DNC Times - April -May 2015

April - May 2015April - May 201502

he devotion of believers is drawn towards

Mother Mary, a humble handmaid of God. As Ta kid, I often felt at home with Mother Mary,

just as any kid would feel with a mother. I often

admired her as a loving mother, who had the privilege

of following her son so very closely. Besides that,

Marian devotion in the family helped me grow under

her care and protection. There are thousands of

families around the globe, just like my family, for

whom Mary stands as a model of strength.

Mary's journey in our salvation history from

Bethlehem to Calvary was in loving obedience to

God's will. This obedience and acceptance of God's

will with a whole hearted 'yes' makes her a model for

every believer. Let's not forget that she was the first

disciple of Jesus. One cannot speak of salvation

history, without mentioning the name of our heavenly

mother. Will I be wrong if I say that our salvation

history is incomplete without mentioning the name of

Mary?

Down the ages,

Mother Mary is seen as

someone who witnessed the

sufferings of Jesus and stood

by him. Today, she stands in

solidarity with all believers

who suffer in various ways.

She was a mother who

accompanied her son till the

cross and thereafter she

stayed with the disciples and

offered her comforting

presence. I believe, that

even today, Mother Mary

still stands as a source of

c o m f o r t t o s u f f e r i n g

humanity.

Today, the world and especially India is struck

by the aggressive wave of fundamentalism. The

ongoing attacks on Churches and other minority groups

in many ways is uncalled for, especially, in a country

like India, which for long has been known as the cradle

of world religions. Ghar Wapsi and other such

ideological threats have no doubt created certain

amount of confusion in the minds of Christians in India.

We are in need of a Christian response to the socio-

political and religious crisis of our times.

The present edition of DNC Times focuses on

the topic – Mother Mary and also sheds some light on

the aspect of the Christian response to the attacks on

minorities. The variety of write ups and opinions will

help us to look at the issues from various angles. I am

sure, the write ups from Mr John Dayal, Mr Ram

Puniyani and Fr Dominic Emmanuel not only inspire

but also challenge.

In these troubled times

of ours, I believe that

Mother Mary can and

will be an inspiration to

us. The woman from

Bethlehem, who faced

the reality of her times

boldly, with a deep sense

of faith and courage, is

an example to us today.

As Mary stood by her

son till the end, we

religious, on this earthly

journey need to stand by

the faithful, with a

hopeful glance on the

Master of the universe.

EditorialEditorial

Vishwas Misquith, SJ

he sweetest memory that I have is of a day in

my childhood when my mother knelt before Tthe lady who holds her wounded son on her

lap. I was looking intently into my mother's eyes; they

began to swell with tears. She then gently pointed me

towards the statue, her tears running down and

cooingly whispered in my ears, “She is your mother

baby and she will protect you.” Even now, I have not

been able to fathom the meaning of my mother's sighs

but I do know that she cried before a Mother who

understands.

There is always an ideal self which we would

love to be. The ideal and the reality are perfectly

merged in Mary, the Mother of God. The message of

the annunciation paraphrases her as a woman “full of

grace.” The role of Mary is not merely passive in the

Annunciation, but an active one. Her fiat was an

unconditional surrender to the mystery which had not

yet unfolded. In the Annunciation, Mary stands as the

paramount pinnacle of self surrender to God's ever

unfolding wisdom. It is a surrender which stems out

from the core of human freedom and love.

The most beautiful blessing a woman can have

is to be a mother. Mary went with haste to meet her

cousin, Elizabeth, who had been blessed in her

advanced age to be a mother. The meeting point of two

blessed souls turns out to be not only the “Pentecost

before the Pentecost,” but also the first Eucharistic

procession: Mary carrying Jesus in her womb.

In the Magnificat, the blissful response of her

holy soul is seen in the thanking and the acceptance of

virtues without any egoism. In our present day culture

of individualism and consumerism it is very difficult to

understand and accept the counter cultural example

shown by the Mother of God: being nothing in order to

be everything or being a slave to be a queen.

The wedding feast at Cana is one of the few

incidents in the Gospel in which Mary is mentioned. It

is interesting to note that rather than the host it is Mary

who has taken the initiative to inform Jesus that the

wine is over. Mary stands as a woman who knows her

son's heart and a beautiful miracle is seen when the

water pots are filled and brought to Our Blessed Lord.

Richard Crashaw describes this magnificently when he

says, “The unconscious waters saw their God, and

blushed.” Invite Mary to your life and you too will

definitely feel the difference.

Mary's life is a silent accompaniment of Jesus

and as the gospel puts it, “She treasured all in her heart.”

She accompanied her son to the cross with heroic

silence even as tears streamed down her cheek.

Although her heart was pierced, she never uttered a

word.

Mary is ultimately a woman of strong faith and

charity. She was there at the 'Pentecost' before the first

Pentecost i.e. the Visitation and also at the Pentecost in

which the missionary outburst took place. The imitation

of Mary will certainly help us to follow Christ. As a

loving mother who lovingly gazes on her child, Mary is

with us throughout our lives. She is the shortest way to

Jesus Christ. Thus, Mary stands before us a woman par

excellence and beyond comparison.

03

Mary – A Woman beyond ComparisonMary – A Woman beyond ComparisonArticle

Tinu Francis, SJ


t is undeniable that Mary is the most powerful

figure of veneration in the Christian tradition. IMarian devotion has a central place in the

Catholic Church as well as in the Eastern Orthodox

tradition. Pope Francis speaks of the evangelizing

power of popular piety in Evangelii Gaudium. To

retrieve this evangelising power of popular Marian

piety and of popular Marian devotion, we need to re-

discover the Mary of the Gospels to understand who

she was and her unique role in God's plan of salvation.

