The Door of Mercy

COMPANION

SANGATI

Konkan Salesian Bulletin Province of Panjim (INP)

April - Jun 2016 | Volume - 09 | Issue 02

The Door of Mercy YOUTH: As Instrument of Peace and Reconciliation

Be Kind! Always!

Apostle of Mercy to the Young

Editorial Editor Joaquim Lobo, sdb Editorial Team Francis Xavier, sdb Ralin De Souza, sdb Special Contribution Santaremend Lopes, sdb Brian Moras, sdb | Patrick Dias sdb Layout & Cover Design Joaquim Lobo, sdb Consultants Ian Figueiredo, sdb (Provincial) Paul D’Souza, sdb (Vice Provincial) Allwyn D’Souza, sdb (Economer) Distribution Lazar Vaz Printed at James Arts Crafts, Sivakasi Published by Boskon Communications Don Bosco Provincial House Odxel, Goa University P.O. Goa 403206 Ph : 0832 2451449 Kindly send your Donations through online www.donboscopanjim.com or Sponsor an issue of SANGATI

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Christians all over the world have heard the call of Pope Francis to receive the mercy of God, consciously asking for it from Him. There is no doubt that He will ever deny it to us. In fact, His mercy constantly surrounds His people. Without ever asking for it, He has made it available to us.

Why then this Jubilee Year of Mercy with numerous benefits of indulgences? If it is freely available to us, we should have had it already!

The answer to the above question lies in our attitudes and behaviours. When I was appointed to the Provincial house at Odxel, I clearly remember, everyday, admiring the calm Zuari river and the mouth of the Arabian sea that filled it. The formation of rocks at the shore, the vast greenery over the hillocks, the coconut groves, the clarity of weather to the point of making visible the Mormugao port on one end and the Zuari bridge at the other, were just breathtaking! Over the period of time, the admiration for the beauty of nature was gradually relegated to the subconscious, untill regular visitors once again pointed it out to me.

The mercy of God, may always surround His people, but if we are not counscious of it, it will not benefit us.

The continuous counsciousness of the word of God, His promises, His love, kindness and mercy, changes our behaviour.

The horrific wars, the unsuspecting terrorist acts, the unelenting border disputes, the unbounded hunger for power, break ups in marriages, the quarrels in the families, excessive selfishness... all points towards the uncounsciousness of God’s Mercy to us. May the Jubilee Year of Mercy wake up the world!

Joaquim Lobo, sdb This is a Salesian Panjim Province Bulletin, and is directed towards the Salesian works in the regions of Sindhudurg, Goa and Karnataka.

For private circulation only.

COVER STORY Anthony Da Silva, SJ

Jesus The Door of Mercy The Pope proclaims the Jubilee Year of Mercy On December 8, 2015, Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of the central aisle of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to proclaim to the whole world the Holy Year of Mercy.

Pope Francis said in a tweet on the occasion: “small gestures of love, of tenderness, of care make people feel the Lord is with us. This is how the door of mercy opens.” Each of us is invited to find a tiny opening in our own lives which is in need of healing and reconciliation and then push that door wide to allow the mercy of God to flow into our lives.

So, what is the symbolism of the “door” of mercy? Since the 15th century, Popes have kept up the tradition of opening the central doors of the Basilica in Rome, when declaring the Jubilee Year of Mercy. This Papal action symbolizes God’s invitation to all the pilgrims

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in Rome to enter through the sacred door of St. Peter’s Basilica, and experience through such a passage the mercy of God. Pope Francis said, “On this day, the Holy Door becomes the Door of Mercy through which anyone who enters, experiences the love of God who consoles, pardons and instills hope.” The year of Mercy will conclude on November 30, 2016.

Jesus the Door of God’s Mercy Already when introducing himself as the Good Shepherd in the Gospel of John, Jesus referred to himself as the “door” or “gate” of the sheepfold. Jesus says explicitly, “I am the door. Whoever comes in by me, will be saved… I have come in order that you may have life – life in all its fullness.” ( John 10: 9-10) Thus, Jesus invites us to enter through the gate as the shepherd does to his sheep. Once inside the sheepfold then the Good Shepherd

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nurtures us with love and care so that we may have life in all its fullness. Jesus truly shows us the merciful face of God, and reveals to us that mercy in the name of God. Our daily experiences with doors teach us that doors fulfill many functions for us. Doors are the threshold where we welcome and farewell people; doors demarcate our rights to privacy and personal space; doors offer us protection and safety; hence at times we need to remain “behind closed doors.” Doors also separate the outside from the inside. In like fashion, Jesus used the familiar symbol of the door to refer to himself and teach us that He is the door to the Father. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “No one has seen the Father except the One who has come from God. Only He (Jesus) has seen the Father” (Jn 6:46). Therefore, if we want to meet God face to face, we have to enter through Jesus, the eternal doorway. Jesus says, “Everyone whom my Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me.” Therefore, before his death, Jesus prays specially for his disciples who had entered through this doorway, saying: “Father, keep them safe by the power of your name… while I was with them, I kept them safe… I protected them…”(Jn. 17: 11-12) After people pass through the doorway, Jesus also ensures that he feeds and cares for them.

Jesus says, “(for) I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I will give

him is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live.” We are, therefore, invited during this year of Mercy to make this symbolic journey through the holy Door. Once we enter into the House of God we should partake of the living bread of the Eucharist, and taste of the new life flowing out of the mercy and forgiveness of God. The Door of Mercy in GOA

Not satisfied with the tradition of throwing open the Door of Mercy within the city of Rome only, Pope Francis declared that in every Diocese of the world (there are over 3,000 Catholic Dioceses today) at least one Church in each Diocese should have its main entrance door designated as the Door of Mercy. In larger Dioceses, the main door of several Churches is designated as the Door of Mercy. The Archdiocese of Goa has dedicated the main door of the Se Cathedral in Old Goa

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as the Door of Mercy for the people of Goa for the year 2016. All in Goa, individuals as well as parishes or groups are encouraged to visit the Cathedral and avail themselves of this immense source of grace during this Holy Year of Mercy.

In addition, throughout this year of Mercy, the Se Cathedral will provide frequent facilities to all the faithful to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) and other liturgical services.

God’s Mercy in Practice How might one translate into action this vision of God’s mercy, in our everyday life? The Church has traditionally provided two sets of seven actions that all faithful are invited to practice.

Traditionally called the seven Corporal Works of mercy, and the seven Spiritual Works of mercy, these fourteen possible practices can be activated at any time, place or situation.

Each work presents an excellent action plan to experience personally, and share mutually God’s mercy with others.

The seven corporal works of mercy are: 1) Feed the hungry 2) Give drink to the thirsty 3) Clothe the naked 4) shelter the homeless 5) visit the sick 6) visit prisoners 7) bury the dead.

The seven spiritual works of mercy are: 1) instruct the ignorant 2) counsel the doubtful 3) admonish sinners 4) bear wrongs patiently 5) forgive offenses willingly 6) comfort the afflicted 7) pray for the living and the dead.

The best place to begin our Mercy action project is right in our own homes, with our own families, in our parish and neighbourhood communities, among our friends and so on.

Gradually we can extend our mercy network beyond, to strangers and all women and men of good-will.

As Pope Francis says, “Yes, I believe it is a time for mercy. The Church does not wait for the wounded to knock on her doors; she looks for them on the streets; she gathers them in, she embraces them, she makes them feel loved.”

The writer is a Jesuit priest and works at Xavier Centre, Porvorim, Goa

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FAMILY

Mercy begins at home Banzelão Teixeira, SDB

Being Channels of Forgiveness in the Family My friend’s marriage has fallen apart barely few years after tying the knot. Though they are still living together, there is no love and trust between them; there is no family, only individuals living under the same roof. It pains me to see their child grow up in such a situation where the parents neither relate nor communicate. I tried to reason out with my friend, but he insists that he has been cheated and wants justice. He is unwilling to give his marriage a “second chance.” This is not a rare case; everywhere we see marriages breaking up.

But family problems cannot be reduced solely to conflicts between spouses; there are several other issues, for example, difficulties with in-laws.

destroys families is our unwillingness to forgive.

Pope Francis insists on the centrality of forgiveness in family life. He states that there is “no healthy family without forgiveness.”

In simple but strong words he explains the importance of forgiveness. I quote:

1. Pope Francis on Forgiveness While speaking to families in Cuba (September 22, 2015), on the occasion of World Communications day, Pope Francis underlined the fragile reality of the family. He reminds us that there are no perfect families. None of us are perfect: we have no perfect parents or perfect children; we do not get married to a perfect person, and neither will we find a perfect mother-in-law nor a perfect daughter-in-law. We have certain expectations from our loved ones but when these are not met, we are left disappointed. We argue, complain, gossip, and quarrel, but the one thing that 6 SANGATI

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Forgiveness is vital to our emotional health and spiritual survival. Without forgiveness, the family becomes a theatre of conflict and a bastion of grievances. Without forgiveness, the family becomes sick.

Forgiveness is the sterilisation of the soul, cleansing the mind and the liberation of the heart. Anyone who does not forgive has no peace of soul and communion with God. Pain is a poison that intoxicates and kills. Maintaining a wound of the heart is a self-destructive action. It is an autophagy. He who does not forgive sickens physically, emotionally and spiritually. That is why the family must be a place of life and not of death; an enclave of cure not of disease; a stage of forgiveness and not of guilt.

Forgiveness brings joy where sorrow produced pain; and healing, where pain caused disease.

2. Forgiving Oneself and Others Forgiveness is learnt in the family. Our childhood experiences of doing something wrong and being forgiven are very important. When we learn to accept our own limitations and deal with them, we are able to also forgive the imperfections and sinfulness of others. Learning to forgive oneself is central and primary to our own growth.

Forgiveness is the ability to release the mind and the heart of all past hurts and guilt. In Evangelium Gaudium Pope Francis tells us: “God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.” During this year of mercy, let us become channels of forgiveness – forgiving ourselves, seeking forgiveness from others, and wholeheartedly forgiving others.

both parties (offender and offended) remain in bondage – not only is the offender in bondage, but also the person who is unwilling to forgive, because he/she is unable to remove himself/ herself from the power of the previous wrong.

Families that cannot forgive do not enjoy peace and happiness; they are consumed by anger and revenge. People who do not forgive often suffer from a range of sicknesses that cannot be cured with the best of medicine. Forgiveness is a must for a healthy living. Unforgiveness, Pope Francis reminds us, is like a poison that destroys us from within. Therefore, for our own good we need to forgive others.

3. Simple Steps to Forgiveness Here let us briefly touch up three simple steps to forgiveness.

Empathy: Having compassion for the offender will greatly help you to forgive him/her. The more you can see the hurtful situation through

I’ve heard people say, “I will never forgive him!” I guess these people think that their unwillingness to forgive gives them power over the person who offended them or they consider forgiveness as an act of weakness. But where there is no forgiveness

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the eyes of the other, the easier it will be for you to forgive him/ her. Viewing the offender with compassion can be difficult, but it is a critical step in the forgiveness process. Trying to understand what was happening in the life of the offender at the time he/she hurt you is one way to experience empathy for them.

Decrease of Negative Feelings: As you gain more empathy for the offender, you experience a decrease in negative feelings toward the one who hurt you.

towards him/ her, the next step is to give up the right to punish the person who wronged you.

This actually i n v o l v e s approac h i ng the person and/ or letting him/ her know that, despite all the hurt he/she caused you, you forgive him/her.

In this year of Mercy, Pope Francis invites us to seek forgiveness for our sins and to forgive those who have wronged us. In this jubilee year may we truly experience the power of forgiveness, and let this begin in our own homes and communities.

