Be good!

 

Mode of challenging

 Two aspects I've grown and learnt over the last couple of years in this office as the Economer: 

Mood and mode of challenging: Challenging, confronting and pulling up people for various reasons is  something I was used to. In fact, everyone considered me a task-master.  That hasn't changed much.  But what has evolved is the ability to pause before jumping to action, and the self-reflection to ensure that I'm doing the confrontation for the right reasons and the good of all concerned.  The pause gives me time and space to calm myself and evaluate my reasons (not justify them).  The self-reflection has taught me to do the confrontation keeping in mind the larger picture and the greater good, rather than for the sake of 'teaching him a lesson'. Not confronting at all has not been an option for me.  But whenver I've done the confrontation right, for the right reasons, I've not had any guilt or regret.  If at all there was regret, it was mostly because I did not do the confrontation right or for the higher good; but not for the point which needed to be challenged. 

Picking my battles: Not all fights are worth the effort and energy.  If there is something that I see as the greater challenge and I can prevent that into turning out to be a major issue later, I'd prefer to use the 'word in the ear' technique rather than go out guns blazing about a smaller issue right now.  Not that the small issue at hand is right or that I do not condemn it, but if the larger good can be achieved then this small issue will automatically be taken care of or even overlooked, if the greater good is achieved.  This has helped me conserve my energy for some productive works rather than dissipate it in mere fire-fighting. 

Youth apostolate: Standalone Events to Cause-based Movements

 This morning addressing the young Salesians, especially those involved in youth apostolate, I began citing two of the major headlines in the recent days: Gen Z protests, across the county and the FCRA amendment opposition. 

Both remained parallel protests, with no ecclesial figures getting involved in the Gen Z protests and no young people opposing the FCRA amendment.  The ecclesial group is very much involved in education and the Gen Z protest was purely about the corruption set in the education system of the country.  Yet, the former did not feel the importance of getting involved.  For the FCRA opposition, the Church was at the forefront. 

My whole point was to recommend the Salesians to move away from restricting youth ministry to events and functions.  The attempt should be to facilitate a youth movement or process; that too based on a cause or a need.  Rather than invest great amount of time, energy, resources and personnel on standalone events, wherein there is neither preparation on the part of the youth as a line-up for the event, nor a follow-up from our side post the event, I exhorted that we should be catalysts for a youth movement, a process.  

Secondly, that movement or process is need-based or revolving around a cause!  

Thirdly, that this need or cause should be that of the young people themselves. Not our motives or reasons!  A youth group without a purpose, a cause or a need that propels it, is a club of party-goers. And young people should not be insulted by engaging them in mere decorative purposes as arranging chairs, or performing a dance in a celebration or as choir members in the Church. The youth are a dynamite and we shouldn't be lighting a cigarette with it. 

Lastly, in order to facilitate this whole process and purpose, we shouldn't be taking centre stage or shifting the focus on ourselves as guides!  Moreover, we should not hesitate or feel ashamed to network or join hands with anyone who is of the same mind; be that with other members of our community, other departments of our institution or Province, or even non-Salesian and non-Catholic individuals or organisations.  The cause and purpose should take precedence over the names and groups! 

Property woes

One of our staff members returned this morning from his native village after attending the funeral of a relative.  I saw him down since his arrival and just before lunch asked if all was well.  He then started narrating his pain about retaining a small bit of land - all that he really owns, in his village - that too from the greedy hands of his own uncle.  What pained him most was this betrayal and backstabbing by his own kith and kin.  Those who should have been standing by him, are the ones usurping his share of the property.  Not only do they want the land bit but to grab it the tactics they are adopting are cruel: they forced this man and his family out of the rented house at midnight.  He, along with his wife, two small kids, aged mother were on the road just before midnight!  He couldn't bear it anymore and broke down narrating it.  This is the first time I have seen him weep.  The pain and humiliation of a son, a father, a husband ... was vivid. All this, around and about a one and half cent bit of land!  

He is still to recover from that shock and pain. Adding to it is the awareness of his helplessness.  No one wishes to get involved citing it to be a family matter.  Walking away from that land is like giving up the only thing he feels connected with back with his roots, especially his deceased father's legacy. 

