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3:16: The Numbers of Hope

By Max Lucado

(2022)

The author describes his latest best-seller as the “most famous conversation in the Bible” and “a twenty-six –word-parade of hope beginning with God, ending with life, and urging us to do the same.”  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”(John 3:16). Lucado calls it the “hope Diamond of the Bible,” and brings out its implications. The context is the famous night encounter between Nicodemus and the Lord. The author speaks of it in an intensely personal way:  “Every time I recall these words, they are fresh and as stunning as my first encounter with them. The mind-bending awareness of God’s limitless love, his incalculable sacrifice, and the priceless teaching at the core. How can we not review it again and again? I want this generation, and all who come after, to look closely at the key promise of God and choose the gift beyond all gifts.” Every person can take courage to face up to the setbacks and despairs of life recalling the verse. We know that things will turn out well for us because “God so loved the world.” The book begins with the dramatization of the curious Jewish scholar seeking out the Galilean “crowd-stopper.” The two are on two sides of “the Continental Divide of Scripture.” Nicodemus, the well-meaning sincere Jew, believes in giving God his best and hopes that God will do the rest. But Jesus takes him to the next level, insinuating that his efforts are not enough, even if they are the finest and makes the enigmatic demand: “Unless you are born again, you can’t inhabit the Kingdom of God.” The heart of the human problem is the human heart. What it implies is this: “He loves, He gave, We believe, We live.”  Part II is a series of short reflections recalling the first part entitled ‘Only Jesus:  40 Days with the Son’. In these we are engaged in a reflective journey from the birth to the final exhortations of the Lord after Resurrection. Lucado concludes the final reflection: “The same one who saved your soul longs to remake your heart. God is willing to change us into the likeness of the Saviour. Shall we accept his offer? ”

The Fulfillment of All Desire: A Guidebook for the Journey to God Based on the Wisdom of the Saints

By Ralph Martin

(2006)

Ralph Martin is a leading American Catholic evangelist, widely published author, theologian and president of Renewal Ministries. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as an expert for the World Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization in 2012. Martin’s book draws upon the teaching of seven great spiritual doctors and mystics of the Church – St Augustine, St John of the Cross, St Teresa of Ávila, St Catherine of Siena, St Bernard of Clairvaux, St Thérèse of Lisieux and St Francis De Sales – to explain the Biblical world view in light of the lives and writings of these heroes and heroines the Church. These saints addressed the issues of their times. The author particularly recalls the trials of St Teresa of Ávila and St John of the Cross, whose attempted to reform the monastic orders. We may be drifting along with the contemporary culture and its thinking, which can lead us away from truth and happiness, trapping us in falsehood and destruction. Quoting St Bernard, the author notes that if we want to arrive at happiness—the fulfillment of all desire rather than destruction or perpetual frustration—we need to take a different road, the road that leads us to enter through the gate that opens to heaven. The book provides encouragement and spiritual direction for all those who yearn to know, love, and serve the Lord. A three-stage pattern of development is traced in the lives of the saints mentioned, designating them as “Purgative”, “Illuminative” and “Unitive.” Different saints use different imagery to designate their experiences. Thus, Teresa of Ávila uses the image of ‘seven mansions’. The final or Unitive stage signifies habitual union with God, deep joy, profound humility, freedom from fears of suffering or trials, great desire to serve God and apostolic fruitfulness. “Fear of God” is not the fear of a tyrannical, impetuous, arbitrary and punitive God. God is the healing transformative force acting upon our thought, desire and action. Its attainment is contingent on human choice, the choice of our own destiny.

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Prof Gigy Joseph

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 Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading. – Oswald Chambers

God is looking for willing hearts… God has no favorites. You do not have to be special, but you have to be available.

– Winkie Pratney

 Wicked men obey from fear; good men, from love.

– Augustine

Taking up my “cross” means a life voluntarily surrendered to God.

– A. W. Pink

Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.

– Jim Ellio

 The will of God for your life is simply that you submit yourself to Him each day and say, “Father, Your will for today is mine. Your pleasure for today is mine. Your work for today is mine. I trust You to be God. You lead me today and I will follow.”

