Pallotti Notes
Vinpal Family of God moving towards a Society
where Love & Concern within the Family & Neighbourhood is a Way of Life
September-October 2009
M
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CONTENTS
From the Editor’s Desk
Mission Possible
Pallotti Notes
September-October 2009
Be it a Synopsis of our Faith or a
Criticism of the Paradox of our Times or
the Good Samaritan or even Climate
Change, the Editorial team believe that
there is no dearth of talented writers in
our vibrant parish community. Our
dynamism should be reflected in our
bimonthly news bulletin.
Inviting articles for the next issue latest
by October 6, 2009.
Email: pallottinotes@yahoo.com
The theme for the next issue is
“Celebrating Life”
Editorial Team
Fr. Reehan S. Antony, Editor
Ms. Jennifer Chavan, Bullettin Co-ordinator
Ms. Jolly Paul, Bullettin Co-ordinator
Ms. Maria Pallikunnath, Graphics
A Bimonthly News Bulletin of
St. Vincent Pallotti Church
Vijay Nagar, Marol Maroshi Rd,
Andheri (E), Mumbai 400 059
Tel: 29259328, 29259460
www.vinpalparish.com
Email: pallottinotes@yahoo.com
For Private Circulation Only
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Mission
Will you not set me free?
Parental Mission
Never let the fear of striking
out, keep you from
playing the game
Love in Action
And its No Sacrifice...
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9
10
The Year of Peace & Harmony
Peace and Harmony
Mumbai: A Tolerant Richness
12
13
Our Lady of Rosary
How to Pray the Rosary
15
Bible Quiz
15
The Pallottine Diary
19
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Cover Page Description
(Clockwise from top)
1. Catechist helping a student
2. Visit to the Home for the Aged by the
Infant Jesus Zone
3. A teacher teaching the Tamil students
4. Cultural Dance on Vinpal Nite 09
5. Helping Hands for the
Church:Prakash, Bipin & Sushil
6. Visit to Home for the Boys by SSVP
7. A parent with a child
Mission Possible!
Our Lord Jesus Christ before his Ascension
said to his disciples, “Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit” (Mt: 28:19). This is the mission
that Jesus gave to his disciples. When we
think of MISSION, often what comes to our
mind are some groups of people working for
the development of rural folk in some remote,
God forsaken land or for the development of
the less privileged ones in cities.
But, is that what we mean by mission? The
answer is yes and no. It is 'yes' because we
are called to spread the gospel, and the
monetary contribution on Mission Sunday
helps the church in its mission. It is 'no'
because mission is not limited only to that.
Everything and everyone on earth has a
mission. The rain that falls on the earth, the
seed that grows, the flower that radiates
beauty and fragrance, the student who
studies, the NGOs who work for peace, all
have a mission. Everything that we do or say
has a MISSION.
What is Mission? 'Anything that comes out of
love of God and directed towards the
betterment of human beings is MISSION.'
And this Mission is Possible as compared to
the Hollywood movie titled 'Mission
Impossible'. We are all assigned definite
roles by Our Father who knows our strengths
and weakness.
Promoting Peace and Harmony is also a
Mission. The Archdiocese of Mumbai has
declared this year as “The Year of Peace and
Harmony” to promote peace and harmony
beginning with our families and extending
into our community and neighbourhood. On
Vianney Sunday, August 9, the 'Year of
Priests' as declared by the Pope and the
'Year of Peace and Harmony' was
inaugurated in our Parish. The banner,
'Anointed to Heal with Peace and Harmony'
incorporating both the themes and designed
by the Catechists was unveiled.
Fr. Claudy is attending the Symposium on
Lay Apostolate in Rome organized by our
Pallottine Congregation from
Augusts23,s2009 to September 14, 2009.
Fr. Claudy will be presenting the various
activities of our parishioners at the
Conference. Wishing him a Fruitful Mission!
On September 8, we will be celebrating the
nativity of our Blessed Mother Mary. Her life
is worthy of its birth. She was born a great
saint. Mary’s soul was the most beautiful
soul that was ever created. Let us rejoice
with our beloved infant who was born so holy,
so dear to God and so full of grace. May She
bless us all, to fulfill our mission on earth.
The Month of October is dedicated to our
Lady of Rosary. St. Louis de Montfort says,
“Never will any one who prays the Rosary
everyday, be led astray. This is a statement
that I would gladly sign with my blood.” Yes, it
is very much true. Immense is the goodness,
which this devotion has done to the world.
Sinners have been converted, sicknesses
are healed and broken families are brought
together etc through recitation of the Holy
Rosary. Let us love this chain of salvation to
be blessed by God.
On October 17, we celebrate the Festival of
Lights. It is a feast that reminds us of the
victory of good over evil. Let the lights
illumine our lives and make it good. “Happy
Deepavali”!
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
. Antony
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Will You Not Set Me Free?
