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In an effort to bring about peace in South Sudan Pope Francis invited the rival leaders of the country for a two-day spiritual retreat at the Vatican.  Towards the end of the retreat, on 11 April 2019, the Pope surprised the world by kissing the feet of the rival leaders, Salva Kiir and Riek Machar as well as Kiir’s three vice presidents.  After he performed this unusual gesture he exhorted them: “I am asking you as a brother to stay in peace. I am asking you with my heart, let us go forward.”   The gesture of Pope Francis is an extraordinary example of servant leadership.

Servant leadership has been in existence for thousands of years.  However, it is only recently that people have begun to study it systematically, ascertain its characteristics and popularize it.  The first to do so was Robert K. Greenleaf, who in 1970 published a paper titled, “The Servant as Leader.”  He followed it up with other books such as Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness (1977) and The Servant as Religious Leader (1982).

What is Servant Leadership?

            That which characterizes a servant leader is the motive, the motive to serve others.  Greenleaf says: “The servant-leader is servant first … It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, serve first.”  In order to serve one may choose to become a leader.  This is different from wanting to be a leader first, maybe in order to satisfy one’s thirst for power or for material possessions.  Once leadership is established such people may also try to serve, but for them service comes second.

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Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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The Five Flavours of Wholeness that we discussed in the last issue reminded us that a HOLISTIC person possesses a broad vision of life, works in synchrony with others for a common purpose and contributes meaningfully wherever one is called to serve.  The obvious question at this point is, “How can we generate these five flavours of wholeness?” Tom Atlee, who described the Co-intelligence theory in great detail, enumerated six facets that can help us in generating wholeness. These six facets were; Unity, Diversity, Relationship, Uniqueness, Context and Interiority.

Although these facets seem to be six totally different elements, they manifest a very special dynamic among them. This special dynamic can be understood well when we make them into three pairs: Unity & Diversity, Relationship & Uniqueness, Context & Interiority. While each of them describes a facet of wholeness, when they are paired as above, they incorporate two seemingly opposite entities. While one of them manifests integration, the other manifests differentiation. For example, Unity stands for integration and Diversity stands for differentiation. In the same way, Relationships are a form of integration and Uniqueness is something that differentiates one person from another. This process of incorporating these seemingly two opposite entities can be called  dynamic coherence.

We would understand this concept well when it is perceived in the context of religious life. Seen in this perspective, both the opposite entities would take precedence over the other depending on the time and situation. Let us look at each of these three pairs one by one:

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Fr Joseph Jeyaraj SDB

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What are the biggest blessings you have received in life? Who have been the biggest blessings for you? Are you a blessing for others?

All of us have heard (and used) expressions like, “God bless you!” “Bless me, Father,” “Please bless me; I am sick (or: I have an exam today, or: I have an important appointment coming up, ….).

We seek someone’s blessing, because we believe it is a sign of good will, and that it can bring us something good.

Many people got healed of diseases after being blessed by Don Bosco. One day, someone came looking for him. He asked him, “You are the healer, Don Bosco?” The saint replied: “I am not a doctor. I don’t heal anyone. It is Mother Mary who heals.” He attributed all the healing that followed his blessing to Our Lady, not to himself.

We can not only bless; we can BE a blessing for others. How?

A cousin of mine has often told me, “A very big blessing God has given me is my daughter-in-law. She is such a loving young woman. Her family is very loving, too. God could not have given me a bigger blessing.”

To have a loving parent or spouse or sibling or in-law is certainly one of life’s most precious blessings.

Each of us can be a blessing to those around us—or become a curse.

It is good to remember that a blessing—or a curse—lands on the giver more than on the receiver. If I wish others good, I will be happier. If I wish them evil, I will be the first to be affected by my evil desires.

Blessings and curses land first of all on the head of the one giving them.

What we wish for others is what is most likely to land on our lap.

What do we mean when we say, “God bless you”?

God can only wish us good. God wills evil for no one.

God needs no reminders from us to help anyone.