Abandoning the Right to Seek Punishment: Once you begin to have compassion for the offender and experience a softening of emotions

Dr Banzelão Teixeira, sdb has just completed his doctorate in Rome

My Experience in the Confessional God’s mercy is all encompassing and all enveloping. He does not see the external appearance of the person but his heart. In the sight of God all are equal. God does not look at the sinner, but sin.

The confessional is a place where people let God’s love win. It is the most joyful, humbling, and inspiring place in the world. Jesus consoles those who are grieving their sins and strengthens those who find themselves wanting to give up on God or on life.

Fr Ronald D’Souza, Sirsi

My Experience in the Confessional In the confessional for 30 years, I have found fulfilment and joy in being the humble instrument of Christ to forgive the penitents and give them words of encouragement to start anew their lives, trusting in the merciful and loving God. In the situations when they suffered, I have assured them to pray for them so that the Lord may lead & show them the light at the end of the tunnel.

Fr Leandro Gracias SDB, Hubli

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GOOD HEART Sr Melissa D’Souza, FMA

Heart

A Full of Mercy Once I was travelling along with my brother by bus. It so happened that a lady holding a baby of around two years climbed the bus and stood next to him. Without a second thought he offered her his seat. She gratefully accepted the seat and sat by my side with the child on her lap. After finishing our shopping, we once again climbed the bus to return home. By coincidence we saw the same lady in the bus, but this time she had her own seat. Since there was place next to her, she placed the baby too on the seat by her side. Our seat was two seats in front of hers, but she didn’t see us. We began the journey home and on a particular stop there climbed in an old lady who happened to stand just next to her.

She requested her to keep the child on her lap, but the lady

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refused. Listening to the noise behind, we turned back and saw the situation. My brother was quite upset, stood up and looked straight at her. The moment she saw him, she nervously took the child on her lap... Strange but true, we expect others to be kind, understanding and merciful to us. But what do we do when it is our turn? Why do we hesitate to show kindness and mercy towards others? Someone has beautifully said, “When our hearts are filled with the love of God, we become kind to one another, merciful in our dealings and tender hearted.” That is exactly what we are called to be... ‘Children of our merciful Father.’

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S t r a i n e d and broken r e l a t i o n s h ip s are as old as humankind itself.

Old Testament Cain was the first

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who allowed the cancer of bitterness and jealousy to destroy the trace of God’s mercy in him. We see many such tragic stories in the Bible itself...

‘The brutal killing of God’s mercy from within our hearts.’ Take the example of Saul wanting to destroy David, Joseph’s brothers wanting to kill their own kin... and in the New Testament, the Pharisees wanting to kill Jesus. What then is the root cause? Is it selfishness? Or jealousy? Or pride?

Or is it just turning away from the love of our merciful Father?

Of the many subjects close to his heart, Pope Francis counts ‘Mercy’ as a topic that has long been the cornerstone of his faith. And this is precisely the reason why he has dedicated this year as the Jubilee year of Mercy. As our leader and father on earth, he desires that each of us have a glimpse of God’s mercy and in turn extend it to each other. God’s mercy can make even the driest land become a garden, can restore life to dry bones (cf. Ez 37:1-14)... Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved

by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish. (Easter

message of Pope Francis - March 31, 2013) As His children we are born with this trace of ‘mercy’ within us. All we need to do is nourish it and allow it to bloom. Nourish it with the water of God’s grace received in the sacrament of Confession, with the strength of His love experienced in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and with the power of His word that we encounter in the Bible. We use phrases like “I love you with all my heart,” “Let’s go to the heart to the matter,” etc. This is because we are convinced that the heart is the centre of a person’s emotions, thoughts and actions too.

All we need to do is go into the heart of God, spend time with Him, chat with Him, listen to Him and above all allow Him to work through us, so that like Him we too may possess... ‘A heart full of mercy.’

Sr Melissa D’Souza, FMA is in-charge of the Social Communications commission of the FMA Province of Mumbai.

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JUST DO IT Felix Fernandes, SDB

“Be Kind! Always!”

“If you have to choose between being kind and being right, choose being kind and you will always be right.” That was the forwarded message I received recently, and I couldn’t agree with it more. Being kind is more important than the pleasurable, though fleeting, feeling that comes from being right. Moreover, whereas being right is centered on self, being kind is other-centered.

A bishop was once reminiscing about the counsel he received from his spiritual director on the eve of his priestly ordination, many years earlier. He remembered approaching the elderly priest with eagerness, “Father, what advice would you give me so that I may be a good and effective priest?”

The revered old priest looked at him, thought for a while and responded: “I have three pieces of advice for you. First, be kind. Second, be kind. Third, be kind.” After the many years he had spent in priestly pastoral service, the aged man was convinced that kindness alone was what spelt out one’s effectiveness in the proclamation of the Gospel good news.

account of his behavior. The threat of dismissal was ever present. It was not long before the inevitable happened. The Principal summoned Richard and informed him summarily that he was dismissed from school. On the appointed day, Richard’s father came to take him back home. Richard did not know how to face his father. He was filled with remorse and shame.

Astonishingly however, his father did something quite atypical. He put his arm around Richard’s shoulder and said with a certain tenderness in his voice, “Son, you still have another chance.” The young man couldn’t believe his ears. He burst into tears. How could his father be so forgiving and kind? He was touched to the quick. That day Richard decided that he would change his life.

He went on to study in another school. Now,

The following incident happened many years ago. A young boy named Richard was studying in a boarding school. He was known to create quite some mischief in school, and had received stern warnings already on

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the marvel of it all is that his life changed completely after the unfortunate episode. Not only did Richard become a good boy, but decided to join the seminary after high school. Soon enough he became a priest. Amazingly, he went on to become a bishop, and then, believe it or not, a cardinal. Today he is known to the world as Richard Cardinal Cushing. From the part of Cardinal Cushing, he always gave the credit to his father for his changed life. He explained that the change happened when his father decided to give him a ‘second chance’ just when he was at his lowest

in life. Loving kindness does such things.

The jubilee year of Mercy is inviting us to practice mercy on a day to day basis. It is in our daily life that we are called to represent the merciful face of the Father to our brothers and sisters around us. Simple acts of love and kindness go a long way in making mercy real in our world, in effect leading to changed lives. Be kind! Always!

Dr Felix Fernandes is the Principal of Divyadaan, a philosophy institute in Nashik

Indulgence: An Extra-Sacramental Remission

Fr Dominic Savio Fernandes SDB Indulgences in the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, is a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins which may reduce either or both of the penance required after a sin has been forgiven, or after death, the time to be spent in Purgatory. A plenary Indulgence is that by which the whole temporal punishment due to our sins is remitted. Hence, if one were to die after having gained such an Indulgence, he would go straight to Heaven, being, as he is, perfectly exempt from the pains of Purgatory. A partial Indulgence is that by which is remitted only a part of the temporal punishment due to our sins. A universal indulgence is granted anywhere in the world, while a local indulgence applies to only a specific place or area. A perpetual indulgence is one that may be gained at any time while a temporary indulgence only is available for certain times, for example, like certain indulgences for the Holy Souls in November.

The conditions for an indulgence are as follows: A) The person must be in the state of grace by the completion of the indulgence. B) The person must also want to gain the indulgence. C) One is free from all attachment from sin, even venial sins. D) One receives the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist (Within 7 days of the indulgence). E) One prays for the intentions of the Pope (Apostles Creed, 1 Our Father, and any other prayers). Since the power of granting indulgences was conferred by Christ on the Church, she has from the earliest times made use of it time and time again.

Fr Dominic is a principal of Pope John XXIII, Quepem, Goa

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BE MERCIFUL Ashley Noronha

Mercy at The Eleventh Hour There in agony stands the Son-of-Man, with sweats of blood falling on dry land.

In pain He threw himself on the ground, his cry in vain and help not found.

Lord Jesus in torment a prayer did make, “If possible this cup away from me do take.

Let not my will but yours be done.” and thus in the world salvation won.

A disciple decides to betray with a kiss, though wrong it was he did not cease.

Judas brought with him soldiers and their chief, to arrest Jesus as though he was a thief.

Peter the disciple a servant’s ear did chop, “Enough of this,” angered Jesus to the top.

To the merciless mercy Jesus did show, true mercy from His heart did flow.

In the eleventh hour Jesus worked a healing, by curing the ear of his enemy who would kill him.

And thus we are called to be merciful like Jesus, even to our enemies who persecute and betray us.

By being merciful we can do the least, this is an awesome offer please do not resist.

Ashley is doing his novitiate at Salesian Training Institute, Nashik

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FORMATION Ivo Coelho, SDB

EDUCATION

A Work of Art A Matter of the Heart In this Year of Mercy, it is wonderful to remember that for us Salesians, education is our great work of mercy. But mercy tends to have overtones of condescension in the English language, so it’s even better to talk about education as a matter of the heart. For that is what it is, and that is what Don Bosco wanted it to be.

Let me begin with the well-known quote from Pope Francis, in his long conversation with superior generals in 2013. The pope was talking about formation, but obviously there is a close connect between formation and education. “Problems are not solved simply by forbidding doing this or that. We need much dialogue, much encounter. To avoid problems, in some houses of formation the young people grit their teeth, try not to make obvious mistakes and to follow the rules with great smiles, waiting for the day when they are told: ‘Well, you have finished formation.’ This is hypocrisy, the fruit of clericalism, which is one of the worst of evils.”

At Rio de Janeiro, in fact, the pope had identified clericalism as one of the causes of “lack of maturity and of Christian liberty” in the people

of God. To the superior generals he went on to say: “We need formators who are really capable of following up the persons (in their charge). The dialogue must be serious, without fear, sincere…

Formation is a work of art, not a police kind of action.

We must form the heart. Otherwise we form little monsters. And then these little monsters form the people of God. And this really gives me goose bumps.”

This is strong language. The pope was not mincing words. A distorted kind of formation, a formation and education based on fear, destroys those who are being formed and educated

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and many others with them. Formation and education have to be a matter of the heart. What is interesting is that the pope identifies one of the great means in such education: dialogue in a climate of freedom and sincerity, dialogue in a spirit of family, we might say, in which true affection and genuine love replace fear and hypocrisy.

More and more we are learning to say that Don Bosco’s Preventive System is an education to freedom and by means of freedom. At the conclusion of the Historical Congress during the Bicentenary Year, prof. Giorgio Chiosso wonderfully described the Preventive System as “a pedagogy of personal freedom, one that relies on the force of interpersonal relationships, and that gives due value to the affective component”. This kind of system, he went on to say, is far superior to a pedagogy of authority that presupposes a distance between masters and pupils, and that relies more on impersonal rules than on living relationships.

Thinking of the many discussions we have had in our various houses of formation and in our schools about the relative merits of freedom and of discipline, I ask myself whether we have allowed the Preventive System to degenerate into a pedagogy of authority. Respect for authority is certainly an important cultural value in India, and we must by all means preserve it; but when such respect goes to the extent of stifling dialogue, and when it means that education and formation do not reach the heart, we have heard the alarm bells ring. Here lies one of the

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great challenges in our effort to inculturate the Preventive System in our context.

The way ahead is, I think, to keep clearly in mind the aim of all education and formation: the transformation of the person, the growth of the person into a free, autonomous, loving human being. Such transformation and growth is what is meant by “reaching the heart.” And the only way to reach the heart is by using one’s own heart. Cor ad cor loquitur, Cardinal Newman used to say: heart speaks to heart. But this means that the educator must take care of his own heart.

