Kudos to Fr Valentine Pawkar, the present Parish Priest of St James Church, Agashi, Vasai, Mumbai, where St Gonsalo Garcia is the patron saint. He states, “Today’s Universal Church, stands on martyr’s blood. Tomorrow’s Church will stand on today’s martyrs.” How true! We live in difficult times of suffering and confusion when Christians are being persecuted and martyred. But are we preparing ourselves for this? One has to be chosen by God, one has to be graced, and one has to pray ardently to withstand the ordeal. No easy task, but with God’s grace nothing is impossible! If Gonsalo Garcia, Rani Maria, Graham Staines and others could stand for their faith, you and I can also be chosen by God for this purpose. If we are true disciples of Jesus the Master, then we are all invited, even challenged to become saints and to lay down our lives for the Kingdom. Am I willing to give my blood for Christ? Do I have the zeal, courage and strength for it? Do I love Jesus intimately to be able to overcome every fear?We nuns and priests are especially chosen and kept free from worry (1 Cor. 7:32-35). We need to give our undivided attention to the Lord. How are we doing it today? Perhaps we need to pray unceasingly for the grace to be always connected to the Master, so that we do not waver when the going is tough, are blessed with the right experiences and encounters, make the appropriate choices and act when the time is right. Is God inviting us to turn our focus in an unexp
“We have three million blind people waiting for sight. We need to reach out to millions of people with the message of eye donation to get them sight. This is the purpose of Million Eyes International Film Festival.” said Fr George Kannanthanam, Founder and Director of Project Vision at the launch of the Film Festival to the students of CMS College, Kottayam, Kerala.Film Director Jose Thomas launched the Million Eyes International Film Festival at CMS College, Kottayam on the 6th of February. The Film Festival conceived and organised by Project Vision, Bangalore along with Darsana Cultural Academy aims at reaching the message of eye donation to one million people through this festival. “We all have a social responsibility and film is a good form to communicate such social messages.”“We can give sight to 30 lakh blind people in India through eye donation,” said Fr George Kannanthanam, the founder of Project Vision. But despite such great possibilities, only less than 30,000 persons donated their eyes in India and less than 1000 in Kerala. Sibu George, the coordinator of Project Vision said that the theme of Million Eyes Film Festival was eye donation. The three minute duration film must inspire and motivate people to donate their eyes. It is a global competition. People from anywhere in the world can participate.The prize money for the Million Eye competition was Rs.100,000 for the first prize, Rs.50,000 for the second prize and Rs.25,000 for the third p
The Syro-Malabar Church has worked hard for generations to build up a “dignified” image internationally, especially with the hard work of Mar Joseph Parecattil. The present behaviour of the leaders (clergy as well as laity) will destroy that nationally and internationally. The persuasive tactics and public relation stunts that are copied from Kerala politics does not seem to suit the centuries old culture of the Catholic Church and its noble, glorious organizational traditions. I think it is time we grew up and learned to resolve conflicts in a dignified manner. What makes this organization relevant is that it is by definition a “communion of those who aspire to be saints,” not little mischievous imps. First stop this bad-mouthing, mud-slinging and foul language. Such elements should not be allowed to rule the roost.Dr George Kaliaden Psycholgist
Our Motherland India has often been described as a bouquet in which a myriad flowers bloom; of every shade, shape and fragrance. Indeed India as a multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-ethnic country is unique in the comity of nations. Yet, in recent times, there is a concerted attempt to straight jacket all – in one colour, one ideology, one belief, one diet, one culture, one language, one unique identity and even one civil code. This is contrary to nature and our national ethos. As a consequence, there are growing social tensions, simmering discontent, hatred, animosity, fear, suspicion and intolerance. Can the Christians of India remain mute spectators to what is happening, hiding behind the fig leaf of our miniscule numbers, or waiting for somebody else to take the plunge?As Christians it is our duty to be harbingers of peace, filled with hope, under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah had prophesied that Jesus was the Prince of Peace, who would convert ploughs into ploughshares, where lions would eat straw, and a little child would put its hand into the snake’s nest. At Christmas the angels heralded Peace. If we emerge from our shells we can draw strength and inspiration from each other. Let us “Listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.” Let us say “Maranatha” – come Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Everyday is Christmas, Good Friday, Easter and Pentecost.- Chhotebhai
