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Scheduled for October 2023, the Synod on Synodality is perhaps the most closely watched event in the life of the Church, comparable in significance to the Second Vatican Council. The idea of ‘synodality’ has been in circulation for over two years now. Yet many religious are still asking what it really means and more essentially what it means for them.

With the global convocation of this synod on synodality, Pope Francis set in motion an unparalleled consultative process on change, unlike anything the world has witnessed before. The most recent instance the Church said it was going to make changes was back in 1965 at the Second Vatican Council. The puzzling question is why no meaningful changes occurred then despite the pressing need for them.

Sr. Joan Chittister OSB believes that the two thousand plus bishops around the world who attended the Second Vatican Council “voted yes for all of its documents, but once back on home soil, many simply ignored them.” This is where the present synod on synodality sets itself apart. This time, through the insight of Pope Francis, there was a clear intent to involve the entire Church and laity themselves in the process of shaping the agenda even before the synod was convened.

While Synods of bishops have been around for over fifty years, it is Pope Francis who has made them into focal points of his more co-creative approach of leadership, thus transforming them from being ceremonial ‘rubber stamp’ gatherings. Under his leadership, notable synods have been convened on various significant themes, including family matters (in 2014 and 2015), youth engagement (in 2018), and the encompassing challenges of the pan-Amazon region (in 2019).

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Br. Sunil Britto CFC

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When we think of financial administration of a registered society, we don’t mean just administering finance; rather it is much wider than the finance; it includes the organizational structure, officials and their roles, Governing Body, financial policy, monitoring, audit, reporting, record keeping, etc. Here is an attempt to understand the role of each of these in financial administration.

1. Organizational set-up: We run all our institutions and activities under the umbrella of a registered society. This is to say that all our institutions and activities are run as units of the registered society. Thus, the registered society is the owner of all these institutions and activities and that one income tax return is filed consolidating the accounts of all units. The return is filed in the name of the registered society, using the society’s PAN. If so, the income and expenditure of all units is the income and expenditure of the society and the society may use the income of all its units for any of its units, but in line with its objectives. Till last year, we were free to give donations to any registered society with similar objectives and with 12A within the Province or Diocese and the entire amount donated could be taken as application of income for the income tax purpose and treated tax exempt. But no more. From April 2023, only 85% of the donated amount could be taken as application of income, making the balance 15% as accumulation under section 11(2) or as taxable income. As a way out of this problem, we can re-organize our organizational set-up of each society. We can regroup our institutions and activities under each society in such a way that each society has financially well to-do and dependent institutions too, so that we can claim 100% utilization (application of income) for the entire amount spent on any unit within the society’s structure. Besides, where possible, we can take the purchase bills of the revenue expenditure directly in the name of the society which wants to support its sister organizations under another registered society.

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Fr Alex G SJ

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It was time for the change of provincial in a province. There were three prominent persons who could occupy the post. One was the vice-provincial and known to be a disciplinarian. The other was very intelligent, very competent in his field, and known for bulldozing and getting his way. The third had many academic qualifications, was good at socializing, and was known for always putting his interests first. Finally, the province opted for a fourth person saying, “Let us have as our provincial someone who is human.” The fourth person had what we would today call emotional intelligence. Usually it is assumed that to be a successful leader it is enough to be intelligent, competent, determined and have a vision. While these are needed, they are not sufficient.
We have looked at different types of leadership in the past months. We have also described the main qualities that characterize each of those leadership styles. In this article we shall describe some qualities that all leaders should strive for, even though one’s particular style may be that of a servant, shepherd, etc. These are qualities that are important for all leaders. These are based on the research of Daniel Goleman and his collaborators.

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Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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“Your body holds great wisdom. Trust in it. Learn from it. Watch your life transform and be healthy.” (Bella Bleue)

“It is health that is the real wealth, and not pieces of gold and silver.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

In the previous article, we presented a bird’s-eye view of the six-dimensional paradigm of wholeness, namely, the physical, intellectual, emotional, moral, social, and spiritual dimensions. This brief and cursory description informed us that a person’s wholeness depends on their commensurate development in all these six dimensions. We also noted that those who fail to develop suitably in all these six dimensions could become dysfunctional in their day-to-day life and, as a consequence, their journey towards wholeness could either slow down or be halted completely. Therefore, our immediate task now is to explore the ways and means to arrive at wholeness while maturing in each of these individual dimensions.

From here on, we shall embark on an interesting and significant journey; an elaborate and practical journey of self-awareness and personal development. In this issue, we shall focus on the physical dimension of wholeness.

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Fr. Dr. Joseph Jeyaraj, SDB

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Have you heard of Franz Jägerstätter?

Probably not. Many have not heard of this exceptional man even in his own native country.

