Niraivalvu June 2021
Niraivalvu June 2021
Archbishop Speaks.... the difference between what we can change and what we cannot. We
need the courage to change what we can: to prevent ourselves and
others by practising social distance, wearing masks, sanitising our
SAINT JOSEPH, AN ACCEPTING FATHER homes, helping those in need, sharing what we have, doing our best to
help our frontline warriors, demanding accountability from those
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, responsible, raise voice against corruption and greed for money in
certain health service providers, etc.
We have all heard of the Serenity prayer composed by American
protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, who prayed, God, give us grace At the same time, we should also have the grace to accept what we
to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to cannot change: the past, the mistakes that might have occurred in
change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to managing the situation, the seriousness of the issues threatening us,
distinguish the one from the other. the discomforts that the continuing lockdown may impose on us, the
sacrifices that might be required on our part to help others in need,
The discernment between what can and cannot be changed is etc. But in these challenges, we have the grace of God which
important to our lives. If we do not have the courage to change what strengthens us with hope.
we can and what we should, we would end up suffering something
unnecessary all our lives. On the other hand, if we do not have the We conclude with the words of our Holy Father in Patris corde. “The
grace to accept things that cannot be changed, perhaps, we would spiritual path that Joseph traces for us is not one that explains but
end up fighting against something invincible all our lives. accepts. Only as a result of this acceptance, this reconciliation, can
we begin to glimpse a broader history, a deeper meaning. Joseph is
Saint Joseph’s life is a perfect example of the right balance between certainly not passively resigned, but courageously and firmly proactive.
the grace of acceptance and the courage of change. Pope Francis In our own lives, acceptance and welcome can be an expression of
demonstrates this beautifully in his apostolic letter Patris Corde. The the Holy Spirit’s gift of fortitude. Only the Lord can give us the strength
Holy Father states that the fourth character of Saint Joseph is his needed to accept life as it is, with all its contradictions, frustrations,
readiness to accept things that he could not change (no4). And the and disappointments”.
fifth character that he attributes to Saint Joseph is the creative courage
to change things that he could (no5). “Christian realism rejects nothing that exists. Reality, in its mysterious
and irreducible complexity, is the bearer of existential meaning, with all
Our Holy father writes, “Often in life, things happen whose meaning its lights and shadows. As Saint Paul says, “We know that all things
we do not understand. Our first reaction is frequently one of work together for good, for those who love God” (Rom 8:28) and as
disappointment and rebellion. Joseph set aside his own ideas in order Saint Augustine adds, “even that which is called evil (etiamillud quod
to accept the course of events and, mysterious as they seemed, to malum dicitur)”. In this greater perspective, faith gives meaning to every
embrace them, take responsibility for them and make them part of his event, however happy or sad”.
own history. Unless we are reconciled with our own history, we will be
unable to take a single step forward, for we will always remain hostage May Saint Joseph inspire in us the courage to change the things we
to our expectations and the disappointments that follow”(no4). can, the grace to accept things that we cannot and the wisdom to
know the difference.
How inspiring is this observation for the covid-19 crisis that we are
facing? Faced with the severity of the pandemic and the inability of With prayerful wishes,
our health system to tackle this scale of infections, we feel small and
powerless. Many of us have lost someone we know, someone whom we
have loved and cherished. Some of us may have also had to struggle
through it and survived the threat. Fear, anxiety, disappointment, anger, † Most Rev Dr George Antonysamy
doubts, rebellion: the feelings that emerge from the depth of our beings Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore
are many and varied.
