This is the latest version of Prajwalana.

3. PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana
The Society was suppressed in 1773, but
Suppression did not mean total disaster or destitution
for the Society of Jesus. Not many gave up their vocation
or yielded to the allurements of the opposing forces to
join a national society. Some exercised their ministry as
diocesan priests; some continued their research as
physicists, astronomers or cartographers etc. Others
continued to live their Jesuit Charism in small
communities under other names; some others founded
religious congregations of women and assisted them as
chaplains. But in their heart of hearts many of them,
we could say, were almost singing the words of the
hymn: Though the mountains may fall and the hills turn
to dust, yet the love of the Lord will stand!They had a
fond hope that one day the Society would rise from the
ashes, and that hope was not belied. We remember
those burning words of that un-named Jesuit at the time
of the Suppression: "I will remain forever in your
Company, O Jesus, with neither Pope nor Satan able to
hinder me!"
One should not look at the Suppression in the
tradition of the anti-Jesuit Prejudice. Cardinal Manning
in a private diary in 1889, nearing the end of his life,
writes, "I wish to put down carefully my Judgment as to
the Society of Jesus, because I have often been thought
and said to be opposed to it." He sets out the grounds
forhispersonalspiritualindebtednesstotheJesuits,and
says with perfect clarity: "I have had none of the
traditional anti-Jesuit prejudices." Furthermore, he sees
the establishment of the Society of Jesus in 1540 as a
'Creation of God by St Ignatius, raised up for a special
work,' but he still sees the suppression of the Society as
'a work of our divine Master on behalf of the Church.'
His grounds for saying so are that 'there can be no doubt
that the Society's corporate action has been excessive,'
whereas 'no society can take the place of the divine
order of the universal Church."
Imageries:
The Society of Jesus is the work of the Spirit: In the
words of Gamaliel "If this plan or this work is of men,
it will be overthrown;but if it be of God, no one can
overthrow it (Acts: 5:38-39)" hold to be true.
IMAGERIES OF THE SUPPRESSION
The Seed: In order to become a
tree, a seed has to die to itself and
give rise to new life. The Society
of Jesus had its struggle during the
stages of Suppression and now
this huge tree has grown
marvelouslyamidstallitsdifficulties.
Stage of Hibernation: This is found amidst many
animalsandespeciallysnakes.Itispracticallyadeath
like stage with the lowest metabolic activity. The
Society was not exterminated fully. A stalk was left
that sprouted and grew and developed until it
became the mighty tree it had once been. Most
certainly, fortuitous historical circumstances made
it possible, but the "Resurrection" was due above
alltothesturdylifethat remainedburiedintheearth
as though in hibernation.
The Mythical Bird, Phoenix: The Phoenix survives
for a hundred years. Thereafter it flies to Phoenicia
and burns into the fire. From the ashes of that fire a
new Phoenix bird emerges. In the same way the
Society of Jesus during the time of Suppression was
dead and now has risen again from Ashes.
The Caterpillar and the beautiful Butterfly: The
stage of a caterpillar is unique to a Butterfly. One
day a beautiful butterfly emerges from that ugly
looking caterpillar. It is a stage of transition. The
Society of Jesus through the Suppression has
undergone such a transition.
An Eagle: An Eagle's lifespan is about 70 years.
During its 40th year it undergoes a stage of dying. If
it survives this period it emerges still strong and
continues to live for the next 30 years. The Society
has come through its phase to go ever strong ahead.
Each institution has its problems. Everyone suffers
in one way or the other during their life time. One's life
is not a bed of roses; each has its time and occasion.
These symbols are just imageries. One should not take
them literally. But, the work of the Society goes on and
will go on in the years to come.
Sch Pradeep Crasta, SJ
Page 03

4. PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana
SHARDSSHARDSSHARDSSHARDSSHARDS
A mind that never rests
A love that never tests
A scar that'll always scare
An eye that blinds
A body that pines
A wind that ever blows
A secret never told
A job well planned
but half done
A journey that never ends
A sight that smirks
A fact that was never proved
A kiss that's never conveyed
A tear that tingled
A blood that rotted
A wish never said
And a life that is loved
but never fully lived
Clasping all these shards of imperfection
My shadow leans on a broken wall
As I take a bow in an empty hall
Hallucinating that someone seated there knows it all
Sch Martin Joseph, SJ
IN THE MIDDLEIN THE MIDDLEIN THE MIDDLEIN THE MIDDLEIN THE MIDDLE
"We want Justice
Down, down Rulers down
We want Justice"
Right in the middle I stand
Colours, dark and black in the hand
Sticks and placards also in the hands
Gathered heads are thousand in number
Forgetting, their thirst and hunger
Fight ever goes on
Battle never cools down
'Stop this shame, no more rapes'
Words were carved on woman's face
Sun rays do join in the fight
For people fear the dark and the night
'Land was mine, help me regain'
Cries aloud the farmer, with all the pain
Children carry long faces of burden
Because,outthey'rethrownoftheirgarden
Protesters increase in kinds and types
They never Lose
They never Gain
They never Stop
I ask myself standing there
"Am I worthy to be in the middle?"
