January - March 2004

God has placed the world in my hands: What shall I do with it?
- Artwork and thought by novice Thomas Besra - 

Contents
Editorial
Whisper in the Kutiram
The Breastplate of Saint  Patrick
Meditation and Visualization
Thirty Years Ago
News in Brief
Inter-Faith Sharing at Meerut
The Musing of Br Vincent
St Joseph's and the Poor
Shanti Bhavan Update
The Lighter Side
Quotes & Poem
Photo Album

The Province Assembly held on 29, 30 December at the CRI Brothers’ Institute, Bangalore, in preparation for the forthcoming General Chapter in July-August this year, was not only an occasion to take collective decisions that we consider most important for the Congregation in the next six years, but also for all the Brothers to come together to pray, meditate,  share one another’s company and enjoy the camaraderie and esprit de corps that is the hallmark of the Patricians. The added attraction, obviously, was the incorporation of Albert Arularasu as a full-fledged Patrician on 30th morning  after his having spent a period of three years on probation with us. He was a finally professed member of the Congregation of the Brothers of St. Michael before joining us. 

Ken Blanchard, Bill Hybels and Phil Hodges are names that people who read books on leadership and management are familiar with. The book “Leadership by the Book” which the three of them co-authored, unlike other books on management and leadership, speaks about the kind of leadership which we Indians would understand as Nishkama Karma  of Bhagavat Gita, or Jesus’ philosophy of “servant-leadership”, i.e., service without desire for personal success or self-promotion. In other words, service where process matters more than the result is what they advocate. Normally we aim at success. The whole concentration is on result rather than the means to achieve it. Since most of our actions are governed by a desire to see result which has behind it power, recognition and even greed as the ultimate end, there is the lurking danger of a mindset that things are possible without God. This can happen with individuals as well as institutions. When things are seen to go well and prosperity becomes visible, edging God out can be a real danger which we Patricians should take care to avoid at all times and in all places. 

  EGO = Edging God Out, and edging God out means ego, the self, taking over. When “I” become the center of my universe, God has to stay out. And when God is kept out, desire for self-promotion, craving for social acceptance and greed for power begin to dominate the human mind. This is the beginning of trouble though some of us may not agree. There is only one remedy: Free the mind and let God call the shots as Jesus did. The result will be the mind and heart of a “servant-leader”.

  Following the guidelines of “Choose Life”, “Rejoice in Hope” and “In Love and Confidence”, we have come a long way, no doubt. What little we are doing for the poor and the marginalized, and the way we manage and run our institutions, do speak well of our collective determination to reach out to people in need as best as we can. But, instead of being satisfied and smug about what we have achieved, let us keep saying with Robert Frost  “Miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep”, and keep going with full vigour and enthusiasm in the conviction  that we are not alone but are being revitalized and rejuvenated all the time by the energy and vitality of Christ .  In the words of Pope Paul VI ( Ecclesiam Suam) if we  “realize what is God’s will in its regard, it will gain for itself a great store of energy in the service of all men. It will have a clear awareness of a mission received from God, of a message to be spread far and wide”. 
 

Here are three pieces of writing from three of the chapters from the book,  “St. Francis On the Indian Roads”, on Augustine Deenabandhu. ( Although I had heard about him, it is only recently that I got to read a book on Deenabandhu, the Sadhu. The author of the book is Devanand ). The second is a quotation from Fr. William Johnstan, used to conclude the same chapter. The third is taken from a book of short stories entitled “Tongues of Angels” by Alan Robinson. In this book the stories are narrated by the fictional Brother Tristram. 

Listen to what these people are saying. Listen also to what they are not saying. 

                                                      I
         I made my mind a beggar's bowl.
         I wandered, and begged the bread of learning
         From door to door;
         I filled it with crumbs that fell to me
         From every house of learning.
         I crammed it very full; I made it heavy,
         And I was proud;
         I thought I was a Pundit,
         I wished to walk far above the earth in my pride,
         My steps hardly touched the ground.
         One day I went to my saint.
         I placed my bowl before him,
         And I gave it as an offering;
         'Dirt, dirt!', he said, and turned it upside down.
         He threw the crumbs away,
         He rubbed it with sand, he washed it with water,
         Clean of all the dirt of learning.
                                                                          - Bir Singh

                                        II
And the same chapter ends with this quotation from Fr William Johnston:

"It seems to me that Christians must put some effort into forming their own directors or gurus. This means fewer Ph.Ds and more gurus; less study and more meditation; fewer universities and more meditation halls. Ordinarily speaking, enlightenment is passed on from master to disciple and on. But when a link is missing in the chain relationship, some people must be driven by the spirit into the desert to fast and pray and hear the voice of God." 

                                       III

Fishing in Galway

I was on the ferry from Holyhead  to Dublin once when I met a man who was going for a long weekend in his home county in Ireland. I happened to be telling my  rosary while sitting comfortably in an armchair when this huge  man came to sit beside me. When I had finished my rosary the man said . "Are you going somewhere special , Father?”

I said, " It depends what you mean  by special . Are you going somewhere special ?"

"To be sure I am", he said. "I'm going to Galway to do some fishing."

"That sounds attractive," I said . "I'm going to do some fishing myself, as a matter of fact."

"Sea or river?" he said .

"Neither," I said. "I'm fishing for men who might have vocations to the order  I belong to . I'm visiting a seminary in Cork for that very purpose. It's like a holy career convention if you like ."

"It's no good looking in my direction, I'm a lapsed Catholic."

"I'm not sure what a lapsed Catholic is," I said . "Presumably you were baptized and had your first communion." 

"Of course . But I no longer have anything to do with  the church."

"Do you believe in God?" I said .

"Off and on."

I laughed. "I can see you're a comedian. What does ‘off and on’ mean . Either God is there or he isn't."

"It depends where I am and what I'm doing," he said, smiling broadly . "When I'm fishing in Galway  I definitely believe in God. When I'm working in the  office I have very strong doubts."

"So you're really going to Galway to commune with the Lord?" I said .

He laughed. "It's you that's the comedian, Father. My name's Patrick, by the way."

"Brother Tristram," I said , shaking his hand.

We sat in silence for a while. Then Patrick said, "You're not Irish, Father?"

"No, I haven't that privilege. But I do have a lot of  Irish friends. Ireland exports monks and nuns all over the world, you know."

"That won't do a lot for the balance of payments," Patrick said, grinning .

"It might do a lot for the balance of heaven and hell," I said.

"Don't they need converting in Ireland , then, Father?”