,e; j NghplH fhyj; j py; Gdpj NahNrg; G tpd; Qhdk; ek; i k † NkjF lhf;lH [hH[; me;Njhzprhkp
khw;wf;$batw;iwAk;> khw;w Kbahjtw;iwAk; Fwpj;j mwpT nrd;id-kapiy caHkiwkhtl;l NguhaH
¨û\YôrÜ 3 June 2021 ¨û\YôrÜ 4 June 2021
OFFICIAL NOTIFICATIONS NECROLOGY
06 06 2021 The Most Precious Body and Blood of Christ - Solemnity Rev Fr Kurian V Nelappana 04 06 1996
11 06 2021 The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - Solemnity Rev Fr Lucio Fernandes 09 06 1966
13 06 2021 St Antony of Padua Rev Fr J B Patrick 10 06 1972
24 06 2021 The Nativity of St John the Baptist - Solemnity Rev Fr Jacob Vettichirayil 10 06 1987
29 06 2021 Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles - Solemnity Rev Msgr D’Sa 19 06 1985
Rev Fr S Arul 19 06 1996
03 07 2021 St Thomas, the Apostle of India - Solemnity
Rev Fr Thomas Charath 19 06 2004
N.B.: Due to the surging 2nd wave of the Covid–19 pandemic and Rev Fr Joseph Thyparambil 24 06 2002
following the SOPs of the government, Archbishop’s Rev Fr Philip Manathra 25 06 2006
engagements for June 2021 remain suspended. Rev Msgr A J Adaikalam 26 06 1987
Secretary to the Archbishop Rev Fr Chacko Perumanoor 27 06 2016
May their Souls rest in peace!
PRAYERFUL WISHES ON YOUR BIRTHDAY
Rev Fr Sandiyagu E 01 06 1973 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
Rev Fr Thomas A 03 06 1969
Rev Fr Mathew K T 05 06 1950 Applications for admissions to Colleges: Sathyabhama College,
Rev Fr Bosco D F 09 06 1956 Jeppiar Engineering College, Jeppiar SRR College, Jeppiar Institute of
Technology - Kunnam, DMI College of Engineering, Madha Engineering
Rev Fr Thanga Kumar 11 06 1973 and Arts and Science College, Annai Vailankanni College, Jaya College
Rev Fr Ambrose C C 12 06 1957 are offering the scholarship for catholic students with concession. Kindly
Rev Fr Anthony Raj T 12 06 1974 announce it to your parishioners and help your parish youth. Contact
Rev Fr Jude Rajesh M 14 06 1974 the Chancellor's Desk at the earliest.
Rev Fr Louis Mathias 17 06 1969 The Chancellor
Rev Fr Maria John Bosco 18 06 1977
Rev Fr Peter Jerard M L 20 06 1969 SCHOLARSHIP
Rev Fr Harry Williams J 20 06 1979
The Application forms for these Scholarships for college students
Rev Fr Arokia Velankanni Stalin R 23 06 1979 are presently being issued during the office hours. Parish Priests can
Rev Fr Gilbert Joe 27 06 1971 obtain the application forms either personally or by a written note
Rev Fr Charles Anandaraj 27 06 1988 through the bearer. The filled in application forms should reach the
Rev Fr Regan Manuel Raj I 06 07 1983 Chancery on or before 30th June 2021. Late comers will not be
entertained.
HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTION - JUNE 2021 The Chancellor
The Beauty of Marriage: Let us pray for young people who are
preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community: ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY
may they grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience.
kiwg; g ug; G Nehf; f k; : jpUkz moF - fpwp]; j t r%fj; j pd; Rev Fr T Anthony Raj 02 06 2000
MjuTld; jpUkzj;jpw;F jahupf;fpd;w ,isQu;fs; md;gpYk;>
jhuhs kdg;ghd;ikapYk;> cz;ik kw;Wk; nghWikapYk; tsuTk;
Congratulations and Prayerful Wishes!
Ntz;b nrgk; nra;Nthk;.
¨û\YôrÜ June 2021 ¨û\YôrÜ 6 June 2021
5
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH LITURGICAL OVERVIEW OF THE MONTH
As we begin to feel the warmth of summer, we can reflect that we The month of June is dedicated to The Sacred Heart of Jesus. This
celebrate the feasts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (June 11) and month falls within the liturgical season of Ordinary Time, which is
the Immaculate Heart of Mary (June 12). God is Love and the Sacred represented by the liturgical colour green. This symbol of hope is the
Heart of Jesus — present on earth in the Blessed Sacrament — is the colour of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of
human manifestation of God’s Love for men. Appropriately June is reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious
considered the month for weddings where human hearts join and resurrection. It is used in the offices and Masses of Ordinary Time.
cooperate with the Creator in bringing forth new life. The family they
create is a human reflection of the Blessed Trinity. Also on June 1 we FOCUS OF THE LITURGY
celebrate the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church. This feast is to
be celebrated on the Monday following Pentecost. The readings for the Sundays in June 2021, are taken from St Mark
and are from Year B, Cycle 1.
