THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 1 www.the-examiner.org

171 Years

A CATHOLIC NEWSWEEKLY - Est 1850 • 171 years of publication • MUMBAI • Vol. 64 No. 15 • APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 • Rs. 15/- Editor-in-Chief Fr Anthony Charanghat EDITORIAL BOARD: 3 HOPE IN HIS MERCY Managing Editor: Editorial Fr Joshan Rodrigues Members: 4 THE “JOYFUL” MYSTERY OF EASTER! Adrian Rosario Carol Andrade 5 TAKING YOUR PARISH INTO Dr Astrid Lobo Gajiwala CYBERSPACE

ASST EDITOR: 7 WHAT TO DO ON DIVINE Fr Nigel Barrett MERCY SUNDAY?

ART DIRECTOR: Rosetta Martins 8 LIVING JUSTICE, PEACE AND

CONTENTS INTEGRITY OF CREATION ELECTRONIC MEDIA: Neil D'Souza 9 PARISHES STAY STRONG IN THE FAITH ADVERTISING: John Braganza UNDER LOCKDOWN PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY : Fr Anthony Charanghat 11 PANDEMIC RESPONSE: CHURCH IN for the Owners, MUMBAI’S HEART BEATS The Examiner Trust, FOR THE POOR Regn. No. E 10398 Bom. under the Bombay 12 A CLERGY-CENTRED CHURCH OR Public Trust Act, 1950. CHRIST-CENTRED COMMUNITY? AT: ACE PRINTERS 13 BRINGING THE EUCHARIST ALIVE IN 212, Pragati Industrial Estate, TIMES OF CRISIS Delisle Road, Lower Parel, Mumbai 400013 14 TEN WAYS THAT THE POST-COVID Tel.: 2263 0397 CHURCH WILL BE DIFFERENT OFFICE ADDRESS: Eucharistic Congress Bldg. III, 16 SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW 1st Floor, 5 Convent Street (Near Regal Cinema), Mumbai 400001 17 WHAT’S IN YOUR HAND? Tel: 2202 0221 / 2283 2807 19 "FEED MY LAMBS, TEND MY SHEEP" 2288 6585 20 THE TIME IS RIPE FOR A Email: TRANSVALUATION OF VALUES [email protected] [email protected] 21 A PERSONAL REFLECTION VIS-À-VIS [email protected] THE PANDEMIC (Courier surcharge for individual 23 "JESUS WEPT"(JN 11:35) copies outside Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane @ Rs. 15/-) 26 DARK CLOUDS SUBSCRIPTION RATES-ANNUAL Inland : Rs. 750/- 27 FIGHT THE CORONAVIRUS, (Addl. Rs. 70/- for Postage - All India. Rs. 350/- for Courier Charges for NOT EACH OTHER! Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane Dist Rs. 1000/- for others.) 28 WHAT IS CATHOLIC (Rs. 1750/- for Speed Post charges HOMESCHOOLING? in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai and Rs. 2775/- for Speed Post charges outside Mumbai) This volume is a collec on of ar cles that was published Airmail: Rs. 4250/- on our website www.the-examiner.org as independent (Incl. Postage) write-ups from April 18 to May 8, 2020. No issue digital or otherwise was published during this period. ONLINE E-PAPER: Rs. 610/- www.examiner.in Total Pages Including Cover: 29 Website: www.the-examiner.org 2 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 FFrr AnthonyAnthony CCharanghatharanghat

esus is Risen, Alleluia!” The Resurrection of our Saviour is the hallmark and defi ning event of our faith. It is the wellspring of our eternal hope that the purity of God’s all-merciful love fl owing "J through us will overcome all things. Given the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic on our global EDITORIAL society, this week’s message of hope in His all-embracing Mercy could not have arrived at a better time. Our Easter celebrations this year have found us all living in a surreal landscape. The worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus has dramatically and suddenly impacted the normal course of our lives over the past several weeks. As the number of cases, the danger to our health and the death toll have all grown, we have been starkly reminded that every life is truly a precious gift from God. Our Lenten experience this year was far from typical. Living out isolation, quarantine, social distancing and the suspension of public Masses were unimaginable concepts during Holy Week. While necessary for the preservation of public health, these measures have negatively aff ected people fi nancially, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. In these times of uncertainty, there is a temptation to sink into despair. The characteristic mark of Lent therefore this year, was that people kept their eyes fi xed on Christ, the crucifi ed and merciful God, as a means of inspiration to encounter the world with charity and good will. Now that Easter has arrived, we must keep our eyes fi xed on the outstretched arms of Christ, the resurrected. He inspires us to receive and to give a love that is boundless. This love is pure. It does not discriminate. It is invincible. Neither contagion nor death can conquer the transforming love and mercy of God. It has been a painful, confusing and trying time, but in Christ and His triumph on the Cross, God’s great love for us prevails. That love transcends our human understanding and is more powerful than we can comprehend. It will never fail us, regardless of where life fi nds us. Right now, life fi nds us in a particularly diffi cult time that has slowed our world to a near stop. Yet, it has also given us an opportunity to rediscover those things that are truly important. These ominous days will pass. We shall overcome them as a united family of God. So, during this Easter season, let us look to God with renewed hearts and minds more so than ever before. May His love fl ow through us and inspire us to encounter one another with tenderness and mercy. May that same love of Divine Mercy also strengthen us each day with the resolve to see value in ourselves and in one another. A new day will dawn, and we can rebuild through Him who makes all things possible. Pray for those who have died; May they rest in peace. Pray for those in mourning that they may fi nd comfort. Intercede for those who are sick. May they be healed. Plead for the gift of courage for our fi rst responders and health care providers who are on the front lines every day battling this virus, along with our government offi cials who have been working diligently to ensure our safety. May they be strengthened and protected in the course of their daily work to overcome the current global health crisis. All of us owe a debt of gratitude to those working to impede the spread of the coronavirus and eliminate the threat it poses. We must all be united in sentiments of gratitude and blessing. Through the compassion and mercy of God, these ominous days will pass. We shall overcome this scourge together in a spirit of solidarity. Until we can come together again physically as communities of faith, we can remain united through the blessings of technology and social media. In our archdiocese, we have done so with virtual Lenten retreats, live broadcasts of the celebration of Mass and many other prayerful initiatives. These initiatives have created fresh opportunities for the faithful to reignite the domestic church with renewed faith lives, that lead to creative and appropriate action at home and beyond. Easter brings hope to our lives and inspires us to take actions that build a better community and a better world through our interactions with one another. May this Easter season bring us peace and joy. Most importantly, may it strengthen our mutual resolve as people of hope in His empowering Mercy and His redeeming love that goes beyond the justice we deserve.

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 3 DDRR FFIOIO MMASCARENHAS,ASCARENHAS, SSJJ

aster, more than Christmas, brings humanity "good everything contrary to God in the Son is experienced as being news of great joy" (Lk 2:10), because it brings to abandoned by the Father… What gives the Son this feeling is fulfi lment St Paul's anointed summary of the Good His inner bearing of the irreconcilable contradic on between E News of Jesus: "For our sake, God made Jesus who the sin He has within Him and the holiness of the Father. As knew no sin to be sin, so that in him, we might become the the embodiment of sin, He can no longer fi nd any support righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:21). in God; He has iden fi ed Himself with that which God must Paul used shocking language to make us understand the eternally turn away from Himself…" ((Von Balthasar Reader, extent and totality of the self-iden fi ca on of Jesus with M.Kehl SJ and W.Loser SJ, [Crossroad, New York 1982], us human beings. Jesus, the all-holy One, had to iden fy pp.147, 148). Himself with humanity's sins to such a degree that it could truly be said He became sin in some inscrutable, mysterious way! The Way of the Cross was God's invita on to Jesus to love humanity to the highest degree possible, by spiritually iden fying Himself with all the sins of humanity, as though He were personally guilty of them all. By accep ng God's will, the Crucifi ed Jesus became "the juridical personifi ca on of sin" (Jerome Biblical Commentary). The result was that momentarily He could no longer experience His habitual unity with God. "Not coun ng his divine privilege (habitual union with the Father) as something to cling to, he emp ed himself" (Phil 2:6,7). Therefore, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was greatly troubled by the prospect that "for our sake" God would make Him who had "no personal knowledge of sin to be sin." It distressed Him so much that "his sweat became like great But it was all worth it, "for our sake." Happily, His fi nal drops of blood falling down upon the ground" (Lk 22:44), and words on the Cross— "Father, into your hands, I commend three mes, He begged His Father to "remove this cup from my spirit" (Lk 23:46) show that having "emp ed himself" me." This solidarity of Jesus with humanity, and His complete out of love for human beings, thus accomplishing God's will iden fi ca on with our sins, reached its climax on the Cross, fully ("It is fi nished" – Jn 19:30), He once again entered into making Him scream out: "My God, my God, why have you in mate union with His beloved Father. His Easter, and ours, forsaken me!" (Mk 15:34). The cry expressed the deepest and had joyfully begun. fi nal self-emptying of His divinity, for having mysteriously, yet God can now deal with, and not just overlook, the sins truly, "become sin" in this moment, God's beloved Son must of humanity! God is now able to fulfi l in a most marvelous necessarily feel separated from His own beloved "Abba"! way the prophecy of Ezekiel 36:26ff : "I will put my Spirit Having emp ed Himself of His divinity (Phil 2:6,7), God must within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes... And I necessarily feel separated from God! will be your God, and you shall be my people!" St Peter The famous Catholic scripture scholar, von Balthasar, therefore declared ecsta cally to the early Chris ans: "You explains: "Jesus' decisive deed was His gathering into are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy na on, God's Himself the sin of the world, in order to consume it in own people… Once you were no people, now you are the fi re of His passion. Since the Son has allowed the God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now monstrous darkness of sin into Himself, He is as if robbed you have received mercy!" (1 Peter 2:9f). The wondrous of His power; He has 'emp ed' Himself, in order, in His exchange of 2 Cor 5:21 is completed—Jesus has taken all the weakness and hence in being completely overwhelmed, to sinner's sins, and the sinner in exchange is gi ed Jesus' own bear the unbearable burden… Only a confl ict between God righteousness! A truly joyful mystery of Easter! „ in heaven and God, the representa ve of sinners on earth, can explain His swea ng blood… and the concentra on of

Dr Fio Mascarenhas SJ Chairman, Catholic Bible Institute, Mumbai.

4 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 FFRR JJOSHANOSHAN RRODRIGUESODRIGUES

'll get straight to the point. The Communion are two crippling factors. COVID-19 pandemic has 'disrupted' The deluge of online Masses and how we func on as Church. As the devo ons has also resulted in channel- I lockdown is con nuously extended hopping in some cases, with people (and no one can honestly say that the switching from one parish online service lockdown will be li ed by such-and- to another, looking for a "be er" priest such date), parishes are beginning to and an "inspiring" homily! Clearly, connect when they can see their local rise from their slumber and realise that this should not be the case, but this is Parish Priests celebra ng the Eucharist, they need to do something to reach inevitable in online space; tradi onal compared with, say, EWTN or Shalom out to their fl ock. If you are a parish parish boundaries wither away. TV. But go beyond; off er Holy Hours, or diocesan ins tu on, you may fi nd However, this crisis is also a great Devo ons, the Rosary, etc. A certain yourself at one of these three levels: opportunity! If there was ever a me parish is already recording the nine days (1) a state of hiberna on, while you that the old adage "the Church is not novena services preparing for the parish may be earnestly encouraging your a building" rings true, it's now. The feast; they have roped in priests to parishioners to tune in to one of the Church has been tradi onally slow record sermons on various topics from Eucharis c celebra ons being off ered to incorporate digital strategies in its their respec ve parishes. Ensure that online, (2) Digitally Alive – already tradi onal pastoral ac vity, even though the text of the hymns, prayers, etc. are reaching out to your fl ock in many the Popes (right from St John Paul II) have circulated in advance, so that people can crea ve, personalised and locally keenly advocated "evangelising the digital par cipate in the service eff ec vely, and relevant ways, or (3) somewhere in con nent". At Pon fi cal Universi es in not just be passive spectators. Make the between – streaming Masses from your Rome, the Communica ons Faculty is service dynamic by encouraging people parish, and sending out a few resources o en described as the "povera sorella" to send in their prayers, comments, on all the local community WhatsApp (poor sister) of Theology. Candidates feedback, etc. once the service is over. groups. to the priesthood across India lament Why am I not describing the third the ban on the use of mobile phones 2. WhatsApp Rosary – The priest or op on as being 'Digitally Alive', you may and limited access to the internet in community leader can ini ate praying ask? That's because streaming Masses seminaries, while simultaneously hearing the Rosary on the SCC WhatsApp group. online is not the sum total of pastoral lectures on how the tools of technology Each person can then send in a 'Hail ministry. Think about a normal week in are vital to their ministry as a priest in Mary' using the record audio feature. your parish, and ask yourself how much the future. The irony aside, this crisis can A er 50 'Hail Mary' audio fi les have me is spent in Eucharis c celebra ons now help us accelerate the integra on of been posted, besides the 'Our Father' and the Sacraments, and how much is digital technology into how we minister and 'Glory be', the priest can conclude spent in anima ng Cells, Associa ons to our fl ock. with a fi nal blessing. Alterna vely, and other groups, not including pastoral For priests and Church leaders, this you can also pray the Rosary together visits, ministry to the sick, counselling is a me to get acquainted with the on ZOOM, but that would be for the and parish events. While par cipa ng numerous tools of digital technology tech-comfortable and depend on good in the Mass on screen is an important available out there. You can certainly WiFi connec ons. and vital connect to our faith at this reach out to a digital-literate person cri cal juncture, it cannot be the only in your parish to help you learn the 3. Phone a parishioner – A good way thing. Liturgy is a er all "the work of ropes, while at the same me roping to keep in touch, especially with senior the people" as we have heard countless in your Media Cell to lead the digital ci zens, the sick and the homebound, is mes, not just the work of the pastor. outreach from the front. Here are a few to request for their phone numbers and The absence of a physical congrega on ideas to keep your parishioners ac ve then call up a few of them each day. You at Mass and the inability to receive Holy and engaged during the lockdown could also Skype to a younger member and beyond. in the same house, so that the elderly Fr Joshan Rodrigues is on The may see and hear you at the same me. Examiner Editorial Board, with the 1. Stream Online Masses – I'm sta ng additional duty of Managing Editor. the obvious here. People feel an obvious 4. SCC Ac vi es – Encourage virtual

