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In a recent study on Childhood and Contemporary Catholicism, Gerard Lemos shares a profound insight: despite shrinking families, shifting social values, and growing issues of trust and mistrust, children—particularly Catholic children—largely perceive God as a being of love and mercy. This discovery carries immense significance for the future of humanity. As we continue celebrating the birth of Jesus in this octave of newness, it resonates deeply with Pope Francis’ encyclical Dilexit Nos, which redefines love. No longer confined to exclusive relationships, this love builds bridges – uniting individuals, communities, and nature, our shared home. It inspires hearts to hear the cries of pain, moving us toward collective action for healing and renewal.

However, Lemos’ study also highlights a painful truth: trust has become a pitfall in today’s world. The erosion of trust, particularly within institutions like the Church, has deeply affected our ability to create safe spaces for children and vulnerable individuals. This failure calls for an honest reckoning, compelling us to rebuild trust as an essential foundation for enduring love. Without trust, love cannot flourish. Trust allows relationships to deepen, communities to thrive, and faith to grow. Dilexit Nos reminds us that enduring love must also be a healing love – one that restores trust where it has been broken and nurtures faith in the goodness of humanity.

The January issue of Magnet embraces this enduring love – a love that transforms lives, strengthens relationships, rebuilds trust, and upholds the sacredness of life across humanity and the cosmos. Through our cover stories and articles, we reflect on how we, as religious men and women, are called to embody and proclaim this enduring love through our lives and actions.

Our first cover story by Fr. Jayaseelan Savariarpitchai SDB explores the spiritual richness of Dilexit Nos, revealing how the Sacred Heart addresses humanity’s yearning for connection, compassion, and renewal. More than a symbol, the Sacred Heart is a call to love as Christ loved – a love that is both tender and transformative. In the second cover story, Sr. Benny reflects on the Sacred Heart’s resonance with feminine energy. She delves into the transformative power of love, healing, and sacrifice, showing how these universal virtues transcend gender while embracing divine and human compassion. Her article invites us to embody the Sacred Heart’s call to unity and self-giving love. The third cover story by John Bosco examines the spiritual connection countless individuals share with the Sacred Heart. He reflects on how devotion, from childhood to adulthood, offers solace and guidance through life’s challenges – a testament to the enduring power of divine love. In the fourth cover story, Sr. Anjala highlights Dilexit Nos’ invitation to live out Christ’s love in action. This is a love that goes beyond concepts, urging us to actively care for others and respond to the world’s pain. Br. Sunil’s article further explores this theme, bringing Dilexit Nos to life through poignant movie scenes, offering fresh and authentic expressions of compassion and discernment in living life from the heart.

This issue is further enriched by diverse voices that gently yet profoundly engage with the richness of love. Mr. Lavoisier reflects on Pope Francis’ leadership in making God’s love tangible in today’s world. Sch. Jayanth Christy SJ describes how forgiveness and love within his family made everyday life a celebration of Christmas. Sr. Celine honours the enduring legacy of Pope Paul VI, a Pontiff whose humility and vision continue to inspire. Joe Anthony’s portrayal of Sr. Mary Federick MC celebrates her as a pillar of faith and strength. Sr. Shalini reminds us of the sacraments as sacred channels of divine grace, connecting us to the mystery of God’s love and salvation. Sr. Vineetha highlights how Catholic priests and nuns in Kerala have brought hope to those struggling with land disputes, turning faith into compassionate action. Through Dr. Renu’s inspiring story, Janina demonstrates the transformative power of saying “yes” to God’s call. Fr. Joe Mannath challenges us to go beyond surface-level faith practices to embody Christ’s teachings of love and forgiveness. Prof. Gigy’s review of Born Into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids reveals the untapped potential and innocence in society’s forgotten corners. Fr. Jeyaraj emphasizes the holistic contributions individuals make to society as markers of a meaningful life. Sr. Mary Scaria reflects on the importance of teaching constitutional values as a cornerstone for forming character. Novice Oswin reminds us to safeguard every child’s dignity, ensuring they are cherished and raised in love and faith. Br. Carmel shares reflections on the resilience of Kenyan communities, inspiring hope for a young Church filled with promise. Sr. Lini addresses systemic inequalities as she focuses on the harsh realities of drought and debt, echoing Dilexit Nos’ call to embrace love in action. Fr. Jose invites us to explore spiritual journaling as a transformative tool for growth. Fr. Vincy MSFS reflects on the simple, practical, and enduring spirituality of Francis de Sales, which remains relevant and inspiring in today’s world.