Who was he? Why is his life a challenge for us?

On March 1, 1943, this young Austrian farmer bid farewell to his wife and children and went to the town nearby. He knew that he would never see his loved ones again. He reported at the military centre where he had been ordered to appear.

Austria had been annexed by Nazi Germany in 1939. All able-bodied Austrians were ordered to join the Nazi army. Jägerstätter was aware of the tremendous atrocities committed by Nazi Germany, and refused to serve in their army. For this he was arrested and thrown into jail. He was then tried by a military court and condemned to death as an “enemy of the state.” On August 9, 1943, he was beheaded. He was thirty-six years old.

Franz had been known as a rough and wild youngster, but later became convinced of his Catholic faith and lived an honest and committed life. Unlike most of his fellow citizens, he expressed his refusal to accept the Nazi rule and stated that he would not serve in Hitler’s army. Many friends and authorities—including priests and his bishop—tried to dissuade him, telling him of the danger in his stand and his need to care for his wife and three daughters. But Jägerstätter, aware of the evil the Nazi regime was doing, stated his rejection of their rule. He was ready to pay the highest price for his convictions.

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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Violence is not just a crime against individuals; it is a direct assault on the collective soul of humanity.  The 2023 Annual Report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in India sheds light on a deteriorating situation that threatens the very essence of the nation’s societal fabric.   The alarming findings, from various reports, with a particular focus on the Manipur state, shed light on the following crucial points:

Promotion of Hindu Majoritarian Ideology: The reports unearth a disturbing trend wherein significant factions and agencies appear to be propagating a Hindu majoritarian ideology. This endorsement, in turn, has given rise to a series of discriminatory and, at times, violent actions against religious minorities, most notably the Muslim, Christian, and Adivasis communities. Such actions infringe upon the principles of religious freedom and tolerance enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

Erosion of Minority Rights: Recent years have witnessed an unsettling decline in religious freedom, characterized by the endorsement and enforcement of discriminatory laws and practices. This erosion of minority rights has disproportionately affected marginalized communities, resulting in increased vulnerability and marginalization. The disconcerting release of Bilkis Bano rape convicts exemplifies the discriminatory stance even in cases of violence against women, further exacerbating concerns about the state of justice and human rights in the nation.

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Sr Lini Sheeja MSC

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Journeys intrigue me. When I was living in Kolkata, because of work I had to travel quite a bit. I crossed India from Cooch Behar and Assam up north to the southernmost tip of Tamil Nadu—Kanyakumari. From Mumbai to Delhi to Chhattisgarh to Odisha, Andhra, Karnataka and Kerala. During train or bus journeys I just love looking around capturing details, colours, people’s faces, idiosyncrasies, the way people relate to each other: from the boisterous fun-and-food loving Bengalis to the quieter and a little more ordered Malayalis (if I may generalise). After a trip, I was never the same: for one thing I used to be dead tired. But there is something deeper than just tiredness and grime; I realised that there was a shift in me, I can say that I was richer just for the fact that I undertook the journey. I remember when in 1988 as a twenty-two-year-old I had stepped for the first time, out of the Air India flight in Kolkata, I felt as if I was ready to go back to Malta from where I had started. The fact that I had succeeded in arriving in faraway India was enough for me.

There are some journeys we only take once in our life. They are few but unforgotten. Nobody can take such journeys for us. They are those journeys which will remain etched in our hearts. For Sri Aurobindo the change came after he stepped out of Alipore Presidency Jail. He knew he was not the same Aurobindo Ghose anymore: there was a shift from a nationalist to a spiritual visionary. For the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, it was the journey he undertook from France to Belgium — a journey on foot for three days and three nights in the beginning of March, harsh winter in Europe. He was only 27 and after that journey he knew he was a painter. For Archbishop Oscar Romero it was the road trip that led to a heart-wrenching discovery: his friend, Jesuit priest Rutilio Grande, murdered alongside an elderly layman and a young boy. This tragic encounter shattered Romero’s timidity, propelling him to break his silence and demand a thorough investigation from the oppressive military regime.

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Br Carmel Duca MC

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Those who read this column regularly would know that I have in the past held up Little Brothers as shining candles in this dark, dreary world. The Little Brothers of Jesus are Catholic religious who choose to live – like Charles de Foucauld and his Master, Jesus of Nazareth – humble and hidden but heroic lives.

They come up with an occasional newsletter that contains extracts from the letters written by the Little Brothers, sharing experiences and views. Let me share with you what a Little Brother says in their latest newsletter.

