Media-BPO/Call Centers: Issues and Challenges - Signis India Statement

Signis-India Statement

At the conclusion of the Seminar on

‘Media-BPO/Call Centers: Issues and Challenges’

Bangalore, 16-18 March 2007

Concerned with the growing number of BPO/Call Centers in major metros around the country, employing more than twelve lakhs young people and the changes being brought about in their economic, social, cultural and ethical lives, Signis-India, in collaboration with Signis-Karnataka organized a three day seminar on, ‘Media-BPO/Call Centers: Issues and Challenges’ from 16-18 March 2007 at NBCLC, Bangalore in which 80 persons participated.

The resource persons hailing from the BPO/Call center industries and health sector, while highlighting the tremendous economic potential such centers bring with them for the country, also hastened to caution about some of the negative side-effects these have on the youth, families and on the society as a whole.

The youth invited from the BPOs shared how they developed their self-confidence and leadership qualities, team work and a degree of independence. They also expressed how long working hours and ‘graveyard shifts’, when night becomes day and vice-versa, and having to act as Americans or Britons, alters their personalities. This affects their mental, physical and spiritual health impacting their value systems and their family relationships drastically.

The participants grappled with issues, opportunities, challenges that globalization has brought about in the working conditions of the youth, their culture and life style and committed themselves to journey together with and reach out to the affected youth. After much deliberation the members made the following key suggestions:

• Develop support groups in parishes and institutions with the basic attitude of being non-judgmental but accepting and caring.


• Create critical awareness programmes for youth, parents, educators, media personnel, priests and religious on BPO related problems.


• Conduct surveys in parishes to identify the affected.


• Network through SMS, emails, Blogs, websites, podcasting and other technologies.


• Approach BPO employees’ parents, relatives and friends to reach out to them.


• Engage in advocacy at various levels, together with like-minded groups, to bring about policy changes on the issues, such as labour laws, to promote more conducive working conditions.


• Collaborate with other professionals (psychiatrists, social workers, doctors, media people, BPO/CC managers, role-model youth) and organizations such as rehabilitation centres, schools, colleges and NGOs.


• Devise appropriate strategies at the parish level, including special timings in parish schedules for their spiritual needs.


• Organize events such as workshops, entertainment programmes to sustain their personal, social and spiritual development.


• Assist migrant workers in finding places to stay and other support systems.
  Create help-lines in parishes, companies and institutions.


• Use media education to awaken the youth about the sweeping wave of consumerist culture.

Signis-India members committed themselves to assist the youth, Church hierarchy and the related CBCI-CCBI Commissions in collaboration with ICYM, Jesus Youth, CBCI Youth Commission for further action and implementation.

KUWAIT Cathedral: English & Konkani Retreats - March 2007

English and Konkani Lenten Retreats at Kuwait Cathedral - March 2007

The schedule for the Lenten English and Konkani retreats in Kuwait Cathedral is as follows:

English Retreat

Dates: March 19-21, 2007
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: Holy Family Cathedral (Sacred Heart Hall)

The themes for the three days will be:

Day 1: Love Of God.
Day 2: Love one another.
Day 3: Suffering.

Konkani Retreat

Dates: March 27-29, 2007
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: Holy Family Cathedral (Sacred Heart Hall)

The retreats will be preached by Rev Fr Rudolp D'souza OCD

Posted by Hazel D'Souza

VIDEO: Oh No, You Never Go - Youth Night Vigil

5th Saturday Youth Night Vigil Celebration, Bangalore

VIDEO: Oh No, You Never Let Go (Even Though I Walk)

Saturday 17th March 2007
Renewal Retreat Centre, Bangalore
Note: Due to insufficient light, the video capture quality may not be upto the mark.

WORDS: You Never Let Go (Even Though I Walk)

Verse 1:
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
Your perfect love is casting out fear.
And even when I'm caught
in the middle of the storms of this life,
I won't turn back, I know You are near.

