Near Yet Far: A Pandemic to Remember

 COVID-19 Pandemic has created havoc globally. There are several studies that have been conducted as relates to the physical and psychological effects of Pandemic. Those effects are devastating and will remain for many years to come. Economic devastation is mindboggling and will take years to recover from this economic fall. Ample ink has been spilled on these topics of immediate concern and hence, states and organizations have come forward to address them with almost hastily. Therefore, I would like to focus our attention on two other aspects of human need and they are social and spiritual effects.

The human need to interact and mingle with others is necessary for our growth and evolution. Peaceful coexistence is possible if all persons engage in proper social contacts. The growth of the child largely depends on the society where children learn the traits of life and besides they gain knowledge from each other's experience. Likewise, adults socialize at work or otherwise which bonds them to live peacefully and hence evolve as whole human beings. Spouses and family members feel the effects of social distancing to reduce the spread of the virus. Family members are skeptical to touch each other which is natural because families want to protect each other. These effects are serious and will have a longlasting impact on individual growth. These impacts also might lead to human disasters such as enmity, quarrels, and alienation of others. Persons treat others with less dignity and respect due to distancing. Touch plays a significant role in the physical and psychological growth of individuals. This basic sense of touch has been curtailed due to the virus. It might take years to break this new normal of untouchability. 

Humans are spirit and body. Spiritual needs of humans fulfill other needs that are tangible. Although spiritual needs are not merely religious based but also inner peace emanating from the conscious. For many person spirituality rooted in religions as an impact on human growth and evolution. Worship places have been shut their doors. Persons have been denied access to their worship places by this deadly virus. Their right to a relationship with God has been trampled and destroyed. This will have effects on families and society. The relationship between God, humans, and the environment has been disturbed and will take years to bring them to perfect unity. The distance has been widening as the COVID virus is taking its toll around the world. Many have lost their loved ones and in retrospect, they have asked questions such as 'where is God?, why God is silent? why is God allowing this? is there, God?' 

In conclusion, I suggest that all of us reflect, ponder, and share our own struggles in fighting this virus. Human growth depends on all aspects such as physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and environmental. As our healthcare workers strive to help in combating this deadly virus, I urge everyone to focus on life and growth holistically. Help those who are struggling with their social and spiritual relationships. It is crucial to focus on these aspects so that humans grow and evolve as a perfect human person. The human being is possible only through a blend of all essential aspects. I appeal to find ways and means to bring this blend and help each other in this noble task. 

Carnival

I would like to express my views on Carnival through the research of Dr. Lynne A. Guitar Ph.D. of Dominican Republic. She has earned much accolade for her research and findings on several cultural anthropology. Guyana proudly held its first Carnival last weekend. Hence, I am intrigued to express a brief viewpoint on the topic for two reasons, namely, Christian roots of Carnival and its significance today. In Ancient Greece and Italy, long before the emergence of Christianity, people whom we call pagans today had wild celebrations centered around the winter and spring solstices, and spring and fall equinoxes, celebrations that the people did not want to give up, even after they became Christians. The Catholic Church, therefore, adopted many of the celebrations, overlaying them with Christian meanings. For instance, the wildly licentious feast called Saturnalia, dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, and to the god of wine, Bacchus, a festival that used to be celebrated around the longest night of the year (December 17 under the old calendar), became the Roman Empire’s celebration of Christmas on December 25. The licentiousness of the pagan celebration was postponed until the week before Lent began, around the time of the spring equinox. The new springtime celebration came to be called carnival or carnaval from the Latin wordscarnis(“flesh” or “meat”) and levare(“to leave off”), because immediately after the carnival festival came the time of Lent, 40 solemn days of penance and sacrifice, which included not eating meat as well as the renunciation of other pleasures of the flesh. Most of the medieval carnival festivals climaxed on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent officially began on Ash Wednesday. (In Latin, Shrove Tuesday is mardisgras.) Although the word “carnival” originated with this pre-Lenten celebration, the celebratory style of masking, inversion and grotesquerie came to characterize other festivals as well; as a result, some scholars specify the pre-Lenten carnival with the term carnestolendas. As Christianity spread, so too did the celebration of carnival—it spread across Europe and eventually to the Americas, carried there by European conquistadors and colonists.

Carnival in the Caribbean has a complicated beginning. It is tied to colonialism, religious conversion, and ultimately freedom and celebration. The festival said to have originated with the Italian Catholics in Europe, and it later spread to the French and Spanish, who brought the pre-Lenten tradition with them when the y settled in Trinidad, Dominica, Haiti, Martinique and other Caribbean Islands. Historians believe that French settlers would have brought the tradition of Carnival with the Fat Tuesday masquerade in the 18^th Century. This eventually evolved into heterogeneous culture. Hence, dress, music and dance become the primary ingredient for the celebration after the emancipation in 1934. It is important understand and learn the history of what we celebrate.

