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Unveiling The Significance Of A New Liturgical Season

In a shocking report released on June 5th this year, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) revealed the alarming increase in extreme weather events during the first four months of 2023 in India. Sunita Narain, the director of CSE, expressing shock stated “Scary statistics foretell how our natural world is transforming because of climate change. In 2023, in the first four months, 70 per cent of the days have already seen extreme weather events.”
Such alarming statistics reflect the urgency of addressing the Climate crisis. Since June 2015, the Catholic Church has been actively engaged in ecological discussions and action, with religious women and men at the forefront of this movement. Among the various new changes initiated by Pope Francis, one notable change is the introduction of a new liturgical season—the Season of Creation. New times call for a new liturgical season!
Spanning 34 days, this season calls upon the planet’s 2.2 billion Christians and all individuals of good will to pray for and care for God’s creation. It commences on September 1st, observed as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and concludes on October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology.

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Br Sunil Britto CFC

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Investment is a very important part of financial management. It is only common sense that whatever extra funds (other than what is needed for the short-term) we have are kept invested. Investment is done in order to earn interest, an additional income to support our needs. It is also meant to beat inflation.

Goal oriented investments: Any investment is done for a specific goal.  A financial goal is a very important and necessary element of investment. We may have many financial goals such as buying a school bus for Rs 20 lakhs, setting up a computer lab costing Rs 10 lakhs, putting up a new block for Rs 6 crores, setting up a poor students’ scholarship fund of Rs 5 lakhs, etc.

Kinds of Investment: Investment can be of different types such as fixed deposit (FD), bonds, mutual funds, shares, etc. Each category is meant for a specific purpose. We know what a fixed deposit is. It is an assurance given by a bank or company which accepts a fixed amount from an investor for a fixed duration of 1 year or 3 years or 5 years with a promise to pay a fixed percentage of interest. A bond is an assurance given by the issuing party, usually the government, which borrows money from its lenders, the public, for a duration of 10 years or 15 years to pay a fixed percentage of interest. A mutual fund is a fund managed by a company which pools together the money of the investors, invests the same in specified stocks of the stock market and earns profit on its investments and distributes the same to the investors proportionately. Here, neither the duration of investment nor the percentage of income (return) is fixed. However, we need to remember the exit load (penalty paid if exited before the expiry of the load period) levied by funds for various categories of funds. Return on the mutual funds depends on the performance of the specific stocks in the stock market. Unlike investment in a mutual fund, investment in stocks is a direct investment in the stock market where an investor invests his/her money directly in a stock (buys shares of a stock with the price per share of the stock at that particular moment) and duration of his/her choice (sells the shares bought earlier at a current price of the stock per share). The difference between the purchase price and sale price of the shares of the stock is calculated as the gain or loss for the investor.

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Fr Alex G SJ

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Showing us a medium-sized multi-purpose hall that was getting completed Fr. Eligio Caprioglio, the rector of a Salesian institution at Chieri, a small town in northern Italy told us: “Nine years ago I was sent here to close down this institution. But I have not succeeded! I started with a Novena to Mary Help of Christians and with a prayer to the holy souls in purgatory. The youth centre which used to have about thirty or forty members now has 300 young people frequenting it. Our chapel, which is an official Mass centre of the parish, used to have ten or fifteen people on Sundays. Last Sunday we had First communion of fifty children with over 1200 people attending the mass. The school which was on the decline saw an increase of 50% in the following year and now has almost double the number of students.” Surprised by what he was able to achieve, I asked him privately how he had managed to transform the place. He replied, “Prayer. You need to trust God.” “But how is it that you managed to get more students to seek admission in the school?” I asked. He said, “I had to take some tough steps. I changed the principal and four teachers. I appointed new teachers. I am qualified to be a principal and so I acted as the principal for the first few years. We brought up the quality.“ And he continued, “we might take some steps, but we need to pray so that the steps we take will be the right ones.” He told me also that he has more than a hundred people from all walks of life offering voluntary service for the various activities being conducted there.
“The beginning and the end of all Christian leadership is to give your life for others.”
– Henri J.M. Nouwen

Fr. Eligio bubbled with enthusiasm which was quite contagious. And as we walked around, I saw him bending down to smile at a little child, stop to say hello to a group of children at play, sit down by the side of an old lady for a few minutes to ask her how she was. And winking mischievously he confided, “You know, before I came here the provincial had sent me to another institution to close it down. I did not succeed to close down that either. It is flourishing now!” And as we sat down for lunch, Fr. Eligio was there weaving his way between the tables serving us. Later he was the driver of the mini-bus that took us to the next place.