Sr. Shalini Jose
“No one protects a woman leading a baneful
life. And shall we hesitate in putting up with
hardships in order to imitate Christ in this?
Will it be too painful and costly for us to give
up our life, good name, fortune, and all that
we possess in this world in order to save one
for whom CHRIST paid so much?”, said
St.Maria Micaela.
On January 1, 1809, a valiant woman named
Micaela was born in Madrid, Spain to rich,
Noble and generous parents. Micaela
witnessed the abuse, alienation and social
exclusion many prostitutes suffered in mid19th century Madrid and moved by the Holy
Spirit, answered an urgent call in her time: to
liberate women under the yoke of prostitution
and this was Micaela's MISSION.
Micaela used to visit the brothels in the 19th
century to re-educate children, girls and
women who had gone astray that is, those
who were involved in prostitution, flesh trade
and trafficking. She opened shelters for
these women in the midst of economic
hardship, lack of understanding and
persecution.
Saint Maria Micaela founded the
Congregation of Sisters Adorers, Handmaids
of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity in
1856 in Madrid, Spain. In the year 1865,
Micaela bid farewell to this world after
establishing her MISSION in Spain. Today,
her MISSION is spread to 21 countries in the
world with 22 branches in India.
The Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament
implies, that the sisters share an intimate
union with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament
through adoration of the Eucharist. The
Handmaids of Charity means, the Sisters'
MISSION is to give life to the lifeless, to
empower the powerless, and to set goals in
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the life of the wandering children and the
youth. We are called to help women who
have been enslaved by prostitution, through
education and vocational training and in the
upbringing of their children, and also orphans
and children of broken families.
NAVAJYOTHI – which means NEWLIGHT
stands behind St. Vincent Pallotti Church and
is a clear proof of our MISSION. We take
care of orphans and children who have been
abandoned by their mothers who are in flesh
trade and also rehabilitate young girls and
minors, rescued from brothels and bars by
the NGOs to free them from sexual
exploitation. We enable them to look at life in
a new meaningful way. The children in the
house are educated and the girls are trained
in different trades, so that they can earn for
themselves and finally get settled in life.
There are a number of them already settled in
life since NAVAJYOTHI began. Two of them,
working as Nurses, have settled in London
and another one in Australia as a teacher.
Many others have settled down in different
states of India.
The MISSION set by Saint Maria Micaela is
alive, and we Sisters visit the red light areas
of Kamathipura and Ghatkopar every week.
Under the pretext of securing a job, young
girls who were brought into the city, were
forced into prostitution. Some were rescued,
some continued in the trade as they had no
way to escape, yet others feel it is the easiest
way to earn. Some share their pathetic
stories with us while some others tell us,
straight forward, “Go away, don't stand here,
it is our business time.”
In the municipal school in Kamathipura, we
have a toy library for the children whose
mothers are in the flesh trade. The children
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
from the Marathi, Hindi and Telugu medium
come to the toy library before they go to
school. We interact with them and teach
them and try to reach out to mothers who
wish to learn and earn their livelihood through
different ways. This MISSION of ours is the
most difficult one.
I visited the homes of these women a couple
of times alongwith an NGO. It is indeed a
mysterious place - no room, but a high bed
with curtains around for privacy. They keep
all their belongings under their bed and even
cook their food on a kerosene stove. They
have to pay rent for their bed, light and water
to the brothel owner to whom
this bed belongs. They get only
a small percentage of their flesh
trade and a good percentage
goes to the brothel owner.
These women sometimes drug
their children if they have to, to
do their business undisturbed.
Now there is an NGO who takes
care of these children during the
night so that they are not
drugged. During the day they
are sent to school.
Our MISSION in the red light
areas is in collaboration with
other NGOs who strive to liberate women
entrapped in the vice. We try to reach out to
the women there and offer them possibilities
to begin a new life with a decent way of living
and earning their livelihood. These women
do not want their daughters to follow the
same trade and request us to take care of
their daughters and teach them a dignified
way of earning their livelihood. Many such
daughters are with us in NAVAJYOTHI, to
receive new Light and new Life.
Many of the women engaged in prostitution
of them withdraw themselves and suffer from
later get infected with Aids. They are referred
to the Community Care Centre (CCC) “Hope Centre” in Amboli, Andheri West,
where I work as a Counsellor. There, they
are counseled and their bodily nourishment
and medical needs are taken care of. Once
diagnosed as Aids, many of them withdraw
themselves and suffer from depression. We
teach them to accept their disease like any
other one, infuse in them hope, help them to
regain their lost self esteem and advise them
to take their treatment regularly.
We
encourage them to live life with happiness
and contentment.
The Sisters also take care of the battered
women along with their children who were
harassed and thrown out from their homes by
their drunken or psychotic husbands.
Our MISSION is very challenging and risky.
