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Prison Ministry India (PMI) Volunteers are observing the PMI Ruby Jubilee (1981-2021) this year.

Jeevan (all names in this true story have been changed) spent his childhood along with a number of homeless people living in tents. It was a time of extreme poverty and illness. His parents worked hard for their livelihood. Sending the children to school was the least of their concerns. Along with the parents, all the children were engaged in the sale of lottery tickets and drugs, as well as begging. After a few years, the government provided these people with a one-room house and later some land.

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Sr Lini Sheeja MSC

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It was just the first year of my life as a Headmistress of a Matriculation School, where the classes were up to IX standard. We formed a happy family. The staff and students were happy with the way we organized our life in the school.

Suddenly, after the Easter celebration of 2011, I received the transfer letter, to be the Principal of a Matriculation Higher Secondary School.  To my surprise, within three days I was asked to go to another Matriculation School. I was ordered to leave immediately, forgoing even my home holidays (which we used to get once in two years for fifteen days).  Meanwhile, I received a phone call from a companion and friend, saying that there was a problem in that particular school between the parents and management, of which I was unaware.

Tough New Job

I tried two or three times tell my provincial of my hesitation to go to that new place, but I could not get a chance.  I entered the Convent Chapel and said a small prayer, “Lord as I live here, I will live there in the new place too.  You go before me, and I will follow you.” Years later, I understood that a person who was trying to motivate me to go had ulterior motives.  Then I recalled the words of Scarlet Koop, “Time passes, and you begin to see people for who they really are and not who they pretend to be.” After all, there are well-meaning and not-so well-meaning persons everywhere.

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Sr Nambikkai Kithari SAP

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Et Verbum Dei caro factum est

(And God’s Word became flesh)

“Mummy, mummy, please, tell me again the story,” he begged. “Which story?” Mary asked her child. “The one when I was born, pleeeeease.” Jesus answered. “Oh no, not again.” “Please mummy, this is the last time,” he pleaded. Mary could not remember how many times, her little seven-year-old had asked her to retell the story of that night when he was born. This time he had caught her while kneading bread for their supper; she cleaned her hands on her apron, sat down on a stool and called him next to her. He stood while she held him by his waist close to her. “That night when you were born there was a biiiiiiiiiig star shining on our house.” Jesus’ eyes were wide with awe. “And? Tell me more,” he again begged. “And then it exploded and so many angels came out of it singing Jingle Bells. So many people came out of their houses and came to see what was happening because the singing was so beautiful.”

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Bro Carmel Duca MC

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Vultures flying high over the landscape look for dead carcasses on which they rely for food. They have incredible eyesight and can spot things miles away. Hummingbirds fly over the landscape looking for the flowers on which they feed. They are attracted by bright colours and consume sweet nectar inside flowers. Vultures fly over flowers and hummingbirds fly over dead animals, but they notice only what they are looking for. As we arise daily and face the world, for what are we looking? For whom are we looking? What we are looking for is what we are likely to see and consume.

In our difficult pandemic times, we face family problems, economic uncertainty, and many other issues. In his message for the 36^th World Youth Day, Pope Francis calls on young people in the words of Jesus: “Young man/woman, I say to you, arise!” (cf. Lk 7:14). The Holy Father highlights that in these troubled times all over the world, we have seen great numbers of individuals, including many young people, helping to save lives, sowing seeds of hope, upholding freedom and justice, and acting as peacemakers and bridge builders. Pope Francis asks young people to not dissipate the strength and passion of their youth in meaningless battles and destructive ideologies.

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Fr Leon Cruz SDB

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At the centre of Christmas is a Child. The festival means a lot to children. And you can’t think of children without thinking of families.

This month we will look at two priests whose vision and initiative have helped several thousand families all over the world. Thanks to a unique movement they were associated with and a programme it popularized, even couples staring at divorce have rediscovered the love they had for each other when they married and so would not let anything destroy their marriage. As a result, their children have grown up in happy, loving families.