We need a paradigm shift

in our understanding and

veneration of Mary: from

the domesticated Mary to

the dynamic woman she is

in God's salvific plan; from

popular Marian piety and

devot ion to popula r

Marian spirituality and the

mysticism of the Marian

people (Ref. Pope Francis,

Evangelii Gaudium).

In order to make

this shift we need to

understand Mary from an interdisciplinary perspective

which was given to us at Vatican II - Chapter 8 of

Lumen Gentium, namely, from the biblical,

Christological, ecclesiological, anthropological,

ecumenical and pastoral perspectives. This paradigm

shift and inter-disciplinary approach also entails re-

reading Marian dogmas and doctrines, and re-situating

them within the framework of Mary's dynamic

participation in God's work, especially in his salvific

work for the human and cosmic cause.

The four Gospels present Mary as the ordinary

Jewish woman coming from the town of Nazareth. But

we cannot deny the fact that she was a historical

woman and from this insignificant background, the

Gospels also present her as a woman of faith, a perfect

'anawim of Yahweh,' especially for her openness,

receptivity and her active participation in Jesus'

Kingdom mission – from Cana to Calvary and at

Pentecost. This woman of the Beatitudes and of the

Magnificat is a model of perfect discipleship.

I believe that there are times when we have

denigrated Mary by associating her with very passive

virtues. However, when we try

to re-read and re-interpret all

the Marian scriptural texts,

using the exegetical and

hermeneutical methods, she

comes across as a dynamic

woman of courage who was

empowered with God's grace.

These Marian texts bring out

the power of womanhood very

significantly, which express the

spirituality of womanhood, the

spirituality of humanhood.

Mary is also a woman of

solitude, a pondering woman. This pondering woman

is not one who is passively silent, but someone who

enjoyed and relished being in the presence of God,

being always attentive to His will in silence and in

solitude. This was her God experience - her spirituality,

which is very meaningful for us, particularly in the

chaotic and challenging context of our times today,

where the culture of speed, noise and violence prevails.

To conclude, Mary is not merely someone whom we

admire and have a need-based devotion to, but rather

she is someone who inspires us to imitate her in her

discipleship and her spirituality.

04

ArticleEvelyn Monteiro,SCC

A Dynamic WomanA Dynamic Woman


e can proudly affirm that Mary is the

model for our Church today. This Wassertion is the result of our different

experiences. A strong foundation for such a claim also

comes from our experience of Marian devotions,

pilgrimages, shrines and the numerous titles in honour

of Mary namely, Mary

a s c o n s o l e r a n d

comforter, Mary as

i n t e r c e s s o r a n d

provider etc. However,

the main reason for

such a belief is her

c o m m i t t e d a n d

voluntary participation

in God ' s p lan o f

Salvation. In this short

article, we shall turn

our attention to how

Mary co-operated in

the Will of God and

how she becomes the

Model for the Church.

Mary's main

concern was to do God's Will and to lend a hand in

fulfilling God's plan of Salvation. This was her call. We

also observe in Mary, kindness, affection, humility,

compassion and the ability to listen. Boldness and

dynamism are also important facets of her life. Her life

was also Theo-centric, Christo-centric and Ecclesio-

centric.

Firstly, Mary's life was Theo-centric because

of her 'Yes' to God's invitation to Divine Motherhood.

It was disconcerting and challenging in the Palestinian

context and yet she responded positively with total

freedom and enduring will. Thus, her role in God's plan

of Salvation was to give birth to Jesus, the Son of God.

Secondly, Mary's call was unique because it was

Messianic and Christo-centric. She involved herself in

the Mission of her Son, Jesus Christ. Discipleship,

emerges as her key attribute in the events of Cana (Jn

2:1-10) and at Calvary (Jn 19:25-27). Her discipleship

which involved her belief in Jesus Christ as the

Revealer (Sign) and the Revealed

(Glory) began at Cana and

culminated at Calvary. Lastly,

Mary was present at the birth of the

Church. She was also present with

the Apostles at Pentecost. Thus,

being a perfect disciple of Jesus,

she actively participated in God's

plan of Salvation. She is therefore

presented as an embodiment of

faith and prayer in the Church.

Vatican II shows Mary as a

model or type of the Church (LG

63). She was faithful and

committed to her call. She

completely involved herself in

fulfilling God's Will. She did not

run away from the mission of her Son, Jesus Christ. Her

selflessness, obedience, discipleship, suffering, her

surrender to God and her faith in doing the will of God

show us how Mary played a courageous role in

collaborating with God's plan of Salvation. The Church

also draws strength from Mary in preaching God's

Word and administering the sacraments, particularly

Baptism, in celebrating the Eucharist and in forgiving

sins. That is why Mary is the Model for the Church

today. Our responsibility in approaching Mary as our

Model is to instill in us her dynamic qualities such as

discipleship and doing the Will of God.

05

Article

Mary – The Model for the Church TodayMary – The Model for the Church Today

Jerald Ramesh


other Mary holds an important place in the Catholic Church. After God and Christ she is considered the most important person in M

the whole universe. But the Protestants have a different view about Mother Mary. Some early Protestants venerated and honoured Mother Mary.

Protestant views on Mother MaryOften Luther is criticized for matters which he

did not mean. Martin Luther did not reject Mary but he only challenged the exaggerated devotions to her. Luther held fast to the belief that Mary was a perpetual virgin and was the Theotokos, Mother of God. With regard to the Assumption of Mary, he stated, that the Bible did not say anything about it.

