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I Can Only Imagine  (110 min)

Directors: Andrew Erwin & Jon Erwin

1. Michael Finley, Alexander Dominguez , Madeline Carroll , Cole Marcus Brody Rose, Dennis Quaid , Gianna Simone , J.R. Cacia

The movie draws its story from the life of Bart Millard, the American singer/ songwriter and lead voice of the Christian rock band – Mercy Me.  Bart’s song mentioned in the title became the most popular Christian song in 1999, included in the Album Almost There. Born in rural Texas the son of Arthur Millard, an abusive ex-American footballer, Bart grew up resentful and lonely, a condition made worse especially after his mother abandoned the family when he was still a little boy. His only comfort was pop music and his comforting friendship with Shannon, later to be his girlfriend. His embittered alcoholic father bullied him into becoming a football player at school, ignoring Bart’s passion for music. Arthur drives him hard to become a champion player, but it ends abruptly when he sustains a serious injury in the field. The wheelchair bound boy is drafted into the school choir initially as a technician. His talent finds him a place in the church choir. Impressed by his voice the teacher forces the unwilling boy onstage to lead in a musical drama to great applause. Meanwhile Arthur is discovered with a life threatening illness that he chooses to ignore. Things reach a breaking point when Arthur who hates church, in the heat of an argument breaks the dinner plate on Bart’s head injuring him. Bart leaves home. Bidding a painful goodbye to Shannon, he takes to the road and leads a new band of musicians named Mercy Me in Oklahoma. They perform and produce albums but are not quite as popular as they wish to be. At one point his studio manager Scott Brickell tells him that his performance appears fake; his songs do not have the sincerity grounded in experience. After a music convention, Brickell asks him:“what are you running away from?”  Though he had always been a Christian, it is now that Bart awakens to the fact of his broken family that needs healing. He returns home to his lonely father now dying of cancer. The  dramatic reunion is a turning point. The experience of mutual forgiveness makes Bart realize how much he loved his father, the man whom he hated once and now the one he wanted to be like.

The Lamp (2011) –  (96minutes)

Director: Tracy Trost

Cast: Jason London, Roger Nix,  Sarah Joy Brown, Chuck Brown Muse Watson, Greson Moore,  Cameron Ten Napel Georgia Cole, Katie Burgess

Stanley and Lisa Walters lose their only child Eddy in a bicycle accident while his father was coaching him.  Stanley, an upcoming author and baseball coach had built his dreams around Eddy. After the event Stanley isolates himself from everyone including the suffering Lisa who is a gym coach. Even after her two years’  efforts to make Stan return to life, Stan is mostly confined to his computer with  Cooper the dog for company and sleeps in the dead boy’s room. Their marriage is about to break. Unable to let go of the memories of Eddy the budding baseball prodigy,  Stan gives up coaching his son’s team. When the neighborhood organizes a garage sale to raise funds for the children’s baseball team, Lisa donates some of Eddy’s clothes for sale. Their genial neighbour, Miss Esther, a foster mother of three children, brings an antique brass oil lamp which has miraculous powers. Esther tells Lisa that this lamp can give its owner the wisdom of the ages. Having enjoyed its benefits so long she wanted to pass it on to the next owner, informing Lisa that she had not bought it. It needed to find “the right owner”. Esther would not take the lamp back from Lisa. When she returns home with the lamp, Stanley picks up a bitter quarrel because he thinks that Lisa has given his son’s clothes to the highest bidder and taken the lamp in exchange. He throws it in the garbage can. But the lamp mysteriously reappears on their table. Lisa cleans the lamp when she discovers the phrase “Just Believe” on its side. Something mysterious happens at that moment and a man knocks at the door.  Gradually with the arrival of this stranger who introduces himself as Charles Montgomery, a deep soul searching happens in Stanley and Lisa.  Their life begins to change.  They start experiencing trust, hope, and the healing power of faith setting the right priorities in life that make for happiness.

Prof Gigy Joseph

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The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Apophthegmata Patrum: 59 The Alphabetical Collection (1975) – Benedicta Ward SLG (Translator)

