Fr. (Dr.) Sunil Kallarakal, osj –

The month of March is so special as it is dedicated to St. Joseph and on this occasion, we would like to reflect upon the fatherhood of St. Joseph. I think there are a lot of similarities between the life of priests and consecrated people and that of St. Joseph. Though Mother Mary is the perfect model for consecrated life, for priests and religious men, a more appropriate life to compare with is that of St. Joseph.

People normally say that there are only a very few times that the name of Joseph is mentioned in the gospels and so some people conclude that he may not have an important role in the history of salvation. But the truth is, since the revealed data on Joseph is rare, it must be treated with great attention. They are a bit like diamonds that need to be worked with great care and skill to find their beauty and brilliance. Joseph’s vocation and, consequently, the role played by him in the salvific drama are unique, exactly like the role of Abraham, Moses and Mary.

Pope Francis and his predecessors reflected on the message contained in the limited information handed down by the Gospels on St. Joseph to appreciate more fully his central role in the history of salvation. Blessed Pius IX declared him “Patron of the Universal Church”, Venerable Pius XII proposed him as “Patron of Workers” and Saint John Paul II wrote an apostolic exhortation “Redemptoris Custos” meaning “Guardian of the Redeemer” and Saint Joseph is universally invoked as the “patron of a happy death”. Two years ago Pope Francis wrote an apostolic letter “Patris corde” and proclaimed a year of St. Joseph in the church.

Just like the Eternal Father, Joseph, a father by grace, did not speak in the first person but “has spoken to us through the Son” (Hb 1, 2). Indeed, there is no word at all in the gospels pronounced by Joseph. So, the eloquence of Joseph is not in speaking but in preparing Jesus, his son in the house of Nazareth for his future mission. As we say in English actions speak louder than words. Joseph’s actions speak louder than words.

Jesus is known as “Jesus of Nazareth”, this title not only informs us about the geographical origins but also teaches what kind of fertile soil on which the seed of the incarnate Word fell. In the light of the holy scripture, we can say that in this soil, the Word has not been trodden on, nor withered by the sun, nor suffocated by thorns; rather in the soil of Joseph and Mary, it has grown, grown first a green stem of grass, then a bud, then the ripened grain to later become the living Bread that brings salvation to the world (Cf. Mark 4, 26-34). Joseph is a person who does not talk about himself, who does not show himself, but who leads such an ordinary life and moves unnoticed.

Exactly as St. Paul gives a beautiful definition of love in the letter to the Corinthians, we can talk of Joseph: Joseph is not envious, he is not boastful, he never seeks his interest, he is not filled with pride… He puts up with everything, believes everything, hopes for everything, bears everything” (cf. 1Cor 13, 4-7). Joseph’s life is a life of love, he presents himself as a person whose approach is simple, he does not use words, and he leads an insignificant life in the eyes of the world.

I would like to continue this reflection with the words of the late Pope Benedict XVI who spoke on St. Joseph while visiting Cameroon in the year 2009 and he was there in March. During the evening prayer session just before the Solemnity of St. Joseph on the 19th of March, he gave a reflection on St. Joseph while he was talking to the priests and religious gathered there.

I so much love the words spoken by Pope Benedict XVII on that very day. Pope Said: “St. Joseph shows us that it is possible to love without possessing”. Very simple words but with profound meanings. St. Joseph indeed loved Mary his wife and Jesus his son, without possessing them. If you ask the question: Is Mary Joseph’s wife? The answer is, of course, she is, they got married according to the Jewish tradition but she was not like any other wife in this world. She had a peculiar vocation and was called to be the mother of Jesus, son of God. Joseph her husband does not possess his wife, Mary. Husbands normally feel: Oh, this is my wife and so she is mine and does not belong to anyone else. Here the vocation of Joseph is to protect her, take care of her and above all love her as his wife. He was the breadwinner of the family of Nazareth. Joseph indeed lives happily protecting Mary, assisting her to be the mother of Jesus and he was an extraordinary husband with love and dedication. He would do anything for Mary. The same thing occurs with Jesus. Jesus is his son but he is not his biological son, Joseph did not generate him but he is the father of Jesus here on earth and Jesus is known as the son of the carpenter Joseph. So, Joseph loves without possessing. With this special vocation, what Joseph renounces, above all, is his right to generate, and all those pleasures connected to generating children. So, what he offers to God is the biggest gift a man can have

In our parishes and areas of the apostolate, there are many men and women working with priests and religious, but none of them belongs to these consecrated people, and they are called to love all of them without possessing. How is it possible? Priests and religious are called to learn that from Joseph. Here they need that gift of generosity and sacrificial love.

There is a famous Latin dictum that says: Ite ad Joseph, meaning, go to Joseph. We get this from the book of Genesis where we see another Joseph. The two Josephs have a lot in common, they both communicated with God through dreams. Normally people have dreams at night and when they get up that is the end. Pope Francis would say St. Joseph was not a dreamer. While many dreams are just the dreamer’s subconscious speaking, some other dreams can be a way of communication with God.

As you know, Joseph in the Old Testament was the eleventh son of Jacob and was a boy of 12 years. The book of Genesis 37 talks of that paternal favouritism towards him which provoked the envy of his brothers. And at first, they thought of killing him, but in the end, they decided to make him fall into a well as a trap and leave him to his fate. But later they reflected and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to a caravan of merchants heading to Egypt and he was sold as a slave to Potiphar, an officer in Pharaoh’s guard (Gen. 37).

Joseph went through many difficult moments, such as his imprisonment due to the malice of Potifár’s wife, who failed to seduce him (Genesis 39) until reaching the level of interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh’s servant and baker in jail, which came true. For this reason, he was called by Pharaoh to interpret his dreams. Joseph interprets them and says in Genesis 41, 29: “Seven years of great abundance are going to come throughout Egypt. But then another seven years of famine will come, and all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, for the famine will ravage the land.” Joseph suggested to Pharaoh that they collect all the eatables from those seven good years and that they store and keep the grain, and this was done, until the seven years of famine began to arrive as he had predicted. Pharaoh, knowing the qualities and talents of Joseph, appointed him as his second in command. Genesis 41,39: Pharaoh said to Joseph: Since God made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

Later we see that people cried to Pharaoh for food and Pharaoh told them: “Go to Joseph, and do what he tells you.”

