Words on Fire,

Words on Fire is a collection of Sunday homilies in English according to the Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar.The book was released by Cardinal Mar Alencherry on Aug.22,18.The Cardinal praised the book as it is the first collection of homilies in English based on the Sunday readings of the Syro-Malabar liturgical calendar. This was written primarily for the Syro-Malabar  priests working for St.Thomas Syro-Malabar diocese of Chicago.Now that the Syro-Malabar Church is established in other parts of the English-speaking world, this book would be a good source of reference for priests and the laity working in the  dioceses of England,Canada and Australia.

Sr.Regina

Sr.Regina's funeral was held on Aug.1 at 11 a.m. She passed away at midnight  two days ago. A lot of people were present for the funeral as she was loved very much by the people of Changnacherry.She was in charge of the nursery school of St.Joseph's where a lot of the people who belong to the Metropolitan church had their early education.
She is also very much missed by her family as she was the connecting link for th members of the family.She took care of the needs of her parents when they fell sick and found means for helping them during their days of sickness as well as of convalescence.
In the last couple of years, she suffered much and did expereince several falls and surgery and the last one was very severe as she had to be bed-ridden for half a year because of th injury of her back.
She was a constant presence in my life , always coming to meet me or talk to me.She kept me filled with the news about my relatives from the mother's side of the family.
I miss her. She was younger and healthy before she succumbed to illness.God bless her and give her eternal rest. 

Lima Conference

           The Universities and their Commitment to the Good of the Planet

                                                    Rev.Fr. George Madathiparampil Ph.D.

                                                    Secretary Higher Education, Syro-Malabar Church                      

                                                     Former President, St. Berchmans’ College

                                                     Kerala, India

In this paper, I am going to deal with the green house effect in India and especially in the State of Kerala and the remedial measures that could be taken by Catholic colleges in the State.

Role of Universities in the Transformation of the Society

As the universities are the intellectual hubs of a society, it would be a great tragedy if the students and the faculty exhibit a severe lack of understanding of the importance of the preservation of the environment. If the university education does not enable the students and the faculty in preserving the planet, the billions of dollars spent in higher education become a waste of resources. Referring to this wastage of human potential in higher education, David Orr remarks: “The problem of education as opposed to the problem in education can be attributed in large part to the fact that all too often schools, colleges and universities have been uncritically accepting of  and sometimes beholden to larger economic and political forces.” He further points out that the “imperative is that we must pay full and close attention to the ecological conditions and prerequisites by which we live.”According to Orr, “we seldom know how human actions affect ecosystems or the biosphere gives us every reason to act with informed precaution.”(Earth in Mind: On Education, Environment and the Human  Prospect, Island Press,Washington,P.3)

The need of the hour is to change the perspectives of the people in their relationship with the environment. Instead of trying to dominate the planet, we have to enable the educated to build up relationships with all levels of existence. Fritjof Capra offers a  new world view from his study of modern physics that emphasizes “interconnectedness, relationship, dynamic patterns, continual change and transformation.”(Uncommon Wisdom,Flamingo,London, p.225)Capra wants a new perspective with regard to the Universe: “To change this situation is now absolutely vital for our well-being and survival, and change will only be possible, as a society, to shift to a new holistic and ecological vision of reality.”(Uncommon Wisdom,  p.190).

Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Pope Francis comes out strongly in favor of protecting the environments through his various address, talks and encyclical letters. Some of his statements are given below:

“There is a moment in which man goes too far in this task of subduing the earth; he gets overly zealous and loses respect for nature.Then ecological problems arise, like global warming, which are new forms of non-culture” (On Heaven and Earth: Pope Francis on Faith, Family, and the Church in the Twenty-First Century, p. 5).