– Kay Arthu

Maturity comes from obedience, not necessarily from age.

– Leonard Ravenhil

 Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

– George Mueller

 It is Christ who is to be exalted, not our feelings. We will know Him by obedience, not by emotions. Our love will be shown by obedience, not by how good we feel about God at a given moment. “And love means following the commands of God.” “Do you love Me?” Jesus asked Peter. “Feed My lambs.” He was not asking, “How do you feel about Me?” for love is not a feeling. He was asking for action.

– Elisabeth Elliot

 A ton of prayer will not produce what an ounce of obedience will.

– Ed Cole

I’m not perfect in my walk but I want to do the right thing.

– Kirk Cameron

 You cannot obey God without your obedience spilling out in a blessing to all those around you.

– Adrian Rogers

Joy, not grit, is the hallmark of holy obedience. We need to be light-hearted in what we do to avoid taking ourselves too seriously. It is a cheerful revolt against self and pride.

– Richard J. Foster

 If you look up into His face and say, “Yes, Lord, whatever it costs,” at that moment He’ll flood your Life with His presence and power.

– Alan Redpath

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May Magnet cover page is magnifying and electrifying, in other words tempting/inspiring.

Inspiration (quotes) on Celibacy has excellent quotes of various persons.

Editorial: In his unique way, the editor puts across the beauty and meaning of Consecrated Life, quoting and inviting live testimonies.

Sr. Lini reveals that there are very good and kind persons in and around us who are willing to make sacrifices in order to reach out to the poor in need.

‘Encouragement does wonders’ by Fr. Jose Kuttianimattathil (Tips for Superiors), is very encouraging and enlightening.. as it is supporting someone struggling and affirming one’s achievement; his practical tips to encourage are very stimulating.

Sr. Navya has dealt judiciously and compassionately with the case of expectation or demand made by religious leaving the society/congregation. Today it is happening more and often. Congregations/Societies need to be alert.

Life on the Margins: That there is a search for feeling dignified or feeling whole even in the so called worst of the persons in the society is well exposed in the article ‘Looking for wholeness’ by Bro. Carmel. Is this life of prostitution the opposite of or enemy of celibate life or are these persons held up or those who choose  to live such life out of necessity or force opposites and enemies to  religious persons today! Food for thought!

Celibacy today: In all his simplicity and honesty, the auhor reveals and opens the Pandora box of our religious life, based on three vows  and exposes its possible irrelevance  and relevance as well in today’s context. He gives a transparent understanding of human sexuality and how to understand and handle it carefully, safely and contextually, for  both women and men religious. The statistics that 53% + of children have gone through sexual trauma is an indication and caution to better understand the individuals, specially joining religious or priestly life and guide them in their true vocation they are created and meant  for. His explanation on what Celibacy is and what it is and how to be a celibate by life is   very mind blowing and simply enlightening with various live examples. He defines celibacy in simple words as ‘A HEART RULED AND SUSTAINED BY LOVE’ for God and people. Celibates are to be the  inspiring models and joyful witnesses people can look up to and get guidance from. Well, the deep question he invites us to pose to ourselves is whether we are mere spinsters and bachelors or really joyful religious persons!! Who and what we are passionate about matters a lot in our celibate life. Is the present style of vocation promotion merely to gather a work force,  a type of recruitment process to manage the institute and  to work with a hook  or is it  to serve with love? Thanks, Joe, for this enlightening discussion on the most crucial aspect of life and for answering certain basic questions on celibate life. The answers are down to earth and realistic.

Testimonies are really enriching and inspiring and so we have had in the May issue many personal journeys shared well by various religious persons:

Sr. Esme in her personal journey as a religious fascinates the readers with her vocation story and with the natural way of responding to the Call and finding ways to stay on even in turmoil with conviction. There is a call in and to every person to live the plan and will of god.

Bro. Peter Swaminathan very spiritually motivates us in his personal journey as religious, quoting well the life style of the two nightingales of the indian catholic church—Mother Teresa and Bro. Andrew, who lived the corporal works of mercy and  spiritual works of mercy respectively..

