration, because of the creative ways in which they helped us students to discover ourselves and grow.

3. What made you opt for a Ph.D. in Sociology and specialize in Development Studies?

The Jesuits asked me to consider teaching at St. Xavier’s as my mission and so I was keen on reaching a level of excellence in academics which the Doctorate symbolized. I worked at the Ph.D. while teaching at St. Xavier’s and my specialization in Development Studies was due my interest in the most vulnerable section of India’s population – the Adivasis, with whom the Jesuits work extensively.

4. Aside from teaching in St. Xavier’s College, you also were Principal for 12 years. What do you feel were your major contributions to the College?

In my student days, I had felt called, as a member of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, to pray for the gift of discernment and I feel this gift served me in good stead when I was chosen to head the College in 2003. It was a time of transition, as the State Government had just framed the statutes of Autonomy for Colleges in 2001 and St. Xavier’s was experiencing stagnation due to the curriculum of the University of Mumbai. After a process of discernment with faculty and alumni, St. Xavier’s became the first Autonomous College under the University of Mumbai in 2010 and implemented its own syllabi and assessment system to make sure our students reached the higher order academic skills of critical thinking and creativity. This set the College apart and only after 3 years of watching St. Xavier’s thrive under Autonomy, did other colleges follow suit. I also tried to introduce the College to social responsibility and involvement in the critical debates of the time, which, of course, is always a risk.

5. In 2006, you served in the Working Group for Undergraduate Education of the National Knowledge Commission and in 2011, on the Steering Committee of the Planning Commission for Higher and Technical Education in the 12^th Tell us something about your experiences working in these bodies.

St. Xavier’s College had such a high reputation in India, that the Government felt the need to involve the Principal of St. Xavier’s in deliberations about the future of Higher Education. My experience with the National Knowledge Commission was extremely satisfying, as the Working Group held many in-depth discussions in Delhi and the recommendations that were made were quite revolutionary. Unfortunately, not much of that was actually implemented due to political changes. The Steering Committee for Higher Education in the 12^th Plan was not as stimulating, though some suggestions we made were accepted in the Report. Both these groups gave me the privilege of participating in directing higher education in India at the highest level.

6. Under your leadership, St. Xavier’s became the first Autonomous College of the University of Mumbai in 2010 and was declared by the UGC as a College of Excellence in 2015. How did you achieve these?

Autonomy was achieved with the participation of all stakeholders: Jesuit management, Faculty, Alumni and Government officials – it was recognized that the affiliation system could not continue if quality education had to be achieved. Our Faculty worked hard at constructing a good academic system for St. Xavier’s – through visits to Autonomous Colleges in Chennai and Bangalore, and to Universities abroad sponsored by the College and through hours of discussion and deliberation. The amount of creative effort that went into the making of our Autonomous systems was acknowledged by the UGC and St. Xavier’s was in the first batch of colleges to be given this award of Excellence.

7. For the last seven years you were the Manager of St. Stanislaus High School and St. Stanislaus International School. How do these schools compare with the many private schools mushrooming? You were also Parish priest of St. Peter’s Church. In what way did you make it a thriving, relevant and leading parish in Mumbai?

After my retirement from St. Xavier’s, I was given a promotion – to be the Manager of the Kindergarten, the Primary and Secondary School! With the then Principal, Ms. Anna Correa and her faculty, I worked to establish the St. Stanislaus Certificate Program – SSCP, which combines the activity-based critical-thinking pedagogy for academics, with the other aspects of Jesuit education: social consciousness, personal development and spiritual growth. We were assisted by Prof. Ms. Vivien Amonkar, who had led the development of our academic systems at St. Xavier’s College under Autonomy. Last year we were even able to add a component of Coding (through Python) for all our 7^thand 8^thstandard students.

We also began, in 2016, an International section at St. Stanislaus, with the Cambridge curriculum. Mr. Montwyn D’Costa, who started as Dean of Academics and has just taken over as Principal, brought experience in the radically different methodology of teaching-learning that the IGCSE needs and this has given St. Stanislaus International a head-start in quality. The Jesuit ethos continues to form our students for all-round human development with a value-based foundation.

As Parish Priest of St. Peter’s, I led the team of Jesuits and Lay People of the Parish Pastoral Council in strengthening the characteristics of a Jesuit Parish which include: Ignatian Spirituality, Solidarity with the Poor, Partnership with people of other faiths and building bridges with Young People. This took much effort, it sometimes brewed controversy but led to many good initiatives. The Free Dinner Programme for the last 6 years for about 80 people in the Bandra area, the inter-religious celebration of festivals including the Dandiya and the Eid Milan, the Ignatian discourses and guided Retreats in daily life and the enlivening of the Youth group in the Parish – all led to much activity. An addition was the Care for Creation group which has been in the forefront of building awareness about what parishioners can do for the ecology.

8. You were also part of a committee to prepare a Handbook for Minority Education in Maharashtra, which was released in August 2023. Was this a church initiative?