Yet we go like the Good Shepherd who left
the ninety nine and went after the one sheep
that was lost. Our success may not be
100spercent but our work and efforts are. St.
Maria Micaela says, “Success is not yours.
Do not wait for results. But work Hard”. This
is our MISSION.
Yes, THE WORLD
STANDS IN NEED OF LIBERATION MY
LORD… BUT by YOU and ME.
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
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Parental Mission
John/Marina
“Parents are like mirrors into which
children look, to get a picture of
themselves.”
point, I would like to highlight our personal
experiences with regards to the career of our
son and daughter.
As parents, we strive to be the best we can.
We try to protect our children from negative
influences and bad companions and in doing
so, we get tied up in a never-ending battle
with the world and modern culture. We tend
to forget that GOD is our powerful resource.
First and foremost, we must make God the
centre of our lives and our homes, for it is only
He who can give us the strength, courage
and wisdom to cope with an ever-changing
environment. In order to make this happen,
we should foster a prayer life in our homes, to
encourage our children to reach out to God
for help. In doing so, we have instilled in our
children, family and religious values that we
learnt from our parents.
After completing school, our son got
admission in a reputed college, in the
Science stream. Simultaneously, I enrolled
his name in the Engineering Institute, which
was associated with the company I was
working for. No sooner did my son's name
appear in the Merit list, I was ecstatic and
immediately withdrew his admission from the
previous college and got him enrolled in the
Engineering Institute. At this point, I did not
feel the need to ask or discuss with him about
his choice. As a father, I felt that I was right in
taking this decision for my son, considering
the convenience and financial aspects. The
Convenience aspect being that he would not
have to travel much and would be close to me
at my workplace. The Financial aspect being
the concession I could avail of, in the
admission fees being an employee of the
organization.
We experienced innumerable ups and
downs, and a lot of challenges in the
upbringing of our children, but it all seemed to
have an uncanny balance about it. We were
not just an authority figure for them but also a
lot of fun - laughing and cracking jokes;
behaving like kids/friends around them.
Together, we spread a lot of happiness
around the house and like every other family,
we also had our share of differences and tiffs.
Our children completely confided in us and
together we as a family collaborated well and
made a good team, which highlighted the fact
that, sharing and communication were the
most important aspects in the making of a
happy family.
When it came down to choosing career paths
for them, it is rightly said, that children have to
make their own choices. But most parents
decide careers for their children, considering
them to be naive and inexperienced. At this
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Only later did I realize that this decision I
made was wrong, as I had not taken my son's
consent and it all became very obvious with
him. After completing 4 semesters, we
sensed that he had lost total interest in the
field. I went to the extent of approaching the
company counselor along with my son, who
advised me to allow my son to decide his own
career path. And as Albert Einstein once
said, "We can't solve problems by using the
same kind of thinking we used when we
created them." I asked my son about what
he wanted to do in life and after a lot of
persuasion did he reveal that he was
interested in Hotel Management, which we
then allowed him to pursue. He took up
further studies with our encouragement and
support in a reputed Indo-American college
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
of Hotel Management and Catering
Technology and proved that it was the right
move by getting accolades and awards every
year with merit list rankings and total
participation in extra curricular activities. He
eventually passed out with flying colors and
secured a job assignment overseas. Now,
he has been away from home for almost 9
years and has had a very successful career
this far. By streamlining his love for the arts in
the hotel industry, he has been holding fort in
the art departments of various international
hotel chains. Appreciating our role as
parents and the support we had lent him
during his early years of struggle, on Parents'
day, one year, he sent us an email wishing us
and thanking us for allowing him to make his
own career choices.
As for our daughter, she was very much
interested in dance and wanted to take it up
as a hobby by wanting to join a famous
choreographer. Being a girl, we were a bit
concerned about her safety. We felt that in
due course of time, this hobby may lead to
her career. We advised her accordingly.
Since she was a good athlete, we advised
her to graduate by joining a college which
encourages sports activities. She adhered
to our advice and simultaneously during her
graduation took part in sports activities and
won a lot of medals and represented her
college at State level. She completed her
graduation and worked at a Managerial level
for a reputed bank. She is now happily
married.
We feel so happy and content to see our
children putting into practice all the values
that we have imbibed in them. And along the
way we have learned that there's not just one
right way to raise children. And there's no
such thing as a perfect parent or a perfect
child. But here are some guidelines to help
your children grow up healthy and happy:
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Show your Love
Every day, tell your children: "I love you.
You're special to me." Give lots of hugs and
kisses.
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Listen when your Children Talk
Listening to your children tells them that you
think they're important and that you're
interested in what they have to say.
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Make your Children feel Safe
Comfort them when they're scared. Show
them you've taken steps to protect them.
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Provide Order in their Lives
Keep a regular schedule of meals, naps and
bedtimes. If you have to change the
schedule, tell them about the changes ahead
of time.