John Calvin and Zwingli see the important role of Mary only at the birth of Jesus and not afterwards. Therefore, according to them, undue importance must not be given to her. However, for the Catholics, Mary has played an important role in the life of Jesus from His birth right up till His death. Thus, although the idea of respect and high honour was not rejected by the first Protestants, the aspect of honouring Mary still remains a matter of debate. Marian devotion must take us closer to God and towards one another. According to the Roman Catholic Church, we believe that Mary played

an important role in God's plan of salvation.

Mary is our Beloved Mother In the Gospels Mary is presented with different

titles. Mary is presented as the Anawim of Yahweh, a woman of faith and the Mother of the community of

disciples. In the Acts of the Apostles, Mary is presented as a courageous and a committed woman who stood by

the disciples till the end of time

When Pope Paul VI issued the Apostolic Exhortation Marialis Cultus, his intention was to encourage Marian devotion in the context of liturgical reform. Pope John Paul II's Encyclical, Redemptoris Mater, addresses the role of Mary in the mystery of Christ, Mary as the Mother of God and he also speaks of Mary's maternal mediation.

.

Mary as the Model for the Mission of the Church Today In Mary, we see who the church is and how to be the church. She is the model of discipleship because of her involvement with Jesus' mission. Mary discerned and discovered the voice of God amidst the daily struggles of everyday life. Mary's openness to God was paralleled by her openness to others.

We as Religious need to follow the example of Mary's Motherhood and take care of the least, the lost and the last. I believe that the best way to venerate and honour Mary our Mother, is by imitating her in our everyday life of contemplation and action.

I would like to conclude with the words of an Orthodox prayer. She is “a space for the spaceless one”.

06

MARY – Different UndestandingsMARY – Different UndestandingsWomen’s Section

Monica Cardoza, Fdcc


n my religious life, when I think about a great supporter and helper in this life, the first name that Icomes to my mind is Mother Mary. She is a good

companion to me in all the realms of my life as she gives me strength and perseverance to remain faithful to Jesus. Whether it is happiness or sorrow Mother Mary helps me to follow Jesus in all these circumstances. She is able to do this because she is the first disciple who followed Jesus faithfully till the foot of the cross. Therefore, she can understand all our worries and difficulties.

Seban Jacob, MCBS

he memory of certain persons evokes more feelings than words in me. One such very Tspecial person in my life is Mother Mary.

Mother Mary represents the motherly

dimension in my spiritual life. I associate her with the feelings of compassion, love, patience, gentleness, empathy and understanding. She offers her motherly affection whenever her name crosses my lips in prayer. I can hardly overlook the role of Mother Mary in my life and in my vocation to the religious life.

The life of Mother Mary is an example of outstanding faith and trust in God, even in the face of impossible hurdles and mounting worries. She teaches me to reflect the light of God like the Moon that reflects the rays from the Sun.

Praveen Martis SJ

y favorite verse in the Bible is beautifully sheltered in Isaiah 49:15. Perhaps, my love Mfor Mother Mary could be best expressed in

this very verse.

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even if these may forget, yet I will not forget

you.” After the twin tragedies that splintered my heart, absurd questions of existential reality haunted me endlessly. I became a recluse with nobody to pour outmy mixed feelings. During such an unpredictable state, I took recourse to reciting the Rosary. Being a 12 year old kid, every day I greeted her with a volley of questions. My emotional maturity was just getting molded. My devotional piety was growing suspiciously well. With the humility of a child and the uncertainty of a teenager I prayed fervently to Mary. Slowly I realized that she could be my confidant. Gone are the days when I used to pray to her only when faced with problems. Today, I remember her as I walk along the graveyard in the dark and traverse the thick woods alone. As I advanced in age, my reflections too deepened. She is my protector and guide. She is my mother.

Pelevito Kipfe SJ

Opinion Poll

Who is Mother Mary for you?Who is Mother Mary for you?

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Mother Mary by Evelyn Monteiro, SCC

Mother Mary by Evelyn Monteiro, SCC

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Attack on Minoritiesby Anto Akkara

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07 April - May 2015April - May 2015

DNC Scholastics SpeakDNC Scholastics Speak

evotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is an

integral part of the Catholic Faith and is by Dfar the most popular devotion in the

Catholic Church. The growing number of Marian

shrines and pilgrim centres and a large number of

pilgrims honouring the Blessed Mother are an

indication that she is the one most sought after.

One wonders

why there is such a

g r e a t a t t r a c t i o n

towards the Blessed

M o t h e r c u t t i n g

across rel igions,

regions, language

and cultures. If one

looks carefully, one

realizes that in the

Blessed Virgin Mary

is seen a powerful

mediatrix, a Mother.

Thus, a devotee who is in distress due to personal,

social or financial problems or any other crisis will

find it easy to approach the Blessed Mother and pour

out his or her heart at her feet.

Diversity, variety and plurality of expressions

in devotion to the Blessed Mother form yet another

factor. Devotions are simple in nature, flexible and

devotees can express their devotion according to their

cultural conditions and patterns. Devotees feel at

home expressing their faith in a way that is within their

means and according to their culture. Thus, a South

Indian shrine of Our Lady of Vailankanni in Tamil

Nadu will have devotional expressions very different

from those at the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in

France. Even within India, the expression of devotion

at the Marian shrine at Our Lady of Health at Harihar in

Karnataka is very different from those at the shrine of

Mount Mary in Bandra, Mumbai.

Physical healing and psychological solace are

yet other factors. Many women in India won't even be

permitted to go out of their homes for picnics to villas or

resorts due to financial or social conditions. Marian

Shrines while providing an opportunity to pray to the

Blessed Mother, provide a place of relief to spend time

as a family in a

leisurely way far from

one's home, work and

local surroundings.