Saint Bernard of Siena writes: “Joseph of the Old Testament did not keep the grain for himself, but for all the people, he is a man who feeds” and St. Joseph in the New Testament, also feeds us, because he received living bread from heaven (Jesus) for the world”. Saint Bernard summarises in the analogy of the “TWO JOSEPHS”, affirming the great importance of the father of Jesus, he says: St. Joseph has not only provided the Egyptians with the bread of bodily life but has provided the bread from heaven which sustains heavenly life to all the elect.

“Pope Pius XII says: “Saint Joseph fed whom the faithful must eat as Bread of eternal life.” It is true that it was Saint Joseph who fed, educated and cared for Jesus as his Father.

We can also see how St. Joseph is connected to the Eucharist, taking into account the role he played in a major way on two occasions in the life of Jesus according to the Gospel of Luke; that is to say, during the circumcision (Lc. 2, 21) and during the presentation of Jesus in the temple (Lc. 2, 22-27). Although he was not a priest, he exercised the offices of a priest towards the sacred body of the baby Jesus during the presentation of Jesus in the temple.

Every time we celebrate or participate in the mass when the priest raises the consecrated host, we should remember that the first person who raised this host (Jesus) was Saint Joseph.

If we approach Saint Joseph daily, we will learn a lot from him, and we will be able to put into practice his virtues of humility, love for silence, hard work, and trust in Divine Providence. Cardinal Tisserant gives a piece of advice to priests: “When Joseph takes the Holy Child in his hands with respect and affection at the same time, he leads us priests to long for the same feelings when we take the sacramental body of Jesus on the altar with our hands.”.

Father Tarcisio Stramare, Oblate of Saint Joseph and a biblical scholar say: “Saint Joseph speaks little, but lives intensely without misappropriating any responsibility, which the will of the Lord gives him. He is almost hidden but very visible to Jesus. He offers an example of availability before the divine call with calm and with full confidence because those who have faith do not tremble and are not discouraged by events.”

Pope Francis likes St. Joseph so much and, in a homily, he mentioned the powerful intercession of a sleeping St. Joseph. He said that when he has to solve an issue as head of the Catholic Church, he would write on a piece of paper his intention and keep it under the statue of Sleeping St. Joseph. He is so confident that St. Joseph would solve his problems. As the intentions increase and the amount of the piece of paper increases the statue will rise and as he removes the paper when a problem is being solved, the statue will come down. We can also practice this good method whenever we encounter a problem in our life.

Pope Francis wrote an exhortation two years ago while introducing the year of St. Joseph with the title “Patris Corde” meaning WITH A FATHER’S HEART. Pope wants us to understand that Joseph loved Jesus with a Father’s heart. Actually, the year 2020 was a special year to know more and to spread the devotion to St. Joseph in the Church

In this Apostolic letter “Patris Corde” Pope Francis says: A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world, but by taking up the responsibility to care for that child. The Pope says: “Whenever a man accepts responsibility for the life of another, in some way he becomes a father to that person”. This is the way the priests too become fathers when they take responsibility for others, it can be in our parishes, schools, missions, and communities, priests and religious become fathers like St. Joseph.

In Patris Corde Pope Francis presents seven characteristics of St. Joseph and I would like to share them with you here briefly. Priests are called Fathers without being fathers in the biological sense but being in the same manner as St. Joseph with spiritual fatherhood. The first title that the Pope gives to Joseph is Beloved Father.

1. A beloved father

Joseph employed his legal authority over the Holy Family to devote himself completely to them in his life and work. He turned his human vocation to domestic love into a superhuman oblation of himself with his heart and all his abilities. He placed all his life at the service of the Messiah who was growing to maturity in his home”. He loved Jesus as a beloved father.

2. A tender and loving father

Tenderness is normally connected to women but the Pope wanted to give this characteristic to St. Joseph. Joseph saw Jesus grow daily “in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favour” (Lk 2:52). he taught Jesus to walk, taking him by the hand; he was for him like a father who raises an infant to his cheeks, bending down to him and feeding him (cf. With 11:3-4). “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52).

3. An obedient father

There are four important dreams in the life of St. Joseph. When Joseph was deeply troubled by Mary’s mysterious pregnancy, he did not want to “expose her to public disgrace” so he decided to “dismiss her quietly” (Mt 1:19). In the first dream, an angel helps him resolve his grave dilemma: “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (Mt 1:20-21). Joseph’s response was immediate: “When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Mt 1:24). Obedience made it possible for him to surmount his difficulties and spare Mary.

In the second dream, the angel tells Joseph: “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; Joseph did not hesitate to obey, regardless of the hardship involved: “He got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod” (Mt 2:14-15).

What would be our case, if we are asked to go to a new place if we do not get time, we will complain to our superiors: Ehi you did not give me enough time. Imagine Joseph here, he had no time to sell his property, take his tools, no farewell party, he wouldn’t know what he is going to encounter in Egypt. How is he going to feed his family, will he get a job, and can he find a house? All uncertainties!

In Egypt, Joseph awaited with patient trust the angel’s notice that he could safely return home. In a third dream, the angel told him that those who sought to kill the child were dead and ordered him to rise, take the child and his mother, and return to the land of Israel (cf. Mt 2:19-20). Once again, Joseph promptly obeyed. “He got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel” (Mt 2:21).

Fourth Dream: During the return journey, “when Joseph heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. After being warned in a dream he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth” (Mt 2:22-23).

In every situation, Joseph declared his own “fiat”, like those of Mary at the Annunciation and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. In his role as the head of a family, Joseph taught Jesus to be obedient to his parents (cf. Lk 2:51), in accordance with God’s command (cf. Ex 20:12). During the hidden years in Nazareth, Jesus learned at the school of Joseph to do the will of the Father.

