VOL 133 NO. 7 APRIL 1-15, 2020 ` 25 neW Leader IndIa’s LeadIng CathoLIC MagazIne sInCe 1887 • arChdIoCese of Madras-MyLapore • , • • • 2 The New Leader, April 1-15, 2020 Guest Editorial Passion Week - 2020 Anticipated And Advanced By Jerry Rosario, SJ ven a month ago, none of us would have ever all: We cannot, and we should not take God for granted. Eimagined that the so-called mighty humanity We should teach ourselves emphatically that we are across the globe would get itself infected with this not comprehensively independent and certainly, in no threatening and terrifying obsession of Corona Virus way, omnipotent. First and foremost, we have to be very Disease (COVID-19). All have woken up, and that too, much dependent on the Lord of Life who is our source all of a sudden. Even those that does include me, who and summit. The following statement, attributed to St. earlier pooh-poohed this apprehension cum anxiety, stand Ignatius of Loyola, puts it pointedly and also practically: now much challenged. “Do as if everything depends on you and then, pray as if Consequently, we are called upon, in a demanding everything depends on God.” way, to accept our utter frailty and acknowledge our 02. DEDICATION TO OUR LIVING CONTEXTS: sheer minimality. We have to confess our limitedness While inviting us to focus on God our Common and littleness. Down the decades, we have begun to Parent, this occurrence also highlights our inter- applaud ourselves that we have all the solutions for all dependence among ourselves which we tend to overlook the problems. Now, we know we are indeed small, both in our current modernised times. ‘Corona brings families individually and collectively..! Somehow sub-consciously, closer’, headlines a newspaper: Working from home, we have begun assessing ourselves ‘big’ with all our many families are being beckoned to spend quality academic and analytical advancements, scientific and time, So far, meals have been a hurried affair but now, technological promotions. a leisurely one, Strengthening bonds among spouses, Suddenly, we find ourselves knocked out..! Catching up with some unused skills, Picking up some This Lenten Season of 2020 will be remembered, new skills, Parents offering tips to their children to ‘school for years to come, for its peculiar uniqueness: getting its away from school’, Showing concern for the grand parents obligatory Eucharists and Sacraments cancelled; getting at next room, Allotting time to connect telephonically with its Lenten schedules and services dismissed; getting all some unforgotten friends living far and near..! engagements and appointments postponed. Vatican The media is packed with details how, around the has already announced the negation of the Holy Week- world, the crisis has also created a wave of solidarity in ceremonies in public. So too, in many other Churches, some countries, with neighbours and colleagues coming communities and countries. together to look after the neediest, including dropping Who would have thought of this sort of scenario supplies at the doors of those forced to stay inside. even on the Ash Wednesday when we stepped into this Moreover, some well-to-do nations are unleashing season? We all are caught. No escape now. In other billions of euros and dollars in stimulus to economics, words, the Good Friday has come to be ahead of and to health services, loans to tottering businesses, and time, this year. supports for individuals fearful for mortgages. All these As widely reported in the media, hundreds of are not just some ‘mundane’ acts. Rather, substantial acts millions worldwide are learning to adjust themselves to of Conversion. We know, the Lent calls for meaningful once-in-a-generation measures to battle this COVID- changes in our being and behaviour, our attitudes and 19 pandemic that is not only killing the vulnerable but approaches, our relationships and outreachings. also threatening prolonged economic misery. The poor By the way, we determine that these changes have villagers and the daily workers in the informal sector would to be carried ongoingly even beyond the corona-time, be terribly hit. Life is changing, as of now, in 164 nations though triggered off by the crisis. while coping this crisis. This sickening and saddening 03. DIRECTION TO ONE’S EASTERED LIFE: situation is going to be the case for over six months, as Lenten weeks are not just for their sake. But, for per some conservative estimate. ‘eastering our personal lives too’. An unknown author’s The God of history will certainly have ‘something’ to words of wisdom come handy here: “Easter is a day to convey through all this phenomenon. We have to listen fan the ashes of dead hope, a day to banish doubts and to it carefully and learn it convincingly and also, live it to seek the slopes where the sun is rising from east, and courageously. What follows here below is just an attempt to revel in the faith which transports us out of ourselves to decipher what could be his challenging message: and the dead past into the vast and inviting unknown.” 