A Brother, called simply Herve’, talks of the time he was sent to Cameroon, when he was 36 years old. Wherever they are sent the Brothers live with ordinary poor people. They have to work to earn a livelihood. Herve’ found a job in a training centre for farmers. The training centre trained young Christian farmers from the surrounding villages for two years. Most of the rural youth had not gone beyond primary school. This is why in Cameroon to call someone a villager was considered an insult. The centre gave them theoretical as well as practical training in agriculture, market gardening, and animal husbandry. It helped those youth gain dignity and respect.

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Fr. M.A. Joe Antony, SJ

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In the light of evolving financial regulations and emerging challenges related to the management of material assets within religious institutions, priests and members of religious orders are becoming increasingly hesitant to assume the role of Treasurer, Procurator, or Financial Administrator for a Province or an entire Congregation. Given this context, is it permissible to appoint a layperson to fulfill these responsibilities?

Canon 636 of CIC explicitly throws light into the appointment of Treasurer (Procurator/ Financial Administrator) in the Congregation in the following words: “In each institute and likewise in each province which is governed by a major superior, there is to be a Finance officer, distinct from the major superior and constituted according to the norm of proper law, who is to manage the administration of goods under the direction of the respective superior. Insofar as possible, a Finance officer distinct from the local superior is to be designated even in local communities. §2. At the time and in the manner established by proper law, Finance officers and other administrators are to render an account of their administration to the competent authority”. Canon 516 of CCEO provides the same norm concerning the appointment as follows “§1. There shall be finance officers in orders and congregations for the administration of temporal goods; a general finance officer who administers the goods of the entire order or congregation; a provincial finance officer for the province, a local finance officer for each single house; all of whom shall discharge their duties under the authority of the superior… §3. If the statutes are silent on the manner of designating finance officers, they shall be appointed by the major superior with the consent of the council”. Canons 447 & 558 of CCEO give the similar norms for Monastery and Societies of Apostolic life.

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During his conversation with Ms. Janina Gomes, Fr. Sebastian Michael, SVD shares how Phule’s visionary movement, focused on equality, fraternity, and justice, deeply resonated with him. Being a Christian, he holds dear the belief that we are all created in the image and likeness of God. This conviction fuels his unwavering commitment to truth-seeking and drives his wholehearted dedication to fostering unity in our divided society. Inspired by his own principles, Fr. Michael actively works to bridge gaps and connect different segments of our fractured community.

Tell us something about your early years and how you felt called to serve the Lord as a priest.

I was born in a very good Catholic family. My father was a very devoted person who took me to Church every morning for Holy Mass. The Catholic village background also played an important role in my priestly vocation.

What attracted you to the SVD congregation?

With the encouragement from my family, after my school education I applied to two seminaries; one was to become a diocesan priest and the other was to SVD seminary. The first interview call came from the SVD seminary. Thus, I can say, by Providence I became an SVD.

You have had a brilliant academic career. How did this influence you in your priestly duties?

After completing my Ph.D. in Anthropology/Sociology I was appointed to the Institute of Indian Culture: A Post-Graduate Research Centre in Society, Culture and Religion. This research centre is run by the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). I had a golden opportunity to be with an Internationally reputed anthropologist Rev. Fr. Dr. Stephen Fuchs SVD. He himself was a student of Prof. Fr. Wilhelm Schmidt SVD, the founder of Cultural Historical School of Anthropology, Vienna University. The holy and dedicated life of Dr. Stephen Fuchs SVD influenced me to be dedicated academically as well to be dedicated as a Catholic priest in the Society of the Divine Word. I never compromised either. I am trying my best to be true to both the vocations. I am enjoying my priesthood as well as my scholarly academic life. I work at both the secular as well as Church institutions. I was professor of cultural anthropology at the University of Mumbai and I am also the Secretary to the Bombay Archdiocesan Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue. I am a consultant to the Pontifical Council for Culture and Inter-Religious Dialogue at the Vatican as well.

You are presently Director of the Institute of Indian Culture , was a Director of Ishwani Kendra, a Missiological Research Institute, Professor of Cultural Anthropology in Mumbai University and now Emeritus Professor and Adjunct Faculty of Cultural Anthropology at the University of Mumbai. You have enriched the church with your many postings. Tell us more about your research and teaching experiences.

As an anthropologist and an academician, I do my research with full dedication without compromising my Christian faith. I present all the theoretical positions of different schools of thought and I also critique them with the view that the students/readers must make up their own mind to evaluate the theories to find a way for themselves. I am of the view that truth can never be put aside; and this truth will be common for all disciplines. Hence, from whichever way we may approach a reality, either from theology, psychology, sociology, anthropology or history, we will arrive at the truth, if not fully but leading to it. From my forty years of research, I am convinced the truth of Christianity founded on the historical events of Jesus’ life, his death and resurrection.  Therefore, I try to reach the truth of Christianity from my anthropological/sociological disciplines. In the post-modern world, there is so much relativistic thinking, my search for truth leads me to understand that Jesus’ Resurrection is a historical event which is not a myth, nor a fiction, nor an imagination. So, when I am at the secular academic institutions, I want to be the best, second to none, in my anthropological research and teaching. When I am at the Christian institutions, I bring my research insights to animate and convince the truth of Christianity in my lectures, workshops and publications. I do not find any conflict in this.