In his address to the president of Ecuador, the Holy Father further elaborates this aspect again: “Take good care of creation. St. Francis wanted that. People occasionally forgive but nature never does. If we don’t take care of the environment, there is no way of getting around  it.” (Meeting with the President of Ecuador, April 22, 2013)

Pope Francis highlights the importance that should be given to the preservation of the environment in his Encyclical letter, Laudato Si ,in the following words: “What kind of world do we want to leave to those  who come after us, to the children who are now growing up? What is the purpose of our world? Why are we here? What is the goal of our work and all our efforts…we need to see that what is at stake is our own dignity.”( No.160).He warns against the modern habit of “ leaving an inhabitable planet to future generations.” This issue is connected with “the ultimate meaning of our earthly sojourn.”In Laudato Si, the Holy Father speaks of the destruction and disintegration that are taking place in the modern society because of the indifference we show to other human beings and eco-systems .He explains the fact further: “Men and women of our post modern world run the risk of rampant individualism….and self-centered culture of instant gratification.” He sees the reflection of this fragmentation in family relationships and other social ties. According to him, “parents can be prone to impulsive and wasteful consumption which then affects their children who find it increasingly difficult to acquire a home of their own and build a family”. He wants us to “keep the poor of the future in mind “ as well as “ today’s poor whose life on earth is brief and who cannot keep on waiting.”

In such a context of bewilderment and confusion, the role of the universities in conveying healthy, wholesome and morally right values assumes great importance. Pope Benedict XVI in his address to the university teachers during his visit to Washington D.C. ,emphasizes the need to  become aware of this important role of universities in transferring moral values to the young. “Catholic identity is not dependent on statistics. Neither can it be equated simply with orthodoxy of course content. It demands and inspires much more: namely, that each and every aspect of your learning communities reverberates with the ecclesiastical life of faith. Our institutions…become places in which God’s active presence in human affairs is recognized and in which every young person discovers the joy of entering into Christ’s being for others. ” He points out further in that landmark address on university education that the “dignity of education lies in fostering the true perfection and happiness of those to be educated.”

In Caritas Veritate (No.50), he speaks about the need for safeguarding the environment: “”The problem of the environment and the safeguarding of resources and of the climate, oblige all leaders to act jointly , respecting the law and promoting solidarity with the weakest regions of the world.”

The meaning of “Subdue  the earth “in the Biblical account of creation:

Greenhouse gas emissions

The performance of India in preserving the environment is dismal. According to Parkash Nelliyat(Centre for Bio-Diversity Policy and Law, Chennai), “ India’s developmental activities are affecting the environment  to a considerable extent through overexploitation of natural resources and indiscriminate discharge of waste. This has been interpreted by the environmental Kuznets curve(EKC)…India is on the upward part of the EKC.”(The Hindu, May 1,2018,p.9)

“India was the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, in 2009 at 1.65 Gt per year, after China and the United States. With 17 percent of world population, India contributed some 5 percent of human-sourced carbon dioxide emission; compared to China's 24 percent share. On per capita basis, India emitted about 1.4 tons of carbon dioxide per person, in comparison to the United States’ 17 tons per person, and a world average of 5.3 tons per person.”

The landscape of Kerala

Disposal of waste materials

“Trash and garbage disposal services, responsibility of local government workers in India, are ineffective. Solid waste is routinely seen along India's streets and shopping plazas.

Trash and garbage is a common sight in urban and rural areas of India. It is a major source of pollution. Indian cities alone generate more than 100 million tons of solid waste a year. Street corners are piled with trash. Public places and sidewalks are despoiled with filth and litter, rivers and canals act as garbage dumps. In part, India's garbage crisis is from rising consumption. India's waste problem also points to a stunning failure of governance^.The tourism regions in the country mainly hill stations are also facing this issue in the recent years.

In 2000, India's Supreme Court directed all Indian cities to implement a comprehensive waste-management programme that would include household collection of segregated waste, recycling and composting. These directions have simply been ignored. No major city runs a comprehensive programme of the kind envisioned by the Supreme Court.

Indeed, forget waste segregation and recycling directive of the India's Supreme Court, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates that up to 40 percent of municipal waste in India remains simply uncollected. Even medical waste, theoretically controlled by stringent rules that require hospitals to operate incinerators, is routinely dumped with regular municipal garbage. A recent study found that about half of India's medical waste is improperly disposed of.”