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Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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Ignatius of Loyola in his Autobiography does not call himself a priest, master, leader, founder etc. Instead he calls himself a pilgrim. It is said that the word pilgrim appears seventy seven (77) times in the Autobiography of St Ignatius. He was a pilgrim because – he was in search of the Divine. He was on a pilgrimage from “ego” to Christ (or the Divine). In doing so he travelled from his mind to the heart. No doubt it was a long journey that he took up in order to reach from the self to the other. They say the longest distance in the world is – from one’s mind to one’s heart! His Autobiography is called Testament and Testimony. It is the Testament because it is the proclamation/expression of faith and it is the Testimony because it is the witness or proof of his faith journey. Now this pilgrim saint leaves behind a precious gift called Daily Examen of Consciousness for our spiritual growth. The pilgrim saint by offering this precious gift to us invites each one of us to be pilgrims in the world of today.
Certainly, it is in my prayer that God gradually reveals Himself to me and the mystery of His Plan for all of reality in Christ enabling me to know and love as the divine persons know and love. It is in prayer that I experience His invitation and challenges to me personally. “You are mine; I have called you by name.” Is.43:1. This is why the examen is prayer and is related to my daily, personal and contemplative prayer. My prayer would be empty if I did not order my life or remove the obstacles or impediments to respond to Him. It is the daily examen that helps me to feel and recognize those interior invitations/movements of the Lord that guide and deepen this ordering/relationship. To be prayerful means to find God in all things not just in the time of formal prayer – even after the formal prayer.

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Fr Richard Mascarenhas SJ

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I was seventeen years old. In a few months I would go to the Salesian novitiate. I told my elder brother—an upright and well-educated man—something negative about a relative. His reply: “Joe, you are just repeating something negative you heard from someone. I don’t believe in giving advice, but I want to tell you this, now that you are on the threshold of adulthood. Think for yourself. Don’t just repeat what you hear.”

An excellent tip. I never heard him talk ill of anyone. It was good he confronted me. I should learn to think for myself and develop my own convictions, rather than repeat what I hear, especially if it is something negative.

No one is perfect.

We all need confrontation—to be challenged lovingly and firmly to be at our best, rather than do evil or stay mediocre.

Confrontation is not the act of humiliating someone or insulting a person. A superior or formator (in our religious circles) has no right to scream and shout at younger members or embarrass them. This sadly happens at times, but it is wrong. Worse still, cruelty and partiality are at times justified in the name of correction and helping the younger members.

The basic norm of morality is to treat others as we want to be treated. None of us likes to be treated unfairly or shouted at or insulted. So, we know how others want to be treated.

One day, when I was teaching in the major seminary, a seminarian told me, “You superiors write reports about us and send them to our bishops. Instead of that, when you see me making a mistake, why don’t you call me privately and correct me?”

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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In 2009, I was sent to Stella Maris College in Chennai to pursue my Bachelors in Social Work.  As our Provincialate was in Bangalore, I had to go for a meeting there.  I was returning to Chennai after the meeting, the same evening. As was the custom some of our MSC sisters accompanied each other to the railway station or bus stand when traveling to other cities. However, on this particular occasion, I was leaving alone.  As my bus was at 10:00 PM, I planned to leave the house at 8:30 PM. When my fellow sisters and the Provincial came to bid me farewell, someone questioned why no one was accompanying me. To my surprise, our then Provincial, Sr. Sophy MSC, responded promptly, “She is a Little Lioness; she will manage by herself as she is a courageous sister.” These words have always motivated me. Before writing this article, I decided to look up the meaning of “Little Lioness” on Google.  It described a “humanitarian and generous individual” who endeavors to make the world a better place and possesses the admirable trait of self-sacrifice. I am profoundly grateful to Sr. Sophy for recognizing my potential and placing her faith in me as a young sister. It is through God’s grace and the belief and trust shown by my superiors that I have become the person I am today. Trusting, respecting, and granting women their space is crucial; it empowers them to achieve wonders.

