New Evangelisation: A Church that Goes Forth

Indigenous Students after a liturgical dance

A small vendor at the corner of the market place had an interesting conversation with me about his own ordeal for not going to Church. He said that he has continuously to pray in recent times. He has neither time to pop into a Church to pray. It was his honesty that gripped my reflection on this vendor. He further explained that he has been a good person and has been honest in doing his business. He even has helped some of the poor people through his little contributions. His question was, whether he was wrong in the sight of God for not prayin

g and not going to Church? My immediate response was, well done good and faithful servant. You have not been malicious in your business; hence your work is prayer for you. It is said work is worship; an honest person does an honest work. The vendor gave me soaring thumbs up for my pragmatic approach to prayer especially in his life.

In a secular world “New Evangelisation” plays a significant role in the life of the people and the life of the Church. The postmodern ideals appeal to our mutative world. It is also true a robust dogmatic approach of the post-secular ethos have swept the nations to withdraw into a cocoon like life. At times, we wonder at our own world, which has constantly failed to uphold the religious and moralistic ideals. This has lead to steep decline in the religious commitment among the people of God. There is not an iota of attraction for people to hold on to religious ethos; ethos that Jesus came to teach, ethos that help us to love God and love our neighbour.

Our questions are different today. We ask questions are towards arriving at a genuine truth. Young people reason and question the way of the Church. Is there a way that can grip the young people to go to Church? One of the young persons told, that Church is in her heart, so why one has to go to Church to encounter God? One can encounter God and their neighbour right next to their house. Hence the New Evangelisation helps to understand to reach out to the people who are in need of our help. The possible drift among the Catholic folks can be avoided if we make New Evangelisation our own mission; mission of the Church.

Let us try to understand what is ‘New Evangelisation’? Pope Benedict XVI reflected three aspects of the New Evangelisation.

Firstly, “New Evangelisation applies to the ordinary pastoral ministry that must be more animated by the fire of the Spirit.” Jesus promised an advocate to us, that is a Paraclete, Holy Spirit to sustain the Church. In our present context, Holy Spirit guides our bishops and pastors to make decisions that renew the face of the earth. Holy Spirit helps animate the Church to encounter God in our day today lives both in the life of the Church and domestic Church, the family.

Secondly, “the Church’s task is to evangelise, to proclaim the message of salvation to those who do not know Jesus Christ.” Jesus sent the disciples to go to the ends of the earth and make disciples in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Hence, Church has been very a missionary Church, as it is said traditionally, missio ad gentes, or missions to the nations. We can draw our source from the early accounts of the apostles who went to the unknown lands to preach about Christ. It is a challenge to preach Gospel to the people who have not heard about Jesus. It is a naïve world, which is reluctant to entertain any religious aspects for it, can be deemed as un-scientific.

Thirdly, “the baptised whose lives do not reflect the demands of baptism. The Church particularly concerned that they should encounter Jesus Christ anew, rediscover the joy of faith, and return to religious practice in the community of the faithful.” It is a common jargon, which goes like this, “I was a Catholic…but I am not.” I understood from my Catechism that once you are baptised, you are always a Catholic. It is a trend in our Church to baptise with its pompous ceremony and after-baptismal party. There is certain amount of formation before and after baptism but eventually the zeal of our baptismal commitment slackens. Hence, we have a lot of the lapsed Catholics, who either do not practise or do not care to form themselves. There is a mediocre way of practicing our faith. I call them as, convenient Catholics; whenever its convenient one practices one’s faith.

Therefore, New Evangelisation is not doing new things to share the Gospel or doing creative ways of liturgy and other pieties but it is trying to share the Gospel to the people who are in need or people who are not aware of the Good News. The New Evangelisation is not specific action or activity of the Church, but rather a way of seeing a whole range of activities carried on by the Church to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. As Pope Francis in ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ exhorted, the Church is a missionary Church and a Church that goes forth, we can be missionaries of New Evangelisation right in our families or in our work place by helping each other to experience God. This way, we can make New Evangelisation that goes forth to the frontiers of our society.

Charlie Charlie: A Scientific psychosomatic game

A group of young persons asked me a question on this Internet popular game called ‘Charlie Charlie Challenge’. I was posed with a question, whether demoniac spirits exist in and around us? What about Charlie demoniac spirit that is giving nightmares to the young persons in the world? My immediate response was, there is no external spirit, especially demonic or bad spirit. To qualify my statement I had to talk about my experience of good human spirit, and I named it as ‘God’s Spirit.’ This does not rule out the possibility of bad spirit as

experienced by some others. Question about spirit is mysterious in many ways. I have been posed with these kinds of questions especially in religious ambience.

A while ago, I got a phone call to bless the house, especially one corner of the house, where apparently family members see a bad spirit and that spirit is creating havoc in the family. I, as Christian remarked, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31).