It is important

to note that devotion to

the Blessed Mother

attracts a large number

of devotees cutting

across regions and

r e l i g i o n s . T h e

devotees, therefore,

tend to perceive Mary in their own way and from their

own religious, social and cultural perspectives. Though

doctrinally one cannot approve such a belief, the fact

remains that people do find in her strength, solace and

support in times of distress.

Some Christian groups are critical about Marian

devotion. They hold that devotion to the Blessed

Mother is a form of idol worship that reduces the

importance of Jesus, and the sacraments in the church.

However, for Catholics the place of the Blessed Mother

is that of an interceding, caring, comforting mother. She

does not replace sacramental life in the Church but only

enhances it. Thus, Marian devotions provide a holistic

expression of faith.

Analysis

08

Popular Marian Devotions A Critical Outlook

Popular Marian Devotions A Critical Outlook

Lawrence Fernandes, SJ


What's in the name?” is the swan song of a

senior Jesuit whom I admire. Those words “triggered in me a process of reflection, till I

bounced into a name in a book that I was reading in the

section, 'acknowledgement'. That name led me down

memory lane to an event that had taken place over a

quarter of a century ago. The name of the person is

Charles Ronan, a Jesuit priest of Chicago province.

It was the time of my studies in Loyola

University. I was staying in a parish and attending

classes. I was paying for my studies with the meager

stipend that I was receiving from my ministry. Since

the Course fees were exorbitant, I was experiencing a

financial crunch. With the available money, I was able

to buy a manual type-writer to do my class projects.

Mind you there were no laptops then! But then to my

utter dismay I realized that the instrument was faulty.

Consequently, it was a challenge for me to submit

projects on time.

At this critical juncture, I could only express

my struggle to God in prayer. Then, all of a sudden, to

my utter surprise I come across, Fr Charles Ronan,

who inquired about me, found out about my plight, and

offered me an electronic type-writer. My joy was

inexplicable. I could not believe what was happening,

as I had heard that in the US where capitalism is

worshipped, nothing comes free. His words, “Use this

type-writer as long as you want,” further comforted

me. With this new instrument my projects were

completed soon, and I was able to find time for

reading, reflection and relaxation. That event has been

etched in my memory and I have not forgotten about it

till today - neither the person nor his most charitable

deed for a Jesuit companion of another nationality

whom he had not met before.

That incident triggered in me further

reflection. In the book of Isaiah we read those touching

words of Yahweh, “I have called you by name, you are

mine.” (Is 43/1) It means that God has a name for each

one of us and it contains God's unique purpose and

dream for us and that we belong to Him from the

beginning of creation.

Every name that we utter in our daily discourse

triggers off either good or evil images, depending on the

name. The name of Jesus immediately brings to our

memory the image of our Saviour and Lord, friend and

companion. Similarly, the name of Mary evokes the

images of mother, Mother of Jesus, Mother of God and

our mother.

For us Jesuits, the name Loyola immediately

triggers off every memory connected with Inigo our

Founder, his origins, life, and ministry. It also evokes

our own graced history, identity, and mission. During

this year, as we celebrate the bicentenary of the

restoration of the Society, we are struck by the fact

about what the Society of Jesus meant for 23,000

Jesuits who became the victims of the decree of

suppression. For the first time, they realized their love

for the name of the Society of Jesus - that cherished

Institute which was a 'pathway to God' was truly a

mother in every sense of the word.

It is really a grace, blessing and privilege to

belong to this august company which bears the name,

Society of Jesus. This name gives us our identity,

meaning, purpose, orientation and in that name 'we live,

move and have our being' (Acts 17/28). How lucky we

are to belong to this Society which bears the name of

Jesus!

Jesuit Spirituality

09

What's in the Name?What's in the Name?

William Sequeira, SJ

Teach us to give

and not to count the cost.

Teach us to give

and not to count the cost.St Ignatius of LoyolaSt Ignatius of Loyola


believe that the upcoming GC needs to help us

confront the culture of hatred with renewed vision Iand extend our solidarity with the afflicted. Pope

Francis' letter to all Consecrated people speaks about

waking up the world, and going out to the existential

peripheries. It may be apt for us to reflect on this

insight deeply.

In the Indian context, particularly since we see

Hindutva elements gaining grounds, it is time for us to

restructure the way our Provinces operate.

Our

influence in the political sphere has not been adequate

and I believe it's time to rethink our stance.

Rozario Mosahari (RAN)

y deep desire is that the upcoming GC 36 takes up the aspect of formation and Mengages in a seriously deliberation on this

issue so as to give it a new thrust and thereby make our long formation relevant in preparing men for our challenging times.

The other aspect is the growing emphasis on the universal dimension of our mission and the focus on reviving the dying society in certain parts of the world. While we focus on the universal dimension of the apostolate, we may end up sacrificing the local context. Serious thought needs to be given in this direction.

Bala Kiran Kumar (KAR)

e live in a world where the poor seem to

have no means to live a decent life and Wthe rich are least bothered about it. In

such a scenario, what can we Jesuits do about it

We are in

the midst of political, social and cultural change.

especially since we continue to run some of the best

Educational institutions in the country?

We Jesuits have already started networking and

collaborating with people who share our charism.

However, a special focus on collaboration in the

Educational apostolate, especially at the level of

primary education is the need of the hour. We need to

find ways and means to work effectively to educate the

poor given the fact that the pro-capitalist rich care too

little about the poor. It is through education that we can

kindle the fire among the young. May all of us be guided

by the spirit to become enkindling educators in and

through Gc36.