Fr. Panneer Selvam, in his journey as a priest,  states that it is being faithful to   and living the spirituality of  one’s conscience is a way to live religious  and celibate life, guided by the Holy Spirit and friends and companions. Let us wake up and intrude our conscience.

In ‘Why be celibate,’ Bro. Amalan  has manuscripted well saying that celibacy is a gift rather than a choice. It is a liberating gift as it leads to a greater love of God and neighbour without comparison. Celibate life is totally based on the daily encounter with God for a meaningful relationship with people entrusted.

The Doctor writer of ‘a call to greater love’ testifies beautifully  that we all belong to God and Him alone, as it is a grace of God. Celibacy is in being in love with God and there is joy in living this life even in our work and in our relationship with people. Her relevant reference to the great spiritual friends, St. Francis de Sales and Madame de Chantal is very timely as the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales and Salesians of Don Bosco and others  celebrate the Year of Saint Francis de Sales on his 400^th death anniversary (1622-2022). It is worthwhile reading his two classical books Introduction to Devout life and Love of God.

In the sixth and the last testimony in this issue by Mr. Gangai Victor on ‘Something happened’ speaks very explicitly and powerfully about something that really happened  in his life and  of the conversion he went through in becoming a charismatic. It has transformed his daily life, his marriage and dealings and relationships at home and otherwise. He has found God in his life and placed his life in God.

‘We are all humans –and sisters and brothers’ by Fr. Joe Antony invites our focus and attention on ordinaries and little people, for they too matter like the tiny stars in the sky. He brings persons like Regis and Marc into broad daylight for they follow the Master who said , ‘Whatever you do to the least of my sisters and brothers, you do to me.’

Fr. Alex G, on ‘Finance’ has very succinctly explained how to handle accounts and how to be accountable to Trust matters, among the various conflicts of interest which may certainly arise. It needs honesty, transparency, detachment from self and selfish interests and caution. Thanks, Alex, for inviting the trustees to be responsible persons.

Fr. Jose Parappully  in and though his lesson on Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD), continues to prove to be an author par excellence and authoritative on the matters of psychology. It is a must to learn to respect and understand persons as they are from their perspectives and temperaments. It saves relationships,

On the whole, the May 2022 issue of  MAGNET is a very  comprehensively formative one, touching all spheres of life, spiritual, social, human, physical and psychological, intellectual, sexual, relational etc. Kudos and three cheers (in this hot summer!) and congratulations to the Editor.

Healthy International Day of Nurses (12 May) and Happy International Day of Families (15 May)!

Fr Vincent Swamy MSFS, Pune, Maharashtra

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An adult marked by compassionate concern, or a hidden politician playing power games?

Seeking Downward or upward mobility—seeking to be close to the weakest and raise them up, or to catch up with the rich and powerful?

Katherine was a novice in her religious order when I got to know her in Boston. She was in her mid-thirties, and was a professional pianist. Since I did not have a car, she would come, pick me up and we would go together to attend programmes.

One day, I asked her: “Do you have to get someone’s permission to take the car and come out?”

Her reply surprised me, as I think it will surprise you:

“No, that is my responsibility as an adult. But since I am taking this car,  I will leave that info in writing in the community room; so the others know I am taking this car out today.”

I asked her one more question: “When you get back to your community tonight, do you have to inform someone?”

“No, that is my responsibility as an adult.”

I am talking of a novice in a women’s congregation. This happened in the 1980’s.

With my Indian upbringing in religious life, I was surprised to hear her replies.

Young people are brought up differently in different cultures. Young religious are treated differently in different countries.

We, in India, have a rather authoritarian culture. In families, parents make many decisions concerning their sons and daughters—at times even about the choice of the marriage partner. We tend to bring this way of doing into religious life, too, and think this is the only way of living our religious life. (Some of you will notice that I avoid the term, “Consecrated Life.” The reason is simple: If Baptism is what consecrates us, as we say in the formula of professions, our parents and married siblings are consecrated, just as we are. Our call is not superior to theirs.)