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 5 gatherings of families in SCCs at pre- award prizes a er the lockdown is over. Youth WhatsApp group. Put out one appointed mes and provide resources Here's a fantas c website with lots of ques on at a me (You could also that can be used – discussion papers, good ideas: h p://www.catholicinspired. include the chapter number to facilitate short videos to refl ect and comment on, com/ a quicker search). Award points on the Bible sharing, advance refl ec ons on the basis of whose correct answer pops up Sunday liturgy, and even fun ac vi es Youth Ministry: on your screen fi rst. like Bible quizzes, WhatsApp Antakshari, This would probably be the easiest Fashion shows, sharing cooking recipes, group to reach out to, considering that 4. Movie Club – If there's one thing etc. (the possibili es are endless here). this age group is most adept at the use that most youth are doing at this me, Use these moments to reiterate the of communica on technology. Priest it's binge watching or gaming. Put this importance of reaching out to every Youth Directors and Youth Animators can to good use by pu ng out the link to a person in the community, irrespec ve of create a number of online ac vi es to par cular Chris an-themed or "values- creed and origin. keep youth engaged and connected to rich" movie or short video; you could the Church and to one another. invite youth to watch the fi lm/video during the course of the day, and then 1. ZOOM mee ngs – This is a great gather online (ZOOM or WhatsApp) at a way for the youth to interact, and most pre-appointed me to have a discussion/ importantly, "see" each other. The free quiz/debate on the video. There are a op on allows you to reach out to 100 number of Chris an-based movies on people simultaneously for 40 minutes, Ne lix; alterna vely, you could tap into but ZOOM some mes extends this cateche cal and faith-based videos on me limit during the course of your YouTube, such as 'Ascension Presents' mee ng. This pla orm can be used to and 'Word on Fire'. simply get your youth together, and talk about what they have been doing under 5. Summer Cleaning – Wouldn't it be lockdown. You can pray the Rosary fantas c if you could engage your youth together and intercede for vic ms and in a construc ve ac vity, and bring a warriors of COVID-19. smile to their parents' faces at the same me? Organise an hour of summer 2. Scavenger Hunt – Set an appointed cleaning; ask them to select an area me to get everyone together on of their house that requires a dust-up, 5. Ongoing Training and Forma on WhatsApp or any other messaging app. cleaning or re-ordering. It could be a – Use this me to engage your Put out a list of items that are commonly room, a par cular cupboard, kitchen parishioners in ongoing cateche cal found around the house and ask them shelves, or even the space under the and ministry forma on, so that they are to click a picture along with those items. bed. Ask them to send you a 'BEFORE' equipped for the coming academic year. Those who complete the task quickest pic of the selected area, then start the You could either share a ready-made win! Here's a sample list of items: mer, and a er one hour, ask them to online resource or record one yourself. a) A pair of shades or sunglasses. post an 'AFTER' pic. The most well- Encourage people to get acquainted b) A magazine (cover should be facing cleaned and crea vely arranged spaces with a virtual mee ng so ware like up) could be awarded. Skype or ZOOM, so that Cells, groups c) A tea-strainer These are just a few ideas to get you and Associa ons can have online d) A bathroom mug started. But I'm sure that every parish mee ngs to pray together, and to discuss e) A pair of your most colourful shorts will come up with many more fantas c their plan for the next few months. f) Two onions and two potatoes and crea ve ideas to keep the parish g) Your college or work ID card on a cord running 'virtually' during the pandemic. Children's Ministry: h) Shampoo bo le Most importantly, we must remember Keep your Sunday School children i) Computer mouse to con nue to sustain and build up our engaged by assigning a DIY (Do It j) On a piece of paper, write down in big digital strategies for the long term, even Yourself) ac vity at home each day. You bold le ers, the name of the book of the a er the pandemic. The Digital op on will be doing parents a great favour Bible that follows immediately a er the is not a subs tute for mes of crisis, but by keeping their children busy for book TOBIT in the Old Testament. a signifi cant aspect of regular pastoral some me each day. Don't forget to ac vity and evangelisa on. „ acknowledge and showcase the best 3. Bible Quiz – Ask your youth group to entries each day to mo vate them prep for a par cular book of the Bible to keep going. Ask a Sunday School in advance, and prepare a list of 25 catechist to keep a list of children who ques ons. Again, at the pre-appointed turn in their projects each day, and me, you can begin the quiz on the

6 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 re you discouraged of sins and remission of that you will not all punishment? A er all, be able to receive churches are closed and the special graces Confession and Communion ofA Divine Mercy Sunday are not available. promised directly by our Lord There is, however, s ll a through St. Faus na in the way to receive this grace. 1930s? Do these three things on there, I embrace You and everyone can ask for this Don't be.Even though Divine Mercy Sunday with unite myself to You; grace to completely wipe churches are closed and you the inten on to turn away permit not that I should ever their slate clean of not only cannot go to Confession and from sin in your life: be separated from You. all sin, but all punishment receive Holy Communion, Amen. due to sin. Normally, the you can receive these special 1. Make an Act of Contri on punishment is not remi ed graces this Sunday, April 19, Since you are unable to Again, do this act of trust unless one has absolute Divine Mercy Sunday. And get to Confession, make an with the intent to return perfect contri on. And unlike we're going to tell you how. Act of Contri on, instead. to the sacrament of Holy a plenary indulgence, there Let's begin by reading As the Catechism of the Communion as soon as is no requirement of having what is arguably the most Catholic Church states, possible. perfect detachment from sin. important passage in St. "Among the penitent's acts In other words, as long as we Faus na's Diary, when Jesus contri on occupies fi rst 3. Say a prayer like this: have a desire for this grace tells St. Faus na: place. Contri on is 'sorrow of Lord Jesus Christ, You and inten on to amend our I desire that the Feast the soul and detesta on for promised St. Faus na that lives, we can be completely of Mercy be a refuge and the sin commi ed, together the soul that has been to cleansed with grace similar shelter for all souls, and with the resolu on not to sin Confession [I'm unable, but to our original Bap sm. It is a especially for poor sinners. again'" (1451). On that day the very depths You thereby will be of My tender mercy are open. completely forgiven of all I pour out a whole ocean of sins, even "mortal sins if it graces upon those souls who includes the fi rm resolu on approach the Fount of My to have recourse to Mercy. The soul that will go sacramental confession as to Confession and receive soon as possible" (Catechism, Holy Communion shall obtain 1452). complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that 2. Make a Spiritual day all the divine fl oodgates Communion through which graces fl ow Since churches are closed are opened. Let no soul and you cannot receive fear to draw near to Me, Holy Communion, make a even though its sins be as Spiritual Communion instead, I made an Act of Contri on] way to really start over in our scarlet (699). asking God to come into and the soul that receives spiritual life! There it is: Jesus promises your heart as if you received Holy Communion [I'm That is why Fr. Chris that the soul that's been Him sacramentally — Body, unable, but I made a Spiritual Alar, MIC, the director of to Confession and receives Blood, Soul, and Divinity. For Communion] will receive the the Associa on of Marian Holy Communion will be instance, you can say this: complete forgiveness of all Helpers, has stated: "I completely wiped away of sins and punishment. Please, promise you, it will be the the two stains that are on our Act of Spiritual Communion Lord Jesus Christ, give me this most important thing you soul. Those stains are sin and My Jesus, I believe that You grace. ever do in your en re life. the punishment due to sin. are present in the Blessed Finally, please remember In fact, it could mean the The special grace promised Sacrament. that this extraordinary diff erence in your salva on. by our Lord for Divine Mercy I love You above all things promise of Divine Mercy And Jesus told St. Faus na, Sunday is nothing less than and I desire You in my soul. Sunday is for everyone. Tell Divine Mercy is mankind's the equivalent of a complete Since I cannot now receive your non-Catholic friends last hope of salva on [see renewal of bap smal grace in You sacramentally, about it. Everyone can Diary, 998]. Please don't let the soul. come at least spiritually into ask Jesus to forgive their this grace pass you by." „ But how can you receive my heart. sins. Everyone can make a Source: www.thedivinemercy. this complete forgiveness As though You were already Spiritual Communion. And org

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 7 his Easter, let us strive to live Jus ce, Peace and DDRR ((SR)SR) MMENONAENONA MMUDITAUDITA SSODDER,ODDER, RRSCJSCJ Integrity of Crea on (JPIC) in the midst of the fears, anxie es and uncertain es of the pandemic T COVID-19. To live JPIC, we need to learn from the wisdom of the Universe, the wisdom of religious tradi ons, and from the wisdom of the Chris an Paschal Mystery. We are living in a sacred me of enthusiasm, trust and hope, when Mother Earth is healing herself and all her earthlings. Drama c changes are now occurring around the world because of the coronavirus. Is our faith authen c? If so, we will want to leave this planet a li le be er than we found it. Or are we merely navel-gazing, caught up in our own theological narcissism? As Chris ans, we are to emulate the Light of the Son (Jesus), and ignite the incandescent spark of new life and renewed energy to all around. The Master focused on basic human rights—the dignity of women, the outcasts, the weak and the poor. Are we Chris ans concerned about basic and universal human rights like safe drinking water, pure air and unpoisoned soil? These are essen al for survival today. Can we become God's mercy channels, through which He can water the Earth with our tears, pain and suff ering, thus purifying the water, air and land? This will protect all of Crea on, enabling jus ce, peace and Divine Presence to fl ourish. Global Communion (Spirit God), because the Universe is a Climate Change is the Planet's biggest existen al crisis. communion of inter-connected subjects, of real persons with Greta Thunberg, the sixteen-year-old Swedish girl has set their own infi nite and unique values. As Chris ans, we are the ball rolling. Can we collaborate with her? God's plan is also called to accept the world as a Sacrament of Communion inscribed in Nature. We are all profoundly united. However, (Laudato Si' no. 9). Planet Earth is a primary sacrament, our consumerism and limitless overuse of our limited natural replete with reciprocity, gratefulness and awe. This is the new resources is deple ng the irreplaceable and irretrievable Paschal Moment Mystery. Secondly, Psycho-social Interiority beauty of our Planet Earth. To be er the situa on, we need (Word of God) i.e. as human beings or groups, we have our to use O o C. Scharmer's 'Theory U'. Genera ve Listening and own inner mysterious presence and gi . Contempla on and Genera ve Speaking will help us to listen to the drumbeats in silence are both intrinsic and essen al in our Earth journey. our soul, recognise the needs of endangered Planet Gaia, the Each soul has to discover God in all things, and in his or her cry of the poor, and respond eff ec vely to them. The Planet own way. Thirdly, Local Diff eren a on i.e. Creator God is is a sacred being, conscious and alive, and the source of all enormously diverse and inter-connected (web of life) with life. She belongs to all. We ought to share Earth's gi s with all everything. This results in wonder and awe, and we connect/ her creatures, and we urgently need to a end to the mel ng relate with the Creator when we see this extraordinary ice fl oes, the poisoned soil and the polluted air, and plug variety of shapes, forms, colours, hues, etc. e.g. our DNA, further damage. fi ngerprints, eyeballs are all unique. Thus, living communion, We need to fi nd a balance in our life i.e. the midway path of interiority and diff eren a on, the world becomes the Living Lord Buddha. We need to change our mindset, our lifestyle, Presence of the Cosmic Christ. our ethical values, our pace of life, our understanding of At this Incarna onal Moment in history, there is a longing inclusiveness i.e. all God's creatures, our children, and our of the soul. All ma er is infused with the Divine. The Earth vision for their future. The recent COVID-19 is a wake-up call is the body of God. The heart of all ma er is thus infused for all of us, especially Chris ans, to think, feel and live the rich with the heart of God. Like Joseph (the husband of Mary) heritage of Chris an spirituality for our complex crisis, which and Joseph the dreamer, we need to discover the currents of is both social and environmental. As such, our focus must be wisdom that run deep in our dreams and imagina on. The the common good, solidarity and preferen al op on for the Cosmic Crucifi xion con nues. Dying is a very transforma ve poorest, rescuing the abandoned and forgo en creatures of act. It is a longing for newness, for harmony, for one-ing, this Planet. for yug or union, and of giving to the other. Today, we have Our Planet is a living cosmology. To make peace and cultural cholesterol, as evidenced or seen in traffi c jams and harmony a reality, we need to heighten our awareness in the blocking of streams and water bodies. Mother Gaia has and live JPIC, based on three dynamic principles. Firstly, repeated cardiac arrests. We thus need to enter into solidarity with the marginalised and the excluded, listen deeply to the Dr (Sr) Mudita Menona Sodder, RSCJ is a Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sophia College, Mumbai). (Contd on Pg 10)