Arul Rayan (GUJ)

Struggles, problems and dissent have always existed in

our world.

The

GC should focus on how well we combat the dissent of

the people be it communal, political, social or

psychological given the present day situation. We don't

require a bigger Catholic Christian graveyard but a

place 'where people live in unity as brothers and sisters'

(Psalm 133:1).

Michael Pugal (MDU)

The rising selfishness within human hearts is

leading to chaos and is constantly threatening life.

South Asian Scholastics SpeakSouth Asian Scholastics SpeakGC-36 Special

GC 36 - ExpectationsGC 36 - Expectations

10

Speak Up !Video Talk by Anto Akkara

Speak Up !Video Talk by Anto Akkara

www.dnctimes.comOnly on : www.dnctimes.com


he flower that blooms in the morning and

fades in the evening isn't really bothered Tabout how long it lives. A bird that flies

freely in the sky or the fish that swims without worry,

hardly thinks about the what and how of tomorrow.

We are human beings. How can we be like them?

I used to get terribly tired as I moved from

house to house, trying to learn about the life of the

simple poor people living in the rural areas of

Bangalore. As part of my studies, I went for a rural

exposure programme to Gowrenahalli, one of the

poor villages in Anekal, Bangalore, for 20 days.

Moving from house to house and listening to the

stories of the lives of the people, of their pains and

struggles, of their unfulfilled dreams and aspirations,

was truly a unique experience that will remain in my

mind for long. Whenever I met someone who was

struggling I kept repeating, “These things will pass

away; your life situation will change.” In return, the

people used to thank me for the hope and assurance

that I had given them and appreciated my help

saying, “You must be a man of deep faith.” Deep

within, I used to feel happy, as my ego was getting a

boost.

On that Tuesday, as I was walking in the hot

sun, I came across a small hut, where an aged lady

and her daughter lived. Gowramma, a 67 year old

lady, welcomed me to her small hut, where there was

hardly anything to sit on. As we began our

conversation, Gowramma opened the pages of her

life. She had lost her husband years ago. Somehow,

inspite of the dire poverty she was in, she had

managed to get two of her three daughters married.

Her life was nothing but a saga of suffering.

As Gowramma was quite weak and not able

to work, her last daughter, somehow managed the

house by doing odd jobs around the village.

I did feel the pinch of poverty when Gowramma told

me, “We do not take coffee, tea etc. We are poor. We

don't have money for all this.” Later, I realized that they

were living by eating Raagi balls and water twice a day.

During our conversation, I could sense the tears that

Gowramma was trying to hide.

Talking to Gowramma, I learnt that she had

absolutely no one to support and help her except her last

daughter. But the last daughter's marriage had been

fixed and she too would be going away soon. Listening

to her, I was sure that none of the three daughters were

in a position to take care of her. I was haunted by the

question of Gowramma's future. I was struck - What's

next? My mind was overwhelmed with the questions of

her tomorrow.

After composing myself, although I felt I

should not, I still asked, “Gowramma, what about your

future? Who will take care of you? Who is there for

you?” She burst into tears. The tears that she was

trying to hide, flowed like flood waters. I was taken a

back for asking such a question. May be this question

was haunting her too.

Trying to sympathize, I thought of repeating the

same slogan, which I used to do in other houses. But…

Moments later, gathering herself, Gowramma opened

her mouth, uttering, “The God who gave me this life,

will never let me down.” There was a tremor in her

voice and tears continued to flow from her eyes, but her

words were filled with tremendous amount of faith.

Deep within my being I realized that I was meeting not

Gowramma, but Mary of the gospels.

Returning from the house of poor Gowramma, I

made a short prayer, “Lord, give me the faith like that of

this poor Gowramma.”

She Taught Me Faith!

She Taught Me FaithShe Taught Me Faith

Rayan Lobo, SJ

11

Experience


12

fter a month in DNC in 1981, there was a

telegram from the late Fr Roche, S.J., St. AJoseph's College, Tiruchy stating,

“Congratulations, Orange Grade”. It was the good

news that I had secured an outstanding grade in

Mathematics in my M.Sc. degree examinations.

While at the University, my higher studies were

motivated towards scoring maximum marks in the

examinations. Except in the paper on Astronomy I had

never scored centum in other papers. Would this

happen in Philosophy too? An Indian Philosophy

Professor sarcastically pulled me down because I was

already a PG student.

At DNC I had decided that rather than studying

for examinations I would study for life. Some used to

boast that without attending classes one could easily

pass the examinations. The only condition was that one

had to know a few choice phrases and ideas of the

Professor. Some used to show off their ignorance

without reading the necessary books. Some used to

speak highly about the Mass without participating in

the Eucharist. Some used to be out of the campus most

of the time either because they were socializing or

because of social work. I always admired the sincerity

and honesty of being accountable to the Living Group

or the Province Group.

While at DNC, a unique opportunity befell me.

There were two girls in the tenth standard who were

unable to pass only in their Mathematics paper in the

Board examinations. Inspite of receiving tuitions they

had been unsuccessful in three of their attempts. I

decided to take up the challenge of teaching those girls.

I slowly started discovering the mindset of the girls and

tried a different approach. Every day, in the afternoon,

after my classes at DNC, I used to go to one of their

houses for an hour long session on mathematics. A

systematic approach without losing the nuances of the

fundamental concepts made the girls feel confident

about doing well in their examinations. Amidst their

naughty adolescent behaviour, those girls started loving

mathematics and came out with flying first class marks.