Women are indeed wonder makers. However, Mother Earth, though often referred to with maternal connotations, has sadly become the fourth most dangerous place in the world for women to live in. As a social worker, I have listened to stories of numerous women who face immense challenges and hardships. Shanu, grew up in difficult circumstances with an abusive and alcoholic father and a silent mother. Her early life was marred by fear and loneliness. Despite the distressing environment, she eventually had to marry Anjan to fulfill her mother’s wish. Tragically, Shanu’s marriage became another source of pain as her husband was already in love with someone else, leaving her feeling unwanted and insecure.

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Sr Lini Sheeja MSC

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Welcome to LALA Land! Welcome to Los Angeles! Welcome to the land of Hollywood. According to the US News attractions guide from this year, “Los Angeles has an exhaustive array of fun things to do, from the family-friendly La Brea Tar Pits and the must-visit Natural History Museum to a behind-the-scenes studio tour at Universal Studios or Warner Bros. Out-of-towners love the palm-lined streets, star sightings and eclectic vibe. If you’re a film buff, vintage Hollywood is a must-see. Some classic attractions include the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, neon-lit Hollywood Boulevard and Paramount Pictures Studios – the only television and film studio left in Hollywood. For a taste of stardom, head to Beverly Hills to window-shop along pedestrian-friendly Rodeo Drive or cruise the Sunset Strip in search of rock ‘n’ roll. There is also a plethora of shorelines to choose from, including Venice Beach, Zuma Beach and Santa Monica Beach. Art lovers will want to see a show at the state-of-the-art, Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall; admire art from the masters, as well as up-and-coming artists, at the Getty Center; or swing by one-of-a-kind Los Angeles County Museum of Art to admire its collection.”
And it’s all true, just Google the words Los Angeles+tourist+guide and you will get 94,800,000 results in 0.56 seconds. But then Google the words Los Angeles+homelessness and you will get 173,000,000 results in 0.41 seconds. Los Angeles+jail 199,000,000 in 0.40 seconds. Los Angeles+mental health 279,000,000 in 0.53 seconds. Los Angeles+drugs 456,000,000 in 0.42 seconds. Sorry to deceive you, but I do not like this LA of jails, drugs and mentally sick people! It is Ok to have them in Kolkata or Kibera—the biggest slum in Nairobi. But here in Los Angeles? No.

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Br Carmel Duca MC

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“Your brain is pounding and every part of your body aches. You want to rise from the cold concrete sidewalk, but your attempts induce vertigo and you sink back to the ground. Crowds of people stream past you… but most stare straight ahead when they approach you, some even move away, afraid that something might happen if they get too close. Meanwhile the acid in your stomach causes you to groan. It has no food to break down. You never eat regular meals. Then an older man stops and asks your name. He has short, graying hair and kind, tired eyes. His name is Claude Paradis. Claude is a Catholic priest in the archdiocese of Montreal, Canada”.

This is how Peter Rajchert begins his article on this extraordinary Canadian priest in Messenger of St. Anthony (September 2022).

Fr. Claude understands homelessness – all the sufferings and indignities people who live on the streets face, because he has experienced them all.

Born and brought up in the Gaspé region of Canada, he worked in Cowansville as a nurse. Wanting to experience life in a big city, he came to Montreal as a young man. Unable to find a job for months, he was forced to live on the street. “Isolation and despair took hold of me,” he says. He became an alcoholic and a drug addict. In a city of more than a million people, Claude felt he was all alone and that he did not belong. He decided to commit suicide and attempted to end his life three times.

Doctors saved his life and decided to send him to a psychiatric institution. But after he was discharged, he roamed the streets of Montreal, as he had nowhere to go. One night he saw the glowing lights and the open doors of an old chapel, called Notre Dame de Lourdes (Our Lady of Lourdes). An encounter happened that night in the chapel. Claude entered and knelt down and asked God to give him a purpose to live or just end his life.

