Dealing with Alcoholics

Dealing With Alcoholics

In reply to an ongoing discussion in the Konkani Catholics group, Mr. Vincent Fernandes had the following useful insights to share on dealing with alcohlics

I think if there's one place where the saying 'God helps those who help themselves' fits well, it is in the case of alcoholism.

There could be many underlying reasons for being an alcoholic. First and foremost, fears - of being far away, the fear to face the job, the fear of rejection, the anxieties about tomorrow etc. Other reasons could be the spouse, worldly company or other factors rather than the mere love of alcohol.

Yet once one indulges in drinking, it is extremely difficult to stop, as the withdrawal symptoms are terrifying. During this time, drunkards will have difficulty in eating or drinking. The thought of food itself can cause nausea or hallucinations. In his hallucinations he may see life like creatures, the kind we see in horror movies. Sometimes, the person feels himself engaged in a scary battle with those horrible people or creatures of his hallucination. At other times it could be imaginations that defy the law of physics - for e.g. he imagines the bed springs coming apart from the mattress and tightening around his body. These hallucinations can really be terrifying.

It is best to approach such persons when they are not too under the influence of alochocl and are in a sufficiently sober mind. A simple chat in a concerned tone will convery the sense of understanding that he is looking for and will help him feel loved and assured of help. Often it it because of the lack of understanding that the drunkard hits the bottle harder. They hate it when other pass disrespectful comments or make fun of them.

There is sometimes another type of behaviour under the effect of alcohol where a person though fully drunk, acts normal and yet is under a full black-out. In this state, he may take the keys, drive the car to the liquor store, buy liquor like normal person, drive back home, consume more and pass out, but the next day he does not remember what he has done. He may even get into violent arguments with his wife if confronted but have no memory of it the next day. This in reality, is a very dangerous situation as the man cannot in anyway prove that he was acting under the influence of alcohol. Since he seemed perfectly normal, evn his wife will not believe what he say and he will be every bit responsible for his actions under the law.

As long as a drunkard does not realise the all-round damage that he is doing and make up his mind to give up alcochol, realising his family's concerns about him, he cannot be set free from the addiction to the bottle.

A person who is a good listener and is able to comfortably discuss the topic, will be a great aid in helping alcoholics kick the habit. They will be able to make them understand the damage caused by the habit and make the person feel loved, respected and wanted. The decision is not an easy one but the renunciation should be with a complete NO without justifications of any sort or the choice of lesser evils like beer or wine.

Once the habit is renounced, the person must take care to avoid all the occassions for such a sin i.e., the social gatherings and friends circles where drinks are served. Firstly, it helps to send a message across that one has given up drinking altogether and secondly to avoid the subtle pressure exerted by friends in the manner, "eh what are you saying, c'mon, have a small peg". It is the 'first drink' that enslaves a person and he will do well to avoid justifications like "I know, okay, I will have later", or "my glass is over there". These are answers that weaken ones conviction and allow evil desires to take root once again. Let the NO be a gentle but firm NO - "I have given up drinking". That's it.

Even after all this, temptation will still be there. Often one feels that though he is not drinking, he must keep some stock to serve his guests who show a preference for it. This is a fatal trap for one who has come so far. Not only does he become responsible for the sin of another but he provides himself with the opportunity to go back to this sin again. He could well take a 'quick refresher' when his wife goes for bath or to the garden. Should such a one go back to that hell again? - the total surrender to alchohol, the self pity, the helplessness, the food nausia and the hullucinations, the deathly quiet in the house as if the wife and children have deserted him leaving the house is empty.... is that the ask? If someone really wants to avoid this then let him NOT underestimate the power of alchohol.

Without prayer it may be impossible to free such a person from the grips of this deadly addiction yet human assistance is also of great value. Detox programs and medical drugs can also be of help, as long as the resolve is there. And the resolve remains the best cure - "No, Never to the 'first drink". This way the person can regain his lost respect, obtain a gainful employment, regain the confidence of the family and children, and lead a satisfying life. As an alcoholic, a person can never be confident about his control over how much and how he drinks. It is a myth that has trapped many and they've had relapses more terrifying than the ones they had first. Shouldn't they destroy the poison before it destroys them?

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Tags: Alcoholic Alocholics Alocholism Drunkard Drunkards Prayer Konkani Catholics

Kuwait: Talk on Effective Marriage Communication Held

Kuwait: Second of the "Family Talks" series conducted at Cathedral Premises

Kuwait March 12: The Young Adults in Christ Fellowship group conducted the second of a series of talks on the family, at the Holy Family Cathedral premises last Friday. Mr. Charles Machado of the God's Love Community Charismatic prayer group at Salmiya was the speaker of the day.

Speaking on the crucial topic of "Effective Communication in Marriage", Mr. Machado gave some very practical and useful tips to the mixed age group audience who had come to listen to the talk. "Realize that no one 'wins' an argument", he pointed out to the couples explaining that it was, "much easier to resolve differences, make plans, or share disappointments, if you both are committed to the fact that you are on the same side." He went on to show the "5 Sides of Intimacy" and the "Characteristics of Intimacy" before closing with an in-depth understanding of ones relationships with ones in-laws.

A complete summary of the talk can be found here.

This is the second of a series of talks on the family that began on 3rd March and would go on every Friday till April 28th barring Good Friday on 14th April. The previous talk on "Choosing a partner" was the first of the series and was given by Br Francis Fernandes from the Charismatic Group of the Holy Family Cathedral. For the benefit of those who missed the first talk, a printed summary of the same was distributed.

The next talk scheduled for 17th March will feature a very lively speaker from the Couples For Christ (CFC) speaking on the topic of "The Roles of Husband and Wife in Marriage", Mr. Dominic D'Souza, the co-coordinator of the Young Adults Fellowship in Christ group informed.

The venue will be Room #9, (Ist Floor) at the Holy Family Cathedral Premises and the talk will begin at 7pm. Aimed at building and renewing the family, these talks are meant for all Singles, Couples, Children and Families in Kuwait. "Every talk is important as many a times we don't know what difference God can make in our families if we make him the center of our lives," said Hazel D'Souza, one of the organizing members. "We are looking forward to see many more couples, families and children in the forthcoming talks which will include topics like Marriage and Family Values, Roles of husband and wife, Importance of the Holy Spirit and Bible in the family, Importance of Eucharist in the family, Parent child relationships and Handling finances within the Family." "There will also be a special healing service for singles and couples on one of the days", she informed. For the benefit of those who missed the previous talks, a printed copy of the same will be made available.

