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

Job Opportunities

A friend of mine expressed his disappointment when she was not successful in the job interview. She was an experienced and high qualified for the position, yet the organisation gave job opportunity to a less experienced and less qualified person for the position. The person was selected merely based on influence of nepotism or as I call it 'someone knew someone.' 

A dilemma is cast in my professional life as to how an organisation should hire an employee. Every organisation has freedom to select who they want but it is imperative to keep the interest, core values and mission of the organisation while making selections. If an organisation makes selection based on friendship and nepotism, it is most likely that organisation will not perform as it should. An organisation may overlook a talented candidate since it favors candidates that have influence. This poses a serious concern in a developing society where professional or highly talented people are left back since they have no influence in the hierarchy. 

My own take on this matter is, an organisation must be non-biased while selecting candidates. This requires courage to face influential people on the higher part of the hierarchy. Most multi-million organisation have non-biased and fair selection of candidates to suit their employment needs, this makes these companies bloom and thrive. They choose the best talent by overlooking whether a candidate knows someone in the hierarchy. It is important that even small scale businesses practice this rule, the rule is, not someone knows someone rather someone knows no one. 

Mangalore Diocese: An open letter

Dear Bishop, priests and Sisters of Mangalore Diocese

I am writing this letter with utmost sadness and disappointment in the way you teach Catholics in Mangalore diocese. I have recently left priesthood because of various reasons. This has left a permanent scar in my heart. I cannot talk to my parents anymore and everyone who celebrated my triumph as priest has told me to go to hell. I am like dead person for them. I have been hearing all sorts of rumors and hurtful things in the last few years. I am not going to illustrate anything but you know exactly what happens when someone leaves priesthood or religious life.

I have become untouchable and cast away from society. This is the price I have to pay for being a Catholic, in fact belonging to a religion that I had clue about. While I was baby I was baptized without one clue what I am getting into. I am not going to discuss theological issues and my difficulties in believing in any crap from theology. I believe in God and I am a spiritual person and I live a good life. I lived a good life as a priest and I will continue to live that life. I want to bring it to your attention only human dimension and not theological discourse. As human, how can any living person can remain without loved by someone? I am not interested in the crap that Jesus will help us when we are in need of emotional and sexual help. I am also disheartened for many things in the Church. But I will not enumerate anyone of them. Each one of you knows what I am talking.

My family has abandoned me because I am no more priest now. They celebrated my priesthood saying I will bless their family weddings, and funeral etc. I don’t want to give up my entire life to bless wedding and funerals. If you teach family is the domestic church, why would any family abandon their own son? Why don’t you teach that leaving priesthood is not a curse or end of the world or not shame to family? Leaving priesthood must be taught as any other divorce or nullity crap. I heard all good things about me as priest but now I hear only bad things. It is high time that narrow-minded Mangalore Catholics be taught right thing about Jesus and His Church and stop with crap teaching about priesthood and religious life. How can it be a curse on me when I leave priesthood? Will my God disown me and destroy me because I left priesthood to marry the person I love? God created love between man and woman. He did not create curse at all.

I want you to open you horizon and come out of your little bedroom and little chapels and see the real world. I want you to open up your minds and hearts. Priesthood must be considered like any other profession/job and not sacred crap. I think priesthood must be like any other thing. In fact priesthood has easy and joyful life except for sex, even that some of you might get it. I just want you to teach love and not hatred about God. God does not hate anyone, whether ex-priest or divorcee. He loves everyone equally. It is the middlemen who teach about God from their perspective teach hatred. I want you to stop this. I want you to circulate this letter and I will follow up with this letter with my expositions on theological difficulties to believe in Church crap. But mind you, I am very spiritual and fully loved by God. You may say, I am crazy or lost marbles or want to settle score but please do know that I am fully settled person in life and I have a wonderful family of my own.

Yours sincerely

Ex-priest (labeled as)

Listen to the Survivors

The last two months have been crucial time for the church and women. After the much awaited sex scandal by the clergy report was made public and the sex allegations against USA supreme Court nominee Bret Kavanaugh, it has become very clear that victims or survivors must be heard against any sort of gimmicks of the powerful.
Invariably, the church leaders met with each other to propose what is the best way forward after these revelations. It seemed like the church leaders yet again failed to keep the survivors as the priority rather they made the institutional priority not to endanger the reputation of the church. Reputation of the church is in crisis at the moment marred by sexual abuse by it's clergy.
In the case of Bret Kavanaugh, it is clear that the leaders are quick to assume power to confirm this judge to the supreme Court, rather than listening and investigating the allegations of sexual abuse towards multiple women. It is the way the powerful would like to protect and promote the predators to high positions. 
Every survivor must be infuriated at this atrocious move by the powerful few. It is a way to control and suppress the voice of the survivor. Me too movement has taken a deep root among the victims of sexual abuse. It has helped to bring down male chaunist ego. The church and state leaders now have the task to listen carefully to the people on the pew and on the streets as to what they have to say about the sexual abuse. The change is coming but slowly. The change is hard and painful for both, powerful and survivors. It is important not to give up in this struggle for change.

Positive Theology

In my early formation of belief in God was that of a policeman. Sin was always on the forefront of any faith formation. Topic of sin was made relavant with ample examples both from the Bible and from our day today life. There was a moral yardstick to control and prevent one from sinning. Idea of punishing God became our daily bread. For instance, if we don't eat as children, God would punish us or if we didn't do our homework, God would punish us. God was more like a negative figurehead that helped parents and teachers to ease their burden of teaching and guiding children.
The punishing God impacted my adult life as well creating certain fear. Sin and God became parallel. Infinite and loving God was limited to a policeman God. We must move away from this kind of God. We must move from punishing God to prosperous God. That is, God of punishment to God of prosperity. Imagine how does a mother care for her child in times of struggles and joy. A mother will be living and caring to her children. The action and behavior of children surpasses mother's love for them. Our God is like a mother who's love and care surpasses our weakness and struggle. In other words, sin must surpass God's goodness and mercy. That doesn't allow us to hurt each other because God is love and God expects us to love each other. If God loves us he expects us to love others. So there is no room for sin in a positive theology. Positive theology must do away with sin and propose only prosperity. There is no place for negativity in the God of positivity.