A Report on International Women’s Day Celebration

Sr. Shalini.C.J.

The International Women’s Day celebration was held in the Diocesan Community centre at Goll Dakhana on 9 March 2008. It was an occasion to remind women of the tremendous strength , power and potentialities with which God has blessed each one of us. And also to remember the strength and achievements of women and their contributions in building up of a just, honest and happy society. I, as an animator was privileged to attend this programme along with 11 members of St. Xavier’s parish, Shahbad, Mahila sangh. Of course, it was a thrilling moment for me to witness hundreds of women from all walks of life, seated in the hall with lot of enthusiasm and zeal. The days’ programme began at 9.30.a.m.with Holy Euchrist, offered by Rev. Fr. George Manimala of Delhi Archdiocese. In his homily he emphasized on the important role of women in the family and society. In the life of children –mother, father and primary school teacher have a great role in inculcating the right values. Among these three persons, the mother stands first in giving new life, promoting right values of life which enable to build up a society based on love , fraternity and justice and thus the kingdom of God. He highlighted the importance of women by the example of a mother who gave up her life in order to give life to her child. The self sacrificing mother was canonized as a saint in 1992. After the Holy Mass, Sr.Lilly Francis SMMI shared her views on women’s place in the family as a daughter, sister and mother. The family and society is incomplete in the absence of women. They are the strength, power, support . Courage, comfort , source of inspiration and love to each family. The salvation history begins with a woman. Jesus empowered women from all kinds of exploitations. Many became his disciples, even at the foot of the cross they were present to console, comfort and support him. Some others too shared their experience in working for the empowerment of women. On the whole it was an inspiring, thought provoking and challenging experience. All of us were happy to be a part of this august gathering and to be women –the new life giving, source of strength and power in the society . I would like to conclude with a famous quote from Mark Twin “It is at our mother’s knees that we acquire our noblest, truest and highest ideals.”

Patient God

Patient God

Victor Edwin SJ

The message of the scriptures of the Semitic religions in general is: God is merciful and forgiving. The rituals of the Jews, the liturgy of the Christians and the Namaz the Muslims offer help the followers of these religions to experience merciful and forgiving dimensions of God, differently though.
God is patient. This dimension is often neglected. It shows in the lives of the followers of these religions. They seem to be patient rites, rituals, dogmas of other religions, especially religions of the East.
Two stories, which I read and reflected on, challenged my attitude towards others.
Jonah was a prophet sent to Nineveh, the town of a non Jewish population. Jonah was not excited about going to Nineveh. Though, he was reluctant to preach to the Ninevites God forced him to go to Nineveh and prophesize to Ninevites. Jonah went. Finally.
Every Ninevite repented wearing sack clothes and sitting in ashes, on hearing the words of Jonah. On repenting God showed mercy toward the people of Nineveh. Interestingly, this disappointed the prophet. He sulked at God’s mercy to a non-Jewish population. He was surprised how God could be merciful towards sinful non-Jewish Ninevites. How could God be patient with them?
However, he understands God’s pity and God’s patience with people who do not belong to the Jewish race. God’s patience taught Jonah, that God is God of all.
The patriarch Abraham had a custom to invite a guest for a meal every Monday. On Monday evening he waited for one. He saw an old man walking past his dwelling. Abraham invited him to have a meal with him. The old man arrived at the door-step and washed his feet and hands according to the oriental customs. As both sat down for the meal, Abraham told the guest that he had to offer prayer to God. The guest told Abraham that he was an unbeliever. Abraham felt offended and sent away the guest without any meals. As the old man went away, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Abraham and reprimanded him for his impatience. Gabriel told Abraham that God was patient with the old man for the last seventy years. God cared for the life and properties of the old man with much patience. “God is feeding the person for the last seventy years… but you did not share a meal with him because of your impatience”, said Gabriel and disappeared.
Human person needs to learn patience from creator.

