Category: April – June 2024

By Francis P. Xavier, SJ

Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear, Random House, London, 2018.

When will it be possible to see the invisible, to hear the inaudible, and to do the impossible? When someone has cultivated the needed habits.

For example, you may think that it is impossible to write a book. But it is very easy to write one sentence a day. When that becomes a habit, then you could write a paragraph. After a few days, writing one thousand words would be possible. And this would take you to write a five-thousand-word article. Then, writing the book is not very far away (p.163).

Four Step Formula:

The book Atomic Habits by James Clear (2018) describes the process of achieving mastery or greatness. It follows a four step formula of cue, craving, response, and reward (p.9). An innate liking or desire, when noticed and consciously nurtured, becomes a craving, gearing up one to respond by efforts. The outcome is the reward. “Breakthrough moments are often the result of many previous actions (efforts), which build up the potential required to unleash a major change” (p.21).

It is achieved by building up habits: “Habits are like the atoms of our lives. Each one is a fundamental unit that contributes to your overall improvement. At first, these tiny routines seem insignificant, but soon they build on each other and fuel bigger wins that multiply to a degree that far outweighs the cost of the initial investment. They are both small and mighty.

This is the meaning of the phrase ‘atomic habits’ – a regular practice or routine that is not only small and easy to do, but also the source of incredible power, a component of the system of compound growth” (p.27).

“Habits are like the atoms of our lives. Each one is a fundamental unit that contributes to your overall improvement.”

Whatever you want to achieve or to build up a good habit, first make it clear and obvious (Cue), then make it attractive (Craving) so that you are getting more and more interested in it. By regular practice you make it easy (Response); and finally you are able to enjoy the outcome (Reward).

Making it obvious is just to make it a routine as a built-in event in daily life. If what you do becomes interesting and attractive, you would not feel the boredom of repetition. Repetition makes perfect. ‘A genius is not born, but is educated and trained’ (p.113).

Change of Habits:

At times we might need to change an existing habit. One habit can be replaced by another habit. Our attitude makes the difference here. If changing the habit might challenge our dear and near ones, it may not be attractive; but when changing the habit might make us a better fit in our surroundings, then change is very attractive (p.121). Often people enjoy approval, respect, and praise from others; and if the changed habit wins approval, respect, praise, then the change becomes easier. “We tend to adopt habits that are praised and approved by our culture because we have a strong desire to fit in and belong to the tribe. We tend to imitate the habits of three social groups: the close (family and friends), the many (the tribe), and the powerful (those with status and prestige)” (p.122).

Two- Minute Rule:

Much depends on one’s attitude: A person using a wheelchair, when asked whether it was difficult to be confined to the wheelchair, he replied, “I’m not confined to my wheelchair – I am liberated by it. If it wasn’t for my wheelchair, I would be bed-bound and never able to leave my house.” This shift in perspective completely transformed how he lived each day (p.131).

 ‘The Two-Minute Rule’ is to start with an easy, doable part and make progress, as you make it a habit. Once repeated practice makes it a routine, you could get along with the difficult part of the same habit. Here is an example: “Running a marathon is very hard. Walking ten thousand steps is moderately difficult. But walking ten minutes is easy. And putting on your running shoes is very easy. Your goal might be to run a marathon, but your gateway habit is to put on your running shoes. That’s how you follow the Two-Minute Rule” (p.163).

What makes the habit lasting or permanent is to make the habit satisfying. We tend to repeat a practice that makes us feel satisfying. Feeling of pleasure, even minor ones like washing one’s hand with soap that smells nice and lathers well, might signal to the brain: ‘This feels good; and so do this again.’ Pleasure or a sense of satisfaction teaches our brain that a behavior is worth remembering and repeating (p.185). Auto suggestion picks up momentum.

Scientific behavioural research shows that the environment we create for ourselves or the surroundings we are in could make us or break us. In a research, scientists played a loud noise in the nursing ward, some babies turned toward it while others turned away. The researchers tracked these children through life. They found that the babies who turned toward the noise tended to grow up more extroverts; while those who turned away were more introverts.

Situations could make all the difference from being merely good to being truly great: “People who are high in agreeableness are kind, considerate, and warm. They also tend to have higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone that plays an important role in social bonding, increases trust, and acts as a natural antidepressant.

At times we might need to change an existing habit. One habit can be replaced by another habit.

Good to Great:

J. Collins in his book, Good to Great (2001), explains how one can move from good to great. Once you become great you can remain with enduring greatness. In building up atomic habits the secret of gaining mastery is in becoming endlessly ‘fascinated by doing the same thing over and over’ (p.236). Thus the simple formula James Clear suggests is: habits + deliberate practice = mastery (p.240).

In order to achieve great things the initial investment is interest; repeating what you have started is the recurring investment. Then, enjoying the repetitive practice is to pick up momentum of expertise, till it becomes a second habit leading to excellence in one’s habit. The desire becomes feeling; the feeling brings in interest; interest shapes up as attitude; attitude becomes habit; and habit becomes mastery, bringing in success.

Some might think the modern technology might help in this process. Technology might serve as an accelerator (like instruments in the lab experiment) but it may not create any momentum in the progress. Computers, telecommunication gadgets, robotics, Internet etc can only help us to do better. But no technology can bring in lasting and meaning discipline to gain mastery over the hard and brutal reality one faces in life (J. Collins, Good to Great, p.161).

