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He Took, Blessed, Broke And Gave Consecration of Nashik Archbishop Cricket For Peace Religious Leaders Bat For Harmony
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Women’s Empowerment Sir, The recently concluded meeting of the CBCI has naturally given our sisters in and outside the Church much to be happy about. One of the key sentences in the Statement of our bishops on the Empowerment of Women is: -Work towards a commitment for the uplift of the tribal, dalit and disadvantaged women, including their education and opportunities for employment in Church institutions. Yes, education is THE most powerful way in which we can raise the status of, and give voice to our tribal, dalit and disadvantaged women. Does this mean that we give these sisters of ours the opportunity to enter the schools as we know them today – schools with a heavily loaded syllabus, crowded classes, peer-group pressure and a curricula that are largely irrelevant to the lives of these members of society. Moreover, will our schools as we have them today be able to speak to and address the problems of women on the fringes of society? What is urgently needed are new curricula, new methodologies, new approaches that will allow persons to be educated in such a way that they will meet the many challenges of life and living. This can only be done in and through the non-formal approach that can be tied into the education provided by the National Institute of Open Schooling. We are waiting for the recommendations of the All India Catholic Education Policy and the Mumbai Education Consultation to be put into effect; especially those concerning non-formal education. Here is a splendid chance to really work towards the uplift of our dispossessed. Is the Church really willing to set things in motion?
Representation of women in the Parishes Sir, In the matter of empowerment of women, it is an adopted policy that women be given equal representation in all the activities of lay participation in the Church. In practice, this is often ignored and it still remains a male dominated field. It is encouraging to note that this defect is often pointed out and some progress is being made, although, slow. An example of a particular Parish where greater representation is given to women in all the lay activities of the Church is the Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Chembur, Mumbai. Women are represented not just equally but up to 70 per cent in all the lay activities in the Parish, be it the Liturgical Committee, Church altar decorations, Parish Administration, Parish Executive Committee, Parish Pastoral Council and other Parish organisations. Experience over the years has found that women are more committed and devoted to their duties and help in the smooth and efficient functioning of the activities in the Parish. We have full faith in our women and they stand up to it. The reason is simple. If women can manage/administer families, it is all the more reason that they can manage/administer the bigger family i.e. Parish. It is advisable that our Parish experience be followed in all the Parishes in the Church everywhere. It will result in a better and efficiently functioning parish with helping the clergy in the day to day activities. It is a lack of confidence in our women that is the cause of their poor representation in the working of a Parish.
Disappearing gaothans Sir, When people who live in gaothans all over Mumbai wish to add a floor to expand their cottage to accomodate their children they meet with opposition in the form of lack of FSI, even simple repairs to their properties need long hours spent at the BMC ward office.But if and when frustrated by red tape they sellout to builders have you noticed how easily and illegally huge buildings are built, putting a huge strain on the gaothans existing civic resources vis a vis water, drainage, roads, parking etc; no wonder our gaothans are disappearing.It was with this in mind that our Mayor Mrs Shubha Raul proposed an additional limited FSI increase which would allow old cottage owners to add a floor to their cottages to accomodate their children who then would not have to move out of their ancestral home or be forced to sell out to builders.The Mayor’s initiative in thinking about the welfare of gaothans needs to be applauded and supported by all municipal councillors and citizens if we are to save this integral part of our city’s heritage which if developed with care by the citizens and the BMC can turn out to be huge tourist attractions giving visitors a glimpse into Mumbai’s past.This can happen only if we protect these gaothans from the preying eyes of unscrupulous builders and politicians.
Counselling Course Sir, The Counselling Course conducted by the Archdiocesan Board of Education raises serious questions. How can a teacher with over 60 students, a crowded syllabus, one test after another, correction work and other added duties be a good counsellor? Any good counsellor will say that counselling is a skill that requires training over a number of years and it is a full-time professional job. The CC of the ABE does not address the cause of the problem. These causes - large unmanageable classes, irrelevant and heavy syllabi, lack of ongoing teacher formation, wrong teaching methodologies, no proper monitoring, the emphasis on success and high marks – have been dealt with in the Archdiocesan Consultation on Education as well as the 2007 documents entitled The All India Catholic Education Policy. Sad to say, the suggestions have hardly seen the light of day. Surely, education is one of THE apostolate of the Catholic Church. Can something not be done to put recommendations of the Consultation and the AICEP into practice? Have not large sums of money and hours of work and useful energy gone into the framing of the recommendations? Surely accountability and transparency and sincerity to the Good News need to be put into practice.
Holy Week Retreat Sir, We happily registered for the Catholic Bible Institute’s Holy Week Retreat last year and went along, quite oblivious to what and how it was going to be conducted and what to expect. But it was a very pleasant surprise and a most ‘fab’ experience where we got to know not only more of the Bible, but also the Holy Week services were conducted with so much detailed attention to the event of the day, which made you feel you were actually there. The daily talks were inspirational, and most of all we remember the Holy Hour on Maundy Thursday and the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. We are looking forward to being able to spend the Holy Week in the same way again this year, 2008. Readers, if you get the opportunity, do go for it. You will not regret it.
Mass timings Sir, Very many people find their work or recreation taking them far away from their Parish Church on Saturday evening or Sundays. They find it difficult to know the Mass timings of the churches in their current vicinity. Even people staying in that particular locality do not know the Mass timings of the neighbouring churches. St. Peter’s Parish, Bandra, has graciously tablulated the Mass timings of the churches of the Bandra Deanery, including non-parish churches and institutions like the Clergy Home. I am sure that the Bombay Archdiocesen Directory 2008-09 will be glad to oblige its readers with the Mass timings of all the churches Deanery-wise.
Eternal Word Talks Now Sir, The above ‘acronym’ aptly parallels the famous Catholic Television Network – EWTN. Bible Catholics hail Oswald Cardinal Gracias’ Official – I, 2008: Year of the Word of God, to coincide with the Universal Church’s Synod of Bishops’ Call: “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church”. Our Editor has also similarly portrayed Mary in his watchword editorial, “Welcoming the Word”, The Examiner (Feb. 02, 2008). Catholics are somewhat shallow and superficial regarding Holy Scripture. The Bible should have a prominent place in the home. Family members should discuss the Sunday Readings. One must cultivate a daily habit of understanding passages especially from the NT- Read, Reflect, Respond! We, in our Archdiocese are fortunate as the Church conducts study programmes like Ministry of the Word, Deepen your Faith, Wellsprings, and Bible Retreats and Seminars. Besides, other Catholic literature and periodicals like Awakening Faith, Bible Aglow, Petrus, CharisIndia and St. Paul Publications are available.
Sunday Reflection - Matthew’s Passion As we meditate today on Your Sacred Passion, May Your words and silence hit us deep within, And as we return to our tasks mundane, Let not Your sacrifice be, to us in vain. May we be close to You even after the Lenten season.
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