PreChorus:
And I will fear no ev - il,
For my God is wi - th me.
And if my God is wi - th me,
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go,
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go,
In every high and every low
O no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me.
(2nd ending)
You keep on running and you never let go
Singing Lord You never let go of me

Verse 2:
And I can see a light
that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare.
And there will be an end
to these troubles, But until that day comes,
We'll live to know You here on the earth.

Bridge:
Yes, I can see a light that is coming
for the heart that holds on,
And there will be an end to these troubles,
but until that day comes,
Still I will praise You,
still I will praise You.

BANGALORE: Anniversary - Saturday Youth Night Vigil - March 2007

BANGALORE: Saturday Youth Night Vigil to Celebrate Anniversary on 17th March 2007

God says, "I have called you by name: you are Mine.
You are precious in My eyes, and honored, and I love you." (Is 43:1,4)



A special call to be with Jesus, before His Eucharistic Presence.
Come, let's love Him; let's experience His Love.

Don't miss it!
Bring all your friends

Remember that is starts at sharp 9.00 PM
Place : Renewal Retreat Center,
Behind Christ college
Bangalore - 29
Date : 17th March, 2007

God Bless you!
Night Vigil Team.

The Youth Night Vigil is successfully completing 5 yrs in its service towards the youth of this beautiful city of Bangalore. Working, studying, lay, religious all come together for a wonderful time of Praise, Worship, Fellowship and a time to listen to God's powerful Word. These 8 hrs have transformed thousands in the past and will continue to do so for many many youth who are willing to hear that call. God calls, forgives, transforms and blesses...Why miss out on so great a blessing that awaits us all. Come let us worship him as we together celebrate the 5th Night Vigil Anniversary.

Fr. Derek Fernandes - New Karwar Bishop

Fr. Derek Fernandes Named Karwar Bishop

Episcopal Ordination on April 20, 2007

Having accepted the resignation of Bishop William Leonard D' Mello upon having reached the age limit, the Holy Father has named Rev. Fr. Derek Fernandes, Chancellor of the diocese of Belgaum as the new Bishop of Karwar (India).

The official announcement in Italian came from the Vatican February 24, 2007.

Rev. Fr. Derek Fernandes was born on 14 May 1954 at Sirsi, then part of the Diocese of Belgaum. After having attended school there, he entered the Seminary at Belgaum, and went on to the St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore for the philosophical and theological studies.

After the ordination in May 1979 he carried out the following assignments:

1979-1983: Parochial Vicar and then Parish priest of Holy Cross Church, Dharwad; Parish priest of Our Lady of Holy Rosary Church, Tumarikop;

1983-1986: Parish priest of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Modage (Belgaum) and Director of the Orphanage of Nirmala Nagar;

1986-1990: Studies for the Doctorate at Urban University, Rome;

1991-2002: Chancellor and of the Diocese of Belgaum; Member of the executive board; Judicial Vicar; Consultor and Member of the Senate of the Priests; Secretary of the Pontifical Mission Aid Societies; Secretary of the Commision for the Laity; Administrative director of the St. Xavier's High School and P.U. College;

2004-2006: Diocesan administrator of Belgaum. Currently he is chancellor of the Belgaum Diocese

The Diocese of Karwar comprising the whole civil district of Uttara Kannada in Karnataka and spread over an area of 10,291 sq. km, was carved out of Belgaum diocese and erected by the Decree 'Christi Missum" of Pope Paul VI on 24 January 1976.

Bishop D'Mello was appointed its first Bishop and ruled the diocese of predominantly Konkani-speaking Catholics 30 years till his retirement this year.

The episcopal ordination of Bishop elect, Fr. Derek Fernandes who will succeed Bishop D'Mello as the second Bishop of Karwar will take place at 4.30 pm on April 20, 2007 at St. Joseph's High School grounds, Karwar. The Apostolic Nuncio in India, Most Rev. Pedro Lopez Quintana will be the principal consecrator. The Mass will be followed by a public reception at 7.00p.m.

BANGALORE: Priest Warns of Faith Dangers

Priest Warns Catholics of Dangers to the Faith

BANGALORE March 5, 2007 (KCNews.org): A Catholic Priest in the South Indian Archdiocese of Bangalore has warned Catholics about dangers threatening the Catholic faith in today's world.

