This could be one of the last few posts for the year 2006.

It has been a wonderful year.

Have gained many insights through theology.

One grace was to have completed my Bachelors in Theology.

The Website has been truly a miracle of God. Thanks God!!

My family and my community have been a great support to me.

Thank you Lord.

Communications Day 2006

Today the Church in India, keeps Commuincations Day!

Usually around the world it is kept on the Day of Ascension. It is the 40th Time it has been kept. Because it was at VAtican II, with the decree Inter Mirifica the document on Social Communications, that it was decided that a day be kept aside for this purpose.

So, when the Parish Team of Our Lady of Remedy parish, invited us Daughters of St Paul, to speak, we grabbed the opportunity. Today Srs Zarina and myself preach a sermon, soon after communion, for the three morning masses.

It was a wonderful experience speaking for the three Masses, for two different agegrooups - children and adults.

Theme: The Media: Network for Communication , Commuion and cooperation.

Experience at Jan Mat TV Channel

It was indeed a first time experience of being before a TV camera. Only Jesus knows, if they will broad cast it, on 14 November, but it was a wonderful experience to be interviewed about the VCD , which Pauline Communications (of Pauline Sisters) has brought out.

I happened to be on the planning committee and so they asked me why we felt we had to do this VCD.

Though I do not remember all that I said, I remember one thing.... When I look into the eyes of these child labourers, I see in them the lost childhood, which I enjoyed thanks to my parents and family.
My hope and prayer is that children be given their birthright of a happy childhood.

May my prayer be heard, and may I strive towards this goal always.
Amen.

21Teens - A joy to be with

On 9th November, I had the joy of animating, 21 teenangers, about 13 young girls, and 8 boys, who were the 'select' for the final round of the Teen of the Year 2007.

We had a few icebreakiing games and a lot of laughter. The best thing of all was that in about 8 to 10 minutes we knew each one's name by heart and by face. Incredible.

After that we watch a film together, 'AIME', the story of a journalist who gave up her life for bringing out a just society... It was wonderful discussion that we had after this, in groups of five or six each.

Young hearts discussing on a burning issue like justice in society, which is so difficult to bring about these days.

The noon passed off beautifully, I was truly enriched.

God be praised!!

Life in Perspective: Recollection Day on the Eucharist

Life in Perspective: Recollection Day on the Eucharist

A New Phase of Life

It is indeed a new phase of life for me. Have just finished my Bachelor of Theology, with a First Class... thanks to the grace of God.

Being at JDV , (Papal Atheneum) was an experience of enrichment and learning. A 'sitting under the bodhi tree' for me.

Lot has changed in my life, after I have been there, since the past 4 and half years.


Now, a NEW phase of life has begun. The fruits of the enlightenment must show. I believe in Rom 8:28.....

Last month in Papal Atheneum (JDV) Pune

It is really a nostalgic month. After being here since 2002, to leave JDV, is heart-breaking.

Well, doing theology at JDV was really enriching. Having had some of the best professors in the country teaching in the Faculty, and an environment conducive to learning , progress and mission, it will be some time to wipe out memories of this beautiful 'shantiniketan'

By October 12th, I finish with my graduating exams, of the B Th Degree. Another phase of life is beginning....'put out into the deep' as Jesus said.

May the Lord bless us all!!

Media Spirituality for Youth -Pune

 

72 youth (Boys and girls, working and studying)gathered for the halfday seminar on Media Spirituality and Values organized by Fr. Jose Vazhakalayil , parish priest of St Thomas Syrian Church, Dapodi. It was on 6th August 2006.

 

I was happy to discuss with them Media Core concepts and Key Questions, how to evaluate  and discriminate negative and destructive media from positve and progressive media. They are also given time to underscore three most cherished values and realize that all their evaluations of media content would be on the basis of these values. This is just a gist of what we discussed.
 From comments received later, what they valued most was the session on Media spirituality -- how to use the meida for the Lord and how to find God in the mass media.  With experience with youth of Latin rite, I was happy to be invited to a Syrian Rite Parish. Once before about two years ago,here in Pune, we had done youth animation for a Syro-Malankara Parish. God's ways are wonderful.

 

 

Do visit our Website:

 

www.paulineindia.org

http://spiritualsharings.blogspot.com/

 

Daughters of St Paul

143 Waterfield Road

Bandra, Mumbai 400050

Phone: 022- 26424081 / 26436188

Fax: 022- 26518543

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Doing the page-layout of the New Testament

It was a spiritual experience for me -- doing the page layout of the New Testament, which we are to publish in a few months from now.

At a particular point in the Gospel of John, when I saw the text saw close to me....I felt confronted in a way I never felt before....

'Take and eat.... this is my body..."

"Do you love me... feed my sheep"

"Whoever takes up his plough and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God"

And so many such texts of JEsus....were ringing loud in my ears when I was looking at them...straight in the eye.

I thank God for this experience.... It was a once in a lifetime experience. It is the first time I was doing the Page Layout of the Gospels. An experience I must note down.

Mumbai Blasts July 11 2006

These were indeed for me an experience. Not that I was physically affected. But though I was within walls that day, I was almost in tears till the last of my family members were safe and sound. And that was not later that 11:30 p.m. that night.

I made me realise how strong blood ties are. Even if we are not in contact with family members, when the point of losing any ofthem comes, it all comes back, you know how important they are to you.

That's how God has made us... like God!!

May justice prevail!

Recollection Day on the Eucharist

The ninth standard Christian Students of Our LAdy of Remedy School, Poinsur Kandivli, Mumbai were very cooperative and in participating fully in the programme presented to them during the Recollection Sessions I had prepared for them.