Sch Leston Lobo, SJ
Page 04
FRIENDS FOREVER
I walked far away from beyond the shore
Intotheseaofnightmaretoreturnnomore
My heart was sad and pestilential
After all the drama it seemed to me
That it was not worth my credentials
In what my friend has done, my heart gambles me right
I know that my faith holds me tight
It has called me home in a voice so familiar
I am sure that it will set ablaze my fading fire
Oh! But I experienced something very gentle and calm
It was His pardoning love that made me feel warm
It is the love and assurance, which cleared the cloud
Thus allowed me to sing the psalm of life aloud
All that I have and possess is His gift to me
It is He who provided them generously
But never did I realize that, until He said,
"Sorry, my dear,You are more than a friend"
Dear friend, it is through You,
You alone that the dreams for life were laid
My journey You mapped and made
It is You who were there at my side
Forever me to lead and guide
I am glad to have such a companion like You
To a life that is valued as Your own
Your love, concern and smile are the pillars
To a life that is weak and fragile
Sch Noel Nazareth, SJ

5. PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana
Experts say that this is a typical 'Francis Document.'
Unlike Lumen Fidei where Pope Francis did not add
much to what his predecessor had to say, this one clearly
emphasises the thoughts and ideas of the new Pontiff.
For a man who is widely known as the 'Peoples Pope,'
this Apostolic Exhortation bears plentiful witness to the
role of people in the Church today. At least in three
places in the document the Pope says, "We have to bring
Jesus to every street, to every town square and to every
corner of the earth." Now that is where an Evangelizer
will truly get the 'smell of the sheep.' The Pope focuses
on a Church that is decentralized and I welcome this
initiative. The missionary dimension has been stressed
and a fresh breath has gushed forth into the Church with
the coming of the new Shepherd. He says, "The Church
is in a permanent state of Mission and we are all
Missionaries." The word Missionary makes me recall to
mind that text of the Gospel where Jesus sends his
disciples with no bag, no leather belt, no copper coins,
no extra pair of sandals and no spare tunic but only a
staff, totally depending on God to lead His people. The
words, "Shake the dust off your feet," remind us that
we have to let the dust of the earth touch our sandals
and our feet once again by moving out from the comfort
zones that we have settled in, into the world awaiting
us outside. The Pope calls us to go to those places where
the need for the light and the life of the Risen Christ is
the greatest. That is the true meaning of sharing, the
Joy of the Gospel.
We are called upon to take God to those corners
of the world where no one has ever reached, to those
EVANGELII GAUDIUM - THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL
people who cannot repay us anything
and in anyway and to make our faith
and the poor the inseparable faces of
the same coin. The Pope is well
informed about the challenges we
face in our world today and he
enumerates them as follows: an
economy of exclusion, the idolatry of money, inequality
and injustice resulting in violence, the throwaway
culture of abortion, rising individualism, young adults
afraid to make a commitment to marriage and family
life, human trafficking, abuse and an inculturation of
faith. I admire the Pastoral concern of the Pope
especially when he shows his sympathies to the last,
the least and the lost of society. He gives in his
Exhortation simple yet practical guidelines to preach a
good homily and he understands the plight of the
Pastoral workers. I am very appreciative of this.
This Exhortation is an invitation for us to
personalize the word and to heed to the cry of the poor.
To establish the Kingdom of God is a challenge. I am
reminded of Oscar Romero's prayer: We can establish
only a part of the Kingdom during our lifetime. God
invites us to a creative fidelity springing up from a deep
concern to give ourselves to the vulnerable. We have to
be realists in this regard by having a deep personal
encounter with Jesus so that we can be missionaries to
spread the Joy of the Gospel to the ends of the universe.
Sch Ryan Rodrigues, SJ
Contd. from Page 01...
We are called to follow the message of Jesus, "So do
not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring
worries of its own. Today's worry is enough for
today."(Mt 6:34) We are thus called to live in the
present and make the best out of it.
As we live our lives, we have the freedom to
express it to the full. As William W. Purkey would put
it, "You've got to dance like there's nobody watching,
love like you'll never be hurt, sing like there's nobody
listening and live like it's heaven on earth." Why then
waste this short life by being depressed, angry, selfish,
impatient, and insecure? Rather, live a life reconciled
with yourself and with others. After all we have only
one life to live. As Mae West would say, "You live only
once, but if you do it right, once is enough."
Finally, "To laugh often and love much; to win the
respect of intelligent persons and the affection of
children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens
and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate
the beauty; to find the best in others; to give the best
of one's self; to make the world a bit better place, to
play and laugh with enthusiasm and sing with
exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier
because of you - this is to have succeeded in your life"
(Bessie Anderson Stanley).