4. An accepting father

Joseph accepted Mary unconditionally. He trusted in the angel’s words. The spiritual path that Joseph traces for us is not one that explains but accepts. Only the Lord can give us the strength needed to accept life as it is, with all its contradictions, frustrations and disappointments. Just as God told Joseph: “Son of David, do not be afraid!” (Mt 1:20), so he seems to tell us: “Do not be afraid!” The Apostle Paul can say: “We know that all things work together for good, for those who love God” (Rom 8:28).

Do you remember what Jesus says when he sends his disciples in pairs for a mission? In Luke 10, 8 we read: “whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is put before you”. Some biblical scholars give a beautiful interpretation to this exhortation. It does not connect just to food, but all that is connected to a new place. Whether we are priests, consecrated people or lay faithful, “Eat what is put before you” means accept the people who are around you, accept their culture, their language, the apostolate, circumstances, climate, food, everything… Joseph accepted everything he encountered as God’s will whether he was in Judea, Galilee, Bethlehem, Egypt, Nazareth or Jerusalem.

I thank my superiors who sent me on a mission from one continent to other, and I thank God finally I am here in this Archdiocese of Guwahati enjoying fraternity.

5. A creatively courageous father

If at times God seems not to help us, surely this does not mean that we have been abandoned, but instead we are being trusted to plan, to be creative, and to find solutions ourselves.

The angel says to Joseph: you go to Egypt and that’s all. But he takes his initiative, he is being creative and he does his role faithfully and diligently. We too need to have this spirit of creativity. Our Superior may keep transferring us from one place to the other and it is up to us to take initiative when are in a new place.

The Gospel does not tell us how long Mary, Joseph and the child remained in Egypt. Yet they certainly needed to eat, to find a home and employment. It does not take much imagination to fill in those details. The Holy Family had to face concrete problems like every other family and like so many of our migrant brothers and sisters

6. A working father

An aspect of Saint Joseph that has been emphasised from the time of the first social Encyclical, Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII is his relation to work. We already mentioned that Joseph was proclaimed as the patron of workers. He is working as a carpenter who earned an honest living to provide for his family. St. Joseph was a poor man but not a beggar. From him, Jesus learned the value, the dignity and the joy of what it means to eat bread that is the fruit of one’s own labour.

Work is a means of participating in the work of salvation; it is an opportunity to develop our talents and abilities, and to put them at the service of society and fraternal communion.

7. A father in the shadows

The Polish writer Jan Dobraczyński, in his book The Shadow of the Father, tells the story of Saint Joseph’s life in the form of a novel. We can get it on Amazon. It is really a very beautiful novel. He uses the evocative image of a shadow to define Joseph. In his relationship with Jesus, Joseph was the earthly shadow of the heavenly Father.

Joseph is traditionally called a “most chaste” father. That title is not simply a sign of affection, but the summary of an attitude that is the opposite of possessiveness. Chastity is freedom from possessiveness in every sphere of one’s life. Only when love is chaste, is it true love. A possessive love ultimately becomes dangerous: it imprisons people, restricts people and makes life miserable.

In every exercise of our fatherhood, we should always keep in mind that it has nothing to do with possession, but is rather a “sign” pointing to a greater fatherhood. In a way, we are all like Joseph: a shadow of the heavenly Father.

I would like to conclude this reflection with an invocation taking it up in the prayer “over the offering” of the Mass in the Missal on March 19 before the liturgical reform: “O God, who gave us the royal priesthood, grant us, we pray, that, as Blessed Joseph deserved to treat reverently with his hands, make us priests serve your sacred altars with the purity of heart and innocence of action, to receive today with dignity the Sacred Body and Blood of your Son. Amen.

Fr. Sunil Kallarakal, osj holds Doctorate in Spiritual Theology at the University of “Tersianum” in Rome  in June 1997 with the thesis: “The psychological aspects of the formation of candidates for the priesthood in the documents of the Church” and a Master’s Degree in English Literature from Indira Gandhi Open University, India. Currently, he is the financial administrator of St. Joseph school, Baihata, Assam.

Sr. Irene Zosiami MSMHC –

Guwahati: The year-long centennial celebration of the arrival of Venerable Stephen Ferrando, the iconic apostle to Northeast India and one of its longest-serving prelate officially began with a solemn inaugural function on Thursday at the Generalate of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (MSMHC), Guwahati. The occasion also marked the centenary of his priestly ordination as a Salesian priest in the year 1923.

The hoisting of the centenary flag by Archbishop Emeritus of Guwahati, Thomas Menamparampil, initiated the centenary year was followed by a fitting floral tribute to Bishop Ferrando in front of his impressive portrait. The centenary lamp lighted by Sr. Philomena Mathew, the Superior General of the MSMHC will keep on burning throughout the centenary year. 

Archbishop Thomas who, as a young priest had a first-hand experience of Bishop Ferrando spoke of him with high esteem as “a great communicator” and applauded his incredible influence on the collective missionary spirit of the region. He said, “Amazingly, he played a bigger role in the collective missionary charism of the Northeast as most of the young priests at earlier times were trained by him.”

Sr. Philomena Mathew, the Superior General reaffirmed the significance of his arrival and said, “Had he not come who knows, where and what would have been the story of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians”. She continued, “Throughout the year we hope to keep alive his memory more intensely and more meaningfully by undertaking various grassroots charitable activities for the uplift of the poor, and the marginalized; empowerment of women and girls.”

Fr. Januarius Sangma, the Salesian Provincial of Guwahati Province admired Bishop Ferrando’s missionary dynamism who, as a “valiant son of Don Bosco reached out the length and breadth of Northeast rural areas and interacted with simple people.” He also wished and prayed, “Let him not remain as our priceless possession to Northeast alone, Salesian families and the MSMHC, but be declared a saint to become the role model to the whole world and imitated for his virtues.”

