THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF DELHI CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE VOL. 29, ISSUE 12 DECEMBER 2020 `10 Servent of God Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas For a Life of Prayer We pray that our personal 14 32 relationship with Jesus Christ be nourished by the Word of The Solemnity of Christ A 7-Day Virtual Healing the King at Sacred Heart & Deliverance in Family God and a life of prayer. Cathedral Retreat HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR DECEMBER 2020 For a Life of Prayer We pray that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ be nourished by the Word of God and a life of prayer. CONTENTS FROM THE EDITOR 5 The Shepherd’s Voice 8 We Drink from Our Own Wells - XXXXIX Prayer at the Manger 9 Musings of the Month 11 Theology & Christian Life - 13 12 Special FR. STANLEY KOZHICHIRA 13 Parish Roundup 18 School Snippets 29 Diocesan Digest 37 Calendar of Feasts What is prayer? It is a pertinent question in life. We answer it diffrently; some with classical definitions, some other with contemporary dynamic definitions. However defined, it is an important part of human life. The prayer postures represents everything, from supplication to thanksgiving PATRON and surrender to a higher being. When man thinks that the end results are Archbishop Anil J.T. Couto beyond his comprehension and reach, he uses prayers. So prayer includes it EDITOR all -thanksgiving, supplication, surrender et al. Fr. Stanely Kozhichira EDITORIAL BOARD Then there are schools that teach about prayer as dialogue, but in most Augustine Kurien cases it remains a monologue. It is also considered to be a relationship with Deepanjali Rao a personal God. Only possible where there is presence of personal God. So Divya Joy the understanding of prayer in Christianity is a dialogue and a relationship. FINANCE AND CIRCULATION MANAGER Fr. Francis Prasad While we recite all our prayers both private and public there is a greater call SECRETARIAT for intense personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And Holy Father says, Tency Thomas this relationship is to be nourished on Word of God and life of prayer. DESIGN CONCEPT This is December, the nativity month, we celebrate Word Made Flesh Mustardtree.in PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY at Christmas. It is best and clear example of God’s intrinsic personal Fr. Januario Rebello relationship with human kind in the incarnate Word. So prayer nourished on behalf of Delhi Catholic Archdiocese by Word of God is a reality before us especially at the manger and at the DESIGN & PRINTED AT Eucharist. Bosco Society for Printing & Graphic Training, Okhla Road, New Delhi - 110 025 Now consider about life of prayer. Earlier in the church the monasteries Tel.: 26839864, 26910729 and seminaries and convents used to have a quarterly bell throughout the Published by Delhi Catholic Archdiocese day and night. Which was to alert the inmates and even villages about the 1 Ashok Place, New Delhi - 110001 presence of God in their personal lives. This phenomenon of quarterly Tel.: (+91-11) 23343457, 23362058 strikes of the clock can be observed even today if one travels in European Fax: (+91-11) 23746575 Email: [email protected] villages. As in most places even today the church clocktower is the centre of Facebook: Voiceofdelhi Archdiocese Delhi life. It is a constant reminder that that Lord is personally present in our lives. Website: www.archdiocesedelhi.com But one needs to take an effort to find Jesus’ benign presence in personal life, though there could be a lot of external helps. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION `150 (by post); US $ 25 (abroad); UK £ 15 Take the case of Our Lady, the centre figure of the month of December. She (abroad); Europe € 13 (abroad) lives in this constant personal relationship and so did also St. Joseph. Church By Local cheque/bank draft favouring lauds a lot of saints who lived in this personal relationship of prayer with “THE VOICE OF Delhi” God. Contributions for publication may be sent to the above address by post or by email to: Let us make an effort this nativity month to build and live in the presence of [email protected] God and build a personal relationship with Jesus based on the Word of God. Editor’s mobile: 9868353289 It is much more easy when we begin this from the manger, where this little baby boy is waiting for you to carry Him to your bosom, and He will make a The articles, news reports and other materials published in this magazine (other than the home in your heart. Shepherd’s Voice) reflect the views of the authors May the Joys of Christmas be very dear and personal during this Lockdown and not of the Archdiocese of Delhi and VOD does Christmas. not take any responsibility or liability for the same. Celebrate Life Celebrate Christmas. TOTAL PAGE NO. 40 December 2020 3 LETTERS THE shepherd’s