He must make sure that he keeps growing. He must constantly check on his ability to translate

the great principles of the Preventive System in creative ways into everyday life. Run-of-themill educators are tempted to hide their own insecurity by means of an easy recourse to rules, norms and standardized behaviour. But there is also the risk of good educators slipping into a suffocating paternalism on the one hand or else into a permissivism that is merely a caricature of education.

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did speak about reason and loving kindness, and surely he engaged in fruitful conversation with his boys. And above all, he was able to reach their hearts. We could say, with Pope Paul VI, that dialogue is the new name of love. And love is the name of God. A love that does away with freedom is no love at all. Love, as we learnt in our philosophy, presupposes freedom. Where freedom is taken away, there is no love. Pope Benedict XVI described God as a beggar before the human heart: not even God, the Almighty and Omnipotent, can force us to do what we do not want to do. What then of educators who think they can “force the heart”?

Let me end by quoting from the Spiritual Testament Don Bosco that is part of the Office of Readings on his feast: I give you as a model the charity of Paul which he showed to his new converts.

They often reduced him to tears and entreaties when he found them l a c k i n g docility and even opposing his loving efforts.

This was the method that Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalised, and still others to hope for God’s

mercy. And so he bade us to be gentle and humble of heart.

There must be no hostility in our minds, no contempt in our eyes, no insult on our lips. We must use mercy for the present and have hope for the future, as is fitting for true fathers who are eager for real correction and improvement.

In serious matters it is better to beg God humbly than to send forth a flood of words that will only offend the listeners and have no effect on those who are guilty.

What a wonderful text! What memories it brings of my practical training days in Bosco Boys Home, when Bosco Pereira put it into my hands. And how wonderful it was to discover an American Jesuit who was using this text as part of the required reading for his college

going youth. And how wonderful that this is our vocation – to be signs and bearers of God’s love to the young, to be the merciful face of God to the young, misericordia vultus.

Fr Ivo is a General Councillor for Formation in the Salesian Congregation

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HEAL THE WORLD Jason Pinto, SDB

Sharers in

Jesus’ Healing Minsitry “He took our infirmities and bore our sickness” (Mt 8: 17) This Matthean verse encapsulates very beautifully the healing ministry of Jesus. It is the fulfillment of what prophet Isaiah (Is 53: 4) prophesized in the Old Testament.

In this article I would like to reflect with you on the healing ministry of Jesus as well as how we too can be sharers in this ministry.

Psyc holog ica l sicknesses A little girl once went to a psychiatrist. Her complain was that, she felt she was a worm and all the birds were behind her to finish her up.

After a few counseling sessions the psychiatrist made her realize that she was a human being and not a worm. Things worked out quite well. For the psychiatrist had given her a little mantra. She told her, whenever you see a bird just say to yourself: “I am a human being.”

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Surprisingly after sometime she came running to the psychiatrist with another complaint. She asked the psychiatrist, “Now that I know I am not a worm... do the birds also know the same?”

Well lot of our sicknesses are more psychological rather than physical. Probably the enigmatic personality of Jesus was itself a healing remedy for many.

So first let us see what healing is all about.

God heals God who is the giver of life, the fountain of all mercies wants all of us to be happy and healthy. In this same divine enterprise he wishes to heal us and make us well again. The healing by gazing at the bronze serpent is one of the finest examples of divine healing. Not to mention the other Old Testament healings. This divine enterprise is further perfected in Jesus - God’s beloved and only begotten Son. Be it a leper, a paralytic, a lunatic, or even a corpse, the healing touch of Jesus was always freely

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available. You and I who claim to be followers of Christ have this noble task before us to be part takers in the healing ministry of Christ. To know how we can do this let us first know what are the different types of healing Jesus was engaged in.

Types of healing 1. Physical healing – This is the most familiar type of healing we see in the life of Jesus. The blind Bartemeus or the ten lepers immediately come to our mind. All those suffering from physical ailments were healed by his touch. This type of healing was easily visible.

2. Mental healing – On the shores of Bethsaida we have a ‘carpenter Jesus’ directing a group of fishermen for a catch of fish. Peter’s problem was lack of self esteem rather than the absence of fish in the sea. And when Jesus tells him, “put into the deep” is both; to give it a try at the ‘gut level’, as well as at the surface of the sea. Hence in the next instance, we have Peter, instead of admiring Jesus’ multifaceted talent, on his knees pleading with Jesus. Jesus consoles him and heals him, asking him to be his collaborator henceforward. He was psychologically healed of all his fears.

3. Spiritual healing – Jesus’ one to one encounters with Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, Matthew, Zacchaeus and others, brought a spiritual transformation in their lives. They were made new in Christ, the new Adam. We see a different person in them after their encounter

with Christ.

4. Societal healing – In a patriarchical Jewish society with all types of rules and taboos levied against women, we have Jesus who brings equality in society. His table fellowship, having meals with the so called “sinners”, tax collectors, outcasts, those rejected by society, etc. also bears witness to this type of healing. His close associates – ‘the Twelve’ belonged to all groups of people – fishermen, zealots, tax collectors…

His teaching regarding the Kingdom of God is simply this – an egalitarian society, where all are equal, free and justice is highly regarded.

Thus the healing carpenter of Nazareth had a very holistic and a wide vision of healing.

What about you and me?

How can we as young followers of Christ be sharers in Christ’s healing ministry?

W o u n d e d Healers H e n r y Neumann, the great Anglican convert to Catholicism calls all of us as ‘wounded healers’. Though we are wounded we can still be healers as we imitate Christ. No special qualification and aptitude is needed. As a Salesian engaged in some form of youth ministry over the last four years in the theologate, I was shocked as to how one thumbs up or thumbs down or a display pic (DP) status could ruin or mend relationships, entice people to even commit suicide. Take a look at the newspapers and you will find headlines like

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‘jilted lover strangles his girlfriend’ or ‘a facebook threat leads to gruesome suicide’... and the list goes on. Well youngsters, the field is different but the players are the same – scary Peters, lonely Samaritan women, despised Matthews, rejected Zacchaeuses are all out there waiting for our healing encounters. Are you ready with your smileys, flowery emojis (symbols), emoticons (emotion icons), an inspirational DP or even a simple ‘take care’ (tc) & ‘sweet dreams’ (sd), before going to bed to a friend who has lost all hopes in life. Despite our own weaknesses and short comings we can bring joy and hope in their lives.

What about s o c i a l healing?

Surrounded in a world of power crazy p ol it ic i a n s, socially stratified s o c ie t y, what is your contribution towa rd s the society?

Are your encou nters healing or sickly? In this extra ordinary jubilee year of mercy am I an agent of God’s mercy?

In conclusion There was a tribal village where no one had heard of Christ or Christianity. However a young lay missionary had made a great impact on the students, by his teaching and the living of the gospel values. One of his young students went to the city and attended a Church service. After the service she took part in the Sunday instructions (catechism). During the catechism class the teacher asked, if anyone of them knew Christ.

The little tribal girl immediately responded, “Yes, I know the person about whom you are talking.

He is right now in my village.” You and I are called to reflect Christ to others. Jesus definitely heals. You and I are called to be his collaborators in his healing m i n i s t r y, in our own little way, in our own life sit uat ions.

May this year of Mercy be a boost for us as we venture out to be healingministers of Christ into the world.

Fr Jason is a newly ordained Salesian priest presently working in Sindhudurg diocese

My Experience in the Confessional People much elder to me including the priests have knelt down in front of me & revealed the things they held secret for the fear of being embarrassed by them. I have seen the tears rolling down their eyes as they sincerely sought forgiveness, believing simply in an insignificant young priest like me, who they knew, was in the place of Jesus. The picture of Jesus dealing with every sinner in the Bible came alive to me and without my knowledge, I started speaking only the words that made the penitents feel and experience the unfathomable love and mercy of the Father shown through his Son. Fr Anand Mascarenhas, Phanaswadi, Sindhudurg

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RIGHT TEACHING Charlene Farrell

It Takes a Heart To Teach a Heart Teaching is one of the most important allencompassing professions there is. Why? Because it is a teacher who sows the seed, nurtures and cares for it and provides the starting point for every other profession. As a teacher, one is called upon to impart not only subject knowledge, but also to be a friend, a confidant, a role model, a counsellor, even a nurse and doctor at times. As a teacher takes on all these various roles, there are plenty of roadblocks and difficulties she/he may face along the way. Being a mere mortal is something that can be debated when it comes to a teacher because of the copious amounts of patience she/he exudes on a daily basis.

There are times, however, when this human being could be pushed over the edge and finds it difficult to hold on to the control she/he has

spent her/his life mastering. An occasional slip is fine, expected even, but when anger can’t be controlled and when being rude becomes a habit, that’s when we definitely have to reconsider the profession we have dedicated ourselves to. As an educator, one needs to understand what it is they want their students to gain. Learning is much more than a subject, learning is being. Being better, doing better and creating for a better tomorrow. With this goal in mind, teaching then becomes much more complex and thus much more fruitful.

Once we know ‘why’, we need to focus on the ‘how’. The ‘how’ of teaching is central to every great teacher and learner alike! Today, the face of education has gone through a drastic change. With the advent of technology, information has been brought to the child’s finger tips from across the globe and beyond.

There is no dearth of information and with so much available, why then do we need a teacher in the front of the class room still? Well, the information needs to be turned into knowledge and to learn to use that knowledge requires a human touch. A human touch with a humane approach.

It is not only the teachers in school from who children learn. You don’t have to be someone standing there in the front of a classroom with

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a book in hand. If you have children, you are a teacher, if you work with children, you are a teacher, if you are around children, yes you got it right… you are a teacher too.

any other. Using negative tactics like sarcasm, degrading someone verbally, punishment etc. causes nothing but low self-esteem, anger and low levels achievement.

Children are like sponges, they soak it all in, and when I say all, I really do mean all. It’s not only what you are trying to teach but also the way you say it, the way you use your words and the way your body communicates very subtly.

It is the kindness with which you express yourself that really strikes the right cord. As adults too, we are more receptive when we are spoken to nicely. It has been proven through a number of research studies all across the globe that positive strokes are a much more successful teaching and learning tool than

As adults we go about complaining about the state of the generation that will be taking over. We complain about how they behave, how disrespectful they seem, how much time they spend with their gadgets, how rude they are, and the complaints go on and on and on. It is time to stop and look at ourselves, it is time to ask ourselves as adults, where do these problems actually come from? Well, the answer is pretty clear. We are the ones teaching them how to behave. We are the ones sticking our children in front of the television so that we can complete our work. We are the models around who they shape their behaviour.

It is our responsibility to hold the hands of the future and lead them to where we wish to see them. For our world to be rid of the negativity, first we to need remove it from our classrooms, from our homes, from every nook and cranny. It all begins with us. There is no looking further.

To educate the masses and make the world a better place, first we need to educate the heart, and to educate a heart, we first have to listen to our own. We have to remember, to create a better world we need to educate a heart, and thus to educate that heart, you need the kindness… the only language a heart can comprehend.

Charlene is a counsellor and a teacher; She writes for ‘the Goan’.

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HUMAN QUALITY Diana Charles

Being Humane ‘Don’t behave like an animal!!!’

How often have you heard that admonishment?

Animal behaviour is equated with being dirty, vicious, impulsive, crude and conscienceless.

Most animals may fit the description, but there are some exceptions to the rule as can be seen in the many videos shared of animals that show kindness to their own kind or even to other species. Animals usually don’t kill just for the love of killing. They kill for food or to establish their territorial rights. In that sense, humans lose out, because there is not a day that passes without our reading about attacks, rapes, murders or bombings.

Most of us believe that human beings are civilized and not feral like. So is it our brains that make us different?