The MSMHC across the globe observed this day with great fervour in their respective provinces and mission stations by hoisting the centenary flag and organising prayers and Holy Mass.

The significant line of Salesian Rector Major, Fr. Philip Rinaldi’s letter, “You are to go to the Indian missions – Assam”, clearly destined the path of the newly ordained Fr. Ferrando. He as a young priest then had to spearhead the third batch of Salesian missionaries to Northeast India. With a group of young novices under his guard, he landed the exotic mission land of Assam from Italy on 22 December 1923, which was his maiden and ultimate mission. Since then, he breathed the air of the Northeast, enjoyed the enchanting beauty of the hills and valleys, smelled the fragrance of its flora and fauna and walked through the streets of its cities and villages with the vision and mission of serving the poorest and the marginalized. 

With his indomitable spirit, unflinching commitment, and love for the diverse – ethnic people, Bishop Ferrando walked the road less travelled, as a pioneer missioner to this pristine land of the Northeast and brought tremendous changes and growth in the society and the church. For an elongated 34 years as a prelate, he headed the vast and frontier mission of Northeast India which in those days was plagued by utter poverty, illiteracy, dearth of personnel and World War – II with its remnants of miseries. With his visionary astuteness and generous outreach to people even to the remotest corner of the village, he left an indelible imprint into the fabric of the society through the vast array of pastoral, developmental and charitable activities. 

The founding of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (MSMHC), the first indigenous congregation in Northeast India was undoubtedly Bishop Ferrando’s ingenious and visionary response to the emerging needs and miseries of the people doubled by World War – II. He proved to be a wartime leader who led from the front and walked amidst his people in the darkest time. 

Today, the MSMHC spreads across 12 countries other than India and continues its charitable services to the people of varied cultures with a focus on women and children, the less privileged and the marginalized through various social, pastoral, educational and developmental activities.  

As an iconic apostle and champion for the cause of the poor, Northeast had found a true leader in Bishop Ferrando who by treading his path paved the way to the glorious morn of the church and the society in Northeast today.

A hundred year has gone by since Bishop Ferrando set his foot on the soil of the Northeast; and as the generation of his time is fading away into oblivion, the light of this iconic figure shines ever brighter with the continued works of his legacy. 

Now that the centenary flag is unfurled. The sight of it waving high in the vast canopy of the blue sky will be a perfect reminder of this great man who laid down his life for the people of Northeast India.  

Sr. Mary Thadavanal MSMHC –

“Christmas” seems to be the word almost on everyone’s lips whatever the reasons – commercial, holidaying, picnicking, purchases, celebrations, get-togethers and maybe a host of others. Colours, joy, fun, laughter, eagerness – all reverberate in the air. It may have nothing to do with ‘Jesus Christ’, who is the reason for Christmas.

If only we could take a moment from frenzied activities and movements to quiet ourselves, to cast a lingering look at the figure lying in the manger – Jesus Christ – we would realize that before our very eyes lie the panacea for all problems afflicting humans which began with the fall of Adam and Eve who enjoyed a sinless existence living in the company of God until they believed the lie of Satan.  How efficiently Satan did manage to make them believe his lie over and against what God had told them! Paradise was lost to them even before they realized it, and life was changed. What followed was the absence of God’s ‘presence’, struggle and misery, tears and pain, confusion and arrogance not only in the life of Adam and Eve but in all generations that followed. We humans can only sin but cannot redeem ourselves nor build up the gap between us and God created by us. The kind and compassionate God sent his Son, to redeem us, to atone for our sins unable to see eternal death opening its ugly mouth to swallow his children alive. Jesus, the beloved Son of the Father was sent to restore our original beauty and dignity by giving up his life on the cross in exchange for our (humanity’s) sin-filled life, to get us washed clean in His precious Blood, to re-instate love in our hearts, thus to make us fit for eternal life with him.

The Crib we are looking at reminds us of that act of unspeakable love human minds can never grasp. Born in human form in the lowliest of places Jesus came to tell us that we who are created in the image and likeness of God are made for God; we don’t belong to this world but are created for another world of unfading glory to live forever with him, enjoying the beatific vision of our eternal God. Two thousand and more years have passed since that event of God becoming man to make a man like God.

The man continues to be drawn away from the source of life. The never resting Satan continues his machinations. Raging in his anger and jealousy Satan has managed to blind the world to the truth of what God has done for humanity and is still doing and numbed its senses successfully making it believe the lie that this world is all that is there. Having taken possession of human minds Satan has fed them with everything that destroys life and drags immortal souls to eternal damnation, robbing it of the sense of God. Oppressed by the pain of lovelessness and emotional wounds, and captivated by the promise of instantaneous pleasures and enjoyment vast number of youth and adults are taken captive by evil forces unaware of what awaits them. By the pressure of the enchanting world of pleasures, they are brought into, they continue to wean themselves from their families, leaving parents and elders with no say over them. Victimized by abuses, pornography, suicidal tendencies and dangerous ideologies of all types they find themselves in a chaotic land of misery, confusion, division, conflicts, lovelessness, greed and selfishness and a host of other vices losing at the end of life itself to eternal death. Families are breaking up and losing their impact on the members. Parental care, respect and affection, generosity and warmth, freedom and openness, serenity and simplicity, and Godliness and holiness are no longer the hallmark of Christian families. While social media has many benefits, overexposure to dangerous zones has destroyed lives and consequently families.

If we are to look at the families we have known, visited and are in touch with, how many of them are homes where love sparkles on faces, and warmth fills the home atmosphere? Aren’t there many houses with individuals, but no homes where the family lives in loving relationships?

Somewhere in the back of our minds can we hear the sad tone of God, saying “How often have I longed to gather your children as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings and you were not willing” (Mt 23:37).