The atomic habit has its origin like the trickle of water droplets from the glaciers on the mountain. But as the droplets gather and constantly flow down from the mountain they build up into a rivulet, which then becomes a river. Atomic habits are similar to that: You start small, but keep going making it a routine till you attain the critical point or the break through moment to achieve great things in life. The book, Atomic Habits, gives us a glimpse into the life of the author, James Clear, who was devastated by a life-threatening baseball accident. But he achieved a remarkable recovery. He did this not by any dramatic miracle but through small bite-sized daily habits. In this book, he breaks down great success into tiny and doable daily habits, leading to success in all areas of one’s life. All you need to keep in mind is to keep the goal ever in sight; do not give up on the face of minor and temporary difficulties and challenges; keep going till difficult things become easy and the easy ones become part of your life.

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By Jerry Rosario, SJ

Out of pastoral concern:

We cannot leave the political scenario just to the politicians. It is obvious that politics affects every aspect of our lives. As priests and religious we cannot be a part of party politics. But if we are good, caring pastors we need to create awareness among people about their civic duties, the first of which is to vote and vote wisely. As good shepherds who care deeply for their flock, we need to make them aware of all that is at stake. Since many politicians hide their agenda and pretend to be messiahs, as pastors we cannot allow our people to be taken for a ride.

It is this line of thought that kept disturbing me. The question was: What can I do? This finally led me to what can be called an ‘apostolate of awareness’ – helping our people become aware of all that is at stake before any general election.

Of course, this was ‘magis.’ This will be an additional ministry which I will have to carry out, along with all the other myriad ministries of mine, which I carry out with the blessings of the Jesuit superiors. With their approval, I’ve begun doing this for a few years now.

Before the parliamentary elections I offer my critical reading of the socio-political context and a creative reading of the possible scenario that could emerge. What helps me in this is action-oriented conversation with various religious groups and secular movements.

What we can do:

We know the famous sentence in President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” I have always been inspired by those words. Pope Francis goes to that extent of saying that we commit the sin of Pilate when we wash away our hands from our political responsibilities. It will be a definitive sin of omission. We fail terribly as pastors when we fail to raise our voice against the dehumanising policies and programmes of the powers that be. Again, we lose our very humanity when we are not ready to extend our hand of solidarity to our voiceless sisters and brothers who are ruthlessly attacked and paraded naked, as it happened in Manipur in May 2023.

We should never ever forget that we all together make up the nation and not just those who are elected to power for a prescribed period of time. Those who occupy the seat of power are obliged to be at the service of the citizens, as per our Constitution. We have not elected them to boss over us but to minister to all citizens, especially to those at the sociological and geographical peripheries.

If we are good, caring pastors we need to create awareness among people about their civic duties, the first of which is to vote and vote wisely.

Whenever anything contradictory to what is guaranteed by our Constitution occurs, we have a prophetic task of calling a spade a spade. This, I think, is the way to actualize what Jesus had emphasized: ‘Give to God what has to be given to God. And give to Caesar to what has to be given to Caesar’ (Mk.12:17).

Still, for too many of us, politics is a dirty game. Precisely because of that, it becomes a must for us to get in. The reason is simple: We have to purify it. We have to perfect it. We have to humanise it. We have to evangelise it. We have to do all we can to ensure the Gospel–Justice of Jesus for all. We thus have to make God’s reign come true in all the sectors of human life, including the political sector. Therefore there is no excuse for us.

Another thing that needs to be clarified is: being political can be viewed from both the perspectives of the powerful and of the powerless. It is so unfortunate that politics is commonly approached only in terms of the power of the powerful. Indeed, profoundly speaking, the power of the powerless and the poorest is much more important than that of the powerful and the richest. This is, in essence, ‘people-politics.’ It is indeed different from ‘party politics’.

The poorest are numerous in the Southern Hemisphere. As per the Human Development Index (HDI) 37 % of the Indian population live below the poverty-line (BPL).

Sadly the poorest are not aware of their power – the power of numbers. They are not aware that their ‘number itself is power’. It is referred to as the greatest but untapped power. The question is, ‘how to tap this power of numbers?’

Searches & researches: True, at the collegiate-level, I had done some studies on Rural Political Administration. For the Master’s thesis in Theology, I had focussed on ‘Political Jesusology’. For the doctoral research, I chose to study the life and service of a political leader of Tamil Nadu, who, as an individual, managed to create a people’s revolution against the hegemony of class, caste and man-made hierarchical system. It is called ‘Dravidiam’. He is universally known as ‘Periyar’ (the great one). His original name is E.V. Ramasamy, shortened by some to just EVR (1879-1973).

He fascinated me as a contemporary prophetic voice that warned people against inhuman practices sanctioned by traditionalised religion of Hinduism, swimming against the oppressive tides of his time. He thought out of the box, vigorously attacking superstitions and casteism. I saw Jesus accomplishing the same with a unique manifestation of his people politics. He taught people to transcend the ritualistic and rubric testament of the Old Covenant. Periyar’s example of making people aware of how they are exploited is, I guess, one of the things that led me to this ‘awareness apostolate.’