Other principal feasts of this month are St. Justin (June 1),
Sts Marcellinus and Peter (June 2), St Boniface (June 5), June 6 This Gospel recounts the events of the Last
St Ephrem (June 9), St Romuald (June 19), Sts John Fisher and Thomas Corpus Christi Supper when Jesus changed bread and wine
More (June 22), the Birth of St John the Baptist (June 24), into His Body and Blood.
St Josemaria Escriva (June 26), the Solemnity of Sts Peter and
Paul (June 29) and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome (June 30). June 13 Jesus tells the parable of the mustard seed.
11th Sunday
The feast of St Barnabas (June 11) is superseded by the feast of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus. The feasts of St Norbert (June 6), St Anthony of
June 20 The Gospel is about Jesus asleep on the boat
Padua (June 13) and St Cyril of Alexandria (June 27), are superseded 12th Sunday being awakened and calming the storm
by the Sunday liturgy. because of the apostles’ fear.
A TIME OF LOVE June 27 Jesus raises the daughter of Jarius from the
13th Sunday dead.
Following Pentecost, the Church begins her slow descent from the
great peaks of the Easter Season to the verdant pastures of Ordinary
Time, the longest of the liturgical seasons. Like the lush June growth all ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS
around us, the green of the liturgical season points to the new life won
for us by the Redemption of Jesus Christ, the new life of Charity. For Rev Fr M W Praveen Correspondent St Joseph’s Boys Hr Sec School &
Our Lord came to cast the fire of His love on the earth, and to that end,
St Ignatius Boys Pri School, Kilachery
sent His Holy Spirit at Pentecost in the form of tongues of fire.
Ordinary Time is the hour to “go out to all the world and tell the good
HGN
news.” The feasts of June highlight this expansion of the Church. At
least ten times, the Church vests in the red of the martyrs whose blood
Rev Fr A Ashok Kumar HGN Parish Priest Pandravedu
is the very seed of her growth. She also celebrates the feasts of the
Rev Fr L Jermanus HGN Asst Parish Priest K G Kandigai
apostles Peter and Paul, and the birth of St John the Baptist, proto-
Rev Fr A Michael HGN Asst Parish Priest Porur
disciple and prophet.
Rev Fr D Susai Regis HGN Asst Parish Priest Washermenpet
We too are called to be witnesses like the apostles and martyrs. May
the Heart of Jesus inflame our hearts so that we may be worthy of our + Most Rev Dr George Antonysamy Rev Fr K J Varghese Rozario
Baptismal call to holiness. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore In-charge of Chancery
The role played by catechists is one specific form of service among 8. This ministry has a definite vocational aspect, as evidenced by
others within the Christian community. Catechists are called first to be the Rite of Institution, and consequently calls for due discernment on
expert in the pastoral service of transmitting the faith as it develops the part of the Bishop. It is in fact a stable form of service rendered to
through its different stages from the initial proclamation of the local Church in accordance with pastoral needs identified by the
the kerygma to the instruction that presents our new life in Christ and local Ordinary, yet one carried out as a work of the laity, as demanded
prepares for the sacraments of Christian initiation, and then to the by the very nature of the ministry. It is fitting that those called to the
ongoing formation that can allow each person to give an accounting instituted ministry of Catechist be men and women of deep faith and
of the hope within them (cf. 1 Pet 3:15). At the same time, every catechist human maturity, active participants in the life of the Christian
must be a witness to the faith, a teacher and mystagogue, a companion community, capable of welcoming others, being generous and living a
and pedagogue, who teaches for the Church. Only through prayer, life of fraternal communion. They should also receive suitable biblical,
study, and direct participation in the life of the community can they theological, pastoral and pedagogical formation to be competent
grow in this identity and the integrity and responsibility that it entails communicators of the truth of the faith and they should have some
(cf. Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New prior experience of catechesis (cf. SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL
Evangelization, Directory for Catechesis, 113). COUNCIL, Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the
Church Christus Dominus, 14; CIC can. 231 §1; CCEO can. 409 §1). It
7. With great foresight, Saint Paul VI issued the Apostolic is essential that they be faithful co-workers with priests and deacons,
Letter Ministeria Quaedam with the intention not only of adapting the prepared to exercise their ministry wherever it may prove necessary,
ministries of Lector and Acolyte to changed historical circumstances and motivated by true apostolic enthusiasm.