"They didn't  used to . But I'm afraid that many Irish people are wearing the  same shoes as you are."

"We were all brainwashed," he said sturdily. "You don't need to go to church to believe in God. The nuns didn't tell us that at school."

"Going to church every Sunday don't make you believe in God, but it does give you an opportunity to come to terms with yourself and life problems. It gives people a bit of space and time to sort  themselves out."

"I can do that when I'm fishing ." he said .

"In other words, the act of fishing is really an act of worship," I countered.

"It's not the fishing itself," he said. "it's sitting under the sky and watching the scenery  and listening to nature."

"I'm sure Jesus did that," I said .

"He also went fishing," said Patrick. "So you could say I'm following in the Lord's footsteps."

I must say I found Patrick very amusing . He was like a breath of fresh air filtering through to my ecclesiastical stuffiness. I said "Perhaps all bishops should be compelled to do the same."

"Especially in Galway, Father. It would do them the power of heavenly good, to be sure."

I said, "Moses was right, you know."
"How do you mean?"

"When he said we all needed to take a day off for worshipping God. It stands to reason, doesn't it. If we went on day after day without stopping  to take  breath  we'd all die at about the age of forty."

Patrick laughed . "I expect you're going to say that's why Moses lived till he was a hundred and twenty, Father." 

I laughed as well. I was beginning to  warm to this man .

Then I said, "What do you do on Sundays in England, Patrick?"

"Go fishing, what  do you think? At least when I have Sunday off," he said .

I resisted the temptation to suggest that he might try going  to church occasionally . Instead I said, "Does that recharge your  batteries?"

"It stops me from having a nervous breakdown ," he said. "My job's not an easy one."

"May I ask what you do?" I said curiously.

"I'm the deputy  governor of a prison."

That surprised me, I must say. I said, "I expect that has something to do with wanting to go fishing."

"To be sure, Father, it has everything to do with it. The trouble with church is it reminds me too  much of prison. The Lord doesn't want us behind bars now, does he?"

"No," I said ."The Gospel is all about freedom. But I find going to church and the discipline of prayer sets  me free . Setting apart time for God is a good way to be free from worry during the busy times."

"I don't disagree. I get too much discipline . And I get too much friction. My answer to it all is to go fishing."

I was impressed by Patrick's line  of reasoning . I said, "Tell me, Patrick, do you ever pray nowadays?"

"Not in the  way you mean, Father, but I think about people and situations when I'm fishing and somehow I feel I'm commending all my problems and theirs to the almighty. I suppose it's a kind  of prayer."

"Some of my prayers are like that," I said . "I suppose the surroundings help the process. I like to be in chapel myself. The atmosphere just seems right somehow. But  with  you it seems to be communing with nature that helps the process."

"Yes," he said. "But I have a confession to make, Father. When I can't go fishing I sometimes go and sit in the prison  chapel for a while . I find it helps."

Shortly after that we arrived in Dublin and I said good bye to Patrick. I have never seen him since, but I do feel that my encounter with him  taught me something important. I now know that people can find space and time for the Lord in different ways and who is to say what the Lord finds acceptable or not acceptable. One thing's for sure, I wish some of my colleagues would go fishing  in Galway now and again .

(The Novice Master, in the Guru-Shishya tradition, at a question-answer session with the Novices, his ‘disciples’)

Master: Today you have the freedom to ask me any question that is of your interest regarding your spiritual life.

Disciple 1: Master, we have been learning about the Breastplate of St. Patrick, our Patron. Please tell us why it is so important for us and why we should pray it every day.

Master:  I am happy that you asked me this question. We have learned that it is important for us to pray it every day because it was a prayer dear  to St. Patrick. But it is much more than that. I want to explain to you that aspect of  the Breastplate. 

Disciple 2: But, Master, how do you know that it was St. Patrick’s own prayer and not a later composition by some pious Irish soul?

Master: Son, tradition tells us that it was our heavenly patron’s own prayer. Let us take it that way. Now what I want to share with you on the Breastplate is something that you are not likely to accept  readily. For many of you, I am sure, it may even sound stranger than fiction. But for me and for those who know something about the Chakra System in the human body and the energy fields that surround us, it is as real as the air we breathe or a live electric cable or the sound and light waves.

Disciple 3: We have, Master, heard about the Chakra System. Our Yoga teacher has told us about the seven main Chakras of the body that are associated with our endocrine glands. He  told us that these Chakras are as vital to the human body as the endocrine glands themselves. In fact, the universal life-force energy that these Chakras suck in like a vortex, invigorate and tone up our endocrine system which, in turn, sends out energy which protects us as a shield. It is known as the etheric energy field. During yoga, prayer, meditation etc., he said, this energy field expands as the Chakras reach a high frequency of vibration. He also had mentioned about two other energy-fields, the astral and the mental. But he did not tell us what exactly these are and what they do. 

Master: Good that you know about the etheric field of energy which is closest to our body. Well, next to it is the astral energy-field which is associated with our emotions. And next to it is the mental energy-field resulting from all our mental activities such as thought, imagination, speech, consciousness, etc. These three energy-fields are so interconnected that they are inseparable. Death can only separate them from the physical body but they remain connected as a web! Our physical, mental and psychological health depends entirely upon the total integration and  coordination of these three fields of energy. But for most of us, these three are seldom or never in total harmony. For us Christians, Jesus is the only human being who had these energies in the most perfect order. Of course, Buddhists would look upon Buddha as one of the many bodhisattvas who reached the highest level of consciousness. One thing we should realize is that we all have the power to reach the stage of consciousness that Jesus was in. “Be you perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect” was how Jesus saw the proper use of the power that we all possess. I would say St. Patrick saw himself as another Christ when he prayed the Breastplate.

Disciple 4:  How so, Master?