"We need to locate ourselves realistically in the world that we live in", Fr. Adolf Washington told the 600 odd Catholics attending an audio-visual seminar on keeping the faith in today's world, Sunday evening at Good Shepherd auditorium in the city.

He mentioned some of the recent controversies - the "Da Vinci Code", James Cameron's "The Tomb of Jesus", Brothers of Jesus, and claims of finding Mary's remains at ephesus or the skull of infant Jesus "somewhere in Europe" - as posing a challenge to the faith .

However, "on the positive side", the Vice-President of the Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA) and editor of SAR News said, "no person in human history has been the centre of so much of attraction, so much of intrigue, so much of interest and debated so much like that of Jesus Christ."

These controversies don't disturb those who are not serious about their faith but a serious person expresses concern "not only about my faith" but also "about the faith of my children and my grandchildren, about all those whom I love and the thousands of Catholics who may go astray by such kind of controversies," Fr. Adolf noted. Such a person prepares to resist the false "waves of intellectualism and scientific discoveries" by a deeper study of the Scriptures and of the faith.

In a world where "time has become the most important commodity" and is equated to money, a 24 hour schedule does not seem to be enough, the Priest said. Recalling what his grandma told him about marriage preparation courses lasting 15 days or a month in her day, today Catholics, he contrasted, are asking that even a 3 day course be made shorter.

"There are a lot of us... who look at our watch the moment the Priest begins his homily but we can sit for three hours in a cinema hall without even having a watch on our hands, " Fr. Washington told an amused audience adding, "we must laugh at ourselves. We must laugh at how we look at life."

He also pointed out the case of some parents who neglect to send their children for regular Sunday Catechism, and who, when the bishop comes to administer the sacraments, ask for a one-week "crash course in catechism." "We're living in a world of crash courses... and so we're coming to a crashing point even in the Church". "The struggle for survival can take more time than our desire for worship," he cautioned, adding that it is going to be "something dangerous for our children" if in a world of commercialisation we're going to forget our religious life.

The Priest also warned about the danger of the new age religious movements which he "crudely" defined as "a masala or a mixture we eat; [a] little of every religion, some theology some philosophies from here and there, pick them up, put them together, and give it." These movements, he said, are coming up "because, firstly people are not convinced completely of their own beliefs and secondly because everybody wants to try something new; because that is the kind of world we are living in; everyday there is somethign new." Those looking to try something new, he said, are "heading dangerously for new age religious movements where even the Christian can sometimes fall prey to choosing", a reason why "many of us are skipping from faith to faith, belief to belief, philosophy to philosophy" he said.

In a world of changing times, says Fr. Washington, the joint family system has given way to the nuclear family "to that extent, even vocations are suffering in the church". "We're going to something more dangerous", the Priest said pointing to the work of genetic engineering where parents in future will be able to "decide and choose" the baby they want. "The world", he said, "will offer us that" but "the Church will prevent us; and there's where the crisis of faith will come." "We'll be looking at people, not as people but as subject and objects" with those involved in this trying to "play the role of God."

Highlighting the dangers of changing work patterns, "the body time clock itself has been readjusted", the Priest said citing the example of the call centers and BPO work culture. This can result in very high stress levels affecting interpersonal relationships and resulting in "isolation and silence in the house".

When work patterns do not match Church timings, we try "to adjust the Church to the world" instead of adjusting our own lives in such a way as to make God "more important than anything else" the Priest said.

In order to keep the faith in today's world, it is necessary first of all to desire to keep it, Fr. Adolf stressed. "You can't keep the faith in today's work if you don't want to keep it" he explained. Those who "always play the blame game" and make excuses about their Priest keeping them in ignorance, cannot keep the faith in today's world. One can find a lot of information through "catholic websites, [the] vatican website, liturgical websites", through books, discussions and even with the help of "elderly catholics who are well-formed in the faith," he pointed out.

One must also be serious about his prayer life, Fr. Adolf said explaining that prayer ought to have the four elements of adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication.

One also ought to love and accept the Church even with its frailties, Fr. Washington said, pointing out that the "easiest thing is to criticize is the church and the church leaders and the most difficult things to criticize in the face is the boss who gives you your salary."