For more information, contact: Dominic D'Souza (Core Leader), 5647704 (res), 6265749 (mob)
Email: cooldjd@yahoo.com OR cooldjd@hotmail.com

Also See:

• Talk IV - The Holy Spirit and Bible in Familes
• Kuwait: YACF Special Healing Service on 31 March 2006
• Talk III - The Roles of Husband and Wife
• Talk II - Effective Communication in Marriage
• Talk I - On Choosing a Life Partner
• Kuwait: Family Talks in Holy Family Cathedral

Tags: Kuwait City Young Adults Christ Fellowship Talks Holy Family Cathedral Marriage Partner Husband Wife Parent Children Relationship Bible Eucharist

Kuwait: Effective Communication in Marriage - Talk

The Young Adults in Christ Fellowship

"The Family Talks – March & April 2006"

Talk II

Effective Communication in Marriage

The following is the summary of the second of a series of family talks organized by the Young Adults in Christ Fellowship at the Holy Family Cathedral Premises, Kuwait. This talk was given on 10th March, 2006 by Mr. Charles Machado of the God's Love Community Charismatic prayer group (Salmiya), on the topic of "Effective Communication in Marriage". Mr. Machado is also the editor of the Vicariate newsletter and is a resource person for the marriage preparation courses in Kuwait

Communicating effectively takes practice and a great deal of effort. Without communication, it is nearly impossible to resolve conflicts or grow your partnership. Whether you are in a troubled marriage, simply seeing the value of a "tune-up", or seeking marriage help, here are some useful tips for communicating effectively within a marriage.

• Listen carefully - One of the most important aspects of verbal communication is listening. If we respond to a suggestion or comment before the speaker has had the opportunity to fully express his/her thought, we are being extremely rude.



• Realize that no one "wins" an argument. If you leave a discussion without a possible solution to the problem, then neither party has been successful. It is much easier to resolve differences, make plans, or share disappointments, if you both are committed to the fact that you are on the same side.



• Compromise is an essential tool to solving problems through communication. Before bringing up a problem, make sure you have thought of ways that you can help solve it by mutual compromise.



• Try to be positive when bringing up sensitive marital problems. Instead of jumping right into a discussion, open by acknowledging that every partnership could be improved and you'd like to take some time and discuss the things that are working in your relationship and the areas that could use improvement. It helps to start by talking about positive things and then moving into the deeper discussion on problem areas.



• Tell the truth - Somehow we think it is more love to hide our true feelings from those we don't want to hurt. However, a relationship built on hidden feelings, hopes or fears is built on shaky ground. The saying, "Say what you mean and mean what you say," is supported by many Biblical statements.



• Be a "reflective" listener and make sure you understand what your partner has said. "What I hear you saying is..." is a great way to make sure the proper message has been received. When your husband or wife tells you something in a discussion, believe what they say. Nothing is more frustrating, when trying to discuss a subject, than to have the other person hearing what they want to hear or think you are talking about, rather than what you really said. Many times people who have been married for many years don't really know each other because they won't believe what their partner says. In many of these cases, after a few years, one of the partners just gives up and quits trying to communicate.



• Feel free to use the "time out" card if the discussion gets too intense. If an argument gets heated and irrational, it is better to postpone the discussion to a time and place where effective communication can happen.



• Make sure your body language, facial expressions and vocal tone are in line with your message. One study showed that 55% of the emotional meaning of what you say is expressed by your facial expression. While only 7% of the emotional meaning is verbal. Be honest, direct and focus on the real issue. If you enter a conversation insecure about making your point -- you probably won't make it.



• If you can't come up with a definitive solution, at least try to end the conversation on a positive note like "I think it's good we've both shared our feelings and we'll continue to talk about it and try to come up with a better solution." Don't ever be rude or talk down to your partner in a discussion about your relationship. Don't dismiss an idea or thought as absurd, but instead listen to your partner's point and then react with the reasons you disagree in a respectful manner.



• Stay on track. If you sit down to talk about a financial problem and suddenly other emotional issues are coming up, realize that you may need to focus on one area at a time in order to create solutions instead of mere bickering.



• Recognize when you need outside help to communicate effectively. A counselor or marriage retreat may help solve what seems to be an impossible communication problem.

The 6 Sides of Intimacy

There's something about our psychological, spiritual, and physical makeup that cries out for intimacy with another. That's because God designed marriage to be the most intimate of all human relationships, in which we share life intellectually, socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and financially. Are you and your spouse intimate in these ways?

Emotional Intimacy. Feelings are our spontaneous, emotional responses to what we encounter through the five senses. I see the fire truck racing down the road and I feel troubled. You touch my hand and I feel loved. When we share emotions, we build emotional intimacy. Unfortunately, society tends to discourage men from feeling or showing emotion. Men who didn't learn how to be emotionally intimate while growing up can learn as adults. If they do, their marriages will be stronger and healthier. The first step to emotional awareness is to pay attention to your feelings, identify them, and think of possible reasons for them. Work on noticing the differences between strong emotions such as terror and fury and the differences between more subtle emotions such as anxiety, insecurity, and irritation. Emotional intimacy can occur once people know what they are feeling, convey those feelings to each other, and express concern and understanding of their feelings to each other.

Intellectual Intimacy. This isn't about discussing highly intellectual ideas. The important thing is discussing your thoughts. They may be thoughts about food, finances, health, crime, work, politics. They reveal something of what's gone on in your mind throughout the day.

Social and Recreational Intimacy. This has to do with spending time around the events of life. Much of life involves doing. When we do things together, we not only develop a sense of teamwork, we also enhance our sense of intimacy. Recreational intimacy is enjoying activities together, like running, golfing, or reading. Things as simple as popping popcorn and watching a movie or preparing a meal together can be good ways to build recreational intimacy.

Spiritual Intimacy involves sharing and praying together in church. As you share spiritual experiences, you will become united in your attitudes and goals.

Financial or Monetary Intimacy comes with discussing and sharing your finances. If you have separate accounts, you probably lack financial intimacy in your relationship

Physical Intimacy. Because men and women are different, we often come at sexual intimacy in different ways. The husband's emphasis is often on the physical aspects—the seeing, touching, and climax are the focus of his attention. The wife, though, comes to sexual intimacy with more interest in the relationship. Sexual intimacy requires understanding and responding to these differences. To feel loved, appreciated, and treated tenderly brings her great joy. Just touching your wife’s hand or cheeks during the day and telling her that you love her can go a long way in making her feel loved.

Characteristics of Intimacy

Relationships with healthy intimacy have several factors in common, including the following:

Mutual trust builds a sense of security for both spouses. You can show it by having no desire to injure your spouse in any way. Though you might unintentionally cause hurt, you won't hurt one another on purpose.