Master: That is what I want to speak to you about. I don’t know if you have heard of such terms as Extrasensory Perception, Clairvoyance, Telepathy, Dowsing etc.  -  by the way, you must have probably seen our Bro. Pius divining water, another word for dowsing! These used to be considered devil’s work  at one time by the Church. But with the advent of  science and technology and the progress Psychology has made, the Church is silent about these.  Well, there are people who have these  as natural gifts, and these can also be developed since all of us have the potential. Before the advent of Kirlian Photography,  only people with clairvoyance   -   it means  ‘clear vision’   -   could see or experience the energy-fields around the human body. Those capable of seeing them with their naked eye see them as a web of multi-colours. Most  clairvoyants  are known to have a pastoral background. Their close contact with nature   -  grass, plants, trees, mountains, streams and lakes   -   gives them a lot of time for solitude and reflection. It is in solitude that you are able to see deep into yourself and ‘see’ what is happening within and around you. It is in solitude and meditation that you develop the finer aspects of your personality such as intuition, insight and imagination. Clairvoyance is a fine-tuned state of intuition which enables the clairvoyant to see and experience things that normal people cannot. St. Patrick, as a youngster, is said to have spent most of his time in his father’s farm. And later, when he was abducted and taken to Ireland, he spent over six years as a shepherd in commune with nature. It is possible that he developed the ability to see not only his own energy-fields in their fascinating colours but also of those of the flora and fauna around him during that time. And my own educated guess is that, later as a missionary bishop, when he was filled with the spirit of Christ and thus reached a very high level of consciousness, he either saw or experienced the highly vibrant and expansive form of his own etheric, astral and mental energy-fields and, unable to explain any other way, interpreted  them as Christ’s own light and life. This must have inspired him to cry out in prayer “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ above me, Christ below me, Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left, Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.” 
 

Disciple 5: Incredible! 

Master: Indeed, it is incredible for those who hear it for the first time. 

Disciple 6: Master, granted that what you say is true. We know there are still many things in life beyond our knowledge and grasp. So I’ve no hesitation in believing the truth of your statement. However, what I would like to know is if Jesus ever saw his own energy-fields.

Master: Jesus does speak about energy…power… going out of him when the woman with haemorrhage  touches his cloak and is cured. He speaks about himself being the “Light”. But it is left to his disciples to see the powerful energy-fields of his on certain poignant occasions. You remember Jesus taking Peter, James and John with him to pray on Mount Tabor. While they are there, Jesus’ face becomes like the sun and his clothes become bright as light. The three see with their own eyes Jesus’ etheric, astral and mental energy-fields in perfect harmony and in their full splendour. His energy-fields, you must remember, were so perfectly blended that his word was as powerful as his touch. Distant healing was not a problem for him since he could expand and extend  his energy at will.

Disciple 7: But, Master, a moment ago you said that the energy fields appear in multi-colours. Why then did Jesus’ appear white?

Master: Good question! But the answer is going to be rather simple. At that momentous moment, so to say, Jesus’ energy-fields came together in perfect conjunction or, to put it another way,  merged with one another so perfectly …just like  when a rainbow coloured disc rotates fast enough, it would appear white. 

Disciple 8:     Unbelievable!!!

Disciple 9:   Master, coming back to St. Patrick, if it was his own energy-field that he saw, would it be right to say that it was the energy-field of Christ?

Master: Of course, it is right, son. Any inspiring thought or word can enhance the vastness and quality of one’s energy-fields. So, if Christ was the reason for Patrick’s energy-fields to  expand and invigorate him, and others around him, then credit must go to Christ as well. Besides, as I told you before, since nothing created can ever be destroyed or lost but can only be transformed into another form of existence, Christ’s energy and life, just as those of all  who walked this earth, are very much alive and active, and available to us. What more do we need than to share that wonderfully blended and most powerful energy-fields of Christ and make our own as his! Paul was right when he wrote: “I live now; yet not I but Christ lives in me.”

Disciple 10: You have told us, Master,  time and again that we must have a mantra at the conclusion of meditation. Do you consider the Breastplate of St. Patrick an appropriate mantra?

Master:  A mantra is meant to seal, and root the meditator  firmly in his resolve so that he continues to live what he meditates on. Take any aspect of Christian and religious life and you find that Christ is the model par excellence and so the epicenter of our lives. The Breastplate, therefore, is an excellent mantra to intone either alone or together at the close of a meditation for any Christian. And it is the most ideal mantra for the Patricians anywhere, anytime!  In fact, the hearts and minds of the entire Patrician family can be knit together in love and unity with this powerful Mantra: THE BREASTPLATE OF ST. PATRICK. 

 One of the ways in which we become aware of our own inner nature is through meditation. Meditation is a conscious effort to withdraw our focus of attention from the immediate physical and emotional distractions which we all experience in daily life, and to center it within. Through such centering we gain a sense of unity with higher dimensions of the self, and this becomes a great source of strength and peace.

  There are many different meditation techniques which achieve the same results. The important element is regularity, for without this there can be little long-term effect.  Habitual practice builds up confidence and establishes a harmonious link between all the levels of consciousness which we have described. If practiced daily, meditation can alter habits which create tension and can make a definite change in the personality and health of the individual. This is reflected in the charkas, as their rhythm will alter and new energy will flow in, thus helping to break destructive habit patterns. The charkas will begin to function together in harmony, and this in turn brings additional energy into the whole system. Even if one is tired when sitting down to meditate at the end of the day, one feels not only relaxed but energized afterwards. 

  In many cases, meditation gives a sense of self-mastery, so that a person feels able to change old habit patterns. It is through so doing that meditation can help us overcome the disease process. One of DVK’s personal observations over the years  -   during which she has focused her attention primarily on the effects of healing and to a lesser extent on the functioning of the charkas   -   is that meditation has a therapeutic effect. The sense of being part of a greater whole helps us to free ourselves from the common delusion that we are the center of everything, and from being preoccupied with ourselves.  This feeling of wholeness also abates our tendency to concentrate on our illness  -  a tendency which only reinforces the disease process. Instead of identifying ourselves with our illness, we become aware of our own state of mind and of our ability to change it.

  It has been found that under stress the whole body is thrown into strain, and that the sympathetic nervous system is activated by the mere thought of something that must be escaped or dealt with forcibly. Heartbeat and breath become faster, adrenalin pours into the system and the person may sweat. That all this can take place when something frightening appears in the imagination shows that there is no boundary between the physical body and the thoughts and feelings; what we imagine can be terrifyingly real to us.

  In the same way, imagining or visualizing happy and peaceful situations can have a tranquilizing effect. Visualization can certainly be very useful, for it helps to strengthen the power of concentration. For example, if we are anxious we should focus upon whatever is to us a symbol of peace, and visualize this not only during meditation but also during the day whenever anxiety begins to arise in us. If a symbol is to be effective, it must have meaning for us; therefore a person should select one that is connected with his own personal experience.
  To DVK, one of the most effective symbols is a tree, which is rooted in the earth, reaches out to the sun for its life sustenance, and is constantly buffeted by wind and weather. In all cultures the sun is a symbol of spiritual reality, and the weather represents the changing circumstances of our daily life; thus the tree not only has immediate personal meaning for us in terms of our experience of nature, but also stands for the possibility of our “weathering” our day to day problems and of becoming more aware of that spiritual dimension which persists through all personal storms.