Further, growing in the knowledge of Scriptures is indispensible to keeping the faith, he said.

Finally Fr. Adolf said, we must grow in the faith within the family without leaving everything to the Catechism teachers, the Priests and the Nuns. That, he said, would be like treating the "Church as a creche".

Among the dignitaries present on the occassion were Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore and Dr. K. Kasturirangan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), who was recently nominated by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI as a member of the Vatican's Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

Archbishop Moras later released the inaugural issue of the new Archdiocesan magazine, Tabor.

Cyril John Re-Elected Chairman of the NST

National Service Team Reconstituted

Ms. Mae Britto, Bangalore

According to the Statutes provided by the CBCI to the National Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service (NCCRS), it is responsible for "service and promotion of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal all over India under the Holy Spirit's action and in close contact with the CBCI". The National Service Team (NST) is the apex body responsible for carrying on the mandate given to the NCCCRS. As the term of the present National Service Team (NST) is coming to an end on 31st May 2007, the members of the existing NST came together under the leadership of Most Rev. Valerian D'Souza, Bishop of Poona and Episcopal Advisor of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal appointed by the CBCI in Don Bosco Provincialate, Okhla, New Delhi on 17th and 18th February, 2007 to pray and discern the new team.

The nominations received from the regions were considered by the NST and through prayer and discernment chose a 16-member team to be on the National Service Team for the three year period from 2007 to 2010. Mr Cyril John was re-elected as Chairman of the NST for the third term and the Vice-Chairman is Mr Dickson Mendes from Mumbai and the Secretary is Sr Serena MSA from Ajmer. Other members on the team are: Rt. Rev. Vincent Barwa (Ranchi), Fr Augustine Vallooran VC (Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor), Mr Thomas Paul (Kerala), Sr Elsis Mathew MSMI (Kerala), Prof. Constantine Ferandez (Kerala), Mr Louis Mendonca (Pune), Mr M.A. Joppan (Kerala), Fr Johny Pananthanam SSP (Allahabad), Fr James Mathew SDB (Kolkata), Mr Francis D'Souza (Mumbai); Mr Merwyin Rodrigues (Goa); Fr Solomon Victor Rodrigues (Vasai), Mr Vinoo Antony (Chennai) and Lenny Soares (representing the National Catholic Charismatic Youth Council (NCCYC).

On 17th February, the entire Team visited the National Charismatic Office in Tagore Garden where Most Rev. Vincent M. Concessao, Archbishop of Delhi presided at the Eucharistic celebration and the homily was preached by Rt. Rev. Anil Couto, Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi. The Delhi Service Team hosted a dinner in honour of the Bishops and the NST. Mr Anand Mathew, Chairman of the Delhi Service Team welcomed the guests and explained introduce the members of the Delhi Service Team.

Parish Mission- Abu Dhabi - 2007

The Parish Mission by Fr. Conrad Pesso at St. Joseph's Church, Abu Dhabi

The Parish Mission at St. Joseph's Church, Abu Dhabi will be held from February 26 to March 1, 2007 and conducted by Fr. Conrad Pesso.

*Fr. Conrad will give the homily during all the Masses on February 23, 24 and 25.

DUBAI: Retreat by Fr. Augustine Vallooran - March 2007

DUBAI: English Retreat by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. at St. Mary's Church

Dates:
1. March 2-4, 2007 (Fr. Augustine will preach the Homily during all the English Masses)
2. March 5-8, 2007

Time: 7.00pm to 9.30pm

For More Details Contact: +971 4 3370087, +971 4 3358504, +971 4 3379542

GOA: Serve Abandoned Youth: Salesian Rector General

INDIA Visiting Salesian Chief Stresses Congregation's Role To Help Indian Youth

February 14, 2007

PANAJI, India (UCAN) -- The head of the Salesians of Don Bosco says his priests and cooperators in India should come together to better serve abandoned youth and to further the congregation's charism.

"We ought to work like a movement, to be visible in front of the Church, society, and to be credible as a single family," Rector Major Father Pascual Chavez Villanueva said on Feb. 7 in the western Indian state of Goa.