8 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 LLOUELLAOUELLA MMARTINSARTINS & DDANKAANKA FFERROERRO in the live streaming of the Eucharist celebrated by the Holy Father in Rome and Cardinal Oswald Gracias in Mumbai. However, for the benefi t of children, youth, domes c helpers as well as the sick and senior ci zens, shorter services were streamed from IC Church. During the lockdown, in addi on to IICC ChurchChurch ffollowsollows ccivilivil llawsaws aandnd CChurchhurch gguidelines,uidelines, providing its parishioners with spiritual yyetet sstaystays cconnected!onnected! nourishment, IC Church has also been addressing their physical needs. The SVP members have ed up with three ur Lady of Immaculate refl ec on, conducted by Fr Harry, on local grocery shops to ensure that its 44 Concep on (IC) Church, the theme: "In mes of fear, danger and adopted families receive their ra ons on Borivli West, with its suff ering, God comforts and challenges me. Addi onally, to create a personal 25,000-plus parishioners, us to transform our lives for the be er." touch, each SVP member has been Ois generally a hive of ac vity,with To cater to the parish's diverse assigned some of these families, with parishioners fl ocking for daily Mass, language groups, prayer services whom they stay in touch over phone, Church services, mee ngs of various and Masses were held in Hindi, regularly enquiring about their health Cells and Associa ons, sessions held in Marathi and Konkani. On March 30, and wellbeing. St Paul VI Hall, etc. In fact, guest priests a reconcilia on service, followed by Similarly, the IC Church Community celebra ng Mass or conduc ng services the Eucharist in Hindi was celebrated Care (ICCCC) members have been like Missions, etc. have expressed their by Fr Oniel Rodrigues. On April 1, the providing assistance seamlessly to 115 apprecia on of the wholehearted Konkani peniten al service, followed families who receive monthly ra ons par cipa on of the parishioners. by the Eucharist, was celebrated by Fr (rice, wheat fl our, rava, poha, sugar, It was therefore a culture shock for Joel Pinto. On April 3, Fr Robin Kinny various pulses, cooking oil, detergent our parish community, especially those facilitated the Adora on, followed by powder, bathing soap, toothpaste) accustomed to a ending daily Mass, celebra on of the Eucharist in Marathi. and the 50-odd recipients who are when the enforcement of COVID-19 Special services were also organised given a monthly stock of medicines curfew restric ons necessitated shu ng for the youth. On April 6, at 12 noon, and/or cash for their sustenance, by of the church doors. However, our the youth par cipated from their homes coordina ng with suppliers and chemists Clergy Team rose to the occasion and to supply directly to these families. adopted tech-savvy ways to keep us Needless to say, these measures were bonded with one another and with possible only because of the proac ve God. To start with, the Holy Eucharist support,fl exibility and concern of our was live streamed on the IC Parish Parish Priest and his team for those Youth Council (PYC) Facebook page facing hardships and diffi cul es. twice a day; subsequently, the services During the coronavirus pandemic, we were held only in the evenings and live at IC Church have truly lived up to our streamed on YouTube. On weekdays, reputa on of being a dynamic parish by there was a mix of catechesis, Mass and demonstra ng that "the church isn't just a Bible refl ec ons. place we go. The Church is who we are." On March 24 evening, the Eucharist was preceded by a Peniten al service. Faith in the me of lockdown at Airoli On March 27, our Parish Priest, Fr Harry "Go into your houses, my people, and Vaz, conducted an interac ve and lock your door behind you; meaningful session for mul ple age in an online Rosary, praying for Mother Hide for just a moment un l the wrath groups, interspersed with lively ac on Mary's intercession and protec on of all has passed." (Isaiah 26:20) songs that engaged the children, youth, her children. While our Parish Fathers The novel coronavirus has turned life adults and senior ci zens. On March 31, and the Youth Animators led by reci ng topsy-turvy. A miniscule virus invading Fr Gnana Jothi conducted the Rosary the Hail Mary, the youth responded planet Earth has actually brought the and then celebrated the Eucharist. On with the Holy Mary. Similarly, on Good whole world down to its knees. The April 2, Mass was preceded by a Biblical Friday, from the safety of their homes, lockdown has brought our lives to a the youth par cipated in a live online stands ll! Lockdown confi nes you to a Louella Martins, IC Church, Borivali interac ve Way of the Cross. bizarre way of life you could never have & Danka Ferro, St Theresa of the Child For the Holy Week Services, Fr Harry imagined. Instead of parents urging Jesus Church, Airoli. recommended that we par cipate their smartphone-addicted children to

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 9 talk face to face with friends in physical the respec ve SCC coordinators to week. The Sunday School teachers space, they are suddenly required to par cipate in a Work from Home ac vity conduct short prayers together. The limit their interac on with friends to on Palm Sunday. This was a task where Lay Missionaries of Charity schedule virtual space. Confi ned to your home, each family had to prepare a poster, a a specifi c me for prayer during the you are off ered a pool of quiet me to placard, a pain ng or any work of art day. The parishioners were regularly re-think your pre-corona life. In fact, (made from waste material) related to updated (by Fr Joe) on Masses and it has set up a situa on for crea vely the historical events of Palm Sunday. services conducted by the Archdiocese envisioning a post-COVID-19 life with Therea er, a video clip containing all the of Bombay, as well as services conducted greater meaning, deeper sa sfac on, artworks was presented. Not only did we by Pope Francis at the Va can. and spiritual signifi cance than your daily get a fantas c response, but there was a Parishioners a end the live streaming rou ne before the plague. sense of sa sfac on as each and every of the Mass celebrated by Cardinal We realise that the world will not member of the family contributed their Oswald Gracias on weekdays at 7:30 return to what it was. Everything will eff ort to preparing this. How precious a.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. on the be diff erent. And to make a diff erence, these family moments are in today's Archdiocese of Bombay website. What a that's exactly what the parishioners uncertain world! pres ge and honour for us parishioners of St Theresa of the Child Jesus, Airoli The lively SCC animators and to par cipate in our Cardinal's did. The parishioners 'lived' each and coordinators of our parish (while Eucharis c celebra on every morning. every precious moment of the (fi rst) keeping social distancing in mind) would Moreover, we had the opportunity to 21 days of lockdown. This was only constantly keep the members spiritually witness the live streaming of the Holy possible because our Parish Priest, Fr Joe connected through social media, either Week celebra ons at the Cathedral. D'Mello, guided us and kept each one of by pos ng humorous ar cles, fun Bible Truly, a holy treat! us spiritually alive through social media. emoji quizzes, Biblical stories for kids, Cardinal Oswald Gracias said, "The He ini ated many ac vi es to keep us etc. Frequent reminders to pray the Holy coronavirus pandemic has made us going at home. Rosary, Way of the Cross and adora on realise that we need each other. It has Every Sunday, a Bible quiz for all prayers were posted. Many animators given us a new insight into humankind age groups - Sunday School children, also reached out to the elders and and our behaviour." Let us look at youth and elders was circulated senior ci zens of the parish (as well as the coronavirus event with a sense of to the respec ve communi es; an others) to assist them with procuring of posi vity – to build a strong spiritual overwhelming response was received. essen al groceries. bonding with Almighty God. We need The early bird entries received a rac ve The members of the Parish Prayer God to take charge of our lives; we hope gi s. Holy Week (Maundy Thursday, Group have allo ed a number of that we will come out of this together. Good Friday and Easter Sunday) saw hours to off er a chain of prayers Use this precious me of lockdown to a number of ac vity Bible quizzes for (around the clock) in devo on to our spend some me with your loved ones, Sunday School children. Our Parish Priest Lord. Likewise, the Parish Core group and even to understand yourself. „ invited each and every family through recites intercessory prayers during the

LIVING JUSTICE, PEACE AND... (Contd from Pg 8) experience of people and the planet, When we internalise the mystery of of Gaia. connect to the heart of Crea on, and Earth, our soul will undergo a psychic May we hear the cry of Jesus on the explore new avenues of fulfi lment, photosynthesis, and we will become Cross in the cry of the Earth and the especially the fulfi lment of detachment, channels of beauty, enabling jus ce pandemic, experience the Resurrec on and widening our horizons of inclusion, and peace to emerge and fl ourish, and in the regenera ve power of Earth engagement and jus ce. usher in a culture of compassion. and the end of COVID-19, and may We need to make Easter happen Longing for the Divine results in the our Easter experience give us hope with the Earth. This delicate balance emergence of a Planetary Pentecost. in a me of human and ecological will become a reality when (i) we We are all intrinsically inter-related and death. Suff ering and grief are universal celebrate an integral and engaged linked, and our future depends on this experiences, but we can deal with the cosmology and respond to Mother inter-connectedness. When we share holy and the broken, and s ll manage Earth; (ii) we encourage a culture of our resources and mutual love for each to sing Alleluia as praise to life for, Hope that includes fresh energy and other, libera ng pa erns of freedom when our heart breaks, the whole zest for life that promotes oneness and energy will awaken us and lead universe can fl ow through (Joanna with self, life, Crea on and the Divine; to a Planetary Pentecost which will be Macy). HAPPY EASTER 2020! „ (iii) we create a dynamic balance transforma ve, moving us to a more between tradi onal (con nuity) and mutually enhancing world. This will innova ve (discon nuity); (iv) we enable us to discover the mys c, be in integrate Art, Science and mys cism. solidarity with the anawim and the cry

10 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 ver since Prime supplies, totally amoun ng Accordingly, a couple of from the city, the Church is Minister Narendra to Rs 25 lakhs, made churches across Mumbai ac vely reaching out in the Modi called for a available by the archdiocese have been iden fi ed, and Raigad (Mission) District, in E na on-wide lockdown through the Archbishop's off ered to act as shelters collabora on with the CSA. to contain the spread of Offi ce. The benefi ciaries for migrant workers. The Fr Pascal Sinor distributed the coronavirus pandemic, include daily wage earners, fi rst such shelter was set ra ons to 250 families the Catholic Church across tribals, migrants, the up at St Peter's Church, belonging to Our Lady of India immediately mobilised elderly, members of the Bandra under the guidance Nazareth Church, Alibag its vast network of social trans-gender community, of Fr Frazer Mascarenhas SJ. and another 500 families outreach ins tu ons to ragpickers and other Provisions for stay and meals at Poynard, covering 12 reach out to the most vulnerable persons, vulnerable groups that irrespec ve of their religious would be aff ected by the faith or ethnic origins. lockdown. The COVID-19 Over 100-plus churches, pandemic has par cularly hit religious ins tu ons and hard at the vast unorganised Church-affi liated social informal workforce in India, work bodies have been with daily opportuni es of providing groceries, cooked work and livelihood earnings food, household essen als disappearing rapidly. Faced and medical assistance on with an uncertain future, a daily basis. These have normalcy is unlikely to been largely funded by return immediately a er the parishioners and other the lockdown is li ed, and well-wishers. On April 2, hence, immediate as well as 2020, the Prime Minister's long term accompaniment Offi ce held another video have been made for 25 Adivasi (Katkari) villages. is vital, as we reach out to conference to discuss the women and 100 men. Fr Joe Borges, similarly, these vulnerable sec ons case of migrant workers. Parishes across the has distributed hampers of society. Cardinal Oswald Gracias archdiocese are involved of essen al items to 235 In the Archdiocese of also par cipated in this in relief eff orts. Fr Carlton needy families at Korlai, Bombay, the Centre for discussion. His Eminence Kinny at Infant Jesus Church, irrespec ve of religious Social Ac on (CSA), which interacted with the Director Dombivli responded to a affi lia on. is the Social Outreach arm General (DG) of the request by the resident Our Lady of Lourdes of the archdiocese, has Home Guards, following District Collector (Thane) Church, Orlem has led the relief eff orts from the conference, about and offi cials of the Kalyan- undertaken a number of the forefront, responding providing assistance to Dombivli Municipal ac vi es to support and to His Eminence Cardinal migrant workers, which Corpora on by star ng a assist those physically and Oswald Gracias' clarion was highlighted as the Community Kitchen for economically aff ected by the call to place the Church's immediate problem that 1000 migrants sheltered by virus. The Community Fridge resources at the service of needed to be tackled. The the government. Fr Nigel is constantly restocked the poor and needy. The Home Guard DG requested Barre has started a relief with fresh food to ensure CSA, through its network the use of facili es around camp at Rosary Church, that the homeless don't of partner organisa ons the city for the distribu on Dockyard Road, for foreign go hungry. Tiffi n services across Raigad, Thane of food to distressed tourists stranded in the city. are also organised to and Mumbai has ll date migrant workers. This This has been established assist the elderly and the reached out to over 3000 was essen al to curb the in collabora on with the handicapped, who are not households with essen al spread of the coronavirus. Home Guards. Far away (Contd on Pg 13)