  When we visualize, we are using the power of the brow chakra, and this shows up clearly to clairvoyant sight, since it not only speeds up the rotation of this center  but also affect the brow chakra. Therefore the practice of positive visualization helps to promote the healing process, for it energizes the whole system and thus can have a beneficent effect on our health.

  The greatest energy can be drawn from the highest levels of our consciousness. We can awaken to these levels within us through prayer and meditation, and also by truly altruistic actions. Genuine altruism breaks the pattern of self-concern, which often is the cause of somatic illness.

  Meditation can lead to an indestructible conviction that we can be whole, because we participate in the wholeness of the universe itself. When we are centered, there is no feeling of being caught in the disorder that may be around us, and thus we can experience real peace. This builds an inner core of steadiness which can keep us serene and in balance even in the face of life’s difficulties.

  A case of great interest to DVK illustrates the effects both upon the charkas and on the healing process when changes in consciousness occur. A young woman who had a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis also had very little confidence in herself and her own abilities. At the time she came to see us, her energy system was low, and this of course affected her charkas. Soon thereafter she became very much interested both in meditation and in the healing process, and began the regular practice of meditation.

  This made a great difference in her general health, and her chakra system reflected the change. Several of her centers were particularly affected: the brow chakra, the seat of concentration, and the crown chakra, the seat of consciousness and the gateway of higher energies, began to act in harmony with each other and with the heart chakra, and this in turn influenced the functioning of the solar plexus chakra. By consciously changing her thought patterns, she transferred her focus from the solar plexus to the heart, and this transformed the whole system.
  When the heart and crown charkas work together harmoniously, this acts upon the thymus gland and strengthens the immune system. At the same time that this was taking place in this patient, she tried to involve herself in helping others through healing, which also brought new energy into the heart chakra. There was a noticeable change in both the rhythm and the movement of her three higher centers.

   All this dramatically changed her life.  In a few years the arthritis disappeared, and the integration of her faculties gave her self-confidence. She was able to take on a responsible position in important and difficult welfare work, which strengthened her recognition that she could make a contribution to others and her determination to lead a life of altruism. 

  The regular practice of meditation relaxes tension as well as focusing the mind on a lofty or universal concept. This is liberating because it reaches a level beyond the problems and desires of the personal self. This changes the energy in the crown chakra and opens the mind and heart to dimensions of consciousness which flood one with peace, reduce emotional stress, and this affect the whole body.

Preparations began in the first week of January 1974. The application for my passport was signed by Mr. T.A. Varghese I.C.S. (Retired). However it was rejected by the passport officer of Madras and I had to get it signed by another person ? an I.A.S. Officer assistant to Mr. Varghese and working in the same office.  After this initial difficulty everything went smoothly. I got the passport in less than two week’s time.

   The Heath certificate was prepared in Coonoor and the  injections were given by Pasteur Institute and Coonoor Municipal Health officer. The College nurse helped me.

   As advised by Bro. O’Brien, Provincial, I had contacted Mr. Chug (President Travels, Dehra Dun) for my passage. Since I was in Madras, I decided to select one from Madras itself and Mr. Vivian Francis brought Binny’s agent. Binnys did everything else and the journey was to cost over Rs. 8000. [Madras ? Delhi ? Rome (2 days) and Rome ? London ? Dublin. The return was fixed Dublin ? Amsterdam ? Delhi ? Madras. Amsterdam ? Delhi was supposed to be Charter Flight of AIR INDIA. I got one hundred Dollars in foreign currency.

    IC 440:  On 23rd May I started my journey from Madras by the evening flight to Delhi. On arrival at Delhi I visited Mt. St. Mary’s but since the Brothers had gone to Kashmir I returned to Palm airport and spent the couple of hours in the airport lounge itself. I had a very quiet dinner at the restaurant.

   At 10.30 p.m. I checked in and after the immigration formalities etc I remembered that I was entitled to get eight U.S. Dollars more. Soon after getting the permission I went to the Bank in the lounge and got the same.

   Just after midnight I left New Delhi by Air India flight No 109 to Rome. The plane was a Jumbo and very attractively designed and decorated. The facilities included 6-channel music and film shows. As per rule one has to buy the ear phones. Excellent free food was served and I could buy drinks. I enjoyed scotch whisky and paid in Dollars. (No Indian currency was accepted on any International flights).

   After about 6 hours of flight we landed at Beirut for refuelling etc. We were not allowed to go out and the stop was for about an hour.

   At 6.40 a.m. (local time) I arrived at Rome. I was a bit worried since I had no confirmation about Fr. Varghese Azakath meeting me there. (The postal strike in Italy delayed our letters and I had even sent a cable from Madras.) After the usual formalities of customs, passport etc. I looked out and I was overjoyed to see Fr. Varghese waiting for me outside. As soon as I got out we boarded a luxury bus and started to the central station. ( Besides the driver only 3 of us were in the bus.) The early morning trip along the well-planned roads was a real treat. It was fast, smooth and very pleasant. At the station we hired a taxi and went to Propaganda College where Fr. Varghese had arranged my accommodation. After reaching there I spent an hour exchanging news especially of home and Kerala, with Father;  it was interspersed with pegs of good brandy.

   At about 10.30 a.m. I was given a room on the same floor and made myself more presentable with a shave. Then we began our tour of the Vatican. Since Fr. Varghese  knew Italian, I had no problem with language. We visited the audience hall and came to know that His Holiness Pope Paul VI would be coming to give a special audience and address the International Organization of Hospital Workers.  Admission was with passes only. The Swiss Guards told us to go away but we lingered and after some time one of the Guards told us to go away or to go in. We immediately went in and after about 30 minutes of eager waiting His Holiness was carried into the hall. I saw His Holiness from a distance of 4 feet near the entrance and then listened to His Holiness for about 10 minutes.

    We continued our tour till lunch time when we selected a restaurant about 100 yards away from the Square. We had a typical Italian meal with spagetti/macroni, wine, stake etc. After this sumptuous meal we retired to our rooms for a short rest. However, before long we were again out watching the priests playing soccer at the Propaganda ground. In the evening we visited the streets again and had dinner in a different place. I had also the opportunity of buying some curios and pious articles to be taken home. In the night we visited a theatre and saw an English film.

The place was crowded with tourists. On returning to the Propaganda, I slept till 7.30 a.m. next morning.