Tenderness includes gentle expressions of caring. Through touch you can express your love to your partner. This affectionate contact "is absolutely essential in building the emotion of love".

Acceptance is unconditional approval in a relationship. No one is perfect, but acceptance means not holding weaknesses against one other. If you find yourself frequently pointing out your spouse's faults, work on focusing instead on the qualities you fell in love with.

Open communication is the ability to discuss anything with your spouse. It includes sincere expression of thoughts and feelings as well as careful listening. Signs of poor communication include feeling reluctant to tell your spouse about the events of your day or being unwilling to listen when your spouse is explaining how he or she feels.

Caring is genuine concern for your spouse's well-being. If you do things you know hurt your spouse, you cannot have healthy intimacy. You can develop a more caring heart and mind by learning to think of your spouse's feelings before your own. Always ask yourself before acting or speaking, "If I do this or say this, will I hurt my spouse?"

Apologies are the remedy for mistakes that spouses inevitably make. Recognizing mistakes, taking responsibility for them, expressing remorse for any hurt caused, and making a commitment to change the hurtful behavior are all essential to mending the relationship after a mistake. For spouses who have created a chasm of hurts that separate them, offering a sincere and humble apology is the first step in building a bridge over that chasm. Even if you believe that your partner made the mistake, you can begin the healing by finding something you did that calls for an apology.

Forgiveness is the process of letting go of anger, desire for revenge, and obsessive thinking about times your spouse has hurt you. It includes giving your spouse permission to have weaknesses, make mistakes, and change. Seeing the goodness and strengths of your spouse along with the weaknesses can open up emotional space for good will to build toward your spouse. Forgiveness does not automatically create trust or reconciliation, nor does it mean you approve of bad behavior. But it is an important early step toward rebuilding a fractured relationship.

Appropriate boundaries are the limits you place on a relationship. The limits can be created individually or as a couple. These limits include saying "no" when your spouse asks you to do something that goes against your values or is more than you can handle. Setting firm, clear boundaries for yourself and respecting the boundaries of your partner create feelings of safety and trust.

Dealing with In-laws

A New Loyalty. First, marrying our spouse means we turn our loyalties to him or her. That doesn’t mean we are not loyal to our parents, but that we place priority on our husband or wife. One obvious step to leaving our parents that shows we place priority on our husband or wife is changing homes. Our attention and effort turn toward our family’s well being and happiness and a central home together. Second, becoming one flesh, in addition to referring to a husband and wife joining sexually, suggests we should stand united with our spouse regardless of outside opinions. We are so united with our spouse it’s as if the two of us are one person. Even if other people, such as in-laws, disapprove or offer their opinions, we make our own decisions and stand by them, together.

One’s own parents. One primary difficulty married couples face is in managing conflict with the parents of their spouse. It is a very good idea to make your spouse the “middle man” for conflicts you have with his or her parents. Relationships are stronger when they have time behind them and, as they say, blood is thicker than water. Therefore, in-laws will probably react better to a request from their son or daughter. If her parents need to back off, it’s better that it comes from her. It’s important to be sensitive to your spouse’s feelings concerning your parents. If he or she feels crowded or disrespected, it’s important you take these feelings seriously and act to improve the situation. These principles should also be taken into consideration by parents and should influence the way they treat their child’s spouse. If a wife has a problem with her mother-in-law, it's the husband who needs to step in and help fix it. Likewise, if a husband doesn't see eye-to-eye with his in-laws, his wife needs to step in. The person with the primary relationship (the son or daughter, not the in-law) needs to be the messenger.

Independent Identity. You’ll know you’re in a situation where change should occur when you and your spouse don’t feel you have your own identity. One of the purposes of marriage is for a couple to establish an identity that is independent of their parents. If this doesn’t happen, a healthy marriage becomes much more of a challenge. It’s difficult to form an identity together unless each of you learns to rely on the other instead of parents. Part of what it means to have your own identity as a couple is that conflicts are resolved without the involvement of in-laws. If you and your spouse are arguing about any subject, neither has the right to involve a parent in the disagreement. If your spouse brings a parent in on an argument, you’d feel it’s “them against you.” This violates the oneness attitude that should exist in your marriage relationship. As a couple, try to establish as much independence from both families as possible. Establish a family atmosphere that avoids a contest between your two families for your time, attention and affection. Decisions on purchases, home-improvements, children’s-education, investment etc. must be first discussed with your spouse. Seek your in-law’s help only if you feel necessary.

Mutual Respect. In all things, respect your mother and father-in-law. Remember, they are the parents of someone very special – your spouse. If you are a parent of a married child, your son-in-law or daughter-in-law is very special because he or she is your child’s life partner. You need to love your parents, and have a rich and active relationship with them. Try not to criticize your spouse for his/her relationship with his/her parents. It may only lead to more clinginess or complications. Don't compare your spouse's family with your own. Don't direct anger you may feel for your spouse toward his or her family. Treat both families equally and fairly.

Also See :

• Talk IV - The Holy Spirit and Bible in Familes
• Kuwait: YACF Special Healing Service on 31 March 2006
• Talk III - The Roles of Husband and Wife
• Kuwait: Talk on Effective Marriage Communication Held
• Talk I - On Choosing a Life Partner
• Kuwait: Family Talks in Holy Family Cathedral

Tags: Kuwait City Young Adults Christ Fellowship Talks Holy Family Cathedral Marriage Partner Husband Wife Parent Children Relationship Bible Eucharist

CCBI Doctrinal Commission National Seminar

CCBI Doctrinal Commission to organize National Seminar From March 24-26, 2006

ANNOUNCEMENT

The CCBI Doctrinal Commission is organising a National Seminar on fundamental issues concerning the Church’s Social Doctrine with the theme: "PROMOTING A CULTURE OF LIFE IN INDIAN SOCIETY: COMMITMENT TO HUMAN DIGNITY, SOLIDARITY AND PEACE". The Seminar meant for Priests, Religious and laypersons will be held at St. Pius College, Goregaon from Friday, March 24, evening to Sunday, March 26, 2006, evening. Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, will be the main spokesperson. Bishop Crepaldi and Cardinal Renato Martini were together responsible for compiling the authoritative volume ‘Compendium of the Social Teaching of the Church’.

Due to limited accommodation, the CCBI Doctrinal Commission is inviting three persons from every diocese for this Seminar. Since, however, it is being held in Mumbai, the Commission has agreed to give a bigger quota to the Archdiocese of Bombay – the participants from our Archdiocese can return home each evening. However, for those who may find in inconvenient to return home in the evenings, accommodation will be provided.