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 11 SSCH.CH. WWESLEYESLEY D’COSTA,D’COSTA, SJSJ

few months ago, as we were planning for the imposed on account of COVID-19 could have been used summer, elaborate Holy Week services were as an opportunity to educate the lay faithful and ac vate included as a high point in our plans. No one, in their bap smal anoin ng and empowerment. Christ's lay our wildest dreams, would have imagined a Holy faithful are capable of experiencing the Paschal Mystery of AWeek like the one we experienced this year due to the Christ even when an ordained minister is not available. In COVID-19 pandemic. No doubt, this pandemic has been a the COVID-19 situa on, the requirements of "ma er, form huge calamity, considering the several thousands of lives and minister for the valid celebra on of the Sacrament of lost and the crippling of the economy. However, it is also an the Eucharist" were not available. But the Lord does not e opportune me for humanity to stop and take stock of life. Himself exclusively to our rituals. He makes Himself The Church also came face to face with present to the faithful who seek Him anywhere. a crisis unprecedented in its history of I spoke to a number of people about over 2000 years. It had to take rapid their Holy Week experience. Due to easy decisions and come up with unique access to the internet, most people, solu ons to cope with the crisis. The including religious communi es, relied thought at the back of my mind is on the Masses live-streamed on whether we did enough to bring out YouTube or television. It helped our maximum poten al as Church. many, no doubt. But could we Or did we lose out and fail to live have not taken a further step? fully as the Body of Christ? Could it have been be er if the people The Church faced a number were encouraged to pray as a family using of challenges during the COVID-19 induced the liturgical readings, prayers and lockdown. A major problem arose as the hymns, without depending on the lockdowns did not permit mass congrega ons live-streamed services presided over by the priest? Was for religious services during the Holy Week. It placed us in a watching the Mass on YouTube the best that we could think posi on where we could only rely on the promise of Our Lord of in the situa on? Would it make more sense to watch the - "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I Mass on TV like any other programme, even with an added with them" (Mt 18:20). Unlike how many lay faithful think, sense of devo on? Would it not have been be er if we the presence of the Lord is not confi ned within the premises had come together as a believing family or neighbourhood of the church building. Every family or small community that community, and used our God-given facul es of mind, heart came together to remember the Lord, and called out to Him and soul to encounter the Lord present to us, His people? in faith, had the privileged experience of the Lord's presence I think we lost out on a great opportunity by reinforcing in their midst. It was a unique way of experiencing the the lay faithful's sense of dependence on the clergy. The Paschal Mystery of Christ. Though the situa on was forced subliminal thought thrust upon the faithful was that without on us, it became an opportunity for us, par cularly for the the clergy, there could be no assembly, no worship and no lay faithful, to experience and learn that the Risen Lord is not experience of the Lord. There are Catholics living in remote restricted to the sacred spaces and mes we create within villages who do not have access to the internet. Did we fail the walls of our churches. However, did we make the most of them? Did we fail in ins lling confi dence in our people that this opportunity? even when the clergy are unable to reach out to them and The lay faithful o en think of themselves as unworthy administer Sacraments to them, the Lord does not abandon with regard to Sacramental celebra ons. They fear that as them? They are the Lord's fl ock,and He is always with them. they are sinners, their ac ons might result in the abuse of It is me that we envisioned a Christ-centred community the Sacraments, and they might lose the sacramental graces. rather than a clergy-centred Church. This is essen al if the And so they always look for ordained ministers. Canon Law Church has to survive and truly fl ourish. The role of the provides exemp on from the norms in special circumstances. clergy is to animate the community, not create a structure of For example, many ordinary provisions of law are dispensed dependency. The Holy Week was a golden opportunity which with when persons are in danger of death. The lockdown we have lost. But it's never too late to refl ect and see how we can move ahead as the Body of Christ. The paradox is that Sch. Wesley D’Costa, SJ is studying Theology at Vidyajyoti the burden lies on the clergy to bring to frui on this vision of College of Theology, Delhi. the Church. „

12 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 KKIMBERLYIMBERLY PPEREIRAEREIRA

hat is a church without In this me of the coronavirus the people? Who is the pandemic, we realise the importance Church? Is it merely a of the daily Eucharist in our life. There structure? Who makes is a saying - "We do not realise what we andW comprises the Church? The have, un l it is taken from us" - which is answers are simple; it is the believers in very true in our life today. Christ Jesus who form the Church. Being at home and celebra ng the We are blessed in this me of virtual We Catholics are so fortunate to Holy Eucharist as a family is a diff erent reality to have the daily Eucharist, be a part of the Church, celebra ng feeling like never before. A life-changing and celebrate each day in prayer Jesus' life each day at every Eucharis c experience! It dawned on me that with millions of people around the assembly. How privileged we are to although I am not actually receiving globe. Pope Francis provided us with a partake in the Eucharis c celebra on Jesus in the host, yet I am celebra ng solu on to be in constant touch with each day! As Catholics, how much have the most powerful mystery of the the Eucharist in this me of crisis. He we honestly cherished this gi which Eucharist. Eucharis c communion is an termed this as a 'virtual parish' where has been given to us freely? Take some essen al part of our life, without which we can live stream the Eucharist, me to seek answers for yourself. there is a void that cannot be fi lled. We Sta ons of the Cross and much more, It is sad that we have taken this gi of as Catholics are called to be partakers to be in spiritual communion and the Eucharist very lightly. We have been in the Body and Blood of Christ. prayer. so caught up with our daily work and Today, with the economic slowdown Now during this me of pandemic, lifestyles that we haven't made me for and the current world crisis of the and even a er that, we have to live our the most supreme and supernatural gi coronavirus, God has a very strong Chris an du es every day, more so as given to us i.e. the Eucharist. message for us whom He created in His a family, with the habit of daily family image and likeness. We have forgo en prayer. I urge each and every one of you the Lord;our greed and need to be on to pray with your whole heart and soul Kimberly Pereira, St Anthony's top of everything has driven us. How for this pandemic to end soon. „ Church, Vakola. can we change the current situa on?

PANDEMIC RESPONSE: CHURCH IN MUMBAI... (Contd from Pg 11) receiving their regular domes c help on to hospitals and labs. Besides this, distancing measures. A COVID-19 account of the curfew. Food packages fi nancial help has been off ered to Crisis Management Team has been are also placed at the doorstep of those villages struggling to deal with the established under the leadership of quaran ned upon return from a foreign pandemic, along with those infected Cardinal Oswald Gracias and Bishop country. Ra ons have been distributed by the disease. Fr Michael Pinto, Parish Allwyn D'Silva to monitor ongoing to rickshaw drivers, barbers, rag- Priest at Orlem, credits the incredible developments and to respond to the pickers and other aff ected daily wage generosity of the parishioners for emerging needs. „ earners. St Anne's High School, Orlem making all this possible. (Collated by Fr Joshan Rodrigues is now sheltering and feeding migrant Cardinal Oswald Gracias is in regular for The Examiner, with inputs from workers. The Divine Mercy Cell of the contact with the Chief Minister's Fr Mario Mendes ( CSA), Fr Frazer parish supplies a daily breakfast to Offi ce in Maharashtra and the PMO, Mascarenhas SJ (Bandra), Fr Pascal Municipal workers and beggars, as well New Delhi, off ering full coopera on Sinor (Alibag), Fr Joe Borges (Korlai), as purchasing medicines for the old, and assistance on behalf of the Ravina Lobo (Orlem)) April 21, 2020 sick and disabled. Prayatna(the Centre Catholic Church in India. Cardinal for Community Organisa on – CCO) of Gracias has repeatedly called for Our Lady of Lourdes Church) provides respec ng government direc ves with personal protec on equipment (PPE) regard to the lockdown and social

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 13 FFRR JJOSHANOSHAN RRODRIGUESODRIGUES 4. E-Liturgies - Liturgy through Electronic Media is permi ed in mes of emergency and extraordinary circumstances by the Church. Under normal circumstances, the homebound, sick and elderly who cannot come to church are encouraged to par cipate in the Eucharist ousehold WWithith nnoo ddearthearth ooff 3. Income to parishes has on TV. However, with churches” – dried up - Running and the en re congrega on Post-Easter, ooptionsptions aavailablevailable maintaining church buildings now forced to follow the ""HH we have is going to get diffi cult, if the Eucharist “virtually”, the been listening (to the Acts oonlinenline fforor MassesMasses lockdown con nues for a few long-term eff ects of this of the Apostles) about more months. The well-off prac ce will have to be how the earliest groups of aandnd spiritualspiritual talks,talks, parishes will be able to cope seen, especially once the Chris ans came together with the help of their corpus lockdown is over. There and worshipped in small tthehe ffaithfulaithful ccanan fund, but spare a thought are rising concerns that gatherings in various homes nnowow eeasilyasily ssurfurf of the believers. They not only prayed together, cchannelshannels ttillill ttheyhey but also looked a er one another through a common fi n dnd s osomethingmething sharing of resources. The lockdown has exposed the tthathat ssuitsuits theirtheir weaknesses of a church building-centric model that iinterest.nterest. we are accustomed to, which fails in situa ons like these. Forget the pandemic; territorial boundaries are a similar circumstance may fast disappearing. With no emerge in mes of natural dearth of op ons available disasters such as fl oods, online for Masses and earthquakes and cyclones, spiritual talks, the faithful persecu ons when churches can now easily surf channels are forced to lock their ll they fi nd something for the many parishes that a number of individuals doors, etc. At these mes, a that suits their interest. take in modestly small and families who would robust and well-func oning A priest may have a “cap ve” collec ons on Sundays, and otherwise come to church on community-centric model audience in church, even smaller Community Sundays are not tuning in to will keep the faith alive and but not so in cyberspace. Fund collec ons/ thes due the Eucharist at home. Will strong. Sacraments must be Priests will have to work to poorer congrega ons. this aff ect their mo va on de-centralised to the level of harder to make their With electronic dona ons in the long run? The long community and cluster. This homilies and refl ec ons becoming the norm, people me period of this lockdown will also make the faith more more profound, well- will no longer feel restrained is suffi cient to transform a relevant and purposeful to researched, refl ec ve and to contribute only to the trend into a habit, if we are smaller groups of Chris ans. contextual to the lives of local parish. However, it is not careful. There are many the audience. This also up to the local priest and other concerns with regard 2. The territorial boundaries aff ects the next point viz. Church leaders to ensure to e-liturgies—the laity of the parish are fast the voluntary fi nancial that result-oriented and becoming passive spectators disappearing – With the contribu ons and thes socially impac ul projects are rather than being ac ve Church going “virtual” that people give. implemented in their own par cipants, a lack of an during the pandemic, parishes to communicate to interac ve liturgy, ge ng the laity that their money is accustomed to an “on- Fr Joshan Rodrigues is on The Examiner Editorial Board, being well spent. demand” Mass as opposed with the additional duty of Managing Editor. to going to church at a fi xed

14 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 me. A systema c catechesis 6. Online courses and the Sunday homily around people who are at diff erent has to be introduced during retreats conducted by a the dinner table. If parents levels of comprehension? this lockdown to worship in few tech-savvy clergy have are to become the primary It is also impera ve to keep “spirit and truth” beyond been around for some me, faith formators of their in mind that there will be temples and mountain (cfr. but that may soon become children, and sustain their many out there who are Jn 4:21-24). the norm in a post-COVID own spiritual life as a couple not tech-savvy, and may Church. With tradi onal and as parents, they must fi nd it extremely diffi cult to 5. False and misleading in-person courses and be trained and given the access online Masses and Spirituality – With people retreats fi nding it hard to necessary forma on to do other resources without turning to their hand-held a ract numbers due to the so. This means that Diocesan assistance from someone. devices to receive spiritual pressing demand on people’s Ministries and trained Access to the internet is also nourishment, the number me in a chao c urban lay ministers must work not universal, which divides of spiritual talks, Bible landscape, Chris ans would over me to produce relevant people into two groups – catechesis, retreats etc. welcome online courses and eff ec ve cateche cal the ‘internet haves’ and the being off ered online has and retreats that they could material that can be easily ‘internet have-nots’. Those ballooned exponen ally. The access at their convenience. conducted by families with access may also have challenge is – how does one Facilita ng group interac on at home, without much diff erent internet speeds. dis nguish and iden fy an will certainly be a challenge, cateche cal forma on. authen c teaching based on but that could be overcome 10. A Post-COVID Church – Catholic doctrine? In-the- through the crea on of small 8. Eco-Catechesis – The Predic ons are already being pew Catholics fi nd it hard video-conference groups reality of co-existence with made of how the Church will to discern whether the that could then report back Nature is back again during change more permanently interpreta on of Scripture to the course organiser. the lockdown. As humanity in the way it func ons post that they are hearing is retreats, Nature is reclaiming the pandemic, if it learns faithful to Catholic teaching. its space. Pollu on levels lessons from the present and A simple example should OOnlinenline coursescourses have dropped, the stars tries to prepare for future suffi ce; in an online Bible aandnd retreatsretreats in the night sky are emergencies. Life is certainly Quiz that I conducted for visible again, animals and not going to be the same one of my parish groups, cconductedonducted byby a birds have once again a er the pandemic, whether one of the ques ons was - found a non-threatening in Church or in the secular “How many books are there ffewew tech-savvytech-savvy environment. In spite of world. The lockdown has in the Old Testament?” the tremendous progress brought changes in the way Most of them Googled the cclergylergy hhaveave bbeeneen of science and technology, we work, do business, study, answer (obviously), and human frailty in the face communicate and chalk out as a result replied “39”, aaroundround forfor ssomeome of the forces of Nature has our priori es. The Church is while the right answer is been exposed me and going to be touched by this 46. They can be forgiven, ttime,ime, bbutut tthathat mmayay again. Our rela onship with change. While we have o en since Protestant websites far ssoonoon bbecomeecome tthehe Nature needs to be one of spoken about the Church outnumber Catholic ones, respect and humility. We not being a building, but the and Google tends to throw nnormorm iinn a ppost-ost- are urged to be ‘stewards’ ‘People of God’, we have up the most popular answer. of God’s Crea on as God seldom put structures in So how do we tackle this? CCOVIDOVID Church.Church. intended. Hence, there is place to encourage that. For Maybe the diocese could an urgent need for Eco- the most part, the Church issue a list of websites and Catechesis to be introduced remains a clergy-centric, online resources which 7. Family Catechesis – The and integrated with parish building-centred community, have authen c Catholic family has always been and school catechesis. and maybe that has to teaching; list the WhatsApp touted as the small domes c change. „ numbers of a few trained church. Unfortunately, the 9. Diff erent Strokes for (This ar cle has been priests and laity, whom one family has hardly been diff erent folks – The diversity inspired by the short could contact to check the empowered and given the of the parish demographic refl ec on by Fr Gilbert Catholicity of a par cular necessary resources to needs to be kept in mind Choondal SDB, Editor, resource; maybe a ‘digital conduct faith forma on at while designing new pastoral Cateche cs India in his imprimatur’ from the local home. Catechesis in the outreaches and online write-up ‘Living, Learning bishop, similar to many family is usually limited resources. Are we catering to and Loving our Faith: 10 spiritual and theological to praying the Rosary and diff erent language groups? Cateche cal Refl ec ons books. reading the Bible, with a few Are we producing content during Lockdown’) (rare) families discussing for diff erent age groups;