   The second day in Rome was spent in purchasing of a camera, slide projector etc. In the evening we paid a courtesy call to Fr. George Thomas and Fr. Antonyswamy studying in College Petro. They are from Madras. On the wall of the building I saw photos of distinguished old students ? Bishops all over the world. Bishop Irudayaraj of Palayamkottai was the last on the list.

   On 26th May I left the Propaganda College at 5.00 a.m. We walked down to the bus stand and caught the first bus to the central. From there another bus took us up to the airport.

    At the airport to our surprise the clocks showed s difference of one hour. (Summer time had started that morning). The Air India flight was delayed by 3 hours. So after checking in and procuring a free coupon for breakfast for me Fr. Varghese left me and returned to his residence thinking of what might happen at Heathrow airport because I was about 5 hours late in arriving and there would be only an hour left to take off for Dublin. That meant I would have to hurry through the formalities and get to the right gate in good time. The luckiest thing I had done  at Rome was to book my baggage direct to Dublin. So when I landed at Heathrow airport I had to carry only my hand bag. It was really a blessing.

   As soon as I got off the plane at Heathrow I dashed for the exit. Everything was moving: there were conveyor belts, moving steps, moving side walks and arrows and signs galore. I followed these directions and reached the health counter. I was given a small folder with instructions to report to a doctor at once in case I got sick within a few days of my arrival. Next was the passport counter. I was questioned about the purpose of my visit, nationality, religion etc. (The officer asked me if I had a temple in Tullow; seemingly an Indian probably meant a Hindu to him.) Customs was not a problem as I walked  through the green gate. At the outer gate the door was not open. (I had forgotten it was automatic!) As I neared it, it did its duty and I boarded the first bus to go the next departure building for Ireland.

    At the place I went through the usual checking in formalities and then reached the small departure lounge. Here it was that I felt I was in a strange country among foreigners. I sat there alone for about 15 minutes and the rest were talking among themselves. I felt shy or withdrawn to open a conversation with anybody but at the same time I was listening to every word that was spoken there. Most of them were either tourists or Irish people returning to Dublin.

    At about 4 o’clock the last leg of my journey began. The hostesses were young and dressed in not so attractive green. They freely chatted with the passengers and urged them to hurry up the transactions of buying liquor as the flight would be only for an hour. I had a cup of coffee  only since I would soon be arriving at my destination ? Dublin.

   At about 5 o’clock the Aer Lingus Plane touched down at Dublin and I had a sigh of relief. I collected my luggage and anxiously approached the exit gate hoping somebody would be waiting for me. Yes, I was really honoured by no other than Bro. Denis Lomasney himself (S.G.) He welcomed me warmly and carried my heavier case. He enquired about my comforts especially food and cold. After reaching the car he again offered to get me something to eat but I politely refused because I was not feeling hungry.

   On the way from Dublin we visited Bro. James Foley in the Mater Hospital. He had undergone an emergency operation for a damaged artery. Bro. Foley had returned from India only a couple of days ago. We found him in good form but tied with a lot of tubes!

   The drive from Dublin to Tullow was fast and Bro. Denis repeatedly asked if I was feeling O.K. in the strange climate. Everything looked green and I saw only a very few people along the way. Many places along the way were pointed out, named to me but I don’t remember anything except the famous building from where the paintings were stolen lately.
                                                                               (to be continued in the next issue of Patrika)

The extension of  St. Patrick Karunai Illam (Mercy Home) at Coonoor  -  a grand structure costing over ten lakh   -   is ready for occupation. Bro. Patrick who is in charge besides managing the tea plantation and fruit garden, was keen that the Night Shelter also should have facility for accommodating  poor old people of the area who have no one to take care of or are abandoned by their children. As the access to the place was difficult, the Coonoor Community has also decided to provide an access road to the Home. The compassionate souls of Coonoor Community consist of Bros. Francis (Superior), Mathew, Xavier, Patrick, Felix and Tomy. May all happy blessing be upon them!

The young Brothers of Patrick Nilayam, Trichy, decided to forgo their meat, fish and eggs to save money to construct a house for the laundry man and his family. The Provincial also has assured help on hearing of this sacrifice. May peace and joy continue to be their reward. 

 Twenty years ago those who visited Patrick Nilayam would have been totally disenchanted with the bleakness and barrenness of the place. However, today the story is different. The now verdant land with lush trees and plants all around is not only a pleasant place for healthy human habitation but also home for many a bird   -   some rare ones  -  which Bro. William has become an expert at identifying! He also says that the real chameleon can be sighted there. Bros. John Kampyil, Variath, Benedict, Stan are names that  one cannot easily forget besides the many batches of young Brothers who worked tirelessly to make the place what it is today. Now the candidates and the students of St. Patrick’s school keep it going.

The construction work at Dindigul is progressing as scheduled, thanks to the generous financial out-pouring from Coonoor Community. Classrooms will be ready for occupation by the end of May. Bros. Paul and Edward are happy that the building will look fantastic from the busy National High Way once the finishing touches are over. 

Above: At the College Day celebration in the new beautiful auditorium. In the picture (L-R) are Br Brioot, Fr Philip, Brs Stan, Antony Jospeh, Bosc0, and Damien. Right: Br Francis lights candle at opening o the new block. Br Damien looks on.

13 February saw Bro. M. K. Francis, Superior of St. Joseph’s Community, Coonoor, inaugurating the new block of Patrician College of Arts and Science, Adyar. The fine auditorium which is a part of the new block was the venue of the College Day on the same day. Congratulations to Bro. Damien and his Community for financing and executing the project on schedule. Most of the finance for the project came from St. Michael’s Academy, thanks to the generosity of Bros. Stan and Britto.

The unprecedented drought in Kerala has affected the huge open well at St. Patrick’s, Mananthavady as well. Though  sufficient to maintain the day to day running of the house and school, the  low water-level is causing concern. There are two more months to wait for the monsoon to arrive.

The eleven postulants in the Juniorate, Adyar, will be heading for the Novitiate by the end of April while 12 second year Novices be making their profession on 1 May. (Photo: Novices who made up the choir at the induction ceremony of Brother Albert Arularasu.)

Four of our young Brothers, Johnson, Albert William, Jayaseelan and Arokiaraj are completing their B. Th. by the end of March and will be making their final profession on 16 April at Patrick Nilayam, Trichy. Brothers are cordially invited to grace the occasion.

Of all the private institutions which are accredited to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) from the state of Uttaranchal, only St. Joseph’s Academy, Dehra Dun, has been privileged to have the examination center. Over 800 candidates will be appearing for the examination from this center. Though Bro. Prakash does not see it as a “privilege” because of the bureaucratic tangle and the time-consuming work involved, he admits the fact that this is an act of trust on the part of the authorities in our honesty and integrity.  Prakash, with his long experience of managing the NIOS at Binnaguri, is more than equal to the task.

