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CRYSTAL

When I hear the words “spiritual accompaniment,’ my first thought is to look back to the experiences of the apostle Paul. He was not born an apostle of Christ; indeed, he was a zealous persecutor of Christians. However, through a series of events, both miraculous and mundane, he was introduced to a man named Barnabas, who guided him through the stages of being a new believer to becoming one of the greatest saints of all time.  Although Paul is the one who receives the most recognition and praise, it would be fair to say that Barnabas played a crucial role in Christian history.

Who are these men and women who are the teachers and guides of Christians, saints and sinners alike?  I am sure that most all of us have had some form of spiritual accompaniment, whether we would think of it in those terms or not. This certainly includes our parents, our teachers, and anyone in our past who helped form our understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ.  Those that stand out as exceptional are, like Barnabas, actively and intentionally guiding us with the recognition of our personal circumstances and personality traits.

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Crystal and Kevin Sullivan

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It is by listening to Eckhart Tolle that I am learning to move from my life situation to my life. My life situations have not always been easy. I have experienced many difficulties, which I now see as part of a past that held many lessons for me. After being a star pupil in school and college and whilst doing my M.Phil in International Relations, when my thesis was rejected, I experienced a deflation that seemed to me the end of my academic career at that time.

Arrogance of an Artificial World

I moved to the newspaper world where competition seemed to be the order of the day. It was all about getting scoops and being in the thick of things and politics, treating life as a contest. This bred in me a kind of arrogance which made me think that I had a privileged position in life.

A trip to the UN on an internship with UFER, an NGO, in America, transported me to a surreal world, in which people flitted in and out of conferences, in a rarified atmosphere of diplomats and self-important people. This false sense of self was accentuated when I did a brief stint working with the Community Relations Council in Leamington Spa in the U.K. I would visit Indian homes, where their residents had come straight out of a village in Punjab, where the women were still cloistered and who were in a sense seen as aliens in a land that felt culturally and intellectually superior to them. I remember putting up a performance when I addressed some local English policemen on Indian behaviors and the mental attitudes of immigrants.

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Janina Gomes

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Reason for becoming a nurse:

Nursing is a professional degree case and provides you security and scope to work abroad.

Inspiration:

Many of relatives are my inspiration.

Happy moments:

When we see patients improve, get well and get discharged.

Sad moments:

Patients’ suffering and death. Example: When I was on Covid duty, a patient was brought in with fever. The next day, she was put on a ventilator—and died soon.

Worries:

During the pandemic, we naturally worry about our getting Covid.

Moments when we feel bad:

When patients have to go through painful medical procedures.

What we bring them:

Good nursing care, as well as psychological support.

A tough situation I faced:

One day, when I was on duty, someone was brought in as an outpatient. She was paralyzed, and suffered from bed sores. Then she got a heart attack and died.

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Clincy Thomas

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Recently, to my pleasant surprise, I met some of my former students from the seminary. They are priests now, some of them doing distinguished and creative work. The seminary was a real home, where they felt at home, and free to be themselves. For instance, many of them called me “Joe” (I was their professor, or dean, or vice-rector).

Meeting on the Net, one of them said, “Joe, you let us ask questions and let us think. This was a great help.” Others agreed.

This is not my merit. I owe this to professors I had in Rome and in the US, where we were encouraged to think for ourselves, ask questions, express different points of view. We were not told to “shut up and listen.”  I remember one brilliant professor who made changes in the textbook he had written as a result of our classroom discussions. He felt that some of the views we, students, expressed were worth integrating into the text. He said that he had gained new insights from the classroom discussion.

Education has three basic goals: to pass on existing knowledge to a new generation, to help them use their brains in creative ways, to develop soft skills (character, communication, relationships), including basic human values.

In the Indian way of teaching (in both schools and colleges—including seminaries and other formation houses), handing on existing knowledge is the priority. “Mugging up” is encouraged. Whoever can repeat correctly what the teacher taught in class will get high marks.

Creativity and thinking for oneself are not encouraged. At times they are positively discouraged, or even punished. The assumption seems to be: The teacher knows; the pupil does not. Let the pupil keep quiet and learn.

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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This year, in this month, when we remember the dead, may I suggest we remember lovingly the following groups of persons, and do something for the sad survivors?

COVID ORPHANS

At least 440,000 people have died of Covid in India (according to Government estimates). The Internal Press believe that the actual Indian figures are much higher.

So many deaths mean: so many bereaved spouses and other family members. Among them are thousands of children who have lost one or both parents. They need help urgently. They need shelter, food, education, access to medical care, a loving, listening heart (counselling) to them get over the tragic losses and sense of helplessness.

VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE

Think of Myanmar. Think of Afghanistan. Think of innocent people killed anywhere in the world. They are soon forgotten. Their families continue to suffer. The powerful of this world get media attention and enjoy financial and muscle power. Their victims are often unknown—or soon forgotten.