This was perhaps the first indication that I could

become a good teacher. I can never forget the term

papers on 'Symbolic Logic' in the first year guided by

the late Fr. M. Gnanapragasam, S.J. and on 'My

Philosophy of Hope' in the second year guided by Fr

Cyril Desbruslais, S.J.

Down Memory LaneAlbert Muthumalai, SJ

My Life at DNCMy Life at DNC


Please NotePlease NoteThe opinions expressed in this magazine are the opinions of the writers’ themselves. DNC Times is not responsible for any ideological differences.

The opinions expressed in this magazine are the opinions of the writers’ themselves. DNC Times is not responsible for any ideological differences.

13

t Peter Canisius was born in 1521, in

Netherlands. His father was Jacob Kanis and Shis mother was Ægidia van Houweningen,

who died shortly after Peter's birth. He was sent to

study at the University of Cologne, where he earned a

Master's degree in 1540, at the age of 19. It was there,

that he met Peter Faber, one of the founders of the

Society of Jesus.

Through his and

writings, Peter Canisius became one

of the most influential Catholics of

his time. He was an influential

teacher and preacher. However,

when he was offered the post of

in 1554, he simply

declined in order to continue his

t r a v e l l i n g a n d t e a c h i n g .

Surprisingly, he had to serve as

administrator of the

for one year, until a new

bishop was appointed for it. On

account of his preaching and

constant travel he became known as

the Second Apostle of Germany. His

preaching was said to have been so convincing that it

attracted hundreds of Protestants back to Roman

Catholicism.

Canisius was by in the

year 1864, and was later and declared a st

on 21 May, 1925 by

.

Reflection

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was

filled with shouts of joy; then it was said among the

nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” Ps

124:1-2.

preaching

Bishop of Vienna

Diocese of

Vienna

beatified Pope Pius IX

canonized

Doctor of the Church Pope Pius

XI

Indeed the Lord is active but he needs us as

instruments to bring about conversion or the desired

change in all of us. We have seen a number of saints who

co-operated with God and went out of their way to

respond to His call in an effective way. In other words,

they let their light shine and multiplied the talents which

were given to them. However, the beauty of the saints is

that they do not take credit for themselves. They do not

desire the limelight; rather they

attribute everything to God. In my

opinion, this is the secret of all the

saints who did everything and yet

attributed it all to God. This reveals

the depth of their spirituality - we all

need to revolve around God and not

vice versa.

Reflecting over St. Peter

Canisius' tremendous ministry, it

reveals that he is a person who made

God the centre of his life. That is why

he was able to let go of his comfort

zone and be always on the move, to

the extent of declining the post of

Bishop of As we have begun

the year of consecrated life with the fantastic theme,

“Wake up the World” it is a challenge for all of us.

Before waking the world, we need to be awake and alert

in our spiritual life.

It is good to question ourselves, “In all my

dealings do I project the Lord or myself?” Further, we

could ask, “Is it the Lord's doing or Rev. Fr…./Rev.

Sr…'s doing?” If St. Peter Canisius were to answer

these questions, he may repeat the words of Jesus,

“Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.”

(Jn 15:5). Where do I abide? Is it the self or my post or

my comfort zone? Let us wake up the world but let

people say, “The Lord has done great things for us”.

Vienna.

Saint of the MonthChristopher, SSS

St Peter CanisiusSt Peter Canisius


14

hough baptized when I was three months old,

I have not always been a practicing or even a Tparticipating member of the Indian Church.

For decades I was out it, and continue to be a critic. I

do not have the courage to claim that I am part of those

who seek to reform it from the inside or from the

outside. I came back to the Church not only because of

personal and existential reasons but also because of a

growing ideological and perhaps a theological or

spiritual understanding of the love that Jesus Christ has

for the most helpless, the most vulnerable whose

voices are often silenced. On many occasions, I have

realized that I too, am weak. This gives a very potent

meaning to my witness of Jesus as my Saviour, even if

it is not perhaps in consonance with the manner that the

Charismatic and Pentecostal movements would have

it. This also gives urgency to my support and defense

of the Catholic Church in particular even as I struggle

to understand and cope with the many weaknesses and

follies of its leadership and the frailty of its lay

members.

As I come closer to completing 50 years as a

grassroots worker, researcher, documenter, activist

and social advocate( not a lawyer), I am convinced that

the Church can grow into being not only an

ombudsman but a critical element in the collected

conscience of the nation in all its diversity, plurality,

contradictions and inequities. I was first made aware

of this in 1975, at the height of the State of Emergency

was imposed by the then Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira

Gandhi and which in reality was administered by her

second son, Sanjay Gandhi, who became the extra-

constitutional centre of authority and ran a fiefdom

with his coterie of officials, politicians and lumpen

thugs. Almost all social and empowerment activities

that could be proscribed had been outlawed. Dissent,

the right to expression and the right to association were

severely constrained. Researching the impact of the

government's Satellite Instructional Television

Experiment in the villages and forest hamlets of Central

India, I came across scholastics and young clergymen

still working with the common people and fearlessly

associating with trade union activists. I see small

groups of priests and nuns continuing to work with the

common people across the country, defying the police,

local thugs, political groups that want to negate the

socialism and the secularism enshrined in the

Constitution.

I have, however, also seen senior church leaders

bow to the powers of the day, negotiate protection and

privileges, defend the rich and the powerful who defy,

insult nature and defy laws of the land in their pursuit of

lucre, and become a part of the ruling dispensation.

Faced with occasional violence by religious or political

extremists, or government persecution, their

supplication is to be spared because of their historic

contribution in education and health.