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 15 BBRINELLERINELLE LLOBOOBO

t the moment, many of us feel 'stuck' at home, roar of an aircra engine above you is an evacua on fl ight on but if you are reading this ar cle, then I believe its way. you are fortunate enough to have a place called For the fi rst me, the auto industry is manufacturing 'home'. For millions around the world, the ven lators, and holiday resorts have turned into quaran ne pavementA under the street lights is what they call home, zones. or maybe a 10'x10' room shared by ten others who are not For the fi rst me, we all stood locked down in our family. We are almost fi veweeks into the extended lockdown balconies, cheering and clapping for the brave hearts on the in India; with possible further extensions; who knows? At this frontlines, who con nue to keep our world going. point, I doubt anyone has a clue. For the fi rst me, prisoners are being set free to protect It is at mes like this that you start to count life. your blessings, which we otherwise take For the fi rst me, most of us have heard of a for granted. As someone who prac ses pla orm called 'Zoom'. the a tude of gra tude ever so For the fi rst me, many of us have o en, it is only now that I have stepped into our own kitchens, and many started to realise the value of each of us have li ed up a broom. new sunrise that I wake up to. For the fi rst me, the world went You see, in your 30s, thoughts crazy and stocked up on toilet rolls. of death are not something COVID-19 has made us realise the that keep you up at night. It is value of a simple hug, when all you want only now, when loss is so near, to do is to be with the one you love, but and people are dropping dead theyt are miles away, and seeing them around the world,that you start to meansm seeing them on screen. consciously be grateful for the life you In years to come, children will study the are blessed with. I feel blessed to have a m me of COVID-19 in textbooks, and how the job that allows me to work from the comfort off worldwo united to fi ght this together, where the only live my home—another blessing that I had never even realisedlised entertainment came from standing in balconies and cha ng ll the lockdown began. with neighbours, a me when taking a walk to breathe in fresh air was highly treasured, when marriages that would COVID-19 has helped put much into perspec ve. Will the have otherwise fallen apart will now work out, thanks to world ever be the same again? being locked down together. For the fi rst me, the world has started to slow down a bit. Somewhere, I believe, we had forgo en what it was like Terrorism has almost come to a stands ll, global poli cs has to live; we had become inhuman, selfi sh and materialis c. taken a backseat, and the fi ght for power has stopped. The There was no trust in God, no me for family, no care for world seems united like never before, all trying to defeat a friends, and no love for the environment. Man reached the common enemy. moon several decades ago, and yet, a ny, invisible virus has For the fi rst me, in over a decade (or maybe two), I have brought the world to its knees. started to wake up to the singing of the cuckoo and chirping Perhaps this is God's way of showing a disbelieving world of li le sparrows, as the fi rst rays of orange creep over the who the real Master is! In these past few days, I have horizon, rather than my mobile alarm. likened the story of the Titanic to that of the coronavirus. For the fi rst me, I can see clear blue skies by day, and History says the captain of the Titanic, in his over-confi dence, countless diamonds twinkling in the midnight sky. boasted that not even God could sink his ship, and we all For the fi rst me, fellow Indians have started respec ng know how that ended. Sounds disturbingly similar, don't the queue system by a metre, and crowding is frowned upon. you think? For the fi rst me, people are locked up, and animals have Have we learnt our lesson or, like every other warning, started to reclaim their space. this too will soon be forgo en, and the world will once more For the fi rst me, streets are empty, and hospitals are head down the path to destruc on? Only me will tell. overfl owing. We are living through History; somewhere over the For the fi rst me, all fl ights in and out of countries have rainbow, things will eventually get be er, but the lessons you been stopped indefi nitely, and you know that the occasional choose to learn from this pandemic will impact genera ons to come! „ Brinelle Lobo, hails from St Andrew's Church, Bandra.

16 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 RRICKICK WARRENWARREN really codify it or qualify it or quan fy it, and say, "This is what I believe in. This is why I believe what I believe." I don't personally have enough faith to be an atheist. But you may, you may. Your worldview, though, does determine everything else in your life, piritual emp ness is a universal ma er to history; I think you ma er because it determines your decisions; disease. I think inside at some to this universe. And I think that the it determines your rela onships; it point, we put our heads down diff erence between what I call the determines your level of confi dence. It S on the pillow, and we go, survival level of living, the success level determines, really, everything in your "There's got to be more to life than of living, and the signifi cance level life. What we believe, obviously— this. Get up in the morning, go to work, of living is: Do you fi gure out, "What and you know this—determines come home and watch TV, go to bed, on Earth am I here for?" I meet a lot our behaviour, and our behaviour get up in the morning, go to work, of people who are very smart, and determines what we become in life. come home, watch TV, go to bed, go to say, "But why can't I fi gure out my Materialism is all about ge ng; get, par es on weekends." A lot of people problems?" And I meet a lot of people get, get, get all you can, can all you get, say, "I'm living." No, you're not living — who are very successful, who say, "Why sit on the can and spoil the rest. It's all that's just exis ng. Just exis ng. I really don't I feel more fulfi lled? Why do I feel about more, having more. And we think think that there's this inner desire. I like a fake? Why do I feel like I've got that the good life is actually looking good—that's most important of all— looking good, feeling good and having the goods. But that's not the good life. I meet people all the me who have those, and they are not necessarily happy. If money actually made you happy, then the wealthiest people in the world would be the happiest. And that I know, personally, I know, is not true. It's just not true. So, the good life is not about looking good, feeling good or having the goods; it's about being good and doing good. Giving your life away. Signifi cance in life doesn't come from status, because you can always fi nd somebody who's got more than you. It doesn't come from sex. It doesn't come from salary. It comes from serving. It is in giving our lives away that we fi nd meaning, we fi nd signifi cance. That's the way we were wired, I believe, by God. And, being a pastor, I started reading the Bible. There's a chapter in the Bible called Psalm 72, and it's Solomon's prayer for more infl uence. When you believe that you're not an accident. to pretend that I'm more than I really read this prayer, it sounds incredibly Your parents may not have planned am?" I think that comes down to this selfi sh, self-centred. He says, "God, I you, but I believe God did. I think there issue of meaning, of signifi cance, of want you to make me famous." That's are accidental parents; there's no doubt purpose. I think it comes down to this what he prays. He said, "I want you to about that. I don't think there are issue of: "Why am I here? What am I make me famous. I want you to spread accidental kids. And I think you ma er. here for? Where am I going?" These are the fame of my name through every I think you ma er to God; I think you not religious issues. They are human land. I want you to give me power. I issues. want you to make me famous; I want Rick Warren is the author of the best- The problem is most people never you to give me infl uence." And it selling book 'A Purpose-Driven Life'. really think it through. They never just sounds like the most ego s cal

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 17 you enormous infl uence. So, what are you going to do with what you've been given?" "What's in your hand?" What do you have that you've been given? Talent, background, educa on, freedom, networks, opportuni es, wealth, ideas, crea vity. What are you doing with what you've been given? That, to me, is the primary ques on about life. That, to me, is what being purpose- driven is all about. In the book, I talk request you could make, if you were symbol of his own occupa on - I am a about how you're wired to do certain going to pray. Un l you read the whole shepherd. It's a symbol of his iden ty, things. You're "SHAPED" with (a li le psalm, the whole chapter. And then he his career, his job. Second, it's a symbol acros c): Spiritual gi s, Heart, Ability, says, "So that the king ..." (he was the of not only his iden ty, it's a symbol of Personality and Experiences. These king of Israel at that me, at its apex his income, because all of his assets are things shape you. And if you want to in power) "... so that the king may care ed up in sheep. In those days, nobody know what you ought to be doing with for the widow and orphan, support the had bank accounts, or American your life, you need to look at your oppressed, defend the defenceless, Express cards, or hedge funds. Your SHAPE: "What am I wired to do?" Why care for the sick, assist the poor, speak assets are ed up in your fl ocks. So would God wire you to do something, up for the foreigner, those in prison." it's a symbol of his iden ty, and it's a and then not have you do it? If you're Basically, he's talking about all the symbol of his income. And the third wired to be an anthropologist, you'll marginalised in society. thing: it's a symbol of his infl uence. be an anthropologist. If you're wired to You know, there's a story in the Bible What do you do with a shepherd's be an undersea explorer, you'll be an about Moses. If you saw the movie, staff ? Well, you know, you move sheep undersea explorer. If you're wired to 'The Ten Commandments', Moses from point A to point B with it, by make deals, you make deals. If you're goes out, and there's this burning hook or by crook. You pull them or you wired to paint, you paint. bush, and God talks to him, and God poke them. One or the other. So, he's Did you know that God smiles when says, "Moses, what's in your hand?" I saying, "You're going to lay down your you "be you"? When my kids were think that's one of the most important iden ty. What's in your hand? You've li le (they're all grown now, I have ques ons you'll ever be asked: "What's got iden ty, you've got income, you've grandkids), I used to go in and sit on the in your hand?" Moses says, "It's a staff . got infl uence. What's in your hand?" side of their bed, and I used to watch It's a shepherd's staff ." And God says, And he's saying, "If you lay it down, I'll my kids sleep. And I just watched their "Throw it down." He throws it down, make it come alive. I'll do some things li le bodies rise and lower, rise and and it becomes a snake. And then God you could never imagine possible." lower. And I would look at them: "This says, "Pick it up." And he picks it up And if you've watched that movie, is not an accident." Rise and lower. again, and it becomes a staff again. OK. 'Ten Commandments', all of those big And I got joy out of just watching them What's that all about? Well, I do know miracles that happen in Egypt are done sleep. Some people have the misguided a couple of things. Number one, God through this staff . idea that God only gets excited when never does a miracle to show off . It's Last year, I was invited to speak at you're doing, quote, "spiritual things," not just, "Wow, isn't that cool?" He's the NBA All-Stars game. And so I'm like going to church or helping the got a few more powerful ways than that talking to the players, because most poor, or, you know, confessing or doing to do whatever He wants to do. But He of the NBA teams, NFL teams and all something like that. The bo om line is, doesn't do miracles just to show off . the other teams have done this 40 God gets pleasure watching you be you. Second thing is, if God ever asks Days of Purpose, based on the book. Why? He made you. And when you do you a ques on, He already knows the And I asked them, "What's in your what you were made to do, He goes, answer. Obviously, if He 's God, then hand? So, what's in your hand?" I said, "That's my boy! That's my girl! You're that would mean that when He asks the "It's a basketball. And that basketball using the talent and ability that I gave ques on, it's for your benefi t, not his. represents your iden ty, who you are: you." So he's going, "What's in your hand?" you're an NBA player. It represents your So my advice to you is: look at what's Now, what was in Moses' hand? Well, it income; you're making a lot of money in your hand — your iden ty, your was a shepherd's staff . Now, follow me off that li le ball. And it represents infl uence, your income — and say, "It's on this. your infl uence. And even though you're not about me. It's about making the This staff represented three things only going to be in the NBA for a few world a be er place." „ about Moses' life. First, it represented years, you're going to be an NBA player (Excerpts from Rick Warren's TED talk his iden ty; he was a shepherd. It's the for the rest of your life. And that gives - A Life of Purpose, 2006)