It was on Thursday, 13 July, from 9 to 1 p.m. So from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., that, with the help of various audio-visual aids, times of silence and reflection on Scripture passages like , the multiplication of the bread, and the ‘Oil in the Wise Virgins’ Flasks’, and the Last Supper, the Spirit led them to a deeper understanding of the Eucharist, and the benefits of participating in it fully.

There were about 60 students, about 35 girls and 25 boys. The Principal of the school, Fr Raymond, offered us a warm welcome a few days before, since he could not be there on the day. In fact, the staff was very cooperative, even though they had to hire the LCD projector, make Xeroxes etc, as part of the requirements of the Recollection Sessions. It was also an opportunity for me to do vocation work. Thanks to my community sisters who supported me with prayers.

ADL- Pune

25 girls from the age group of 13 -22 attended ‘A Day with the Lord’ (ADL) which we conducted at Sanghvi. They were from two parishes, Holy Cross Church, Dapodi, and Holy Trinity Church , Sanghvi. I had been in contact with some of them since the past few years, while studying in Pune. So when the parish priests (Fr Roque Green and Fr Andrew Sagar proposed to have an organized programme, I took the opportunity to do it in collaboration with DM Sisters (Syro-Malankara Rite) in Sanghvi, as they have a place where we could organize this.
Sr Ursula and myself visted their homes the previous two days. On Sunday, 2nd July, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. we had Media Awareness sessions, Scripture –Reflective Sessions, Time before the Blessed Sacrament, Cine Forum, Group Activity based on Practical Media. We also took time to share about our mission and apostolate , as Daughters of St Paul, through the sharing of vocation stories, powerpoints and a short film.
The programme culminated in a animated Eucharistic Celebration, in which the girls took active part, through the Penitential Service, Prayer of the Faithful, Liturgy of the Word, Hymns, Offertory etc, connecting everything to the Media.
It was a wonderful experience for us, and a joy to have had the presence of these 25 girls. We are grateful to all who prayed for us, specially our respective communities.

ADL- Mumbai

A Day With the Lord (ADL) – Mumbai
Sr Michelle and myself organized a recollection day (ADL)for girls of the age-group 14 to 25 years at our premises. 6 and 11 girls participated on 23rd April and 30th April, 2006. It was a mixture of gaiety and seriousness. After a time spent in reflection on two biblical passages,(Annunciation and Call of the Disciples) we had a practical session on Media followed by a session on Media Spirituality. The film Maria Goretti made a good impact on them, as they shared their feelings and musings on it during the Eucharistic adoration that followed. Newly ordained , Fr Joby Mathew Manachirikkal SSP and Fr Gavin D'Souza, newly appointed for Bombay Archdiocese (Mahim)celebrated the Eucharist for us respectively. We are grateful to all who supported us with their prayers, support and encouragement, specially the Provincial Team, TMC, QAC and Alberione Communities.
ADL is a program which will be organized by us in various parts of Mumbai and Maharashtra. I plan to have another one in Pune, in July.

Heat in Mumbai

The heat is soaring in Mumbai. With no sign of the rain , one wonders if we will ever see some rivers flooding as they are in other parts of the country, far from what happened last year on 26th JUly.

Small time farmers are waiting for that precious shower....

No more coffins for the dead!

This morning I read an article in the News paper about how a priest of the Vasai Diocese, India is promoting the use of a common coffin instead of single expensive ones each time someone dies! He himself took his father who died recently to the grave after the funeral ceremony in the common coffin belonging to the church, and they very respectfully laid him to rest in a shroud.

The bishop of the diocese , Thomas Dabre approves of it.


There are pros and cons to this. It seems to be a novelty, eco-friendly, cheap. However it will adversely affect the business of undertakers!

I wish Fr. Robin Dias, all the best in his new ideal!!

Da Vinci Code

Da Vinci Code is out to be released in India in the coming week. The Indian audience wonders why the controversy. The Christian community is hurt at Ron Howard's callousness as with Dan Brown's insensitivity.

All things happen for good, the protests are for good, the release of the film if it happens....we have to find what good is there in it. One thing for sure, it has once again brought together the Christian community in communion of faith. One is challenged to think of why one is still a Christian and re-emphasize her or his living of the Christian values in day to day living.

All said and done, does Christ need the defence the Christian community offering for him? No he does not. But we human beings need it ,for our sustennance in the world as a Christian community. Because today Christianity is and the Church have become almost synonymous. Are they? Is the kingdom of God which Jesus preahced wider than the boundaries of the Church? These are questions which we need to ponder.

Coming back to 'Da Vinci Code', geographically and historically there are many loopholes in th Dan Browns work, so rightly , it is fiction.

As he proposes of Jesus' marriage to Mary Magdalene, Christians are called to ponder on why their sentiments are being hurt by this. Is it because Mary Magdalene was portrayed as a prostitute even though she was not. The Gospels do not say that Mary MAgdalene was a prostitute, it was one of the Popes of the middle centuries that said so...mistakenly...and it carried on.

Is the married status lower than than the celibate one? Does the married state call for sacrifices which the celibate does not even have to bat an eyelid for?

If Jesus was married, does it in anyway reduce our redemption by his precious blood?

Think friends think.... Is your faith and salvation based on history books or on your experience of the Risen Lord?

Easter is aGift

Resurrection of Jesus Christ is indeed a gift. It gives me a constant and steadfast hope that all is not lost in suffering and death.
It gives an anchor on the fact that suffering and death are passing by.

Without suffering there is no sense of a 'non-suffering'. Suffering does not mean that you are bad or cursed, though sometimes suffering could be caused by our own misdeeds.
But suffering is a sign that we are on the right path, whether it is physical or spiritual suffering. It is upto us , to suffer with an ideal, with a goal, and not let it bring us down.
The resurrection gives us this goal or ideal.

What do you have to say about it?

Joeyanna