When we say phrases like “God bless  you,” we are expressing our positive and loving desires for the person we bless. Thus, a mother or father can bless their children—that is, wish for them all the good God desires for the child.

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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Despite the progress we have made in society, caste issues still persist. Recently, district authorities investigated a village in Puthukottai, Tamil Nadu, and discovered that the villagers were practicing untouchability. The Dalits were not allowed in the temple premises, and even the local tea shop had a two-glasses system. It is frustrating to think that such discrimination still exists. Upper caste individuals cannot claim that their blood or physical makeup is different from that of the lower castes. So why is there such discrimination? It is disheartening to see that some people have lost their sense of humanity and conscience. As someone who has not personally experienced the caste system, it is difficult to comprehend and accept.

Some pertinent questions asked by the people of the lower castes are –  Can you upper caste people tell us that your blood group is completely different from that of the lower caste? Is there something different in your human body that is not in the body of the lower caste people? Do you have three hands while the lower caste people have only two hands? Do you have 11 fingers while the lower caste people have only 10 fingers? Do you have two heads, while the lower caste people have only one head? If not, why is there discrimination among various castes? If you who are with one head, two hands and 10 fingers are called human beings, what are the others called since those others also have one head, two hands and 10 fingers.

What really happened?

A few months ago, all of us were stunned; the whole of India was shocked, when the media brought out a particular issue on Caste System that happened in a village in Puthukottai. In the month of December 2022, many children were falling ill in that particular village and parents were in tears. Children were getting fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. Parents were perplexed as not only one child was affected, but all children. Doctors were confused!  These children were not only out-patients, but they required hospital admission and treatment as they were very sick. Now, moving from children, many elderly and adults were diagnosed with same symptoms.

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Sr Lini Sheeja MSC

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One week after I arrived in Perú, the President plotted for a coup d’état. He tried to close the parliament and take charge of the country. Instead, it backfired, and he ended up in jail. His corrupt cabinet turned against him and ousted him, leaving a country disorientated and violent. But then, such a situation is not new in Peru. In the last five years there were as many as six presidents. Quite a few of Peru’s presidents ended in prison: Fujimori and his daughter Keiko, Humala and his wife, Kuczynski (who once said that a little corruption is all right), Alan Garcia who opted to commit suicide instead of going to prison, and Alejandro Toledo and his wife who are still waiting to be extradited to Peru from the US.

Mention a country that is not immersed in such turmoil and greed. Five years ago, Daphne Caruana Galicia, a Maltese writer, journalist and anti-corruption blogger who reported on political events in Malta was driving close to her home when a bomb placed in her car exploded and killed her instantly, leaving her body parts scattered all around. Caruana Galizia used her blog to reveal corrupt and shady money laundering deals by members of the same parliament, their friends and acquaintances.

Less than a year ago, India’s financial-crime investigation agency arrested Partha Chatterjee, who was the education minister in West Bengal and was accused of appointing hundreds of teachers and non-teaching staff for money and other bribes. Police recovered more than $2.5 million in cash from a close associate of Partha.

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Brother Carmel Duca MC

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For this month of March whom can we place on the candle stand? I have picked a woman-leader who can be held up as a model – not merely for political leaders but leaders of all kinds in all fields.

            On 19 January 2023 Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand Prime Minister, announced the sad, shocking news that she would resign on 7 February. It was clear that the decision must have been very difficult to make, as she fought back tears when she made the announcement. She also affirmed that she would not seek re-election when her country goes to the polls in October this year.

            She was born on 26 July 1980 in a working class family. Her father was a police officer and her mother worked in a school cafeteria. But her sterling leadership qualities were noticed right from her high school days and there were people who predicted that she would rise to the very top in the political arena. She joined the Labour Party when she was just 17. After her graduate studies in communications, politics and public relations, to gain experience she joined the staff of the then Prime Minister, Helen Clarke. Later she worked also in the Cabinet office of the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

            Her convictions were shaped by what she saw in the villages of her country – child poverty, drug and alcohol abuse and homelessness. She takes pride in calling herself a Social Democrat and a feminist. Her progressive views clashed with her Mormon Church’s stand on sexual minorities – the LGBTQ people. Since she believed that they too should enjoy equal rights like other citizens, she chose to quit the Mormon Church.