The expenditure for the seminar, inclusive of boarding and lodging, is being borne by the CCBI Doctrinal Commission. There is, however, a small registration fee of Rs. 100 payable at the time of arrival on March 24, 2006. If you wish to participate in the Seminar kindly contact Fr Stephen Fernandes (2876-2907/98203-32965), St. Pius X College or email: bishopdabre@hotmail.com

+ Agnelo Gracias
Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay

Tags: CCBI Doctrinal Commission National Seminar Priests Religious Bishop Compendium Social Teaching Church Catholic

The Bible's Answer To Your Problems

See What You Say and What God Says

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:16 & John 3:34 )

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28)

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

Believe God can meet your every need...

Posted by Richard Mascarenhas

Tags: God Bible

Kuwait: On Choosing a Life Partner - Talk

The Young Adults in Christ Fellowship

“The Family Talks – March & April 2006”

Talk I

The following is the summary of the first of a series of family talks organized by the Young Adults in Christ Fellowship at the Holy Family Cathedral Premises, Kuwait. The first talk was given on 3rd March, 2006 by Br. Francis Fernandes of the Cathedral Charismatic group, on the topic of "Choosing a Life-Partner".

When we buy a house or a horse we examine them thoroughly. When we marry we must exert the same solicitude, if not more. If the house is defective it can be returned or disposed of, but not so with a marriage partner. When you buy a house, you must study the laws of the state regarding houses. When you marry, you study the laws of God.

So, know that if you take a bad wife, you must endure her. To abandon her is to commit adultery. Look for affection, gentleness and humility in a woman. These are the true tokens of beauty. Don't look for wealth; this is to overlook the more important thing which is a common mistake today.

And you, young girl, choose one who will really be a husband and a protector. Remember you are choosing a head for yourself and your family. Do not make your quest for the ‘Tom Cruise’ or ‘Harrison Ford’ your primary goal because looks can be deceiving. Don't look for wealth either. Instead, look for piety, gentleness, wisdom and fear of the Lord. A rich man will just hurt you, not help you. He will treat you like a slave because you are poorer. This said your proposed partner must be able to support you and your family as one cannot live on “Love and fresh air!”. According to the Word of God, the future husband should be a good provider. He should "tend and keep the garden" (Genesis 2:15) as the first husband did. A young man should have a stable job and a history of managing his money well, to insure financial security for his future bride. He should be responsible. While a virtuous man can never neglect nor scorn his wife, an adulterer can never love his wife. Alcoholics and drug-addicts are to be avoided.

In a wife, choose virtue of soul, nobility of character. With this you will enjoy tranquility in your family. A man who marries a rich woman is marrying a boss. Look for piety and chastity. Such a wife, even if she is poor, is a treasure. The future wife should be a "a helpmate" (Genesis 2:18), a comforter (Genesis 24:67), and an encourager (Proverbs 31:26). Clearly, a wife should be committed to the calling that God has placed on her husband. She should be submissive to his servant leadership, and she should be willing to make their home a place of refuge and encouragement. Carefully observe how your young lady reacts to the instructions of her parents, pastor or employer, for that is how she will respond to your headship!

Another excellent "scripture check" is to read 1 Corinthians 13: 4 aloud and replace the word "Love" with the marriage candidate’s name. If, the candidate truly reflects these characteristics they will make someone an exceptional spouse!

Turn to God for help.

He will be happy to be your match maker. The biblical strategy for choosing a life partner is to seek God's will in prayer and then trust Him to lead. His Word says, ". . . in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). It is your choice, but please remember to always make God part of your decisions. You may be pleasantly surprised where He leads you in your faith, in your choice of a mate, and in all your relationships.

What do my Parents think?

God’s Guidebook also opines: "Obey those who have rule over you for they watch for your souls..." (Hebrews 13:17) Your parents were chosen to be the first "watchers of your soul." They have spent a lifetime caring for you. Be sure to honor them by seeking their counsel when making such an important decision. Whether you like it or not, the majority of the time, mom and dad are on target. If your parents disagree with who you have chosen to spend your life with, do all you can to listen to their concerns, honestly evaluate what they have to say, and then take it to the Lord in prayer. If your choice is truly God’s choice, He will help smooth over any rough spots.

Know what you need!

You must know what your needs are so that you can communicate them to a potential partner. These are the things you cannot compromise on! Ask your partner what his/her needs are. Find out whether the two of you can meet these needs for each other.

Make sure your life partner loves God more than he or she loves you

Jesus said: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39). It is so important to observe your partner's love for God. Why? Because in time, the way he or she loves and serves Him will be reflected in the way he or she loves and serves you.

Your life partner must be a person of character

"Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord." (Psalm 119:1). Men and women of character are trustworthy in all they do and have an appetite for righteousness. They will keep their word no matter what the cost.

Is your proposed life partner kind to others?

"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32). If you don't see your partner treat others with kindness and grace, in time he or she will be treating you the same way.

Note the way your proposed life partner dresses

"And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do." (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

Does he/she treat his or her parents with honor and respect?

"Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise." (Ephesians 6:2). You would never meet a young person who is truly successful or blessed who doesn't love his or her parents.

Make sure your life partner is not flirtatious

"Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a common clay pot." (Proverbs 26:23). A person's actions and looks speak volumes, so be advised, Son, and be wise. Make sure you understand the true priorities of your life partner's life: "Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." (1 Timothy 4:12) Watch closely to see signs of your partner's love, faith, and purity. Has this person put God first? Does this person live to serve others? Is this person selfish? Make sure you know whom your life partner's close friends are: "Do not be misled. 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Your life partner should not be contentious or violent

"Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred." (Proverbs 15:17) If you're picking up a lot of unhappiness or anger in this person, then be warned in advance. Make sure you ask the Lord for discernment. "Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. May your good Spirit lead me on level ground." (Psalm 143:8,10)

Sex should never be an issue

Here's what we mean by that. If either partner is feeling pressured by sex, this is not a Christian relationship/marriage in the making. You can be sure that this relationship is not based on Godly principles. This goes back to knowing what you need, once again. If you want and need a Christian marriage, this will tell you which direction you are heading. There are no excuses for this one! God intended sexual relations between husband and wife in the sanctity of marriage!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6). Don't live in fear about the possibilities that you may be single in your lifetime. Fear breeds insanity! Your needs won't matter at all! You can make very foolish decisions if this fear takes over. Fill your life with the things that make you happy. Give it to God and LEAVE it there!

It takes knowing oneself, steadfast prayer and patience, to find the right partner! Fill your life with all the things you love, read your Bible then you will be able to follow God's will for your life. God wants you to have a wonderful fulfilling lifetime with a special mate,....and so do we! God Bless You!

