Lent : Vinayak SJ c/o BBN

Spiritual Harmony - Fr.Hedwig Lewis

Spiritual Harmony

Hedwig Lewis SJ

The Principle and Foundation and Contemplation to Attain Love are the overture and finale respectively of Ignatius’ orchestration of divine-human movements in the Exercises. The composition is “uplifting” – literally – from “i” to “YOU”.

The P-F begins with what “I ought to desire” – namely, harmony between God, Creation, and humankind. I order my life according to the divine rhythm. I stay attuned to what synchronizes with the divine purpose of my life, and exercise “passionate indifference” to whatever causes dissonance within and without.

The Contemplation is a “symphony” in four movements: God’s gift to me: my birth, family, personality, talents… (I sing of God’s graciousness). God’s self-giving: God’s empowering presence… (I join in the hymn to Creation). God’s ongoing labours… (As co-creator, I strive to create harmony). God’s unconditional self-giving love… (My life is but a song of love and service). The Exercises break into a crescendo in “Take and Receive”.

Like a musical instrument, I surrender myself entirely in the hands of my Maker. I let HIS music vibrate in my memory, understanding and will. I dance to God’s tune! Dance, because my surrender is joyful and liberating. I inspire others to become God’s partners – and dance.

Vandana Mataji dies

Vandana Mataji dies

Sister Vandana is among the leaders of Indian Ashram movement that began inspired by the renewal prompted by Second Vatican Council.
Posted on February 26, 2013, 5:18 PM

Vandana Mataji, a Catholic nun who pioneered Christian Ashram movement in India, died in Pune on Monday following age related illness. She was 92.

The funeral of the nun, a member of Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus congregation, was held on Feb. 26.

Inspired by the Second Vatican Council, she lived and worked in the Hindu temple town of Rishikesh for many years as an example of evangelization envisaged by the Council.

She was brought to Pune for medical care in 2004 from the Jeveen Dhara Ashram or life flowing monastery that she founded in the late 1970s in the foothills of the Himalayas.

She has been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and was bedridden for many years. Her last years were spent in Pune, as old age took away many of her abilities of bodily control.

Sister Vandana, whom Hindus affectionately called Mataji (mother) wrote several Hindi hymns.

The nun was born a Zoroastrian and became a Catholic at the age of 20 while studying at Sophia College, Mumbai, run by the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus congregation. She later became the congregation’s provincial in India.

Sister Vandana is among the leaders of Indian Ashram movement that began in the 1970s inspired by the renewal prompted by Second Vatican Council.

Sister Vandana is hailed as an ardent promoter of Indian culture and spirituality in the Church.

Symposium on Ignatian Spirituality - Sr Leena Dorothy rjm

Symposium on Ignatian Spirituality

Under the able leadership of Fr Shekhar Manickam, the coordinator of Province Commission for Ignatian Spirituality, a Symposium on Ignatian Spirituality was organized at Jeevan Darshan Kendra, Vadodara from 1 to 3 February. The important feature of the Symposium was to share with the members of the Ignatian Family various modules of the Ignatian retreat. There were thirty participants, including nine Sisters from four different Congregations that follow Ignatian Spirituality.

The resource persons were: Frs Lancy D’Cruz (Eco-Spirituality), M.I. Raj (Word of God vis-à-vis human ego), Joseph Mattam (Traditional Ignatian Retreat based on personal experience), Victor Davamani (Ignatian Retreat for laity blended with charismatic dynamics), Ornellas Coutinho (The 19th Annotation – A Retreat in Daily Life) and Lawrence Dharmaraj (Dynamics of spiritual direction). They made very creative, insightful and richly experience-based presentations which were followed by clarifications and interactions.

A substantial amount of time was spent on sharing personal experience of the participants – either as retreatants or as retreat preachers. The common thread of all the sharings was the importance of personal prayer, gift of the Spirit, initiative of God and an interconnected ambience in directing a retreat.

One could confidently say that this symposium has been able to achieve its purpose: to strengthen the bond among the family members and to deepen our common Ignatian heritage. It was an encouraging, empowering and enriching experience as a result of which some of the participants, especially the sisters, felt called deep within to preach retreats in future. We wish them all the best and God’s blessings (Sr Leena Dorothy rjm).

Fr. John and Tommy

Fr. John and Tommy

Fr. John Powell, a professor at Loyola University in Chicago, writes about a student in his Theology of Faith class named Tommy:

Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith. That was the day I first saw Tommy. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders.

It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long. I guess it was just coming into fashion then. I know in my mind that it isn't what's on your head but what's in it that counts; but on that day. I was unprepared and my emotions flipped.

I immediately filed Tommy under "S" for strange... Very strange.

Tommy turned out to be the "atheist in residence" in my Theology of Faith course.

Just look up!

THE BUZZARD

If you put a buzzard in a cage that is 6 feet by 8 feet

and is entirely open at the top,

The bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner.

The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground

with a run of 10 to 12 feet.

Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly,

But will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

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THE BAT 

The ordinary bat that flies around at night,

a remarkably nimble creature in the air,

Cannot take off from a level place.

If it is placed on the floor or flat ground,

all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and,

No doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation

from which it can throw itself into the air.

Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

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THE BUMBLEBEE

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies,

unless it is taken out.

It never sees the means of escape at the top,

but persists in trying to find some way out

Through the sides near the bottom.

It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

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PEOPLE

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee.

We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!

That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem...

Just look up!

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Sorrow looks back,

Worry looks around,

But faith looks up!

Live simply,

Love generously,

Care deeply,

Speak kindly, and

Trust in our Creator,

Who loves us.

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c/o Arokiadas sj

Charitable strides

Charitable strides

      More than 6,500 Amdavadis participated in the 11th Annual Motif Charity Walk; helped to raise Rs 44 lakh

Amdavadis walked and jogged their way to good health on a chilly Sunday and in the process helped raise Rs 44 lakh. More than 6,500 people, from the age of 6 to 60, participated in the 11th edition of annual Motif Charity Walk. 

    The 5-km walk and 10-km run was flagged off from LD College of Engineering and passed by B K School of Management, Vijay Crossroads, Helmet Circle, Blind People’s Association and PRL before coming back to LD. 

    Chartered Accountant Pushpendra Sisodia said, “Thirty of us have come to participate in this event. This is a great initiative and we want to take this opportunity to set an example for youngsters. Bringing about social awareness is very important.” 

    The beneficiaries of the fund raised this year would be Jivdaya Charitable Trust which helps injured stray animals and birds, Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust that supports victims of social injustice in rural areas, Prabhat Education Foundation that nurtures children with special needs and learning difficulties and Special Olympics Gujarat Charitable Trust which empowers people with intellectual disabilities. 

     CEO of Motif Inc Kaushal Mehta said, “This year, we had 60 corporates supporting us, which is a record. It is indeed heartwarming to see this kind of awareness among the people.”

     The director of the Unteshwari Sammilitalayam - a centre for and with the disabled persons, Fr Girish expressed his joy at Motif Charity walk “Indeed, I, in a small way, am part of this process of making our fellow brethren to commit for a noble cause. What a joy to walk with all”! 

Peace Summit 2009 - Educating the Heart and Mind

World Youth Days Inspired Jesuit Scholastic to Join the Society