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Fr Joe Antony SJ

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In the recent past one of our communities had taken a loan from a particular bank to build a part of the school building with the permission of the then Major Superior. However due to the pandemic, they could not pay back the stipulated money. Now though they are able to pay back, the community is not ready to return the amount, rather they have just left the burden of payment on the Major Superior. We are aware of civil consequences; however we would like to know about the canonical admonitions in this regard.

The juridical system of the Church recognizes physical persons and juridical persons. “Juridical persons”, are similar to a civil “Society” or “Trust” or “Company”; and thus are aggregates of persons or things (can. 114 of CIC; can. 921 of CCEO). Juridical persons are perpetual by nature. There are a number of juridical persons in the Church with rights and obligations. They are represented by an administrator (head/president of such a person); for example a Bishop on behalf of a diocese, a parish priest on behalf of a parish or a Major religious superior on behalf of a religious institute. Certain juridical persons are “public”, in the sense that they operate in the name of the Church itself; others are private, resulting from private initiatives (can.116 of CIC). Among public juridical persons listed by virtue of the law itself, we could mention the following:  the Conference of Bishops; the Diocese; the parish; a religious institute, a province of an institute, and a juridically established religious house (Canon 634, §1of CIC). Among the consequences of acquiring a juridical personality, the most important one is regarding the administration of temporal goods (can. 1256 of CIC; can. 1009 of CCEO).

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Sr Navya Thattil OSF

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Ms. Raynah Braganza Passanha has extensive experience as a Volunteer Trainer in Catechesis and Gender Concerns. She has achieved great academic success, earning Gold medals from the University of Bombay at both B.Ed and M.Ed levels. Her work for women’s rights and empowerment has been tireless, both nationally and internationally. In her responses to Janina Gomes’ questions, she shares the depth of her involvement and inspires others to make a similar commitment.

Why do you think it is important to observe International Women’s Day?

The mindset of Indians is still predominantly patriarchal, whether it is in society and its institutions, or in the Church. Sadly, education, media, religion, culture and the general environment reinforce patriarchal ways of thinking and result in even the so-called educated people living by gender stereotypes.

To bring about any kind of change, it is not enough only to observe International Women’s Day. We should use every opportunity available to help people think critically, about this denial of dignity and rights through gender discrimination. Only when mindsets change, can behavior change! Some days that offer us this: Girl Child Day with the Church of India (September 8^th), with the country (January 24^th– National Girl Child Day) and with the world (October 11^th– International Girl Child Day).

We should also observe days dedicated to the elimination of violence against women, girls and other vulnerable groups during the 16 days of activism between November 25^th and December 10^th  and on February 14^th, which is celebrated internationally as 1 Billion Rising ( a global campaign and the biggest mass action for ending violence against women and girls, which was started in 2013).

These efforts could be ramped up to a much larger scale to publicly highlight issues relating to women, girls and other marginalized groups within the Church and society. It is these initiatives which create awareness, that will challenge us to change the way we think and the choices we make.

We need to be multi-pronged in our efforts to bring about change. Our educational institutions, formation centres for religious and clergy at all levels, training for catechists, catechesis or faith formation for children, youth, and adult faithful should all be avenues through which we make conscious efforts to include gender sensitization. Our efforts need to be directed to all genders, of all ages, through all possible ways, if we are serious about our commitment to the vision and mission of Christ.

Who do you feel is responsible for taking action on women’s issues?