Jesus is the only one who can rescue all families (Acts 16:31) from the perilous dungeon in which they find themselves. He is the Saviour. He is the one who offered himself in sacrifice to atone for the sins of every person on earth paying our debt with his life (Heb 9:14-27) and securing eternal life with his resurrection (Mt 28:5-6). No one else can ever do this for anyone in the world. Jesus bought us by paying the price of his Blood; we are his and we belong to him alone.  Individuals and families must know this truth and be helped to regain what they lost: the warmth of the family relationship, peace, joy and hope. They need to listen to the Good News that their God is waiting for them with open hands to embrace them into his love, wiping away their tears and pain. God wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4).  Families need to be accompanied all along and helped to meet Jesus in his Word and the Sacraments, to establish an unbreakable connection between them, to create a thirst in them to read his Word every day.

If this is done, once again parents and children will sit together, to listen to God’s life-giving Word (Ps 119:25) and experience the joy of the Lord no one else can give or take away from their hearts and their midst (Jn 15:11, 16:22; Ps 16:11). Their only joy will be to know God and to love him with their whole being (Ps 1; 1 Cor 2:2) and to speak about him.  Their laughter will resound in the air. Together they can look at the manger and see the radiant faces of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, clad in simplicity and humility, poverty and obedience. They can witness the richness of the silence and serenity there and the heavenly light from the star lighting up the sacred space. Enveloped in the presence of God and the reassurance of Salvation he came to give life will begin to sprout in every member and they will stay close to the family in the manger drawing love and inspiration from them. There they will have the grace of handing over their lives to Saviour and experience the awe-inspiring presence of God’s Spirit taking over their lives and their families. The sap of life will begin to flow into them. ‘Their words will be filled with kindness, charity and love. With such words spoken under the influence of the Spirit tears can be dried, hearts can be healed, lives can be elevated, hope can return, confidence can prevail’ (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Tongue of Angels,” Ensign, May 2007).

But who will do this for them, who will show the way, if those sent by Jesus are cold, with no warmth of God’s Spirit in them? If they are lost in their own differences and opinions? If Christmas makes no sense to them except that it is an annual ritual? If they are not able to see the sacred space turned shabby? If their values and priorities are limited to this world? if their own families are crumbled down with arguments and egotism? Without feeling the urgency of the Gospel and the passion to proclaim it?

Life is full of noise. There is no more silence between men and women from all walks of life. It’s all deadening noise inside. In such noise, individuals and families fall apart. How many can sit quietly for a while? Externally one may but what about the bustle of the inner noise?  Jesus says, ‘Be still and know that I am God’” (Ps 46:10). Without the ability to be still, being cut off from all else, how can we know God, feel his presence, hear his words!!

And yet his Words give direction to life.

Recently a friend said to me, ‘live ‘King’s silence’ and he will take you to a different level of existence. What wisdom is packed into these words!

Yes, the King of Kings stood silent before his tormentors. Nothing he said could enter their fixed minds. His truth, his presence, his awesome serenity before accusers, abuses and mockery, scourging and slaps, at the piercing of sharp thorns which dug deep into his head, speak volumes.

Today’s need is to imbibe this quality of silence, to sit in his presence, to absorb his priorities, to be invaded by his Spirit, to be transformed by his love, to be able to meet families and individuals in their houses, workplaces, institutions, offices, on the streets and markets, to listen to them until they have poured out all that is suffocating them. Problems could then be sorted out, marriages strengthened, spiritual energy revived and families built up. Seekers of the living God will increase, Carlo Acuti’s and Maria Goretti’s will multiply and the Kingdom will be established on the strong foundation of unshakable Faith.

Guwahati: Under the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Convention 189, a domestic worker is “any person engaged in domestic work within an employment relationship”. Domestic workers perform their work within their employers’ households, such as cooking, cleaning, childcare, elder care, gardening and other household work.

An awareness and animation programme on domestic workers was held at CDI, on July 30. It was organised by the Guwahati unit of CRI. Fr.John Parankimalil SDB, the president of CRI Guwahati unit, Sr. Catherine Kannampuzha FMA, Fr. Saji SSps, Fr. K.J. Jose, SVD and several persons participated in the event.

Fr. John, in his welcome address, stated that the plight of domestic workers and the need to ensure their welfare.

Sr. Molly MSMHC, in her address, said that “It is a fact that domestic workers make up the greatest percentage of labor trafficking cases. Domestic workers are explicitly excluded from labor protection mechanisms and females make up a large majority of this population.”

Sr. Rose Paite MSMHC, the director of CDI, with her team enlightened the participants on various challenges faced by domestic workers. “Migration from rural areas to big cities typically occurs due to debt, poverty, death in the family, lack of rural employment opportunities and the glamour of city life. In domestic work, organised trafficking is taking place as villagers living in the cities are returning to their native places to bring more women, girls and children into this labour sector,” she added.

Fr. Tom Mangattuthazhe from NESCOM spoke of the influence, and use of media platforms for human trafficking.

Sr Lydia FMA summed up the deliberations, following are the recommendations:
Ratify ILO convention 189 to recognise the rights and dignity of domestic workers.
Register domestic workers as workers with protection under national labour laws
Include domestic workers in the schedule of employment with defined minimum wages.
Constitute functional welfare boards for domestic workers to implement minimum wages
Include domestic workers in social security schemes like pensions, maternity benefits and medical claims.
Offer skills training programmes and qualifications to domestic workers.
Make grievance and dispute redressal accessible to domestic workers
Stop child labour through provisions that ensure access to education for all children

Across North-East India, several programmes were organised to alert people that trafficking in persons is a crime, exploitation of women and children for tragic jobs of forced labour and sex.

In the year 2010, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Global Plan of Action to deal with trafficking in persons, urging governments all around the world to take coordinated and consistent efforts to defeat this scourge.

The theme for the year 2022 was “Use and abuse of technology”. It focuses on the role of technology that acts as a tool to enable and impede human trafficking.

The Centre for Development Initiatives (CDI) and Conference of Religious India (CRI) Guwahati unit highlighted the growth of the phenomenon worldwide, a heinous crime, modern-day slavery in which women and children are the main victims.