Scientists are still trying to understand the interconnectivity between the three parts of the human brain – the reptilian, the limbic and the neo cortex. The reptilian brain is reliable but tends to be somewhat rigid and compulsive.

The limbic brain is the seat of the value judgments that we make; often unconsciously exerting such a strong influence on our behaviour. The neocortex is flexible and has almost infinite learning

abilities. The neocortex is also what has enabled human cultures to develop.

A Human is a marvel of Nature. He is truly called King of the Species. He is able to be a self-critic; can appreciate the beauty of the world, the setting of a sunset, the beauty of a painting, the smile of a child. He can indulge in self-deprecating humour and wit and discuss endlessly about life and death. He understands the concept and value of time and is able to plan for the future. He has developed several ways to communicate and uses it to his advantage.

He has learned not be a passive recipient of the vagaries of nature and adapts and modifies himself when his environment is changed.

Sadly, over the years he has used Nature to further his own selfish needs, disturbing the eco system and causing the extinction of many animals and destruction of the environment.

This is in spite of him having the ability to analyse his actions and choose between wrong and right.

If we were to google, Being Humane, we would notice that most of the entries are about being humane towards animals. That is something very necessary since they do not have many defences against us. However being humane is a term that we also need to use more frequently when we discuss the way humans treat each other and also themselves.

According to Wikipedia, “The most basic of rights is a principle of interaction between people which amounts to the simplest version

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of the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you). In other words, it is a mutually beneficial agreement between two or more people; each of them agrees to behave in a certain way towards the others so that they will behave in the same way towards him/her.”

The positive aspect about being humane is that when one is confronted directly with suffering, we feel compelled to act and do something.

Most of us are unable to ignore ethical issues and that is what makes us human. Humans are able to transcend their lives in ways that animals cannot. Humans can use technology to mitigate suffering as can be seen with advances in medicine every day. Humans can also store all their knowledge and share it so that present and future generations can benefit from it. There are many philanthropists (I use the term loosely) in this world, but we need many, many more.

Generosity of spirit should be inculcated from an early age. If parents and school teachers inculcated in children the importance of being compassionate and kind through constant role modelling, with actual acts of kindness, it

would have more of an impact than the most impassioned speeches.

However, learning about kindness, cruelty and humane concepts is not something for just kids but for everyone. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation in Colorado tries to spread kindness and compassion throughout the world. It disseminates programs which help people discover, for themselves, the power of kindness to effect positive change in the world and in oneself. The Foundation notes that “it is the completely unexpected gestures to or from total strangers that have the most impact on our lives.”

There are three common principles taught by the great sages of all religions to reinforce the humanitarian spirit: • Simple living • A dedication to service and • Commitment to personal spiritual practice.

Our humanity reinforces itself afresh, every time we promote kindness towards all those who cross our paths, be it our friends, those who work for us, neighbours, family or strangers.

When we look for occasions to be kind and compassionate, we also provide opportunities for others to witness that humaneness and recognize this quality in themselves. It acts as springboard for the action to be replicated through someone else.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said - “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”

Hopefully the Destiny of the Human is to be Humane… always.

Diana is an ex-principal and a freelance journalist

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MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE Valentine D’Souza

Tolerance of Indifference “Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.” ― G.K. Chesterton G.K. Chesterton must have somebody like me in mind when he coined this definition of ‘Tolerance.’ I am afraid to act against or oppose the destruction of the environment or the discrimination or intolerance against certain sections of society. I would rather wish the problem goes away on its own.

Live and let live, is not an option when we are dealing with the indifference of a society which refuses to accept responsibility for the growing deterioration of the quality of life around us.

Indifference means a lack of concern for someone or something; an ‘I don’t care’ attitude which will allow you to get along in life but will take you nowhere. Much of what is wrong with society of today is the growing number of men and women with this type of an attitude; a mindless response to the deteriorating conditions of life around us. Yet we are endowed with the gift of reason, to

discriminate between what is right or wrong, to influence public opinion for a better world.

Well meaning people need to engage with the world and nudge it ahead for a better tomorrow.

Harper Lee, the celebrated American novelist and author of the Pulitzer prize winning novel, “To kill a mocking bird”, who died in February at the age of 89 had a lot to comment on this type of an attitude.

In the novel, the story focuses on lawyer Atticus Finch, who agrees to defend a black man against a false rape charge and in turn finds himself having to defend his children Scout and Jem from prejudice. The story is set at a time when black people were discriminated against in white dominated America. Atticus Finch fought against this false prejudice and taught his children to stand up for what is right.

Closer home, in Mumbai, many years ago, Government doctors and nurses of the King Edward Memorial (KEM) hospital gave a stirring demonstration of compassion and

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service to one of their colleagues who was attacked by a ward boy, raped and left with permanent brain damage.

The story of Aruna Shanbag is the story of love, care and compassion in the face of rejection by family and society. The hospital staff took her in as their own after she was shunned by her relatives, and cared for her for four decades.

The hospital staff even opposed the euthanasia plea started by journalist Pinki Virani in the Supreme Court, saying her brain stem was alive and that she was breathing on her own without a respirator and digesting food.

The Supreme Court in 2011 rejected Virani’s plea, saying what KEM hospital had done

for Shanbaug was “marvellous” by feeding, washing and caring for her, day and night, year after year.

Taking care of Aruna Shanbaug was “not a task, but a responsibility,” said Dr. Avinash Supe, a senior doctor at the KEM Hospital. He goes on to explain how different generations of doctors, nurses and other staff members took care of Ms Shanbaug for more than four decades. “It was always like taking care of one

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of our own. We stayed committed throughout her stay at the hospital. The hospital’s infrastructure, facilities and wards changed in the past four decades but her presence was constant,” he remembers.

Her routine also remained unchanged for more than 40 years.

“Every morning, they [doctors and nurses] used to care for her. The day would start with a medical check-up, followed by feeding food and medicines. The rest of the day would be spent in ensuring that she is moved to avoid bed sores. She was looked after so well that she did not have any bed sores in such a long period.” A beautiful response to the indifference of society and for the right to life of Aruna Shanbag.

Pope Francis teaches us the way to overcome our indifference by cultivating a merciful heart. He says that, “A merciful heart does not mean a weak heart. Anyone who wishes to be merciful must have a strong and steadfast heart, closed to the tempter but open to God. A heart which lets itself be pierced by the Spirit so as to bring love along the roads that lead to our brothers and sisters. And, ultimately, a poor heart, one which realizes its own poverty and gives itself freely for others. Make our hearts like yours (Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus).

In this way we will receive a heart which is firm and merciful, attentive and generous, a heart which is not closed, indifferent or prey to the globalization of indifference.”

Valentine is the President of the ADMA in the Salesian Province of Panjim

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SYSTEM OF EDUCATION Nirmala Rebello

I s Yo u r

He a r t

Educated?

Sensational Television debates, screaming newspaper headlines, trending Twitter comments, controversial Facebook posts, maximalist views provocatively expressed, ugly and bitter face-offs between people of differing ideologies, misuse of technology, scant respect for the sanctity of life and violence in the name of nationalism and religion, have become the order of the day in our so-called ‘civilized and rapidly progressing’ world, and more disturbingly, in our much touted, ‘Democratic’ India !

Increasingly the mellow, reasonable voices of our intrinsic Head and Heart are being overridden by the strident voices of uncompromising and unreasoning one-upmanship. In our country this tendency is attaining alarming proportions and the most ominous manifestation of it is the participation of the student community in activities that involve violent and aggressive confrontation.

What ails our world, our country, our students…? I would venture to lay the blame on our system of Education, which encourages cut throat competition rather than healthy sharing; which peddles sub-standard education to the vast majority of students, while giving quality education mostly to those who can afford to pay

for it; which for the most part turns a blind eye to corrupt practices in educational admissions and processes; where many Teachers are actually just Preachers; where desirable role models are in short supply and students are often confused by the behaviour and utterances of the adults whom they are supposed to emulate; where ethics are subordinate to expediency; and where the mind is certainly not ‘without fear...’

How do we address these issues before they wreak havoc on our social fabric…? My solution might seem almost childish in its simplicity: ‘Education of the Heart’.

No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child.

The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure’ - Emma Goldman.

Aristotle — ‘Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.’

The heart of education is the education of the heart. It is learning to live together in peace and harmony, despite our differences. To educate the heart, as a compliment and necessary accompaniment to educating the mind, means to make sure that students learn what knowledge is

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for; or even better, to discover whom is it for. It is to ensure that the information and skills you learn in the classroom are put into practice by a heart attuned to the needs of others in society.

Always place education side by side with instruction; the mind should not be cultivated at the expense of the heart. Every institution should have the vision and the means of facilitating character growth and fostering empathy in its student body, in addition to academic success. On the receiving end, education of the heart comes from being receptive and open to engaging in the deepest form of learning.

In 1996, UNESCO released the inspirational Delors report ‘Learning: The Treasure Within.’ It presented a vision of education based on four pillars: learning to live together, learning to know, learning to do and learning to be. The report emphasized that the survival of humanity is highly dependent on learning how to live together.

The education system in many countries, including India, relies on examinations and tests to measure learning outcomes and accomplishments. Through such assessment tools and technologies, governments are able to evaluate and benchmark the quality of their education systems, and to review and reform them accordingly, to meet their needs. While grades and degrees are important indicators, policy makers, educators, parents and the general public are increasingly recognizing the importance of the non cognitive aspects of learning, such as values, ethics, social responsibility and civic engagement, that facilitate the education of the heart, so that we can all learn to live together in harmony, for

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the benefit and sustainability of our family, our country and the global community.

There is no question that we have to produce generations of people who are highly capable, skilled, innovative and resourceful, but our fundamental responsibility is to produce people with hearts, people who care. Human beings are emotional beings and their emotions play a critical part in learning and in life.

Curriculum integration is rather important, to put learning to live together into practice. Learning to live with oneself, with others and with nature; value education; education for international

understanding; education for global citizenship; inter-cultural education; inclusive education; peace education; education for social cohesion; conflict prevention and resolution; post-disaster education; education for youth empowerment and so on need to be given their rightful place in the planning and execution of the curriculum in educational institutions.

Modern-day education goes beyond the need of simple reading and writing skills,

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to communication and collaboration skills. It envisages the progress of the educational ethos from basic literacy skills (reading, writing and arithmetic) to logical and emotional skills (hand, head and heart), and finally to a modern-day need of people skills (communication, creativity and collaboration).

This has led to a shift in the field of educational evaluation – from being an exercise to evaluate only cognitive capacity (IQ) to that of gauging the emotional development of the learner (EQ), and finally to the current need to evaluate learner’s capability to internalize social skills (SQ).

These paradigm shifts in the educational and evaluation processes have been reflected in the leadership fundamentals adopted by society – from being purely scientific at the beginning of the industrial age to being transactional, and finally demanding a transformational leadership in line with modern day social conditions.

Allow me to share this inspiring Chinese proverb

with you: “If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person; if there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house; if there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation; if there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”

Ms Nirmala is an ex-principal, presently a staff member Don Bosco Konkan Development Society

My Experience in the Confessional The past fifteen years of my priestly ministry has taught me that people who approached the sacrament of confession with right disposition were relieved of their misery by the grace of Jesus.

The mercy of God is so great that the greatest sinners have experienced it and have marched on the path to holiness. As a representative of Jesus with a privilege to hear confessions, I wish to be there and allow Jesus to do the miracle of healing and liberating souls. Some years back I wasn’t that convinced of approaching the sacrament of reconciliation often, but now, after reflecting on the revelations to St. Faustina about the presence of merciful Jesus and His grace, I take every opportunity to cleanse my soul with God’s grace. The effect of confession is real as it leads my soul to great serenity and happiness and assists me to be aware of my interior life and focus on heavenly realities. It helps me not to give undue importance to worldly realities. Thanks to Jesus the merciful face of the Father who strives to transform our souls with His abundant mercy and grace.