(cf. Apostolic Letter Spiritus Domini), but also of encouraging Episcopal
Conferences to promote other ministries, including that of Catechist.
¨û\YôrÜ 15 June 2021 ¨û\YôrÜ 16 June 2021
Therefore, after having taken all things into consideration, and by
apostolic authority.
I establish
the lay ministry of Catechist
E}w;whz;LfisAk; jhz;b epiyj;J epw;Fk; rH
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the [hd; bkhd;b mtHfspd; vz;zw;w jhuhs gpwHeyg;
Sacraments will soon publish the Rite of Institution of the lay ministry gzpfis epidT $Wk; tpjkhf> mtH ,we;j
of Catechist. 200-tJ Mz;L epidT ehshfpa epfOk; 2021-k;
Mz;L Nk khjk; 6-k; ehsd;W> rhe;Njhkpy; cs;s
9. I invite the Episcopal Conferences to render effective the ministry NguhaH ,y;yj;jpy; nrd;id-kapiyg; NguhaUk;
of Catechist, determining the necessary process of formation and the [hd; bkhd; b mwf; f l; l isapd; jiytUkhd
normative criteria for admission to this ministry and devising the most NkjF lhf;lH [hH[; me;Njhzprhkp mtHfshy;
appropriate forms for the service which these men and women will be XH vspa mNj Neuj;jpy; gpuk;khz;lkhd nghUSjtp
called to exercise in conformity with the content of this Apostolic Letter. toq;Fk; epfo;r;rp eilngw;wJ.
10. The Synods of the Oriental Churches or the Assemblies of vspikahfj; njhlq; f p xU rpwe; j tzpfuhf tsHr; r p
Hierarchs may adopt what is established here for their respective NghHj;Jf;fPrpa fj;Njhypf;fuhd rH [hd; bkhd;b mtHfs; xU
Churches sui iuris, in accordance with their particular law. Rakhd kdpjH. mHGj;Nehl; bkhd;b fk;ngdpNahL mtUf;F ,Ue;j
njhopy; K iw cwthdJ khngUk; ntw; w p mile; j jhy; mjd;
11. Bishops should make every effort to comply with the exhortation tUthapy; fzprkhd njhifia epyq;fis thq;Ftjpy; KjyPL
of the Council Fathers: “Pastors… know that they were not established nra;jhH. nksg;up]; rhiyapy; cs;s (,d;iwa b b Nf rhiy)
by Christ to undertake by themselves the entire saving mission of the ‘bkhd;b fhydp’ jhd; mtUila ,y;ykhFk;. NrkpaH];
Church to the world. They appreciate, rather, that it is their exalted rhiyapypUe;J milahW tiuf;Fk;> lhHd;Gy; rhiyapypUe;J
task to shepherd the faithful and at the same time acknowledge their NrkpaH]; rhiy tpupthf;fk; tiuf;Fk; (,d;iwa fpuPdN ; t]; rhiyapd;
ministries and charisms so that all in their separate ways, but of one gFjp) Gf; rhiyapypUe; J milahW tiuf; F k; mtUila
mind, may cooperate in the common task” (Lumen Gentium, 30). May nrhj;Jf;fspd; gFjp gutpapUe;jJ. jp nkl;uh]; fpsg; kw;Wk; Nghl;
the discernment of the gifts that the Holy Spirit never fails to grant to fpsg; Mfpait mtUila nrhj;Jf;fspd; vy;iyg; gFjpf;Fs;
the Church sustain their efforts to make the lay ministry of Catechist mlq;Fk;. ];nly;yh Nkup]; fy;Y}upapd; kpfg; ngupa gug;gsT nfhz;l
effective for the growth of their communities. FbapUg;G gFjpAk;> rhe;Njhk;> Nfhtsk;> vOk;g+H Mfpa gFjpfspYs;s
nrhj;Jf;fSk; bkhd;bapd; cilikahf ,Ue;jd.