It is good to know that what you and I have been used to is not the only way of living religious life, nor the best.

The essentials—whether of the Catholic faith or of religious life or marriage—are taught by the Universal Church. But the interpretations vary a lot—from one culture to another and from one religious order to another, and even from one superior to another!

That is why it is good—even essential—to be exposed to different religious orders and different cultures. Otherwise, we tend to absolutize what is really relative and partial, and miss the chance of learning from others.

In the message he gave on May 8, Pope Francis invites us to celebrate the differences. May we be open to all vocations, and rejoice at the differences. His message insists also on understanding vocation correctly—as a gift God gives to everyone, not just to some groups.

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This is our third issue on the vows. May it help us to understand the vow of obedience correctly, and become truly “obedient” men and women. Obedience comes from the Latin word, ob-audire, which means “to listen intently.” May we truly listen deeply, with our whole heart and mind, to what the Lord, in his love, wants to tell us, and to listen compassionately to the cries of the poor and the weak. If this double “listening with love” is missing, there is no point in being part of a structure which has rules, superiors, time-tables, transfers, etc. Simply letting someone else take decisions for me, or keeping quiet when I should speak, would reduce me to an immature and irresponsible adult who behaves more like a frightened adolescent than a grown-up

Any setting can be used to become better or worse, mature or irresponsible. May our vow of obedience help us become passionate seekers and compassionate healers, full of creative ideas to build a world of love.

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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In the past thirty years or so, I have given seminars on “Psycho-Sexual Integration and Celibacy” to a few thousand religious all over India. We look at the meaning of human sexuality, its God-given beauty, power and impact, and ways of becoming mature women and men. We then go on to examine the meaning and implications of this somewhat strange choice some of us make, namely, life-long celibacy, which implies saying No to two of life’s deepest and most life-giving experiences—spousal love and parenthood. The meaning of this way of life is less and less clear today, not only to those of other faiths, but even to Catholics, since many married people do the kinds of work and spiritual services that celibates do.

Two big socio-economic changes have affected the number of celibates drastically: smaller families and higher standards of living. When families were larger—with five to ten children—it was no big deal for a family that one or more daughters or sons chose celibate priesthood or religious life. When the number of children is two, parents—even devout Catholics—are not keen that the kids choose religious life or priesthood. This has happened all over the world.

Of the three vows Catholic religious make, the most striking is celibacy. It really makes us clearly different from most human beings. As for poverty, most of us do not really live poor lives of deprivation. Our living standards are comfortable, like those of the middle class, and, at times even the upper middle class. We are financially more secure than most people in India.
As for obedience, every person—whether a bus driver or manager in an IT firm—is under some form of authority. It is celibacy that sets us apart.

Young religious who attend college are generally bombarded with questions from classmates: “You don’t like girls/boys? Won’t you miss sex? Don’t you want to have children? How can you live like this? Come on, this is not possible! You look normal; why don’t you marry? You can do social work as a married person; why stay single?”

Very understandable questions. Normal and sensible.

1. HUMAN SEXUALITY

1. Sexuality—my being a man or a woman—affects us in the way we think, behave, relate, and even pray. We exist as women and men, not as pieces of furniture with no emotions. There is no moment of the day when I am not a man or woman. My being a man or woman is not restricted to any particular activity, but constitutes what I am.

2. Sexuality is at the root of some of the most beautiful and central realities of life. Without it, we would not have a family, or mother and father, brothers and sisters. Much of the world’s art and literature are inspired by man-woman love. The two deepest and most lasting emotions human beings can experience are man-woman love and parental feeling. Both are rooted in sexuality. When I say that God created me, what I mean is: God endowed my mother and father with normal bodies and sexual passion. Hence, we should never refer to sexuality or marriage as something negative, or lower, or less holy.
3. There is no evidence that more prayerful persons have weaker sexual feelings, or that those with stronger sexual feelings are not spiritual. Just as a good and generous person can struggle with hot temper, a deeply spiritual person can have strong sexual feelings. On the other extreme, just because I have no great sexual battles, I need not be a good celibate; I may be mean, cruel or cold, or wallowing in mediocrity.