This issue of Magnet is a testament to synodality and inclusivity, bringing together the voices of religious and lay contributors united in their reflections on enduring love. As editor, journeying through these contributions is more than a task; it is an invitation to be transformed and united with writers and readers.

This issue also celebrates Mary, Mother of God, whose faith and love continue to inspire us. I am deeply grateful to our dedicated team, our writers, and you, our readers, for joining us on this journey of reflection and renewal.

As we step into the New Year, may we carry the light of enduring love in our hearts. Wishing each one of you a joyful and grace-filled 2025!

Pushpa Joseph

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On November 15, 2024, the Kerala Regional CRI Executive Members’ meeting took place at the Pastoral Orientation Centre (POC) in Palarivattom, offering a day of spiritual reflection and community building. The gathering was graced by Bishop Yoohanon Mar Theodosius – the Metropolitan Bishop of the Eparchy of Muvattupuzha of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church,  Fr. Saju Chakkalakkal CMI, President of the National CRI, Sr. Ardra SIC, President of the Kerala Conference of Major Superiors (KCMS), and representatives from 21 CRI units across the region.

Adoration and Introspection

Bishop Yoohanon Mar Theodosius opened the session with a profound reflection on the role of adoration and introspection in a world increasingly dominated by technology. He observed the growing prevalence of artificial intelligence and its expanding influence on daily life, but cautioned that AI could never replace the profound works of mercy that are essential to human life and faith.

Sr. Vineetha CSJ

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Christmas has always held a special place in my heart. It’s a time for love, celebration, and reflection. I was born on Christmas Day, 25th December, to a simple and loving family. My parents, Marriayappa and Hellean Mary, worked hard to support us, and love was always at the center of our home. I wasn’t born alone—God sent me a twin, Jaswanth Christy, as my lifelong companion. Together, we grew up in a world full of warmth, with Christmas always being a magical time for us.

During our childhood in a boarding school in Mysore, Karnataka, Christmas meant more than just decorations and gifts—it was a time to reflect on the deeper meaning of love and connection. We wanted this Christmas to be different. We longed to surprise our parents with a meaningful gift to show our appreciation for their love and sacrifices. We discussed ideas and decided to create simple yet heartfelt gifts.

The plan was set. We pooled our resources, put our creativity to work, and prepared thoughtful presents. As the day to head home for the holidays approached, excitement filled the air. But in my haste to pull the gift from the bag, it slipped from my hand and fell to the floor. The beautiful glass menagerie, with a picture of our family, shattered.

I was devastated. Our heartfelt gift had broken, and our efforts seemed wasted. But when we presented the broken gift to our parents, their reaction was nothing like I expected. They hugged us tightly and kissed our foreheads, reassuring us that the love behind the gift was what mattered most. The gift was broken, but not the love that bound us. In that moment, I realized Christmas is truly about love—the love God showed us by sending His only Son and the love we share with those closest to us.

Sch Jayanth Christy SJ

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The term “sacrament” holds a profound and multi-layered meaning within Christian theology. It goes beyond just rituals or ceremonies, carrying deep spiritual significance. To truly understand what a sacrament entails, one must examine its biblical roots, historical evolution, and its ongoing significance in contemporary Christian life. The sacraments are channels of divine grace, connecting us to the mystery of God’s love and salvation.

1. Jesus Christ, the Foundation of the Christian Sacraments

At the heart of Christian sacramental theology lies Jesus Christ. He is not only the foundation but the very fulfillment of the Sacraments. As the Word made flesh, He is the ultimate revelation of God’s love. In Him, heaven and earth meet; He is the bridge between the divine and the human. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus instituted the sacraments to carry on His work of salvation.

Consider the moment of Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River. In Matthew 3:16-17, Scripture tells us, “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him. And behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'” This moment marks not only the beginning of Christ’s public ministry but also the beginning of sacramental life, where the visible sign (the water) conveys the invisible grace of the Holy Spirit.  The sacraments are encounters with Christ, who is the ultimate source of grace.

Sr Shalini Xavier CTC

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Tom Hiney, a priest-writer, describes her as “without doubt one of the most influential British Catholics of the modern era.” Interestingly, this highly influential British Catholic spent most of her long life in Kolkotta, India. Her name is Sr. Mary Frederick, M.C. But Mary Frederick is not her original name. She was baptized Helen Gladys Douglas. Her father, Frederick Douglas, was a government clerk in London and moved to Malta to serve the British Army during the First World War and, except for a few years, lived in Malta all his life.

Helen studied in a school, run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition, where catechism was given a lot of importance. Hiney describes what happened one day, when she was around ten years old. She was swimming near their beach house, with Doris, her elder sister, watching from the beach. Helen got her foot caught in something and her head began to disappear under the water and Doris froze in panic. Helen, realizing that she was probably going to die, remembered what she had been taught by the Sisters and made an act of contrition. The next minute she felt like someone pushing her out of the water. Her foot came loose and she swam to shore.