VICTIMS OF HUNGER

The world has more than enough resources to feed everyone, but injustice, violence and bad distribution keeps many people hungry. India is in a very bad situation on the hunger index. Many more Indians than we may think lack food. While governments need to tackle this tragedy on a large and systematic basis, all of us can do something to provide food or provisions to at least a few persons or families. This does not require much money.

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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SET ASIDE A TIME FOR READING

Sr Margaret Power PBVM

Here is one more contribution—a brief and meaningful one—on the reading habit (which was the cover theme of the August issue).

1. What difference has reading made to your life?

• • Helps me to get new ideas, thoughts and a lot of information.
  • It relaxes my mind, especially when I am stressed.
  • I love to learn new words, phrases and ways of expression.

2. Any book or author that has had a deep impact on you?

• • Joan Chittister (especially The fire in These Ashes, Radical Spirit, Following the Path) and Margaret Silf, especially The Other Side of Chaos.

3. How did you develop the reading habit?

• • I wasn’t a good reader earlier on. Gradually I developed the reading habit as I grew older. I saw the need. I saw what it could do for me.

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Sr Margaret Power PBVM

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At the end of the twentieth century, there was an international conference in Canada on education. One of the key themes discussed was: What should be the goals of education in the XXI century?

Why such a query?

Given the arrival and fast growth and development of computers and the Internet, up-to-date information is available on the Net. It is also fast and cheap. You can easily access it on a laptop or in your smart phone. Then why attend a school or college?

What is the relevance of educational institutions? Are they becoming obsolete?

Goal of Education

The conference clarified and re-defined the goals of education.

The goal of education is no longer to create the LEARNED person, but to CREATE THE LIFE-LONG LEARNER.

What does this mean?

Today, no one knows where the jobs will be thirty or fifty years from now, nor what qualifications will be needed for it.

A college will not be able to tell its students: We shall provide you a degree, and with that you will be able to get life-long employment.

No, that world is largely gone.

We have moved from the Industrial Age to the Information Technology Age. Many of us still live mentally in the Industrial Age.

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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Sarah Harvey (Bluebird Publishers, 2019)

How often do we wish we could change certain things in our life—spending habits or eating habits, setting the house in order, and yet feel frustrated that we never really do it! New Year resolutions are often forgotten within a week, to be revived again next year. Harvey offers a practical way of achieving these. What is needed is to reframe our whole approach to such issues and practice the art of Kaizen—the Japanese method of ‘continual improvement.’  Kaizen has been developed by the Japanese industry, with spectacular results. It later became part of the practices of industry and business management the world over. Kaizen techniques first appeared as part of the industrial enterprise as a concept that the Americans used during the World War to ensure industrial workers’ contribution and participation to achieve greater efficiency and output. During the post war reconstruction, the Japanese adapted it and achieved spectacular success. But it goes much farther than that.  It is a mode of thinking that can change our everyday life and actually transform the way we feel about ourselves, our goals and environment. Kaizen (literally ‘small improvement’ or ‘good change’) is step by step, or incremental. It insists on small tasks that build up towards a desired change. Derived from Zen philosophy, it assumes that our way of life – be it our work, social life, home or habits—deserve to be constantly improved. Thus, from an organizational theory, Kaizen is now considered a practicable way of personal development. It is essentially a Japanese way of looking at life in its simplicity and beauty, involving a kind of minimalism in all things—a workable alternative, whether it is building a house, or a garden, sports and games, psychotherapy, or spiritual life. We must break free from bad habits, keep trace of the progress that we make in the chosen direction and above all practice self-compassion. The author provides the reader with practical tips at the end of each section.

Finding Frassati: And Following His Path to Holiness

By Christine M Wohar (EWTN Publisher, 2021)

What has the world got to say about a robust, fun-loving, popular, handsome youth, sportsman, mountaineer, swimmer and lover of poetry, who frequented museums, opera, music and  was fond of practical jokes, an occasional drink or a cigar and fiercely devoted to his Catholic ideals despite his father’s agnosticism? Today he is a prospective candidate for sainthood. Pier Giorgio Michelangelo Frassati died in 1925 aged 23 in Turin, Italy. During his beatification in 1990, Pope John Paul called him “Man of the Eight Beatitudes.” In 1991, when his tomb was opened, his body was found to be intact and uncorrupted. He is venerated as the patron of World Youth Day. He was the son of Alfredo Frassati, politician and Ambassador to Germany and the founder-owner of a national newspaper La Stampa. His mother, Adelaide Ametis, was a famous painter.  From his early youth he worked in various capacities in church organizations, where he never missed an opportunity to serve the poor, the needy the sick and orphans. The Eucharist and Marian devotion formed the most important part of his faith life. Giorgio was a deeply devoted social activist committed to Catholic ideals. He believed we should move from charity to social justice, took part in demonstrations for social justice, and opposed both Communists and Fascists.