4. Men and women differ in the way they experience sexuality—and the ages at which sexual feelings are most intense. Most men—seminarians, for instance—experience strong sexual desires in their teens and twenties (and later). Many women—candidates and young religious, for example—can join the convent without experiencing strong sexual feelings, and find that, years later, when they are in their 30s or 40s, and already in their final vows, they experience stronger sexual feelings than they did in their teens or twenties. They need help and guidance, and a safe setting to understand what is happening, and how to grow through it. This longing need not mean that the woman made a wrong choice. But she needs someone to talk this over with, to learn to integrate sexuality in her celibate life, or to make other choices, if that is better.

5. Cultures differ very much in their understanding of what is right and proper in sexuality or man-woman relationships or modesty. If a religious or priest works in a culture different from the one in which he grew up, he/she needs to understand that culture, rather than judge it by the criteria of one’s original culture. What one culture considers normal may be unacceptable in another setting (e.g., dating). What one group abhors may be more accepted elsewhere (e.g., children born out of wedlock).

6. Individuals differ greatly in the intensity of their sexual feelings. Just as two women or two men can differ in intelligence or humour or cheerfulness, they can differ in sex drive. We need to understand and help individuals.
7. More persons—especially women—have been victims of sexual abuse than earlier believed. Sexual abuse (sexual activity of an adult with a minor) takes place mostly in the family, and has very serious emotional consequences. Much of it is covered up by the family. According to the estimate of the Indian Ministry for Women and Children, 53% of children in India are sexually abused. This is a very high percentage. More people need healing than we think. Many survivors of abuse are afraid of speaking about it.

8. Gender equality is a question of justice, and a measure that will benefit all of us. Both in society and in the church, women are still not treated as respected equals. A recent survey in India showed, for instance, that a significant number of both men and women approve of marital violence by the husband in certain situations! Our formation houses should include good courses on women’s issues and feminist contributions.

9. We all need to relate to both men and women. Without such normal contacts, we are emotionally mutilated and increase, rather than diminish, problems in celibate living. More and more settings—of both studies and ministry—are mixed, and this is a healthy change. In this new setting, we need to train celibate men and women how to develop healthy relationships that make them open to more and more people. In training programmes for religious, for instance, I prefer a mixed group any day over an all-male or all-female group.
10. SPOUSAL LOVE AND PARENTHOOD are among life’s best things, and a holy vocation. You need very good reasons for saying No to them, and staying single. Just to teach or be a nurse or do social work or write accounts or be a principal—none of these jobs is a good enough reason for choosing celibacy. Plus: just staying single to do some work is not the meaning of celibacy. What is it, then?

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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By its very nature, any charitable trust is a legal body created to serve the public. A public trust does not belong to any particular individual or the group of office bearers (trustees). Being a public trust, all assets and funds are meant for the benefit of the beneficiaries of the trust. Trustees are mere custodians or administrators of the assets and funds, and not the owners. Hence, they are expected to demonstrate the highest form of accountability and commitment to perform their duties with personal integrity. This implies an inherent obligation to conduct all affairs of the trust transparently and above reproach. This is the only way to gain public trust and confidence.  Therefore, trustees are to exercise their office with utmost sincerity and care, xo that their only concern is the interest and well-being of the trust and not their personal benefit.  The interest and well-being of the trust must be the top priority and all purchases and sales of goods and services must be for the benefit of the trust and its beneficiaries, and not for one’s own benefit.

What is Conflict of Interest?