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CHANGE MAKERS Chris Valentino SDB

Youth

as In st ru m en t s of PEACE & RECONCILIATION

Educating, Enabling, Implementing

Youth what is your goal, your dream, your ambition, your most-heartfelt desire for a better home, a better society and a better world? Do you have it in you to be the change that the world is crying for? Are you willing to don the image of a superhero whom the daily globe desperately seeks!?

Across the globe that is acceleratingly merging into a village, young people are empowering themselves and others, heralding change with regard to the fundamental and most basic freedoms. Youth today are bringing about and claiming improved conditions. Young people across continents sans boundaries are remodeling traditional structures ensuring greater participation and sustainability. Youth are both actors and beneficiaries in a world that is theirs to live in. Alongwith scores of young people – artisans, musicians, artists, thinkers, writers, poets, innovators, doctors, engineers, scientists, educators – are enabling their communities by creating opportunities and participating in momentous decisions that affect them and the world at large!

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Yet, there are other young people who have been bought over by violent ideologies of hate, terror and bloodsport. There are equally scores of young people disoriented, demoralized, disinterested, disengaged and indifferent to their own lives and that of others. There are numerous young people on the fringes of so-called society and on its margins that are sucked up into the cesspool of horrific depthless hopelessness.

In a scenario such as this, pendulating between extremities, where is the balance? What and how and who can infuse new blood and liven up the bleak apocalyptic disaster that is our home planet!? Perhaps, this is the time, the era and the moment of truth that each of us – parents, children, young and aged, educators and the educand – need to grapple with and rise up. Youth as actors and as beneficiaries, youth as creators and participants is the need of our times, as is and has been in every age that has been plagued by persistent crises.

Enabled youth for enabling environments that provide and sustain basic freedoms, exercising of rights, community-building, responsible

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policies and rejuvenated hope is an investment that the world needs today more than ever.

Despicably alarming is the fact that most in society consider Youth and young people as problematic. Deprived and devoid of the due that is theirs as the planet’s future and as citizens of the evolving globe, young people the world over have been relegated aside from the engaging issues of our malaise as problems. Perhaps, this is the greatest problem!

Youth and young people as part of the solution would maybe assuage the situation. What society needs is to harness the zestful energy, the unbridled creativity and the critical questioning of the young to identify, innovate and implement solutions; solutions that are peaceful, reconciliatory and bridge-building.

Channelising the enthusiasm and sprightliness of the young, mobilizing them for a sustainable, peaceful, developmental environment that would benefit present and future generations is something that educators and policymakers cannot undermine! Young people across the globe, those from the affluent strata to those most vulnerable and marginalized have the potency to be agents of peaceful and reconciliatory transformation, if only! There

are plenty of lessons waiting to be learned from the experiences of the African Union, the Pacific Region, Lebanon, Brazil, Central America, Egypt, Morocco, and Mauritania among other nations, where the power of the young people to engage, innovate and transform into agents of peace and reconciliation provide hope for a new dawn.

So, how then do we proceed to enable, incorporate, initiate and implement a process of education that will help young people in our settings to be: □ Beneficiaries □ Partners

□ Actors □ Change-Makers

Maybe the answer lies in ‘Skilling the Young’ to be transformative and innovative agents of peace, harmony, justice and love. How do we achieve this? UNICEF’s Peace Education Programme provides the cue, with the aim to provide the knowledge, skills and attitudinal impetus. The entire exercise or training or education, call it what we will, should focussedly enable each youngster/young adult to: ◊ become aware of the issue (peace and conflict); ◊ become concerned about the issue; ◊ acquire knowledge and skills pertaining to the issue; ◊ become motivated, based on new attitudes and values; ◊ intend to act; ◊ try out a new behaviour (for example, peaceful conflict resolution); ◊ evaluate the trial and ◊ practice the recommended behavior

Further on, the time-tested methods of Camping, Recreational Programmes, Campaigns, Artwork and Artifacts, Exhibitions and Contests, Puppetry, Theatrics together 30 SANGATI

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with the all-pervading world-wide-web provide immense and varied means to educate, nurture and enable the young people to be transformative agents of sustainable peace.

The young all across the globe can readily be policy formulators, social participators, engaged innovators and capacity developers equipped with requisite knowledge, skill and attitudinal training: KNOWLEDGE

• Self awareness and awareness of the needs of others, • Understanding nature of conflict and peace, • Ability to identify causes of conflict, and nonviolent means of resolution, • Conflict analysis, • Enhancing knowledge of community mechanisms for building peace and resolving conflict, • Mediation process, • Understanding of rights and responsibilities, • Understanding interdependence between individuals and societies, • Awareness of cultural heritage, • Recognition of prejudice.

ATTITUDES

• Self respect, positive self image, strong selfconcept, • Tolerance, acceptance of others, respect for differences, • Respect for rights and responsibilities of children and parents, • Bias awareness, • Gender equity, • Empathy, • Reconciliation, • Solidarity, • Social Responsibility, • Sense of Justice, Equality & Balance.

The tools are at our disposal, the young people are available and the time is now! So, what is stopping me, you or any of us from being actors, partners and changemakers; what’s the obstacle that prevents any of us from being instruments of peace and reconciliation beginning today, in our own homes, in our neighbourhoods, within our ‘circle of influence’??? “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace… let it begin with me…”

Chris is passionate about Christ, Peace, Youth and Media

SKILLS

• Communication: active listening, • Self-expression, paraphrasing, reframing, • Assertiveness & Affirmation, • Ability to cooperate, • Critical thinking, • Ability to deal with stereotypes, • Dealing with emotions, • Problem-solving, • Ability to generate alternative solutions, • Constructive conflict resolution & Conflict prevention, • Participation in society on behalf of peace, • Ability to live with change.

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MY VOCATION STORY Fr Brian Moras SDB

“I Fell in Love with Don Bosco” From Borivli, where I was born and brought up, every summer, my mom took the family to Mangalore (my parents place). On one such summer, my mom’s younger sister- Sr. Marie Evelyn belonging to Apostolic Carmel sisters, was to come home for holidays. The euphoria of her coming was palpable; I wondered about the excitement: my granny (whom we all adored) was so happy, my aunties were busy getting her room ready... When she did come - I understood why the fuss was all about. Sister was kind to us children. The grace with which she carried herself was beautiful to behold. I believe my vocation to the Priesthood was initiated that day.

As a young altar server at the Immaculate Conception Parish, Borivli, this desire to be a priest was further strengthened. I felt excited each day as I served at the Holy Eucharist; the idea of the Priesthood filled me both with a feeling of excitement and a tinge of anxiety. I desired to become God’s priest - but it looked so mighty a calling.

As a student at St. Francis de Assisi, Borivli I played football, hockey and cricket. One day, I chanced to see the Don Bosco Priests and Brothers playing a football match on

our ground and was thrilled with this. I was impressed with the enthusiasm of the students of Don Bosco who were cheering for their team; against all odds they eventually beat us - and their enthusiastic cheering kept ringing in my ears: “WE WANT BOSCOS.” In the month of January every year, we went for the novenas to St John Bosco at Borivli. I was thrilled to see the school band and visit the institution. Fr. Elias Dias, the popular Rector of Don Bosco Borivli would encourage youngsters to join the Salesians. He once dropped in at our home and told me to join Salesians. The new Rector, Fr. Desmond Paes, asked me to join the boarders on Thursdays and Sundays when I expressed my desire of joining the ‘Apostolic School at Lonavla’. After completing std. VII, I went for a selection camp.

The minute I entered the awesome campus of Don Bosco, Lonavla, I knew I would be happy there. I was selected. Since then there was no looking back. I fell in love with Don Bosco and was deeply influenced by his simple and inspiring life story and his great trust in God and His Providence. If God helped Don Bosco, I knew He would help me too.

I completed Std XII and joined the Salesian

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Novitiate at Nashik on May 24, 1989. This was one of my best years which laid a solid foundation for my Salesian Life. The experience here help me cope with the many challenges that came my way in my journey to the Priesthood.

My dear mom and dad were my pillars of strength and constantly encouraged me and prayed for me.

As I advanced in Salesian life there were some fears at the back of my mind, whether I would become a Priest someday or would something go wrong? This led me to share my fears with my spiritual director and confessor, good Fr. Mauro Casarotti sdb, who was so understanding and kind. I vowed to be a Priest like him one day encouraging and guiding youngsters.

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I was ordained on December 16, 2000 by his Lordship Bishop Ferdinand Fonseca at Don Bosco Matunga. The motto I chose for my Priesthood was from my life experience -“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” - Phil 4:13. For memorable nine years I was a Vocation Animator. It was a joy helping youngsters discern God’s plan for their lives and helping those called to the Priesthood and Religious way of life.

Message to the young: God has beautiful plans for your lives, hence live with hope.

Some of you are called to consecrated life - discern and respond with generosity and trust in God; don’t be afraid. If God calls you, he will also see you

through!

Fr Brian is presently prefect of Pre-Novices at Pinguli, Maharashtra & in-charge of quasi-parish

Send Your Address & Email to The Editor Don Bosco Youth Welfare Centre Naika Vaddo, Post Verla Parra - Goa 403 510

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INTERVIEW Joaquim Lobo SDB

The most important happening of the Church in the recent past was the Synod on Family.

Penny & Ishwar Bajaj were the only couple from Asia, invited by the Pope. Penny took time out to speaks about her work in the Archdiocese of Mumbai, her meeting with the Pope and the memories of the Synod.

1. When you were told that Pope Francis has invited you for the Synod on Family, what were your first reactions?

It was a real shock and a big surprise to me - most unexpected! I really had no idea why he chose me! I have no special attributes that could qualify me for such an honour!

2. What were your preparations for the Synod?

I prayed, asked prayers from others and prepared myself mentally and spiritually.

3. What inspired you to study theology?

I felt I needed to know more about my religion.

I studied for 2 years and started my theology program called “Wellsprings” in the archdiocese for a period of 7 years. It was attended by over 1700 students of which over 400 have become lay catechists.

4. For how long have you been involved in the archdiocese? What do you do?

I have worked for 27 years with the Small Christian Communities. I am currently the Parish Project Coordinator - St Joseph’s Church, Juhu, Mumbai; The Chairperson of Steering Committee; Parish Coordinator at the Deanery level and all Mumbai level; Member of Pastoral Council; Member of Inter-faith Commission for the Archdiocese, Leader of Our Lady of Good

Counsel Community.

5. For 22 full days you were in the august company of bishops, cardinals and the Pope.

What is your first impression of the Pope?

Well, that’s the million dollar questions, as they say! My first impression was, what a saintly pope we have! So gentle! So peaceful! So warm!

So spiritual! So humble! I can’t believe that I was actually seeing him in person! I will never ever forget my first view of Pope Francis as he came in a huge procession of Cardinals and Bishops from all over the world, to celebrate the inaugural Mass of the Synod.

6. Did you get opportunities to voice out your opinion as a representative of the Asian community?

Yes, I certainly got more than my share of time in the proceedings of the Synod as well as in our Circuli Minore, to voice not only my opinion on issues that were crucial to our Church here

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in India, but to also change two modies in the Instrumentum Laboris which were amended and passed by the full house into the final Relazione. One was on women and the other was on Inter-faith marriages. His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archdiocese of Mumbai, the archbishop of Scotland Philip Tartaglia and I worked together on the final draft of the modi on women; and the Bishop elect of Ghana Richard K Baawobr and myself worked on the Inter-faith modi together.