The history of Christian monasticism in the Eastern Church goes back to the late 3rd century. The first Christian monks fled from civilization, partly to escape Roman persecution and to live in solitude and contemplation in the deserts of Syria, Palestine and Egypt. They were responding to Christ’s call to follow him forsaking the world and retreating into the desert like He himself did before his public ministry. In contrast to the systematic theology of the founding fathers of the Church, these people sought to directly respond to the Call of the Lord to follow Him. They laid the foundations of Christian monasticism, detaching from worldly concerns, seeking to lead a life of radical simplicity, poverty, celibacy prayer, fasting, vigil, and work. Their austere asceticism is continued in the Eastern churches even today. The monastic who retreated from society either lived as a recluse or joined a small community of individuals with similar intentions. These came to be known as the Desert Fathers, and Mothers.  The earliest known Desert Father is St Paul of Thebes who lived in the3rd century. The most famous name is St. Anthony of Egypt, considered the founder of the first organized monastic order. His monastery has survived to this day near the Red sea.  There are other illustrious names such as  St. Pachomius of the Thebaid who organized nine monasteries for both men and women, Macarius the Egyptian, Arsenius the Great, and the twenty-seven abbas (fathers) and three mothers whose 1,202 sayings were collected in the influential Apophthegmata Patrum (The Sayings of the Desert Fathers). As these men (and women too) drew the attention of the public, people often went to them seeking spiritual advice and counsel. The source of this ancient book of wisdom is their Sayings that include spiritual advice, anecdotes, parables, and reflections on life. Collected and compiled over a long period of time and from many sources themes such as Charity, Fortitude, Lust, Patience, Prayer, Self-control, and spiritual Visions are dealt with.  The book has been an inspiration to those Christians who strove for an uncompromising obedience to the word and to the spirit of the Gospel.

The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?

Rick Warren (2002)
Warren’s book grounded in Biblical wisdom seeks to offer answers to the very basic questions that people ask. What is the reason- the meaning and purpose for my existence?  The book is presented as a 40 chapters spiritual project one for each day parallel to the forty days repeatedly cited in the Bible from the story of Noah to the apostles waiting for the Pentecost after the Resurrection. We are invited to meditate upon, interact and personalize the lessons. At the end of each chapter there are four features to help the reader – A point to ponder, a verse to remember, a question to consider and discussion questions.

The forty chapters are organized under sections designating the Five Purposes identified by the author, each of which is discussed in detail.

The Five purposes of life are

1:  Planned for God’s Pleasure- worship—bringing pleasure to God, a lifestyle that centers on making God happy. God did not need to create you .But he chose to for his own enjoyment, for his benefit, his glory, his purpose and his delight.

2:  Formed for God’s Family- God wants his family to be known for its love more than anything else. Live intentionally sharing the faith, in our own life conditions avoiding envy and in the spirit of unity, thus realizing God’s purposes.

3: Created to become Like Christ- Combining determination with a willingness to follow the Holy Spirit. If you want to live a Christ like life, serve selflessly, be kind and caring and be committed to justice to make better the lives of others. Begin by recognizing those little moments of intuitive knowledge guided by the Holy Spirit that reveal what is right. Steady efforts are needed to change our habits and be like Jesus.

4: Shaped for Serving God- This is called ministry, the way God planned for you, to serve others is uniquely yours. God designed you to make a contribution, a difference with your life.

5: Made for a Mission- ministry means how one serves other believers; mission means our service to unbelievers. Our divine assignment is to spread word of his love, his glory, and the promise of eternal life to unbelievers. Christian mission is at once unique and also a shared one.

Prof Gigy Joseph

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As we welcome the month of March, we witness the beauty and resilience of nature, and also welcome the transition from winter to spring. This is a time when nature comes to life, and we can enjoy longer days, beautiful flowers around and the fragrance of the summer blossoms beginning to be felt. Across different cultures and religions, March holds special significance with celebrations such as Holi in India and St. Patrick’s Day in various countries. As a teenager, I recall celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with great enthusiasm as a member of St. Patrick’s Parish. The stories of how St. Patrick saved people from snakes inspired me to offer my love and protection to others.

March is also recognized internationally as Women’s History Month, which gives us the opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions and achievements of women throughout history. It is a time to honor the women who have made a significant impact on our lives and the world, and to remember the struggles that they have encountered, faced and overcome.

For us, this month is also special because we enter the season of Lent, a time of reflection and renewal of our commitment to our faith. Pope Francis’ message for Lent 2023 centers on the Transfiguration of Jesus, an extraordinary moment in his life when he received deep affirmation from the Father. In the Markan narrative of the transfiguration, we get the impression that it was not only an extraordinary moment, but also a defining moment when he decided to fully and totally offer himself.  In Mark 9:9 Jesus warned the disciples not to tell anyone about this ‘until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’  A sign that this experience of the transfiguration brought in Jesus a total surrender to the will of the Father.  His decision to offer his life on the Cross is complete.

Lent is a time to become more positive and joyful individuals, living our ordinary lives with an element of extraordinary joy. Interestingly, the transfiguration experience is also a reminder that the ordinary moments of life are significant and should be lived with a special experience of divinity. This is where the celebration of women’s contributions becomes important. Women have a unique ability to make the ordinary extraordinary, and Women’s History Month reminds us of this fact. The mention of Women’s Day serves as a reminder of our mothers, sisters, fore-mothers of our faith, and our leaders and mentors for the powerful impact they have had on our lives.