18 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 hese last, tender yet abhorrent when it SSRR MMANISHAANISHA GGONSALVES,ONSALVES, RRSCJSCJ words of the Risen fi nally appeared: The rapid Jesus to Peter (Jn rise of child sexual abuse 21:15-17) as proof and widespread child ofT a genuine love of the Lord pornography! As one in a (as well as a mandate) fi nds pastoral ministry involved an echo in our heart-beats with all segments of society with a strange, stark strength with a special place in my today. It is "Breaking news" heart for children and youth, of sweet comfort to our I felt deeply disturbed. The broken world turned upside magne c mandatory words down by a menacing global of my Master reverberated and we know the rest of AAnn uurgentrgent pandemic that seems to in my being, leaving me the "lessons" learnt and be powerfully pervading restless, compelling me to revised daily for the past cclarionlarion callcall fforor every sphere of our very seek a solu on, however month! Where are our existence. We are le with small, to make a diff erence; children in this picture? uuss iiss ttoo tturnurn oourur many searching ques ons: to bring hope into a hopeless Out of school but feeling Who will feed the lambs? situa on. suff ocated and s fl ed in their aattentionttention towardstowards With what kind of "food"? Ever since the "lockdown" homes, for many in Mumbai, Who are these sheep who was called for by our just a single small room tthehe "lambs""lambs" need to be tended? Who are Prime Minister, I have accommoda ng a whole the most vulnerable? Who been concerned about the family/extended family with aandnd ""sheep"sheep" will take care of them? How well-being of our children even up to 10 members! iinn oourur ffamilies,amilies, would anyone feel equipped in par cular. Most of us As in one TV programme, I to tackle the gigan c issues adults have had to get heard a poor young man say, nneighbourhoods,eighbourhoods, before us to stay faithful to busy thinking of big issues "Social distancing is for the the same mandate of Jesus facing the family: mothers elite; not for us forced to be pparishesarishes toto bbeginegin transmi ed to us TODAY in thinking of house provisions, huddled together 24x7 in the here and now? fathers about fi nance and small homes or no homes wwith,ith, andand toto sseekeek at all!" An urgent clarion call for ccreativereative aandnd us is to turn our a en on towards the "lambs" and wwholesomeholesome waysways "sheep" in our families, ooff reachingreaching outout neighbourhoods, parishes to begin with, and to seek ttoo tthem.hem. crea ve and wholesome ways of reaching out to them. The Church all over the world, our country, our concrete concerted ac on Archdiocese, our parishes where perhaps it hasn't been and individuals are doing done already. On Saturday, April 25, implica ons for the future, yeoman service in literally Here are some humble 2020, the NDTV news sent young couples feeling as "feeding" the poor and sugges ons that might be shock waves that were even if the ground under their hungry— a colossal task that just a drop in the ocean, more earth-shaking than the feet was suddenly pulled has no end. Commendable! yet a life-saving one, a "last pandemic itself. Together away, students abruptly What about the emo onal straw", a ray of hope, a light with the usual presenta on interrupted in their studies/ "tending" of these and in the dark. and analysis of sta s cs examina ons; the list is other masses of people who of the devasta ng extent endless. Together with the fi nd themselves chained 1. A Counselling 'HELPLINE' of the Coronavirus came daily 'grind' is the whole area to pain, loneliness, grief, could be established in an announcement that of health: "social distancing", helplessness, fear, despair parishes, comprising mental to me seemed inevitable, measures to build immunity, within loveless, lockdowned health professionals/ "prison walls"? As a counsellors who would Sr Manisha is involved in the pastoral ministry of St counsellor in my parish, I volunteer their services in Anthony’s Church, Malwani, Malad (West) as a guide to SCCs sense the hour has come for this crisis. True, Mumbai and a counsellor. (Contd on Pg 22)

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 19 FFRR KKEITHEITH DD’SOUZA,’SOUZA, SJSJ

he philosopher Nietzsche used the term services of manual, monotonous, unskilled and unorganised "transvalua on of values" to advocate a labour. We live in two intertwined communi es: India and paradigma c revision of the values of his mes, Bharat. We have overvalued and overpaid India, while which he felt were powerless to help form a self- exploi ng Bharat to the utmost. assuredT and asser ve civilisa on. Today, we fi nd ourselves Poli cally, geo-poli cal boundaries and turf wars now seem at a similar bend in human history, except that the values trivial; we are more interrelated and co-dependent than we of self-interest, savage compe on and xenophobia which think. Power lies at the peripheries, where local leaders and govern our global ethos, themselves need to be transvalued. communi es are be er able to decide how to live life fully, The present pandemic is a good opportunity for the human and in harmony with others. We are be er able to dis nguish family to collec vely interrogate and re-fashion prevailing between leaders who produc vely unite versus those who values in favour of those that are more gentle, holis c subsist on suspicion and division. and sustainable. Personally, we have been compelled to slow down and change our lifestyles. We realise how we have taken EEthically,thically, oourur nnewew heroesheroes areare notnot thosethose our many freedoms for granted. In a situa on of scarce resources, we have become more aware of, and grateful wwhoho havehave money,money, power,power, ffameame oorr for the otherwise "insignifi cant" aspects and graces of life. Domes cally, at least for those who have a home, there has eeducationalducational degrees,degrees, bbutut tthosehose wwhoho aarere never been as much me and opportunity to relate with wwillingilling ttoo rreacheach ooutut andand help.help. our loved ones. The young have a be er chance to express their playfulness and curiosity, and the elderly to off er their wisdom and care. Organisa onally, we can lighten our travel-based carbon footprint enormously, by hos ng na onal and interna onal mee ngs online. We could do more work from home, causing less local pollu on, and reducing unnecessary intensity, stress and hype related to work. Ethically, our new heroes are not those who have money, power, fame or educa onal degrees, but those who are willing to reach out and help. Our true character and values emerge in such crises, and are refl ected in the choices we make - as persons and as communi es. Environmentally, the earth is slowly beginning to heal and rejuvenate itself. We are more able to recognise the presence and beauty of other life forms. Existen ally and spiritually, we are obliged to consider the purpose and value of life, without being able to escape Intellectually and academically, home-schooling, aided into our usual distrac ons and addic ons. Perhaps the most by globally available resources, may soon become the important learning of all is our vulnerability; life is fragile and new normal.The development of personal skillsets may mysterious, and we are not en rely in control of it. Hubris is gradually supersede the need for a long, laborious, and o en well replaced by humility. unfocused formal educa on. Educa onal and entertainment We are neither masters of our des ny nor slaves of harsh resources are shared more willingly, calling into ques on the natural forces; we have before us a chance to co-create a no on of intellectual property rights. fresh set of values, lifestyles and rela onships, based on new Economically, we recognise how we have taken our service- learnings. If wisdom and generosity prevail, we will embrace providers for granted; especially the hidden and underpaid healthy, enjoyable and frui ul ways of living together, towards a more promising human and planetary family life. Fr Keith D’Souza, SJ is Rector of St Xavier’s College, (This ar cle fi rst appeared in The Times of India, Speaking Mumbai. Tree, April 23, 2020) „

20 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 NNOELOEL DD’SILVA’SILVA

large amount of water has the lockdown caused by the virus. alone for days and days can be very fl owed down the Narmada, For most of us, the lockdown has unse ling, to say the least. This since the coronavirus made brought about a sense of loss and condi on can make us 'be with' A its appearance on the global bewilderment. Has this not taken place those who have been incarcerated scene. A large amount of wri en and in the lives of thousands of people, in unhealthy prison condi ons, spoken material on the eff ects of the especially women and children, in awai ng trial for cooked-up crimes or virus on every aspect of life has been ethnic cleansings, the Syrian and other misdemeanours. Just as there seems fl ashed or published in media of every confl icts, drug wars and a hundred and to be no quick end in sight to a li ing hue and cry – newspapers, magazines, one tragedies that have blighted the of the status quo in our own case, so TV, radio, mobiles. All over the world, face of the Earth? We seem to think also is the bleak hope of those in jail for it is being said that life will never be that the depression, the loneliness, the a just and fair trial, given the present the same. Personal and family lives frustra on that is caused by the locking poli cal equa ons. will be aff ected. Working from home up in our homes is something peculiar Is there any one among us who can will have a profound impact on how to ourselves. We forget that this is what adequately picture the real state of future businesses will be conducted. our brothers and sisters are undergoing the poor in slums and the homeless Communi es will change because of even now. It is me to remember that in streets during this period, when all normal commercial and social life in

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the country and the world has been the bonds of solidarity that are being we are not alone in our depression; it is completely disrupted? No opportuni es forged in these cri cal mes. The me to share, to understand and to feel to earn their ounce of daily bread; no Church itself may undergo profound with the many whose lives have been opportuni es even to protest and to be transforma on in the manner in which turned upside down by warring fac ons heard; the plight of the poor beggars all the People of God, as an ins tu on, and na ons. descrip on! How much have we, dear carries out its administra ve, worship One of the greatest sorrows of our readers, to be thankful for! Put on the and pastoral commitments. Poli cal mes is the suff ering of the millions of shoes of the deprived (if they have a life may be altered as the governed migrants across our globe. Were we not pair!), and grumble not for the present look back on how democracies or brought to tears by the picture of that state in which we fi nd ourselves—a dictatorships have func oned in li le child lying lifeless by the shore? state that is slated to save lives from controlling the pandemic. The loss of en re homes, proper es, contact with the deadly virus. In this ar cle, we will try to way of life; the hunger and stalking Finally, to that soul-searing scene of concentrate on some of the trauma c fear brought about by endless journeys the Holy Father walking in an empty St insights that have occurred because of in search of an escape and a be er Peter's Square on a wet and desolate future could in a small but real way be evening up to the Altar to impart the Noel D’Silva is President of the actualised by, and in, our own state of Urbi et Orbi blessing to Rome and to Common Wealth Network for People- lockdown. the world. Somehow, one expected an centred Development. Few will deny the fact that being immediate response from our Heavenly

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 21 Father! The Lord thought otherwise! become the goodness of God"; who, as we walk through the crisis brought Added to this was the Consecra on in taking the sins of mankind upon about by the coronavirus. Yes, but why of India to Jesus and Mary. Is the Himself, felt u er abandonment and has He permi ed the withdrawal of cry of the Indian Church also going dark despair on the Cross. Can any love the very Sacraments through which we unanswered? The dark night of the be greater than that of this person who could meet Him? Was it because we soul—doubt, despondency, disbelief. shared and gave His life for you and had become ritualised in the recep on Was God just up there with no concern me? This incarnate love revealed in the of the Sacraments? Habit, perhaps, did for what was happening on Earth? Person of Jesus demolishes the concept make the Sacraments, especially the These two events occurred at the me of an "uparwallah" God. If this is really Eucharist, seem commonplace. They when we, the Church, were recalling and truly so, then we can entrust were not seen as an extraordinary the Passion and Death of Jesus. ourselves completely to the Love of a gi , a grace that enabled us to meet Jesus, who le His heavenly abode God who came down to live and die for Jesus "face to face". Having lost the to be one of us, who underwent us. This trust dispels the dark clouds Son (sun) in the enveloping darkness the poverty of birth in a feeding of doubt, despondency and disbelief. of the lockdown, we now yearn for trough for animals; who, as a babe, Our loving God will see us through any the Light of the Sacraments in a became a migrant with His parents problem, including the present one. He new dawn. This dawn will surely see in Egypt, a strange and foreign land; lived for us, and con nues to live for us ourselves, the world and the Church who had nowhere to lay His head at the right side of or Heavenly Father. with new features, new insights, that during the years when He made More importantly, He conquered death will hopefully propel the whole of known to humanity the love, mercy by rising from the tomb, thus proving humankind and Crea on into an era of and compassion of His Father; who that He is indeed Resurrec on and Life. jus ce, peace and love. „ "became sin for us, so that we might Our God is with us. He holds our hand

"FEED MY LAMBS, TEND... (Contd from Pg 19) has these in diff erent places, but many with one another. Here is some of the world ever bounce back to normalcy? of them charge fees too high for most feedback they gave me when asked Ques ons that befuddle us, that could people. If possible, we could make how they were spending their me at leave us extremely anxious, restless such a helpline more amenable to all home and what had kept them 'going'. frustrated, hopeless... The challenge age-groups, including children in our Not only have they felt connected ahead is to face one day at a me, parishes who would need this service. and happy, but belonging to these using all the inner and outer resources groups gives them opportuni es to be available to us. At the crossroads of 2. With regard to CHILDREN, as I crea ve, to develop skills by answering life and death, health and illness, we expressed my deep concern for their 'brain-teasers'/ quizzes shared on the have daily, hourly CHOICES to make: well-being earlier, I suggest we explore group, to showcase talent online, to to be open to seeds of life wherever new proac ve ventures that we in share an inspira onal text or book, etc. they are found OR to close ourselves our families/ neighbourhoods/SCCs/ Addi onally what they appreciated in in a dismal, dreary dungeon of our Clusters can ini ate, to keep them the newly formed 'JOY' group is that own making. Our Parish 'Helplines', happily engaged, to combat the harsh they were kept informed of various if organised well, could be a beacon implica ons of the lockdown for them. Lenten programmes, Holy Week of hope for our people, especially for In this context, I share the following services and devo ons, daily/ Sunday the most vulnerable, beckoning and small steps taken in my SCC and local Masses streamed 'live', the Holy empowering them to keep choosing Neighbourhood Children's Council Father's messages as well as lighter life-giving, growth-enhancing op ons, (N.C.C.). The la er, open to children inspira onal songs, good movies for as we surrender our fragile future to of all faiths, has been func oning for children and programmes that kept the unchanging, uncondi onal Love two years now with school children them entertained as well. Many said of God. „ from Class 4 to 12. We have formed a they appreciated the quality family WhatsApp group (which includes their me they had; they have learnt to parents too so that they are in touch take their share in chores, in helping with what is put up on the group). younger siblings while also managing to More recently during Lent, we started complete their studies and assignments a similar 'Children's group' called 'JOY: allocated by their schools. These Jesus, You, Others' for the Chris ans to heartening reports endorse what deepen their rela onship with Jesus. Tagore aptly says, "On the seashore of endless worlds, children meet." 3. During the Lockdown, our children in Whither COVID-19? How long will both these groups have been in touch it last? Will it return? How will our

