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“Game Changer” means an event, idea, or procedure that effects a significant shift in the current way of doing or thinking about something or a newly introduced element or factor that changes an existing situation or activity in a significant way. Game Changers can be persons or events. Pope Francis was called game changer in the Church soon after he became pope through his teaching and reformation at various sectors in the Church. This synodal process that was initiated from October 17 is already setting new trends in the church.

But what is “synodality” and how is it different from our current understanding of the Synod of Bishops, which has met in Rome every few years since the close of the Second Vatican Council? What is it not? This article looks at this synodal process to understand the faces of change that is initiated.

1. Walking Together

Since Francis was elected pope, a number of words have entered the Church’s lexicon that–while not new by any means–represent the priorities and focus of his vision for renewal in the Church. Terms such as accompaniment, encounter, clericalism, throwaway culture, field hospital, nearest hospital, smell of the sheep, poor church for the poor, dirty church, wounded church and periphery have become common–not only in the papal vocabulary, but in the everyday discourse of the Church. The Greek terms kerygma (proclamation of the Gospel) and parrhesia (speaking boldly and candidly) have also worked their way into many recent papal statements and Church documents. Synodality is one of these terms, and perhaps one of the most important, because it is essential to comprehending the way Francis sees the Church.

Fr Gilbert Choondal SDB

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1. “Church” for me means:

When I was small, the word ‘Church” meant for me the parish structure, the parish priest and the bishop; as I grew older, the word ‘Church’ and what I saw before my eyes was the hierarchy and the religious. But today for me the word ‘Church’ means all the People of God, especially the laity. The first image I get as soon as I hear the word ‘Church’ is a large group of mixed people standing together with raised hands with joy and smile on their faces.

2. My main experiences of the Church: I choose the ones I have indicated in italics:

• As a loving family of faith led by Christ-like servant leaders who seek the good of the least, and not power;
• As a worldly organization in which the quest for power and money dominates;
• As an impractical and somewhat irrelevant organization from which people do not expect much;

Bro Paul Raj SG

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1. Church, for me, is…

a bunch of people in a circle and a priest officiating the Mass with the active participation of the members. This is my experience of having liturgy celebrations in the Medical Mission Sisters’ chapel in Fox Chase, Philadelphia. I came to know that most of the outsiders who joined the Sisters and Associates were Catholics who dropped out of their parishes. One couple told me it is the fifth church they visited and the only life-giving place they found! So, the idea of a church is not big buildings or a hierarchy who dominate a passive audience. People want participation, meaningful celebration and life-giving liturgies. We also conduct para- liturgies there when priests are not available and this proved to be equally meaningful to the participants.

Sr Celine Paramundayil MMS

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1. My Image of the Church:

The Church comes across as an institution whose hierarchy has been used to wielding power, and who now finds itself in disarray because its teachings and ‘way of being’ are predominantly being seen as antediluvian. The emerging understanding of its teachings and a new ‘way of being’ which is being encouraged by Pope Francis is being stymied, resulting in factionalism.  The laity stand on the sidelines, watching this imbroglio. This is hardly the Church of Christ.

There is another image of the anawim, which comes to mind. This is especially seen in the Church operating especially in the missions among the poor, the marginalised and the rejected. It is here that we get a glimpse of what the Church needs to be and what we in the city are being challenged to be like. We have seen some exemplary examples of witnessing during the pandemic, both in the city and the missions.

2. I see the church as…

• a worldly organization in which the quest for power and money dominates; an impractical and somewhat irrelevant organization from which people do not expect much; one of the several organizations conducting some religious functions and doing some social service; and also as an organization keen on promoting holiness (Christ-like life), with living examples of holiness among its members.

Conrad Saldanha

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1. The word “Church” means..

When I hear the word ‘Church’ I always feel like I am very much a part of it. The word brings to my mind the parish church, the altar, the tabernacle, the crucifix, the parish priest and the community—and others beyond it. I feel a sense of belonging. I am grateful for the indispensable services rendered by the Holy Catholic Church.

2. My Experience of Church

There are lots of dedicated people among the clergy and the laity who are tirelessly striving to make the Church a loving family of faith. Since the Church does not care much for publicity, “many a flower is born to blush unseen,” but its fragrance is not lost. It definitely produces results like the loving upbringing of orphans, caring for the sick, running old age homes and educational institutions, giving value education to people irrespective of caste, creed, colour or financial status.