 As religious, we own much land.  Keeping track of every bit of it and ensuring maximum utility is not something that we do or feel pressurized to do.  But I also know of the agony involved in securing these properties and ensuring that no one creates false documents and lays claim for any of these bits.  Although it is a big headache, it is not always a matter of life and death for us.  Worse comes to worse, we forgo the land and move on. We do not feel the pinch of it. 

On the other hand, most lay people, especially farmers in rural areas who have inherited land from their ancestors or simple city folk who have 'earned' miniscule plots after years of toil, face an uphill task to keep these land bits secure.  And by chance, if some greedy souls lay eyes on it, then they either spend their whole earning on it or have to give it up, due to sheer pressure of the big sharks.  The desperation and helplessness when faced with such challenges is deep and acute! 

What Faith!!

 The Canaanite woman who approaches Jesus for a cure for her ill daughter, the woman suffering with hemorrhage, the Centurion who seeks a cure for his servant all have something in common... great and deep faith.  

The Canaanite woman is 'insulted and humiliated' by Jesus himself when he asks if it is justified to offer the dogs the food of the master!  She does not retort or feel insulted.  She acknowledge the insult, but claims what even a 'dog' is permitted: crumbs, fallen from the masters table.  She does not ask for the meal of the master. Not even the leftovers. All she asks for is crumbs!  

The woman suffering with the hemorrhage chases Jesus, in the midst of the crowd, with one clear intent. Just one clear intent.  Only to touch the fringe of his garment. Not be touched by Jesus. Not to hold Jesus' hand or feet.  Not even to get hold of the whole garment of Jesus.  Just the fringe of Jesus' garment - FRINGE! 

The Centurion asks Jesus only to say a word. He not say that he will get his servant into Jesus' presence.  He does not ask Jesus to send one of his trusted apostle to the bedside of his sick servant, leave alone pester Jesus to visit his servant.  All that the Centurion asks is Jesus' word.  'Just say a word and my servant will get well!' Not a person, not a big prayer service, not long prayer, just a word! 

In each instance we see the depth of their faith.  Of the three persons, two are not even Jews!  From their own personal observation and experience they trusted him so much that all they wanted was not a full-fledged presence of Jesus or his full attention or an extensive time-slot; but merely a crumb, the fringe of his garment, one word from his mouth!!

Media objectivity and reliability

 In times of crisis or turbulence in a country, we all rely on media to keep updated.  Because the turbulence or movements or protests is not geographically spread evenly across the whole nation. Moreover, even before it spreads across the whole country, it starts in one place and then slowly spreads across.  

The speed and intensity with which a movement picks up pace depends much on how media portrays the whole unfolding scenario. Often the state tries to silence or present a sober picture. But in an age of social media, the tiny bits and pieces of information and citizen "reporting" exposes the lacuna.  

The risk is when the state official media does not present the whole truth or consciously avoids essential elements of the report.  Then democracy itself is at risk.  On the other hand, social media points to the facts but is not necessarily always reliable.  Those media channels are not responsible to anyone and hence liable to be hijacked if the individual so chooses to.  Caught between this awareness that the state media isn't entirely objective and the risk of relying on social media content, the receiver is now forced to make a personal judgement.  

Be my baby

 Two lovely songs that I somehow remembered this night... 

The Ronettes singing 'Be my baby'... 

The following is a song that I remember from the movie Belfast, one of the movies I watched while in the UK.  Watching the movie in the context and in the country make it all the more special.  Not every one who watches the movie will FEEL it except those who have been through those time or places! 

Integrity and holiness of life - 2

 I glanced through the book The Dual Form of the Salesian Vocation by Andrea Bozzolo.  Read through the Theological interpretation of the dual form of the single Salesian vocation, as presented by Bozzolo.  Nonetheless, two aspects that stand out for me as serious lacuna which Bozzolo seems to have either missed out or misinterpreted.  

The first aspect is the emphasis and foundational character of our Salesian vocation: Consecration.  This dimension is something in common for ALL Salesians - irrespective of one's choice of brotherhood or priesthood. As Salesians, our identity is that of consecrated individuals, even prior to our identity as priests.  Now if this is not the case, then we are merely diocesans, wearing a different cloak and having a different abbreviation after our name, for the show of it. 

Now I thought I had heard this aspect of the CONSECRATION from Fr Ivo, who in turn heard it from Bozzolo.  Perhaps this book was an earlier interpretation or text from the pen of Bozzolo.  Or I am mixing up my sources! Nonetheless, this is one point that is certainly a very essential aspect missing in the book. 