The priest who founded ‘Marriage Encounter’ is a Spaniard, Fr Gabriel Calvo. Born in Barcelona in 1927, he studied at the University of Salamanca and was ordained a priest in 1952. A member of the Spanish Diocesan Labourer Priests, he chose to focus his priestly ministry on peace and love in families. He realized that the relationship between the husband and wife was central to peace and happiness in the family. If they could be given the time and the opportunity to communicate with each other and share their innermost selves, he thought they could rediscover honesty, love, and commitment.

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Fr M A Joe Antony SJ

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Do you know the story of the Little Match Girl, penned by Hans Andersen, the Danish Master of the literary fairy tale? Here it is, in a nutshell.

On a freezing New Year’s Eve, a poor young girl, shivering and barefoot, tries to sell matches in the street. Afraid to go home because her father will beat her for failing to sell any matches, she huddles in the alley between two houses and lights matches, one by one, to warm herself.

In the flames of the matches, she sees a series of comforting visions, the warm iron stove, the lovely roast goose, the great glorious Christmas tree. Each vision also disappears as its match burns out; then in the sky she sees a shooting star, which her grandmother had told her means someone is on their way to Heaven. In the flame of the next match, she sees her grandmother, the only person to have treated her with love and kindness. To keep the vision of her grandmother alive as long as possible, the girl lights the entire bundle of matches.

When the matches are gone, the girl dies, and her grandmother carries her soul to Heaven. The next morning, passersby find the girl frozen, and express pity. They do not know about the wonderful visions she had seen, or how happy she is with her grandmother in Heaven. Despite facing cold and hunger and the apathy of the people around her, the little match girl does not lose her faith and hope.

The little girl, hungry and cold, retains her stubborn spirit of struggle for existence. But the society around her is callous and oppressive.

Are we not the same? We turn a deaf ear to the unacceptable misery and plight of the poorest of the poor, the grinding poverty of the masses in our society. We, the middle classes, try to gloss over this struggle for survival that characterizes the lives of the poor. Every day, there are millions of children in India who go hungry, do not get a square meal a day, who are stunted because of malnutrition and eke out a precarious living against the heavy odds of life.

Hungry Match Girls and Families around Us

As in the story of the Little Match girl, her visions are proof of her undiminished hope and faith in life; so also, our poor live with visions and dreams that enable them to survive, caught as they are in a web of poverty that imprisons them, sometimes for life. This sheer courage they have helps them survive; it is life looking for itself.

This Christmas I choose to reflect on the poor of the world, and especially in India. They are always the worst hit by tragedies and calamities that plague the world. Similarly, in India, the lockdown and the pandemic took a high toll of their lives. The sight of hapless migrants, walking and bicycling across hundreds of thousands of miles, to reach their villages still haunts me. But at the same time, I cannot but marvel at their courage and persistence, their struggle to survive, the hope they keep burning in their hearts and their ability to rise above despair.

Where and when will our poor be emancipated? Will our callous rich and the middle classes ever look at the problems of society through the lens of the poor and the deprived? Don’t we realize that the poor like the Little Match girl also have dreams and visions; don’t they hope that someday their situation will improve, and they will enjoy the comforts of life, which are guaranteed to the rich and relatively well-off middle classes?

This Christmas, will most of us spare a thought for the poor? Yes, there are many laudable acts by parishes and religious houses, which distribute food, rations and clothes to the less well off. Some families share a meal or give new clothes. What are you and I going to do?

What can we do for structural change? Do we give a serious thought to the fact that we sometimes serve the very structures of oppression that keep such people poor? The poor face hunger, defeat and despair every day—but do not give up. Can we think of at least a single step we can take to change their lot for the better?

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Janina Gomes

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Children of the Enemy

Director: Gorki Glaser-Müller * Cast: Patricio Galvez (2016, 96 minutes)

The story of Patricio Galvez’s one man rescue operation is charged with sense of loss, guilt, desperation, determination and relief. Galvez, a Chilean singer who had escaped from the dictatorship of Pinochet had settled in Sweden and had a daughter. His daughter Armanda becomes radicalized by Islam fundamentalists, and marries Michael Skramo, the most infamous Islamic terror promoter.

