Isaac Gomes –
Kolkata: In an interactive panel discussion held under the aegis of Archdiocesan Social Communications Commission (ASCC), Archdiocese of Calcutta, the panelists felt that it was time for the church to highlight its contribution, strengthen the laity, besides nurturing professionals in a variety of professions and advocacy organisations.
The panel discussion was organised on Saturday 29th July at Christ the King Church, Kolkata. This was the second such discussion in keeping with the spirit – “Communion, Participation and Mission” – of the upcoming Synod in Rome. The theme of the discussion was ‘Finding Light in the Darkness’ based on 2 Samuel 22:29 – “For thou art my lamp, O LORD: And the LORD will lighten my darkness.” The third and final Panel discussion will take place in September 2023.
The panellists were from the field of education namely: Mr Subhodeep Biswas, (M.Sc. in Economics and pursuing M.Sc. in Mathematics), a teacher at St Augustine’s Day School, Shyamnagar; Mr Steve Menezes, educationist for 32 years and presently Headmaster of St Anthony’s High School, Kolkata; Sr Rani Jacob, RNDM, Principal, Our Lady Queen of the Missions School, Kolkata and Ms Jessica Gomes Surana, currently Principal of Loreto Elliot Road, Kolkata. She is also a social influencer and a celebrated Emcee, and a former model. She is the immediate past Principal of Loreto Convent Entally.
The moderator of the panel discussion was Fr Franklin Menezes, promoter of Justice and Pro-Vicar, Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary. Fr Franklin was earlier Director of Seva Kendra, the Relief and Development arm of the Archdiocese of Calcutta.
Fr Franklin set the ball rolling and asked each panellist to speak on the theme. Most of the speakers said basically darkness means absence of light that separates us from God. They quoted various verses from the Bible. For example, “You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” (Psalm 18:28). “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5). “The LORD is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
Sr Rani Jacob cited Bishop Desmond Tutu who in his short essay, ‘Ubuntu: On the Nature of Human Community’ popularised the term “Ubuntu” and gave it a contemporary religious, ethical, philosophical and political urgency. Bishop Tutu said Ubuntu broadly translated in English means “A person is a person through other persons.” It is the essence of being human. It speaks of how my humanity is caught up and bound up inextricably with yours. I have gifts that you don’t have, and you have gifts that I don’t have. We are different in order to know our need of each other. To be human is to be dependent.” Sr Rani stressed on empathy to help overcome darkness (difficult periods/turmoil in our lives).
Mr Subhodeep also shared similar thoughts. He said the main reasons for darkness are lack of love for each other and veering from truth. He said thanks mainly to the nuclear family concept, there is an increasing lack of love resulting in friction among family members. He said we must devote much more time to our family members than we do now.
Mr Steve Menezes (a noted emcee for big events and a bodybuilding buff) also spoke on similar lines and read out several quotations on light and darkness from the Bible.
To add life to the proceedings, Fr Franklin asked the panellists “What is the reason for Christians being singled out for persecution in India?” They replied that one of the main reasons was Christians being a minority in India – constituting barely 2.3% of the Indian population – were mostly withdrawn fearing persecution, isolation and attacks.
Ms Jessica was more forthcoming and said that Christians need come out and speak on issues without being brash. She felt there is a need for Christians to highlight their contribution in the field of education, health and other services. However, she did not spell out whether she meant Christian advocacy groups. Incidentally, Fr Franklin that Christian institutions have 25% share in the service sector, mainly education and health and were playing an active role in producing India’s leaders both in the national and international arenas. The question is “How many Christian leaders are our Church-run institutions producing?” [The answer could be: The average student population ratio in most Church-run institutes is 90:10 (Non-Christians: Christians. The ratio is more abysmal in Christian universities and institutes of higher learning].
To pep up proceedings further Fr Franklin played the role of Pilate and asked Mr Subhodeep (to his reference that we must pursue Truth), “What is Truth?” Mr Subhodeep answered: “Christ is Truth, He is the Light of the World.”
There was a very brief question-answer session with members of the audience. They were allowed to ask only four questions, without amplifying any of the observations made by the panellists.
Here is a brief take on the reason for Christians being singled out for persecution in India.
- The Church glorifies Persecution. After a protest rally held at 7-point-crossing in Park Circus on Tuesday 10th February 2015 against attacks on churches in Delhi, one Bishop told that the Church needs persecution and that the laity needs to shed blood for more churches to come up. When asked him how about bishops taking the lead in this, he backed out.