END

More Information :

• Talk IV - The Holy Spirit and Bible in Familes
• Kuwait: YACF Special Healing Service on 31 March 2006
• Talk III - The Roles of Husband and Wife
• Kuwait: Talk on Effective Marriage Communication Held
• Talk II - Effective Communication in Marriage
• Kuwait: Family Talks in Holy Family Cathedral

Tags: Kuwait City Young Adults Christ Fellowship Talks Holy Family Cathedral Marriage Partner Husband Wife Parent Children Relationship Bible Eucharist

Bangalore: CrossRoads '06 by Jesus Youth Professionals' Ministry

Bangalore Jesus Youth Professionals' Ministry to organize "CrossRoads '06"

After a very successful one day programme "Go Forth" last month, the Bangalore Jesus Youth Professionals' Ministry is all set to organize "CrossRoads '06", a three day residential retreat specially meant for working professionals.

Taking its theme from Jeremiah 6:16 - "Stand at the crossroads and look; Ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls" - CrossRoads is a perfect chance for working youth to discover, live and radiate Christ in and through their professional life.

The program will take place at Logos Retreat Centre, and participants are required to bring their Bibles, stationery, bed sheets & pillow covers, and toiletries along. A nominal registration fee of Rs. 300/- per head will cover food and accomodation charge for all three days.

The retreat will be led by Mr. Edmund and team from Goa.

Retreat Information

Dates: 6pm Thursday, 23rd to 4pm Sunday 26th March, 2006.
Registratinon Fee: Rs. 300/- (Inclusive of food and accomodation for 3 days.)
Venue: Logos Retreat Center, 29, Logos Nagar, P.B. # 4326, Babusahibpalyaya, Bangalore 43.

Transportation for the needy will be arranged upon request.

How to Register?

Send your Name, Phone, Email, Company and Date of Birth (Year Optional) by email to jesusyouthprof@gmail.com

Hurry! Limited Registrations!!!

Contact Persons: Rohit (9845051626), Deepak (9845775334), Jose TTK (9880634875)

Trackback Link: http://jybangalore.blogspot.com/2006/03/crossroads-06-special-working-youth.html
Tags: Jesus Youth Bangalore Professionals Ministry

Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops Conference (KRCBC)

The following is the list of members of the Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops Conference (KRCBC)

Office Bearers

Most Rev. Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore
President, KRCBC.

Rev. Fr. S. Jayanathan
Secretary, KRCBC.

Rev. Fr. Faustine Lobo
Coordinator, KRPP.

Members

Msgr. Derek Fernandes
Administrator, Belgaum Diocese.

Most Rev. Dr. Joseph D'Silva
Bishop of Bellary

Most Rev. Dr. J. B. Sequeira
Bishop of Chikmagalur

Most Rev. Dr. William D'Mello
Bishop of Karwar

Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D'Souza
Bishop of Mangalore

Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Vazhapilly
Bishop of Mysore

Most Rev. Dr. Gerald I. Lobo
Bishop of Shimoga

Most Rev. Dr. Robert Miranda
Bishop of Gulbarga

Regional Commissions and Officials In-Charge

Commission: Proclamation & Evangelisation
Bishop in Charge: Archbishop of Bangalore
Secretary: Fr. Alwyn Cardoza, Karwar.
Joint Secretary: Fr. Rathan Almeida, Bangalore.

Commission: Education
Bishop in Charge: Archbishop of Bangalore
Secretary: Fr. Sunith Prabhu SJ, Bangalore.
Joint Secretaries: Fr. Bonaventure Nazareth, Mangalore.
Sr. Josephine Hoover, Bangalore.

Commission: Health
Bishop in Charge: Archbishop of Bangalore.
Secretary: Sr. Lilly Chunkapura Bangalore.

Commission: Laity
Bishop in Charge: Archbishop of Bangalore
Secretary: Rev. Fr. Peter Machado, Karwar.
Joint Secretary: Sr. Juliana Martis, Coorg.

Commission: Justice, Development & Peace
Bishop in Charge: Archbishop of Bangalore
Secretary: Fr. Becket D'souza, Bangalore.
Joint Secretaries: Fr. John Desrochers, Bangalore.
Sr. Alice, Dharward.

Commission: Liturgy
Bishop in Charge: Bishop of Mysore
Secretary: Msgr. J. B. Xavier, Mysore.
Joint Secretary: Sr. Jesuina, Mandya.

Commission: Ecumenism & Inter-religious Dialogue
Bishop in Charge: Bishop of Mysore.
Secretary: V.Rev. Fr. Ronnie Prabhu SJ, Bangalore.

Commission: Seminary & Religious Formation
Bishop in Charge: Bishop of Mysore
Secretary: V.Rev.Fr.Victor Machado, Mangalore.
Joint Secretaries: Fr.Assisi Saldanha, Bangalore.
Sr. Lumina, Bangalore.

Commission: Youth
Bishop in Charge: Bishop of Mangalore
Secretary: Fr. Sunny Uppan, Bangalore.
Joint Secretary: Fr. Franklin D'souza, Shimoga.

Commission: Social Communication
Bishop in Charge: Bishop of Mangalore
Secretary: Fr. Denis D'sa, Mangalore.
Joint Secretary: Sr. Noel, Mangalore.

Commission: YCS/YSM
Bishop in Charge: Bishop of Mangalore
Secretary: Fr. L. Joannes, Mysore.
Joint Secretary: Sr. Sunitha Fernandes, Dharward.

Commission: Small Christian Communities (SCC)
Bishop in Charge: Bishop of Mangalore
Secretary: Fr. Gilbert D'souza, Mangalore.
Joint Secretary: Sr. Ashwini, Mangalore.

Commission: Women
Bishop in Charge: Bishop of Bellary
Secretary: Ms. Sugantha Sathiyaraj, Bijapur.
Joint Secretary: Sr. Flavia Castelino, Mangalore.

Commission: Labour
Bishop in Charge: Bishop of Bellary
Secretary: Fr. Lourduswamy, Raichur.
Joint Secretary: Sr. Anjali, Gulbarga.

Commission: Family
Bishop in Charge: Bishop of Shimoga
Secretary: Fr. William Pinto Mysore.
Joint Secretary: Sr. Mary Jude, Bangalore.

Commission: Catechetics & Bible
Bishop in Charge: Bishop of Shimoga
Secretary: Fr. A. Michael, Bangalore.
Joint Secretary: Sr. Meera, Bangalore.