FR M A JOE ANTONY SJ

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I had a stunning encounter with a prudent child at Loyola Primary School, my Saturday social ministry place. He opened his Pandora’s box of questions and posed a perplexing yet remarkable one: “Who came first, the hen or the chicken?” I remained bewildered and flabbergasted for a few seconds. Another companion who had come along with me bravely answered him with a counter-question: “Who was born first, you or your parents?” The student, with a broad smile, responded, “I’m the child of my parents, so they were born first.” “So did the hen,” replied my companion.

Truly, it’s a great thing to spend time and enjoy with children. Their innocent and kind nature always attracts me and, at times, makes me petrified. However, the rising brutality and violence against these young children is a cause for concern. People think that these children don’t have  much value and are thus often neglected. This is not the story of this century alone, but this evil has existed even since the time of Jesus. A very famous passage in the Bible can indeed prove this. When some people brought their little ones to Jesus, the disciples of Jesus objected to them meeting Him (Luke 18:15-17). But Jesus rebuked His disciples and allowed the children to meet Him. He embraced the little ones and blessed them.

Oswin Fernandes, NSJ

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The 1% Solution for Work and Life: How to Make Your Next 30 Days the Best Ever (2011)  

Tom Connellan

This seven-chapter book, written in an engaging fictional style, offers insights on achieving excellence in various areas of life, including career and personal growth. It features charts that aid comprehension and employs a commonsense approach that is both appealing and practical. The key idea is simple yet rarely implemented: making small changes can lead to a more satisfying life. For instance, while most adults know that the body requires at least eight hours of sleep daily, they often ignore this advice unless they see convincing evidence from people they trust who have successfully applied it.

The book’s message centers on Ken, who feels dissatisfied with his settled life until he meets his son’s soccer coach, Jim. Jim’s training transformed Ken’s son, Jake, into part of a winning team. Sharing his journey, Jim explains how observing Olympic athletes inspired him to move from mediocrity to excellence by focusing on the “1% solution.” This principle emphasizes that success comes from small, consistent improvements. For instance, the difference between a gold medalist and fourth place is often just 1%. While not everyone can be the best, anyone can strive to be 1% better each day. Adopting this mindset allows individuals to excel without overwhelming themselves, aligning with the Olympic motto: “Aim to be swifter, higher, stronger—not swiftest, highest, strongest.”

To be exceptional, motivation drives action, which in turn fuels more motivation and achievement. Start where you are and focus on performing your best in the present. Deliberate practice enhances performance, and success comes from focusing on possibilities rather than fears of failure. Equally vital is recharging through rest, sleep, and vacations to maintain energy and focus.

Pope Francis: The Pope from the End of the Earth (2013)

Thomas J. Craughwell 

This book offers a comprehensive profile of Pope Francis, illustrated with over 60 photographs. Published shortly after his election, the book traces Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s life from his early years in Argentina to his papacy. In the foreword, Cardinal Sean O’Malley describes it as a “beautiful encounter – in picture and in words – with Pope Francis.”

The narrative begins with the dramatic announcement of Cardinal Bergoglio as the 266th Pope on March 13, 2013, underlining his many historic firsts: the first Pope from outside Europe, the first Jesuit Pope, and the first to take the name Francis, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi. This choice reflected his core values: care for the poor, simplicity, environmental concern, and a commitment to reform. His humility and warmth continued after his election, exemplified by his first Holy Thursday foot-washing ceremony in a juvenile prison.

The book provides insights into the early life of Pope Francis in Argentina, where he was born into an Italian immigrant family that fled Fascist Italy in 1929. It explores his unexpected choice of a religious vocation, his life as a Jesuit, and his courage in defending the faith during Argentina’s ‘Dirty War,’ a period when many remained silent or supported the oppressive regime. His papacy came at a critical time for the Church, marked by sex abuse and financial scandals, which he addressed with openness and determination, leaving a profound impact on the Church and the world.

Key moments of his papacy are detailed alongside his devotion to Our Lady Undoer of Knots and significant homilies. Additional chapters cover the history of the papacy, papal election processes, and his installation as Pope, offering valuable insights for both the faithful and general readers.

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Jesus’ teachings and Christian moral principles can look easy and even superficial when seen in the wrong light. No long prayers, no special diet, no special dress, so special place for prayer.

What makes discipleship hard—at times even heroically hard—is the way we are asked to treat one another.

To love our enemies, to do good to those who harm us.