The Mexican-born priest was speaking to former students of Salesian institutions, cooperators and members of his Religious society who gathered in the state capital of Panaji, 1,910 kilometers southwest of New Delhi. Cooperators are lay men and women who assist the Salesians in their work, sharing the spirituality of the congregation but not professing formal vows.

The rector general, ninth successor of Saint John Bosco, arrived on Feb. 6. His two-day visit coincided with the conclusion of the Salesians' yearlong 60th-anniversary celebration of their arrival in Goa in 1946.

Father Chavez Villanueva said the Salesians and their cooperators should form a "synergy catering to the youth, poor and the abandoned." He also reiterated that the Salesian society is a spiritual and apostolic movement in which "we are called to be missioners and apostles of youth."

One of the challenges facing them is to enrich society with human values learned in Salesian schools and thus advance the Salesians' Christian identity. The rector major asked all branches of the Salesian family to come together "in the form of a tree" and chalk out a strategy for the benefit of youth.

Later, he addressed a group of novices and pre-novices and asked them to discover their own dreams and work toward realizing them. "If you have a vocation, you have enthusiasm, a mission to accomplish," he told them.

While addressing Salesian nuns, Father Chavez Villanueva stressed that everyone in the Salesian family has a duty to live and work the way the founder had shown.

At a press conference, the rector general said the Salesians plan to set up the country's first Catholic university in Guwahati, Assam state, the commercial hub of northeastern India.

On Feb. 8, Father George Quadros, rector of the Salesian provincial house in Goa, told UCA News the priests' leader also "challenged" them at a closed-door meeting to "stop being concerned about building structures" and focus more on building the personality of the youth they serve.

Father Quadros said their chief wants his men to follow Don Bosco's example, to give youth the best kind of education and prepare them to be skilled, competent and proactive members of society.

Students of various Salesian institutes welcomed Father Chavez Villanueva on his arrival. Amid full-throated cheering, they released colorful balloons and showered colored paper on the priest as his open jeep entered the Salesian complex in the capital, where the first Salesians set foot 60 years ago.

END
Reproduced by Konkani Catholics with permission from UCAN (www.ucanews.com)

BANGALORE: "Can You Keep the Faith?" - AV Presentation

BANGALORE: "Can You Keep the Faith?" - Audio Visual Presentation by Fr. Adolf Washington

There will be an Audio-Visual presentation on keeping the Catholic faith in today's world by Fr. Adolf Washington, details of which are as follows:

Venue: Good Shepherd Auditorium, 25 Museum Road, Bangalore–25.
Date: Sunday, 4th March, 2007.
Time: 6pm

For group or individual passes:

Call: Jose (9980092152), Antony (9940484447) or Dev (9986923583)
Email: activetrust@gmail.com

UAE - World Marriage Day 2007 - February 12

UAE: World Marriage Day 2007 - St. Mary's Church Dubai

World Marriage Day 2007 will be celebrated by the Marriage Encounter Team for the 5th consecutive year at St. Mary's Church Dubai, at a special Eucharistic celebration at 8pm on 12th February 2007.

There will be a special felicitation of the "Longest Married Couple", present at the service, by Fr. Peter, the Parish priest.

(Please note that this will be the same Eucharistic celebration for couples celebrating their anniversary in February).

There will be an Entrance procession comprising of all couples who have completed 25 years of their marriage.

Please feel free to invite your family members / friends / relatives to this celebration, and also encourage them to join this procession, if they have completed 25 years of marriage.

They would be required to be present at the main entrance of the church at 7.45 pm sharp. (Special seating will be reserved for them in the front pews)

Posted by Mariza Ferrao/Rohan F. Britto

MUMBAI: Glory 2007 - Gospel Music Concert - February 2007

Mumbai: "Glory 2007" - Gospel Music Concert at Orlem, February 12, 2007

For more information: Visit JoyfulNoise.in

Posted by Robin Viegas

MUMBAI: Our Lady of Egypt Church Outreach - February 2007

Outreach Programme by Our Lady of Egypt Church, Kalina, Mumbai - February 2007

There will be an outreach program on 8th, 9th, 10th & 11th February 2007 at St Mary's High School grounds from 7 p.m. till 10 p.m. The programme will begin with holy Mass at 6:00 p.m.