Posted by Charan Colaco

Also Read:

• Karnataka Bishops Pastoral Letter

Tags: Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Bishop Bangalore Mangalore Karwar Bellary Belgaum Chikmagalur Mysore Shimoga Gulbarga Proclamation Evangelisation Education Health Laity Justice Development Peace Liturgy Ecumenism Dialogue Seminary Religious Youth Social Communication YCS YCM Christian Communities SCC Women Labour Family Catechetics Bible

Beautiful Pictures of the Vatican

Beautiful pictures of the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica uploaded

A collection of Vatican's most beautiful pictures can now be found on the Konkani Catholics Gallery. The Vatican City State, instituted as a result of the Lateran Agreements signed on 11 February 1929 between the Holy See and Italy, is the smallest State (110 acres) in existence, but it hosts on its territory the highest spiritual authority in the world. This photo collection is provided by courtesy of Richard Mascarenhas. Check it out here.

Tags: Vatican Spiritual Italy Konkani Catholics Pictures Gallery Photo

Japanese Church Pictures on Gallery

Pitures of Churches in Japan posted on Konkani Catholics Photo and Image Gallery

Ever wanted to see what Catholic Churches in Japan look like?

Konkani Catholics group member, Arun D'Souza SJ, brings you pictures of the Churches in Japan.

To view the full collection, click on the picture or go here.

Tags: Japan Japanese Churches Pictures Picture

Reflection: Lenten Management

14 Great Ways to Fast this Lent

Our Lenten fasts have a tendency to be oriented or even limited towards things like giving up food or TV. There are 14 different ways to make your Lenten fast more meaningful. Instead of giving up sweets or TV, why not try one or two more or three of these "Lenten fast" ideas. They might bring your family a bit more benefit than fasting from food or from watching less TV. Listed are 14 great ways to fast for Lent.

1. Fast from anger and hatred. Give your family that extra dose of love.

2. Fast from division. Strive to be in unity with everyone.

3. Fast from judging others. Before making any judgements, remember how Jesus overlooks our faults.

4. Fast from low self-esteem, pessimism, and negativity. Be positive in your outlook on life.

5. Fast from discouragement. Let's have hope in all that we do.

6. Fast from personal anxiety, fear, and worry. Jesus is watching over our lives. Put your trust in Him.

7. Fast from lethargy. Have enthusiasms for life.

8. Fast from the problems that overwhelm your life and wear you down. Pray and ask Jesus for help.

9. Fast from complaining, When you are about to complain, try to appreciate all the moments of joy.

10. Fast from too much self-concern. Put yourself in the shoes of other people.

11. Fast from any resentments or bitterness. Forgive those who have hurt your life.

12. Fast from conversations that are negative or filled with gossip. Encourage one another

13. Fast from spending too much money. Reduce your spending by 10 percent and have your family give the savings to the poor.

14. Fast from too much of the world. In Lent, try to give extra time to Jesus

Posted by Cynthia Fernandes

Tags: Lent Lenten Fast

Karnataka Bishops Pastoral Letter

LENTEN PASTORAL LETTER

TO THE CLERGY, RELIGIOUS AND FAITHFUL OF KARNATAKA
FROM THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF THE REGION

Dear Reverend Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and the People of God,

Grace and Peace of Jesus Christ to all of you!

We, the Bishops of the Karnataka Region, are happy to send you this Lenten Pastoral Letter-2006. In this Pastoral Letter we have highlighted two main themes, namely, ‘Reconciliation through Inner Transformation’ and ‘Sharing God’s love through the Educational Apostolate’.

I. Reconciliation through Inner Transformation

The words from the prophet Joel are proclaimed in the first Reading at Mass on Ash Wednesday, the day which marks the beginning of the holy season of Lent, when the Liturgy once more calls the faithful to radical conversion and trust in God's mercy. On that day the rite of the imposition of the blessed ashes is carried out as a mark of our repentance, an acknowledgement that we are sinners and that we need to be reconciled with God and with one another. The prayer of blessing over the ashes reads:

"Lord, bless the sinner who asks for your forgiveness and bless all those who receive these ashes. May they keep this Lenten season in preparation for the joy of Easter."

The Lenten season is a period of discernment in the light of God's Grace. It is an occasion to take time off, at least now and then, from our routine daily activity in order to assess exactly our relationship with God, with ourselves and with our neighbours. It is a time for looking at our set of values and our range of priorities. It is a time for finding sufficient space in our lives so as to give voice to our inner conscience, which is defined by the Second Vatican Council as "the most secret core and sanctuary of a man."

Over the course of generations, the Christian mind has gained from the Gospel a fine sensitivity to the sense of sin. This sense is rooted in man's moral conscience and is as it were its thermometer. It is linked to the sense of God, since it derives from man's conscious relationship with God as his Creator, Lord and Father. Hence, just as it is impossible to eradicate entirely the sense of God or to silence the conscience completely, the sense of sin too is never eliminated.

In the inner sanctuary of the human person, there is always a delicate interplay between the sense of God and the sense of sin. Immersed as we are in a world which becomes more and more secularist, the moral conscience of the individual may become weakened under pressure from certain standards and values, resulting in the obscuring of the sense of sin and ultimately of the sense of God.

'Secularism' is by nature and definition a movement of ideas and behaviour, which may lead to humanism totally without God, completely centred upon the cult of action and production and caught up in the heady enthusiasm of consumerism and pleasure seeking. Humanism without God cannot does undermine the sense of sin. The true sense of sin is a sense of offence against God. In our present day society, where self-sufficiency and achievement are the hallmarks of personal success, when the so-called "taboos" of the past have given way to a false sense of freedom which seems to justify life-styles which obscure and deaden the sense of God and of offence against him, which is sin, we need to be reminded that there is a God, compassionate and all-loving, who calls each individual to a personal encounter with him as he cries out: "Come back to me with all your heart" (Joel 2:12).

The way back to God may seem difficult and forbidding, as did that of the Prodigal Son, but the assurance is that the Father is there waiting to welcome us back with open arms. The beginning of that road back entails a personal decision, a conversion: "Then he came to his senses and said… I will leave this place and go to my father" (Lk. 15:17-18).

The journey back to reconciliation with the Father and to the re-establishing of relations with the Him, broken by sin, is through the person of Christ, "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (Jn. 1:29). Christ entrusts to the Apostles the mission of proclaiming the Kingdom of God and of preaching the Gospel of conversion. After His Resurrection, as the Apostolic Mission is about to begin, Jesus grants the Apostles the authority to reconcile repentant sinners with God and with His Church through the power of the Holy Spirit: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven" (Jn.20:23). The encounter with the all-merciful and loving God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation was won for us, priest and penitent alike, by the Sacrifice of the Son of God on the Cross. The faculty granted by the Risen Christ to his Apostles and handed down through the Apostolic tradition continues to bear fruit in the Church every time a repentant sinner seeks reconciliation. The penitent, having made the decision to "come back with all his/her heart" (cf. Joel 2:12), and seek forgiveness of sin, must be prepared, in conscience, to repent and make amends. This demands, on the part of each individual penitent, a threefold action: contrition, confession and satisfaction.