Sch Vishwas Misquith, SJ
Page 05

6. PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana
STSTSTSTST. PETER FABER. PETER FABER. PETER FABER. PETER FABER. PETER FABER
O Saint Favre, Pray for us
For you are the icon of our faith
It'syouwhobuiltpeople'sfaithinloveandcompassion
And took them to Christ with renewed
vision and mission
Although a great scholar, chose to preach
To save souls for Christ as a humble guide
You saw the lack of moral fervour in people
And so you enthused them to live by faith
O you are the first Jesuit Priest
To lead others in the way of Christ
Obedience was your hallmark and principle
For it even caused your death
Giving Spiritual Exercises was your pleasure
To keep people ever closer to Christ Jesus
You are a great model for all of us
To remain in Christ's love forever
Be a source of strength in our weakness, O Favre
Help us to radiate our life for Christ alone, O Pray for us.
Sch Joyson Vas, SJ
FFFFFALL AND RISEALL AND RISEALL AND RISEALL AND RISEALL AND RISE
Centuries ago a fire was lit
Good news, the fire contained in it
Inigo it was, kindled other fires farther
Spreadtofrontiers,sparksmovedhigher
Darkness prevailed, winds roared
Wickedness and cunning plots up soared
Arrogance of sparks' men rendered a blow
Glow of fire bluntly made low
Abandoned a few in silence
Yet continued the spark its essence
Remained many with patience
Waited in hope with His assurance
Great he was, brought together men all
The dawn arisen, to live droning call
Back again the fire with renewed vigour
Spread much faster blazing hearts in rigour
Why, have we ever asked, it shattered
Lowly it began, spread afar, as the Master wanted
Good news needs sparks of humility
Scaling greater heights with serenity
Sch Vishwas Misquith, SJ
LAUGH!
One cold winter's day in Bethlehem, just after
he had been born, Jesus is lying asleep in the
manger. Awaking from his nap, he opens his
eyes, sees the ox and the ass standing beside
him, and thinks to himself, "So this is the
Company of Jesus!"
Never lend a geologist money. They think a short
term loan is a million years.
I don't find it hard to meet expenses. They're
everywhere.
"Human use, population,
and technology have
reached that certain stage
where mother Earth no
longer accepts our
presence with silence."
- Dalai Lama XIV
Don't be afraid to stand for
what you believe in, even if
that means standing
alone...
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Page 06
*****
*****

7. PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana
The words of Pope Julius III, in his approval of the
Formula of the Institute in 1550 come to my mind, 'The
finger of God is here,' refer to the Society of Jesus.
Amidst the rising resistance and opposition, there were
still a few hands to come to the rescue of the Society.
Catharine II of Russia and Frederick II of Prussia were
impressed so favourably by the work of the Jesuits as
educators that they forbade the Bishops to publish the
decree of Suppression in their territories. In 1776 an
agreementwasarrivedat,betweenPiusVIandFrederick
II, according to which the Jesuits in the Prussian territory
were to be disbanded formally and were to lay aside
their dress, but they were permitted to continue under
a different name to direct
the colleges which they
possessed. The Empress
Catherine II of Russia
continued till her death to
protect the Society. In 1778
she insisted upon erecting a
novitiate, for which oral
permission seems to have
been given by Pius VI. In the
other countries many
Jesuits laboured as secular
priests, while some others united themselves to form a
congregation known as the Fathers of the Faith (1797),
and others still,the congregation of the Fathers of the
Sacred Heart. In 1803 the English Jesuit community at
Stonyhurst was allowed to affiliate themselves to the
Russian congregation; in 1804 the Society was re-
established with the permission of Pius VII in Naples,
and in 1814, the Pope issued the Bull, ‘Sollicitudo
Omnium Ecclesiarum’ formally re-establishing the Society.
A Critical View:
Suppressing the Society of Jesus is no wonder, one
of the most memorable events of the 18th century,
in the history of the Church. In the common view
then, the Society was holier and more useful to
societythanmanyotherreligiousorderofthetime.
But fallen victim to some selfish minds, the Society
had to be suppressed.
Barring a few incidents, I personally believe that
A SPRING IN THE OASIS
the Society was committed to
the Formula of its Institute,
which cost them.
Even a divinely assisted venture,
is not free from suffering. Yet the
Lord will have his own ways to
take care of his work.
Has the suppression, in reality brought down the
spirit of the Society? In my opinion, it has energized
the Society, and made it even firmer in its
commitment. Thus I would find the suppression
more as a blessing than a curse. I would call it,
divine will, though denied
by several historians.
GC 32, Decree 4 says
that the mission of the
Society today is the service
of Faith of which
promotion of Justice is an
absolute requirement. GC
34,decreeonmissiononce
again stresses its
commitment to justice. I
infer from this, that the
Society despite the struggles in the course of
history has not compromised its foundational
values. This makes me feel proud to belong to this
Society. And I would further add, even if this noble
standofoursgivescausetosuppression,we should
not be worried, because ours is a missionary body
and we need to remain faithful to it.
The Society was a noble venture in the Church, which
owing to the selfish humans was once killed and buried,
but God raised it up as it was His Society. Rejuvenated
by its struggles, it is a voice that works for the least of
society. Thus the suppression should never be seen as a
negative event; rather, it should always encourage us
Jesuits to work with even greater fervor; we know now
for sure, that the ‘finger of God is here;’ that is, our
Society is willed by God and he will take care of it. On
our part, it's a call to be faithful and committed.