The game, Charlie, Charlie Challenge entails people trying to communicate with an ancient Mexican demon named Charlie. The players write YES and NO on four squares on a piece of paper and then set up a pencil sitting crosswise atop another pencil. They then chant, “Charlie, Charlie, can we play?” and wait and for the top pencil to move either towards YES or the NO.

I was curious to see whether pencil moves, of course I did not chant, Charlie, Charlie, rather I just placed a pencil atop of another. After waiting in vain to move, I blew gently and pencil moved. This is Newtonian law of gravity, “an inanimate object will not move unless pushed.” The Independent explained a slight scientifically inclined view on the movement of the pencil. They reported, “With the Charlie, Charlie game, however, nobody is actually touching the pencils. But they are still likely being pushed – the pencils have to be so finely balanced on top of each other that even the slightest movement form the breath or slightly tilted surface will push it around. The arrangement of pencils that the game requires means that they will always move, because it’s just not a natural position fro them to be in.” This simple scientific explanation for the game is satisfactory to a large extent to qualify that the game is based on gravitational pull or gravitational movement of the object

Some of the religious groups have warned against summoning demons. A priest from Saints John Neumann High School in Philadelphia wrote a warning letter. It stated, “I want to remind you all there is no such thing as ‘innocently playing’ with demons. Please be sure not to participate and encourage others to avoid participating as well. The problem with opening yourself up to demonic activity is that it opens a window of possibilities which is not easily closed.” There is an element of religious Spiritism in the game, which I find it hard to buy into it. I have my reservations based on my experience of good spirit, a human spirit or God’s Spirit in each one of us.

This game is not demonic but it is a conglomeration of science and human illusion towards that scientific move. Let me explain; as aforementioned, pencil is moved because of the gravitational pull enforced by an external force, that force could be breath, movement of the paper, and movement of the table. This action of movement happens after a period of certain time depending on the external impact or push enforced on the pencil. This period is spent is waiting by the player. This is not a normal waiting but it is a hypnotised waiting because prior to waiting the player would have already imagined that some demonic spirit is going to move this pencil, hence the correspondence to the actual scientific movement is inevitable. Therefore, there is an element of psychological mesmerisation by the player and that mesmerisation will lead the player to trigger the prior imagined phenomena of the demon or bad spirit. This imagined phenomena will take charge of the player and the player will be moved to scare, fright, and nightmare since the player has not control over that imagination or that phenomena of the demonic spirit.

This is my own reflection into this vicious game that is contagious among the young teenagers. It is contagious among the young teenagers with its deep impact on the society. Social media has made it more contagious with information and experience of the few who are badly affected by the game. The game is player by the teenagers in the absence of the adults hence an element of the curiosity is built and spread. Every teenager who plays this game will be affected by this vicious game because the either play alone or people with similar interests. Therefore, every teenager must be aware encourage others about the psychosomatic Charlie game. We have to be educated in this scientific age to do serious enquiry into matters that can affect our society in a vicious manner. The scientific or psychological enquiry is lacking among the young generation rather we buy into someone else’s experience and theories which may not be authentic. Young persons, let us involve in serious conversations into these matters and do a serious study to educate the world not to spread evil matters in the society.  

A Never Re-Tired nun: Sr. Noel Mary Menezes

It was her humility that captured my attention. She was humble yet rich in knowledge and wisdom. Her contribution to education in Guyana especially higher education is remarkable I am delighted to express my honours to Sr. Noel for she has been appointed by the President to the Order of Roraima of Guyana, second highest award in the country. I was so exultant to hear this great news for she deserves this award for her academic excellence and more importantly for her service to the less fortunate children of our society. This is not only good news for the nation but for the Catholic Church in Guyana. The Church in Guyana has been in the forefront of the society in forming the young men and women for others.

One of my friends recalled, “Sister Noel had tremendous command over the children whilst at the Church; when she entered the Church, there was a pin drop silence. Everyone looked up to her as a good mother.” She has been popular not only among the academics but also among the poor people. She was a person of integrity intertwining her academic with service of the poor.

She has been inspiration for many of the boys and girls; she is one of the second great inspiration to me after an old nun in England, Sr. Chris Fealey, who used visit prisons at the age of 90; she was well respected as the religious governor of the prison and prisoners addressed her as mother. Sr. Noel has been inspiration for many for basically two effects; namely her academic excellence and her service for the less fortunate. She not only educated men and women for others but also showed in her life how one has to show sympathy for the less fortunate.