The essential act of Penance, on the part of the penitent, is contrition, a clear and decisive rejection of the sin committed, together with a resolution not to commit it again, out of the love which one has for God and which is reborn with repentance.

Contrition and conversion are drawing one near to the holiness of God, enabling one to rediscover one's true identity, which has been upset and disturbed by sin. Thus, liberating one in the very depth of self and renewing the hope of regaining the lost joy, the joy of being saved. The encounter between the Prodigal Son and his Father was prefaced by a sincere confession on the part of the son: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you" (Lk. 15:21). Sin creates a rupture in relations between the sinner and God, it inflicts a wound which, if not healed, will fester. The personal confession of sins to the Priest, who acts 'in the person of Christ', enables the priest to exercise his role as healer in the Sacramental action. This personal encounter is of vital importance to the penitent since, through it, he/she touches the very holiness of God.

“God is always the one who is principally offended by sin and God alone can forgive. Hence the absolution that the priest, the minister of forgiveness, though himself a sinner, grants to the penitent, is the effective sign of the intervention of the Father in every absolution and the sign of the 'resurrection' of a sinner from 'spiritual death'. Resurrection is renewed each time that the Sacrament of Penance is administered. Only faith can give us certainty that at that moment every sin is forgiven and blotted out by the mysterious intervention of the Saviour.” (John Paul II: Misericordia Dei. No.31)

The personal confession of sins ensures that the healing power of God's Grace in the Sacrament will enable the penitent to avoid the future occasions of sin, to change a life-style which is not in keeping with the mind and heart of the Saviour and to make amends for any hurt caused. In response to a practice that, in the use of the second Rite of Reconciliation, might lead one to think that it is sufficient to state in general one's sorrow for sin, the late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, recently stated:

"Any practice which restricts confession to a generic accusation of sin or of only one or two sins, judged to be more important, is to be reproved. Indeed, in view of the fact that all the faithful are called to holiness, it is recommended that they confess venial sins as well."(John Paul II Reconciliatio et Poenitentia No.31).

Satisfaction is the final act which crowns the Sacramental sign of Penance. Normally this is called one's penance. It is what the penitent agrees to do after having been reconciled with God. It may consist in acts of charity, gestures of reconciliation with others, commitment to find that special space in one's daily life to acknowledge God's presence and His goodness and mercy shown in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

As one rises, renewed and restored by the Grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a whole new chapter in one's life begins. The freshness of renewal, the commitment to live the Christian way of life and the joy of knowing that one is restored to friendship with God give the penitent a sense of peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation. This satisfaction and fulfillment will be experienced only when we are reconciled with God and others, and share His love with our less-fortunate brothers and sisters.

II. Sharing God’s love through the Educational Apostolate

To live our Christian life is always challenging and demanding. However, we would be able to live this life only with God’s Grace and our unswerving Christian discipleship, which calls for a price to pay. The price is: “Selfless Service.”

It is in this context that we reproduce here the concluding statement of the 27th General Body Meeting of the Bishops of India. As you all are aware, the General Body of the CBCI met at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore, from 8th-15th February 2006. The theme of the Meeting was: Catholic Education and the Church’s concern for the marginalized. The CBCI in its Final Statement has laid down certain broad guidelines within which we should work to share God’s love, by imparting education to all, particularly to the marginalized sections of the society. The highlights are given here-below to help the Pastors and Heads of the Institutions to implement these directives in their respective parishes/institutions. Of course, we cannot achieve everything overnight; but with a common vision and a concerted effort, we certainly can make our dreams a reality! Here are the highlights of the final statement:

1. To ensure that every Catholic child has a place in our educational institutions. No Catholic child, dalit/tribal or otherwise, should be deprived of quality education because of a lack of means. We should keep in mind that a Catholic school has a special obligation to cater to Catholic children.

2. To try to establish more hostels/boarding houses, especially in rural areas, since these have proved very effective in imparting a sound education to the marginalized.

3. To ensure that every Catholic educational institution has a special concern for the marginalized, especially the girl-child. We should voluntarily exercise a reservation policy by which a quota in all our educational institutions is kept for the marginalized. Those disadvantaged, socially, physically or intellectually, should be specially assisted, so that they may be integrated into our educational system. We make this our preferential option, even if in this process the academic results of our institutions suffer. All Catholic educational institutions whether run by the Dioceses, the Religious, corporate bodies or individuals, are expected to participate in this project. We deplore all attempts to commercialize education. In particular, we should not accept capitation fees. We urge the Government to lay down a just fee structure, so as to obviate the need of taking capitation fees or the so called donations.

4. To identify talented children from the marginalized sections of the society with a view to preparing them for higher and professional education. Among them, we hope to train a select group for social and political leadership.

5. To make this possible, Dioceses and Religious Congregations should try to mobilise funds. Well-established institutions should support the economically weaker ones.

6. All our institutions should immediately start implementing these proposals. Further, with a view to giving our educational apostolate a decided thrust towards the marginalized, this General Assembly of the CBCI lays down that within a year, a National Education Policy for the Church in India be drawn up, taking into account the deliberations at this Meeting. The CBCI Commission for Education and Culture is hereby entrusted with this task. In drawing up this Policy, it will take the help of the SC/ST/BC Commission and the Justice, Peace and Development Commission, as well as the CRI and others engaged in educational apostolate. Once this Policy will have been approved, all the educational institutions are expected to implement it. The CBCI will set up a Monitoring Body to ensure its implementation.

It is now our responsibility as Bishops of the Karnataka Region to give effect to these policy guidelines. How shall we do this? Perhaps, by adhering strictly to the following ten points:

1. We need to ensure that Catholics are not denied admission to Catholic educational institutions.

2. We need to encourage admissions of the marginalized to these institutions.

3. We need to ensure that no Capitation fees of any kind are charged in these institutions.

4. As far as possible, free education should be given to our really poor Catholic children, who cannot afford to pay for their education.

5. An Educational Fund should be mobilised in order to sponsor the education of students, who are really poor and/or from the marginalized sections of the society.

6. At least a basic education up to the X standard must be given to all our Catholic students, especially to the marginalized.

7. We need to improve the quality of teaching in our institutions. As regards the ways and means of achieving this, a careful study should be undertaken. Evidently, higher pay scales will attract more gifted teachers. But it also means paying the existing teachers more for what they are doing now. Perhaps, this could be linked with higher studies and appropriate incentive schemes set up for overtime and special coaching classes for students who are poor in studies.

8. Our Catholic institutions should strive to impart faith formation to Catholic children and value education to all the students.