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Praise your Children
When your children learn something new or
behave well, tell them you're proud of them.
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Criticize the Behavior, not the Child
When your child makes a mistake, don't say,
"You were bad." Instead, explain what the
child did wrong. For example, say: "Running
into the street without looking isn't safe."
Then tell the child what to do instead: "First,
look both ways for cars."
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Be Consistent
Your rules don't have to be the same ones
that other parents have, but they do need to
be clear and consistent. (Consistent means
the rules are the same all the time.) If two
parents are raising a child, both need to use
the same rules. Also, make sure baby-sitters
and relatives know (and follow) your family
rules.
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Spend Time with your Children
Do things together, such as reading, walking,
playing and cleaning house. What children
want most is your attention. Bad behavior is
usually an attempt to get your attention.
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Pray Together as a Family
As it is said, “A FAMILY THAT PRAYS
TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER”.
And before signing off lets remember what a
wise man once said …“To bring up a
child in the way he should go, travel
that way yourself once in a while.”
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
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“Never let the fear of striking out,
keep you from playing the game”
Fabiola Monteiro
“Learning is a race with no finish line.” This
philosophical musing from a friend of mine
got me thinking, inspiring me to pen this
piece. There are no age limits, no boundaries
for learning.
So, since we're always
learning...we're always students.
Life
teaches us something everyday and as long
as we learn what it teaches us, we are
students. The process is infinite, but how
often do we realize it?
The home begins as our primary
kindergarten, where besides learning to
walk, talk, etc. we are infused with social and
moral values. School is the next level, where
we are moulded into better individuals, for a
competitive world. The word 'student' is
generally associated with school (and rightly
so) but it would be fair to say, we all are
students in the school of life.
While developing one's intellect, it is vital for
a student to be engaged in other extracurricular activities also. At the same time, it
is not necessary to be academically brilliant
or highly intellectual to succeed in the school
of life. Self belief, determination and hard
work are core ingredients for the recipe of
success. Like Einstein once said,
“Imagination is more important than
knowledge.” An excellent example of this
would be Leo Tolstoy. He was expelled from
school, but went on to write amazing classics
such as 'War and Peace' and 'Anna
Karenina'. Another person who was made
fun of at school and teased by his
classmates, is Steven Spielberg. He was
even put in a learning disability class which
he didn't need. But ten years later, at the age
8
of 28, he proved everyone wrong, by
directing a movie which was a colossal hit at
the box office. These people are outstanding
students because they never failed to learn
from their mistakes or waver back from the
challenges thrown at them.
Other areas of learning include developing
one's self and personality. The situations we
face in life, help to shape us into better
individuals. We grow emotionally and get
stronger all the time. Furthermore, we should
tap into our talents. It could be anything from
learning to play the piano and singing, to
drawing, cooking, etc. which would enhance
our creativity.
A good student puts into practice what he has
learnt, as practice makes one perfect and an
outstanding student does this, with self
motivated zeal. Merely getting a good grade
or a high score is not enough. Setting an
example with our thoughts, words and deeds
is very important. The values we have learnt
since childhood like respecting our parents,
teachers and elders and showing gratitude,
is what is also important in making a
complete person – always remember,
actions speak louder than words.
The true student is the one who goes the
extra mile in achieving his self made goals.
We are all talented, blessed with tremendous
potentials and abilities that we rarely realise.
Life's journey is filled with landmines but
overcoming it, is what makes us better
students. To conclude, I'm reminded of the
tagline of a movie I once watched. “Never let
the fear of striking out, keep you from playing
the game.”
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
LOVE IN ACTION
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an
international, voluntary, fraternal and
charitable organization of lay people, men and
women. Frederick Ozanam, a French youth
founded the Society in Paris in 1833 and
named it after its Patron, St. Vincent de Paul,
the great apostle of charity.
The vocation of the members of the Society,
known as Vincentians, is to serve Christ in the
poor and the suffering and to bear witness to
Christ's compassionate and tender love, and
in the process, through the grace of God,
journey together towards holiness which is
perfect union with Christ and the perfection of
love.
Jesus' life on earth was a ministry of service.
“I have come to serve and not to be served,”
He said. At the last supper, Jesus washed the
feet of His disciples. Can there be a greater
example than this? As Christians, we have a
mission on earth, to serve the poor, the
marginalized, the lonely, the sick, the
housebound etc. We can call ourselves
Christians, only if we follow Christ in His path
of service to humanity. This best describes
the apostolate of the Society of St. Vincent de
Paul (SSVP). Charity is love and the
translation of this love into action is our
vocation. However, the SSVP endeavours to
go beyond material aid. In Ozanam's words,
“Our commitments to visit the adopted
families in their homes, giving them our hearts
(in love) and then our hands (in friendship)
and finally the aid we have brought them.”