In the context of the trust, “conflict of interest(s)” is a situation in which a trustee, who has the responsibility for promoting the interest and wellbeing of the trust, is faced with another competing interest (self-interest) benefitting oneself at the same time.  The former is called a fiduciary interest and the latter a competing interest. A situation when a trustee is faced with the fiduciary interest as well as the competing interest leads to conflict of interest. A conflict of interest arises when we are required, in our official capacity, to decide on something in which we have a private interest. It could be a situation in which we are in a position to derive personal benefit from actions or decisions made in our official capacity as a trustee or head of an organization. For example, we are on the decision-making board and one of our family members or friends is an applicant for a job there, or one of them is bidding for a big contract.  It can also be a situation where we want to buy a property from or sell the trust property to our relative.  It can also be a situation when we want to buy supplies from our relative’s shop or company. Thus, we can see that conflict comes when decisions must be taken on issues in which the decision-giver and the decision-seeker are overtly or covertly related or associated. A conflict of interest is not, in and of itself, either unethical or illegal, for we find ourselves in a conflict of interest, not for any action of our own. What matters here is how we handle the situation. Hence, being faced with a conflict situation in itself means nothing. There’s nothing wrong with being in a conflict of interest. What is important and crucial is how we deal with it. It all depends on what choice or decision we make. It’s best to avoid conflicts when we can, disclose them when they occur, and keep ourselves off from the relevant decision if possible.

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Fr Alex G. SJ

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 “I was on the verge of leaving the congregation,” said Brother Ajeesh, recalling the weeks after the death of this father. “My father died three years ago, leaving behind my mother, my elder sister and me.  My mother is a housewife and my sister was yet to be settled.  According to the traditions of our place, it was now my duty to look after the family.  In fact, many suggested that I leave.  But one of the priests in the community where I had done my regency would call me almost daily and encourage me.  The provincial too would call me often and support me.  If not for their support and encouragement, I would have left.  Now, three years later, my sister is well settled, and my brother-in-law is such a good person that he takes care of my mother as if she were his own mother.  Things could not be better.”  What helped Ajeesh to outlive that difficult time and persevere was encouragement.

What is Encouragement?

“…what an amazing gift we can offer to others through encouragement! When we ‘en-courage’, it’s as though we actually infuse courage into another person. Encouragement can provide people with strength to look ahead, move forward, and reach for the next goal. The whole emotional tone of a tough situation can be transformed through encouragement.” (Julie Exline)

            The word “encourage” is made up of en + courage, that is to “make” or “put in” “courage, heart.”  So, to encourage literally means to “cause or create courage, to hearten.”  To encourage is “to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence” or “to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.”   When we reflect, we realize that what prevents us from attempting or doing something is either fear or lack of confidence.  There may be in us fear of failure, of ridicule, of rejection, of punishment, of the unknown, or of the future.  And often we lack confidence in ourselves, in our abilities, in our strengths, in others, in the system.  Thus, the fear of failure prevents us from doing something new. The fear of ridicule prevents us from sharing a new idea. The fear of rejection prevents us from trying new friendships. Lack of confidence in ourselves prevents us from taking new initiatives; lack of confidence in others prevents us from attempting common ventures.  We realize that it is often lack of confidence in ourselves and in our abilities that prevent us even from making the effort to correct or improve ourselves.

To encourage is to do whatever is needed to enable persons to overcome fear and lack of confidence. Encouragement takes two forms: supporting someone who is struggling, and affirming someone who has accomplished something.

            With encouragement, people are able to do things which they ordinarily might not do.  With encouragement, children are able to study better, community members are able to correct themselves, team members are able to give their best.  With encouragement, people reach their full potential and blossom.  Without encouragement, they remain underdeveloped and stunted.

This places a huge responsibility on each of us: “Could it be that those around me have not reached their full potential because I have not encouraged them sufficiently?”

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 Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil SDB

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Ronald is a midlevel manager at a private firm. Though very competent at his job, his colleagues and subordinates find him very reserved. He communicates very little with them and shares little information about himself. He often accuses them of trying to scuttle his promotion possibilities. He feels they are jealous of him. When anyone at office points out any failure on his part, he holds them responsible for those same failures and makes counteraccusations. He maintains a kind of closed, defensive and mistrustful position with them, as well as with those above him in the chain of command. This happens all the more if he perceives that they are a threat to his independence. Moreover, his tactlessness and attitudes of superiority, arrogance, and grandiosity antagonize people around him.