Deforestation

“In the beginning of the 18^th c, forests covered almost the entire land area of Kerala. But then more settlements of people and through cultivation, the area of forests began to dwindle. From the beginning of the 19^th c, the forest area began to diminish to a great extent. The present century witnessed a large scale of cultivation of various crops in the low lands, middle lands and high lands of the State. Kerala has 44 rivers and more dams were built across the rivers with the pace of industrialization accelerating. It is estimated that between 1956 and 1973, 4187 sq KMs of forest area were delineated for various purposes. From 1960 to 1980, Kerala has been annually losing an average of forest area of about 6290 hectares.”

New Vision

Capra: “ The new paradigm may be called a holistic world view, seeing the world as an integrated whole rather than a dissociated collection of parts. It may also be called an ecological view, if the term “ecological” is used in a much broader and deeper sense than usual. Deep ecological awareness recognizes the fundamental interdependence of all phenomena and the fact that, as individuals and societies we are all embedded in (and ultimately dependent on) the cyclical process of nature.”

Steps that can be taken by catholic colleges and Institutions of Higher education for the preservation and protection of the environment in Kerala, India:

Catholic Teachers' Meeting

Catholic Professors’ Meeting

Congratulations.

New and very inspiring venture by the diocese and the Cathedral parish.

KISS at the meeting----narrated by Abp.Sheen. I would be short.

Prof.C.A.sheppard, Prof.Ulahanan Mappila, two professors of great repute at S.B.

Their commitment to the subjects and to their students are worthy of special mention. We have to see our profession as a God-given opportunity and one that gives us a great role not only in the community but in the lives of others.

One day visiting a student of ours in the US, he asked me about one of the teachers. The teacher was not known for any outstanding contributions. I was curious to  know more about the student’s  relationship with the teacher,.He was telling me that he could not forget him .He was a great disciplinarian in class and got the class really inspired. Even after so many years, he is being remembered. The teacher passed away in the year of his retirement. All of you have similar experiences in your contacts with students. The great advantage of a teacher’s life is that he  can change the lives of people. Nobody else has that advantage.

“SOME people think that good teachers are born; educators know that good teachers are made. They are made over time, through education, perseverance, practice and guidance. Newly minted teachers may be shiny and bright, but teachers with experience connect with students. They are the coin of the realm for student achievement. It takes time to get from here to there”.

It was reported in the press recently:

Sixth  Grade teacher from Arizona, Judith Tensing, wrote on the report card of the 6^th grader in 1993…”It has been a joy to have you in class. Keep up the good work. Invite me to your Harvard graduation”. The student, Christine Gilmer graduated from Harvard  on May 23,18 with a Ph.D in Public Health.

Speaking of the impact of teachers, Henry Adams said “Teachers affect eternity.”

How can we become the best teachers?

Teachers should become the best in their respective fields… .. .. by  knowing more about the subject, the  developments in the subject and presenting them in inspiring manner.

Stephen Covey—Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders

“Sharpen your Saw; Be  pro-Active”

Should also know about the faith— should be good communicators of the faith.

I recall the influence of a teacher who taught us Maths in the Middle school. The prayers he taught us is still remembered ….A prayer to the Little Flower.

Prof. P.C. Thomas ……about his devotion to the Eucharist.

Teaching poetry in MA..The Wreck of the Deutschland—Role of the Virgin

 My niece was doing research  at Caltech ,California---the Professor of Aeronautical Engineering..giving them books on meditation---saying rosary with a Chinese student…

The Bible I gave to a student..while he came to say good bye after finishing school…writing about in the  Manorama in his reflections on his alma mater.

In spite of the large number of educated people in our community, we don’t find many coming to the forefront with confidence, explaining or defending the faith.

Benedict XVI     “Negative Tolerance” in the Light of the World.

Pope Francis’ talks and books –opening a new window to the understanding of the Faith.

His book –God is Mercy- should be read by all. Very simple,  at the same time very enlightening and consoling.

He speaks against clericalism and the arrogance coming from the following of  just rituals and traditions.

“When the awe of salvation wears off, we think we can do everything alone, that we are the protagonists. And if that person is a minister of God, he ends up believing that he is separate from the people, that he owns the doctrine, that owns power and he closes himself off from God’s surprises.” The Holy Father calls such an attitude   the “Degradation of awe”.

God’s mercy is infinitely greater than our sins; his medicine is infinitely stronger than  our illness that he has to heal.”

The Church is a field hospital where attention is paid to healing the wounds first.