In order to solve a serious issue facing our School, through the initiative of a Parishioner, I was granted a meeting with the then Minister for School Education, who not only solved our problem with a mere phone call but also told me she would make me a part of the next education committee she formed (I had complained that no Catholic educationist was a part of any committee formed by her Government!)  I spent many hours on this Committee, travelling to Pune and working at a Handbook. This is a compilation of the rights of the Minorities and the Government Rules and Regulations that ensure them, keeping in mind the Constitutional guarantees and the rulings of the Judiciary. Having such a handbook is an advantage, as our Schools can quote from a Government issued Handbook itself, to claim their rights.

9. You did a lot for Stan Swamy in his last days. How did this accompaniment of Stan Swamy impact you?

I was privileged to accompany Fr. Stan for the month he was in Holy Family Hospital and beside the help I could afford him, the conversations we had and his peaceful demeanor impacted me deeply. Here was a man of commitment and courage and his words, “I am not a silent spectator,” have resounded throughout the world. Many others have also broken their silence!

10. You now do administrative work as the Province Development Director of the Jesuits. Tell us something about this.

I am now entrusted with Fund Raising for the Jesuits in the Bombay Province (across Maharashtra) – which means helping to develop good projects and applying for the Corporate Social Responsibility Funds of Companies. You, dear readers, can put me in contact with such CSR funding through companies you are associated with. The Jesuits do good human development among Dalits and Adivasis and other poor and the money will be put to good use! Contact me at pdobomsj@gmail.com

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Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas SJ speaks

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Education remains one of the most important ministries of the Church in India.  However, there is a lack of clarity regarding the line of authority and role and responsibilities of the different officials responsible for the running of the institution, be it school or college. Here I attempt to clarify these. However, I attempt to present a role clarity from a Jesuit point-of-view. Readers may adapt it according to their specific situation and practices.

The Governing Body of the registered society, under whose authority the school functions, is the top-most legal body responsible for the policies, decision-making and running of the institution. Thus, as the ex-officio President of the Governing Body, the Provincial/Bishop remains the head. The President exercises his/her authority in line with the Memorandum and Bye-laws of the registered society. However, he/she exercises this authority through the local Superior, who in some cases, may be the ex-officio Vice-President of the registered society, where that’s the only institution run by the society.

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Fr Alex G SJ

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As an educator, I always knew that my role extends far beyond the academic realm. I found myself woven into the lives of my students, sharing in their joys, triumphs, and, at times, their deepest sorrows. One such poignant tale etched in my memory comes from Ruchika, a former student who reached out to me in a moment of profound despair.

I had known Ruchika’s husband even as a young boy for he too had been my student. The connection they shared was palpable, evident in the simple gestures that unfolded during their school days. Fast forward to the present, and Ruchika found herself grappling with an unexpected and heart-wrenching loss.

All of a sudden, I received an email from Ruchika. As I looked at her facebook photo, I realized she was looking miserable. Immediately I sorted out the phone number and called her up, only to hear her sobbing endlessly.

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Sr Mariella CTC

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The Tamil Nadu Conference of Religious in India (TNCRI) is an association of 75 congregations, encompassing 9 brothers’ congregations, 19 fathers’ congregations, and 47 sisters’ congregations, with a current count of 119 major superiors. Dedicated to fostering collaboration among religious orders in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, especially during challenging times, TNCRI prioritizes the pastoral vision and specific needs of the Church in the region. Acting as a crucial link between local units and the National Conference of Religious in India (CRI), TNCRI implements regional-level decisions and provides essential services to local units. This report outlines the main activities and accomplishments of TNCRI during the past two years.

Constitutional Rights Education:

• Constitutional Rights Education (CRE) is a crucial initiative undertaken by the TNCRI. Rev. Bro. M. Velankanni SHJ, the former President, emphasized the enduring relevance of the Constitution, drawing on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s insights into values such as equality, fraternity, and democracy. He stressed that safeguarding these principles is a collective responsibility that requires constant vigilance.

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SR SHEEBA THOMAS MSI

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We need more feet washing Jesus’ (Jn:13.5) than hand washing Pontius Pilates (Mt:27.24).

It was in the year 2013 that we received the first Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium by Pope Francis. Through this exhortation the Holy Father encouraged us to embark upon a new way of life marked by the joy that is born out of an encounter with the Jesus of the Gospel. And he assures us that with Christ, joy is constantly born anew and affirms that a joy which is shared is a joy ever new. 

Since then for the last ten years all the Apostolic Exhortations and Encyclicals of Pope Francis have been focusing on the joys, values and virtues of a Gospel way of life centered on Jesus the merciful Saviour, inviting us all to thank and praise God, and to learn from Jesus, to cultivate a loving and faithful, compassionate and caring heart that respects nature and all its creatures in our common home. The pope encourages us to be alive and active, giving thanks and praise to God and praying and forgiving like Jesus, so that we may know how to suffer with those who suffer, to rejoice with those who rejoice and be humble and Joyful like Jesus. Just a perusal glance at these documents makes it obvious that, all that is enshrined in them are the mind of Christ and the mind of the Church and are helpful in knowing God’s Will and doing it well.

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Fr. Babu Jose Pamplany OFM

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