Lent: Finding Happiness

There is a tale about a king who was unhappy. He had everything, and yet he could not figure out the cause of his unhappiness. His doctors tried many therapies and failed to find a cure for the king’s melancholy. Finally, the king’s astrologer told him that if he wore the shirt of the happiest man in his land, he would be happy. The king sent his ministers all over the land, but every person seemed to have some discontent brewing in her/his life.

One day, when the king went hunting in the forest, he found a man whistling while chopping wood. The king inquired: “My friend, would you like a better job or more money?” The woodcutter replied: “No. I have a good wife and children, a job I enjoy, and a roof over my head. I have all that I need.” The king realized that this was the man he was looking for; unfortunately, the man did not own a shirt!

This tale inspires and challenges us. The first disciples left behind their families, boats, nets, and homes, and followed Jesus. In contrast, the rich young man rejected Jesus’ invitation to discipleship and “went away sad, for he had many possessions.” Peter begins to say, “Lord, we have given up everything.” In other words, “What’s in it for us?” Gently, Jesus helps his disciples understand that they have given up their human families, but now they receive another community that is new and very different—a community that is centered on the will of God. Perhaps Peter was helped to remember an earlier moment when Jesus said: “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Fr. Joachim SJ Laid to Rest. A priest for all.

It is with heavy heart I account on the funeral and burial of Fr Joachim D’Mello SJ. St. Francis Xavier Church in Port Morant welcomed the mortal remains of Fr Joachim. It was on Sunday, 26 January; Fr Joachim was laid to rest at this parish cemetery. The funeral proceedings of Father commenced in the dismal afternoon with pouring tributes from family and friends who had come from across the world. Everyone eulogized Father for his dedication, availability and cheerfulness in the mission that is entrusted to him. Fr. Ronald Fernades, Jennifer Hickel, Thelma Roach, Gibion Moonsammy, Michella Abrams and others related to the goodness that Fr Joachim exhibited during his 18 years of long tenure in this part of the world. His niece, Ms Reyna Sequeira expressed with utmost sadness that her uncle ‘Tika’, as they would call him, walked the talk and gave his entire life in the service of God. She, along with, Fr Jaochim’s brother and cousin travelled from England to pay their last tribute. People also travelled from Barbados, Lethem and Georgetown to bid farewell to Fr Joachim.  

The funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr Chris Llonos, the superior of Jesuits in Guyana and Jamaica. Fr. Paul Martin preached a fitting homily by comparing how St. Francis Xavier, an ardent missionary who went to India and whose incorruptible body is laid in Bom Jesu Cathedral in Goa, from where Fr Joachim hails. He expressed it was time for Fr Joachim to serve Guyana as did St Francis Xavier in India. He also remembered his commitment and availability lead him to hinterlands, coast lands and other Caribbean islands. 

Thereafter, he was laid to rest in the parish cemetery next to Fr Kuruvilla who died a few years ago. Both, Fr Joachim and Fr Kuruvilla served in this parish for a long time hence it was proper that they be laid to rest in the parish. 

If I may recall his unceasing service as a jovial priest for all; Fr. Joachim has been serving in the lengths and breaths of this country. People will remember him as a ‘priest for all’ or ‘a jolly-good priest’. He served as priest in Rupununi for several years where he started honey-culture and carpentry. He encouraged the people in Lethem to do the same. This was his unforgettable contribution besides being an inspirational pastor. As a director of Guyana Human Development Centre in Port Mourant, Berbice, Fr Joachim encouraged the students to take-up vocational skills training such as cooking, cake baking, pedicure, computer skills and so on. He also persuaded the local boys to be trained in basketball and personally trained a team at the center. This center trains school drop-out students in various skills and hence, they are better equipped to take-up jobs or start small business. In these small ways, he touched many hearts. Fr Joachim has also served in St. Pius X parish Church and Jesuit head-quarters in Queenstown. Most persons will relate to him as ‘a priest for all’ because of his service to all. He also had a pleasant and soothing personality that won many friends. He preached with conviction. I have lost a good friend and I pay tribute of gratitude for all the service he rendered to the people of Guyana. Most people who share same sentiment as myself and he will missed by the Jesuits of Goa, Guyana, and close family and friends. He is gone suddenly but lest we not forget that God has a plan for each one of us. I personally would like to thank Fr Joachim for inspiring me through his service in small ways. He was indeed faithful in small things. I will end this account with one fitting quotation from Fr. Joachim, “always appreciate positives and leave negatives to God to deal with.”

Originally published on Catholic Standard on 31 January 2020.

Jerri Dias 

Georgetown