22 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 AARCHBISHOPRCHBISHOP THOMASTHOMAS MENAMPARAMPILMENAMPARAMPIL thousands of people dead and dying, doctors and nurses collapsing, priests and religious depar ng; the aged abandoned, the poor forgo en; medical personnel exhausted, medical facili es running short, millions esus was eminently of guilt, Thomas in his able to control Himself aff ected… with alarmist 'Human' unyielding stubbornness. thinking of the eventual warnings for worse things People o en think His sympathy for those in destruc on of Jerusalem. to come. We suff er with the J of prophets to be so pain stood out, as well as His "He came closer to the city, suff ering. message-focused as to grow concern for the suff ering. and when He saw it, He We cry out with the indiff erent to the listeners' He was anxious about the wept over it" (Lk 19:41). psalmist, "Why have you feelings. Great philosophers people who had forgo en The popula on of an en re abandoned us like this, O and teachers are usually their hunger, listening to Him city was des ned to be God? Will you be angry presented as persons who for three days. "I feel sorry overwhelmed, because they with your own people for are above emo ons. If so, for these people, because were not open to adopt the ever?" (Ps 74:1). We plead, this Rabbi from Nazareth they have been with me for preven ve measures God "Wake up, Lord! Why are was diff erent. He delved three days, and now have had proposed (Lk 19:42-44). you asleep? Rouse yourself! deep into the hearts of those Don't reject us forever! Why with whom He interacted. are you hiding from us? He entered into their world Don't forget our suff ering of emo ons as He spoke. and trouble!" (Ps 44:23). He Himself was infl uenced. Even ardent believers are When He saw Mary weeping shaken. "In mes of trouble, at the loss of her brother I pray to the Lord; all night Lazarus, "His heart was long, I li my hands in touched, and He was deeply prayer, but I cannot fi nd moved." As He drew closer comfort" (Ps 77:2). "Has he to the tomb, He broke down. stopped loving us? Does his "Jesus wept" (Jn 11:33-35). promise no longer stand… And people commented, Has anger taken the place "See how much He loved of his compassion?" (Ps him!" 77: 8-9). We weep with the Nor was this the only weeping. occasion. Sure enough, He Meanwhile, on the world was a prophet; but it was stage, the blame game not a prophe c pose that grows louder as to the characterised Him most of origin of COVID-19, and the all, but a 'human touch'. rhetoric grows shriller with He had a 'personal' tone in regard to the irresponsibility speaking to individuals, like of na onal leaders and the Samaritan woman, the unpreparedness of the woman taken in adultery, the nothing to eat" (Mk 8:2). Not a stone would be le on medical cadre. What is one who washed His feet; He was "deeply troubled" another! even more shocking is the the Syro-Phoenician woman, thinking of Judas and the insensi vity reported from Martha and Mary, Nathaniel, disaster that would befall When suff ering suddenly some situa ons of pain, Zacchaeus with his feelings him (Jn 13:21). He was not overtakes us due to casual neglect or The anxie es that sheer helplessness. A prayer Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil is Emeritus surrounded Jerusalem rises to heaven from the Archbishop of Guwahati. His name is synonymous with and the uncertain es that abandoned vic m, "During peace, inter-community dialogue and social harmony, for coronavirus has imposed the day I call to you, my God, which he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. on the world today but you do not answer. I call He was awarded the ‘Louis Careno Award for Excellence in have similari es for the at night, but get no rest" (Ps Journalism 2020’ by Indian Catholic Press Association. percep ve. We hear of 22:2).

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 23 Coronavirus has caught community in merciless usually have readymade Humans need human Society unprepared internal cri cism, proving solu ons. Some insensi ve aff ec on which alone has The prayers we have quoted ourselves vic ms of the statements of world leaders the healing power. Co- above belong to an era when same anger-virus that was have been quoted. The suff ering is a value. faith guided the search for harassing the wider society? media fi nds it hard to move answers. But today most Did we not over-concentrate away from their favourite Social Distancing re- people in society feel, on ma ers on which we themes: fi lm stars, sports affi rms Forgo en Values— "None of us knows what is diff ered than agreed, even heroes, poli cal bosses, Withdrawal, Solitude, going to happen, and there when the ma ers were of TV personali es; suicide Silence, Medita on, Prayer is no one to tell us" (Ecc minor importance, or could bombs, trade wars, army The so-called 'Social 8:7). Self-interest guides be studied further, making movements, weapons' sales. Distancing', however, has global discussions. Health ourselves insignifi cant and Poli cians want a speedy brought some unintended compulsions point in one weightless in the larger return to 'business as usual', blessing: it reminds the direc on, and economic and society? others suggest the li ing world of certain forgo en poli cal interests in another. Meanwhile, did we of tariff s, some invoke the values. You are invited to Mul ple social angers pull in forget the core of the 'collec ve will.' All are right, remember for example, that other direc ons s ll. Gospel message—mutual Moods diff er, thoughts concern, outgoing love, diff er. Radical secularisa on unbounded generosity, a trends are confronted by capacity to forgive seventy DDuringuring SSocialocial Distancing,Distancing, wewe havehave thethe radical 'fundamentalism'. mes seven, an ability for uuniquenique pprivilegerivilege ooff ttakingaking tthehe suffsuff eeringring Aggressive na onalism measureless sacrifi ce? Yes, stands facing exaggerated we need to set out on a ooff thethe restrest ofof humanityhumanity uponupon ourselves,ourselves, styles of globalisa on. journey of self-evalua on Self-importance claims in an age when even ardent aass JJesusesus diddid atat Gethsemane.Gethsemane. WeWe weep,weep, (na onal—"my country believers are losing their fi rst"—cultural, sectarian) faith and religious teachers nnotot primarilyprimarily overover ourour anxietyanxiety aandnd ffear,ear, keep society par san. At themselves are shaken… the same me, an erra c and people have become bbutut overover thethe painpain ofof thethe world.world. intermixture of cultures "worried and helpless" (Mt leads to an obscuring of 9:35). but Health Experts have only 'withdrawal' was always a iden es, erosion of value Similarly, in our pastoral one merciless formula— posi ve value in Chris an systems, ques oning of care, are we able to enter ensure 'Social Distancing'. tradi on. Moses withdrew beliefs and tradi ons, into the world of a weak and Chris ans are confused. to the mountain to pray. So enfeebling of convic ons, failing person, to sympathise, They have always did Jesus; He was familiar disorienta on of the masses, help, and heal, as Pope been taught to value with quiet places like the and the pain of insecurity. Francis suggests? Or are we togetherness—family, desert, Gethsemane. Monks Thus, coronavirus has eager to thrust readymade, community, neighbourhood. withdrew to the mountains, caught us unprepared, pedan c and facile answers They have never been taught hermits into caves, distracted by concerns and on people who are wai ng that 'Social Distancing' is a contempla ves into forests. confl icts of diverse nature, for something more personal strength. Take care; what They were guardians of and blinded by proposals of and profound? It will be is really asked is not social the environment wherever half-truths, warped truths only when we admit our distancing, but physical they went; they protected and 'instrumentalised inadequacies that solu ons distancing. Human beings Nature; they respected the truths'. We have become will come from the Lord (Dan are social, and need to cosmic order. They believed like "children, carried by 9:4-23). Then we will be able remain 'social.' Interac ons that solitude deepens a the waves and blown about to console ourselves, "Why through phone calls, digital person; silence has power; by every shi ing wind of are you cast down, my soul; communica on and video medita on keeps one close teaching" (Eph 4:13-14). why groan within me? Hope chats are s ll possible. to God; prayer obtains in God, I will praise him s ll, Love manifests itself in whatever one seeks. Did coronavirus catch my saviour and my God" (Ps many ways. Jesus merely Chris ans withdraw for the Believing Community 42:5). looked at Peter, but it meant a retreat, recollec on, unprepared too? everything (Lk 22:51). The pilgrimages, days of When hard truths stare at us, Diffi culty in accep ng the weak and the aged must not refl ec on. People of other we need not be embarrassed Proposed Solu on: Social be made to feel neglected, faiths too have similar to admit that. Were we not Distancing lest they become lonely and tradi ons. In Chris an for a while lost as a Catholic People caught unprepared psychologically trauma sed. understanding, the energies

24 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 one gathers in solitude are We need to refl ect, think; vast areas under the care readily suff er with those not merely self-oriented; re-think and correct. History of every parish, the faithful who suff er, just as family they are to be brought to is shaped not only through would have the Eucharist members par cipate in each the benefi t of humanity as trade wars and nuclear only a few mes a year. Their other's suff erings. That is a whole. Even hermits who experiments, but very spirituality was nourished our mission. During Social remained in solitude were specially in the brain cells greatly on the Word of God, Distancing, we have the fi rmly commi ed to the of responsible ci zens and proclaimed and explained unique privilege of taking wellbeing of society and the prayer cells in contempla ve by lay leaders and spiritual the suff ering of the rest of future of humanity. houses. animators. They did not have humanity upon ourselves, opportuni es as others do as Jesus did at Gethsemane. Isola on has made us Think, God's Word has Power today of being able to watch We weep, not primarily over Evaluate, Plan What Catholic believers the Mass on TV. And yet, our anxiety and fear, but The isola on that miss most of all in Social they sustained their spirit, over the pain of the world. Coronavirus has imposed on Distancing is Liturgy, genera on a er genera on. Lamenta on has always us has made us "Think". It especially the Eucharist The Small Chris an been a part of the prophe c has compelled us to sit back, celebrated in community. Communi es that gather ministry, especially when we relax, and evaluate our day- Worship together is central around the Word of God feel totally helpless before to-day life, and no ce some to Chris anity. Jesus had experience this sustaining an evil or a tragedy that is of our superfi ciali es—quick assured, "Where two or power of Jesus. too much for us to handle profi ts, over-concern for three come together in my Someone commented that at a given me. The Church appearance, fi gure and form, name, I am there with them" coronavirus has been a great has lamented the vic ms hasty judgments, fatuous (Mt 18:20). Early Chris ans equaliser, a great leveller. of millions of abor ons, boasts, pe y bickering, "devoted themselves to See what the Magnifi cat euthanasia, violence in every neglect of courtesies, the Apostles' teaching and (Lk 1:51-53) say: There is form, moral distor ons resentment over trifl es. fellowship, to the breaking of no high and low, the ruling of every type; and today, However, the calamity has the bread and the prayers" and the ruled, the fi nancial coronavirus! Even silent s mulated a quick change (Acts 2:42). wizard and the plain ordinary suff ering has an eloquence in a tude; there has been With Social Distancing worker, the more advanced of its own. Jesus wept. I an outburst of generosity imposed, we shall miss the and those le far behind. In weep with Him! from the most unexpected joy of coming together into fact, the 'periphery' seems We ought to give special quarters: millions of masks the Presence of Jesus in the to have been spared by recogni on to doctors, from China, $5 trillion from Eucharist as a community. COVID-19 for the moment. nurses, medical personnel, G-20, dona ons from mul - However, our faith tells us in No doubt, there is a divine people a ending to essen al millionaires, contribu ons the same manner that He is plan "to uproot and to services, and a huge number from fi lm stars. All of a present in His Word, to give pull down, to destroy and of volunteers who risk their sudden, we realise we can us inspira on and strength. overthrow, to build and lives and reach out to help be generous, helpful, and In fact, He is the 'Word' (Jn to plant" (Jer 1:10). There others. Several of them reach out in collabora on… 1:1). It is our obedience to is a new levelling taking have died. In their regard, that we need each other, we the Word that makes us His place: the re-ordering and Pope Francis' words take are interdependent. true disciples. Jesus says, "If modifi ca on of ideas, ideals, on intense meaning, "Life Some look deeper. They you con nue in my word, ideologies, idolisa ons, and grows by being given away... see in the unexpected you are truly my disciples" new forms of idolatry. He Indeed, those who enjoy arrival of the pandemic an (Jn 8:31). wants to make "all things life most are those who indictment of our civilisa on, For genera ons, Catholics new" (Rev 21:5). leave security on the shore a re-evalua on of our in Communist countries and become excited by the priori es, a re-assessment of gathered around God's Word Co-suff ering has Power mission of communica ng our rela onship with Nature. and stood fi rm in their faith. Even if we have not been life to others" (Evangelii Are other species calling In mission territories with vic ms ourselves, we can Gaudium 10). "Entrust," for a en on and claiming then, "your cares to the back lost space in a subtle Lord, and he will support manner? Are marginalised IInn missionmission territoriesterritories wwithith vvastast aareasreas you" (Ps 55:22). „ communi es and marginalised people silently uundernder tthehe ccareare ooff eeveryvery parish,parish, tthehe affi rming their existence? Is the need for Social ffaithfulaithful wouldwould havehave thethe EucharistEucharist oonlynly Distancing a condemna on of our disorderly nearness? a ffewew timestimes a yyear.ear.

