Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Fr. Stephen Fernandes, CBCI secretary for JPD speaks to participants of CCMSI


 Fr. Stephen is a priest from Mumbai diocese and working for the CBCI, Delhi. He is professor in Mumbai seminary and holds doctorate in Moral Theology....he is also working for the Vatican for ecumenical office. He spoke on the Challenges religious face while working on JPIC issues.

 Br. Arun introducing Fr. Stephen

 TO BE A CHURCH OF THE POOR IS A FUNDAMENTAL THEME OF CHURCH RENEWAL IN INDIA, A COUNTRY HAVING MILLIONS OF POOR PEOPLE.
MANDATE IS TO REACH OUT TO THE POOR AND TO THE END OF THE WORLD
As church of the poor, we are called to place ourselves at the side of the poor, the marginalized, the rejected and exploited, share something of their poverty.
Solidarity with the marginalized, should be priority of the church
Call to us by the church for a new way of renewal
We must be in search for new models of a just economy.
Not just to have pity on the poor and do charitable works
Poor church should be connected to poor people
Rebuilding the church is everyone’s mission
Due to the obstacles and sin within the church ad from outside, the church needs to find out ways to work for poor
Cardinal Franz Konig: you are the Church. Involve the people in the mission of the Church. Active collaboration between the Clergy and the laity. All have different roles and all will play






 Challenges:
1. Identity crisis and limited sense of self-worth
Need for self-sacrifice, courage, and dogged commitment
Lifestyle changes. Personal concentration is emphasised too much
2.  Weak link between spirituality and action for justice.
- Idea for cultic priest
- Faith in God should motivate us to contribute to the common good and to counter secular humanism
- Faith without works is dead.
3. lack of training given to the personnel in specialized ministries, lack of specialized trainers, lack of database of knowledge, libraries, ebooks, sessions already prepared, training of trainers and building our people with IAS, IFS, IPS, working with specialized ministries, working with specialized ministries, children, youth, women, elderly, differently abled, sick and dying, family ministry.
4. Limited financial resources, inadequate knowledge of finance and raising of finance, collaboration with caritas, with Lions clubs, agencies having similar goals.
5. challenge of identifying real issues, genuine professionals and social professionals, and groups that support our cause
6. Inadequate study of government laws and bare acts, land records, property records are not kept in order, government has amended the laws to help land to be given to the corporates rather than the poor.
7. challenge to be authentic in real relationships, positive influence of Media, negative influence of media, technology affecting lives of priests and seminarians, outreach programmes with children and youth are affected because of Media.
9. tapping the government resources and government schemes for the upliftment of the poor and for education of children and youth.


10. Inter religious and inter cultural dialogue is the need of the hour, training in Indian religions needed, peace meals, sports for peace, syllabus in schools, outreach programmes and seminars. 
11. Promoting ecumenical Unity
12. Creation of legal machinery to understand and respond to the political and legal challenges. In depth study of the constitution of India and the human rights international Laws. 
13. Disaster Management and disaster Intervention, earthquake, cyclones, providing livelihood opportunities and income generation schemes for the poor, farmers and women
14. Addressing socio cultural problems, alcoholism and drug and substance abuse. 
15. Shortage of intellectual capabilities, the pen is mightier than the sword, not much writing in India journals, magazines, newspapers, no proper systematic and scientific analysis of socio political and economic matters done. Hardly any films produced.
16. Lack of Motivation from within the Organization.
17. Core issues not touched in ongoing formation
18. Teams and Teamwork needed…

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