Fr Arockia Dhas Rayappan – Writing: A Means of Evangelization This helped me realise that I can bring alive the person of Martyr Jesuit Father Stan Swamy through my habit of writing articles and publishing them. Bernard Lonergan says that theological method is a creative framework. It offers collaborative creativity. None of my articles are mine. All published articles have been proofread and edited. In them, you will find recommendations, suggestions, and feedback from my friends. So, these writings are an expression of communion and teamwork – collaborative creativity. Often, I pray over th ..read more

Tarsish Marak csc – Readings: Acts 8:1b-8; Jn 6:35-40 Today’s readings give us the foundational steps to Christian faith. In Acts, we learned about Church being persecuted by Saul and others and about the miracles in the name of Jesus. “I am the bread of life” tells us that we never lack food in our lives. Jesus assures us with confidence that we need to abide in him to get this eternal food forever. Jesus further says, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” Jesus reveals who he is to ..read more

By Fr Arockia Dhas Rayappan – An Assumption and an Acknowledgment by the author: In this article, the author shares with the readers the lessons that he has learned from the time he began writing articles. He hopes that the insights arising from writing may offer an impetus to the readers to contribute write-ups to magazines, journals, and newspapers both online and print. The author acknowledges that English is his second language; his intelligent quotient is average; and he is a slow learner, contrary to the way he has been perceived by colleagues throughout his academic and seminary studie ..read more

Thamajoy Reang csc – Readings: Acts 7: 51 – 60; Jn 6: 39 – 35 The first reading speaks about Stephen, the first martyr in Christian history. Stephen, the true witness of Jesus and of the Holy Spirit, brings us the message of forgiveness through love, which we are to practice every day in our lives. Stephen experienced accusations, rejections, opposition, torments, and even death, but he never held back his faith in Jesus, for he saw heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of the Father. Today, Stephen, through the first reading, invites us to be true witnesses of Jesus with ..read more

By Lavoisier Fernandes – Recently, on my visit to India, I was in discussion with my octogenarian mother while returning from the daily morning mass that she unfailingly attends. She said that nowadays there are not really any young people coming to church. Initially, I was taken by surprise, as I thought this was a peculiarity of old tired Europe with its postmodernism, the rise of hyper-individualism, and the influence of those who have an axe-to-grind with the church and certainly not of the younger generation of developing India, where faith seemingly still looks strong in family life. Non ..read more

Eldho Augustine csc – Readings: Wis 2:1a,12-22; Jn 7:1-2,10,25-30 In our first reading today, we hear the story of the time when St. Stephen, one of the seven first deacons of the Church, was confronted by the opponents of the Church. The Sanhedrin and all those who arrested the Apostles tried a lot to suppress the rapidly spreading Christian teachings and faith. And to do that, they even chose to employ false witnesses and other methods to try to persecute the disciples of the Lord like St. Stephen. In our Gospel passage today, we hear of the interactions between the Lord Jesus and the multit ..read more

Fr Eugene Lobo SJ – Third Sunday of Easter April 14, 2024 Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; 1 John 2:1-5; Luke 24:35-48 In our journey through life we are confronted with several problems and difficulties which can make us lose our perspective. We can lose all direction to life and remain helpless.  Then left to ourselves we become nothing and tend to remain with uncertainty. In such situations we need positive support, a sincere understanding which can place us on the right path. In the Easter context we see Jesus as a consoler and help to the disciples filled with fear. He comes constantly to them ..read more

Newton Basumatari csc – Readings: Acts 3: 13 -15, 17-19; 1Jn 2:1-5a; Lk 24:35- 48 We are in the third Sunday of Easter season, and the liturgy of the word invites us to reflect on the importance of recognizing Jesus in our midst. We know from Dei Verbum, Vatican II Document, that God is manifested not only through sacred scriptures but also in nature and through the person of Jesus Christ, the word made flesh. But we can be in a state of ignorance just like the disciples failed to recognize Jesus despite being with him. Jesus’ appearance to his disciples strengthened their faith as well as tha ..read more

Verghese V Joseph – Panjim: In a significant development, the High Court of Bombay at Goa, on Friday, has quashed the First Information Report (FIR) filed against Fr Bolmax Pereira, a Catholic priest from Chicalim, Goa. The FIR was filed against Fr Pereira after he allegedly made outrageous comments about Shivaji, the Maratha King, during a sermon, which sparked controversy and led to a complaint being filed against him. The High Court’s decision to quash the FIR has been welcomed by Fr Pereira and his supporters, who have been campaigning for his exoneration. The FIR was filed against Fr Pere ..read more

By Filomena Saraswati Giese – With the 10th National Eucharistic Conference in the U.S. slated for July 17- 21 this year, there have been many Eucharistic events and publicity about the need for Eucharistic revival in the various dioceses.  Not the least of these is the great publicity about the inspiring work of the Italian teenager Blessed Carlos Acutis in making an Eucharistic website and exhibit to inspire people to turn to the Eucharist in their daily prayer life.  His personal devotion to the Eucharist has taken centre stage in preparations throughout the United States for this ..read more