Our God is a God of life, isn’t he? So God gave him a purpose to live – to become a priest and serve his people. Claude joined the seminary and, after several years of priestly formation, was ordained a priest in 1997. After his ordination he could have asked to serve in a parish in the vast archdiocese of Montreal. But he did not. He joined Fr Emmett Johns, the founder of ‘Dans la Rue’ – a programme to reach out to homeless youth and give them a shelter.

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Fr. M.A. Joe Antony, SJ

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I am Sister Zaina, a young religious. In my classes on the vow of poverty, I learned that the vow of poverty implies being “poor in reality and in spirit”. Can you explain the canonical nuances of the vow?

The vow of poverty, as taken by religious men and women, often raises questions among people who observe them living in well-established communities, running schools, hospitals, and having access to basic necessities. To truly grasp the canonical implications of this vow, we can turn to Canon 600 of the Code of Canon Law (CIC). “The evangelical counsel of poverty in imitation of Christ who, although he was rich, was made poor for us, entails, besides a life which is poor in fact and in spirit and is to be led productively in moderation and foreign to earthly riches, a dependence and limitation in the use and disposition of goods according to the norm of the proper law of each institute”.

The vow of poverty is a voluntary choice made by every religious person, inspired by their desire to closely follow the example of Jesus, who embraced a life of simplicity and poverty. In the context of consecrated life, this canonical commitment entails two aspects: (i) living in both material and spiritual poverty, and (ii) accepting dependence and limitations in the use and control of material goods. To truly embody the essence of poverty in both reality and spirit, those who take this vow commit to living simply, foregoing personal ownership of properties and relinquishing the possession of their own salary. More than mere absence of material possessions, being “poor in spirit” indicates a profound detachment from worldly goods, reflecting their inner disposition towards the things of this world.

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Sr Navya Thattil OSF

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In this conversation with Janina Gomes, Mrs. Rita Luther shares how her journey within Catholic institutions not only shaped her character into one of resilience but also empowered her to actively contribute to righteous and just causes. She firmly believes that her experiences within these institutions were instrumental in nurturing her sense of purpose and driving her commitment to making a positive difference in the world.

1. Your early education was in a Catholic school in Jamshedpur. What values do you think you picked up there?

I believe that who we become in our adult lives is the result of the seeds sown when we are children. As such, I am who my school and my home taught me to be, both specifically and spontaneously. Sacred Heart, where I was blessed to study right through my school days, gave me security, a strong sense of values and fair play, an all-round education and much joy!

2. You worked in Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) in Jamshedpur. Considering you were then still in your formative years, how did that equip you for life?

I worked in the Research Department of XLRI for two years. I was hired for secretarial and administrative work; however, my seniors, American Jesuit priests, didn’t hesitate to use my skills in areas where I could be put to better use. As a result, I soon started editing and proofreading Fr. McGrath’s labour law journals, Fr. Dawson’s book as well, even transcribing important interviews. I was treated with respect, age no bar! (I was 22 then.)

3. How would you sum up your learning at XLRI?

Working at XLRI was a happy time for me. I was earning (it was my first job) and learning at the same time, a double whammy! Constant work-related learning, positive attitudes, and a great work environment, all have served me in good stead for later.

I learnt that one could work hard and really well when the work environment was conducive to its being so; I learnt that I could deal with stress simply by going to the root cause and asking for help where needed, that small differences existed but were not important in the larger scheme of things in life.  I also learnt that fun and laughter didn’t mean one wasn’t serious, but rather that the lightness they brought to life was something like baking powder to a cake, improving the final result of things!

4. What is the general impression you have of Christians and Christianity?

Christians and Christianity were not distinct nor different in my book when I was growing up; nor are they now. Ours was a peace-loving school where the religion of principles, discipline and excellence was taught. We studied Moral Science as a subject in school, our Catholic friends studied Catechism. We visited the school chapel of our own accord, not forced and never disallowed. All respect also to my grandparents who, even being Arya Samaj Hindus, taught us that the focus needed to be on inherent goodness, fair play and integrity, rather than on outward differences.

Where I lived, our neighbours were from different communities – Bengali, Tamilian, Goan, Punjabi; different religions – Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and I can’t even remember how many others. We were there for one another, and while we had our own religious beliefs, they neither affected our relationships nor our friendships.