John Allen: The Future Church…Ten characteristics.  One important one is that Church will be more evangelical—Gospel based.

We have to fall in love with Jesus.

 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.(Jn.14:6)

Once I heard a follower of Islam recounting the contributions of Islam  to the world. What I thought at that time was : “Would any Catholic teacher be able to recount the contributions of Christianity to the World?”

Science, Law, Human Rights, Democracy. Capitalism,  Religious Freedom etc.

Faith and Reason.

 Faith is not blind and  irrational but supra rational. There are things that cannot be measured.

No one is against science. Science unravels the secrets of nature. Questioning and experimenting….Development of reasoning—our gift from God.

(The Tao of Physics—Fritjof Capra---encountering a non-material dimension in the heart of modern Physics.)

Francis Collins, the Head of the NIH, the Director of the Genome project ,wrote the book  Science, the Language of God….his story.. the great defender of the faith now.

Two other books--- How the Catholic Church built the Western civilization

By Thomas Woods

Universities, Law, Developments in Science

Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History :

 Rodney Stark…

Deals with Suppression of Gospels, Crusades, Inquisition, Scientific heresies, protestant Modernity etc… tries to demolish all the misconceptions that were held against the Church. …

”I am not a Roman Catholic and I did not write this book in defense of the Church. I  wrote it in defense of history.”

Gary Wills  : Why I am a Catholic

When people ask why I do not go in search of a Popeless church, I answer sincerely that I want the papacy. It is a blessing, a necessity –it is a requirement for the mystical body of Christ to remain one body….Even in the darkest hours of the papacy, there is more life and light within the Church than in the groups that split off from it…. A person who  loves the church can have a lover’s quarrel with its leadership. He can appeal from the Pope to Peter .He cannot wish to do without Peter and still be true to the Gospel, since it is Christ who made Peter the first of apostles, our brother with a special mission to care for us, the servant of us servants.”

Valerie Jones, a young journalist once wrote  that I have so many differences with the Chruch but I will never leave the Church because it is here that I receive the Eucharist.

A teacher affects eternity…….

Tuesdays with Morrie:

Forgive every one. Loving others  is the important experience in life.

“As long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on - in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here. -Morrie”
― Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie

Forgive yourself before you die. Then forgive others.”

Teachers are the backbone of any country, the pillar upon which all aspirations are converted into realities.

Addul kalam

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

William Arthur Ward

Harvard Business School:Lecture on Humility

The author of this article is Clayton M.Christensen  who is a Professor at Harvard Business School. This is a very thought -provoking essay where he reminds the students that their success in life is not to be measured by their wealth or power but by the opportunity they have provided  others to grow and develop.
"What provides happiness in our careers is not money; it is the opportunity to learn , grow in responsibilities, contribute to others, and be recognized for achievements."
"More and more MBA students come to school thinking that a career in business means buying,selling, and investing in companies. That is unfortunate. Doing deals does not yield the deep rewards that come from building up people."
Many felt unhappy in their lives after years of work in their companies. That is because,"they did not keep the purpose of their lives front and center as they decided how to spend their time, talents and energy."
"My purpose grew out of my religious faith."Intimate and loving relationships with their families are the most powerful and enduring source of happiness."
Creating a culture---
Power tools are coercion, threats, punishment etc.
Instead of that, we have to create a culture...
"Families have cultures, just as companies do.Those cultures can be built consciously or evolve inadvertently."
The need to stick to one's principles and values in life:
"You have got to define for yourself what you stand for and draw the line in a safe place."
Teaching a class on humility at Harvard college;
According to the students, humble people"had a high level of self-esteem. They knew who they were, and they felt good about who they were. We also decided that humility was defined not by self-deprecating behavior or attitudes but by the esteem with which you regard others. Good behavior flows naturally from that kind of humility."
When we see people acting in an abusive, arrogant or demeaning manner toward others, their behavior is a symptom of their lack of self-esteem."
I have concluded that the metric by which God will assess my life is not dollars but the individual people whose lives I have touched."
Don't worry about the level of individual prominence you have achieved: worry about the individuals you have helped become better people...think about the metric by which your life will be judged, and make a resolution to live every day so that in the end, your life will be judged a success