On Sunday however, the mass will be at 6:45 p.m.

Mr. Trevor Lewis of the Jeevan Jal prayer group will conduct the Outreach.

The daily themes are:

February 8th - 'Love'.
February 9th - 'Forgivness'.
Feb. 10th & 11th - 'Inner Healing' & 'Healing'.

Confessions will be heard from Friday the 9th onwards.

Seating arrangements have been made on the grounds. Volunteers will be there to help those in special need.

Come one, come all for this spiritual renewal which will help discern God's plan for you.

Should you have any query, please call Mr Francis Mendes on 9223335922.

There will be no Mass at 7:00 p.m. in the Church on those days.

Posted by Robin Viegas

GOA: Navy Obstructs Anjediva Church Feast Again

Navy Bars Entry To Island Church Again

February 7, 2007

PANAJI, India (UCAN) -- For the third year running, the Indian navy has denied pilgrims access to a church on Anjediva, an island off the coast of Goa state.

Some 40 people from the western state who turned up outside a naval project on Feb. 2 seeking access to the island eventually left disappointed.

Anjediva, in the Arabian Sea about 2,030 kilometers southwest of New Delhi, houses the Church of Our Lady of Springs, which the Portuguese built 10 years before they conquered Goa in 1510. Goa remained a Portuguese colony until 1961. Many Catholics in Goa consider the church their "mother church."

In 1991, the Goa government donated the 370,032-hectare island to the navy to build a 13 billion-rupee (US$268 million) naval base. But it donated the island on the condition that civilians would be allowed access to the church twice annually, for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on Feb. 2 and the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4.

In 2002, however, the navy announced it would halt civilian access to the island, leading to a dispute between the navy and Goan Catholics.

This year, the navy informed the Goa archbishop's house, through a fax message on the eve of the Feb. 2 feast, that as a major defense exercise was underway, allowing access to the island was not feasible. Archdiocesan spokesperson Father Joaquim Loiola Pereira told UCA News the navy's local commanding officer, K.P. Ramachandran, also had telephoned him to say some 2,000 naval cadets from all over India were on the island for the exercise.

In late January, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman and others asked naval authorities to allow pilgrims on the island for the feast.

In a letter to Ramachandran, Archbishop Ferrao urged the navy not to view the traditional celebration as a threat to the naval base. He said the navy's security department could easily handle pilgrims and drew parallels to the annual Navy Week, when the navy allows civilians on the island.

The prelate assured the navy the celebration would not overcrowd the island, as only a few hundred pilgrims would visit it. A positive response from the navy, the prelate added, would affirm its commitment to honor the religious needs and legitimate sentiments of Goa's Catholics.

Godfrey Gonsalves, who campaigns for celebrating the feast at the island church, said the navy's denial was an annual excuse "to keep us" away from the island. The navy will "push us around" if Catholics do not "fight for our rights," he told UCA News Feb. 3. The previous day he had visited the mainland naval base connected to Anjediva to register a protest against the navy's "highhandedness."

Previously, some right-wing Hindu groups opposed Catholic access to the island. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (world council of Hindus) claims a temple existed there before the Portuguese captured it.

However, Gonsalves told a press conference on Feb. 2 that local Hindus no longer opposed Catholics going to the island. He said many Hindus also visit the island church, since they believe the Blessed Mother protects their fishing expeditions.

"The only people who are creating problems are the navy," he lamented.

Antonio Barreto, a Catholic layman who tried to visit the church this year, told UCA News the police stopped his taxi at the Goa-Karnataka border. The town closest to the island is Karwar in Karnataka, about 120 kilometers south of the Goa capital of Panaji.

Father Pereira asserted the Church would not take things lying down. "Right now, we will keep quiet. But we will definitely take it up with the higher authorities in the government," he said.
END
Reproduced by Konkani Catholics with permission from UCA News (http://www.ucanews.com/)