This issue of Magnet has significant contributions from men and women, both religious and lay, on pertinent issues of concern to our lives as humans and as Church. In all of their reflections, narrations and involvements we see how ordinary moments become wellsprings of divine life.

Encountering the divine in and through the ordinary events of everyday life is a profound experience that can transform our understanding of the world and ourselves. Most of our spiritual traditions believe that the divine is present in all things and that we can connect with this presence through our daily activities. St Joseph, the saint of the ordinary, whose feast we celebrate in March, developed the practice of finding God in all things, encouraging each of us to look for God’s presence in the ordinary moments of our lives. This practice invites us to pay attention to our surroundings and to seek out the sacred in the seemingly mundane. Through this lens, daily activities can become opportunities for encountering the divine. A simple act of kindness, a moment of connection with a loved one, or even a peaceful walk in nature can reveal the presence of the divine. Recognizing the divine in these everyday moments can deepen our sense of gratitude and purpose, and help us to cultivate a deeper sense of spirituality in our lives. By engaging with the world around us and seeking out the divine in all things, we can open ourselves up to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world we inhabit.

March is a month of transition, celebration, and reflection. As we welcome the warmer temperatures and the renewal of life in nature, let us also take the time to honor the women who have made a difference in our lives and to reflect on our faith and commitment to a life of positivity, joy and newness.

A reminder – Both the movies reviewed in this issue are remarkable.  Please don’t forget to watch them.

Pushpa Joseph

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This Bill Poster on Menopause is an initiative taken by a young Catholic woman Dr Delony Manuvel to help millions of families journey through the phase of midlife and menopause with grace.  Midlife is a time to simplify your life and enjoy living. It is the time to let go off an over dominant ego and contemplate the deeper significance of human existence.

This issue of Magnet, in its cover story, creates a space for listening to men and women from three different spheres on their struggles and ways of coping with midlife challenges.  Cover Story 2 focuses on the beauty and agony of the midlife phase of Menopause that women wade through.  The struggles of the journey during this period increase as a result of various cultural and social perceptions that are not holistic and call for rethinking.

Cover Story 3 presents the challenges experienced by men from rural India which often leads to a crisis in their midlife. If not dealt with perceptively, these instances can lead to depression and identity crisis.

In Cover Story 4 Sr Elizabeth shares her story of having successfully lived through the struggles of midlife and is now journeying on with renewed courage and confidence. Through her sharing she intends to instill new hope in the lives of others.

Pushpa Joseph

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“For age is an opportunity no less

Than youth itself, though in another dress

And as the evening twilight fades away

The sky is filled with stars invisible by day.”

Through these lines Henry Wadsworth Longfellow conveys that ageing is inevitable and how preferable it is to cherish and take pride in the maturity that comes along with age. Aging is a natural and gradual process and yet the physical and mental deterioration associated with aging are dreaded and very few welcome this phase with grace. Ageism is a negative attitude that regards elderly individuals as non-contributing burdens on society.  Medical advancements and other healthcare improvements have escalated the human life expectancy in the last few decades. Increasing longevity is an achievement if and only “life” is added to these bonus years. Medical science being a male dominant profession for ages failed in understanding female biology. In a gradual and subtle manner, the earlier doctors, constructed certain myths that resonated with the existing idea of the inferiority of the female body and mind. The then socially rampant gender related partisanship reflected in the medical field as less referrals for further investigations in case of a woman patient. Even today very often a women’s illness is off handedly designated as psychologically or emotionally effectuated. Women’s pain and healthcare need an outsider’s authentication to be taken seriously.

Dr Delony Manuvel Ph.D.

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In contemporary rural India, men are faced with the following challenges in their midlife.

1. Generally some men are disturbed or embarrassed when a child or an adult calls them “uncle” and when children call them “Thatha” in regional languages (grandfather), especially when young girls call them “uncle”. In this sort of situation, men become conscious to present themselves young in their public appearance. Their physical image in public domain becomes a priority. At times they struggle to keep up their image. They begin to plunge into crisis at their middle age.
2. A man who once felt was independent, now may feel dependent on his children or who was more freely deciding for his children and his own life, now will have to consider his children before any decision is taken. He begins to feel that his freedom is shrinking.
3. In rural Indian context, many in their middle age get their children married and in some occasions the middle aged couples face the wrath of their son and daughter in-law, contrary to their expectations. Prevailing social stigma would not allow them to share with others about this ill treatment meted out to them, since it would bring down the reputation of the family.  Not knowing what to do, they inevitably face a crisis.
4. Bringing up children in the Indian context, with values that the parents adhere to, is a challenge, as children these days are drawn to a variety of habits which are contrary to the values of the parents.