Bro. Antony Randiv in Binnaguri is looking for additional classrooms to meet the increasing demand for admissions in St. Patrick’s. For the  Hindi speaking children and the tribal community, St. Patrick’s is becoming quite a hit since it is rated to be the best amongst all the vernacular schools there. 

Bro. Antony Joseph (pictured), who after having successfully completed his doctorate in Clinical Psychology  from the University of Santo Thomas, Manila, returned to the Province in the first week of January.  The Province congratulates him on his singular achievement and  looks forward to his contribution in reaching out to people who may be in need of the service his expertise can provide. He is also expected to be of great help in the Houses of Formation and in our schools.
 

Though three months have  passed since our Province Assembly held at Vidyadeep College, C.R.I. Brothers’ Institute, Bangalore, I believe that the memories of those two days would be still fresh in the minds of all those who attended it. I am indeed glad to give a brief account of it from my memory which, I hope,   may be of benefit to those who could not make it for various reasons. And for those who did not miss it, this will serve as a source of  reviving memories. 

 Our Province Assembly was held on 29th and 30th December as part of the preparations for the forthcoming General Chapter of our Congregation to be held in July-August in Kenya. Even though we could set apart only two days for this assembly, it was indeed a short and sweet experience to most of us. Looking at the number of activities we went through during those  two days, I would say that a lot of hard work was put in by Br. Berchmans, our Provincial who deserves the credit, our appreciation and gratitude. 

 The Assembly was formally kicked off with a short prayer at about 8.30 a. m. on 29th animated by some of the budding Patrician theologians studying at Vidyadeep College. Then Br. Berchmans addressed the brothers in order to initiate the proceedings of the Assembly. In his address, he focused his entire attention on this particular theme: “A New Way of Being Patricians” in today’s world. He reminded the brothers of the responsibility of our Province to contribute relevantly to the General Chapter deliberations and discussions. He said: “Our presentation should be formation-based because that is where we can contribute the most since we have made some signal progress there in recent times while others, too, stand to benefit from it. He also pointed out the necessity for restructuring/ re-founding of our formation in order to improve the quality of our membership and to equip that membership to read the signs of the time and live accordingly. He then beautifully highlighted the Religious Brothers’ role in the future as of a Five-Fold dialogue which is prophetic, namely, Prophetic dialogue with self and God, Prophetic dialogue with the poor and the marginalized, Prophetic dialogue with cultures, Prophetic dialogue with religions, and Prophetic dialogue with the church. In fact, it is the cry of the church and the world that the Religious Brothers will exercise their prophetic ministry to its truest and fullest sense in this modern era. The theological and sociological bases he  presented for re-structuring our formation under the five-fold dialogue format were immensely helpful for reflection, prayer and the group discussions that followed. His concluding remark sounded really prophetic. He remarked: “Re-founding our formation programme is of vital importance to the relevance as well as the longevity of our congregation beyond 200 years of its existence.” 

 Then the brothers were divided into different groups and asked to discuss  points emerging from the presentation.  The questions to the following statement covered all aspects of formation: “As Patrician Brothers, in our faith journey with Jesus, our brother, we see our role in the world of the future as one of prophetic dialogue with self and God, with the poor and the marginalized/underprivileged, with cultures, with religions and with the church.” 

  In the afternoon we had the presentation of the group reports, Br. Prakash chaired the session. After supper, our Novices took the initiative to entertain the participants with their highly professional cultural show which included a few excellent dances and melodious songs. Br. Thomas Pushparaj, 2nd Year Theologian, thrilled the gathering with his fast moving dance sequence. At the end Br. Joseph Caroll thanked the novices on behalf the brothers for taking time off to entertain us. 

 On 30th morning we had the ceremony of the incorporation of Br. Albert into our congregation with a simple and meaningful celebration of the Eucharist concelebrated by his uncle, brother and friend. After the breakfast Br. Berchmans initiated the brothers to Group discussion II based on the following points: 1. What should be the duration of Province Leadership?  2. Division of Province. Besides these, as directed by the Chapter Committee in Sydney, there were issues to be discussed which we considered to the most important.

 The session on the presentation of group discussion II was chaired by Br. Dominic. Then there was some time set apart for Zero hour. The assembly came to an end with the Lunch. 

 Thanks to Provincial and the Councilors for this great opportunity to come together as one Patrician family and to enjoy one another’s company and fraternal love. Looking forward to have many more like this in the future. 

- Bro. Alfred William
Vidya Jyoti College
Bangalore

Though throughout the year at morning assemblies and during  value education classes,  themes on  Interfaith understanding are presented through plays, dances and talks, it has become customary now to have some days marked out specially for Interfaith Sharing by experts and prayer sessions.  As the school was drawing  close to the end of her academic year, it was felt that the students be enlightened about the sacredness of every religion . Experts from six major practicing religions were invited to share their experiences to the student body during the month of February this year. The speakers were given 15 to 20 minutes to address the school community during the morning assembly on various days. The culmination of this enriching  faith sharing was the common prayer service for the entire school with the theme “Love thy neighbour” . 

  The following is the list of names of the distinguished speakers as well as the core of the message that they shared:

 10th February ’04 - Jainism 
Mr. Pawan Kumar Jain spoke about Jainism. He shared that in Jainism the qualities and not the person is worshipped. The three qualities he emphasized are- selflessness, wisdom and enlightenment.

 12th February ’04- Budhism
Mr. G.S Gautam shared that the person should be his own master and shape his destiny with courage and bravery.

 13th February ’04- Sikhism
Gayani Joginder Singh talked about gender equality and universal brotherhood. 

 20th February ’04- Christianity
Bro. Lysan f.s.p spoke in detail about the time-tested values of love, forgiveness, justice and selfless service which is the hall-mark of Christianity. He spoke on the Fatherhood of God and the importance of  ‘loving thy neighbour as thy self”.

 24th February ’04 ? Islam
Maulana Shaheen Jamli shared about Islam as a way to peace, human tolerance and mutual
respect.

 26th February ’04 ? Hinduism
Mr. Deepak Sharma highlighted the importance of  good ‘karma’ as the way to reach God. 

The time for introspection is coming. In fact it has already come. This is a special year for me too. I have completed 40 years with the Patricians in India and as a member of the order I am in my 36 year plus.