9. Our children should be taught to become responsible media consumers, and teachers and students should be given proper media orientation.

10. We need to increase the Catholic presence in the field of education. Of the 56 million people in Karnataka, about 1 million are Catholics. Even these are concentrated mostly in one or two big cities in the Region. Therefore, we need to increase our educational efforts in other parts of the State, where Catholic presence is less significant. The Church’s purpose in establishing Christian presence in these areas is not merely to meet the needs of the Catholics, but also to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, through educational, medical and other social services among those who do not know the Lord as yet.

As we set out on our Lenten journey, may we always be conscious that He who came among us in order to reveal his Father's love for us and to show us the way back to Him, will walk with us on our journey of uplifting the poor and the marginalized. He will listen to us and guide us as we walk along with Him and make efforts to empower our less-fortunate brothers and sisters. He will explain to us the richness of God's love and mercy towards us as we read the Sacred Scriptures and when we sit at the Eucharistic Table with Him. As He breaks bread with us, He will reveal Himself to us (Lk. 24:30-31) as "the Way, the Truth and the Life" (Jn. 14:6). May we take Him at His Word and look for a personal encounter with Him during this Lent, in our Service for the poor and the marginalised. May we make of this period of Grace an intense preparation for the celebration of the Easter Mystery, so that, through him we may become an Easter People who instil hope in the lives of the poor and the marginalized.

Our present Holy Father, Pope BENEDICT XVI in his first Encyclical Letter DEUS CARITAS EST has very beautifully enlightened us on CHRISTIAN LOVE. While enumerating the different aspects of love, the Holy Father speaks very clearly on sharing God’s love with the marginalized: “With regard to the personnel who carry out the Church's charitable activity on the practical level, the essential has already been said: they must not be inspired by ideologies aimed at improving the world, but should rather be guided by the faith which works through love (cf. Gal 5:6). Consequently, more than anything, they must be persons moved by Christ's love, persons whose hearts Christ has conquered with his love, awakening within them a love of neighbour. The criterion inspiring their activity should be Saint Paul's statement in the Second Letter to the Corinthians: “the love of Christ urges us on” (5:14). The consciousness that, in Christ, God has given himself for us, even unto death, must inspire us to live no longer for ourselves but for him, and, with him, for others. Whoever loves Christ loves the Church, and desires the Church to be increasingly the image and instrument of the love which flows from Christ. The personnel of every Catholic charitable organization want to work with the Church and therefore with the Bishop, so that the love of God can spread throughout the world. By their sharing in the Church's practice of love, they wish to be witnesses of God and of Christ, and they wish for this very reason freely to do good to all.” (Deus Caritas Est. No. 33)

The deliberations of the Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council (KRCBC) held on 23-24 February at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary has been greatly inspired by the clarion call of the Holy Father to share God’s love with others and the proposals made by the CBCI in its final statement to promote the educational apostolate among the poor and the marginalized. All the 16 Regional Commissions set up to implement the Karnataka Regional Pastoral Plan (KRPP) reviewed their activities and planned their future action plans in the light of the proposals made by the General Body Meeting of the CBCI. Some of these proposals have thrown further light on the objectives of the Regional Commission for Education.

Our main concern is to impart education to all, especially to the poor children and to those who belong to the marginalized sections of the society. We, the Bishops of the Region, firmly believe that only through education can we eradicate illiteracy and poverty, and make our less-fortunate brothers and sisters self-reliant. To achieve this objective, we need your whole-hearted support and cooperation, especially your generous contributions to mobilize funds for education of the poor students in our respective Dioceses/Parishes.

At the meeting, we took stock of the existing realities in the Region and laid down the above ten points exclusively for our Karnataka Region. It is our responsibility to translate our faith into action and, thus, enkindle a ray of hope in the lives of those who feel that their future is bleak! If all of us work together with a definite purpose, we can certainly share God’s love through our various ministries, especially the educational ministry. Let us re-dedicate our lives to the greater glory of God and to the service of the poor and the marginalized in our society. May our Heavenly Father form in us the likeness of His Son and deepen His life within us. May He send us as witnesses of Gospel joy into a world of fragile peace and broken promises by touching the hearts of all of us with His love that we in turn may love one another. Let us also entrust our Lenten journey to Mary, our Blessed Mother, so that she may lead us to her Son.


We wish all of you A Holy Season of Lent and a Joyful Time of Easter! And, we also impart our cordial blessings to all of you!

Sd/- The Bishops of Karnataka

Posted by Charan Colaco

Also Read:

• Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops Conference (KRCBC) Members

Tags: Lent Lenten Pastoral Letter Karnataka Catholic Bishops Catholics

Bangalore: Holy Eucharist Church Appeal

Parishioners of the Holy Eucharist Church, Bangalore, request help for grotto construction

Dear Konkani Speaking Catholics,

Greetings to all of you in the power of the Eucharist.

The Holy Eucharist Church situated off Hosur Road, Mangammnapalya Bommnahalli was inaugurated in the year 2004 by Archibishop Emeritus Ignatius Pinto. There are 170 families speaking Kannada, Tamil, Konkani, Malayalam and English. It is the only Holy Eucharistic Church in Karnataka, Bangalore. Ever since our church inauguration parishioners have contributed generously to help buy so many things for the church.

We have a plan to build a grotto of Mother Mary and I appeal to the generous hearts to contribute to help us build a grotto. Be assured of our prayers and welcome you all to our parish. The contact and other required details are as under.

The bank Account details are as follows:
Indian Overseas Bank
Bank Account Number is SB A/C 7092
Begur Rd, Hongasandra Bagalore 560068

Trustees:
Mr John Veleran Miranda
Mr Dominic Leo Pereira

Name of the Church:
Holy Eucharistic Church
Near Graphite Garment Mangammana Palya
Bomanahalli Bangalore 560068

Parish Priest:
Rev Fr Amarnath Dinesh Roy

For further clarifications kindly get in touch with:
Mr. Dominic Leo Pereira
Tel.: 91-080-9343736497 / 25735885 / 41462079
Email: dlpereira12571@yahoo.co.in

Mr. Veleran Miranda
Tel.: 91-080- 25732547.

Rev. Fr. Amaranth Dinesh Roy
Tel.: 91-080- 25732010 / 9845721251
Email: roy_amarnath@rediffmail.com

Requesting you all to do the needful....Your generous contribution to our newly built church will be rewarded.

Yours Sincerely,
Fr. Amarnath Roy.

Posted by Raj Francis Pereira

Tags: Holy Eucharist Church Bangalore Appeal Kannada Tamil Konkani Malayalam English Archbishop Mother Mary Catholics Contribution