“Persons are sold as goods, many families are prepared to pay exorbitant sums to guarantee a better future for their children, however unsafe migration can land them in the hands of unscrupulous traffickers, says Sr. Rose Paite MSMHC who has done phenomenal work in the field of anti-human trafficking in North East India.

“Abject poverty and natural calamities like floods amplify the trafficking instances, however, the adverse impact it creates for the individuals is misery. Research papers and serious study of migration, safe migration, and prevention of human trafficking in North East India are important activities to curb the menace of human trafficking,” says Fr.Jose K.J.SVD the director of Sanskriti.

“Use of technology and the role of media, involvement of journalists and media houses and social media platforms are mediums available to check human trafficking in North East India,” says Fr. Tom Mangattuthazhe, the director of NESCOM.

The event called for various sections of society to prevent, rescue and rehabilitate the victims of human trafficking, certainly a long road ahead. The necessity of reinforcing cooperation with the local organizations engaged in combating trafficking and humanitarian agencies at various levels and coordination among them will offer poignant testimonies in future.

Fr. K.J. Jose introduced the dignitaries of the day and welcomed the participants.

Fr. Sebastian Ouseparampil, in his welcome address, urged the need for a healthy involvement of media in order to control human trafficking. “The efforts of a single person or NGO or government departments are not enough to tackle this problem therefore we all need to address this issue at different levels,” he said.

Fr. Tom Mangattuthazhe presented a concept note on the symposium in which he said the situation of North-East India with regards to human trafficking was very grim.

Dr. R. P. Athparia, an eminent scholar and senior anthropologist, moderated the symposium.

Dr. Anupa Lahkar Goswami presented a media model for reporting on human trafficking. She presented the figures and causes of human trafficking. She also emphasised the need for media awareness to face the challenges of human trafficking.

Mr. Thomas Alex, a freelance journalist, presented the different legal acts on human trafficking. He also mentioned different purposes for which human trafficking was done. He stressed that sensitization by the media was needed in this field.

Sr. Janet Tellis, an anthropologist, spoke about the economic influence of human trafficking. According to her, attractive and digitalised ways of awareness has to be highlighted widely.

Dr. Priyanka Patowari, in her presentation, dealt with the role of social workers in eradicating human trafficking. “Knowing the vulnerability of the children, much care has to be given to them,” she said.

A fruitful interaction was seen throughout the symposium. Dr. Ranga Ranjan Das gave the concluding remarks summarising the talks of the symposium and presented necessary legal information in fighting against human trafficking.

Fr. (Dr) Cyril Victor Joseph from Conference of Catholic Bishops in India (CCBI) Apostolate, Bangalore and Fr. (Dr) Babu Joseph, Satprkasahan Sanchar Kendra, Indore animated the sessions.

Fr. Cyril presented on ‘CCBI Media Apostolate’. He spoke about its foundation, aims, and objectives. He focused on the future plan of the apostolate and encouraged the participants to give their best for the success of this apostolate. He stressed making the whole nation as one family through media, sharing views and News from each region. He also spoke about an initiative taken by CCBI in the process of creating an application called Catholink App, which would be a useful platform for all catholic members across the country.

Fr. Babu spoke about the contemporary challenges of media. He focussed on building social capital and social networking. Building a social security network and having media consultancy in North-East India is the need of the hour. He also spoke about crisis management in the field of legal as well as media platforms.

Most. Rev. John Moolachira, the Archbishop of Guwahati had an interactive session with the participants. “Media is a gift of God, hence promote the good use of media for pastoral ministry,” he said. He also urged giving more focus to the print media.

The session on ‘Strategies to an active and effective media apostolate’ by Fr. Cyril focused on the need of having networking for the Church communicators and the importance of building good leadership. He encouraged the need of sharing resources through media platforms in order to improve content.

Guwahati: A thanksgiving Eucharistic and a felicitation programme was organized on 23rd July at Holy Cross Sisters of Chavanod, provincial house Guwahati.

Sr. Elsy Francis, Sr. Madona Victor, Sr. Sheela Rani Visuvasam Pillai and Sr. Smitha Thomas celebrated their 50 and 25 years of their religious profession.

In his apostolic letter Vita Consecrata, St. John Paul II accounts, “In every age, there have been men and women who, obedient to the Father’s call and the prompting of the spirit, have chosen the special way of following Christ, and devote themselves to him with an undivided heart, leaving everything behind to be with Him and to put themselves in the service of God and humanity”.

The entrance procession was an enactment of the words of St. John Paul II. The entrance procession performed by the pre-novices symbolized a journey from the world outside to the sanctuary of God and they were followed by Golden Jubilarian Sr. Elsy, her relatives and the Silver Jubilarians accompanied by the provincial team followed by the Sisters, the Candidates, the Priests and the main Celebrant.

Sr. Elsy Francis known for her pastoral zeal and catechetical works was born on 5th January 1950 to devout and God-fearing parents Mr. K.T. Francis and Mrs Philomina Francis. She hails from Kallekad, Kerala, Archdiocese of Trichur. She is the third child among eight siblings. This event became very special with the presence of eight of her family members; two of her brothers, Mr. Kurian Mr. Joy from Tharayil Family, her Sisters in law, her niece Amala, her nephew Febin and her cousin Sr. Elsy John SCC from Kolkata Province.

Sr. Sheela Rani Visuvasam Pillai known for her inner joy and dynamism was born on 4th April 1975 of Mr. Visuvasam Pillai and Mrs. Susooiammal. She hails from Iravathanallur, Madurai Tamilnadu.

Sr. Smitha Thomas was born on 17th May 1978 to Mr. Thomas Varghese and Mrs. Lizy Thomas. She hails from Mundakayam, Kottayam district Kerala. She is known for her adaptability to any culture and language of Northeast India. She is fluent in the Assamese language.

Sr. Madona Victor was born on 14th October 1975 of Mr. A. Victor and Mrs. Fathima Mary. She hails from Megalathur in Kumbakonam Diocese, Tamil Nādu. Sr. Madona is known for her prayer life and gentle approach to people. She serves as the Junior mistress of the Province and has fortified the vocation of many young sisters under her care.