I order that what has been laid down by this Apostolic Letter issued
“Motu Proprio” have firm and stable effect, anything to the contrary fdpTs;s fztuhfTk; gupTs;s kdpjuhfTk; tpsq;fpa bkhd;b
notwithstanding, even if worthy of special mention, and that it be Nfhtsj;jpy; mike;Js;s flw;fiuNahug; gFjp bkhd;bapd;
promulgated by publication in L’Osservatore Romano, taking effect that rpwg; g hd ftdj; i j <Hj; j J. mg; g Fjpapy; tho; e ; j fpwp]; j t
same day, and published thereafter in the official commentary of kf;fSf;fhf mtH mq;Nf kpf mofhd Ntiyg;ghLfSld; $ba
the Acta Apostolicae Sedis. jpUg;gl P k; nfhz;l XH Myaj;ijf; fl;b xU fj;Njhypf;f FUthdtH
jq;Ftjw;fhd FUthdtH ,y;yj;ijAk; fl;bdhH. ,e;j Myak;
Given in Rome, at Saint John Lateran, on the tenth day of May in Gdpj fhHNky; md;idf;F NeHe;jspf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ. [hd; bkhd;bAk;
the year 2021, the liturgical memorial of Saint John of Avila, Priest and mtUila kidtpAk; ,e;j Myaj;jpy;jhd; mlf;fk;
Doctor of the Church, the ninth of my Pontificate. nra;ag;gl;Ls;shHfs;.
Missionary experience “All this is of vital importance at the present time because many
WYD at the international level has proved to be an excellent young people risk isolating themselves in virtual unreal worlds, far from
opportunity for young people to have a missionary experience, the the dusty roads and streets of the world,” the document notes, adding
guidelines note. On this, it stresses that this must also be the case for that “it is often through pilgrimage together that we make new friends,
diocesan/eparchial Youth Days where missions can be organised which and we experience the excitement of sharing the same ideals as we
encourage young people to visit people in their homes carrying “a look together towards a common goal with mutual support in difficulties
message of hope, a word of comfort or simply being willing to listen.” and the joy of sharing the little we have.”
Their enthusiasm can also be harnessed to “allow them to lead occasions
of public evangelization with songs, prayer and testimonies. They can WYD is, therefore, a great opportunity for younger generations “to
go to streets and squares in the city where their peers meet, because explore local shrines and other significant places of popular piety”
young people are the best evangelizers of young people.” “Their very bearing in mind that “various manifestations of popular piety, especially
presence and their joyful faith already constitute a “living proclamation” pilgrimages, attract young people who do not readily feel at home in
of the Good News that attracts other young people,” the guidelines say, ecclesial structures, and represent a concrete sign of their trust in
adding that “in this way, young people are offered the chance to become God.”
‘protagonists of the revolution of charity and service, capable of resisting
the pathologies of consumerism and superficial individualism’.” Universal fraternity
While emphasizing the importance of involving young people in all
Vocational discernment and call to holiness steps of the pastoral planning for the WYD, the guidelines note that
The guidelines also encourage priority for the vocation dimension of ‘the testimony and experience of young people who have previously
the WYD, which aims to help young people “understand that their taken part in an international WYD deserve to be highlighted in the
whole life is placed before God who loves them and calls them.” When preparation of the diocesan/eparchial event.”
they have come to terms with these “fundamental vocations” within
the broader “vocational horizons”, young people can be proposed “the The guidelines encourage dioceses and eparchies to “ensure that
choice that must be made of a state of life, one that is in accord with young people who are less present and less active in established
the call that God is addressing to each of them individually, whether it pastoral structures do not feel excluded” so that they feel “expected
be to the priesthood or the consecrated life, including in the monastic and welcome, each one in their individual uniqueness and human
form, or marriage and family.” and spiritual potential.”In this way, “the diocesan/eparchial event can
be a very good opportunity to motivate and welcome all those young
In this regard, seminarians, consecrated persons, married couples people who may be looking for their place in the Church and who
and families can be of help and “by their presence and witness, they have not yet found it.”