Christ Himself taught, just as salt is worthless
if it loses its saltiness and light is useless if it is
kept under covers, so the Christian life is
meaningless unless faith is witnessed in love
and concern for others. We, His disciples,
have an essential function in this world. Our
belief has to be seen in action and we have a
positive role to play. We have something to
offer, something the world desperately needs.
Our deeds do not have to be spectacular,
because even little acts of kindness done
regularly, make a difference in people's life.
Lord Shaftsbury, the seventh Earl of
Maggie Fernandes
Shaftsbury, was a very zealous social worker
who died in 1885. As his funeral procession
reached Trafalgar Square, forty thousand
people whom he had helped had gathered
there to pay him homage. As the hearse
neared a group of vegetable hawkers, their
leader held up a banner with the words, ‘I was
a stranger and ye took me in’; the orphans
displayed the banner, ‘I was sick, and ye
visited me’; and at yet another spot, the group
of working girls carried a banner with the
words, ‘In as much as you did it unto one of the
least of my brethren, ye did it to me.’
Dear Friends, you have always supported the
SSVP by reaching out in different ways, for
which we are very grateful to you. Now, we
take this opportunity to invite you to join us in
the apostolate of the SSVP, as Frederic
Ozanam puts it, “To bear witness to the love of
Christ in your relationship with those in need,
to personally and directly participate in the
service of the poor.”
A special appeal to the youth to join us. The
Society was founded by a young 20 year old,
Frederic Ozanam along with five other
students of age group 19 to 22 and the SSVP
needs your energy, enthusiasm and drive.
Come (be a part of any of the following)
?
Be an Active Member
We meet every Wednesday at 7.45pm
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Be an Auxilliary Member
Assist in our various activities
?
Be a Donor
Contribute to the various needs
?
Be a Sponsor
For Education; Special Classes; Medical aid
?
Be a Coach
Volunteer to teach our aided children
?
Be a Placement Advisor
Help find work for eager hands
?
Be an 'Escort’
Offer to be a walking stick to the elderly or sick
For more details, contact the President,
Mr.Joe Fernandes Tel. 9920390565
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
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And its No Sacrifice…
Kevin Fernandes
And it's no sacrifice, just a simple word,
its two hearts living, in two separate worlds,
But it's no sacrifice, No sacrifice, it's no sacrifice at all
The lyrics of this chart buster, sung by Elton
John and penned by Bernie Taupin was
released in 1989. This song initially at #55 on
UK charts & #18 on US charts picked up the
No 1 spot in 1990 after its re-release and
stayed on the charts for 26 weeks and is still
played on several radio stations.
The song is not a typical love song, but rather
a song about a breakup of a marriage where
the lyricist felt that the loss of the relationship
is "no sacrifice." After they go their separate
ways, the man raises his daughter alone.
The lyricist, Bernie Taupin who went
through this personal pain & trauma of
a marital breakup expressed his
emotions so beautifully in this song,
that it moved millions of hearts in a
separate world.
This song has been one of my
favourite teenage melodies and it only reaffirms my understanding that our
personal experiences & feelings
when channelised well, can
spring life into a dead man. This pithily
explains that nothing is impossible. There is
no “Mission Impossible”.
The Mission of the Church is to bring the
Gospel of Jesus - “The Gospel of LOVE” to
“LIFE” for all mankind. U & ME are the church
and as Christians and followers of JESUS
CHRIST, we are reminded to take active part
in this mission.
Catechesis plays an important role in making
this a “Mission Possible”. The role of every
catechist is to IMPART FAITH. Just as, it is
important to take stock of the situations in our
life, analyse them and develop our
Personality, in the same manner, Faith
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Formation is a process that has
to be
renewed constantly and worked upon to
develop our Spirituality.
The catechists of this parish have decided to
work on this holistic growth as part of their
mission and extend catechesis not only to the
minds of young children, but also to the young
minds of Adults. Emphasis on Parental
catechesis is a challenge that deserves
attention and has to be faced head on. If we
need any nourishment to keep us focused
and enthused in this mission, it is the
EUCHARIST.
The documents of Vatican II point that the
EUCHARIST is the source &
summit of the Life & Mission of
the church. A vast majority of us
Christians flock to our parishes to
receive the Eucharist, at least
Sunday after Sunday, but many
a times this only remains a pious
obligation to be completed.
As a result the Eucharist that
we receive regularly barely
helps us to create a J+ve
(Jesus positive) impact in our lives and the
lives of our brethren. If we believe and
understand that it is important to work on this
aspect, then this would be our first step
towards making the mission of Jesus a
success.