   Now as in any other Congregation, our society too needs a change to think of the true meaning of “Religious life" today in its relevance to the present Indian Context. A country like ours had been famous for its religious traditions and values, and now a systematic change is taking place in the very identity of India, even within our society too. We have all the means at our disposal to clear the path to recovery, renewal and rejuvenation! We too have been (to a certain extent), tainted with the influences of the affluent - the BIG - GUNS, who wield the maximum power it; every field ! Hence, it is, I think, the opportune moment to sit and ponder over traditions and see if we are really following the footsteps of "Our Founding Fathers", and more so, if our “Man-God" - Jesus, whose disciples we all ought to be! I am sure if each one of us asked himself this question seriously and took time to look at one's own weaknesses and not  wasted precious time in catering to the needs of only the "minority" in our country instead of the "Majority " who really need us. Only then, can we be really worthy to be a Patrician Brother or a follower of Jesus Christ. In his article "Time to discover Latin America " by TJ S. George, in the New Sunday Express of 25th  January, 2004, states that  "it is also the home of "Liberation Theology", a  revolutionary interpretation of Christianity. It look a few priests in Latin America to see what other Christian leaders had not seen ? that injustice in this world is important if not more than justice in the next. These priests in the latter half of the 20 Century confronted the fact that their flocks lived in unacceptable poverty….But Liberation Theology would have taken Christianity back to Jesus Christ   -   the son of man  from whom the Establishment stole it".

 So, how many of "our Javans " are like those priests ? Really to take up issues that Confront us in today’s  India ? Well , I am happy that it has begun in a small way (for example in the "Prison  Ministry" by none other than Our Bro. Antony C; in the N. I 0. S. school's program begun by our big Bro. V. P.Bernard and the technical and vernacular schools now functioning around) But there is a lot more to be done as we have the man power in the "up-coming  stages". And I think that there is only one Cardinal  SIN in the world and that is the injustice done to human beings all over theworld. These days we are talking about “AIDS”.  Well, I say the worst form of AIDS is when one human being looks down upon another - despises him and even deprives him of the means of sustenance and, even dares to take away his God-given life. It is these unjust forces in society that we should attack and bring down to their right sense of values. Yes, we may have to break down walls - the walls within ourselves first and then
within the society.

  Only if we are doing this, then we can truly say that we are on the right track. In India, we today talk about "National-Integration", "Nation-building" and "Hindutva movements," and so on. Well, it is time that we did it in our own order. Let us unite and fight these forces of evil and injustice and aim only at the common goal laid down in our constitutions and chapter documents and which we have agreed to follow all through when we all made our final commitments in Public at the altar. Let's remember that Jesus gave us only one Law - the "law of loving God and our neighbour as ourselves ".

Now, let us ask ourselves the following questions first:

1 What is a Brother ?
 The simple answer is: "Watch us ! Watch what we do; how we behave. Observe
 our love, care, concern, compassion. Watch us (observe us) and then you will
 know what "being a brother is ?

2 Are we willing to make that response ?

 3  Will the integrity, consistency and quality of our lives, withstand such close scrutiny?
- Only a living example can accomplish the practical demonstration of the words of St. Paul;  he boldly says : "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ "  Vita Consecrata says : "That Brothers  participate in the Mission of proclaiming the Gospel and bearing witness to it with charity in everyday life.” Our Motto should be one of : Being a brother and doing what a brother ought to do. A few more valuable questions for us:

4  As Patrician Brothers, what aspects of Jesus' life and example are particularly striking and significant to its in the present - day Indian context ?

5  As brothers with one another, what do we desire people to see in us through our life together ? What do we believe our witnessing communicates to People ? What evidence do we have to support that belief ?

6  As brothers to the people, what means do we use to foster peace and unity among them ? How do our ministries / apostolate serve towards dialogue and reconciliation ?

7  As brothers for the church, what is our role in the Local Parish ? Do we confront, co-operate or edify this church ?

8  In respect of what aspect of our lives can we say to the people : "Come closer’? And "Watch us" - in response to the people's questions about our vocation ?

9  What is the most attractive quality about our religious setting ? What is least attractive ?
10  What is the best way we can educate the people, the church and others about our vocation to brotherhood ?
11  In addition to the witness of our life, what are the effective strategies for promoting vocations to religious brotherhood today ?

To lend a helping hand to the neglected part of society, we, the Josephites, have been an active part of social welfare activities. What started as an endeavour to help the less privileged students through evening classes, has taken a much elaborate form today.

  Last year, the students of class XI and XII visited the Missionaries of Charity, Sacred Heart’s School and Karuna Vihar. Each student dedicated thirty hours of his schedule to interact with the people in these institutions. At the Missionaries of Charity warm clothes and fruits were distributed as a symbol of our affection and care for them. In fact, the Home for poor children run by the  Missionaries of Charity is donated five thousand rupees annually by the students. Josephites visit the institution from time to time and also at every Christmas. 

   To cater to the teaching requirements at the Sacred Heart’s School, a collection of four thousand rupees was made. The little ones there were supplied with toys, writing aids, picture charts and boards. A few Josephites magnanimously taught the budding scholars of Dehra Dun, which proved to be an unforgettable experience for them as well as the children. In order to entertain and enliven the children at Karuna Vihar, our students sang songs and spent a considerable amount of time with them.

  The slum area behind the Asian School and the Doonga village near Prem Nagar were also paid a visit by a few of our students, where they saw the harsh face of life. Sweets, chocolates, fruit and warm clothes were given to the children and it was a life-long experience to see the joy on their faces. 

  Apart from these humanitarian activities, our school has adopted three schools in Dehra Dun:   Unnayan   -  a school for the rag pickers of Kanwli road,  and Prathmic Vidyalaya I & II  in Dhobanwala.  These schools have been an active part of a few celebrations at St. Joseph’s such as the Sports Day and the Republic Day. On these occasions they were given an opportunity of displaying their talents in the presence of  the elite of the city. These schools are visited on every festival and given stationery items and sweets. Special dances and skits were performed for these kids on Dusshera and Durga Puja.

  All does not end here. Josephites also visited the Dehra Dun prison to show their concern for the prisoners as well. Songs were sung to make them realize that even they are cared for in the society.  A few sections of class VII and VIII also visited a number of social service centers. 

  Each Josephite contributes to the Social Service Activities by donating ten rupees each term which is collected as a gratuity for social service.