“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

If we support divisive politics, secularism and socialism will be sacrificed. Pluralism will be done away with. ‘Unity in Diversity’ will become a casualty. The beauty of India will then be lost for ever.

First attempt:

In 2004 a small group was constituted by the Diocese of Coimbatore in western Tamil Nadu, to conscientise the voters with political analysis and possible guidelines for action.  This political awareness-group had 3 laymen and 2 priests, including me. Among them, I was assigned to be the main resource person cum key speaker at the awareness gatherings held at parishes, associations, NGOs, secular groups and grass root groups.

In the course of time, this group came up with a suggestion that I could put down the data, details and demands, so that they could be printed and distributed in all the districts and dioceses of Tamil Nadu. It was an instant success. Within a month, close to 10,000 copies were sold. That meant that so many groups had some substantial political deliberations. Not merely Christians of various denominations but much more, all people of goodwill from all religions, bought the booklet and used it for discussions. A large number of Hindu brothers and sisters had bought hundreds of copies. We felt encouraged by this political discernment.

I wanted to give a name for this movement. What spontaneously came to my mind was Manitham, a Tamil word, which means humanity. The prime intention is to build up a new humanity based on the sovereign, socialistic, secular Constitution of the Indian Republic in order to bring justice to one and all, through equality, liberty and fraternity.

Journey continues:

From then on, I have been getting ready a booklet before every Parliamentary or every State Assembly election. The booklet probes the five years that have gone by and achievements and failures of the government and all the political parties. We make sure that the price of the booklet is quite affordable. Usually it is Rs 5 to 10, depending upon the pages, which can range from 16 to 64. So far, 13 such booklets have been published. The latest one was released in March 2024, with all the crucial and critical data and details of the political analysis of the BJP-led NDA government that has ruled India for the past ten years. It does mention the commendable achievements of the NDA government.

The booklet, titled, Maanamudan, (With self respect), has sold 77,000 copies. It has been bought by individuals and institutes, secular units and religious circles, people’s movements and local political parties. As a sample of the feedback from readers, let me cite what a reader wrote recently: “I just completed reading the booklet, Maanamudan. We all wonder how you managed to gather all those data and details from every nook and corner. We have, in our family, begun a meaningful deliberation, as your pages have opened our eyes and cleared a number of doubts. It is indeed a timely service.”

Thus the booklet provides the readers with all that they ought to know and remember so that they are able to make a wise, responsible decision about whom they should vote for. Ultimately each citizen is personally responsible to discern in the court of one’s own conscience and to decide whom to vote for. Nobody else can do that for the individual voter. Apart from providing a comprehensive and honest picture of the country or the State, it exhorts every reader to see the big picture and decide on who, in their considered opinion, will ensure that this great country remains a sovereign, secular, democratic, socialist country. Every one of us is called to contribute in their own unique way towards building ‘a new humanity and a new cosmos’ (Rev.21:01-07).This is the magnificent mission of God who loves his people. This awareness apostolate, I hope, is a tiny, tiny part of it.

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Some Do’s and Don’ts

By K. Amal, SJ

My AICUF Experience: My experience of working with youth began when I was sent to work for a year for AICUF for my regency, a part of Jesuit formation. Later I volunteered to work as a ‘full-time advisor’ from April 1989 up to August 2003 – first at a regional and State level, and then in 1996 as the National Advisor. So totally my service in AICUF spanned 15 solid, youthful years. This was a significant part of my life and every time I recall those years, I begin to feel quite nostalgic.

This youth mission enabled me to discover more of myself – my innate strengths and talents. It helped me to build more abilities and learn new skills.

When I entered AICUF mission in 1980’s, the prevailing belief was that radical social change was imminent and our only duty was to prepare a group of youth who would precipitate this process and later to provide genuine leadership. This belief and expectation enabled us in AICUF to plunge into this youth mission without any personal agenda or vested interests.

What I gained: Working for AICUF helped me know some truly great men – known for their genuine compassion for the people, especially the poor, and belief in the power of youth. The three names that come to my mind immediately are Fr Pierre Ceyrac, Fr Paul Gueriviere and Fr Claude D’Souza. I learnt a great deal from them.

I learnt also that the laity’s role and contribution can be as significant and crucial as those of priests, because I could see concretely the contribution of laymen like Mr. S.J. Packiaraj and Mr. Bernard D’Sami to the movement.

This youth mission obviously gave me joy. Dealing with youth makes you young – feel youthful whatever your age. The energy and enthusiasm of the youth are contagious.

I benefitted from what I had to tell the youth. We taught them social analysis and so we had to be well-informed of all that happened in the world. We taught them leadership and so we had to be good leaders. 

All youth have their own strengths, talents and special abilities. First have the eyes to see all that is good and beautiful and noble in them. Acknowledge them in private and in public.

Therefore, in the light of my own experience, let me share with you some dos and don’ts for all those who opt for this challenging but rewarding ‘youth mission.’ You may be a chaplain or adviser, animator or full-time worker who has opted to work with some youth movement or organization. Even as a Headmaster or a Correspondent in a school or a Principal or the Secretary of a college you will have to constantly deal with youth. 

