News Letter for June
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VOL. XXI - No. 06 - June 2017 Pastor’s Corner Editorial WeResult-time are the Cathedral Blues! ThankWhy Yyoouur cLordhild doesn't need a Smartphone! The dangers of entrusting a child with a device Numerous schools and their thousands of outweigh the practicalities that many adults struggle students and parents are anxiously to use safely and appropriately. A parent writes in awaiting examination results these days. Cross Walk that parental guidance is at risk of being By the time this gets published, chances trumped by the Smartphone unless we put a foot are, most results would have been down. I found this write-up very insightful for us declared already. pastors and leaders, written as it is by a parent with teenaged kids, many of whom are in vacations with an At such waiting times as these, someone or other is electronic device as their only companion! +Lumen, CSC likely to remind us that good results alone don't add 1. Our society is addicted to Smartphones up. And that education is a lot about producing good The hardest part of parenting is teaching our children things we and honest human have not yet mastered. The beings…On our part, only healthy addiction we are we fully endorse the hardwired to foster is our idea. But frankly, we relationship with God, had always known through our walk with Christ. “I am,” present tense, is all we that. need. Yet a glance around a But say what you room full of people looking may, results are down at a screen instead of results! After all, at stake is the school's image, pride, each other illustrates the search for happiness elsewhere. Scientific identity and status determiner. It's also about years facts tell us the same chemical released when we partake in age- of struggle and hard work of students, their parents restricted activities like smoking, drinking alcohol, gambling, or and teachers. What can there be more important than drug use (not that I would advocate for any of those things) is also this! Schools might say. released when we use cell phones and social media. Equipping our kids to live outside the confines of their wireless network allows This piece is not to say that academic excellence is them to participate in reality, and depend on the One in whom we unimportant. Instead this is to reiterate that true truly find joy. education cannot ignore formation of one's character, 2. Parental controls can't control everything online social sensitivity, beliefs, hard work and honesty. Kids are obsessed with bodily functions (at least mine are). Given We see around us parents who go to any length to access to Google, it's not hard to guess what their curiosity will lead ensure 'good education' for their wards, but pay scant them to type into that blank box, and there's little worse than attention to forming their character. The alarming fielding questions from a youngster about something their little manner in which the parents abdicate theirduties eyes witnessed before ours. “Let the children come to me; do not signals nothing less than a 'crisis' in the family one hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14) Jesus gave us a living example of how to treat children, and that has untold implications on the future of the each other, when He welcomed all of us to be close to Him. How can society.While excelling in academics is a top priority, we guide our children through conversations and shield them from acquisition of simple human values like the capacity adult ones when we aren't close enough to whisper in their ear? to think about others and their needs, respect for Remember, it's impossible to go back and block something that's parents, teachers and elders, ability to honor words already been seen. and keep promises even when inconvenient, hard 3. Your child may be in danger work, sacrifice and growth in faith seem relatively low Technology can be used for evil. In fact, it is used for evil all the priorities. time. As parents, we must face a hard reality that the person on the other end of a message might be another innocent 12-year-old… or To overcome this crisis, it is necessary for the school, it could be a child predator. When you give your child a smartphone the parish and most importantly the family to join (or any other device that can download apps), you are putting your hands in a focused manner. Even if the school decides child at risk. In a technology-driven world, it is unrealistic to think to make amends and change tracks, the no-holds- that your child will never use a smartphone. So start teaching your barred approach at home renders all that ineffective. child how to use technology safely before the cell phone is in her Hence, the need to adopt a united approach. hands. As an entity engaged in a major way in education, the 4. You might not be aware of what they are posting Church has the obligation to move away from mere Did you know there is an app that allows users to post their darkest secrets online anonymously? (It's called Whisper.) What about an competition-basedmark-oriented approaches and app that sends texts and photos without being seen in the phone ensure healthier attitudes to education. We also have history? (That is the Kik app.) Finally, have you heard of Poof? That an equal obligation to be at the service of families in app can hide the icons for other apps that your child might not want their struggles to remain 'sane' while bringing up their you to see. children. J Pulinthanath, sdb Parish News [ 2 ] AGARTALA PARISH Bishops of Aizawl and Agartala made which the outgoing Parish Priest Fr. Installation of new Parish Priest at the festival more dignified. This was a Shaji CSC was thanked and praised for Cathedral Parish first time being organized at the Zonal his wonderful work for the past two At the Cathedral Parish of Saint Francis level. The SCC celebration was years. Around 500 parishioners Xavier Durjoynagar, on May 7, Bishop concluded with the feast day mass by enjoyed a sumptuous meal prepared by Lumen Monteiro installed Fr. Sahaya Bishop Stephen Rotluanga, C.S.C. one of the villages of this parish. In Lourdu Raj, CSC as the new Parish Priest. Thanks to Fr Lancy, CSC the parish gratitude Fr. Shaji also praised the Bishop Lumen priest and Fr Arul, CSC the Zonal parishioners for their excellent presided over coordinator the Bethany sisters for cooperation and contribution at all the Mass and cooperation and support as well as all levels and wished that they would was joined by the parish priest, secretary, president continue to do Frs. Harry, of north Zone Tripura parishes for the same with Emmanuel, their hard work and cooperation. May the new Parish Kannikai, God bless them. Priest Fr. Harry Shaiju, Arun, Jeevan and Valerian, the Another Religious from CSC. This Administrator of the NE Province of Holy Kathalcherra Parish parish was Cross who represented the Provincial My soul glorifies the Lord- We also initiated by the Superior. Fr. Robert Mathias, CSC. Fr. thanked God for the gift efforts of Fr. Valerian read the appointment letter of the of vocation to church C.R. Paul CSC Bishop. The Installation ceremony through Sr. Chandita BS five years ago (2012). After himFr. became an occasion for the new Parish from Joseph Nagar who Shaji CSC took charge. Am the third PP Priest to be formally presented to the recently, on 1st May, here. We have under our Parish a Holy Parish. The“ceremony is so arranged to made her perpetual Cross community with a well-built remind priest and people of their commitment. We had a School at Panisagar. The Charity responsibility together before God to Thanksgiving Mass on Sisters (Bambina) help out in the school serve Christ in his Church, and by their 14th May in the Parish. and visit the nearby families, pastorally. holiness and the example of their lives, Vocation Camp Another community is of the Bethany individually and as a local community, to Come follow me- A day of vocation Sisters at Dharmanagar. They too are promote the mission of their Lord.” After camp was organised in the parish and spirited and helpful being the part of the the Holy Mass the outgoing Parish Priest students from different villages co-missionary team. We have 13 Fr. Harry D'Silva, CSC, was gratefully responded to participate in the camp. villages, and the parish register in the and prayerfully remembered by the They were taught and introduced to making, says that we have 305 families. Priests and the Parishioners. A short Fr. Harry D'Silva, CSC Felicitation program was organized by PPC leaders Mr. Vinod and Manojin KUMARGHAT PARISH which the new Parish Priest was welcomed and the outgoing Parish Priest Fr. Harry was thanked with speeches and gifts. Fr. Sahaya Lourdu Raj, CSC, Cathedral Parish Priest KATHALCHERRA PARISH Renewal of the Family through SCC various religious lives through the sessions given by different congregation's members. Fr. Ishwar, CSC Bible Camp for Children BAGBASA PARISH Children's Bible Camp was held from Installation cum Farewell Program May 15-17 with the theme “You are On 14 May 2017 at the Eucharist at 10 Precious to Me”. In the Inaugural a.m. at Bagbassa Parish centre there function Fr. Jilson CSC, reminded the was the Installation of Fr.