This is to let you know that Shanti Bhavan is alive and kicking pretty hard too. Perhaps you might have forgotten about us since there was no article from us for a number of issues. Hence I felt the need to update you on Shanti Bhavan (abode of peace). Candidates have been coming here on an average of 10 boys per year, thanks to Joachim. This April (2003) five have gone to Adyar for postulancy under Bro. Jacob. They seem to be doing very well as per the report of the Director. Three candidates are here now doing their plus two classes in our St. Patrick's High School here. One of the candidates is the head boy of the school and the other two are house captains.

 One boy joined us in August after +2. He too is doing very well. All four are preparing for postulancy at Adyar in May 2004. They are doing well on all fronts both curricular and co-curricular as well as in the spiritual side.

 For a change we had only one new comer this year so far for reasons beyond our understanding. Now there is some good news. As per the latest information four candidates are likely to arrive here in the near future. My firm conviction is that good vocations can be attracted only by our holy lives. Holiness attracts. This May the long standing Director, Bro. Joachim was transferred to St. George's College Mussoorie, and his assistant Bro. Paul Parecattil was assigned to be the superior of our new English Medium school at Dindigul, T.N. They were replaced by Bros. Benedict Mavelil and Binoi Lukose. Joachim continues to be the official recruiter of the North East, while Bro.Benedict is also exploring the possibility of vocations in the region. Already a few visits to various places look very promising.

 Bro. Binoi was in adjoining St. James English medium school for one year after his B.Ed. at Namchi. Presently he is assistant director and part time teacher in St. Patrick's school, Hindi medium. He is a very keen gardener and takes good care of our garden here. You are welcome to visit our garden if you have any doubts.

 As usual the eight acre plot we are allotted need constant watch lest we be defeated by the never dying, ever daring grass and weeds due to the heavy rain here in the summer . The grass is very helpful to us to improve our stamina and obtain genuine physical muscles by shedding our unwanted fat by profuse perspiration. All of us are kept quite trim and healthy not only by our work but also by enjoying the, fruit of our labour as well. We have an abundant supply of plantains and vegetables.

 The super abundant rams brought down our boundary walls on two occasions this year - an additional financial burden. The teak trees, aracanut trees and fi-uit trees are doing well.

  Bro. Berchmans, our provincial paid us a visit from Nov-8th  to 12th  and he was very appreciative of the way the whole campus was maintained.

  I am glad to say that the Provincial has sanctioned a Maruti van for St. Patrick's school to be shared by Shanti Bhavan as well. It came on Nov.25th  and is doing well so far. The house also procured a camera on Nov.27th  and now we hope to send some pictorial details of our house and activities

Our gardener and cook are doing a very good job as well as our guards Caesar and Moti - our dogs. Rest in the next.

There was an Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman sitting on the edge of a cliff having a picnic. The Scotsman says, “Oh God I’ve got ham in my sandwiches again. If I get ham again tomorrow I’ll jump off this cliff!”
 So the Englishman looks in his sandwiches and says, “Oh, I’ve got beef in my sandwiches again! If I get beef again I’ll jump with ya Scotsman.”
 So the Irishman looks in his sandwiches and says, Oh look! I’ve got bloody tuna again, and if I get it again tomorrow, I’ll join you two guys.”
 So the next day they all meet at the cliff and check their sandwiches. “Oh shit!” says the Scotsman, “I’ve got ham!” So he jumps off the cliff.
“Oh bugger,” says the Englishman, “I’ve got beef again!” So he jumps off the cliff.
The Irishman looks in his sandwiches and says, “Bollocks! I’ve got tuna again!” So he jumps off, too.
 At the funeral, the wives meet up crying. The English wife says, “I only made him beef because I thought he liked it.”
And the Scottish wife says, “Same! I thought he liked ham very much!”
Then the Irish wife says, “It’s not my fault he makes his own sandwiches!”
 
 

Mr. Karorimaal: “How much do you charge for extracting a tooth?”
Dentist: “Two hundred rupees.”
Mr. Karorimaal: “What? For two seconds’ work?
Dentist: “Well, if you want, I can extract it very, very slowly.”
 

Supervisor: “How come you are carrying only one sack while others are carrying two?”
Man:            “Well, I guess they are too lazy to make two trips like I do!”
 

Lion Trainer: “Didn’t I tell you when a lion wags his tail, he’s friendly?”
The Trainee:  “Yeah, but he was also roaring and wagging his tail at the same time.”
Lion-Trainer:  “So?”
Trainee:            “I just didn’t know which end to trust!”
 

Mr Malhotra describing an accident to his friend: “The old clock got loose and fell off the wall. If it had been a minute sooner, it would have hit my mother-in-law.” After a meaningful pause, “That clock was always slow.”
 

Rakesh: “Why aren’t you working?”
Mukesh: “My boss and I had an argument and he won’t take back what he said.”
Rakesh:  “What did he say?”
Mukesh: “He said, ‘You’re fired!’”

The Queen was showing the Archbishop of Canterbury around the Royal Stables when one of the stallions close by broke wind in such a loud and gusty manner, it couldn’t be ignored.
 “Oh dear,” said the Queen blushing, “how embarrassing. I’m frightfully sorry about that.”
   “It’s quite understandable,” said the archbishop, and after a moment added, “as a matter of fact, I thought it was the horse.”
 

 The clergyman had delivered a fiery sermon against the evils of dancing and made it clear that he was opposed to any kind of dancing. After the congregation had filed out he was approached by a young dancing enthusiast.
 “Just what’s wrong with dancing?” he asked.
 “Well, for one thing,” said the minister, “it’s the close touching of the bodies.”
   “Not so,” protested the parishioner, “it is all in the mind of those who look at it with the wrong attitude.”
  “Then let’s suppose,” argued the minister, “that you came home from work and found me holding your wife in that manner. What would you think?”
  “I’d think that you’d better be dancing,” was the reply.

 Reverend Perkins was expounding on the evils of sin. “Sin,” he thundered, “is like a big mean ol’ dog. There’s the big dog of pride, the big dog of envy, the big dog of gluttony, and last there’s the big mean dog of sex. We got to kill all the dogs before we can get to heaven. And it can be done   -   I know because I have done it, brothers. Yes, I have killed the dog of pride, the dog of envy, and I have killed the dog of gluttony, and I even killed the dog of sex!”
 A voice from the back row said, “Are you sure that the last dog didn’t die a natural death?” 
 

This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a true force of Nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy…. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It’s a sort of splendid torch which I’ve got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. 

Artist's view of the proposed school at Pune which is now under construction

Br Joe Carroll has a word of thanks and appreciation for the Novices who presented a fine entertainment programme of dance and music for the Assembly on the evening of the 29th of December.