Her academic excellence was not known to me until I browsed the website Guyana Achievers, which read an extensive biography on her career. Her work on Portuguese history is noteworthy. Her publication titled “The Portuguese of Guyana: A Study in Culture and Conflict” (1992) and the earlier work, “Scenes from the History of the Portuguese in Guyana” (1986), added to my knowledge of cultural diversity of this beautiful nation. Her laudable work in the University of Guyana in the department of History showed her as person of great learning. The CXC students would have read her name in the Caribbean History Syllabus, so now you know that Sr. Noel has been awarded this eminent award. She has the prestigious Golden Arrow of Achievement award to her credit, which was awarded in 1982.

Sr. Noel never basked in the glory of her achievements as an outstanding educator and unloved her real mission to serve the disadvantaged. She served at the St. John Bosco Orphanage in Plaisance for over 30 years. She had special love and care for the children who are in need of a mother. She has been visiting the Mahaica Hospital for patients suffering from Hansen’s disease regularly, which she still does with her close friends like Sr. Celine and Pat Pierre. She is a tireless and non-retired person who cares for the boys. The boys have an utmost respect and love for this elderly sister, which I can see on their faces when I chat with them. When she was awarded this prestigious award, her heart was not in the award but she was little downcast because one her boys from home was ill. This showed me greatness of a person who has been awarded this great award yet her love and care for the boy remained priority.

Let me conclude congratulating Sr. Noel on winning this award and appeal to everyone that we need to look up to the people like Sister who have achieved such great fame both nationally and internationally. Let us look at our local talents and be inspired to be excellent in our endeavours. It is significant to remember the less fortunate people whilst we enjoy the fame and glory. Sister Noel must inspire our young people to be excellent in academics and excellent in our service for the nation.

Hima-Hera Fire Fortune

There is a Guyanese indigenous legend shows why the indigenous people use Hima-Hera tree sticks to produce fire by rubbing them. There was a wicked witch named Nanyoba who hid the twins of Yar and Usidiu for her benifit because Usidiu died at child birth and Yar had gone for hunting. When Yar came to Nanyoba to enquire about Usidiu, Nanyoba lied that twins were not his children. When twins found out that Nanyoba is not their mother and a wicked witch, they set her hut on fire. When she was scorching in the fire she did not die rather she turned into a frog. While she was on fire she spit fire from her mouth which was implanted in the Hima-Hera tree. According to the legend this tree has potential to produce fire and this is just a myth of the tree and the fire. Even if this tree has the ingredient to create fire, it has to be done by rubbing the sticks. 

Human person is a complex being; a being that needs support from other human beings but this support must be based on trust. This trust might emerge because of the closeness one enjoys or merely on ideological sphere. Human persons organize themselves based on their personal allegiance to other persons whom they trust. This happens in our day today lives. We trust someone whom we know very well. This works in all the areas of life. For a business person to invest in some firm one needs to trust the firm. 

Our societies are organized as political entities for a beeptter life and a happy life of everyone. That is why we have found a best way to organize ourselves keeping a societal integrated development. Most often our political allegiance is not really based on genuine perspective rather it is influenced by religious or ethnic ideologies. This is the danger we have to face in any political system. When I was growing up in India I was always told by my family that Christians must vote for congress party because this party is pro Christians and Muslims. The BJP is the Hindu party who wants promote Hindu ethos. Now, I believed this brain wash but no sooner I realized that the above idea is just a myth or a legend, then I used my own descretion to evaluate the government and vote accordingly. 

We can be over whelmed with the allegiance that our forefathers enjoyed and we might adhere to it. This will defeat the purpose of you becoming an independent citizen. This is the myth that when a person of my own becomes the leader I am better off. Most often it might be true because a leader is chosen to lead every people irrespective of who his subjects are. Hence, we need to overcome the myth that I am better off if my own person is the leader. I am shying away from the reality that friends benefit from another friend. This can be an example of bad leadership in which case cronyism ties root. A good leader will make sure to care for everyone of his subjects more importantly his opposites, for Jesus said love your enemies. It is wrongful to think that Hima-Hera tree has the fire within which give out the same fire when rubbed. Our lives must be like this legend of the tree and the fire. We have to be reasonable to know and decide what is best for me and my neighbor. 

A Mothers bond of fond

Mother, an exhaustible word

Ourselves us it across the board

Eyes sparkling with love

Everyone in adoration bow

Naked was I formed in thy womb

A form of my being until the tomb

Myself emanate thy noble fragrance

Every fibre of my being show radiance

Thou strengthened my feet

Then I walked my way to greet

My eyes sparkled with courage

This could be a arrearage

You whispered into God’s ears

That help myself bears

Taught how to talk to God

Thence, my being a laud

Sweetest lady of my first love

I shall abide in you like a dove

My heart gushes to ponder

Despite with it yonder

You are the morning dew

I have none gifts but few

Thou art a jewel precious

I will cherish thou gracious

My being propels a mighty kiss

For thou art today I miss

An intertwined noble bond

I greet thou my dear mother with fond

The Mass for peace on the eve elections

Let us concentrate on two aspects of this day as we celebrate this Mass; true peace based on trust for each other and erasing the negativities of life. 

