Pastoral ministry in the digital world

The Church is essentially a missionary. The mission of preaching the Word of God is mandatory for the church. But how is a vital question to be asked by every baptized Christian who is called to be a missionary. Consecrated men and women who have dedicated their life for the cause of the Gospel have a special responsibility for opening the door to new forms of preaching the Gospel respecting the dignity of the human person.  In Indian situation the elderly are more faithful and active in the church activities than the young people. It is a common phenomenon that a handful of young people attend a program organized for the youth. In a parish where there are hundreds of youth, why are there only a handful of them present for the program targeted to them?   Where are the rest?  How can we bring them back to the main stream of the church?

To a certain extent it is true even when we take children into consideration. Parents have great dream for their children. They plan for their education, future career, well being and good fortune even when they are in their mother’s womb itself. Parents dream that their unmet desires are fulfilled at least in their children. It is quite astonishing that children turn out to be very different at times. Today children try to avoid teachers and parents at least in their vocabularies. Anyone who comes across as an obstacle on their way is to be eliminated. It is not learned from school, colleges or parents. Media to a great extent is responsible for such vicarious situations. How can we bring them back?

The media/new technology of communication give information and entertainment. They are excellent means of communication and transmission of messages. Through the new technology we come to know about ourselves others an external world. It helps us to make new and meaningful relationship with people around us. Today we have come to a stage wherein without audio visual aids any seminar or classes are not interesting.  In such situations media can be used as an effective means to put across religious values to youth and children.

Today youth and children are well informed and they know anything under the sun. They are educated and the money power is with them. Anything that is slow, not interesting, and not thrilling are discarded and deleted altogether.  They want a quick fix answer and a shortcut solution to every problem. How to bring them to the lost Value system?

Pastoral ministry in the digital world has the answer to it. St Paul says I became all things to all in order to gain some for Christ. If we follow the missionary strategy of Paul we can say that if we want to gain the media/electronic generation of today we need to use the same. If the new media is put at the service of the gospel it can bring about drastic change. Because we know that when faced with raw realities of life no SMS language and technology will be of any help but a personal God whom one has encountered and experienced in life. St Paul says anyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But when they have not heard how they can believe in him whom they have not heard and how can they hear without someone to preach.

Even while using the Media for the proclamation of the Gospel to the modern generation churchy programs works no more. It has to be put in an intelligible format to yield fruit.   Gospel must be put into the language of the young people. For this we need visionaries and courageous and motivated leaders. When the media is put at the service of the Gospel they are capable of increasing almost indefinitely the area in which the word of God is heard. They enable the Good news to reach millions of people. The church would feel guilty before the Lord if she did not utilize those powerful means that human skill is daily rendering daily perfect. It is through them she proclaims from the house tops. (Evangelii Nuntiadndi No: 45). The world of digital communication with its limitless expressive capacity which captures our eyes and ears conquers the young and the old alike. Comparing to the vast possibility lying ahead and the little that is done with media it makes us to sigh and exclaim like St. Paul woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel through the media.

Sr Jessy Jacob fsp

Brain Drain a Serious Issue

The migration of skilled individuals or technical personnel to other nations is referred as brain drain. On seeing hundreds and thousands of students passing out from the schools year after year one might wonder where will all these be educated and given job. Today even if a student gets ninety percentages of marks he or she is unable to get admission in reasonably good colleges. According to the study India has a smooth flow of education system.

It has become a fashion and prestige for parents to send their children to foreign countries for studies immediately after their elementary studies. The innumerable opportunities of scholarship and incentives boost educational thrust of Indians outside India.

 Indians are smart creative and hard working. Indian IT branch has caused a boom in the world.  People with professional qualification have a chance of job opportunities even in the developed countries. Thus a large group of Indian trained individuals seek job in the developed countries. Asian countries as a whole is a victim of brain drain as western countries pour job opportunities to Asian countries. Human capital flight or large-scale emigration of individuals with technical skills or knowledge normally happens due to conflict, lack of opportunity, political instability, health risks or financial security. One of the benefits of brain drain is that individual brain will get opportunity to nurture talents and gifts in another atmosphere and it can be used worldwide.