As catechists, we believe and understand the
importance of the true meaning of the
Eucharist and hence we felt the need to
organize a session on “Understanding of the
Eucharist” for our parents. The session
conducted by our eminent speaker, Ivan
Fernandes on Sunday, August 2, 2009 was
attended by over 115 adults. The session
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
attended by over 115 adults. The session
touched on the various dimensions of the
Eucharist and it was very inspiring and
stimulating for the soul. A soulful experience,
that helped us understand that the
EUCHARIST was instituted by Jesus to meet
people's needs & initiate social action.
Eucharist is a Blessing, a Covenant, a
Memorial, a Passover with Sacrifice at its
core. Sacrifice is the inner most value of the
Eucharist. JESUS sacrificed his life to
cleanse us of our sins. This was His unending
LOVE for each and every one of us. His
sacrifice helps us to reflect and provokes us
to be like Jesus in action or just receivers of
the Eucharist. Ivan emphasized that just as
the Eucharist made a difference in the lives of
the early Christians, it is important that we
also make a difference by focussing not on
the externals but the inner values of the
Eucharist. Jesus' selfless act implies that
Sacrifice is an act that should hurt from within
making a difference to the lives of the people
around us. Unlike the Pharisees, who made
a show of the offerings they gave, we are
called to silently and selflessly interiorise the
value of the Eucharist.
Can we as Christians, sacrifice our own
celebrations and offer a sumptuous meal to
the needy? The Eucharist invites us to ‘Go
out in peace to love and serve the Lord.’
Jesus broke his body in service of others and
we are called to do the same.
The session on ‘Understanding the Eucharist’
concluded with Mr Robert Lobo, a parent who
expressed his gratitude to Ivan for sharing
insights on the dimension of the Sacrifice in
the Holy Eucharist and encouraged the
catechists to conduct more such sessions so
that we could lead exemplary lives as Christ
did. The parents present were invited to share
their experiences so that this sharing could
multiply and vivify our parish, with our
understanding of the Eucharist.
As part of this Mission, the catechists are
planning the nine day Novena in honour of the
birth of our Mother, a true ambassador of this
inner value of the Sacrifice in the Eucharist.
The theme for the Novena is the famous
Sermon on the Mount - “The Beatitudes”.
During the Novenas, we shall accept various
offerings that can be of assistance to the
needy of our parish and for social action in coordination with the SSVP.
The Novena schedule is as follows:
Novena Schedule
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Feast Day
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
Aug 30, 09
Aug 31, 09
Sep 01, 09
Sep 02, 09
Sep 03, 09
Sep 04, 09
Sep 05, 09
Sep 06, 09
Sep 07, 09
Sep 08, 09
6:30pm
7:30pm
7:30pm
7:30pm
7:30pm
7:30pm
7:30pm
6:30pm
7:30pm
7pm
Topic
Offering
Introduction to the Beatitudes
Rice
1st Beatitude
Dal
2nd Beatitude
Tea
3rd Beatitude
Money
4th Beatitude
Sugar
5th Beatitude
Rice
6th Beatitude
Bath Soap
7th Beatitude
Tea
8th Beatitude
Money
Day of the Girl Child
Till then, do relish the beauty of this inner value and feel the warmth and joy that you
radiate around. Yes, this is SACRIFICE and we very soon hope to see a lyricist from
this parish, now, pen another song, expressing his feelings, so that we enjoy another
melody amongst us for decades to come.
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
11
Michelle Mendonca
The Archdiocese of Mumbai has declared the
year 2009 as the “Year of Peace and
Harmony”. But peace and harmony seem to
be an elusive dream in the modern world. No
region of our world is free from conflict.
Though we live in more progressive times
than ever before, our planet is also more
dangerous than ever before.
India is no stranger to conflict: our turbulent
relationship with Pakistan is an obstacle not
only to the peace and harmony of the South
Asian region but also to the growth and
development of our nation.
And yet, the Prime Minister's recent dialogue
with Pakistan and the joint statement came in
for strident opposition. The government was
accused of selling out to Pakistan – of being
too weak.
But can we really delude ourselves that peace
and harmony are easily won – that we will
obtain true peace without any kind of
compromise? Tough talking and wars haven't
eased the situation. Do we believe that
another war with our nuclear-powered
neighbour will bring us victory? And even if we
do win, are we ready to bear the cost? Are
India's poor millions able to bear the burden of
a war? As the more developed country, surely
India rather than Pakistan has more to lose
from another war. India cannot afford any
more conflicts, if we are to maintain muchneeded economic growth.
Isn't it time to try compromise? Entering into
peace talks with our neighbour will only add to
our international stature as a responsible
nation.
In this year dedicated to the pursuit of peace
and harmony, let's remember that our Saviour
commanded us to be peacemakers and use
all the influence we possess, to shape opinion
in our nation for peace and harmony.
12
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
Maria David
The centre point of commerce, Mumbai is a
mixed pickle; made with the perspirations of
millions that hold the foundations of its
economy and rich in taste with the blend of
varied elements of diverse cultures. We call
ourselves, the Mumbaikars and Mumbai – a
Fantasy Land, is our bread and butter and our
entertainment too!