Sch Rayan Lobo, SJ
Page 07

8. PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana
Musicians don't retire; they rather stop only when
thereisnomoremusicleftinthem.Somehavethetalent
to preach using words, yet others let people hear by
their lifestyle. Fr Walter Albuquerque preaches the good
news through music. He has added symphony to the
melody of devotional songs by his great contribution to
the coastal region of Karnataka. Uncovering the great
aura hidden in Konkani liturgical hymns by drawing it
from Latin and English, Fr Walter has succeeded in
inspiring our generation.
He is a renowned musician of our times. His
enthusiasm and sense of humour are remarkable. The
well known Mand Sobann Group of Mangalore has
bestowed upon him the Life time Achievement Award
for Konkani Music coincidentally on his 90th Birthday (8
Dec 2013). He is rightly known as the Dhovi Kogul, the
White Nightingale.
Born in 1923 into a God-fearing musical family at
Bejai, Mangalore, he grew up
seeing three of his uncles and
two of his cousins already
become Priests. Their example
inspired him to choose priestly
lifelater.Butitwasnoneotherthan
Fr Denis Albuquerque Pai SJ
who inspired him to become a
Jesuit.
Music for him was not
something that just sprouted in the Jesuit Novitiate. His
cousin Mr John Sequeira who was the choir master of
Bejai parish taught him to read and sing musical
notations and use the keyboard in his tender days of
adolescence. This ultimately made him the lead singer
in the Parish Choir. But it was the encouragement of his
Novice Master in the novitiate, Fr Aldo Patroni that gave
him the necessary boost to pursue music. As a young
Jesuit scholastic, wherever he was, he was made the
Choirmasterortheorganist.Thismadehimgetengulfed
into the musical world.
In the Pre-Vatican era, everything was just
GregorianchantandLatinmusic.AfterVaticanIIbrought
in transformation in the Church, he too was inspired to
transform the experience of Liturgical music. This led to
the emergence of hymns in English and other vernacular
languages with Fr Walter as God's instrument.
His love for music was so much
that He could not but take his scooter
with the accordion and a bag on his
back and go to convents and schools
and distant Parishes of the Diocese, to
share the message of Jesus using his
God-given talent. It was a challenging
venture. His amiable personality and
self-sacrificing dedication attracted people to the church
and to the Lord. The people of Mangalore began singing
new hymns in a very short time, and that delighted him.
That brought him great joy and gave true meaning to his
ministry.
Hebelievesthathisreligiouslifeisacallofahumble
string that needs fine tuning to produce a soothing
melody in God's hand. To be fine tuned, for him, means
to be ready to do God's will, asking himself, "what does
God want me to do, in the here and now?" "Share
whatever you have with
others,"isthemaximofhislife,
as sharing brings contentment
tomanyheartsthatareinpain.
When asked about the
secret of his long life, he smiles
and says, 'Keep breathing and
keep giving.' His fidelity to the
daily Eucharist and willingness
to share his talent with others
inspires many a youngster even now.
He is a friend, a brother to many who come to him.
He finds joy in teaching them to discover their talent of
music. His glowing smile accompanies him wherever he
goes. His Mantra of life is: "Music can change lives." He
once said, "By praising the kindness of God through
music one learns to be kind to others."
Fr Walter Albuquerque is the recipient of several
awards: Sandesha Award for Konkani Music (2011),
Team Exotica Music Award (2011), Kala Poshak Award
and the Lifetime Achievement Award (2013) from Mand
Sobann, just to name a few.
We salute you, Father, for your splendid love and
dedication to music. May your students who are
thousandsinnumberandspreadallovertheglobe,keep
continuing your rich legacy!
Sch Lancy Fernandes, SJ
DHOVI KOGUL - FR WALTER ALBUQUERQUE SJ
Page 08

9. PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana
I was a tiny plant growing in a
deserted place. I took refuge in the
shadow of my friend the ‘Thorny
bush.’ One fine day, I heard the gentle
steps of God approaching me. God
camenearmeandlaidhisgentlehand
on my leaves. He held me by the stem
and began to uproot me. I was afraid. I cried out in fear,
"What are you going to do with me?" I held the soil
tight with my roots. I was angry and afraid, for, once I
am taken out I would be able to live no more. I
reproached God.
But God with his gentle hand took me with Him.
He replanted me beside the flowing stream. It was rich
in manure and full of living water. I had everything I
needed for life. Lily my tall new friend cared for me and
helped me to better myself.
My Lord came to see me every day. His gentle
touch and sweet voice overwhelmed me with love for
him. I asked him, "Why did you choose only me when
there were so many better than me?" "Of course", he
nodded and said, "they are better than you, but you
are not the same as they", and he added, "You are
unique and precious to me."
I burst into tears, and exclaimed, "LORD, MAKE ME
A CHANNEL OF YOUR LOVE!"
