My dear friends,
Here is a new issue of INI, dated January – March 2025. We are happy to release it today – 14 February, a day the world observes as Valentine’s Day that celebrates love and friendship.
Can we survive without love and friendship? Are there still people who would think that as priests and religious all we need is God’s love and that we don’t really need loving friendships? I don’t think you can find today many who hold this view. If you know someone who does, you should ask them to read Fr Jose Parappully’s article in this issue of INI. A well-known Salesian psychologist and writer, Parappully quotes Francis J. Moloney, a fellow Salesian priest from Australia, and author, who says, “We must allow ourselves the exhilaration, genuinely felt and shown, and not just spoken about, which comes from loving and being loved. Only in this way, and through this experience can we come closer to an understanding of a God who is defined as love.”
Parappully says, “A long time ago, the philosopher Epicurus had presented friendship as one of the crucial contributors to health and happiness. Today, psychological research and theory not only support Epicurus’ observation, but go beyond to attest that healthy relationships are the greatest contributors to health and happiness.”
This issue carries also an article written by a prophet of our times, who keeps reminding us of things we would rather not hear. The veteran activist and writer, Cedric Prakash, SJ, reminds us of something that God keeps hearing but we don’t – the cry of the poor.
Ever since I read a newspaper clipping about an innovative apostolate initiated by a young Kerala Jesuit I have wanted to publicize it, so that all Jesuits of South Asia may be inspired. This has become possible in this issue. Read about TOAST that Sheise Thomas, SJ (KER) has come up with, in order to address some acute challenges that our youth face.
Victor Edwin and Midhun J. Francis are Jesuits “sent among” Muslims. While Edwin talks of the enlightening conversations he had with three other professors in Rome, Midhun affirms that Islam accepts religious pluralism and advocates interreligious dialogue. “Islamic principles support inter-religious dialogue and efforts to transcend hatred and division and call on people to work together to build societies that uphold justice, compassion, and a common pursuit of truth. This shared vision reinforces the idea that diversity, far from being a barrier, is a divine call. It is a call to recognize our interconnectedness and to strive toward universal fraternity.” So go ahead. There is so much here to inform, educate and enlighten you.
– M.A. Joe Antony, SJ