John Don Bosco

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When I entered my forties, I encountered many pleasant and unpleasant experiences, painful and distressing, due to the loss of my beloved parents and very close relatives to physical illnesses. At the same time, there were new opportunities like being sent on a Mission overseas, chances for higher studies (Licentiate) in a foreign land, and so on that brought a new outlook and new awakening in my life. However, amidst my own distressing moments, I had to face many challenges in the ‘New Mission’; like learning a new (Spanish) language and adjusting to a lot of things, adapting a new culture, and facing different challenges in my Mission, along with additional uncertainties and anxieties that entered during the crisis and turmoil at the time—Pandemic that hit the world. Taking care of terminally ill patients caused in me the fear of death and the very thought of death made me fear even more. Even in my dreams this fear kept manifesting.

Despite having journeyed with such pleasant and unpleasant experiences in my life, I can confidently say that the past eight years are the best years in my life, where productivity and creativity have blossomed. Somewhere deep down, I felt the presence of the ‘divine energy’ calling me to rise above all these fears especially the fear of death and the pain of losing my parents, meaninglessness and the emptiness that I had faced within me. There came an awareness that ‘I am who I am’ and encountered God who resides in me. And I realize that I am more than my name, fame, beauty, status, role and so on. And there was a realization of the ‘True Self’ emerging in me. That was the time I began giving workshops for students, teachers and parents, and sessions for junior sisters, formators classes, and retreats for novices. This brought me a sense of inner joy, happiness and fulfillment which none can take away from me.

Sr Elizabeth Rani OP

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Pope Benedict’s demise marks a significant turn in the global history of the Catholic Church.   Some referred to the death as concluding an interesting era in the modern Church where two popes, vastly different, coexisted—one resigned and the other in power, one conservative and the other liberal—in the tiny confines of the Vatican.  The historical significance of this period is best portrayed through the film The Two Popes, a 2019 biographical drama film directed by Fernando Meirelles.  The film stars Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce as Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, respectively, and depicts the relationship between the two men as Benedict prepares to step down as Pope and the events leading up to the 2013 papal conclave, at which Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as Pope.  The Two Popes isn’t just a history lesson about the power of diplomacy within a church; it is a thought-provoking display of mercy, acceptance, and friendship. Its deliberate portrayal of two men who couldn’t be more different, yet found a middle ground to help move the Church forward, is fascinating and heartfelt.  Throughout the film, they engage in private conversations in which they discuss their differing views on the Church and its future, but ultimately come to an understanding and a mutual respect for one another’s perspectives. The film emphasizes the importance of dialogue and understanding in resolving differences and finding common ground.  In real life too it was moving to see how Pope Francis showed respect and affection for his predecessor and how Pope Benedict gracefully inhabited the role of ‘emeritus.’

Pushpa Joseph

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In our Church set-up, we have a Body of Consult at the level of every Diocese, Province, Religious Community and Institution. Similarly, for every registered society there is a Governing Body (and General Body too).  Though they are different, quite often many of us mistake the Consult of the Diocese or Province for the Governing Body. In practice, we substitute the Governing Body with the Consult. The functioning and deliberations of the Consult are taken as the functioning and minutes of the Governing Body. But in reality, it is a misnomer to call the Consult, the Governing Body. The structure and functions of both are different. In many situations we place undue emphasis on Consult and totally ignore the Governing Body and its functioning, which is a basic requirement for the registered society. Some of us are totally ignorant of the existence of the registered society itself. We give so much importance to the Consult, but very little to the registered society and its Governing Body, which is actually responsible for the legal justification of all our works that fall under the society.  But for the registered society, we cannot do the apostolic works we are doing. As we know, at present we are all faced with various issues related to the statutory compliance related to the registered society. Hence, it is the need of the hour that we pay attention to our lop-sided approach and way of functioning. Here is an attempt to rectify such a lop-sided approach.

Fr Alex G SJ

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At the end of the extraordinary visitation of two provinces of a congregation where new vocations were scarce it was recommended that one provincial be changed before the completion of his term of office because he was a “prophet of doom.” He was very demanding, highly neg

ative about the members of his province and unable to inspire confidence. On the other hand, it was suggested that the other provincial, who was about to complete his term, be reappointed because he was an “angel of hope” although reappointment without a break was not ordinarily done. Asked about the members of his province, who were obviously ageing, his response was that they were “fragile but zealous.” He was able to inject enthusiasm into the ageing members, network with others, inspire new initiatives and attract some possible vocations. Two provincials—two leadership styles.
What are Leadership Styles?
Leadership styles refer to the methods and behaviours used by a person to direct, motivate and manage others.
In 1939 a group of researchers led by Kurt Lewin, a German-American psychologist identified three leadership styles: autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire (a French word meaning ‘allow to do’). In the autocratic style the leader decides everything and commands others. In the democratic style decisions are arrived at and carried out through the active participation of all assisted by the leader. In the laissez-faire style the leader hardly gives any direction and allows others to make the decisions. Later studies have identified more styles of leadership. Some authors mention between ten to fifteen styles but many of them can be combined.

Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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