At the peak of the conflict precipitated by the ISIS, Skramo, Armanda and their eight children left Europe to volunteer for the terror outfit. Amanda, pregnant with her eighth child was killed in an air strike. Skramo married immediately afterwards and took the children with him. The youngest was 1 year old and the eldest 8.  He was shot dead while fighting. His children landed in a refugee camp.

When Galvez heard the news he was desperate.  His attempts to get any support from the public, the government, or international organizations like the Red Cross failed. His view was: Why should innocent children orphaned by the war be made to pay for the crimes of their dead parents?  He was able to persuade a Chilean-Swedish feature film maker, Glaser-Muller, to join his vital mission to bring his grandchildren home to Sweden; a near impossible mission in which he had to face all kinds of bureaucratic obstacles and heartaches. Glaser-Muller undertook the task of recording the quest at every stage in order that, fail or succeed, the story should be made known. The camp was a scene of misery, violence and death. The efforts succeeded and Galvez was able to get his grandchildren back home where they were taken over by the social welfare authorities. Galvez’s dream is to bring them all together to be part of his family.

I Still Believe

Director: Erwin Brothers (Jon& Andrew Erwin)  * Cast: KJ Apa, Britt Robertson, Melissa Roxburgh, Nathan Parsons, Shania Twain, Gary Sinise (2020, 116 minutes)

The real life story of an American Christian singer and lyricist Jeremy Camp and the late Melissa Lynn, his first wife, whose death of ovarian cancer shortly after their marriage forms the main thread of this inspirational movie. The movie answers the question of why God allows unexpected tragedies and suffering in peoples’ lives.

The story begins in September 1999. Jeremy Camp meets Jean-Luc  LaJoie in a college in California and become fast friends. Jeremy is introduced to Melissa by Jean-Luc,who is in love with her, but she is not interested in Jean Luc and instead dates Jeremy.  Jeremy’s closeness to Melissa results in a rift between the friends and Melissa ends the courtship. Jeremy returns home to his family when he receives news of her sudden sickness. Melissa is in a very advanced stage of liver Cancer. When she confesses her love for him, Jeremy reciprocates. He proposes to her. Jeremy is now a reputed Christian song writer and singer. Melissa now has cancer spread to her ovaries and is scheduled to have asurgery. The surgery is cancelled when Jeremy is told that she somehow is now cancer-free. They marry in October 2000. But during their honeymoon cancer reappears and a cure is now impossible. Melissa died within four months, at the age of twenty-one. During these days of trial, Jeremy raises the perennial question of faith questioning God. At the same time, he composes and sings one of his songs Walk by Faith as his bride is nearing death. Jeremy’s anger and complete frustration leads him to give up his musical career. When he breaks his guitar violently, he discovers the note Melissa had hidden inside which tells him that suffering does not weaken faith, but rather strengthens it. Restored to faith by her final message, Jeremy resumes his career. The title of the movie, “I Still Believe” is the song Jeremy wrote after this experience of the renewal of his lost faith. During its first performance Jeremy discovers that his song has an impact on the spiritual lives of others when a girl comes to tell him how she went through a similar experience of losing a loved one and her consequent anger at God. It gives him a new sense of mission.

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PROF GIGY JOSEPH

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Carlo Acutis, the Servant of God: Life beyond the Border

Francesco Occhetta & Carly Andrews (Kindle Edition. 2018)

Carlo Acutis was born in 1991 to an affluent Italian family in London, and died at age 15. From his tender days, he showed extraordinary interest in the Holy Eucharist.

Carlo showed extraordinary skill and phenomenal knowledge in Information Technology, the Internet and movie-editing. He liked Steve Jobs’ advice: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