Do’s and don’ts: Based on my first hand experience in working with youth, let me list a few suggestions for all those who want to work with and for the youth.

Acknowledge their strengths and appreciate them: All youth have their own strengths, talents and special abilities. First have the eyes to see all that is good and beautiful and noble in them. Acknowledge them in private and in public. Whenever they do something worthwhile in studies, sports or extracurricular activities or for the movement, express your appreciation warmly and generously.

Accept them and care for them: We need to accept youth as they are. There may be things in their lives which worry us or puzzle us. But we need to accept them with all their baggage. Caring for youth is probably the most important requirement for a youth worker. If you care only about their grades and don’t bother about their health or economic problems, they won’t see you as someone who cares for them.  Let them know that they are very precious to you.

Listen to them: If you don’t listen to youth, you can’t understand them. Develop a passion to listen to their day to day experiences whether they are good or bad. Don’t judge them while listening to them. Youth will easily find out if you are an active, patient listener or not. Encourage them to feel free and be spontaneous.

Stay with them and permit them to stay with you:  Whenever possible spend time with them. Let them see how you live your life. When the disciples of John came to Jesus and asked him where he lived, Jesus simply said, “Come and see.” When the disciples going to Emmaus urged him to come and stay with them, Jesus accepted their invitation and went in to stay with them. Only when you are ready to spend time with them, you can understand their personality, their problems and their struggles. Stay with them in such a way that your presence gives them hope and makes them see that God is alive and present in their lives.

Working for and with our youth is vitally important simply because they are our future. We will ignore them at our peril.

Help them in all possible ways: Be ready to help them whenever they ask for any help. Sometimes they may be reluctant to ask for help. So don’t wait for them to come to you to ask for your help. Once you realize their needs, extend a helping hand. If they need monetary support, offer it discreetly. This will be your way of showing them that humans are always more important than money. By doing this you may be indirectly inspiring them to be generous. You may inspire them to help others when they are in a position to do so.

Avoid clericalism at all times: Pope Francis often talks about the need to give up all forms of clericalism and a clerical mindset. Clericalism emerges from the belief that you are superior to the others, simply because you are a priest. A clerical mindset may make a priest arrogant or aloof. There is no need whatever to hide the fact that you are a priest and an ordinary human at the same time. But act in such a way that they see that you are a priest for them, that you are there to serve them. They must see also that as a priest you belong to all, that you have no favourites, based on language or caste. 

Avoid all pretenses: Avoid a ‘dichotomized life-style’ – a lifestyle that contradicts what you profess. Never project a false image of yourself. Remember that your deeds speak louder than your words. Learn to accept your failures and short-comings, and remain transparent. The youth may carry within them a bundle of contradictions. So when they see you as an integrated person, they will admire you. It gives you a ‘moral authority’ and ‘credibility’ and you will command respect from them. You will be in a position to demand from them the same accountability and transparency.

Delegate responsibility: Never hesitate to delegate responsibility to youth. Knowing their strengths and abilities will help you give the right job to the right person. You can entrust an entire work to one or more of them and the way they carry them out may come as a happy surprise. If they want your presence while planning, offer it to them. But after delegating a responsibility, don’t keep interfering. They will resent it.

Encourage them: Youth may lack confidence in themselves or their abilities. You need to give them confidence and encourage them. Sometimes you may have to push someone to the front or the stage so that they see what they are capable of. If your presence would give them the confidence they lack, be present. If you disappear from the scene, they may get panicky. Sometimes you may have to encourage them from behind the screen.

Practice empathy: Youth don’t want our sympathy. But they, like every human, look for empathy – feeling with them, being in their shoes. So whenever they puzzle or confuse you, put yourself in their place and try to understand what they may go through.

Be humble: Humility works wonders. Never be proud or arrogant. Although they may be much younger than you, show them respect.  Never act like their boss. Try to be one of them, one among them.

Be ready to be challenged: We try to teach our youth to question anyone who wants to lead them. So be ready to be challenged.

Conclusion: Working for and with our youth is vitally important simply because they are our future. We will ignore them at our peril. This is why the Jesuits have done very well to include the youth mission as one of their UAPs (Universal Apostolic Preferences). So let us journey with them. Our God and our forefathers are sure to guide us.

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By M. Arockiasamy Xavier, SJ

Fr. Audibert, the courageous French Jesuit who was the first Principal of St. Joseph’s College, which was started in Nagapattinam and later shifted to Trichy, had to face the excessive, unbearable summer heat, and epidemics like cholera and plague. I have just completed six years as the Principal of this renowned college, where President Abdul Kalam was once a student. The challenges I have faced in these years are not the ones faced by Fr. Audibert and his colleagues.  Let me talk about these challenges, which many other Jesuit principals in India are likely to face.

Traditionally, Jesuit educational institutions don’t stop with imparting knowledge and developing the skills of students. They aim at making the student a better person, who would go on to create a better society. They believe that education should lead not merely to one’s socio- economic progress, but also for upholding basic human values such as genuine concern for the poor, caring for Mother Earth and working for social harmony in a diverse society.

Earlier education was considered a service done in God’s name to the people. This is why Jesuits and other religious orders started educational institutions. Even when some philanthropists and democratic governments started educational institutions, service was their main aim. But today in the field of education, there are many who see it as a profit-making business.