VOICE THANK YOU FOR WRITING TO US, WE'RE SHARINGLETTERS IT HERE FOR ALL TO READ! THANK YOU FOR WRITING TO US, WE'RE SHARING IT HERE FOR ALL TO READ! welcoming and refreshing. It has if an international magazine of The Little been given a VERY INTERNATIONAL magnificence. Really incredible! It LOOK. May God bless the team is WRITEindeed TOendearing. US All of us at St. in bringing forthcoming issues Michael’s Church, Prasad Nagar Dear Father Stanley We look forward to communicating successfully.Kindly convey our appreciation for the congratulatemore often with you our and readers. the entire Feel team Virtues Myshepherds best wishes voice to the Archbishop. at freeVOD to for write such to us,a marvelous with the kind make Dear Father, grateful to you for Dear Editor, I happy to see the It is really a great read and very overof information in the beginning you would of likeits 26thus to year Sophiathe monthly Biju Mathew Parish roundups. It is changesinclude andin the your Voice views of on Delhi the content! and infrmative. of publishing. SHAHBADsuch a beautiful way of sharing and WithyourTogether teamsrespects we effort are and the toregards, Voicemake of it Delhi. look gettingSr. Deepti inspired through the activities betterEmail: and [email protected] readable. Kindly pay ofNagpur various Parishes. Thanks for the C.M.attention Thomas to the the language and in Christ or life in the Spirit is a life of virtue. The New Testament efforts I liked put thein to entire get us new updated look of with the PRASADspellings. NAGAR constantly calls us to repent and lead virtuous lives if we are Respected Rev Fr. Stanley Voiceeverything of Delhi happening - January in 2017 various edition. truly disciples of Christ and members of his Body the Church. Dear Editorial Team Kozhichira, TheParishes. change is very much appreciated Shreedhar The call of Christian life is to have “the mind of Christ” (cf. Greetings from St. Michael's Church, andGreetings, draws anit has instant been attraction.some seven long Laxmi Nagar LIFE 1Cor. 2:14-16; Phil. 2: 5-7) which leads us to “empty ourselves” Prasad Nagar! TheCatherinemonths quality that Thomas of I paperhave not and held printing a copy is of as Christ emptied himself so that we become joyful people. ofAlaknandaVoice high of standard Delhi. While and theI understand cover design the For and on behalf of Parish Priests and The beautiful words of St. Paul to the Philippians: Finally, brethren, whatever is true, JANUARYNovember 20172020 deservespandemic special repercussions applauds. it Articles would arebe parishioners of St. Michael’s Church, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever informativenice to have givinga hard peoplecopy. insightful PrasadWRITE Nagar, TO US I take this opportunity is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about It was a pleasant surprise to all perspectives Thanks a thatlot for allow the tobeautiful adapt the to convey gratitude to your goodself these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the Mr. Dinkarakran we look forward to communicating of us to see January issue of the Voice spiritualVoice of Delhineeds. every Wishing month you with all the a lot andmore the oftenEditorial with Boardour readers, for publishing feel God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9). Trilokpuri of Delhi in a new shape with quality bestof creativity and may and the newness.I coming editions would likebe write-upfree to write and photographto us, with the inkind the of Voice The Catechism of the Catholic Church begins the section on “Virtues” by quoting information you would like us to inputs for readers. Your efforts to ofto greatsay the reflections. “well issue” by Fr. Maxim of Delhi, November 2020 issue on the above words of St. Paul. Virtues are divided into “Human Virtues” and “Theological October 2017 include, your views on the content! Pinto is really enriching. the following: make the VOD classical magazine With bestTo wishes, the Editors Together we are the Voice of Delhi. Virtues”. “Human virtues: are firm attitudes, stable dispositions, habitual perfections of the Archdiocese has borne fruit. of intellect and will, that govern our actions, order our passions and guide our conduct Thanks a lot for the write * Parishemail: [email protected] Feast, Pastoral Visit, Release Please Dear accept Editor, our “Discovering congratulations PhilaminWilliam Herald Philip according to reason and faith. They make possible: ease, self-mastery and joy in leading up by Father Maxim Pinto. of Directory, Felicitations. andIdentity” gratitude by Professor for the initiative Dean put in ARohiniLAKNANDA a morally good life. The virtuous man is he who freely practices the good” (CCC 1804). It is very informative and With regards, byFernandes, you and yourwas ateam great in read revitalising this It is in the Holy Bible, both Old and New Testaments that give us the divine teachings encouraging.