Our Vision - Peace is Possible

OUR VISION – PEACE IS POSSIBLE

Victor Edwin SJ

We envision that human persons made in the image and likeness of God can and should live in peace and harmony with one another and have life in all its fullness…

We envisage that Asia, the cradle of religions and cultures, can and should creatively live out religious commitment in order to build up communities blessed with Justice, peace and harmony…

OUR MISSION – MAKE PEACE POSSIBLE
BY
LOCALLY:-

Building up social capital. Most simply put, create lasting social connections with people of other religions by learning, recognizing and appreciating their religious commitments…

Collectively searching for ways to identify the socio-economic-religious reasons that lead to disunity and discord among different religious groups…in order that we may in our won creative ways could contribute towards peace and amity among all peoples…


By creating awareness among members of parish families regarding the attitude of the Catholic Church towards other religious beliefs…


By assisting the school authorities to form Peace Clubs and other such related activities in our own as well as neighborhood schools…


By developing critical sense of awareness in the face of mounting prejudices against particular religious communities…

By paying adequate attention to sensitivities of other religious groups in our service institutions…

By enabling the students in our schools and the youth of our parishes to understand human dignity in the light of our religious beliefs…

By discussing and clarifying inharmonious and discordant views that often flare up in media reports. We will do this with a sprit of genuine love and understanding for one another…

December 2 - A Day of Festivities at Shahabad Parish

A Day of Festivities at St Xavier's - by Joseph Puthen SJ

December 2 was a day of festivities for all the faithful of St. Xavier's Shahbad. Joy and blessings permeated the 350 plus gathering as we celebrated the Feast of the patron Saint Francis Xavier, welcomed the spiritual leader of the faithful, Rt. Rev. Vincent Concessao, partook in the Confirmation, joined the first communicants, and celebrated the grace of two of the Arch-diocesan candidates ordained to be Deacons in the service of humanity and the Church. It was a blissful time of celebration of faith animated with heart-elating liturgy, soul-striking melody and the scent of faith and flowers.
The Mahila Sangh welcomed the Archbishop and proceeded to the School quadrangle where he was received ceremoniously. Mandar beat in rhythm and a group of dancers swung in unison expressing the joy of the pastoral visitation of the Shepherd. The candidates for confirmation, the first communicants and the Diaconate-ordinandi were led in procession along with the faithful and the Archbishop to the liturgical hall with another entrance tribal dance. The different celebrations of the day were briefed at the beginning of the Eucharist to solemnize the moment.
We celebrated the outpouring of the Spirit and commissioning of the candidates after the gospel. Fr. George Manimala presented the candidates for the ordination to Diaconate and Bro. Keni Philemon Raj facilitated the ceremony. The Word was celebrated and proclaimed by the faithful as the Shepherd admonished the gathering regarding the meaning and role of sacraments in the life of the Church. The deacons committed themselves to celibacy and obedience in the presence of the Lord and His faithful. Offertory procession and prayers of the faithful were carried out meaningfully. The arati at doxology heightened the spirit of celebration and piety. The Archbishop welcomed the first communicants and they received the Eucharistic Jesus into their hearts for the first time in their life.
Fr. John Ravi represented the Shahbad Jesuit community in felicitating and honouring the dignitaries – Rt. Rev. Vincent Concessao, Fr. John Ariapilly, Fr. George Manimala, newly ordained Deacons Jose Stephen and Peter Emmanuel with bouquets. Fr. Victor Edwin thanked them and all the faithful for the different and personal ways that they made the day memorable. He thanked the many guests, especially the relatives, formators and friends of the communicants and the deacons.
After the soul-nourishing spiritual celebration the faithful found time to congratulate one another and converse as all munched the snacks and sipped the tea. Meanwhile, the Archbishop met the parishioners in different groups – parish council, mahila sangh, choir, youth, etc. There was a short felicitation of the newly ordained deacons through a cultural program performed by the seminarians from Pratiksha Major Seminary and Gurgaon Minor Seminary. It was followed by a sumptuous lunch served at the school premises.
For the many communicants and the confirmed, for all the faithful of Shahbad parish the day was a grace-filled one. The missionary spirit of Xavier and his zeal to ablaze the world with God's love find localized expression in the very way the parishioners care for one another and attempt to make this a community of love proclaiming the presence of Jesus in our midst.