When my husband and I spoke about our Interfaith marriage at the Synod, which was for exactly three minutes only, Cardinal Napier, who was moderating the session asked me after I concluded, if I wanted some more time to speak. I was pleasantly surprised and agreed i m m e d i a t e l y.

The warm apprec iat ion, applause and love we received after our sharing in the Synod was overwhelming and unforgettable.

7. The synod was the initiative of Pope Francis, what issues were close to his heart?

They are many but to name a few: understanding the challenges the family faces today, the discernment of the family vocation, the mission of the family today. These are sub-divided into

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many sub-sections of different aspects of the family journey and the problems and solutions the Church could help in. Issues like mercy, compassion, wounded families, reconciliation, migrant families and their problems, are just a few of the many issues that are close to Pope’s heart.

8. Were the media biased about the reporting during the synod?

The reports of the media were not quite accurate as they were not present in the Synod hall and so they did not have sufficient data to make an accurate assessment.

9. How did you see the unity of the participants in solving the problems of the families?

There was great unity among the participants in the small groups called “circuli minore.”

It was in these groups that the Cardinals, Bishops and the laity of the world shared their thoughts, spoke of their ideas and the hopes and challenges of their countries. They shared many intimate considerations which strengthened us to put aside our fears and inhibitions and to really talk about things that “really mattered regarding the problems that families face.”

10. What touched you the most?

I was struck by the unanimous expressions

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of compassion and sympathy from all those who attended the Synod, on the journey and the problems that the families of today face.

All the Synod fathers, cardinals and bishops expressed their great love and concern for the family - especially the wounded families and those in distress. It was just beautiful to see this love, hope, understanding on the concerns of today’s new age families and how they could be ‘accompanied’ by our pastors to a more spiritual realization, harmony and commitment of their married lives.

11. Did you get opportunities to talk to Pope Francis?

Yes, many, many times.

12. What are your impressions about meeting him?

After meeting Pope Francis over 62 times during the entire duration of the Synod, well, we could never be same again! His warmth just steals your heart away and his wonderful listening ability, his smile, his humility, his simplicity make you realize how much we need to re-evaluate our own lives and realize the ideals he lives for, are illustrated by his living example of humility and simplicity with a real real love of God which is the key essence of our Christian lives. He always requested me to pray for him, which I request all of you to do too.

13. What are your future plans for the diocese?

I am open to the service of the Lord

always. I just love Jesus and am ready to follow and serve him till the ends of the world! My husband Ishwar and I are invited to different forums in different places to lecture and talk to priests, women religious, laity, on the marvels of the Synod and the vision of Pope Francis for the Church. We are always open to any work assignments we get - anything to serve the Lord.

14. Your message to the families in the Year of Mercy.

The Church does not inhabit a world out of time.

The family based on a marriage of a man and a woman, needs to express this positive and luminous reality to the world in more “accessible language.” The family was referred as “a school of humanity” which speaks of the challenges of faith they experience in their day to day struggles of life. We need to shed light not only on the challenges and problems that the family faces in the world, but also more importantly, on the beauty and hope that is sowed everyday by the families who are living in “the light of the Gospel.”

We can only give thanks for all the families “who try to make God’s dream, their dream.” Every family should know that “the Church never abandons them.” The Church herself is fully involved in the story of every Christian marriage and there exists an “indissoluble b o n d ” between “the history of Christ and his Church” and “the history of marriage and the human family.”

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GOD OF MERCY Ian Pinto SDB

Mercy is raining It’s washing over me, All I need is to let it flow.

It falls from above Washing me through Cleansing me and setting me aglow.

Mercy was born But few did care A silent message was borne.

The rain of mercy Fell on hard hearts Leaving the temple curtain torn.

The earth opened Her thirsty mouth Drinking deeply from Mercy’s bounty.

How it longed For Mercy’s touch As It lay hanging upon a tree.

Mercy gave, A total offering For the world it loved so dear.

Till date It cries Its silent message Will anybody hear?

Ian Pinto has just completed his philosophy studies

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YOUTH SPEAK Joanne D’Souza

The World

Needs Mercy

I have often pondered over the quality of mercy particularly in this year of Mercy. What does having mercy mean to me? Mercy in the broad term refers to benevolence, forgiveness and kindness. It also means kindness or help offered to someone in a desperate or very difficult situation. But having mercy on someone is much easier said than done. It is much easier to look the other way if we see someone in a difficult situation rather than step up.

I work in a Government hospital with a big influx of patients from over the border of Goa. Many of these patients have very little means to support themselves. Some of them in desperate conditions or completely confused in a hostile environment. Yes, it’s true we can be rather hostile towards people who we don’t see as equals or we don’t want to get short changed by the people we refer to as ‘bhailo’.

empathy with our fellow people. We need to try and understand the other person.

From personal experience I can say that it is important to forgive and show kindness to the people who have wronged us even when they don’t realise it themselves. Holding on to grudges makes us bitter people. To make a change in the world we should start with ourselves first.

Most people must be familiar with the term ‘Pay it forward’. It basically means that our act of kindness to one person can make a big change when it is carried forward. Similarly our one act of mercy towards one person can definitely make a change in the world. Let’s reflect on our lives today and look for the times when we have not been able to forgive or have mercy and see if we can change it.

Even in relationships with family and friends there is so much of misunderstandings. In my own life I have known people who were such good friends turn into complete strangers over the silliest of arguments. Pride and inflated ego’s are the culprits. It is easy to blame the other rather than to take responsibility of our own actions.

In the wake of all the terror attacks around the world today particularly the attacks in Paris, Brussels and the rise of terror organisations such as the ISIS we can definitely say that the world is desperately in need of peace and mercy. Our small acts of mercy and compassion may slowly grow into a global phenomenon if we keep at it. In the words of our dear Pope Francis “A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.”

To be merciful it is important to first have

Joanne is a Physiotherapist & an ADMA member

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HAPPY PEOPLE Trevor Rodrigues

Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness Forgiveness in the key to happiness as forgiveness allows us to let go of the pain in our system. If we still carry this burden of pain, it steadily begins to have control over our system and there is a tendency for one to act as a puppet. According to Christian point of view, forgiveness has two components: One is dependent entirely on man and the other on God. These two components go hand in hand with each other.

To forgive requires courage. It is easier to ask pardon from others rather than to forgive others. Every day when we pray, we say, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Do we really reflect and linger on these words?

Forgiving others calls for humility on our part.

We have to battle against our ego and pride.

In this world of “kuch bi chalta hai” one gets away by saying the “sorry” word for anything and everything, anytime and anywhere. From the biggest to the smallest mistakes, we just say “sorry” and get on with our lives. It has become part of our routine. Whereas asking for forgiveness involves acknowledging the wrong done and being truly sorry for it.

We have read in the Gospel of St. Luke, the parable of the prodigal son. This episode

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happened during Jesus’ time more than 2000 years ago. It is only a made up story that was narrated by Jesus during his conversation with the Pharisees and the scribes. But what about the true incidents that are happening in the world? The recent one is of the ISIS attack at Paris where many people were gunned down.

One man, Helene Muyal Leiris, wrote an open letter to the terrorists saying, “You have taken my wife’s life but I forgive you.” Similarly, many incidents have taken place in the past years. Despite all these attacks and persecution, people forgive.

One of my acquaintances asked me, “How is it that you Christians are able to forgive so quickly?” I replied saying that, our religion’s identity consists in forgiving the wrong done to us, just as our Lord Jesus forgave from the cross, even when He was scourged, beaten and crucified. With His last breath He said: “Father forgive them, they do not know what they do.” Then I also added that, when there is persecution, wars and intolerance against Christians, there is more hope to flourish and grow in faith.

In this year of Mercy, let us try to transform our lives by forgiving our fellow beings and spreading Christ like mercy. “To err is human, to forgive divine”

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Trevor is doing his novitiate at STI Nashik

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GOD’S FORGIVENESS Joel D’Souza SDB

It’s Absolutely

…such a headline in a newspaper or on a handbill will immediately catch our attention. In a consumerist society as ours we are always on the look-out for something offered at a discount or better if it is free. However, in our spiritual lives how many of us really bother about something which is given free, rather absolutely free. One such spiritual gift that comes to mind is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This article is a small attempt to bring about a renewed appreciation for this wonderful sacrament which leads many to return to the life of grace and bring about a new springtime in our lives.

This sacrament, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, is known by many names.

Sometimes “it is called the sacrament of conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus’ call to conversion”. But it is also better known as “the sacrament of Penance, since it consecrates the Christian sinner’s personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and s a t i s f a c t i o n ”.

For many of us it still continues to be known as “the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament”.

At the same time, the Catechism reminds us that “it is called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest’s sacramental absolution God grants the penitent pardon and peace”. Finally, it is also called the sacrament of Reconciliation because it reconciles sinners to God and then to each other.

The biblical basis for this sacrament is found in the Gospel of John. John the Evangelist writes how Jesus empowers His disciples to forgive the sins of others in His name. “… He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’” (Jn 20:21-23). The Gospels also contain many passages and parables, which in a very beautiful way expound on God’s mercy and forgiveness. The parables of the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan and the Lost Sheep are a reflection of the mercy and love of God for each of us.

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In the sacrament of confession we experience the love of God through Jesus Christ, the face of the Father’s mercy, who offers sinners forgiveness for offenses c o m m it t e d against God and neighbour. At the same time, this April - June 2016

sacrament permits sinners to reconcile with the Church, which also is wounded by our sins.

Through the sacrament of Reconciliation, we meet Christ in his Church ready and eager to absolve and restore us to new life. St. John Paul II beautifully summarized this understanding of the sacrament in the following words “The forgiven penitent is reconciled with himself in his inmost being, where he regains his innermost truth. He is reconciled with his brethren whom he has in some way offended and wounded. He is reconciled with the Church. He is reconciled with all creation.”

Confessing one’s sins is central to the reconciliation process. The penitent must be truly sorry and attempt to repair the damage sin has done. There is a three-fold dimension to this sacrament: first the penitent confesses his/her sins to a priest who represents Christ; second, the penitent is reconciled to God and his/her brothers and sisters through the healing words of absolution; and the third part is when the priest assigns a penance on God’s behalf to help the penitent grow in holiness. Pope Francis says that the sacraments—especially the sacrament of

confession—are the “bridge that connects God and man/woman, opening our hearts to a hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness.”

He further reiterates the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in ‘Misericordiae Vultus: Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubille of Mercy’ when he comments “Let us place the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the centre once more in such a way that it will enable people to touch the grandeur of God’s mercy with their own hands. For every penitent, it will be a source of true interior peace.”

There is no sin too great for the Lord to forgive.

No matter what we’ve done, He loves us. In the holy sacrament of confession, mercy conquers our sinfulness. In the sacrament of confession, God enters our hearts, and, if we allow Him, gives us new lives in his friendship. God is rich in the mystery of mercy. May we encounter that mercy in the holy sacrament of confession! No matter how long it has been since we’ve last confessed our sins ...He is waiting…

Fr Joel is presently working at the Shrine of Don Bosco, Panjim

Be a Part of the Salesian Family!