can help to prompt young people to ask the right vocational questions
and to desire to set out in search of the “great plan” that God has in You heard me, only Friend whom I love. To ravish my
mind for them. Meanwhile, “every vocational choice must have at its heart, you became man. You shed your blood, what a
heart the even more profound call to holiness. WYD must resonate in supreme mystery! … And you still live for me on the
young people the call to holiness as the true path to happiness and Altar. If I cannot see the brilliance of your Face or
self-fulfilment,” the guidelines insist. hear your sweet voice, O my God, I can live by your
grace, I can rest on your Sacred Heart!
Experience of pilgrimage – St Therese of Lisieux
The pastoral guidelines also recommend that diocesan/eparchial WYD
celebrations can propose specific ways for young people to have real
pilgrimage experiences – ones that encourage them to “leave their Devotion to the Most Sacred Heart is the extraordinary
homes and set out on a journey, and on the way they are introduced remedy for the extraordinary needs of our time.
- Pope Pius XI
2. Consider how to “not only survive, but thrive.” If you plan to use
Having an effective vision-strategy for parish digital ministry in post-
the virtual space only so Long as the church doors are closed, and
corona times
then abandon it when normal church services resume, you need to
- By Fr Joshan Rodrigues
think again. 2020 has fundamentally altered the dynamics of’ being’
Church, and digital, ministry will continue to be an essential part of
The pandemic lockdown coupled with the explosion of online religious
Church ministry Long after the pandemic is over. Anecdotal evidence
content may have significantly altered conceptions of the parish church.
suggests that a large number of adults wish to see online Church services
Territorial boundaries have blurred in the online space. A survey
being continued for the sake of the sick, infirm and the homebound.
conducted in Mumbai at the end of May indicated that 55 per cent of
This is just one example. Online meetings, retreats and training
people whose parish streamed a Sunday service preferred to participate
programmes may just as well continue online due to popular demand
in another parish’s service (church surfing is a new trend for some). Of
and convenience. It would therefore be worthwhile to invest in digital
course, considerations of audio-visual quality, quality of content offered,
technology for your parish for the Long run.
etc. all weigh in when people make their decisions.
While people consuming religious and spiritual content online is 3. What do my parishioners miss the most? There may be different
always heartening and encouraging at a time when people are being answers to this question, depending on the context and place. Being
overloaded with high-quality and eye-grabbing secular content, there able to receive Holy Communion tops the list, but a close second is
is a slow shift from the local to the universal, in terms of the religious experiencing the feeling of Community! Celebrating our faith together
programming that people are now watching. However, what cannot be as one Body is irreplaceable. And hence, online programmes must be
denied is that Eucharistic worship, the grace of the Sacraments, being planned which help parishioners interact with one another and share
a Christian neighbour, acts of service and charity, and so much more their joy of being disciples of Christ. This could include prayer and
happens at the local level. It is therefore essential that churches learn fellowship. Organising competitions, sermons, prayer services are
to make effective and successful transitions into the digital space, to certainly good and beneficial, but they still lack the interactive
maintain the Local community centered around the parish church. In component. For example, conducting live catechism classes for children
the current scenario, though it may be a ‘no brainer’ that churches do on ZOOM or Google Meet is far more engaging than watching recorded
need to adopt digital communications and reach out to parishioners videos. However, the latter would have to suffice when there are
through the virtual space, the question remains if there exists a difficulties regarding technology and connectivity.
compelling and convincing philosophy, vision and long-term strategy
in place before beginning to do so. A good principle would be to ensure that my virtual parish ministry
has all the three components of Faith, Fellowship and Service (Outreach).