Challenges: Jesuit educators today have to compete with such private players whose aims are different. Educational institutions run by corporates or business magnets attract the bright, studious and hardworking students from the creamy layers. But we want to serve students from marginalised communities and the first generation learners, who have been deprived of opportunities for ages. Jesuits want to provide the best to the least.  In the process the Jesuit educators face challenges both from the individual level and the institutional level. By individuals I mean the students and the staff and institutions mean the government agencies.

Challenges from students: The present-day Gen Z youth are, of course, talented, dynamic, lively, creative, techno-savvy, quick to react and have greater exposure to the world through internet. While a miniscule minority of this generation are very creative, highly motivated and working hard for a future they dream of, a vast majority is mediocre or content with their low academic performance.

Attitudinal issues: As adolescents, students are struggling to discover their identity, their personality, and to develop correct perspectives about the world and society. They would like to experience all that thrills and excites them. Many of them are easy going and lethargic. Their complacency and satisfaction with mediocrity seem to have become worse after the Covid ’19 pandemic. They have a low level of motivation. They don’t seem to realize that what they do now will affect their future. Many suffer from a low self-image and so their self-confidence is very low. They want instant results, and so they are not ready to wait. Only the end seems to matter – not the means.

Many of the students today are easy going and lethargic. Their complacency and satisfaction with mediocrity seem to have become worse after the Covid ’19 pandemic.

Cognitive Issues: When there is a need for continuous learning in this highly competitive world, most students lack interest in updating their subject knowledge, even when so many resources are easily available. Language proficiency in their own mother tongue and English is far from satisfactory. Many want just to have a good time and are not ready to work hard and spend enough time to develop their talents and skills.

Behavioural issues: An alarmingly large number of today’s youth are addicted to substances and their mobiles. This addiction makes them waste their money, time, and energy. They are easily upset and are not ready to accept even minor failures, mild disappointments and slight insults. They find it difficult to handle them. Procrastination, inability to prioritize things in life, lack of professionalism and systematic approach in their academic life hamper their growth. This generation – like all others – longs for love, but unlike the previous generations, don’t realize that they need to love if they want to be loved, care if they want to be cared for. They want unlimited freedom, but they do not seem to realize that their freedom is always linked with responsibility. A good number are cynical and hyper critical. They are fun-loving and resort to short cuts to find solutions. They don’t bother about what the older generations called ‘good manners’. They don’t respect the elderly. They lack analytical skills and a rational approach to issues.

Challenges from the teaching fraternity: Teachers who work in our institutions are expected to share the ideals and vision of Jesuit education as they are collaborators in our mission. But many Jesuits would have noticed that today’s teachers are very different from those who worked in our institutions earlier. Today greed, lethargy, and sluggishness make many of them mediocre. Except a few, many seem to lack sincerity and commitment to the teaching profession, a passion for teaching, efforts towards continuous learning, eagerness to become better teachers, accompaniment of students with genuine care, loyalty to the institution, and duty consciousness. They are very slow to update their knowledge of the subject they teach and new techniques to keep pace with the techno- savvy students of today.

How many of our teachers would play any role in making our students conscious of what is right and wrong in our socio-political context and in making them powerful instruments for the transformation of the world? Most fail to engage the creative minds of bright students. A considerable number of the faculty do not deliver quality presentations in their class room and are unable to publish quality research papers which are expected of them. They do not keep the deadlines.

Jealousy, sectarian attitude and groupism among the faculty cause unnecessary tension to the Jesuit administrators and bring down the reputation of the institution.

Challenges from Government Agencies: All colleges in India have to function within the parameters formulated by three important government agencies – University Grants Commission – UGC (now Ministry of Education of the Union Government), Directorate of Collegiate Education of the State Government and the local university to which the college is affiliated. All these keep issuing norms and guidelines to the institutions.

Of late all these bodies attempt to infringe on the rights of minority institutions.  They want to control us in various ways. And it is difficult to comply with their orders as they are issued at the eleventh hour. Earlier the UGC functioned as a co-ordinating body but of late it is working as a controlling body. UGC used to sanction financial assistance for research and conducting academic programmes, but this has completely stopped.

The Directorate has to approve all our sanctioned posts for government aid. But since they have refused to do this for the past ten years, we are forced to file court cases, hoping that the Court would sanction the post. Ours are autonomous colleges which can function independently from the parent university. That is why they are called autonomous colleges. But for the past few years the parent university has treated our colleges like any constituent college of the university. It expects us to get permission from them for even minor matters. All these consume so much of our energy and time.

Earlier education was considered a service done in God’s name to the people. But today in the field of education, there are many who see it as a profit-making business.

What should the Jesuit educator be?:  A Jesuit educator is both an administrator and a formator who carries out his mission with the Ignatian spirit of Magis. He is expected to be a visionary leader, who has clearly thought-out plans in order to take the institution to greater heights and give greater visibility to the college. In my opinion, a system-centric approach than a person-centric administration would fetch better results. In order to be an effective Jesuit educator, he requires total commitment to his mission, a broad universal outlook, a compassionate heart, and aptitude for cura personalis. He is expected to treat people with respect and dignity, willingness to consult and look for wise counsel from his fellow officials.  