As a Salesian (Priest/Brother/Sister) Contact: Vocation Director, Don Bosco Benaulim, South Goa. Ph: 0832 2771587 / 09763571877 jccoelhosdb@gmail.com Fr Rector, Don Bosco Panjim, Goa Ph: 0832 2221986 / 09921461597 saviogomes61@gmail.com Fr Rector, Don Bosco Youth Centre, Shirva, Udupi, Karnataka. Ph: 0820 2576655 / 09483153613 simaoferns@gmail.com Fr Rector, Bosco Udyogshala Pinguli, Kudal, Sindhudurg. Ph: 02362 222332 / 09673947144 maximsdb@gmail.com

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As a Benefactor / Donor Contact: Fr Romulo Noronha, Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Don Bosco Panjim, Goa 403001 noronharom@gmail.com Ph: +91 832 221986 ext 276 Mob:+91 9423056734

To BOOK MASSES & MAKE ONLINE DONATIONS visit: www.donboscopanjim.com

As a Volunteer Contact: Executive Director, Konkan Development Society, Odxel, Goa. Ph: 0832 3260711 / 09881810953

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DON BOSCO Vivian Andrews SDB

Apostle of Mercy

to the Y O U N G Mercy is a value that humanizes our world.

Mercy is to be found wherever man has left his footprints; in all cultures, in all of history although in degrees and expressions that vary.

In the Latin tradition the term for mercy is misericordia literally meaning ‘a crying heart’, in Sanskrit we have the term daya meaning ‘compassion’ while the Arabic rehem would generally mean ‘pardon’.

At times mercy has been considered a sign of strength and benevolence while at times it has been belittled as a sign of weakness. All said and done what would the world have been without mercy? What would life have been like if God had not given us this trait?

Vengeance and brutality would have been the order of the day. Life would have been rather ghastly if no one felt for another. Mercy is an absolute necessity in human life. Life would be impossible without mercy. When does one be merciful and how much? This largely depends on the training of one’s own conscience according to one’s culture, religion and upbringing not to forget the working of divine grace.

It is God’s nature to be merciful, to draw all things to Himself, to desire the goodness and well being of every one of His creatures. God has shared much of His nature with us – the creative power that we possess, our freedom

and choice as well as mercy. Mercy like many other attitudes is not possible without a movement of the heart. It involves rising out of one’s own selfishness and ego to be in concern with another. It needs attentive eyes and ears and a heart that feels a deep concern for fellow beings. One cannot be merciful unless one feels for others.

Throughout the history of salvation God has raised up men and women who have been instruments of His mercy. In the nineteenth century, God raised up John Bosco, a farm boy, to be an apostle of His love and mercy to poor and abandoned boys. Don Bosco was a deeply sensitive individual, a man of feelings.

The only concern of his heart was for souls.

Through his lifetime he lived out with zeal the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. He fed the hungry, clothed those in rags, educated the illiterate, pardoned sinners, cured the sick and so on.

Years before St. Faustina Kowalska spread the devotion to the Divine Mercy, Don Bosco in 1847, wrote a little pamphlet called Esercizio di Divosione alla Misericordia di Dio (Exercise of Devotion to God’s Mercy) in which are to be found his thoughts and ideas about God as a merciful and provident Father who reaches out tenderly to every human being. His ideas on penitence and mercy were without doubt greatly influenced by his years of study at

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the Convitto Ecclesiastico, particularly by St. Joseph Cafasso, the priest of the Gallows.

Accompanying Fr. Cafasso on his visits to the prisons, he exercised God’s mercy to wayward adolescents. However being deeply sensitive he found himself unable to continue this ministry but vowed to work his lungs out to prevent boys and young men from going astray and landing in those dark dungeons.

Although he believed in a just God, he trusted in God’s mercy and that repentance and a change for the better was tangibly possible particularly in the young. He was an ardent believer and a strong propagator of the value of the Holy Sacrament of Confession and he believed good confessions are the basis for a good life and that one needs to develop a taste for good confessions when one is young. He spent long hours listening to the confessions of his boys sometimes even falling asleep in the confessional out of severe fatigue.

Don Bosco’s heart went out to boys living in sin. He had a firm faith in a merciful God and in human repentance as is evident in his writings. He writes, “Our Saviour did not take human flesh and do all that we read in the Gospel for the just, but for sinners” He further says, “With what love, with what tenderness God embraces the sinner who comes back to him”. He just did not believe this truth but lived it out practically as an instrument of God’s mercy especially to youngsters. Aldo Giraudo makes the following observation, “Through the religious assistance he offered at the Refuge for wayward girls and his personal experience with boys at risk, Don Bosco discovered the wonders of divine grace in sincerely penitent hearts.”

However, Don Bosco’s notion of mercy went beyond mere pardon and forgiveness and

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his apostolate of mercy did not end with confession, forgiveness or absolution but he ministered a kind mercy that was ever present and perennial. In order to prevent boys from falling back into sin he taught them to read and write, he himself together with a few helpers taught them useful trades. Besides seeing to their initial material and spiritual needs, he helped them stand on their own feet. Later he opened schools, boardings, hostels and technical schools with the same aim. Thus we learn from Don Bosco that mercy is not just a once for all thing, but a continuous tender love and a presence that can be even taxing on the one showing mercy, on the one who feels concerned. The projects he undertook were all with a singular thought of bringing back the wayward to God. His projects were the image of God’s mercy and compassion. The oratory of Valdocco was a refuge, a place of hope for the urchins of Turin. Besides, Don Bosco’s merciful and magnanimous personality was itself an impetus to live a good and holy life.

God shared with Don Bosco his ministry of mercy to the young. He wants to share this apostolate of mercy with us his sons. As Salesians we are especially meant to be bearers of God’s Mercy to our pupils. Being merciful and charitable to their needs is therefore not an option for us but our very way of life. Let mercy therefore be at the core of our ministry and influence all our policies and actions – our policy of admissions in our institutes, reasonable concessions for the deserving, and a preference for weaker and poorer students.

In short, let us be on the side of the weak, for this is our raison d’être!

Vivian is doing his practical training at Don Bosco, Tuem, Goa

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MESSAGE TO THE YOUNG Angel Fernandez Artime SDB

Allow Yourselves to be

Captivated by Jesus

And here is what I specifically propose to you:

of discovering and recognizing him.

I propose that you let yourselves be helped in seeking God so that you learn to look at life as a blessing from God, marvelling at his presence and the imprints he has left in you, and recognizing him as someone who truly seeks you, is with you and lives in you.

I propose that you live experiences that bring you to a personal encounter with Jesus, an encounter that will always fascinate you and give strength to your lives.

I propose that you carry on maturing a true friendship with Jesus, a friendship that you will strengthen in personal and community prayer, and in the sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation.

I propose that you ask God the Father to grant you the gift of his Spirit so that he will make you choose to be decisively one of his own, one of those who follow Jesus.

I propose that you grow in a greater appreciation of family, friendship, brotherhood and solidarity with those who suffer.

I propose something else that is precious, viz. that you dare to take up the challenge of accepting life as a gift and a service, and this will certainly make you better and give full meaning to your lives.

I propose that you stop as long as you can to listen to yourselves, to enter your own interior world and listen to your inner voice.

I propose that, once you enter yourselves, you seek the presence of a God who is Love, Life and Newness itself: I invite you to have an experience

And I would want all these things to reach the point where they mature into your own plan for your life, turning God’s dream into reality for each of you because you know that, come what may, that dream will always be a guarantee of your happiness.

My dear young people, allow yourselves to be captivated by Jesus.

I invite you to let your hearts be “stolen” by the Lord. My dear young people, do not be afraid of letting the Lord become a very important part of your lives. Do not be afraid of letting him penetrate your hearts so deeply that you cannot live without him.

Perhaps someone will ask me why I am saying all this. Well, in the first place, because I love you, and I want all of you, boys and girls, to lead full and happy lives; secondly, because I know that Don Bosco would say this to you just as he said it to his boys of Valdocco; thirdly, and most importantly, because it is the truth: it is absolutely certain that with Jesus everything is seen in its proper light.

Do not expect many in the society, city or place in which you live to extend this invitation to you. It is not fashionable. But, God’s love for each of you, my dear young people, is not a passing fad but a reality that reaches all places and persons if they allow his voice to resonate in their hearts.

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Letters to the Editor...

January - March 2016 | Vol 09 Issue - 01

The issue of Sangati has come out exceptionally creative and fascinating. The pics, the individual photos of different families, the names of each family member adds to the credibility of the issue. The content too is excellent. In a phrase I would say: it is a fantastic, formidable and fascinating..

- Dr Socorro Mendes, Goa

Wow! Heartiest congratulations on this excellent issue of Sangati. It is excellent in every sense of the word.

- Fr Savio Gomes, Goa Thanks for lovely articles and reflections.. It is inspring...

- Fr Raphael Jayapalan, Chennai Brilliant job on a very relevant theme.

- Fr Vinod Mascarenhas, Mumbai

I was impressed by the variety of very relevant articles by eminent personalities. The presentation of the bulletin is awesome...

- Fr Nelson Joseph Lobo, Goa

I found it very inspiring, motivating and empowering oneself.

- Sr Vinaya D’Souza, Goa

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It was a great pleasure to read the very interesting articles on Family in the issue Sangati. A good job done by everyone involved in the making of this magazine!

May God bless each one of you and may your good message reach every family to enlighten each member of the families. Today “unity and love in each family” is the need of the hour.

- Noel D’Souza, Goa The magazine is colorful and has good articles and tackles relevant issues.

- Fr Michael Fernandes, Pune ‘Wow!’ You have taken Sangati to a newer level by opening it up to the lay persons and experts on the theme. The articles are of a high standard and are worth reading. The news bytes at the end are also crisp and informative.

- Fr Maxim D’Souza, Sindhudurg I got a copy of Sangati from our Library and enjoyed very much the articles on Family.

You sure cover a variety of topics with a variety of writers in your magazine.

- Fr Tony da Silva, Goa Thanks for the inspiring articles.

- Fr Rosario Rocha, Goa

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SALESIAN

BENAULIM FATORDA LOUTULIM KAKATI ODXEL DABOLIM OROS KUDAL PARRA PALIEM PANJIM SIRSI

PROVINCE NEWS

SANKRITI 2016 ‘Sankriti’ was held on March 28-29, 2016, in the Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, Goa. The event received participation from Government Engineering College, Government College of Architecture and Government Polytechnic Bicholim.

Innovative competitions were introduced to challenge the young student engineers, such as a technical debate and an AutoCAD competition. A treasure hunt using skills as a surveyor with theodolites and tapes was also introduced. Students were also encouraged to show off their public speaking skills along with their technical knowledge in the form of yet another brand new competition, ‘Walk the Chalk’. With quizzes, paper presentations, truss and model making, the event was a complete package.

The first place was bagged by Goa College of Engineering, who won a trophy and cash prizes.

Salesians Organize Summer Camps

Hundreds of youngsters have joined the summer camps organized in all the Salesian institutions in the province. Coaching in sports, Leadership skills, Arts and Crafts, Hikes, Cycling, Camp fires, Music, Drama ... are all a great mixture of an entertainment and learning they offer. No youngster who wants to shine and spend his time fruitfully misses on this opportunity to enrol himself for one such camp.

Youth Pasch Celebrated The annual Youth Pasch was conducted by Don Bosco Animation Centre, Benaulim, at Don Bosco Sulcorna from March 2327, 2016. Young people from many parishes attended the three & half day program which aims at grooming youth leaders.

The Youth Pasch has as its central focus a deep and meaningful encounter with the Lord Jesus through meaningful liturgies and time spent in recollection and preparation in addition to input sessions and discussions.

Each day’s liturgy was well animated by the participants and celebrated in a meaningful and unconventional manner. The animation and celebration of the liturgy is designed to help the young enter deeper into the significance of each day of the Easter triduum. The Youth Pasch culminated in the celebration of the Easter Vigil. The program concluded with a pray-over session wherein the participants were prayed over and commissioned to be witnesses of God in their localities.

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International Women’s Day at Shirahatti

The Don Bosco Konkan Development Society celebrated International Women’s Day at Shirahatti on March 13, 2016. The event was well attended by 375 women.