His spiritual enthusiasm and radiant joyfulness attracted everyone. His friends called him an “explosion of joy.” For him, mountaineering was a physical and spiritual experience. His motto was verso l’alto (toward the top). He used such occasions for apostolic work, praying and reading scriptures with fellow climbers.  He studied mining engineering with the professed purpose of serving Christ among the miners. While awaiting his graduation, he contracted poliomyelitis from someone whom he had been caring for, and died after a few days of intense suffering.  Even on his deathbed, Giorgio was consumed by his concern for a sick friend whom he was trying to help. His funeral was a big event that surprised everyone, including his family. Thousands of poor people turned up as mourners, and most of them did not even know his social status. An inspiring, unconventional youth man, who can inspire many today.

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Prof Gigy Joseph

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Paul, Apostle of Christ

Director: Andrew Hyatt * Cast: Jim Caviezel, James Faulkner Olivier Martinez, Joanne Whalley John Lynch (2018, 108 minutes)

The movie dramatizes the last days of St Paul the Apostle against the background of the brutal persecution of Christians under the Emperor Nero, who was actually responsible for the burning down of Rome, but blames the Christians. Paul is imprisoned, to be executed as their leader…

Unbroken

Director: Angelina Jolie * Cast: Jack O’Connell         Domhnall Gleeson, Garrett Hedlund, Miyavi, Finn Wittrock, Jai Courtney, Maddalena Ischiale,           Vincenzo Amato, John Magaro, Luke Treadaway, Louis McIntosh (2014, 137 minutes)

Based on the life story of the American Olympian and World War veteran, Louis Zamperini (Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption), the movie highlights human faith, endurance, courage and forgiveness. Young Louis Zamperini is a rebellious delinquent, bullied by schoolmates and a source of worry for his parents. He becomes a long distance champion and celebrity, who distinguished himself in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, even congratulated by Hitler…

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This magazine reaches all the Catholic bishops of India and every major superior of religious orders, as well as thousands of religious communities and an increasing number of well-educated lay women and men.

The main responsibility of a religious superior—bishop, provincial, local superior, parish priest—is not administration, but animation.

Details of administration—financial matters, property dealings, salaries, bank accounts, …–are better left to experts. One becomes a religious or priest, or is then appointed to a position of leadership, not for one’s expertise in accounts and putting up buildings, or doing marketing and banking.

In church settings, a superior’s main role is animation—dealing with people in a Christ-like manner, helping people on their inner journey, creating loving communities, reaching out the weakest and most forgotten, helping younger members to become humanly and spiritually mature. It would be sad and a terrible let down, if a community superior, provincial or bishop were good at money matters and material constructions, but poor or deficient in helping people reach the goals for which they are members of the Church or of a religious order or priesthood.

This, unfortunately, happens—more frequently than it should. As an experienced priest-psychologist once told me, “If I am putting up a building, and want information on bricks and cement, there are many priests and religious who can advise me on this; but if I have a problem of faith, or some other spiritual struggle, it is hard to find a priest or religious who can help me with this.”

Animation is the heart of the matter—not putting up or maintaining buildings or investing money cleverly.

A key element of animation is what is called “accompaniment.”

This includes what goes by such names as counselling, spiritual direction, confession, manifestation of conscience, chat with the superior, etc.

In simple and direct terms: We choose to be part of the Church, or join religious life or the priesthood, not just to teach maths and English, or be a doctor or nurse or social worker, or maintain accounts and properties. These activities can be done by anyone. They do not require faith in Jesus, or a spiritual life, or, much less, celibate community life.

We belong to the Church, or join special groups within it, to get closer to God, to live as God wants us to, and to share His compassionate love with others. This involves growing into mature human beings—loving, genuine, happy, responsible, creative—and keeping Jesus as our model.

This type of growth and ministry requires accompaniment. We need inspiring people to whom we feel free to open our minds and hearts, share our most beautiful dreams and most shameful or painful secrets—and receive, not condemnation, but compassionate help for healing and growth.

This is, in fact, the main work of what is called formation. Formation is not mere teaching, or filling the minds of the young with good ideas. It involves creating a loving and joyful atmosphere where a young person can grow up into a mature and Christ-like adult, helped by good example, opportunities for growth and, especially, chances for loving and competent accompaniment.

This issue is devoted to this important—and often neglected—aspect of formation and other animation ministries.

When we were born, our parents and other family members “accompanied” us twenty-four hours a day, seeing to our every need. We were totally dependent.

As an adult, I am the one mainly responsible for my growth and happiness. But I need help. I need people to whom I can turn with complete confidence, and share my inner world, and learn to take wise decisions, correct defects, overcome weaknesses, realize my potential.

When hold a position of leadership or authority, my main duty is to accompany those in my care, lovingly, joyfully, patiently, and with a certain degree of competence.

This accompaniment has different levels and forms. Read the cover story and see.

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Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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