Sch Ashwil Lobo, SJ
HE PLANTED ME....
"My heart leapt with joy,
WhenIsawthenewstarshiningbrightly
inthesky[BirthofS.J.on27thSep1540]
I was overwhelmed with joy,
When I saw it, spreading its light in the
sky"
BUT ONCE...
I stood still, speechless;
Then I saw the thick clouds covering the new star
[Suppression of S.J. on Jan 8th -1773]
My heart was broken, my dreams were shattered and
tears rolled down my cheeks.
There was someone who came to wipe my tears.
Then I stood firm hoping for the star to shine once again.
The clouds covered the star completely in 1773,
thanks to Pope Clement IX and some other powerful
Kings and Cardinals. So many Jesuit stars lost their
identity, many quit the Society of Jesus and a few others
joined other religious orders.
"What a heart-breaking tragedy! Oh! My star...."
But at this crucial time, in France there appeared a
mighty thunder and lightning, which destroyed the thick
clouds. As a result, on 7 August, 1814, the same clouds
poured down in the form of rain. The mighty thunder
and lightning was none other than St. Joseph Pignatelli,
themanwhorebuilttheSocietybydestroyingtheclouds
that were blocking the star.
OH! MY STAR, JESUIT STAR
Contd. on Page 12...
Plastics! Plastics! Plastics! Human beings created it.
In the year 3000, the earth was completely covered
with plastics. People had everything made out of
different varieties of plastics, like plastic houses, plastic
books, plastic vehicles etc. People didn't know how to
disposethemoffandasaresult,plasticsbecameathreat
toalllivingbeings.Peoplestarteddying,whentheycame
in contact with plastics. In 3001, scientists discovered
that plastics generated peculiar kinds of viruses that
destroyed all organisms. They named it 'Plastic-virus.'
Plastic-virus was highly resistant to fight any kind of anti-
virus. Therefore there was a terrible death-toll.
Scientists gathered at 'NASA' to
make a serious study on this Plastic-
virus. They found out that plastic-virus
was unavoidable. Therefore they
came up with a brilliant idea of
creating an insect which could eat up
varieties of plastics and give out
'organic substances.' These organic substances were
eco-friendly.
Experts were invited to create the 'DNA' of this
insect. Finally they created a new breed of insect called
'plastisect.'
PLASTICS
Contd. on Page 12...
Page 09

10. PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana
Information is power. A reflective
person who is well informed can be
considered powerful or influential.
Media houses in our country keep the
administration and the political class
constantly alert. Whistleblowers rattle
and bring down governments or
threaten those in the wrong. In our day-to-day life too,
we are in need of information not only to ensure that
our tasks are properly done, but also to protect our
interests. The light of information can expose the dark
spots in any system and help clear ambiguity.
Right to Information Act 2005, popularly known as
RTI Act, was passed by the Indian parliament in May
2005. It has empowered every citizen of India, whether
literate or otherwise, to have access to information that
protects their interests from any "public authority." The
primary intention of the act is to promote transparency
and accountability among those in public service. The
preamble of the Act rightly observes that "Democracy
needs an informed citizenry."
What is RTI and why has it created ripples in the
working of the administrative machinery in India? The
Act empowers you, the citizen of India, to obtain any
information from any 'public authority' which refers to
a government run organization. In order to access the
information an application must be filed with the
Central/State Public Information Officer (PIO) appointed
for every public authority. The application fee is just Rs
10, but the application must be in writing. The Act states
that those who are not able to write must be given
assistance by the PIO's in making a written application.
The information applied for, must be provided to the
applicant within 30 days of presenting the
application, but if the information relates
to life and liberty of persons, it must be
providedwithin48hours.Therearesome
limits as to what type of information
could be accessed under the RTI. For example, cabinet
papers, information related to security and sovereignty
of India, information on private lives of individuals, trade
and business secrets, information related to security
agencies like CRPF, ITBP, Crime branch, information
received in confidence from foreign governments, etc.
are not to be covered under the RTI.
Every law or rule brought into force must be
enforced by certain bodies created for that purpose. The
task of ensuring that Indian citizens derive full benefit
of the RTI Act is done by the Central Information
Commission (CIC) established at the Central level in
Delhi, and by the State Information Commission (SIC) at
the State level. The person 'in charge' of the Central
Information Commission is the Chief Information
Commissioner who plays a very crucial role. At present
Ms Deepak Sandhu is the first woman to hold this
position. It was the former RTI chief Sri Satyananda
Mishra who recently created quite a flutter in the Indian
political world by ordering that all the political parties
must be brought under the ambit of the RTI. Most
political parties in India have opposed this order and
created a lot of repercussion. The open opposition
clearly states their unwillingness to allow their affairs
to be open to free public scrutiny. We can rightly
conclude how much the political class fears the RTI.
These recent developments indicate the power of RTI
"in containing corruption" and in "holding the
government accountable to the governed."
The Right to Information Act has actually turned
out to be an effective weapon in the hands of citizens.