He should be a person who could connect with various stakeholders  – students, faculty, alumni, government agencies, local bodies, other educational institutions, the province administration, industries, etc. Familiarity with the latest changes and trends in education at the global and national level would help him respond to the emerging issues and changing situations. Cheerfulness while working, an accommodative nature, availability and approachability would help him interact positively with the faculty and motivate them to dedicate themselves to our common vision.

He should not merely be but seen to be impartial while dealing with teachers and students. He should be someone capable of blending firmness and kindness. As a leader he should be a unifying force in the institution.

What could Jesuit educators do?: From my own experience I can say that loving accompaniment helps. Without criticizing the students or the faculty, we need to help them identify all their potentials and talents. We must help them understand the need for intellectual training and moral formation. Our patient, continuous engagement and meaningful interactions with students and teachers would certainly help them gain the right perspectives, imbibe values, develop their talents and learn new skills.

Given our social context, it is our duty to encourage them to appreciate cultural diversities and religious pluralism and to celebrate them in a meaningful manner. Some of these could be achieved by organizing regular sessions on these topics. Recognizing their achievements and creativity will yield results. The students should see the sincere efforts taken by the Jesuit educators to empower them by providing them an integral formation.

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Can They be Disconnected in a Synodal Church?

By Astrid Lobo Gajiwala

Momoko Nishimura, a consecrated woman from Japan, member of the Servants of the Gospel of God’s Mercy (SEMD), had a moment of epiphany of equality at the Synod on synodality held in Rome last October. When she was introduced to Pope Francis, she was carrying an Argentinian “bombilla” cup, made of metal and wood, used for brewing a caffeine-rich drink called “yerba mate”. When the Pope saw the traditional Argentinian drink, his eyes lit up and Momoko spontaneously offered him a sip, which he gamely took. It was an unplanned sign of the equality that pervaded the synod.

Somewhat similarly, during the Holy Week this year what buoyed me is the change in the Maundy Thursday service. Today we take it for granted that women’s feet will be washed during the ritual, but I remember a time, a little over a decade ago, only the feet of altar-boys or men were washed in a travesty of Jesus’ call to humility and service of others. How many among those who watched this, year after year, would have asked: Why were women excluded when they spend their lives in service – of families, ageing parents and grandparents, the sick, the dying, the unwanted, unwashed and unlettered?

It took Pope Francis’ bold step in 2013, just after his election as Bishop of Rome, when he washed the feet of 12 youth, including two women and two Muslims, inmates of a juvenile detention centre in Rome, to put an end, in one powerful stroke, to the prevarication and specious arguments made in defence of this centuries-old gender discrimination. And lest it be seen as an eccentricity, he followed it up with a papal decree in January 2016 calling for the inclusion of “all people of God”, including women and people from all religions, in the ritual.

In fact two years earlier the Pope had asked Cardinal Robert Sarah, head of the Vatican liturgy office that sets rules for celebrating Mass and other rites, to make changes so that the rite “might fully express the significance of the gesture performed by Jesus at the Last Supper.” But sadly nothing was done till 2016.

In 2017, while the Latin Church implemented the decree without protest, the Syro-Malabar Church of Kerala issued a circular directing its parishes not to include women in the feet-washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday. The reason stated was that the Eastern Congregations were exempt from the decree as it applied only to the Latin rite.

Thus, this Maundy Thursday, when James Panavelil, a priest from the Syro Malabar Catholic Church embraced inclusivity by washing the feet of women during the ceremony held at his parish in Ernakulam district, he made headlines.

It took Pope Francis’ bold step in 2013, just after his election as Bishop of Rome, when he washed the feet of 12 youth, including two women and two Muslims, inmates of a juvenile detention centre in Rome, to put an end, in one powerful stroke, to the prevarication and specious arguments made in defence of this centuries-old gender discrimination.

Viewing this “through the lens of synodality one cannot help but wonder about the credibility of this journeying together as “co-responsible collaborators.” Is it possible if women are not treated as equals? Do the structures and theology of the Church permit synodality, especially where women are concerned?

The Church, we are told, is a hierarchy that is divinely instituted. Thus, all decision-making and leadership in the Church is the preserve of the clergy. Canon law ensures that this inequality is maintained, and the non-ordained, which includes all women, can only function within parameters defined by the ordained.

Consequently, even in the 21^st century, when across the world special efforts are being made to include women at the table that sets the agenda, women are still excluded from key decisions in the Catholic Church. They may be in parish councils but they have little say in how the parish is run. Sacramental ordination is denied to them. Only in exceptional cases are women allowed to preach. In pastoral work women continue to encounter resistance, and whatever authority they have is derived from the “permission” of the parish priest or bishop. Some women suffer abuse by men in the Church and are denied justice and even compassion. I have heard some nuns complain that they are made the butt of sexist jokes and are often treated as cheap labour.

And yet, women are the foundation of parish life. They make the coffee, they bring life to parish celebrations and they are at the forefront of every parish activity; they sing, they pray, they teach, they fill the pews; they rally in a crisis, reach out to the poor and the hurting, and are the backbone of the Small Christian Communities (SCCs).