You have written several books and one a best seller of Sage Publications on Dalits in Modern India, which has been translated into several languages. Tell us more about this book.

The origin of this book is closely related to the 1992 December riots in Mumbai. If we recall, on December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid was destroyed by Hindu nationalists. There was a violent communal riot in Mumbai and in many parts of India. Thousands of people died during this riot.  One of the often-repeated slogans was “Bahale Kasayi bath me Isyahi” i.e. “First, the Muslims, after the Christians.”  Being a student of sociology/anthropology, I felt this cannot happen in India. By all means we need to halt this tendency. From my academic expertise on “Social Movements” I understood that the majority of Indias are Sudras, Dalits and tribals. I was very much inspired by Mahatma  Jyotirao Govindrao Phule (11 April 1827 – 28 November 1890), who was the Father of Indian Social Revolution and founder of the “Satya shodak Samaj” (Society of Truth Seekers) in 1873. His vision of India was to build modern India on the basis of equality, fraternity and social justice. For this, he gave a call to unite the Sudras, Dalits, Tribals and other marginalized communities. He pointed out that they are the majority of India. One of the calculations states that Brahmins of India are about 6%; other upper castes (Kshatriya & Vaisya) about 14% ; Sudras are about 52 %; Dalits are about 16% and tribals are about 8%. If the oppressed sections of India unite together we can build a just society in India. This vision of Jyotirao Phule inspired Ambedkar and he said I have come to fulfill the vision of Jyotirao Phule.

The book you are mentioning is based on this vision of Jyotirao Phule to build a just and humane society in India. This idea is very dear to my heart because as a Christian I believe that we are created in the image and likeness of God. We have the God given dignity which cannot be taken away by anybody or by anything else like sickness, height, colour or wealth. So, our mission is to destroy caste social order and build a just and humane society which our present Constitution assures. My book on “Dalits in Modern India: Vision and Values” envisages this. The book became the best seller of Sage publication in 2000 and was translated in several languages.

Among the many books you have written you published the book ‘Dalits Encounter with Christianity ( 2010). What is the scope of this work and share with us some of your insights on the subject.

As I said earlier, the foundation of Christianity is that God created human beings in His own image and likeness. Therefore, every human being has dignity, worth and value. Due to human sin, this dignity is tarnished and Jesus’ Incarnation is to restore this lost dignity. In the Hindu social system, there is a religious sanction for the caste discrimination and the Dalits are the worst affected persons whose dignity, worth and value are undermined. In this context, the Christian vision of dignity of every person is very important for the transformation of the Dalits. That is why many Dalits joined Christianity. Unfortunately, Christians themselves are affected by the caste system in India. This is a scandal. But there is no Christian scriptural sanction for this discrimination. Therefore, Christianity has the potential to bring dignity and worth to the Dalits of India.

You are presently Secretary of the Bombay Archdiocesan Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue. What initiatives have you taken recently to promote dialogue and religious harmony?

There are several activities going on in the Archdiocese of Bombay to promote Inter-Religious dialogue and peace building. I may state a few of them here:

1. There are many parishes in Mumbai that have a cell to promote inter-religious dialogue. They map the religious places like temple, mosque, gurudwara etc. in the territory of their parishes. They also have the contact persons of these places and their mobile numbers for any important contacts. These religious leaders are invited for common celebrations of the national and religious festivals.
2. The Archdiocesan Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue contacts an annual training programme known as “BIRD” (Basics in Inter-Religious Dialogue) for the laity from the parishes and schools. They are given basic knowledge about different religions and prepare them for inter-religious dialogue in their respective parishes and schools.
3. We also publish a Newsletter known as “Sammelan: Building Bridges” to animate our parishes and Schools to engage in dialogue.
4. On every Mission Sunday we have an “Alumnae Day” for our past and present BIRD candidates to animate them in their inter-religious activities.
5. We have an Annual All Religions Christmas Celebration” when the Cardinal His Eminence Oswald Gracious invites the most influential religious leaders of Mumbai. That is a time for him to interact with different religious leaders promoting peace and harmony.

You are also Consultor for the Pontifical Council for Culture and Inter-Religious Dialogue. What areas are you covering and how can we promote this dialogue?

I participate in the Plenary Meetings promoting peace and harmony.

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Fr Sebastian Michael SVD

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