Most Rev. John Moolachira Archbishop of Guwahati, the main celebrant in his homily congratulated the jubilarians and the Holy Cross congregation for their life and ministry in the Church. He said, “Jubilee is a Joyful celebration because of the Joy of living, the joy of being faithful, the joy of serving the Lord and his people for fifty and twenty-five years. It is also a time of thanksgiving just like the Israelites (Leviticus 25) We thank God’s bountiful mercy, God was experienced as a Father, Mother brother and companion”.

Archbishop John continued, “One of the favourite hymns of thanksgiving is of Blessed Virgin Mary, popularly known as the Magnificat which means to sing the praises of God. Mary acknowledges all that God has done in her life; she feels favoured, blessed and honoured. Another example is Hannah who prayed fervently to God for a child. God answered Hannah’s prayer by granting a son named Samuel, whom she dedicated to God. In the Song of Hannah, she glorified God for upholding her and wiping tears from her eyes with the birth of her son Samuel (1 Sam 1:1-28). The same message of thanksgiving is also echoed in St Paul’s letter to Colossians, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful”. (Colossians 3:15)

Congratulating Jubilarians, Sr. Annie Varghese, the provincial said, “Dear Sisters you have lived in obedience to the rule of life of our congregation, true to its charisma and mission, true to the spirit of our founders Mother Claudine and Fr. Peter Marie Mermier, and true to your beloved Bridegroom, Christ Jesus.”

The book of Leviticus depicts the spirit of jubilee as an occasion of grateful remembrance of the past events, of rejoicing for the graces received of recognition of God’s faithfulness. The journey of 50 and 25 years is not simply a journey through a string of days and years, rather journeys surrounded and intertwined by the intimacy and relationship with God and His people. The life journeys of these Sisters have been fulfilling and demanding, risky and exciting. They have been filled with losses and gains, replete with joys and sorrows and in all these God who calls people to consecrated life is glorified.

Guwahati: A meeting of the diocesan secretaries of ecumenism from various catholic dioceses of North East India was held on 22nd July 2022 at Guwahati.

The meeting is held annually to plan ecumenical activities of the North East regional Bishops’ council and the 15 Catholic dioceses.

Fr. K. J Jose SVD, the North East India Bishops Regional Council (NEIRBC) regional secretary for dialogue welcomed the participants. In his welcome address he stressed the need for greater efforts for dialogue and ecumenism, ‘Christians must reassert their common identity as Christians and find ways of working together in the light of the message of Jesus.

Most Rev. Thomas Pulloppillil the NEIRBC chairman for the commission of dialogue and ecumenism in his keynote address dealt with the structures in North East India for promoting ecumenism. Common witness in North East India is felt through the association like (UCFNEI) which represents a genuine form of visible unity, grounded in a common baptism and devoutness to triune God. An essential characteristic of ecumenism is to support efforts to move toward common witness through dialogues and common action that promote mutual understanding and cooperation. Bishop Thomas concluded, ‘In the field of social concerns, our Churches are involved in cooperative efforts. Here too we must admit that more can be done.

An important deliberation during the meeting was the study of the document “The Bishops and Christian Unity: An Ecumenical Vademecum”. It was opined that the gestures of Pope Francis to increase the effort of dialogue and friendship need to be amplified in the region.

Prominent speakers of the meeting were Fr. G. P. Amalraj, the deputy secretary of NEIRBC, Fr.Joy Pallikunnel, Fr.Lyndoh T.Sangma, Fr.Amos Narzary and Fr.Boniface Dhanwar.

Sr. Mary Thadavanal msmhc 

“For we are God’s Handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10).  What volumes of God’s goodness this profound truth speaks! 

It is about every one of us and the good works we are engaged in. What dignified species we are, fashioned by God himself, in Christ Jesus to do ‘good works’ fashioned by him as well! 

Even before we were born, God had already planned our works, our collaborators, work circumstances, the frame of mind that would best suit the accomplishment of the works designed for us, dreamt of the union of our hearts with his and our lives impacting other lives drawing them to oneness with HIM in time and enjoying all eternity what ‘no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind ever grasps’; yes, all details are in his master plan. For the realization of his dream, he has endowed us with the right measure of intelligence, the strength of mind and will, of body and soul, and the freedom to reflect and choose. At this moment what we are engaged in has been planned by God even before we were born. Perhaps what some of us are doing may not be what he has intended! If that is true, how unfortunate it is!

God’s work and Human responsibility

The way to achieve the goal envisioned by God is by following Jesus the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14:6). He is the only way that will reach our goal of life, the only truth about ourselves, and the only life that doesn’t die. It is enough to take some time off to watch Jesus, for he said to ‘watch’, to know his person, his lifestyle, his priorities, his values, and stay close to him to understand how he interiorized his Father’s vision for him and the humanity and fulfilled it to perfection. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for whatever you please and you will get it (Jn 15:5,7). How to remain in him? “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in that person” (Jn 6: 56); “If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (Jn 6:53), “for my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink” (Jn 6: 55). As the living Father sent me and I draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will also draw life from me” Jn 53, 55-57. 

When we eat the flesh of Jesus Christ and drink his blood with irresistible longing we get absorbed into him losing our nature and putting on his nature; thus being in Jesus we draw life from him as he draws life from the Father. An image that comes to me is the baby in the womb drawing life from the mother; the mother breathing for the baby. Henceforth it is his spirit that urges us on, his values that motivate us, and his yearnings that vibrate our hearts. His living Word lights up our paths and strengthens our wills. Fortified thus, we spring into action doing the “good works God has prepared in advance” for us to do, facing all odds with serenity, turning all challenges into opportunities, lifting all drooping spirits in humans injecting new hope, befriending the alone and lonely. 

