Khel Mahakumbh - Girish

Khel Mahakumbh

Khel Mahakumbh was a great initiative taken by the Government of Gujarat as part of the Golden Gujarat celebration to promote sports activities across the State. The Chief Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi announced last year that the Khel Mahakumbh will be organized every year for normal persons and the Special Khel Mahakumbh  for the differently-abled:- physically handicapped; intellectually disabled; visually challenged; speech & hearing impaired. The event will be held between 21 November to 23 December. The Chief Minister will flag off the torch of Khel Mahakumbh – 2011 in the morning at 11.11 on 11.11.11 in Gandhinagar. The torch will travel in all 26 districts covering the total distance of 2550 kms in ten days. The inauguration ceremony of this MEGA EVENT will be held on 21 November, 2011 in Baroda.

There is something unique in the present logo of the 2011 Khel Mahakumbh, i.e, the inclusion of the international symbol of the handicapped along with the normal sports persons. The credit goes to Fr.Girish, a Trustee member of the Special Olympics Gujarat, to influence the government to include such a precious symbol. Come, let us join together with the State government to promote sports activities among the  normal and the special persons: “Ramshe Gujarat. Jitshe Gujarat!” (Girish)

Gujarat Province Congregation at Jivan Darshan, Vadodara- Fr.Raymund S.J

Gujarat Province Congregation at Jivan Darshan, Vadodara

Under the inspiring, effective and Ignatian leadership of Rev. Fr. Jose Changa, the provincial of Gujarat Province, 51 elected, nominated and ex officio members gathered together for Province Congregation at Jivan Darshan, Vadodara, from Octber 13 – 15, 2011. During these grace-filled days, Ignatian procedure was followed meticulously from start to finish.

The first day saw the preliminaries (public majority vote, PMV), power-point presentation talk on the state of the province by Fr. Provincial, the elections of the secretary, the assistant secretary, postulate screening committee members one and two, session for election of procurator and his substitute, discussion on calling/not calling a GC, discussion on the questions of Fr. General, discussion on the state of the Society, discussion on the state of the province, time limit for submission of postluates. Fr. Francis Gonsalves sj was elected as the main secretary with Fr. Lancy Dcruz sj as assistant secretary, while Frs Francis Parmar sj and Cedric Prakash were elected to screen the postulates. Bro. Malcom and his team too resorted to power point presenation for financial state of the province, discussion on the state of the province, followed by the holy mass. There was a discussion of the questions proposed by Fr. General and the state of the Society.

The second day was packed with the election of procurator, his substitute and postulates. Fr. Francis Parmar sj was elected to represent Gujarat Province as procurator with Fr. I. Raj sj as his substitute. As regards calling a General Congregation, the delegates’ decision was a clear NO. There accepted postlates were taken up dicussion.

The delegates continued to dicuss the postulates till noon. Before concluding the province congregation Fr. Provincial, following our Jesuit way of proceeding, asked the delegates whether there was anything important left out. The delegates were satisfied and consoled with all that had gone on during these grace-filled days. At the end Fr. Provincial sincerely thanked one and  all  for their contribution in participating generously and genuinely in this province congregation.

Raymund Chauhan sj

IS THE ROSARY IN MY POCKET?” -Fr. Cedric Prakash sj

IS THE ROSARY IN MY POCKET?”

- Fr. Cedric Prakash sj*

My earliest memories of prayer was to be with the family, praying the daily Rosary.  For my parents (and grand-parents too) one could (with good reason) skip a meal or even the school homework for next day, but never the Rosary. It is a tradition that has always stayed.  No arguments about that.  It’s the family Rosary that, in more ways than one, kept the family together.

As we enter October, the month of the Rosary and the year dedicated to the Rosary in the Diocese of Ahmedabad, I would like to share some dimensions of what praying the Rosary means to me:

·        Recollection

It is first and foremost a time for recollection. The Rosary can be prayed anytime of the day and anywhere. It helps us cry “halt” to the business of everyday, to focus on the lives of Mary and Jesus. Praying the ‘beads’ has always been an integral dimension of Indic religions:   Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism. It helps meditation and recollection.

·        Repentance

The Rosary is a time for repentance.  We plead to Mary to intercede for us sinners - more than fifty times in a given cycle; besides, we pray the Our Father at the start of every mystery.  Above all, the Passion and Death of Jesus reminds us of the role we play in it because of our own sinfulness. 

·        Rejoicing

The mysteries of the Rosary helps us to rejoice on the birth of Jesus, his public life, his Resurrection and Ascension. We accompany Mary all the way in these moments of joy and we ask her to be a companion to us too. It is a time when we energize ourselves to be cheerful disciples of Jesus in today’s world inspite of the many difficulties and hardships we constantly have to face.

·        Renewal

Providing ourselves with a time for recollection, repentance, and rejoicing also energizes us towards renewal. A Rosary meaningfully said gives us a Marian outlook into the life of Jesus. It helps us to do more and to do good, even better.  It gives an added impetus to our other works. It renews us in all ways.

·        Reaffirmation

Above all, the Rosary is also a time for reaffirmation. When we truly love someone, we do not hesitate in using his / her name a thousand times and more; we do not stop thinking of that person.  The Rosary therefore, helps us to reaffirm our love for Mary and Jesus.  So saying the ‘Hail Mary’ (fifty times and more) is not merely repeating from our minds and lips, some formula, but actually saying from the depths of our hearts “I love you”.  It’s a reaffirmation of our love and our commitment to Jesus and Mary.

So the Rosary for me is surely a bouquet of roses!  It is a time for recollection, repentance, rejoicing, renewal and reaffirmation.  Several times a day, I need to check if my Rosary is in my pocket…. It does not matter if it is entangled with my many keys…..  It’s still there, a great reminder that I should not miss praying my Rosary for the day….!

(* Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is the Director of PRASHANT, the Ahmedabad based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace.)