Immigrants who, in
search of better economic prospects, took
refuge and alongwith the native Marathi Kolis
have given Mumbai, a distinct cultural
identity, where each practice their own faith,
celebrate their own culture and yet co-exist
with the other. Festivals across the
subcontinent are celebrated here with much
fervour and mouth watering delicacies are
shared among friends and people of other
communities too. Inspite of the vast cultural
differences, is Mumbai an overtly described
tolerant city?
After the gruesome blood cuddling riots of
1993, tensions gripped the city in 2002, when
the adjoining state of Gujarat burned in
communal violence, but this time, Mumbai
refused to yield into the demands of the
fundamentalists, rather it played a major role
in dispensing justice to the victims of the riots,
when under the direction of the Supreme
Court, transferred the riot cases to Mumbai.
There still continue to be incidents of unrest
and the relentless wait for justice, but there
are very many Good Samaritans who bind the
weak chords in Mumbai. There are many
NGOs, activists and the common man in his
own little ways working for Peace and Human
Rights. The years gone by, may have been
marked with communal tensions, but the
many children who lived those memories,
and who innately look for happiness are the
driving forces behind the visible harmony
seen today. Our classrooms boast of
students from east to west, north to south,
from among the rich, poor and the middle
class, who interact, learn and share with one
another. It is here that we learn the value of
tolerance. Adorn an invisibility cloak and visit
any school or college in Mumbai, all testify the
bonhomie among students and youth
irrespective of caste, colour and creed.
The so called evil – Globalization has also
helped Mumbai to be on the growth trajectory
with ample opportunities for all alike;
propelling the careers of many dreamers took them to enchanted lands and welcomed
innovation and technology. This has bought
about a paradigm shift of focus from divisive
topics to a more acceptance of other
identities that now form an integral part of our
lives. Our cross cultural ties established by
marriage has also given us a reason to live in
harmony with the other.
With the increase pressure on land and
space, Mumbai may not be hospitable for
new entrants, but with the passing of time, we
learn to accept them too. Imagine, the rich
Gujaratis and Marwaris shift their base from
Mumbai, then its predictable doomsday for
our markets. Imagine if all the North Indian
immigrants pack their bags and move to other
places, then even the rich would not sustain
long for want of essential food commodities.
The best woollen shawls are brought into the
city by the North East Indians and the best
and cheap Udipi restaurants are run by South
Indians. Now imagine, if the Marathi Manoos,
frustrated over the teeming immigrants,
decide to call off a day, then bureaucracy
would abruptly come to a halt leading to a
major chaos in the city. Thus, we are in need
of the other, and Mumbai is a sweet-bitter
marriage where everyone tries to adjust with
the other.
Mumbai is a weaver's thread creating
intricate patterns mostly secular and of multi
ethnic origins, and you and I have a role in the
making of a Symbiotic Society.
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
13
HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY!
Lloyd Anthony D'souza
The word Rosary means "Crown of Roses". Our Lady has revealed to several people, that each
time they say a Hail Mary, they are giving her a beautiful rose and that, each complete Rosary
makes her a crown of roses. So the complete Rosary is a large crown of roses and each chaplet
of five decades, is a little wreath of flowers or a little crown of heavenly roses, which we place on
the heads of Jesus and Mary. The rose is the queen of flowers, and so the Rosary is the rose of
all devotions and it is therefore the most important one. The Holy Rosary is considered a perfect
prayer because within it, lies the awesome story of our salvation.
With the Rosary, we meditate the mysteries of joy, of sorrow and the glory of Jesus and Mary.
It's a simple prayer, humble so much like Mary. It's a prayer we can all say together with the
Mother of God. With the Hail Mary, we invite our Mother to pray for us. Our Lady always grants
our request. She joins her prayer to ours. Therefore it becomes ever more useful, because
what Mary asks she always receives, Jesus can never say no to whatever his Mother asks for.
In every apparition, the heavenly Mother has invited us to say the Rosary as it serves as a
powerful weapon against evil and brings peace. With your prayer made together with our
heavenly Mother, you can obtain the great gift of bringing about change of hearts and
conversion. It can seem a repetitive prayer but instead it is like two sweethearts who many
times say to one another the words: "I love you...”
Since the Rosary is composed, principally and in substance, the prayer of Christ and the Angelic
Salutation, that is, the Our Father and the Hail Mary, it was without doubt, the first prayer and the
principal devotion of the faithful right from the time of the apostles to this very day. It was only in
the year 1214, that the Church received the Rosary in its present form and according to the
method we pray today. It was given to the Church by St. Dominic, who had received it from the
Blessed Virgin as a means of converting the Albigensians and other sinners.