01. DEPENDENCE ON THE DIVINE Inspite and despite of all that are happening around PROVIDENCE: which envelope not only the COVID-19 but also the CAA Going by some available informations, over half a and NRIC, each of us has to arise with the Lord from dozen experiments are being pursued to discover an anti- the EAST as an effective embodiment of HOPE FOR A virus drug for COVID-19. In course of time, one or other HEALTHY, HAPPY AND HOLY HUMANITY THAT HAS will produce it which will progressively halt the disease. TO BE RESURRECTED sooner or later..! This precarious occurrence itself carries a message for us Contact: [email protected] 3 The New Leader, April 1-15, 2020 Contents NEW LEADER Editor Fr Antony Pancras Sub Editor Fr Anthuvan Akilan Xavier Magazine staff W. Morise Fathima S. Carolin Mary L. Alina 10 S. Arputhanathan N.A. Madhu The sun rises to dispel the darkness of the world. M.S. Kumar Darkness can never stand before light. NL Foundation We are an Easter-people. We shall overcome Abp George Antonysamy all evils including COVID-19. Fr Stanley Sebastian Fr Maria Amala Raj Regulars Managerial Board Conversation 5, 6 Mr V. A. George Fr Vincent Chinnadurai Life’s Best Lessons 7 Theology & Life 9 Editorial Board Ask and You Shall Receive 17 Fr S.J. Anthonysamy Ms Felicity Saldanha Sunday Reflections 19, 21 Ms Jennifer Arul Law and Rights 25 Fr Jerry Rosario, SJ Faith Express 27 Fr Joe Mannath, SDB Kaleidoscope: Psycho-Spiritual Refractions 29 Fr Joseph Fernandes, SDB From Our Garden 31 Fr Xavier Irudayaraj, SJ Family Matters 33 Mr Bernard D’Sami ESP 39 Advisor Laughtonic 42 Nirmal R. Sanjeevi Features The New Leader Issues - Spirit 13 64, ARMENIAN STREET CATHOLIC CENTRE, II FLOOR COVID-19 15 CHENNAI - 600 001, INDIA Easter 23, 41 PH: (044) 2536 2371 Special Feature 35 e-mail: [email protected] News www.thenewleader.in Vatican 8 Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter World 16 All disputes to be settled in Madras Courts only. Asia 24 The views expressed by the writers in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views Nation 28, 34 or policies of The New Leader fortnightly or Editor. 4 The New Leader, April 1-15, 2020 Conversation “Pope Francis’s advice to accompany Woman’s Power persons living irregular lives in finding Congratulations on your fine a solution, to look to practice Holiness editorial poem on “Woman”, where you have brought out fourteen aspects in the mundane actions of daily life of women (NL, March 1-15, ‘20). becomes intelligible.” May men, accept and respect every - R P Coelho woman, cooperating as partners in Bangalore, Karnataka building up family, nation and the world. - Rex Pai, SJ Dindigul, TN COVID -19 The write-up on Covid -19 by Dr. A. Anthuvan Akilan Xavier was very timely and informative (NL, March Powerful Christmas The Cosmic Christ 1-15, ‘20). Instead of being too panicky Message This is in reference to the article about it, let us take the necessary “The Cosmic Christ,” by Fr. Michael precautions and keep praying that The editorial poem, “A Child is Amaladoss, SJ (NL, Dec 16-31, ‘19). God controls it. - F. M. Britto Born,” conveys a powerful message I was glad to read this article. God is Raipur, Chhattisgarh to the readers. It depicts the untold present in the whole universe. The sufferings of the different sections of beauty of cosmic Christ is that God Searching Questions the society in general, and children, took human form in order to show the women and farmers in particular. The model of life to all his fellow men and This is in reference to the article, last two verses of the poem, however, “Searching questions at Christmas,” women. Let us all proclaim the cosmic strike a note of optimism to the people by Hedwig Lewis, SJ, (NL, Dec 16-31, Christ in the Babe of Bethlehem and who live in utter helplessness and ‘19). It has brought a lot of questions praise and glorify and thank him for hopelessness: and stories and it gives a succinct all the blessing that he has showed “Yet a star is seen, a chorus is message about Christmas. I was upon all of us. - Kiran Joseph, SJ heard and hope is born; touched by two stories of a widow Trivandrum, Kerala Messiah is here, a sound is and a boy. God helped in their needs. echoed from distant horn.” God became the centre of their life. ZZZ “A Child is Born”, indeed, a It makes my life to be Christ-centred I am always inspired by the powerful Christmas message.