But its usefulness and effectiveness rests on its being
used for the benefit of the public and not for serving
ulterior motives. The public would benefit greatly if they
are educated as to how the Act can be beneficially used
for their welfare. Aldous Huxley states, "The great end
of life is not knowledge but action." Having access to
information is not enough. Information must open the
eyes of the people, empower them and unite them
against unjust systems that mar true progress. The Right
to information Act will have served its purpose if it spurs
the public to act with true knowledge and
understanding.
Sch Praveen Martis, SJ
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW
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11. PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana
On 19 May 1521 a French
cannon stood firm facing
towards the army of Spain. A
solid metal was on its mark to
fly over the Spanish band of
soldiers. There was an
outstanding figure, full of
vigour and determination who
desirednameandfame.Hewas
none other than Inigo Lopez de
Loyola. This cannon ball was
made for him, for the world and for the Church. It struck
hislegandthrewhimtotheground.Thunderandmisery
pierced the vanity of the valiant soldier Inigo. God used
this cannon ball to set forth a new beginning. Thus all
his worldly ambitions and desires withered away.
In 1714 a document 'Dominus ac Redemptor' hit
againsttheSocietylikethecannonballthatstruckInigo's
army. Everything looked shattered. The heart of the
Society was wounded. The Society had been growing in
There was a heavy downpour at midnight. I was up by 6
o'clock in the morning. I left home for a brisk walk. I
met my friend who joined me for the same.Along the
way, we shared experiences of our school days.
While sharing, we heard a knocking sound; and we were
bewildered. It stopped for a while and surfaced again.
The sounds came from amidst the trees. We thought it
was a woodpecker and were quite excited to see it. As
we moved forward, to our dismay, we saw a woodcutter
chopping the branch of a
tree. On that very branch, a
bulbul had a nest. The bulbul
was screaming, for it had its
young ones in it.
Stop, Stop... We cried. The
bird did join us in our cry. But
to no avail, the woodcutter
turned a deaf ear. My friend's
father was a Police Officer.
We thought it better to keep
tranquillityandrichness.Butevilcould
not bear its prosperous growth. It hit
the minds of kings, cardinals and great
authorities,andfinallypresenteditself
like a bomb shell that broke the
Society into pieces.Thousands of
Jesuits withered away but some, filled
with the spirit of God, brought forth a new spirit into
the Society which lives even today. This breakthrough
brought newness. It was God's will that we had to come
to life again with renewed vigour and zeal for the Church
and its people. The suppression and the restoration
stand like two great teachers, both giving us valuable
lessons and providing us with the true spirit and
protection. Let us become aware that we Jesuits are
reviled as devils and also revered as saints. It is a great
privilege to live in such a company, for the Greater Glory
of God, and for His mission.
Sch Joswin Pereira, SJ
DISASTER AND TRANSFORMATION
TREES ON EARTH: BOON OR BANE?
him posted. Uncle Ravi turned up
within a few minutes. He questioned
the woodcutter, and finding no
specific reasons for his action, warned
him. We were overjoyed for having
saved the life of those birds and also
thetree.Atthatmoment,Iheardacry,
"Noel, Wake up, it's time." The voice
was probably of my mother. It was a dream. Only some
dreams come true, but some others teach us lessons
for life.
Deforestation reduces the amount of oxygen produced
by trees. The more we have greenery around us, the
saferweare.Oneofthecausesfortherecentflashfloods
in Utttarkhand is deforestation. Let us not regret for our
past; rather let us begin to build a new world, a world
full of trees, where people can live in peace.
When We Heal The World, We Heal Ourselves - David Orr
Sch Noel Dias, SJ
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12. PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana
The Society of Jesus had acquired a reputation
throughout the world especially in Europe. In the middle
of the eighteenth century, the reputation of the Society
was very high. It was also a time of political change and
economical exploitation. The opponents of the Society
of Jesus regarded Jesuits as greedy plotters. Jesuits were
accused because they had close ties with the influential
members of the royal families. The accusation was
sighting vested interest in seeking favours from the
Papacy. Many kings, monarchs and others couldn't
tolerate their progress and hence they wanted to
plunder their properties. The suppression of the Society
thus began without any strong reasons.Many states
grew progressively after the expulsion of the Jesuits.
They acquired the wealth and possessions of the
Society.Various monarchs in Europe had political
disputes between them, particularly between France
and Portugal. As a result there was suspension of
diplomatic relations and suppression of the Society by
the Pope all over Europe.
In the brief of the suppression, the striking feature
is a long list of allegations against the Jesuits without
anysufficient rationalbasis.Noneoftheallegationswere
proved to be true. The whole brief was abrupt without
any strong and convincing reasons. The objective of the
brief was to create an impression that the Society of
Jesus has created strife, contradictions and troubles.
Thus at least for the sake of peace, the Society had to
SUPPRESSION AND RESTORASUPPRESSION AND RESTORASUPPRESSION AND RESTORASUPPRESSION AND RESTORASUPPRESSION AND RESTORATIONTIONTIONTIONTION
be suppressed. There is also a lack of
clearity as to what lead the Pope to
suppress the Society of Jesus. It also
seemed that the Pope had no other
way than to suppress the Order,
because he had a lot of pressure from the kings,
monarchs and princes to do so.