Lessons from human history

It may sound to the reader unrealistic a fable but it is the truth for the one who believes. How many have believed and passed through the eye of the world whom visionaries have seen centuries before.  “I saw a huge number, impossible for anyone to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe, and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands… these are people who have been through the great trial; they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb… they will never hunger or thirst again; sun and scorching wind will never plague them because the Lamb who is at the heart of the throne will be their shepherd and will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Rev 7:9,14,16). 

Those who have believed have passed before our eyes as well… Popes in succession: John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Francis; then Mother Teresa and others from different parts of the country, among who are unsung heroes who have lived away from the limelight, radiating a different kind of light for those who had eyes to see.  

Untouched by this reality or being driven by other cravings how many toil hard for hours, sweating out anxious moments, to get to the best job, to capture the right chair, to arrive at the forefront of exaltation which would ensure a comfortable life and pinnacle of worldly success from where they watch proudly their names engraved on water which looks like marble slabs. “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord “Jer 17:7 and follows his paths. “Blessed are the poor in spirit” who consults God every moment for everything. “Blessed are the merciful”, who shall be given mercy by the living God, deleting all their offenses and making their souls radiant with his glory. “Blessed are the pure in heart”, who will see God in the simplicity of their lives and experience inexplicable joy in his presence. “Blessed are those who are persecuted and spoken all kinds of calumny against”, their reward will be the God of glory and majesty for all eternity.

Lessons from the Bible

God’s Word is alive and active. It is sharper than a double-edged sword, and penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Heb 4:12). We hear Jesus saying, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14:6). This Word of life makes me think of Anil Kant, a one-time film actor who is now actively involved in evangelical ministry. An encounter with Jesus through his Word changed his life completely. It is interesting to read this extract I have cited from the internet, “Anil’s prayer had always been asatoma sadgamaya, tamaso maa jyothir gamaya, mrithyur maa amrutham gamaya (take me from untruth to truth, from darkness to light and from death to eternity). As he was praying and flipping the pages of the Bible, a verse came in front of him from John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. That very moment it was as if all the questions were answered instantly. Anil kept aside all the doubts and fears which were in his mind and invited Jesus into his heart. A powerful presence of God descended upon him and Anil experienced a heavy burden removed and the truth set him free”. Numerous people across the globe have been touched and transformed by God’s Word. 

I would like to quote here the most beautiful discovery of Fr. Daniel Poovannathil of Thiruvananthapuram archdiocese has made about the Bible. He says, ‘Bible means, ‘the BOOK’, the most important book. The uniqueness of the Bible is that it is a collection of 73 books written by 47 writers taking 1500 years. Ordinarily, people take a few months or a year or more to write a book. Not so in the case of the Bible. Among the writers of the Bible, there were people from different walks of life such as kings, soldiers, farmers, philosophers, fishermen, tax collectors, musicians, poets, politicians, doctors, prophets, shepherds, and sages. Originally it was written in 3 languages, viz., Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, sitting in 3 different continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe preserving amazing internal consistency and unity which no book in the world can claim to possess. No single book of the bible contradicts what another book of the Bible communicates. The question asked in Genesis gets its response in Revelation; the paradise lost in Genesis is regained in Revelation; if the way to the tree of life is closed in Genesis, the fruit of the tree of life is plucked and given in Revelation. The unanswered questions of the First Book are answered in the last book because this extraordinary book was written by the Holy Spirit, not man. They have only written down what the Holy Spirit inspired them to write. That is why Jesus Christ called this book the ‘Holy Scripture’ which he says is eternal life. Some books were written in the desert while others were in the prison, in the palace, during the journey, and in exile. Moses would have been in some part of the desert when he wrote the books referred to him. Some of Paul’s writings were done while he was in the prison. Daniel wrote from the palace and John from the Island of Patmos. Written from multiple contexts there is literature, poetry, romance, exhortations, songs, letters, memoirs, satires, autobiography, biography, prophecy, and parables. The first book ever printed is the Bible. The best seller of all time, the Bible is the only book translated into more than 2200 languages. 

Another interesting factor about the Bible is that Voltaire, an atheist, who was one of the forces behind the French revolution, prophesied that within 100 years the Bible will cease to exist and its memory will be erased from human minds. After 50 years of making this prophecy, Voltaire died but the Bible didn’t. Ironically, in course of time the Geneva Bible Society bought up Voltaire’s house and his printing press and they are now the warehouse of the society for storing copies of the Bible for distribution around the world. 

Again, if you give a copy of the Bible to a person and ask him/her to read from Genesis to Revelation, if he/she has done a serious reading, he/she will land up not in a few concepts but a person, the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible is Christocentric. The reading of the 73 books of the Bible is a journey toward Jesus Christ and discovering that prophecies were made about him even 1500 years before his birth. The single chord running through every book of the Bible is Salvation; the salvation of man from the slavery of sin to eternal life obtained by the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. The Old Testament is a narration of the promise made of the Saviour who would redeem humanity from sin, the chosen people waiting expectantly for the coming of the Saviour, and how the Lord prepared his people for his coming. The New Testament speaks about how God made salvation possible by giving to humanity a Saviour, and of his life, teachings, and the way he won salvation for the world. Bible is realistic. It records not only the heroic deeds of individuals who were chosen by the Lord to lead his people but also their failures and drawbacks as well. The God of the Bible is holy and a righteous God who does not tolerate sin, no matter who commits it. His chosen people whom he loved as the apple of his eye were repeatedly made the subject of attacks by their enemies and sent into exile because of their sins. Bible also points out the incapability of man to combat sin and the need for a Saviour who would liberate them from the enticement and clutches of sin.  

In the Bible, you meet the Saviour of your life, who can take away your sins completely and ‘do for you more than you can ask or imagine’ (Eph 3:20).  What a precious gift God has given to his children which opens to them the door that lands them in the arms of the Saviour, who is Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness beyond description!!

Why waste the one-time opportunity of life mesmerised by the sparkling glories of the world that last but a moment???

Sr. Mary Thadavanal MSMHC is former Mother General of MSMHC Congregation