His Grandfather, his governess and his favourite saints—Saint Francis of Assisi, Dominic Savio, Francisco and Jacinta Marto (of Fatima), and St Bernadette Soubirou—nurtured his spirituality. In his schooldays he showed himself to be a positive influence upon his schoolmates, a defender of the weak and troubled schoolmates and doing voluntary work among the destitute. He created a database of Eucharistic miracles in the world. He loved pets, sports, cartoons and books, and outings just like any other boy, and his extraordinariness never showed. All the money that he earned went straight to charity. The authors identify “elements of mysticism, asceticism, communion and contemplation” as the facets of his spirituality. When he was diagnosed with fulminant leukemia, he accepted it as a God-given gift of suffering. As he was nearing his painful death, the doctors asked him how he felt. His answer was: “There are people who are worse off.” Carlo’s influence grew more rapidly after his death and the world came to know of this boy through books and various media. The authors note: “If one wishes to distance oneself from death with good looks and eternal youthfulness, Carlo’s life teaches us to look at death from within the eternity of God.” Two major legacies of this saint of the IT generation are: the model and inspiration that he was in his personal friendship with Christ through the Eucharist, and the series of Eucharistic miracle exhibitions that he initiated with Church approval which had a wide impact upon the contemporary world.

Chiara Corbella Petrillo: A Witness to Joy

Cristiana Paccini and Simone Troisi (2013)

Translation: Charlotte Fasi

Chiara Petrillo was a young mother who passed away at age twenty-eight, leaving her youngest child Francesco and husband Enrico behind. She already had lost two children immediately after their births, of serious congenital defects. At her funeral eulogy, her family spiritual adviser Fr Vito D’Amato said: “If you wish to know more about Chiara, come, ask us.” The response was overwhelming; it became the inspiration for this book. I

What was so special and extraordinary about Chiara? The book reveals it through the letters, testimonies,  interviews and articles in the media that celebrated Chiara as a “witness to joy,” a spirit  never dampened by the extraordinary sufferings that she and her husband went through during their short but grace-filled marriage.  Her joyful and loving acceptance of life in all its beauty in the midst of sufferings and loss made a Roman Cardinal declare that she is “a saint for our times.”

Chiara and Enrico fell in love during a pilgrimage, but the courting period was tempestuous, with so many misunderstandings and  break-ups. Finally, accompanied by their spiritual adviser Fr Vito, they took a pilgrimage on foot to Assisi, where they came to realize that marriage was a sacrament to be lived out in grace. When they were expecting their first child, the gynecologist told them that the girl child was developing ‘anencephaly,’ a serious brain problem,  ensuring death soon after birth. The couple had never contemplated such an eventuality; but they refused to to abort and accepted the child to “accompany” her as far as they could. The child, Maria Grazia Letizia, died after receiving her baptism within an hour of her birth. The second child, a boy, had deformations of his limbs. He too was born and baptized, and died within a day. This time also the couple actually celebrated the funeral like before, singing and playing guitar and violin! The third child was conceived healthy. Then Chiara developed a malignancy. The couple decided to stay the treatment after the initial surgery so as to avoid harming the child during treatment. She went into treatment after the birth of Francesco, the third child; but succumbed to cancer. Her husband recalls how she responded when he asked her if the yoke laid upon her by the Lord was “really sweet.” Her answer was a smiling reply: “Yes, Enrico, it is very sweet.”

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PROF GIGY JOSEPH

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“We will never change the world by going to church. We will change the world by being the Church.”
“A church’s vitality is not measured by how many people fill the pews, but rather by how much those people are filled with Jesus.” (Mark Wilson)
“Church is who we are, not where we go.”
“Behind most church fights and unresolved divisions is ugly human pride, and the worst kind of pride is religious pride, the pharisaical pride of self-righteousness and superiority.” (Alexander Strauch)
“The church is not an event we turn up at, but a family we belong to.”
“As a child, I received instruction both the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene. No one can read the gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life.” (Albert Einstein)
“We do not want a church that moves with the world; we want a church that moves the world.” (G.K. Chesterton)
“God wants all your life, not just one hour a week.” (R. C. Sproul)
“The Gospel: The only story where the hero dies for the villain.”
“We need to avoid the spiritual sickness of a church that is wrapped up in its own world. When a church grows like this, it becomes sick.” (Pope Francis)
“The church is not a select circle of the immaculate. It is a home where the outcast may come in.” (James H. Aughey)
“The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.” (Timothy Heller)

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Gripping—to the Point of Tears

The November issue of Magnet is brilliant with something in it for everyone. I found the whole issue very readable and interesting, with some articles gripping me to the point of tears. I am always moved by the articles of Bro Carmen Duca,  describing his very tough ministry that he relates to us with such panache and grace.  I always appreciate the contributions of Crystal and Kevin Sullivan which are insightful, rich in meaning and relevance to our daily lives.