We live in a world of quick fix solutions to the problems and fast money. Unemployment is an excuse for brain drain. The employment opportunities within the country seem to be inadequate in comparison with the fast money available. Better life style fame and prestige attributed to the job in foreign countries can be a reason for brain drain. It can be beneficial if the persons send money in foreign currency and go with the hope of returning home back again.  The migration of skilled individuals to other nations makes the country remain without much development. If the skilled labor of Indians put together India can attain desired benefits in the given time and rise to the level of developed countries.

It is a common scene in Metro Politan cities where in elderly stay alone. If you ask they will tell you “my son is in America and my daughter is in Canada, they send Money for us”. Soon their faces fade and they will tell you of the loneliness and unexplainable insecurity feeling of old age. The daily phone call and the abundance of money will not substitute the company of their own children?

In Indian situation for the benefit of the citizens of our country and its growth, it is essential that we make a thorough study of the depletion or loss of intellectual capital flight as migration of talented individuals is a serious matter.

Children and Media.

This was the theme  for the forty first world communications day was Children and media: a challenge to education. This theme invited us and still continues to invite us to the challenge of education. It invites us to ponder upon two topics of importance: namely the formation of children and formation of media. This topic is relevant and right in the technology driven era. Today's generation can rightly be called media generation .This media generation has too many information and too many opportunities. As they are technology driven they seek solution to all their problems in the technology itself.  Many of the parents, at least some, avoid their responsibility of caring them by putting on video games and similar types of media materials, so that they are undisturbed in their daily activities after the heavy schedule of the day.

People, of all walks of life spent their time, energy and money for the media materials. For good or ill media has a great responsibility in educating the children effectively. It is not an isolated phenomenon that children who are exposed to media; internet and other educational programs questioning even the teachers and want to share their knowledge, or else they feel bored and restless.

There are varieties of programs that are available in the television channels for children. Children are glued to the television cartoon channels and other entertainment programs catering their need for entertainment. Most of the advertising companies create and impression that children are an inevitable part of selling of a product.  As vulnerable as they are, they are influenced by what they see and hear. Prioritizing the need and responsibility becomes secondary to them.

Media prompt to change the dress code, way of living, talking and the behavior itself Children look for role models in elders, parents and teachers. Can any parent today courageously say, "Learn from me or imitate me?" Failing to see role models in the-above categories they seek role models in films and televisions. as small as they are, an inclination to imitate the pop stars and film stars is enforced into their minds.

Television the dominant medium today captures the attention of sight and bearing. Children are unable to discern what is good and what is not so good.  Constant watching of poor quality programs makes the children to drift themselves away from the real life. Today reading habit is, on the decreasing end. Children are happy to get even the class room lessons on to the CD, VCD etc. This reduced level of reading decreases the creativity and writing ability in children. Violence disguised in entertainment makes children act out reel into the real life situations. Thus media that can do tremendous amount of good turn out to be harmful in itself

Today even a three year old can manipulate the mouse of a computer .The complex challenge of educationalist (parents elders, and teachers) is to watch the pervasive effect of the media, because media can form the children's behaviour  attitudes and the way they think it-self. The children must be taught to respond to the media appropriately. The primary role of the educationalist is to educate the children to have a right judgement which will enable them to accept or reject the harmful programs.

The media that does much harm to the children can be used to enhance the moral and cultural values in children. Teaching can effectively be done by using different genre and the text in the context creates the desirable effects.

Dowry A Social Evil

Today India is knocked down by many problems like illiteracy, unemployment, cast system terrorism, population growth, female feticide etc… Among the many other problems that surmount the Indian Scenario is Dowry system. Dowry system is rampant in some cultures than in some other cultures for example that Southern side of India has this practice much more impose than in any other parts of India.