The second aspect is that of the notion of integrity and holiness.  Somehow, it appears to me - not necessarily that it is what Bozzolo actually meant to say -  that Bozzolo isolates the Brother as the only one of whom integrity and holiness of life are expected.  Not necessarily of a priest!  Because in Bozzolo's understanding, the priest has the authority of the Holy Orders. And that seems to suffice!  Whereas a brother has to 'earn' his authority from the integrity and holiness of life and work that characterizes his life as a brother.  

I believe authority comes from integrity, no matter what state of life one is called to live.  Holiness is not a given grace that automatically transforms a person, without his or her own effort or attempts at being open to that grace!  If one does not live an integral life, no matter how many layers of Holy Orders one puts on or is bestowed with, one lacks depth, spirituality and holiness.  On the other hand, if living an integral life, no matter what 'lowly' work one does, one is holy.  In short, no one, not the priest, not the brother, not anyone, is exempted of this attempt at living a life of integrity.  

Integrity and holiness of life

 An extract from the book The Dual Form of the Salesian Vocation by Andrea Bozzolo (trans. by Michael Smyth) Bangalore: KJC Publications, 2019, p. 69 [emphasis added]

The Salesian Brother's ... way of evangelizing does not take the priestly form of preaching, liturgical proclamation of the Word, or celebration of the sacraments, but rather the typically lay form of making room for the Word of God among the things of the world, transforming work and the effort it involves into an act of love for his brothers and a true spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God, while not excluding explicit proclamation and catechesis.  Thus the integrity of his life will enable him to speak not in the name of ecclesial authority that comes from the sacrament of Holy Orders, but by the authority that comes from the holiness of life.  This is what we see very clearly in the lives of holy Brothers such as Artemide Zatti, Simon Srugi and Stephen Sandor.  They did not preach from the pulpit, but their workplaces - the hospital in Viedma, the clinic at Beitgemal, the printing press in Budapest - became places of extraordinary proclamation and irradiation of the faith.  Indeed, all the work they did spoke of God. 

Personal commitment

 I had another round of discussion with a confrere this morning, again very profound and touching some of the basic issues concerning our Salesian apostolate across the province and in the individual communities.  

One of my primary concerns - was and - is that we Salesians have become numb to the challenges of the youth!  We have found our safe haven in our houses and in our own worlds.  Our commitment to respond to the needs of the youth, is lost when faced with the slightest of discomfort or smallest of a hurdle.  We have basically losing or lost the SPARK!

I truly believe that if I am passionate about working with and for the young, and I notice that there is a challenge which the young people are struggling with - not in the air, but in my vicinity - I will pour out myself, in response to it.  Literally, pour out myself.  I will use every bit of space, every tiny infrastructure, every resource around me, every ounce of my strength and give my best to assist the young or the needy.  I need to 'own' up that challenge, with and for the young.  I will not wait for a mega project to be sanctioned, a new building to be put up, extra space/land to be provided, or someone from somewhere giving me directions as to what to do.  I will just do whatever I can, with whatever I have.  

Without that bit of will, that tiny effort, that initial investment of myself - all of myself - (and the little I have), no amount of money or resources or infrastructure or land or even God himself (by Himself, all alone) can make any meaningful and sustained impact.  

Future of apostolate

The future of our Salesian apostolate lies in building people, movements and processes, rather than continue the erstwhile style of huge buildings, heavy machinery and mega projects. Therefore, to be future-ready we need to be clear with our vision, generous with our commitment and be data-driven about the contextual needs. Openness to partner with like-minded individuals (especially, laity of the Salesian movements) and organisations, is another must. Without any of these essential aspects, we would end up doing great and good amount of work but without much impact.

That's my personal take on the way we need to approach the ministry in practice.  However, at a more deeper and personal level, without personal commitment to Jesus and His Gospel values, the end result too is going to be the same as the concluding line of the previous para.

God in search of man

 

One of the yardstick of measuring our own spirituality - if at all, one can have one! - is the ability to see how passionate are we about cherishing being in God's presence, rather than striving to please him.  The former attitude presumes God is ever present in my life and the latter perspective is based on our pursuit of his eluding presence! 