True peace based on trust: we know from the scriptures that after the resurrection Christ appeared to his disciples in their own situations and greeted them with utmost love for them, 'peace be with you'. This is the true peace that Christ came to share with his disciples. Scriptures says the disciples were so afraid, confused, terrified, anxious and more importantly the future was so foggy they locked themselves in the upper room for they thought the Romans will capture them and kill them like they killed their master Jesus Christ. It is in this ambience that Christ stands among them. He stands among to breathe into them his breath so that their fear can be driven away, they may have clarity from confusion, they can be courageous, they can be sure and that Jesus might open their hearts to see the future more clearly; the future is the way, truth, and life. That's the moment disciples' hearts were opened and were they burning with gods love and trust. 

Do we have some similarities as we look around us? Do we feel our society too is in the same situation as the disciples when their master is executed? Are we frightened; are we afraid as to what will happen to us next moment? Are we confused as to how we will live tomorrow? Are we terrified when we hear what's happening in our society? Are we anxious about our life tomorrow? More importantly, has our future of the society is foggy and blurry? Let us cast ourselves at the feet of God, feet of Jesus who will not abandon us at this time because he will most certainly meet us where we are now. He will meet us in our confusion, fear, anxiety, terror and uncertainty of the future. Our God will take care of because scripture says, we are worth more than million sparrows and the lilies of the field. 

Pope John 23 reminds us in his encyclical, pacem em terris, that Jesus Christ is the author of peace (a. 117), the Prince of Peace (a. 167) who brings us peace and leaves us peace (a. 170), and he reminds everyone that there can be no peace among people unless there is peace within each one of them (a. 165). Let us ask for that peace; the peace in each and every citizen in this country and let that peace might be emanate to reach out to every citizen irrespective of who you are and which ethnic background you are from. 

Erasing the negativities of life: when Rebekha, Jacob's wife was in labour to deliver a child, she was in great pain and she decides to name the child Benoi which means son of my pains because Rebeckha dies in the labour pain. When the attendants tell Jacob that mother has named the child as Benoi, he couldn't continue calling that child son of my sorrows rather he names him Benjamin means son of my strength. Jacob erases the negative name that Rebekha had given. 

Negativities of life can engulf our whole energy and time. Sometimes we can be so negative that we can make our lives miserable and everyone's life miserable. When I chat or council problematic person or couples the significant aspect affects them is their past life. How they lived this past life or how they were bad. Or at times they are bullied by their people that they are good for nothing. Winston Churchill failed 6 grade and his teachers told him that he is no good and not a bright student. Brothers and sisters Churchill goes on to become the celebrated prime minister in the history of Britain. 

As students or as teachers you might going through the same so you have hope that you might be celebrated prime minster (smile). Don't allow your worth to be judged by someone else, if you do that you will be worthless. But you know who you are and you know what you are past is, hence do what is pleasing to God. Cast out all the negativities that society poses to you, cast out in to the deep all the negativities and you be judge for yourself. Let no one control your emotions and let no one tell you what to do because you are the master of yourself. Your guide is only God for scripture says, I am the only good shepherd and I will lead you to green pastures and I will anoint with the cooling oil.  

Sisters and brothers as Bishop Francis Alleye, bishop of Georgetown says, let us greet this elections 2015 with shalom that is with peace. The peace that Christ wants to share with us. Let ask God to give us wisdom to take erase our negativities of life and society. 

Cleaning our Backyard

A teacher from Primary School asked her students to write an essay about what they would like God to do for them.  At the end of the day, while marking the essays, she read one that made her very emotional. Her husband, who had just walked in, saw her crying and asked her: ‘What happened?’ She answered- ‘Read this. It is one of my students’ essay.’ The essay went like this: Oh God, tonight I ask you something very special: Make me into a television. I want to take its place and live like the TV in my house. Have my own special place, and have my family around ME, to be taken seriously when I talk. I want to be the centre of attention and be heard without interruptions or questions. I want to receive the same special care that the TV receives even when it is not working. Have the company of my dad when he arrives home from work, even when he is tired. I want my mom to want me when she is sad and upset, instead of ignoring me. I also want my brothers to fight to be with me.  I want to feel that family just leaves everything aside, every now and then, just to spend some time with me.  Last but not least, ensure that I can make them all happy and entertain them. Lord I don’t ask you for much. I just want to live like a TV.  At that moment the husband said: “My God, poor kid. What horrible parents.” The wife looked up at him and said: “That essay is written by our son.” (Fr Eugene Lobo SJ).