This fact is discussed and condemned by many serious minded people. Yet it continues to rule the human mind. Yet Dowry system is practiced faithfully by the people by and large under various lame excuses. The dowry system is responsible to a great extent for child marriage and discrimination against girls. If a girl is married at a tender age, a small amount of dowry will work, but if the girl is educated and qualified, she needs an equal amount of dowry to get a bridegroom of the same status.

Dowry system is faithfully by the people by and large under various lame excuses. Dowry system has deeply rooted in Indian Culture. Unfortunately, the dowry system is still prevalent in India despite the provision in the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961. it says that: "If any person, after the commencement of this Act, gives or takes or abets the giving or taking of dowry, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years, and with fine which shall not be less than fifteen thousand rupees or the amount of the value of such dowry, whichever is more."

It is a reality that serious minded people decide to say no to dower but the external forces, parental insistence etc…. Yet we lack people who can take independent decision and stand by the decision taken. Following are some of the points that can be adapted to refute the evil practice of dowry system.

1 Start practicing dowry prohibition in your family.

2 Educate the members of your family with the provisions of law – that demanding and accepting or giving dowry is an offence.

3 A woman is an important member of family and is entitled to all the rights and privileges a man enjoys.

4 Educate the members of your family and your neighbors to respect a woman’s rights and privileges.

5 Gather like-minded people who are fighting against this evil and begin to conscientise people on the issue.

 Despite every stigma, dowry continues to be the signature of marriage. According to the dowry marriages make or break.

It is high time each one of us should make sure not to encourage this practice, if we choose to call ourselves educated, aware & moral, and seeking for spirituality. This is just another way contributing to the ill treatment of girls and their subjugation and we should have the policy of zero tolerance in the matter  which will help us solve other problems associated with it automatically. Women should insist on marrying only those men who have the courage of their conviction to say no to dowry. Men who insist on living on the wealth provided by their in-laws are as good as impotent and should be avoided at all cost. Women need real social, political, financial and moral support in their fight against the system. They have to be empowered so that they can take their decisions about their own life by refusing the dowry system.

The evil of dowry cannot be tackled by a few individuals. It requires a combined effort of noble-minded persons to eradicate this noble cause

A life not reflected is not worth living

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider free-ways  but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgement  more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.


We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour  We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out non essential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is God & ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
* Memorize your favourite poem.
* Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
* When you say, "I love you", mean it.
* When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.
* Believe in love at first sight.
* Never laugh at anyone's dreams.
* Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
* In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
* Talk slow, but think quick.
* Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
* Call your Mom and Dad.
* Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
* When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
* Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
* Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
* When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
* Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
* Spend some time alone.
* Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Read more books and watch less TV.
* Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
* Trust in God but lock your car.
* A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
* In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
* Read between the lines.
* Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
* Be gentle with the earth.
* Once a year, go some place you've never been before.
* If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
* Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes the blessing.
* Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
* Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
* Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

                    And most importantly Most importantly Keep God at Heart

Courtesy:  Internet

True Patriotism

Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements?
We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?
We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.
Look at Dr. Sudarshan , he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit.. There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and failures and disasters.
I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.

In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime.. Why are we so NEGATIVE? Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign T.Vs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology.

Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance? I

was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is.. She replied: I want to live in a developed India . For her, you and I will have to build this developed India . You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation.

YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke. The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.

YOU say, say and say.. What do YOU do about it?

Take a person on his way to Singapore . Give him a name - 'YOURS'. Give him a face - 'YOURS'. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground links as they are.. You pay $5 (approx. Rs.. 60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity… In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU? YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai .. YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah.
YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs..650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else.'YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, 'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.' YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand ..
Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo ? Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston ??? We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India ?

In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan
Will the Indian citizen do that here?' He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility.
We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop

chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.
We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity.
This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public. When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child! and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? 'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.' So who's going to change the system?
What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU. When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away.
Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England . When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too….. I am echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians…..

'ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'

Curtsy: Great thoughts from Abdul Kalam former president of India