Ms Sudha S Huchannavar, lecturer at F. M. Dabali College in Shirahatti, was the Chief Guest; Durugappa M. Gudimani, Retired Bank Manager, Fakkiresh Madiwalar a lecturer, Mrs Renuka R Bomale, Taluka Coordinator of Samakya NGO and Mr Vijay Borase Coordinator of Women’s Empowerment at Don Bosco KDS Goa, were the guests of honour.

Insight 2K16’ Don Bosco College, Panaji organized its 10th inter-collegiate festival ‘Insight 2K16’ on March 9, at the college campus. This event included a variety of educational, cultural and sporting competitions and witnessed participation from colleges all over Goa. The winners were Institute of Hotel Management, Goa.

April - June 2016

PINGULI QUEPEM SHIRVA KELMBET SULCORNA SUTGATTI TRASI TUEM SANKESHWAR CORTALIMTHIVIM

THERMOFEST 2016

THERMOFEST 2016, an ISHRAE event was held in Don Bosco College of Engineering (DBCE), Fatorda on April 2, 2016.

Prof. Ajit Salunke gave an overview of the various activities of the DBCE Chapter in the present academic year emphasizing on the participation of members in Job Junction, ACREX & AQUEST 2016. Nitin Rajmohan gave a feedback on JOB JUNCTION and Darren D’Silva briefed on ACREX 2016 held in the month of February.

Toppers in HVAC subjects, in Goa University Exams were felicitated.

Various events like technical quiz, technical paper presentation, crossword puzzle and treasure hunt were held.

Salesian Family Recollection Day

Salesian Family of the province had a recollection on March 13. Fr. Savio Gomes presented the Strenna.

Fr. Wilfred D’Souza touched on the topic of the ‘Extra Ordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy’. He said that, Pope Francis, the ‘Mercy Pope,’ wants people to turn back to the Lord through the sacrament of reconciliation. Pope has made this Sacrament more approachable than before. He wishes to reach out to the poor, the marginalized, those on periphery of the society. This was also the wish of Don Bosco.

A booklet for Cooperators in English and Konkani compiled by Fr Savio was also released. The konkani translation is done by Selza Lopez.

Oratory Day of the Pre-Novices The Oratory day was organized at Bosco Udyogshala, Pinguli, on March 13, 2016. It concludes the Sunday Apostolate of the Pre-Novices.

The theme of the day was “RUN, JUMP, PLAY BUT DO NOT SIN.” The programme included tele games, fete, lunch and a grand cultural fiesta. The oratories put up various entertaining and educative items. A jam session saw the Fathers, Brothers, and the youngsters move and groove to the beats of popular Bollywood numbers.

April - June 2016

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Mentoring Seminar

by Pune Experts

Pune-based Socrates Foundation recently conducted a seminar ‘Bridging the Gap - Relationship Building between Educators & Students’ in collaboration with the Department of Mass Media, Don Bosco College and Institute Menezes Braganza, Panjim.

Charu Mathur, founder and managing director of Socrates Foundation led the seminar with discussions on mentoring relationships by talking to a student and teacher audience on varied learning styles, response styles and critical thinking strategies. Socrates Foundation has successfully collaborated with the Maharashtra government in the past to create innovative curriculum that integrates 21st century skills in the core syllabus.

Students and faculty of Chowgule College, The King’s School, Dhempe College of Arts & Science, Nirmala Institute of Education, Don Bosco College, Panjim and Don Bosco College of Agriculture, Sulcorna participated in an unprecedented discussion that sought to bring educators and students on a common platform to think about innovative ways of problem-solving and devising better ways of classroom instruction.

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SOUTH ASIA NEWS Mumbai Schools for Greener Tomorrow

Students from 50 schools in Mumbai are striving to be greener people, so we can have a greener world! Encouraged by their school management, students are involved in `greening` projects, in a bid to become the next generation of environmental leaders.

From creating butterfly gardens to nesting sites, from amphibian habitats to crawly gardens, youngsters in the city are going beyond their books, to care for the most pressing issue affecting us today, the environment.

One such school is Sacred Heart High School, Vashi that has been awarded the Greenest School award by GreenLine - a Don Bosco Environmental organisation working in the city of Mumbai - on March 5 at Don Bosco International School, Matunga.

Leadership Development Program held for SA Provincials

Father Fabio Attard, the General Councillor for Youth Ministry, Father Basanes Guillermo, the General Councillor for Missions, and Father Filiberto Gonzalez, the General Councillor for Social Communications, addressed the provincials of South Asia and the delegates of various commissions regarding the issues relating to the Youth ministry, Social Communication and Missions at the Ledership Development Program at Don Bosco Provincial House, Matunga on March 1 and 2.

They discussed and deliberated the congregation strategy, to synergize and work together.

BOSCOM SA Meeting in Sri Lanka The Governing body meeting of Boscom South Asia was held at Don Bosco Negombo, Sri Lanka on April 2-3. This meeting was about synergising all the initiatives of the 12 Salesian provinces of South Asia.

Each delegate of the province shared three strengths and weaknesses and presented one unique plan for the respective province, and sought collaboration from the other provinces in their activities to promote the charism of Don Bosco.

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Cherrapunjee Don Bosco Shrine host Saints Relics Permanently

The casket containing the relic of Don Bosco arrived from Turin at the first Shrine of Don Bosco at Cherrapunjee on February 26, 2016.

This is the only relic permanently enthroned at the Shrine for the people of Asia to venerate.

The relic had first arrived at this place in August 2011. Among the many miracles that happened, the widely known Sohra miracle child, Larisuk Khongsit, bedridden for four years due to a fall and injury, was completely cured and became normal after she visited and prayed to Don Bosco for a cure.

In the same city, at the parish of Pynthorumkhrah, Banisha Khongsngi, married for 10 years, whom doctors had informed about the impossibility of her bearing children, touched the relic of Don Bosco when it arrived in 2011, was after 10 days found to be pregnant. She gave her testimony with her husband and four children at the installation of the relic at Cherrapunjee.

April - June 2016

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WORLD NEWS Servant of God Titus Salesians in Brazil 2 Salesian Students Zeman’s Cause Awarded for their to Carry Progresses Service to Poor Young Olympic Torch Servant of God Titus Zeman was a Slovak Salesian priest born in Vajnory on 4 January 1915. When the Czechoslovak Communist regime forbade religious orders and began sending religious men and women to the concentration camps, Fr Titus arranged for young Salesians to travel illegally to Turin to enable them to complete their studies.

On the third such expedition, he was arrested together with the fugitives and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. He was out after 12 years. Irretrievably scarred by the suffering endured in prison, died after 5 years on 8 January 1969.

On the occasion of the 82nd anniversary of the canonization of Don Bosco, the Salesians received greatest honour from Brazilian Society in recognition for their services to the poor and young in Brasilia. The award was presented to Fr Anselmo Nascimento, Rector of the Community, and the student Moysés Savio.

Pope Francis Appeals for Fr Tom Uzhunnalil Pope Francis has added his voice to the many calls from around the world asking for the release of Fr Tom Uzhunnalil. On 4 March last the Indian Salesian missionary was kidnapped in Aden in Yemen during a terrorist attack on the community of the Missionaries of Charity. The Pope raised his prayer for Fr Tom and all victims of kidnapping in war zones immediately after the recitation of the “Regina Coeli” on Sunday 10 April 2016.

Even though there are almost four months to go to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and almost five months to the Paralympics, the Salesian Family in Brazil is already celebrating some victories. Among the athletes selected to carry the torches of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, there are in fact two students of Salesian institutes: Eduarda dos Santos, 16, a student and swimmer from the Salesian Institute in Salvador, Bahia State and Jessika Azevedo, just 13 years old, a student at the Salesian educational centre of Natal.

Eduarda and Jessika are shining examples of the importance given to sport in Salesian education. As Pope Francis said on 21 June 2015 at Valdocco: “What did Don Bosco do? He introduced sport, because sport makes the young person grow as a social being, with a healthy competitiveness, and it inculcates the beauty of working together.”

UN Meet Street Children of South Asia Two young boys from “Shelter Don Bosco Boys”, a centre for street children in Mumbai, accompanied by Akhil Abraham, SDB, took part in a consultation of children in South Asia organized by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. The consultation, which took place from 4 to 6 April in New Delhi, served to highlight the problems of street children. Twelve NGO’s took part in the 3 day long meeting, which highlighted the problems children faced and underlined steps that Governments could take to resolve these problems.

April - June 2016

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WORLD NEWS Pope Francis Prays for Temple Fire Victims in Kerala

Pope Francis has sent a message expressing condolences and promising prayers for the victims of a deadly fire at a Hindu Puttingal Devi temple in the Indian state of Kerala on April 10, as well as for the victims’ families. Sent via telegram through the Secretary of State of the Holy See, the Pope’s message also also asks God to bless the whole nation of India.

St Peter’s & other Roman basilicas in 3D

It is a cinematic tour which captures never-before-seen angles of Rome’s papal basilicas. Following the success of Vatican Museums 3D and of Florence and Uffizi 3D, St Peter’s and the Papal Basilicas of Rome 3D is premiered in more than 50 countries around the world. The film rediscovers some of the great treasures of the Eternal City on the occasion of the Jubilee of Mercy.

‘Jesus Youth’ gets Pontifical Approval

Vatican has recognized officially the Indian ‘Jesus Youth Movement’ granting it Juridical approval as ‘International Private Association of the Faithful’ Jesus Youth is the first movement in the history of the Catholic Church in India and the second in Asia to receive such a Pontifical approval.

The decree of approval will be awarded during a ceremony held in the Vatican on May 20, 2016.

A Catholic lay movement that began in Kerala, India in the early 80s has now spread to 35 countries around the world, with its presence in all 5 continents.

Jesus Youth members seek to grow as faithful disciples of Christ, through the six pillars of the movement: Daily Prayer, Word of God, Sacraments, Fellowship, Service and Evangelization.

Jesuit Fr. Cedric Prakash on JRS in the Middle East

Fr. Cedric Prakash, an Indian Jesuit priest and committed human rights activist, is the Regional ‎ Advocacy & Communications Officer of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) for the Middle ‎ East & North ‎ Africa (MENA) Region, based in Beirut, Lebanon.

Belonging to the Gujarat Jesuit Province of India, Fr. Cedric was until recently directing “Prashant”, a Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace, which he founded in 2001 in Ahmedabad. He has been at the forefront on issues related to human rights, justice, peace and other advocacy matters for which he has been honoured both in India and abroad. Notable among these is the Knighthood of the Legion of Honour, one of France’s highest ‎ civilian awards conferred on him in 2006.

Pope Presents, The Joy of Love

The highly anticipated document Amoris Laetitia is the fruits of the two synods on the family in 2014 and 2015, presented in the Holy See Press Office on 8 April, speaks the language of experience, offering an open and profoundly positive outlook, which feeds not on abstractions or ideal projections, but on pastoral attention to reality. The text, laden with spiritual points and practical wisdom suitable to every couple and to those people who hope to build a family, was the fruit of practical collaboration with people who have experienced many years of family life.

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April - June 2016

Spiritual Works of Mercy

1. Instruct the Ignorant

2. Counsel the Doubtful

3. Admonish Sinners

4. Bear Wrongs Patiently

5. Forgive Offences Willingly

6. Comfort the Afflicted

7. Pray for the Living & the Dead

Corporal Works of Mercy

1. Feed the Hungry

2. Drink to the Thirsty

3. Clothe the Naked

4. Shelter the Homeless

5. Visit the Sick

6. Visit the Imprisoned 7. Bury the Dead