Foundational Pillars of Digital Ministry
A fundamental vision of the “what and why” of doing pastoral ministry 4-M Model
online is important before you launch and establish your parish in the 1. Messaging - How can we get in touch and communicate with our
¨û\YôrÜ 31 June 2021 ¨û\YôrÜ 32 June 2021
parishioners? A parish may have started many online initiatives; at the and parish communities can come together to help support small
same time, there is also community news which includes births, businesses, extend micro-credit, etc. Create a List of local medical
weddings and deaths. The parish may also be engaged in many services, job opportunities, educational and medical subsidies offered
outreach services during the pandemic; finally, there is also the informal by government programmes and local charitable trusts. Encourage
connection where parishioners quite often desire to know how their parishioners with diverse talents to come together and begin
priests and sisters are doing. Ensuring that this communication happens entrepreneurial endeavours.
is very important to the life of the Church. Just look at your family - do
you communicate only when there is some work to be done? Does a 4. Money - The elephant in the room is the fact that church donations
family not share their joys and simple daily routines with each other on have come down to almost zero. While parishes need to prioritise
a regular basis? Don’t they exchange videos, pictures and phone calls? spending on one hand, their ability to reach out to the needy also
Isn’t the Church a family? suffers. Rather than depending on occasional and unpredictable
donations, parishes need to have a long-term financial plan in place
Messaging can be done using the multiple tools available to us - that identifies sources of funds for the future, so that they can also
website, messaging apps, social media, graphics, print, video support needy and deserving families for many months down the line.
conferencing (ZOOM, Google Meet) and even the humble phone call. Parishioners need to be encouraged to give consistently in small
Putting in announcements after your Eucharistic celebration (as on amounts according to their giving capacity, so that a long term ‘Strategy
Sundays) is a good idea. The priest could also record a short video Fund’ can be formed.
after Mass on Sundays, where he informally apprises his parishioners
of the important developments during the week. With social distancing still in place, traditional methods of giving are
now ineffective. Churches need to offer online giving solutions to their
2. Meeting - How can we gather while practising social distancing? parishioners through PayPal, Google Pay, Paytm, NEFT transfer and
Think of ways to get your community together on online platforms for other such options. Let’s remember that communicating regularly with
social interaction, prayer and fellowship. These sessions could be held people on how their money is being spent on outreach efforts
community-wise for larger parishes or simultaneously for the whole encourages them to loosen their purse strings still further.
parish (for smaller ones). These gatherings could include interactive
games, quizzes, housie, sharings and testimonies, interceding for one In conclusion, digital ministry is not just about offering top-notch and
another, live music, a group building exercise and a small informative the most entertaining content. In the age of Google, there will always
capsule.It is also essential to meet with different age groups such as be better preaching and better worship music just a click away. But
youth, children, young parents, senior citizens etc. Neighbours can be good-quality programming can never replace the Local parish church
roped in to connect senior citizens and the homebound to this virtual and community. And therefore an important question for pastors to
interaction, so that they may also experience the warmth and closeness ask is, “What can my parish provide to my people at this time that
of the parish community. Cells and Associations too need to connect Google cannot?” Offering compelling, attractive answers to this question
virtually during these times, and think of ways to conduct their core is one of the most urgent priorities for the Church.
charisms. The Parish Media Cell can be tasked with setting up virtual
meetings for these groups Love overcomes, Love delights, those who love the Sacred
heart rejoice!
3. Ministry - As parishes establish new norms for communicating and - St Bernadette Sorbirous
meeting with one another, it’s important to pay attention to the needs
around them. What are you doing to meet the real-life needs of people Do not let the past disturb you, just leave everything in
within your parish and within your community? The current situation is the Sacred Heart and begin again with joy.
creating opportunities to love our neighbours in tangible and noticeable - St Teresa of Calcutta
ways. Just as you have multiple ministries in-house, develop a plan to
have those same ministries through virtual platforms. Let your Let the soul who is desirous of advancing in perfection
community know that you’re not only a source for spiritual growth, but hasten to my Sacred Heart.
you’re also a source for community connection and empowerment. - St Gertrude
The pandemic has taken a huge economic toll on people’s Livelihoods,
¨û\YôrÜ 33 June 2021 ¨û\YôrÜ 34 June 2021
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¨û\YôrÜ 35 June 2021 ¨û\YôrÜ 36 June 2021