One of the hardest parables of Jesus is the one about the unforgiving servant. The king forgives him an incredibly huge debt. But then the same servant treats a fellow servant who owes him a small sum very harshly. Hearing this, the king gets furious, has him arrested and thrown into prison.

As an inspiring Catholic wife and mother used to say about her sons who caused her much pain through alcoholism and irresponsible behaviour, “How can I complain about my children’s ingratitude when I have been so ungrateful to God for His great and never failing blessings?

In my latest book, It’s Him!, I have a chapter on forgiveness, called “The Hardest (and the Best) Part.” In it I give several true stories of heroic forgiveness.

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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The Jubilee is “an event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church,” said Pope Francis in his letter which announced the Jubilee.  This yearlong celebration marks the 2,025-year anniversary of the Incarnation of the Lord.  It is indeed a time of grace.

Origins of the Jubilee

The Jubilee Year has its origins in the Old Testament, where it was instituted as a time of renewal, forgiveness, and liberation. According to the Book of Leviticus, every 50th year was to be a jubilee year, marked by the restoration of properties, the liberation of slaves, and the forgiveness of debts (Lev 25:8-13). It was a divine mandate intended to address economic disparities, restore equality, and ensure that society would remain grounded in justice and compassion.  The jubilee year was inaugurated by blowing a ram’s horn or trumpet, called yobel in Hebrew. The name jubilee is derived from the name of this instrument

The Jubilee was established for the first time in the Catholic Church by Pope Boniface VII in 1300.  He established it to promote spiritual renewal and pilgrimages to Rome.  Originally it was intended to be celebrated every 100 years.  However, due to the profound impact it had on the faithful, subsequent popes saw the value in holding it more frequently. In 1350, Pope Clement VI declared another Jubilee only 50 years after the first, and in 1475 Pope Paul II decided that Jubilees would occur every 25 years. This allowed more people to experience the blessings of a jubilee in their lifetime. This 25-year cycle remains the standard, although popes can and have declared “extraordinary” Jubilees outside of this schedule, in response to particular circumstances, as Pope Francis did with the Jubilee of Mercy in 2015.

The Main Elements of the Jubilee

The Jubilee serves as a time of spiritual rejuvenation, where the faithful are encouraged to seek forgiveness, renew their faith, and engage in acts of mercy.  Some of the main ways in which this is done is through pilgrimage, passing through the Holy Door, reconciliation, prayer, gaining of indulgences, penance, and acts of mercy.  These are not isolated acts but interrelated.

Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”

– Jimmy Carter (President of the USA from 1977-1981).

            In the previous issue, we discussed the social dimension from the viewpoint of interpersonal relationships between individuals and within the community. However, the social dimension of wholeness is made up of broader aspects such as, CULTURE, JUSTICE, EQUALITY and ECOLOGY. These are integral elements of wholeness which are not often emphasized by priests and religious both in their personal life style and in their ministry. In fact, we are proficient in differentiating people based on their culture, language, caste, colour and creed. Prejudices, biases and assumptions are generously utilised to make rules and norms that are exclusive rather than inclusive.

Are we a Melting Pot or a Beautiful Mosaic?

We consider diversity as a threat and therefore, fail to see differences as a gift, and what is more, we fail to benefit from them. Conversely, the opposite attitude that a religious should imbibe is to welcome these differences as a treasure to be cherished. Maybe, the following questions would introduce us to the theme we would like to discuss here.

At the community level:

• Do you live in an intercultural or ethnic community with confreres and sisters hailing from a cultural group different from yours?
• How do you feel when you find yourself living with a community member who thinks and acts very differently from what you are accustomed to?
• Do you feel Excited? Fed up? Irritated? Tolerating? Confused? Or Adjusting? Accepting?

At the level of province or Region:

• How does your Province/Region deal with diversity and cultural differences among its members?
• Are the intercultural differences appreciated and cherished in your province?
• Are there subtle or strong tension or polarity between locals and foreigners, majority and minority groups, and elderly and young?
• What are the common prejudices held about the various groups and how do these prejudices affect the fraternity of the Province/Region and its mission?

Each of these questions are profoundly self-reflective and transformative if we choose to reflect on them in the right spirit. If we do this through the lens of interconnectedness, we would understand that Culture, Justice, Equality and Ecology are, indeed, integral elements of wholeness.

This concept is very well echoed in Fratelli tutti, wherein Pope Francis extends a meaningful invitation to everyone saying, “Let us dream, then, as a single human family, as fellow travellers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all” (FT, no. 8). The value that we are invited to learn is Love for Society, with all its richness and limitations.

Fr. Dr. Joseph Jeyaraj, sdb

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