- During a laity convention in St Xavier’s College Auditorium on Sunday 9th July 2017 on the topic “Current Political Scenario Affecting Christians in India,” Derek O’Brien, TMC MP from Rajya Sabha remarked that all persecutors know that the maximum Christians can do is to hold candlelight processions with nuns in front and nothing more. The Link is: https://almayasabdam.com/seminar-kolkata-current-political-scenario-affecting-christians-india/
- What will certainly put a break on persecution is teaching our girls and women self-defense on a war footing, especially in the current political scenario. It has been proven time and again that in any civil/communal strife, girls/women are looked upon as easy prey (Manipur case).
- The church also need to build up advocacy groups. For this, church needs to nurture and produce professionals in various fields, especially top-notch lawyers. It is because of this singular lacuna that the church could not bail out Fr Stan.
- The church should stop looking upon the laity as sheep. This condescending attitude on the part of the hierarchy must stop to give the laity mental and physical steel.
The panellists trod cautiously on referring to the current political situation in Manipur and other parts of India as “Darkness.”
Mr Farrell Shah, Director ASCC organised the programme with his team comprising Ms Dhanalaxmi Kaliram, Ms Christine Cramer, Sr Sofia Thomas and Ms Trinella Currie. The programme ended with a prayer by Fr Dominic Gomes, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Calcutta.
Fr Franklin wound up the programme on a positive note. He said members of laity need to be empowered by encouraging them to take part in politics. He observed that the recent reports in Church newsletters on the stellar performance by several Christian candidates in North 24-Parganas, Nadia and in Kalimpong Districts in the recently held Panchayat elections in West Bengal, is very heartening indeed.
Church bodies tend to deflect the main issue of empowering the laity within the ecclesial community.
Ms Jessica Gomes’ and Fr Franklin’s observation on Laity Empowerment is absolutely right. But who will empower whom? According to Bishop Stephen Lepcha, Chairman of Laity Commission-Bengal-Sikkim Region, Laity constitutes more than 95% of the Church. It must empower itself, especially on the front of Women Empowerment including self-defence, without looking up to the Church Hierarchy for a crutch. Of course, our Church Hierarchy can be a big motivator.
Good read. Real need is for Church to encourage laity and empower them.
(1) It would have been worth it had the panellists been more forthcoming in relating “Darkness” and “Truth” to today’s reality in India. (2) The Audience should be given more time (instead of being allowed just 4 questions), for a fruitful exchange. (3) The panellists, instead of being homogeneous, could have been chosen from a wider spectrum of expertise. That would have brought out divergent views from the panellists on “Light and Darkness.”
ASCC – Archdiocese of Calcutta deserves praise for organising a Panel Discussion. There should be more such events to “open the windows and let in the fresh air”, a phrase Pope John XXIII famously used when he opened the Second Vatican Council.
Fantastic reporting!
Can any good come out of this fanfare discussion without concrete steps to empower the laity. It’s just an eyewash by a coterie group who are far away from grassroots realities. This type of exercise is nothing new.
Regarding Fr Francis Rosario’s comments on empowerment of the Laity from the grassroots level, the million-dollar question is: Who will empower the Laity? The answer is: Members of the Laity (Aam Aadmi) have to empower themselves. No one gives power on a platter. The British never did. Rashbehari Bose and Netaji Subhas Bose had to shake them up. Then Gandhiji did the rest to ensure the British quit India. Even the Church won’t empower the Laity, it has never done, especially on its temporal matters. How many lay members are on Diocesan Finance Committee in the 174 Dioceses of India? It’s time members of the Laity stopped looking up to the Church Hierarchy for empowerment – they will not given even a bread crumb.
Regarding mention of a “coterie group”, is it the panellists or the organisers? All the panellists are well-established in their respective field of expertise. So there is no reason why they should be part of a coterie club.
In connection with the Empowerment of the Laity, Augustinian Father Anthony Pizzo (priest for nearly 40 years) believes in not only a pragmatic approach to the priesthood, but also in stepping outside of long-drawn boundaries. Upon returning to his native Chicago in the 1990s, he became heavily involved with local community organizing, working with organizations such as the Southwest Organizing Project to address racial and economic injustice, issues of immigration, fair housing, health care access, and neighbourhood violence (very applicable to the current scenario in Manipur and Haryana).
Fr Pizzo sees the role of a priest as being far more than a simple celebrator of the sacraments, but rather as an integral part of bringing justice and the church’s mission to the streets. He says: “I cannot see myself, nor can I define pastoral ministry, without it being somehow involved in the life of the community and organizing to address whatever threatens our common good, stability, and peace.” He added, Augustinian spirituality says: “Priesthood is all about being relational. We’re here to share with other people, for the sake of the common good.”
Interested readers may refer to an article captioned “Social justice is a vital part of a priest’s vocation” (in US Catholic). The link is:
https://uscatholic.org/articles/202308/social-justice-is-a-vital-part-of-a-priests-vocation/
I love the way you articulated this topic. I know it will help a lot of people understand it better.”