The ways of God are wonderful. After a very brief
period of suppression, the continual existence of the
Society of Jesus was foreseen. Catherine the Great of
Russia did not allow the brief to be promulgated in her
country. The Jesuits in Russia continued their ministries.
In 1814, Pope Pius VII, had returned from his Napoleonic
captivity. On 7 August, 1814, the Pope signed the Bull
restoring the Order all over the world.
There were joyful celebrations world over. Many
from Europe and America congratulated the Pope and
the Jesuits. Many Jesuits received grants and gifts. Many
requests came for the Jesuit Fathers to take up work in
colleges, missions, and apostolic endeavours. There was
work much beyond the manpower available.
After St Ignatius had completed writing the
Constitutions, when writing the introduction he began
in this way:'It is God our Lord who will preserve, direct
and carry forward in His divine service, this least Society
of Jesus.' This is one of the strongest motivating factors
that has kept the Society going all along.
Sch Antony Pais, SJ
Contd. from Page 09...
Later,thissamestarbegantoshine
ever brighter than before. Its light
reached every nook and corner of the
world. This same star continues to
comfort all the members of the Society
even today. So let's not seek for
Comforts, Power, Glory, Name & Fame;
rather let us together strive to work
towards comforting all those
abandoned souls in the world. Let the
zeal for mission of St. Ignatius and many
other Jesuit saints inspire and motivate
us to dedicate ourselves entirely to the
Society of Jesus.
Sch Vivian Rebelo, SJ
Contd. from Page 09...
Scientists performed a series of experiments on this insect.
Plastisect was able to digest any kind of plastics. The excreta of
plastisects were organic.
All the malls now sold 'plastisects.' People bought them. Finally
plastic-virus was destroyed by plastisects.
In the year 3010, plastisects ate all the plastics of the world and
produced enough organic waste. On 31 Dec, 3010, the DNA of
plastisects started mutating. They grew up in size and weighed more
than a hundred tons. The hungry plastisects went in search of plastics.
Since they found none, they targeted human beings. There was a
terrible death-toll yet again. The world famous scientists again
gathered at 'NASA' to create an animal which could destroy and eat
up plastisects and they were called 'Anti-plastisects.'
"Beware of Plastics!"
Sch Joseph Jerald, SJ
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13. PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana
The moment we hear the word 'Ecology', the first
thought that comes to our minds is nature with its
diversity of life and the need to conserve it. We're often
led to the etymology of Ecology as being the study of
OIKOS(meaningHouse).Whatexactlyisthishousewe're
talking about today? Has it only forests, animals, birds
and humans in it? We're often misled by its very notion.
We talk about the damage done to nature and a pledge
to preserve what is left over in it. Was this the purpose
for which humans evolved with the aspect of reasoning
and intelligence, so that first we could exploit and then
rectify? What needs to be looked into is the very
relationship that is established between the living and
the non-living world. Humans as social beings create and
fortify huge social communities which turn out to be
villages and cities. In spite of being too busy in making
our life comfortable, we need to ask ourselves whether
we are doing this at the cost of losing the bond that
A young man, a woodcutter by
profession, once approached a sage
forsomeadvice,"Tellme,please,what
is the best thing for one to enjoy life?"
After a long pause, the sage
quietly replied, "Love the beauty in
and around you, my dear man, and
further, destroy no living being in your lifetime: then
you'll be happy."
'Well,' said the young woodcutter, and tossing his
head, walked off towards his house. He was not happy
with the advice, for he could not follow it, since precisely
that was his profession. He destroyed nature
enormously and hunted down animals for meat as well.
Now he thought for a while and retired to bed. He
dreamt that he would live without destroying any form
of life especially that of nature, but found no way of
satisfying his greed. Out of frustration he jumped out,
andpickinguphisaxeandtoolshecried,"It'sfoolishness
to listen to this old man." He went into the forest to his
daily chores. 'I shall cut off these sandal-wood trees,
these will fetch me a good amount, and I needn't worry
for months', he said to himself.
attaches us to the fabric of reality
which, in this case, is found in nature!
Are we open enough to co-exist with
other forms of life in our structured
societies? Do we feel ourselves part
of the web of life which is so essential, or do we, due to
our "ego" or "negative intelligence," consider the other
living systems subordinate to us? What matters is the
disposition with which we accept or reject our weakness
before the mystery and grandeur of this ''House" we
stay in. Do we make it a point to transfer such critical
thinking to the future generations? Finding God in all
things indeed is a wonderful means of being humble
and sensitive enough to let ourselves be part of this
intricate yet marvelous web of Life which is the
extension of the Almighty's presence.