On the other side, groupism, thirst for power and money, fame and recognition among ‘some’ of the clergy and the nuns do spoil the good name of the Church. Even among priests we can detect groups, for example, when a new bishop is to be elected. But  the holy and the heroic lives of a number of priests and religious is undeniable.

Prof (retd.) Philomina Mathew

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Every Bishop, priest and religious reading this article should know that we all have a dual membership, and therefore a dual identity: one as a member of the Church and another as a member of the Registered Society. We are members of both at one and the same time.

Dual Membership

As Church personnel, we live according to our ecclesiastical identity, but, as members of a Registered Society, we function with our civil identity. Are you wondering what I mean? We belong to two organizations simultaneously: the Catholic Church and the Registered Society. As Christians, we belong to the Catholic Church and thus come under the Regulations of the Church Law; as members of the Registered Society, we fall under the Regulations of its Constitution.

Fr Alex G. SJ

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Once, when I needed help with a certain issue, I went to meet a counsellor.  He was quite well known in the area as a therapist.  He welcomed me cordially and, after exchanging some pleasantries, I began to describe my problem.  After about a minute or two he interrupted me and said, “Jose, this is your problem.  And you can do this and this exercise.”  I felt really upset and angry.  Before I could even say what my problem was he had already concluded what my problem was and was ready with a solution.  I felt not at all listened to and as if what I had to say was worthless.  I requested him to listen to me first.

Some days later, I asked him why he had taken such an approach. He apologized and said, “I have much experience in this field and so, when you started sharing, I could more or less guess what your problem was. I wanted to save time; that is why I interrupted you.”  I was neither consoled by what he said nor could I agree with the approach he had taken.  What I wanted first and foremost was someone to listen to me, to hear me out, to whom I could unburden myself.  Although I continued with him and benefitted from his guidance, I feel that I would have gained much more had be been a better listener.

Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil SDB

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Oh, how great were the expectations I had for the year 2021!  2020 had been difficult for many of us. With the approach of the new year, I began to see that the devastating death toll from the Corona virus seemed to be waning worldwide, and there seemed to be reason for hope that soon there would be a vaccine that would end the dangers of becoming seriously ill or dying from the virus.

Bad News in Plenty

The racial rioting in our country that had been part of the daily news coverage and the resulting tendency to fashion every element of our history as racist seemed to be winding down in intensity. The Presidential election had finally come to pass, and we all anticipated that it would bring an end to the political rancor that was dividing Americans.

Crystal and Kevin Sullivan

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I met Sr Adele (name changed) at a meeting of the Conference of Catholic Psychologists of India, of which she is a member. Walking during a break one day, she shared this experience—which taught me a beautiful lesson.

“I found myself feeling low and losing my enthusiasm,” Adele said. “I asked myself why, and what I can do about it. Then I came to a simple solution: Whatever be my situation, I can put more love into it. Once I made this change, I have been happy.”

In fact, I met Adele at the reception desk when I reached the venue. She had already made the mental shift—from waiting for outside events and persons to make her happy to finding happiness by putting more love into every setting. She too was a participant, like me. After getting her room, she went to the reception desk and told those working there: “I am free. Do you need any help?” They were delighted with her offer. One of them told her, “Thank you, Sister. In fact, we are short of staff. Can you help here at the reception, to give the seminar material to each one, and to show them their rooms?”

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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In the previous few Psychology columns I focused on serious forms of mental illness. In the next few columns I shall focus on Personality Disorders, which too significantly affect our capacity to live satisfying and meaningful lives and in a special way our interpersonal relationships.

An understanding of personality disorders and how to cope with them is especially important for those engaged in the formation of priests and religious.

What is Personality Disorder?

Personality

Personality is a complex mixture of biologically based temperament, the internalized record of the events and experiences that have shaped our character, the way we see ourselves and others, the conflicts involving wishes, and defenses against those wishes that direct and motivate us, and our vulnerabilities and aspirations. These varied dimensions and characteristics define who we are as persons and form our personality styles.

Our personality is built on various personality traits each of us develop, mostly unconsciously through our genetic (inborn endowments) and our relational and environment experiences.  These traits are enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and ourselves that are exhibited in a wide range of personal and inter-personal contexts.

Fr Jose Parappully SDB

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