Beginning with me, everyone is responsible to reflect on the inequality and injustice that women face. In particular, every Christian must be challenged to bring about a world where all created by God are respected, where the dignity of people is upheld and their rights are defended. It is a shame that Christians can claim to follow Jesus and discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual persuasion, community, language, creed and caste. We need to reflect together, think critically, challenge ourselves, as well as advocate and lobby along with secular groups for change to happen in the different institutions of society.

What do you think can be done to address gender stereotypes?

We can begin within our homes by fostering and upholding the values we teach and practice. We must challenge our leaders, clergy and catechists, when gender stereotypes are reinforced using scripture, by organizing non-threatening liturgical services, where scripture is reflected upon with a feminist understanding. Our educational institutions must make a special effort to address these issues. We have to use multi-pronged approaches directed at leadership at different levels, and also at children, young adults and adults.

Where do you think the most significant challenges to your work will occur?

Most challenges occur from women themselves who, secure in their comfort zone of existing structures, even if they are patriarchal, resist challenging the inequality they face at home or even in Church and work places. Fear of reprisal, alienation, negative reactions from authorities in their families, communities and the church, a lack of adequate support structures to give them the confidence to continue with their struggle, all lead to women choosing to fall in line with the ‘as it was in the beginning is now’ culture – a culture of apathy, fear, silence!

How can we help in meeting the challenges that will arise in achieving gender equality?

My focus is on awareness creation through scriptural reflections, liturgical celebrations, challenging clergy, religious and the laity whenever there is obvious discrimination on the basis of language, job division, exclusion or the demeaning of women and their contribution. I use my voice and my writings as major tools in this task.

Tell us something about your work with domestic workers in Hongkong and India

I worked with the Asian Migrant Centre that reached out to domestic workers mainly from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Nepal. I learnt a lot here as I learned about para-legal assistance to workers and helped them take their cases of grievance to the labour department and courts, provided them counselling services and helped with research, documentation and publication.

Tell us also about your work with factory workers in Sri Lanka and abused women in Pune

 In Sri Lanka, I visited the women factory workers in their camps to listen to their stories, and provide accompaniment and counselling. I began studying the faith through Maryvale in Birmingham and started teaching the faith in the parish, school and Vicariate.  My take on the faith has always had a leaning on the social justice angle.

 With women in Pune, since I was made diocesan chairperson, I have conducted awareness sessions, liturgical and para-liturgical services on feast days and girl child days. Unfortunately, women are more inclined to prayer services and religious rituals, and fear having their long held understanding of the role of women in the family and church, as supposedly dictated by scripture, being challenged. With my team, we have conducted sessions for the priests of the diocese on the gender policy of the Church in India, on domestic violence and on several other gender related topics. Abused women are listened to, accompanied as they deal with their situation and when necessary, directed to legal help.

How far do you think your sessions for religious congregations, seminarians, youth, catechists and teachers have changed perceptions and created awareness among these groups of people?

This is a tough thing to measure. However, in my endeavour to challenge ideas held and look at them critically, to look at scripture with a non-traditional,. feminist lens, has impacted people who were open. Unfortunately, having no resources from the diocese and having to rely solely on my own resources, has been a stumbling block. People are now slowly getting more open to being challenged to think differently. The fact that this endeavour is more sporadic rather than continual and regular, makes it doubly difficult, but I guess that is the journey. We have a long, long way to go and if religious congregations were more open to sharing their spaces, trained personnel and if they would reach out to women, I think much more can be achieved.

As Chairperson of the Pune Diocesan Commission for Women and National Convenor of the Indian Christian Women’s Movement, what has been the main thrust of your activities and is there anything you would like to add?

Violence in all its avatars and the understanding of the scriptures and the teachings of our faith are what I focus on, to highlight gender inequality and how it contradicts the very mandate of our faith. If we as women can change our way of thinking, we can bring about a change in our families, communities, society and the world at large. Fear of thinking differently about faith matters is one of the main causes of resistance I encounter, besides suspicion of secular women’s groups. But change comes slowly, One person at a time, if necessary.

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Ms Raynah Braganza Passanha

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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.

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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.

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Prof Gigy Joseph

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