I would hope that the church, its leadership and

its clergy, particularly the young, would be interveners

in the social, economic and development discourse, the

process of law-making and be watchdogs of the

criminal-justice system. I hope that The Church can be

the Conscience of the nation and when required, the

Voice of the voiceless. This is what this country of a

billion poor, even if it has 200 million rich and middle

class people needs. This will require a deeper, even

theological, understanding of citizenship. It will also

require the courage and spiritual strength that can come

from a comprehensive surrender to God.

John Dayal

Being the Nation's Conscience Not Merely a Service Provider

Being the Nation's Conscience Not Merely a Service Provider

Minority Issues

John DayalJohn DayalHuman Rights Activist, especially in case of religious minorities. Member of the Nation Integration Commission.Co-founder and secretary general of All India Christian Council.

.


15

he last two decades have seen an increase in

the attacks on Christians. Earlier these attacks Ttook place in remote villages but lately they

are also taking place in cities. The biggest

manifestation of this was the burning alive of Pastor

Graham Stewart Staines along with his two innocent nd

sons on the night of 22 March, 1999 in Keonjhar,

Orissa. We also witnessed the intimidation of the

Christian community in the Dangs, Jhabua and other

places in Rajasthan where massive Kumbhs were

organized by RSS-VHP-Vanvasi Kalyan Ashrasm.

The pretext of the murder of Swami Lakhsmananand,

by Maoists, was used to

unleash the massive violence

in Kandhamal in August

2008, in which close to a

hundred Christians were

done to dea th . Many

Churches were vandalized

and massive displacement

took place when thousands

of people had to leave their

home and hearth. Recently,

in the wake of Delhi

elections nearly five churches were attacked.

The perpetrators of most of these attacks have

links to Hindutva organizations, which are a part of the

RSS, or the Sangh Parivar. The Wadhva Commission

report pointed out that the murder of Graham Staines

was done by Rajendra Pal, alias, Dara Singh who was

an active worker of the Bajrang Dal. Primarily, these

attacks have been in Adivasi areas, where the

propaganda that Christians are converting through

coercion, allurement and what not is very prevalent.

This in turn, prepares the mindset for violence. This

further leads to polarization amongst the communities

along religious lines. In many of these areas, RSS

sponsored Sarswati Shishu Mandir and Ekal

Vidyalayas have also been set up. The communal

polarization and the cultural educational intervention

by RSS affiliates is aimed at the agenda of making a

Hindu Rashtra and undermining the Indian

Constitution, which upholds Liberty, Equality and

Fraternity.

So how do we begin to articulate our response to

these attacks? One must realize that it is a political issue

and not a religious one. It is not a fight between Hindus

and Christians or Muslims and Christians. It is part of

the political agenda of a Hindu Rashtra being passed

down the line which has created hatred at the ground

level. The response has to be holistic. We need to start

by countering the spread of a

false bogey about Christian

missionaries and counter ideas

about Christianity being a

foreign religion. To unravel the

truth behind this propaganda we

need self-knowledge about the

truth and we need to take this

further to the communities

through lectures, seminars,

discussions and college and

school level programmes.

There are many Christian mission schools

where millions of students study. We need to train the

teachers of these schools and colleges so that these

teachers will further educate their students. We can also

think of approaching the authorities of educational

institutes so as to introduce some small reading material

which brings the truth about the role of Christian

missionaries in India. Such an endeavour will highlight

the values of love and amity between different religious

communities. The values of humanism will thus be

brought forward and National integration will be

promoted. We also need to be in solidarity with the

victims of other communities and support the Human

rights of all the people.

Combating attacks on FaithWhat do we do?

Combating attacks on FaithWhat do we do?

Ram PuniyaniMinority Issues


16

irst of all, let us remember that attacks on

Christians are not exactly new. Back in the F1950s, there was a Justice Niyogi Committee

set up by Jawaharlal Nehru to look into the allegations

of conversions by Christian missionaries. The

controversial report submitted by Justice Niyogi did

blame Christians and is often quoted even today by the

right wing Hindu fundamentalists to accuse Christians

of the so called 'conversions'. The then government of

Madhya Pradesh had also passed an anti-conversion

bill way back in 1967. Right now such anti-conversion

laws exist in six states of India and as it turns out,

alleged 'conversion of the poor Hindus' is the main

grouse raised by right wing

Hindu fundamentalists against

Christians.

In such a situation, the

response of Christians in

general and religious in

particular should be to equip

ourse lves wi th cor rec t

information on the one hand

and the courage to stand for

our fundamental rights on the other. We must then find

ways and means to disseminate this information and

assert our rights, using various media, particularly the

boon of social media, wherever possible, focusing on

the following:

1)That according to the official census the population

of Christians has come down from 2.6% in 1971 to

2.33% in 2001, especially in a country which is

decidedly poor. This proves that the allegation of mass

conversion of the poor is a false propaganda by certain

section of society against Christians with the purpose

of creating a wedge between Hindus and Christians.

2)That the RSS has an agenda of creating India as a

Hindu Rashtra (a theocratic state based on Hindutva)

on the line of Pakistan, which was created for

Muslims.In such a Hindu nation Muslims, Christians

and Communists are considered, not only as enemies

but where these would be treated as second class

citizens, not enjoying the rights available to Hindus.

3)That we are all citizens of India with equal rights that

'We the people of India', have given to ourselves

through our Constitution and that all our leaders take

their oath according to the Constitution of India and not

by any other 'holy' book.

4)That the preamble of our Constitution clearly states

India to be a 'secular' and 'socialist' state.

5)That Article 25 of

the Cons t i tu t ion

guarantees to every

citizen to practice,

p r o f e s s a n d

propagate one's own

faith, thereby giving

each one a right to

choose the religion of

one's choice.