I remember as a child, my grandmother would lead the family in praying the rosary everyday,
which in turn put a practice with belief in me, to recite the rosary everyday. When I grew up, my
grandmother gifted me a rosary which I carry in my wallet everyday and everywhere I go and
that has inspired my life and protected me from every danger.
Bible quiz is only for catechism students. Send your answers to this Bible quiz alongwith your name,
standard and address to Fr. Reehan Antony before October 2, 2009. The student to give the most
correct answers for the last issue is Brinsley J. Chhabra, Std IX.
The answers to the following questions all begin with the letter J
10. On which day shall every man give an
1. Who was the father of Cephas?
2. In which river was Jesus baptized?
account?
3. Where was the man helped by the good
11. Who was the centurion who gave Paul
Samaritan going to?
liberty to meet his friends?
4. Where did Tabitha stay?
12. Who asked permission to take down the
5. Who betrayed his Master for 30 pieces of
body of Jesus from the cross?
silver?
13.
Whose
house did Paul visit after he left
6. Whose daughter did Jesus raise to life?
the
Jews
& went to the Gentiles?
7. Who were Zebedee’s sons?
14.
Who
was
the wife of Chuza, Herod’s
8. Whose father was struck dumb due to
steward?
disbelief?
15. Who was Paul’s host in Thessalonica?
9. Who was a carpenter in Nazareth?
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
15
The Pallottine Diary
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Aug 23-Sept 15
The Parish Priest, Fr. Claudy Vas is attending a Symposium on Lay Apostolate in Rome
Aug 30-Sept 8
Novena in honour of the Nativity of our Lady (for offerings and mass timings see Pg.11)
Sept 5 Teacher's Day. Wishing all the Teachers, a Happy Teacher's Day!
Oct 4 Thanksgiving Day (Family)
Oct 17 Communicant's Creative Camp
Oct 17 Festival of Lights
Oct 17&18
Annual Zonal Football & Throwball Tournament organized by the Vinpal Youth
Oct 24 Astt. Parish Priest Fr. Reehan S.Antony's Birthday
RESTS IN CHRIST
BORN IN CHRIST
Anando S. Martins,
B-601, Jai Durga CHS
Aug 09 Myra Menezes,
B-301, Ashok Vihar
Aug 09 Lavina Menezes,
8/5/18 Bhawani Nagar
Aug 09 Kayden A. D'Silva,
5/16 Blossom Society
Jul 26
Apr 24
Jul 05
Jul 06
Jul 15
Jul 24
Jul 25
Jul 30
Francis D. Rodrigues, H/45 Vijay Nagar
Francis D'Souza,18/8/103 Bhawani Nagar
Crispin D'Souza, 2/8/10 Bhawani Nagar
Charles Sequeira, LT 15/14 Vijay Nagar
Cajetan D'Souza, LT 7/11 Vijay Nagar
Faustina (Tina) Misquith,
2/10/11 Bhawani Nagar
Alwyn Rodrigues, 6/22 Blossom Society
S N A P S H O T S
Jun 27 Bone Densitometry Camp was organized by Elder Pharmaceuticals and SSVP
Jun 28 Pulse Polio Programme organized by MCGM
Jul 05 Legal Help Desk reopened. Contact Mr. John Jerome D'Costa for free legal advice on first
and last Sunday of the month after 9:15am Mass in the Parish Office
Jul 05 Voter ID Card programme for Assembly Constituency 166 was conducted by AGNI
Jul 26 Parents Day-Kudos to the Vinpal Youth for making the celebration a grand success!
Aug 02 A talk on 'The Eucharist' by Ivan Fernandes was organized by the catechists
Aug 09 Bone Densitometry & Obesity Camp was organized by the SSVP
Aug 09 Pulse Polio Immunization Programme was held
Aug 09 Vianney Sunday - 'The Year of Priests' and 'The Year of Peace and Harmony' was inaugurated
Aug 14 Night Vigil Service of the Assumption Mary was conducted by Prayer Group
Aug 15 Feast of the Assumption and Independence Day. It is also the Feast of the Assumption of
Blessed Virgin Mary Province, Bangalore of the Pallottine Fathers. The Civic and Political Cell
felicitated Ms. Jalasha John D'Costa who secured 78.33% in HSC and Ms. Fleda Luicia
Fernandes who secured 92% in SSC. Mr. Velankanni Mariaprakasam in HSC and
Mr.Stephen Pattinathan with 69.40% in SSC were felicitated in the category of deserving
students in challenging circumstances.
Aug 15 Seminar on 'Personal Growth' by Fr.Godfrey D'Sa, Prafulta, Mahakali was held for Catechists
Aug 20 Seminar on 'Leadership' by Alphonso D'Souza was held for the Vinpal Youth
Aug 25 Feast of St. Maria Micaela, the foundress of the Congregation of Sisters Adorers
Pallotti Notes | Sept-Oct 09
19