Presence and accompaniment

 In an era where AI is making significant waves, for good and for bad, one reflection that I came across that makes profound sense to me as a Salesian, an educator: 

The AI offers answers, not necessarily a presence. The AI may provide solutions, but not necessarily consolation and accompaniment.  When God chose to reach humanity, he did not send information. He chose to be present in person. 

However, I am also aware of the danger of side-lining this AI wave as not overriding. Wisdom and happiness lies in striving for balance, making the most of the opportunities without compromising on basics and values. 

Valiant effort

 Glancing through news bits of the day, I came across the following post on X, with news of Amul Cooperative congratulating Yamini Maurya, a medal winner at the Commonwealth 2026 games.  

Honestly, I knew nothing about her or her achievements.  Never heard about her.  But what struck me was the photo.  Not the people in it, but the location. It certainly seems her home.  Bedsheets and mat on the floor.   Trophies lined up on a ledge.  Extension box and charger wires.  And it has an asbestos roof!!  

In an age where most people live in pucca houses, with multi-storeyed luxury rooms, here is a young lady, who has brought fame to the nation through her hard work and effort, living under an asbestos roof! From that one fact alone, I gather how much of an effort would she and her family have made to rise up to the national level sports competitions.  

Kudos to the whole family for their sacrifices and valiant effort.  Appreciation and congratulations to Yamini herself - and the many more like her who make the most of their meagre resources, with an iron grit and a large heart.  

The dynamics of why and how

 Last night I had a long and very revealing discussion with one confrere.  It was basically about finances but that was not the core.  We were basically discussing about the fixed deposits and the way I have been classifying them under a heading, with a clear purpose for each of those FDs.  Discussing and explaining to him about the financial situation and plans of my office, over the last four years, I realised for myself how profoundly my own emphasis on purpose has shaped the financial resources (available, investment and future reserves). 

I have never been a big fan of money or let finance decide my plans and motives.  That's a fact everyone knows, including myself. And I'm very happy for it.  What I do strive to seek is PURPOSE.  Because I've come to believe that if I have the purpose and intention clear, the path will unfold before me, not necessarily at the beginning of the initiative, but eventually and certainly.  So anytime there is something I strongly feel that we as Salesians need to engage ourselves with, finances is never on my list of immediate requirements or needs.  It never has been, never will it be!  And I believe that's the way it is to be.  

Don Bosco's trust in Divine Providence is exactly this practical outlook: Do the good; the necessary support or resources (even financial) will eventually flow in.  But if it is the reverse, namely, finances is my priority, then we hardly do any good!  Everything is mostly about finances and not about the good to be done. 

Learning

 Another powerful representation of the present reality of technology and human beings... 

This statement depicts the stark reality of today's life.  AI is gaining importance at a phenomenal pace. Human's are not a match to that progression and change.  However, rather than make the most of the technology at hand and excel in what we are good at, most are in a race against or for AI.  

Arrive Alive!

 Driving to Nalgonda this morning, we saw this billboard raising awareness of safe driving and traffic... Interesting caption! 

Identifying oneself

 Identity is carved out in association, rather than in isolation. This is one fact that struck me hard and strong years ago when I was preparing a paper on the Salesian Brother.  

Often we think that in order to make ourselves stand out we need to be apart from the rest.  But even there, without the other(s), we do not have a measuring yard.  

Understood in this context, the invitation of Jesus to lose oneself, in order to find who we truly are, makes perfect sense.  Only when we understand all and everyone around us, do we begin to make sense of ourselves!

Borrowed impressions

 In Hyderabad, for quite some years now, there is this ritual one gets to notice practically every morning, all across the city.  There is the municipality garbage van that goes around collecting garbage, door to door.  Nothing unusual about that itself, except that the van has a 'wake-up call'.  A particular tune and song that is played, followed by a message calling upon the ladies of the houses to bring out the garbage.  

Initially I never 'heard' it! Once someone commented on it at table and since then everytime I heard it, I felt annoyed and irritated by it.  Now after a couple of years, I don't 'hear' it again! Not that they have stopped announcing or changed the call sign, it is just that my ears don't pick it up.  

I realised the initial annoyance at that particular sound was because the negative observation and comments I first heard about it.  Not that I personally made an opinion.  I merely imbibed and assimilated that negative impression.  Now, on those rare occasions, that I hear the song and the message, there is still a bit of that awkward feeling, but not as strong as before.