6)That Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of

Fundamental Human Rights again grants everyone to

choose and practice a religion of one's faith.

7)That as religious we who have professed to sacrifice

our lives, will not be afraid or cowed down by external

forces that are trying to push the minorities in a corner.

8)And finally, remembering that suffering and the

Cross are part of our Christian life, we will continue our

struggle with faith in the Lord Jesus, who could

challenge the authorities because he stood for truth and

was inspired by love.

Minority IssuesDominic Emmanuel SVD

Towards a Christian Response Towards a Christian Response To the ongoing attacks on MinoritiesTo the ongoing attacks on Minorities


Can you share with us your vocation story?

There is not much of a vocation story in my case.

Perhaps two things are worth mentioning.

1. We were a large family of ten children- seven boys

and three girls. My father sometimes used to invite our

parish priest to have dinner with us. On one such

occasions, the parish priest put his hat on my head and

remarked that I would one day become a priest. From

then whole family expected me to be a priest. I have

often wondered whether my vocation is from God or

from the parish priest.

2. When I was studying at the

S . H . C o l l e g e , T h e v a r a ,

Ernakulum district of Kerala, a

Carmelite priest took the

initiative to recruit me for the

Society of Jesus. I still wonder

why he didn't ask me to join the

Carmelites.

Can you share with us an

u n f o r g e t t a b l e e v e n t o r

experience that has shaped and affected your life

deeply?

I cannot think of an experience or event that affected

my life deeply. But my three year stay in Europe has

exerted deep influence on my life. I spent most of the

time in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is in

Europe that I clearly discovered India and my

Indianness. I had a strong realization that I am really

different from the Germans and the Austrians. This is

the just thing that happened to me. The second thing is

that I came across many Catholics (theologians

included) who thought very differently from me. This

made me aware of the relative value of all faith

articulations. The third thing is that it is in Europe that I

began to relate to women in some depth. I had a few

good women friends. Their love has promoted my

growth in a variety of ways.

What was your vision as a young man religious life

and what is it today?

I am not sure if I had a clear vision when I just joined the

society. My mother told me that life in the society is

difficult and Jesuits send away many young people

even after many years. A Muslim friend of mine in the

college told me that the life of a priest can be very

lonely. I myself felt that

obedience will be quite

difficult for me. None of these

things prevented me from

joining the society.

Who is the person/saint

you admire the most and

why?

When I was a novice I did not

like St. Ignatius. My hero was

Francis Xavier. I admired his

adventurous life. Gradually I

discovered the greatness of St Ignatius. I am deeply

affected by his experiential approach to the spiritual

life. Nevertheless Francis of Assisi is the one saint I

admire most. His simplicity, radicality and closeness to

nature are things that appeal to me greatly.

What is your opinion about the church today?

I don't think that the church today is the church of Jesus'

dreams. In many ways it has been influenced by the

values of the world- power, wealth etc,.

What do you think could be the unique Indian

contribution to the church at large?

Among the many things which India can contribute to

the Church I shall highlight just two.

Exclusive Interview

with Kurien Kunnumpuram, SJ

Exclusive Interview

with Kurien Kunnumpuram, SJInterview


India can show the importance of God-experience.

Indian religions lay great stress on God experience.

Way back in 1964 Pope Paul VI said in Mumbai to the

Indian people, “You are people that has sought God

with a relentless quest.” In 1999 Pope John Paul II in

Ecclesia in Asia suggested that the church be more

firmly rooted in the experience of God. The other thing

is that India can teach the Church is that God alone is

absolute. This will relativize everything in the church.

What is your opinion about Pope Francis?

I have a great appreciation for Pope Francis. It took the

church more than 500 years to choose a Jesuit as Pope.

And he takes the name of Francis of Assisi. That choice

was a statement of his intention to be like St Francis-

simple, courageous and with a great love for the poor.

Because of Pope Francis the Catholic Church has

become a little more credible and attractive to lots of

people.

What is the role of Mother Mary in your life?

My relationship to Mother Mary has changed over the

years. When I was younger I used to recite a lot of

prayers in her honour. Now I try to imitate her

especially in her humility, total surrender to God and

her great courage. As a young woman she was asked by

God to be an unwed mother in a rural

community. It took a lot of courage for her to

say, 'yes'. I am very much inspired by this.

What is your message to the readers of DNC

Times?

I would like to share three reflections with you.

I have often asked myself: how do I make sense

of my Jesuit priesthood? What makes it

meaningful to me in the honest effort to walk in

the footsteps of Jesus who said, “I have come

that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

It has been my earnest effort to be a life-giving and

growth-promoting person.

The other thought I have is that even though we

are about 4000 Jesuits in India it is becoming

increasingly difficult to find a person who can be a good

Provincial or a good Rector of a common house or even

good professor in the faculties of philosophy or

theology. Why do we fail to nurture outstanding

Jesuits?

A third thought is that the Society will probably

will die out in Europe and in America in the next two

decades. And we are not growing in many parts of India.

What of the future? Is it possible for us to make serious

efforts to form a large number of lay people in Ignatian

spirituality so that the charism and mission of the

society will not die out in India and in the world?

18

Ger

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Exclusive Interview


Exclusive Interview



Kurien Kunnumpuram, SJ Kurien Kunnumpuram, SJJesuit priest and a well known Indian theologean. Jesuit priest and a well known Indian theologean.

He is a Professor of Theology( retd.) He is a Professor of Theology( retd.)

He is also a prolific writer. He is also a prolific writer.

FarewellFarewell