I find it sad that we compartmentalise our preferences, likes and dislikes now on the basis of religion. Humans are not made that way – that one kind is good, another evil, yet another cruel, etc. It’s the qualities we need to identify and correct.

5. You have worked for the corporate world for over 30 years, in leading positions of responsibility. In what way have you contributed to making the corporate world more humane?

My contribution is not even a tiny drop in the ocean; however, there is a thread of goodness and ethics woven into what we teach and the way we, as trainers, behave and train. Making ‘being humane’ a way of life is more how I would put it.

6. You also have vast teaching experience. How much did you and your students gain from your teaching experience, in the American Embassy school in New Delhi and as headmistress of the De Nobili Hostel School run by the American Jesuits in Dhanbad, Jharkhand?

It’s been decades since both of the above took place, but I still treasure the happy feedback and many testimonials received, most often relating to excellence of work, and the qualities of creativity and fun.

At the American Embassy School, for instance, when I wanted to resign because I needed to be home when my daughters came back from school in the afternoons, the Principal asked if I could consider working half days. I gladly agreed and he was glad too, saying that the students needed me for the balance of good study and ethical well-being that I provided them. This was a powerful comment because the very same person had reservations about hiring someone non-American (when I was interviewed for the position), saying then that they needed someone with a strong sense of American values and culture.

De Nobili Hostel School was set up for Catholic children from homes with difficulties of some kind; a fully-fledged school with Matriculation and ICSE options. When the Jesuit head moved, the selection committee, from a candidate panel of three, selected me to take over. While I was honoured to be considered for the post, I put across my concerns regarding working on weekends and school holidays (having little children of my own), but the Jesuits were considerate, very sure I was the right person for the job! The school kids grew as all-rounders (they were already very talented), realised that study was important too, and learnt that they had the support of a headmistress who would fight for their rights.

On my part, I learnt that even as a woman, it was okay to fight, as long as the cause was right and the means used, acceptable! This was a huge learning experience.

7. Describe in a few words your spiritual journey from when you were born till today.

I’m glad the word you use is ‘spiritual’ because that’s really what I am, not too overtly religious. I was born an Arya Samaj Hindu, studied in a Catholic school, married a Christian, and worked in Catholic institutions of repute in various positions. Very happily, I might add! (In fact, an American boss of mine, a Jesuit priest, sometimes jokingly referred to me as ‘half a priest’!)

I am open to receiving learning from all faiths, respect all religions and spiritual ways of life – qualities that allow me to absorb goodness freely.

8. You now head a team of trainers for training the corporate world. Do you also teach moral values and ethical conduct to your clients?

We run a training company where organisations ask for training on subjects that their employees need; when asked, we train corporate houses on ethics and on adhering to codes of right conduct. Our behaviour – the way we professionally conduct ourselves in our interactions and various assignments – is the value-based training we do.

9. What would you tell businesspersons about what is most important for the corporate world today?

Work for organisations where you respect, or at least agree with company values. In the long term, one cannot be at peace working where one may be asked to do what one feels is wrong or unfair. Money and material success is good, undoubtedly, but it isn’t everything and doesn’t beat peace of mind!

10. Do you think the work done by Christian institutions for the people is sufficiently recognised in India today?

No, it isn’t, definitely not enough, anyway. We’re all quick to lap up the accolades showered upon us for the way we speak, carry ourselves, work and behave, without consciously realising and acknowledging that our academic backgrounds were actually our take-off points towards that success.

11. In your opinion, what can the Church do to better serve the needs of a changing world?

Nobody, and definitely not I, can even dare have an opinion on the sacred Church, or any other religion, for that matter. Having said that, I would like to add that religions (like parents), need to grow with the changing times, not to go against their principles, but to bring in flexibility, where it is at all possible. This will benefit followers and religious authorities alike.

12. Is there anything else you would like to add?

‘To thine own self be true’

This learning has come to me late in life – and I’m still learning! Earlier I would worry about what others thought, how I appeared to others, even how I looked. It’s so much easier and definitely more worthwhile to work towards being the best that God wants me to be and live life a day at a time.

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  Mrs Rita Luther Speaks
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