These stories were multiplied in the Synod on Synodality held in the Vatican last year. Participants heard of “women regularly holding Liturgies of the Word because priests cannot make it to each mountain town parish, women breaking open the Word in small groups because they speak the local language, women leading end of life and funeral services in places of war and famine, women feeding and clothing migrants and refugees, women ministering in jails and prisons, women maintaining parish life, women walking with one another, women again and again living in service of God’s people.” (https://cssjfed.org/2023/10/18/dispatch-from-rome – women-are-at-the-table)

Many women however, are tired of talking and talking, year after year, decade after decade, without any sustainable steps being taken. In India, many committed Christians are walking out of Church structures (but not the Church) because their voice, their experience, and their expertise are simply not part of the discourse in the Catholic Church. As Nontando Hadebe, a well known theologian says, quoting women from South Africa, “There needs to be action and change, we can’t keep having the same conversation.”

So what can we do?

The United Nations theme for this year’s International Women’s Day presents us with a vision: “Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.”  All we need to do is substitute the word ‘world’ with ‘Church’.

Every time you observe that women aren’t present – in programmes, on stage, in decision-making bodies, in publications – ask: ‘Why not?’ Fight against the discrimination of women. Speak up about the subtle misogyny practiced in the Church through the persistent use of sexist God-language and the exclusion of passages from the lectionary that showcase women’s decisive roles in Christian tradition. Call out clericalism, which is the misuse of priestly power to dominate the faithful, and reclaim the servanthood of priesthood. Stop kissing bishops’ rings and using titles like “Your Beatitude” “Your Excellency” and “Your Lordship,” that are neither Christian nor synodal. Break the silence on domestic violence. Recognise sexual abuse in the Church and address it with honesty and justice, and compassion for the survivor. Form women’s cells in parishes and inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, as well as inspire women themselves to feel relevant and empowered enough to demand inclusion. Support women and stand in solidarity with them when fighting for women’s rights.

Each time, every time we do this, we are being signs of the God who dwells amongst us, for these are not works of our own doing, but gifts of God, who prepared us beforehand for good works (Ephesians 2:10).

Women are the foundation of parish life. They make the coffee, they bring life to parish celebrations and they are at the forefront of every parish activity; they sing, they pray, they teach, they fill the pews; they rally in a crisis, reach out to the poor and the hurting, and are the backbone of the Small Christian Communities (SCCs).

One of these good works in recent times has been the Synod on Synodality convoked by Pope Francis in October 2021. Over the past three years the faithful were encouraged to journey together, to meet at diocesan, national and continental levels, to give voice to their experiences and concerns, to listen to each other and to discern together what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us as a faith community. In Mumbai the archdiocesan Synod was held in June 2022.

Pope Francis was particularly keen that the voices from the grassroots, especially the voices of the marginalised – people who have been alienated by the Church, or people who have been ignored by the Church – would be heard and recorded. The deliberations of all these synods served as a starting point for the Synod of Bishops held in Rome from 4-29 October 2023.

A burning topic that came up in most of the country reports and even grabbed centre- stage at the October Synod, was the ‘women’s issue’. Pope Francis’ answer was to invite women to the synod – a first in the his-story of the Catholic Church. Since the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, synod events were exclusively attended by bishops and a few priests who acted as secretaries and writers. At the family synod in 2015 new ground was broken when a religious brother, an elected representative, was given voting rights. However, three religious women who were also present were not given the same right. Obviously it had nothing to do with ordination because religious brothers are not clerics. It was a blatant act of gender discrimination.

By contrast, in the October 2023 Synod on synodality, 54 of the 364 participants were women. Practically speaking, this means that there was at least one woman at every small group table. Not only were women present, but they also participated in all the discussions and were allowed to vote. Discussions at the synod assembly took place around circular tables with no ‘head’ and no distinction between man or woman, cleric or non-ordained. This was in contrast to the traditional auditorium setting where participants sat facing the stage.

There were three women from India, although none of them was appointed by the Indian bishops. Superior General of the Apostolic Carmel, Sister Maria Nirmalini, represented the International Union of Superior Generals (UISG), Sister Lalitha Thomas, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes represented the Asian Bishops’ assembly, and Sr. Tanya George attended as a member of the Asian Bishops’ Communication Team.

Another first was the appointment of Sr Nathalie Becquart as undersecretary of the synod office at the Vatican. She is thus closely involved in the preparation and implementation of the Synod Assemblies.

During the synod itself, Sr. Maria de los Dolores Valencia Gomez, a Sister of St. Joseph of Lyon, and Momoko Nishimura, a consecrated woman from Japan, member of the Servants of the Gospel of God’s Mercy (SEMD), led the assembly as two of Pope Francis’ 10 president-delegates. This required them to sit next to Pope Francis in the presidential round table to facilitate the whole day’s work, along with the Synod General Secretary, Cardinal Mario Grech, and the Synod Relator General, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich.

Sr. Maria described the experience of sitting with the Pope as a “gift and a grace” and a symbol of placing all of us at the same level.  Significantly, the Mexican Sister’s presiding role (the first woman in this role) came as the synod assembly began its work on the topic of “co-responsibility in mission,” which includes a focus on the role of women in the Church.