SchVinod AJ, SJ
THE TRTHE TRTHE TRTHE TRTHE TRUE ESSENCE OF ECUE ESSENCE OF ECUE ESSENCE OF ECUE ESSENCE OF ECUE ESSENCE OF ECOLOLOLOLOLOGOGOGOGOGYYYYY
He was perfectly familiar with this routine job, and
moreover he was skilled. Yet, this time he had to accept
his fate for his greedy guts. He climbed a very tall and
huge tree. Holding on to a branch with one hand he began
to cut down the trunk with the other. He axed it just
below his feet. Every stroke of his hurt the forest badly
and made it cry bitterly. No wonder he had to pay for this!
His stony heart paid no attention to his own
conscience which said, 'one day you need them to save
your life.'But he didn't yield. Even
after many strokes, though the
treehadbowed,itstillheldon.Just
as he raised his axe for the last
time, he realised, that he was
pulling out the rug from under his
own feet. By then the tree had lost
its strength and nature turned
violently against him. He fell down,
fatally injured. What a fall it was! It resulted in his death
altogether.
Hence it's important to note: The little harm that
we cause to nature will end in our own downfall. We
must also learn that wise men direct us but once; if we
pay heed to their words we live; if not, we're gone.
Sch Antony Sudeep, SJ
SHORT STORY - DESTRUCTION OF LIFE
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14. PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana
Jesuits of today need once again a rejuvenation of
spirit to be sent anywhere and at anytime for the service
of God in the Society of Jesus. When the Society is
speakingabouttheuniversalmissionandmenwhomust
be available for this, we have now a saint who inspires
and revitalizes us to commit ourselves to be sent and to
be on the move.
17 December, 2013 -Morethan140yearsafterbeing
named "Blessed," the first Jesuit Priest Peter Faber was
canonized by Pope Francis, in a decree of "equivalent
canonization."
"Peter Faber (Pierre Favre) was born in 1506 in the
South of France. As a boy, he looked after his father's
sheep in the French Alps. He also taught catechism to
children on Sundays. Aware of his call to be a Priest, he
longed to study. He writes: "At the age of ten, I was
overcome by such a great desire to go to school that I
became so disquieted and full of yearning that I began
to cry. So against their intention, my parents were forced
to send me to school." At twelve,he had a deep religious
experience. 'Inspired by the Holy Spirit ' he felt that he
had to consecrate his life "to the service of God" and,
"one day (while looking after the cows during the
holidays) overjoyed and with great desire for purity, he
promised Our Lord a life of perpetual chastity."
He was admitted to the College of Sainte-Barbe
where he shared lodgings with Francis Xavier. They
became close friends and graduated on the same day in
1530 with a Master of Arts. Peter also met Ignatius there
and while Peter taught Ignatius philosophy, Ignatius
directed him through the Exercises.
After Ignatius, Peter Faber was the one for whom
the companions had the deepest respect because of his
knowledge, his holiness and his influence on people.
Peter conceived his life as a journey, a journey through
the various regions of Europe following the example of
Christ: travelling for obedience, always alert to make
God's will his own.
His Expeditions:
1539: He was sent along with Diego Laynez to Parma
to revive the faith in the face of Protestant reformers.
In Europe: He was sent on a new mission by Paul III.
He had to accompany Dr Ortiz right across Europe, to
the discussions on bridging the gap between Protestants
and Catholics and unite Europe
against the Turks.
In Germany: He walked many a
village and town, giving many retreats,
spiritual talks, and spiritual direction
in and outside the confessional.
In Spain: He zealously engaged
himself in pastoral work, preaching and giving retreats,
but on the orders of Pope Paul III Faber had to leave
again for Germany in 1542.
1542: In the greatest haste Peter Faber travelled
through France, then Switzerland, where he celebrated
Holy week in Solothurn and arrived in Speyer. The day
after his arrival in Germany he started giving retreats.
October 1542:In Mainz he was ordered to give
lectures on the psalms at the Faculty of theology.
April 1543:HemetPeterCanisiusinMainz,thenwent
on to Cologne. Hardly had he begun his work in Cologne
and not seeing results as yet, Faber again had to leave
on a new mission.
September 1543: On the request of King John III he
was sent by Ignatius to Lisbon. He was to accompany
the princess, Maria of Portugal, on the way to her future
husband, Philip II of Spain.
17 July 1546: He arrived completely exhausted in
Rome and died on 1 August, just forty years of age, "a
victim of his not always meaningful journeys which he
had undertaken in exemplary obedience."
The Society of Jesus, founded by Ignatius and his
companions, was mainly to have men who are dispersed
on a mission with complete availability and obedience
to be sent anywhere for the Greater Glory of God. Of
late many of us seem to enter comfort zones and love a
cosy Jesuit life, are stuck to one place for ages and are
busy establishing our own kingdom and territory. We
have forgotten our call in the Society and thus are not
really available to be sent by the Superiors.
The Society at present under the leadership of
Fr Adolfo Nicolas is once again focusing on this aspect
of universal mission and is inviting every Jesuit to bear the
spiritofavailabilityforanymission,anywhere.Atthismoment
the Church has given us a model in Saint Peter Faber.
Sch Lumnesh Swaroop, SJ
THE TRAVELLING APOSTLE
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