A testimony that really touched my heart was the one written by Alma Barla on her vocation story. Surely she was tested by fire and has emerged victorious. It is a great inspiration to all of us who are still foundering in our lives.

Regarding my suggestions, I was wondering if there could be a corner for the lives and works of great writers, because so many of them lived very challenging lives themselves.

Janina Gomes, Thane, Maharashtra

 

A Vein of Gold—and Much More

November issue of MAGNET:

• The editorial: brilliant, as usual. You sure take time, I imagine, to get that right.  Great work, Joe!
• In Br Carmel, you have struck a rich vein of gold!  Nothing more need be said.
• I can vibe with a lot of what Sr Nambikai says in her breath awareness article.  I like her very apt quotes from various sources to back up her statements.  A pity that, in the 3^rdcolumn of the article, she moved into the 2^nd person rather than sticking to the 1^st Speaking in the 1^st person carries more conviction as she spoke with authority in the earlier paragraphs!
• Fr Leon’s — a nice simple article, certainly needed for our youth. A gripping introduction, his comparing the two Copernican revolutions.
• The Cover story:  A much-needed one. You are blessed to have the knack of choosing the right topics to cover, Joe.  I liked your breezy introduction, and the questions on distinguishing between Spiritual Direction and Counselling. Your backing up statements with concrete examples, and especially your personal anecdotes, enhance the readability.
• Once again, I wonder if you could please avoid those ‘shoulds’ like on p. 18, 3^rd Finally, that “They” error on p. 22, col. 1, is not expected of a top-class magazine like MAGNET.

Bro Conrad D’Souza CFC, Shillong, Meghalaya

 

An Energy Booster

I picked up the Magnet magazine for the first time as a novice just because of the quality and attractive cover page with magnetic colours. Since then, It’s one of my favorite magazines, not just because of the colourful pages, but the rich content throughout the magazine. I felt the magazine widens my knowledge with the experiences of many religious who went through challenges, makes me creative in thinking, and it’s an energy booster to many religious to live a committed life as the magazine deals with various current issues that helps us to know and get updated. You make us young religious to be active as you are a joyful religious. May many more find the worth of the magazine.

Sr Trenitha UFS, Mangalore, Karnataka

Inspiring, Challenging Doctor

The article by Fr Joe Antony S.J., on the theme ‘a courageous doctor, a man of faith’ is an inspiring, motivating and challenging one. The life of Dr Timothy P. Flanigan is outstanding. As we are struck with the pandemic his life – who worked during 3 epidemics – must be inspiring and challenging to serve the people of God.  As Dr Flanigan goes out of his way to help those who are in need it is a call for us as religious to help our neighbours who are in need.

Saul Abhishek SJ, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695586

The Need of the Hour

I would like to thank you for continuously publishing very good articles in MAGNET, especially that of Fr Joe Mannath SDB, on “ACCOMPANIMENT, THE HEART OF ANIMATION,” and “EXPERIENCE OF SPIRITUAL ACCOMPANIMENT” by Crystal and Kevin Sullivan (November 2021). This is indeed the need of the hour. The role of the religious superior and the formator is very clearly explained. Going through the lengthy articles is very interesting, enjoyed reading it and written down “Three levels of Animation” in my personal diary, which I need to constantly make use of in my responsibilities. Our main duty is to accompany those in our care, lovingly, joyfully and with a certain degree of competence. If we give time for loving accompaniment, all of us will grow in maturity, freedom and in faith.

Sr Juliana D’ Souza SJT, Puttur, Karnataka.

 

Entering the Heart

I would like to thank Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil SDB for the vibrant article ‘Listen with the eyes’ (Magnet, Nov,2021). In this digital world, we become close-minded and shrink into ourselves. This article highlighted the importance and relevance of the art of listening. I realized that listening with the eyes involves more than just listening to words, but entering the hearts as well. Thank you MAGNET.

Praveen Babu SJ, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695586

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