Synod discussions addressed the topics of women’s ordination to the priesthood, a female diaconate and the creation of alternative ministries that would allow women to have an equal representation in the traditionally male-dominated institution. In response Pope Francis has created a new commission with an equal number of men and women members, to study the possibility of a female diaconate which will allow women to preach at Mass and perform marriages and baptisms. They will not, however, be able to celebrate the Eucharist or hear confessions.

On the question of women’s ordination too, the Pope opened the door to discussion, a door that had been closed by Pope John Paul II in 1994. Pope Francis said that there is no “clear and authoritative doctrine” on the ordination of women, and it can be “a subject of study.” An earlier study in April 1976 by the Pontifical Biblical Commission had concluded that Scripture alone does not exclude the ordination of women, and that the Church could ordain women to the priesthood without going against Christ’s original intentions. This recommendation was ignored by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and one can only hope that in the new environment of synodality the deliberations of this Commission will be revisited.

Women’s participation in decision-making processes and responsible roles for them in pastoral care and ministry with the necessary amendments in Canon Law, also got the thumbs up at the Synod.

Pope Francis has already walked his talk. Thanks to him, the proportion of women in the Roman Curia has risen from 19.3 to 26.1 per cent over the past ten years. This means that more than one in four employees at the Holy See is now a woman. At the executive level he has broken the stained glass ceiling by appointing five women as undersecretaries and one as secretary of a Dicastery. Secretaries and undersecretaries are the second and third levels of management respectively and are part of the management team.

At the Synod the delegates felt heard. As one said, “we women, especially the Sisters, we ask(ed) very concrete questions like what will this mean for our ministries? What does this say about the mission of the Church? …..This is our lives we’re talking about.” (https://cssjfed.org/2023/10/18/dispatch-from-rome)

While all of this is good news we still have a long way to go. As one voting woman delegate said, “I think we will make changes. (But) it is hard. There are very many men and we who are older can get stuck in only seeing things one way, but I think we have to [make changes]. When you hear the stories from around the world and all the ways we as a Church depend on women — we have to recognize that.” (women-are-at-the-table/dispatch from Rome)

The “success” of the Synod ultimately will depend on how much of what comes out of the synod will be implemented. Canon law will have to be amended now that pastors have got the smell of their sheep. Structures will need to change. Attitudes will need to change. Those used to wielding unquestioned authority will have to constantly remind themselves to be open, to listen and to be humble and accept that the Spirit blows where She wills. The disciples who disbelieved Mary Magdalene realized later that they got it all wrong (Mark 16: 9-11).

Without this courage and this vision, synodality in the Church will remain merely a dream. At Pentecost Peter quotes the prophet Joel: “Your sons and daughters will see visions and dream dreams, and “I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below…” (Acts 2:17-19). It is for us to be these signs on the earth below, of a gender equal, inclusive world and Church.

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My dear friends,

We are happy to release this issue of INI, dated April-June 2024 on May Day, 1 May ’24. Come to think of it, May Day is not an ordinary day. In Europe it is an ancient festival that marks the beginning of summer. The traditional May Day celebrations include gathering wildflowers and green branches, weaving floral garlands, crowning a local girl as May Queen, and setting up a May pole, or May tree around which people dance.

For more than three centuries, we Catholics have observed May – and May Day – with various May devotions to the Blessed Virgin. I remember our Novice Master encouraging us to ready a crown of locally-available flowers and crown the statue of Mary in the grotto and sing Marian hymns with youthful gusto. They call it May crowning.

1 May is also one of two feast days of the Catholic patron saint of workers, the great St Joseph the Worker. It is easy to forget that he worked hard as a carpenter to provide for Mary and Jesus. In 1955 Pope Pius XII chose this day for this feast of St. Joseph as a counterpoint to the International Workers’ Day celebrations on May Day.

International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day in some countries, coincides with May Day. Once identified with Communists, it is a just welcome celebration of labourers and the working classes.

This issue of INI, made available on such a day, carries excellent articles. The ‘Faith-Women’ article by Astrid Lobo Gajiwala, shows what a perceptive woman thinker could feel and think while attending our liturgical functions, as some of these functions reflect the sad reality of the Catholic Church still failing to acknowledge women, their faith and their service.

Anything that arises out of concrete experience holds a lot of value. No teacher is as good as our experience. This issue of INI carries two articles written by two Jesuits based on their experience. Arockiasamy Xavier, SJ, who has been a professor and a principal in two well-known Jesuit colleges, talks of the challenges which Jesuit educators face today. They are not the challenges faced by our famed predecessors who founded our colleges. K. Amal, SJ, based on his experience of working for AICUF and so dealing with youth for many years, comes up with a useful list of do’s and don’ts for all those who opt for working with youth.

The article by Jerry Rosario, SJ, shines a light on an innovative apostolate he has been involved in for quite some time now. It can be called an ‘awareness apostolate’ – making the Indian voters aware of the options available to them whenever State Assembly elections or parliamentary elections are held.

 The book Francis P. Xavier summarises for the INI readers is a worldwide bestseller that has sold more than 15 million copies. Atomic Habits by James Clear presents a proven system for building good habits and breaking bad ones. It shows how tiny changes that you can easily make every day can lead to impressive achievements. May the book help make reading INI your regular habit! So happy, enlightening reading!

– M.A. Joe Antony, SJ