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 25 BBPP AAGNELOGNELO GGRACIASRACIAS can do without many things we thought were necessary. It has made us see our need of God. We thought we could do without God. COVID has made us realise our helplessness before an infi nitesimally ny virus, hundreds of mes thinner than a strand of hair. The epidemic is a call to turn back to God: "Just as you were once disposed to go astray from God, return with tenfold zeal to seek him" (Baruch 4:28). COVID-19 has challenged us to live life with new hearts, hearts of care and compassion. It has made us realise that e associate the term 'dark clouds' with we are one global family. A ny virus from one part of the something dreadful or ominous. We speak, for world aff ects the whole world. Pope Francis expressed this example, of the 'dark clouds of war'. Today, so beau fully in his Easter message: "We have realised that humanity seems to be under a dark cloud – the cloudW of COVID-19. We scan the papers with dread as we read the rising number of people aff ected and dying all over the world. We wonder about the future of our children, as schools and educa onal ins tu ons remain closed. We see the hungry faces of daily wage earners, the exhausted faces of the migrants longing to get back to their loved ones. We are worried about the economic slowdown – predicted to be worse than the last economic depression. Everything seems dark! But, as it is said, every dark cloud has a silver lining. The havoc wreaked by COVID-19 has been a terrible one (and the future seems bleak). But COVID-19 has brought about some benefi ts too. It has given respite to Mother Earth to regenerate herself; our streams are cleaner, free from chemical wastes; our skies appear more blue; we can see we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same me, important and needed, all of us called to TThehe eepidemicpidemic iiss a ccallall ttoo tturnurn bbackack ttoo row together." COVID-19 invites us to go back to the picture GGod:od: "Just"Just asas youyou werewere onceonce disposeddisposed described in the Acts of the Apostles 4:32, where "there was not a needy person among them." How wonderful it would ttoo gogo aastraystray ffromrom GGod,od, returnreturn withwith be if the whole world became one global community of caring and sharing. That, of course, will happen only at the ttenfoldenfold zealzeal toto seekseek him"him" ((BaruchBaruch 44:28).:28). end me, when God will create "new heavens and a new earth; former things shall not be remembered or come to mind" (Is 65:17; Rev 21:1). the Himalayan range more clearly! People have been able The Bible refers to the cloud as a sign of God's presence. to work from their homes. Residents in some colonies God accompanied His people on their journey to the have come closer to their neighbours, bringing groceries Promised Land in a "pillar of cloud" by day (Exodus 13:21). and medicine for the elderly. COVID has spotlighted many The pillar of cloud did not leave them, guiding them on their examples of heroism in doctors, nurses and healthcare way (Neh 9:19). The cloud covered the tent which Moses workers serving the sick and affl icted. It has given us me had made as a mee ng place with God, and the glory of the to be together as a family – something of a rarity in normal Lord fi lled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34). It was a cloud that mes. It has given us an occasion to spend me in prayer. over-shadowed Jesus at the Transfi gura on proclaiming Him A cartoon portrayed Satan grinning maliciously at God: 'See as the Son, the Beloved (Mt 17:4). how, with COVID-19, I have closed all the churches'. And The cloud overshadowed Mary, as a result of which she God replies with a chuckle: "And I have opened a church in conceived Jesus (Lk 1:35). This is the month of May, Mary's every home!" month. We turn to her whom we invoke with the tle 'Our COVID-19 has challenged us to look at life with new eyes. Lady of Good Health', and we pray to her in the words of the It has enabled us to see the virus of greed, of selfi shness Opening Prayer of one of the Masses of Our Lady: "Grant, and of consumerism in our daily living. We realise that we Lord God, that we, your servants may rejoice in perpetual health of mind and body, and, through the intercession of the Bp Agnelo Gracias is Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay Blessed Mary ever virgin, may we be set free from present and currently serving as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese sorrow and come to enjoy eternal happiness. Through Christ of Jalandhar, Punjab. our Lord. Amen." „

26 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 TTONYONY MMAGLIANOAGLIANO

ven now, as the coronavirus suff ering devasta ng losses from par cular, "may it awaken in na ons' (COVID-19) con nues to a ack COVID-19. Let's not forget that in leaders and other par es involved a humanity, so many human war-ravaged countries, health systems renewed commitment to overcome beings con nue to fi ght each have collapsed. … It is me to put rivalries." Then in prophe c boldness, Eother. Challenging this terrible reality, armed confl ict on lockdown, and focus Pope Francis declared: "Confl icts aren't UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres together on the true fi ght of our lives." resolved through war! It is necessary to issued a hear elt appeal for a global Then in prophe c-like speech, overcome antagonism and opposi on ceasefi re (h ps://www.un.org/sg/ Guterres boldly declared, "To warring through dialogue and a construc ve en/content/sg/speeches/2020-03-23/ par es, I say: Pull back from hos li es. search for peace." secretary-general-appeal-for-global- Put aside mistrust and animosity. In addi on to praying for peace, ceasefi re). Inspiringly, he said, "Our Silence the guns; stop the ar llery; end we also need to relessly urge our world faces a common enemy: the airstrikes."He pleaded, "End the poli cal and corporate leaders to end COVID-19. The virus does not care sickness of war, and fi ght the disease the fi gh ng and stop fuelling wars. about na onality or ethnicity, fac on or that is ravaging our world. It starts by Many governments are involved in faith. It a acks all, relentlessly. stopping the fi gh ng everywhere. Now. armed confl icts. In the guise of "war on terrorism", countries like the US, Russia, China, Italy, France, Germany, UK, are fuelling the es mated 70 confl icts with death-dealing weapons. Highly lucra ve American corpora ons like Lockheed Mar n, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics, along with UK's BAE Systems are the six largest arms manufacturers in the world. Pope Francis teaches us that it is an absurd contradic on to speak of peace, while also permi ng or promo ng the arms trade. Furthermore, war and the arms trade are robbing money that could be used to fi ght the coronavirus and other human needs. In his Easter Vigil homily, Pope Francis reminded us that we are all brothers and sisters, and that we should be singing the song of life! He pleaded: "Let us silence the "Meanwhile, armed confl ict rages on That is what our human family needs, cries of death; no more wars! May around the world. The most vulnerable now more than ever." we stop the produc on and trade of – women and children, people with Can we all say "Amen!" to that? weapons, since we need bread, not disabili es, the marginalised and the Endorsing the Secretary-General's guns." displaced – pay the highest price. appeal, Pope Francissaid, "I join all And then connec ng the innocent They are also at the highest risk of those who have listened to this appeal, lives lost in war to the innocent lives and I invite all to follow it up, hal ng lost through abor on, the Holy Father all forms of warlike hos lity."The pleaded, "Let the abor on and killing Tony Magliano is an internationally Holy Father added that he hoped of innocent lives end. May the hearts syndicated Catholic social justice and that the joint commitment against of those who have enough be open to peace columnist. His columns regularly the coronavirus pandemic would fi lling the empty hands of those who do appear in various US diocesan papers, help all of us to recognise our need not have the bare necessi es." „ as well as on global Catholic online to strengthen fraternal bonds as publications. members of one human family. In

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 27 CCYNERAYNERA RRODRICKSODRICKS Some Catholic families and the one who studied in Mumbai have gone even at home. She says, "Seeing further and embraced my cousin, I no ced she 'Catholic Homeschooling'. was never really stressed Mrs Reena Poddar (nee about studies; she was at Viegas) (who comes from peace and relaxed all the a very missionary Catholic me." Ini ally, when they upbringing) and her decided to homeschool husband (who converted their son, they received the to Chris anity) have been expected frown from others. homeschooling their Many thought they didn't child since the age of six; think this through, because chools have always However, homeschooling faith forma on being while their children were been akin to a is just another form of a very integral part of in school, Giovanni would second home, with schooling, where parents the curriculum. Catholic be wandering in the church S teachers like second take up the role of Homeschooling brings compound. However, Reena parents. Reminisce about teachers, and learning is faith and reason together, was very confi dent about her your childhood, and you not just limited to books, nurturing young minds choice in homeschooling her will agree that some of the assignments and projects, with the best of secular son, as she feels that there fondest memories we have but the process of impar ng educa on combined with is no stress of waking up of our childhood were made knowledge is done through in school. But what if our stories, music, audiovisuals, home became our school, fi eld trips, observing and and parents donned the role learning; and all this at of teachers as well? the child's own pace and As much as the concept comfort, within its own of homeschooling sounds home. Sounds appealing absurd and unconven onal already, doesn't it? to most, it is considered While the concept of to be a be er op on by homeschooling has yet to some. In fact, before the catch on in India, a small introduc on of compulsory group of parents have school a endance laws, already started blazing the

WWhathat iiff oourur hhomeome bbecameecame oourur sschool,chool, an outpouring of Catholic early in the morning , ge ng values. ready for school, exams, etc. aandnd pparentsarents ddonnedonned tthehe rroleole ooff Reena and her husband In fact, she fi nds it extremely always wanted to relaxing, and it's a learning tteacherseachers aass wwell?ell? homeschool their child; experience for both the child however, due to unforeseen and the parent. circumstances, their son, Unlike others, who follow most children were way since the late '90s. Giovanni, was admi ed to a the general Boards like SSC, educated at home by their The advantages are many. regular school up to Sr KG; CBSE etc., Reena follows own families. In today's Children can learn at their once things fell in place, they a structured, Charlo e compe ve world, most of own interest and pace. opted him out of school and Mason style curriculum us believe that educa on There is no comparison began homeschooling him. for Catholics, called Mater is essen al, and since or compe on with other Reena had always heard Amabilis, which means parents want the best for children. There is no about homeschooling and 'Mother most Amiable' (Find their children, they resort confl ict between learning was intrigued by it, and out more on the website to schools they think will and playing. There is spoke to several couples h p://materamabilis. provide top-notch educa on, internal mo va on, and who were homeschooling org/ma/). This par cular leading to an all-round socially,children of diff erent their children. In fact, one of curriculum follows the growth of their children. age groups interact together. Reena's rela ves had been liturgical cycle, and begins homeschooled, and she saw in the fi rst week of Advent. Cynera Rodricks is currently interning as a Content Writer the diff erence between a This means that along with with The Examiner. child who studied in school subjects like Mathema cs,

28 · THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 History, Geography, etc., a that homeschooling gives homeschool your child. amounts for school fees and religious aspect is added the child that space to Reena and Renita both have on private tutors. Catholic to it. For example, when breathe and enhances their incorporated Nature studies Homeschooling, according to she was teaching her son crea vity. She teaches her into their child's curriculum. Reena, has helped her fulfi l about the gladiators and child in a story format, They made it a point to the call and voca on to pass the Colosseum, she also which makes learning take trips, and make their on the faith. Apart from this, spoke to him about the early more engaging. Giovanni children observe and learn. there is no schedule as such Chris an martyrs who were is eight years old now, and Reena has no ced that her that needs to be followed; killed in the Colosseum, and he's already got himself son who is just eight years it is very relaxing for both how their blood became the engrossed in audio books, old has already gained the parent and the child. seed of the Church. This is and takes keen interest knowledge equivalent to Homeschooled children just one example of secular in military and war. that of a 13-year-old. tend to learn faster and and religious educa on Reena emphasises that How does one graduate be er, since homeschooling combined in a holis c way. homeschooling enables the or join college a er being removes the obstacles Along with this, she has child to learn at his own homeschooled? Children and diffi cul es of a regular also been teaching her son pace, and exams are not the who are homeschooled educa on system, which hymns and prayers in La n. criteria to test his intellect. have an op on to apply for some have described as a She sends her son to Sunday Renita Vaz (name the NIOS examina on i.e. 'Factory Model' of educa on. School, as she wants him to changed on request), on Na onal Ins tute of Open On the other hand, when learn the community aspect the other hand, has two Schooling. The child has it comes to challenges of of faith. daughters and a son. She to be 14 years and above homeschooling, for instance, to give this examina on. since parents are teachers Renita's daughter gave her to their children, they SSchoolschools helphelp usus learnlearn toto socialise,socialise, Class X and Class XII Board themselves have to pre- nnegotiate,egotiate, aadjust,djust, uunderstandnderstand ootherther exams from the Na onal learn a lot of things, before Ins tute of Open Schooling, teaching their children. ppointsoints ooff vview,iew, andand becomebecome partpart ofof thethe and then joined a college There also needs to be a to pursue her Bachelor's balance between what you llargerarger ssociety.ociety. Degree. There is no hard want to teach your child and and fast rule as to when one what your child wants to Some of us would raise homeschooled her daughter should give these exams; it learn on that par cular day. an objec on that receiving right from the beginning, solely depends on the child, In conclusion, while a formal educa on is just and now her daughter is when he/she is willing and homeschooling sounds one aspect of the regular a college graduate. She prepared to appear for these like an appealing op on, it schooling system. Schools too has incorporated faith exams. isn't for all parents, since at also help us learn to forma on in her daughter's Homeschooling, according least one parent has to be socialise, nego ate, adjust, curriculum, and at the same to some experts, is one present at home, and there understand other points me, she opted for the CBSE of the best op ons for is a lot of investment of me of view, and become part syllabus. According to her, educa on, as it builds an involved. Working parents of the larger society. How homeschooling enables even stronger rapport will fi nd this a diffi cult path, does homeschooling take the parent to spend a lot of between parent and child. and fi nd regular schools care of this aspect? Reena quality me with the child. The Church has always a more feasible op on. personally feels socialising She could also keep a check strongly defended the However, as the current was never an issue, as on the nega ve infl uences right of parents to be pandemic has shu ered children in her building that peers could have on her the primary educators of schools, and parents have complex would come down daughter, and though there their children. There is no turned teachers, helping to play every evening, and is a lot of investment of me, pressure of studies, projects, their wards with lessons and her son too would join it is worth it, as it is a process assignments on the child, homework, we may just see with them. Secondly, once of learning and unlearning at as well as on the parent. homeschooling catching on homeschooled, the children the same me. Unlearning, Today, we see most of these in the post-pandemic period. join a regular college for because as parents who projects from schools are „ their graduate studies, thus have gone through the completed by the parents giving them ample me to regular schooling system, or subcontracted to tutors, integrate themselves into the following a par cular Board which doesn't really help regular system before they and a par cular pa ern of the child grow, as well as enter into the responsibili es learning, the same cannot parents taxing themselves of adulthood. She feels be applied when you and shelling out huge

THE EXAMINER · APR 18 - MAY 08, 2020 · 29