He is suspicious of his neighbours. He frequently keeps a watch on them secretly and maintains a distance from them. He suspects his wife of infidelity and accuses her of not loving him but other men. He does not like her socializing with anyone. When he returns home from any trip outside, he sniffs the air to pick up any trace of men’s perfumes and scrutinizes the room for telltale signs of the presence of men in the house….

Ronald’s brief profile shows him as suffering from paranoid personality disorder.

DYNAMICS AND CHARACTERISTICS

1. Suspicion

Inordinate suspicion is the distinctive feature of the paranoid personality disorder. Those who suffer from it are unwarrantedly skeptical and mistrusting of the motives of others. They look for hidden meanings and motives in others’ behaviour. They tend to interpret even innocuous incidents as signifying hidden or conspiratorial intent. This they do especially with those who do not appreciate them or criticise them

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FR JOSE PARAPPULLY SDB

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I received a call from my godmother on 20 January 2022, my birthday. After greeting me, she narrated a pathetic life story of a twenty-two-year-old-lady who lost her husband during the pandemic. Sharon (name changed) hailing from Thoothukudi, Tamilnadu, lost her mother at a young age. They were three children at home. Her alcoholic father had given her in marriage at the age of sixteen. Sharon was blessed with three children. She had to borrow a big sum of money to treat her husband when he was ill. Her husband succumbed to the Corona virus after few days. Sharon was burdened with Rs 1.25 lakhs in debt when her husband died.

When Sharon was sitting and crying with a heavy heart in St Quiteria’s Church, my godmother noticed her. Going closer to her, she enquired about the reason for her tears. After listening to her, she called me and narrated Sharon’s life story. I received Sharon as my greatest birthday gift and sent a message to our prayer group, asking for help. A lady by name Laura from Mumbai, whom I had never met  or ever spoken to, messaged me saying she would like to help. I sent her Sharon’s account details and, to my surprise, Laura sent Rs 45,000/- to help Sharon. Many other friends too came forward and we cleared her debts in a week’s time. We bought a tailoring machine for her. Today, Sharon lives happily after having cleared her debts. There are so many Sharons who need to be reached and be helped. If such families are not helped, financial burdens make some of them to end their lives.

Sad Statistics

Around 1.89 billion people, or nearly 36% of the world’s population, live in extreme poverty. Nearly half the population in developing countries live on less than $1.25 (about Rs 100) a day. India is a developing nation. Although its economy is growing, poverty is still a major challenge. It has around 84 million people living in extreme poverty, which makes up six percent of its total population as of May 2021. COVID 19 pandemic has pushed millions of people into poverty. The poorest in the world are hungry, have much less access to education, have no light at night regularly, and suffer much from poor health.

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Sr Lini Sheeja MSC

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I was twenty-twp, a final year MBA student, when I willingly attended a retreat for the first time. My two previous retreats were mandatory ones organized by the educational institutions I studied in. My rebellious streak ensured 100% resistance to whatever happened in those programmes!

This retreat, though—a neighbouring parish event preached by resources from the Divine Retreat Center—was different. I woke up the morning of the first day hearing a voice in my head, “go to the retreat!” This voice was persistent and sort of irresistible. I still remember a part of me thinking, “I’m going mad with hallucinations”, when I stepped into the church.

At that time, I was the first to ridicule spiritual folks—especially the charismatics. I took great pleasure in cracking jokes at their expense! I was never a serious Christian, and religion seemed like a futile exercise in ‘salvation by fear’ more than anything else, and I wanted no part in it.

And yet, something happened during this retreat. The voice in my head wouldn’t relent until I responded to the preaching and the worship. And, during the final adoration session, this voice kept challenging me to give up the many gods in my life—love of money, music, hatred of certain people, and so on. I ended up surrendering my life to Jesus and experiencing His presence. The encounter was tangible… almost physical… so real and unforgettable. It was like becoming a vessel, and God was pouring His presence into me, filling me with a crazy joy and awareness of Him.

Never the Same Again

I just knew I would never be the same again in those moments. God transformed me into what I had mocked the most till then—a charismatic Christian. God has a brilliant sense of humour, I guess!

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Gangai Victor

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