By Sunil Rosario and Anne Nigli | KOLKATA, India (UCAN) -- The newly elected head of the Missionaries of Charity (MC), Sister Mary Prema, says she will continue the work of their founder, Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, to show God's compassion to "broken humanity."
The German-born nun, elected on March 24 to lead the congregation, said she felt "unworthy of the office" held by Sister Nirmala Joshi for the past 12 years and by Blessed Teresa earlier.
Interviewed the day after her election, Sister Prema said she felt humbled at taking up leadership of her congregation's mission of serving "the poorest of the poor."
"With God's strength, I will do this work and be part of this mission," she said.
The nun was elected at the end of the congregation's general chapter which began on Feb. 1. It earlier elected Sister Nirmala for a third term, but she reportedly withdrew because of ill health. Her third term would have required papal approval also since the congregation's constitution allows only two six-year terms for the position.
The chapter of 163 delegates from across the world then elected Sister Prema, who for the last six years was part of Sister Nirmala's team of councilors. The chapter is a mandatory gathering of nun delegates every six years to discuss the congregation's work and future.
The new leader said that MC members are "entrusted with a grave responsibility to take to Jesus broken humanity."
"The cry of the poor is to be satiated daily as we have to give God's compassion to all people," she said.
The nuns are called to work "for unity at all levels and to make the Church present in our world today, through humble means and works of love," she said.
Sister Prema said she had "a very clear call of Jesus" as a young woman, to work for the poor. Malcolm Muggeridge's 1971 book on Mother Teresa's work, "Something Beautiful for God," made her aware of the Missionaries of Charity.
She met Mother Teresa for the first time in 1980 in Berlin, Germany. When they met again, the young German expressed her desire to join the congregation.
According to a priest closely associated with the congregation, Sister Prema is an able administrator.
Archbishop Lucas Sircar of Calcutta, who presided over the election in a secluded MC house 30 kilometers away from Kolkata, said Sister Prema was elected "on the first ballot with a two-third majority."
Blessed Teresa founded her congregation in 1950 and began her work among the poor in the city, formerly called Calcutta. She died in 1997 and was buried inside the MC motherhouse in Kolakata.
The chapter delegates returned to the motherhouse on March 25 and had a thanksgiving Mass at Blessed Teresa's tomb. Sounds of clapping, joyous singing and congratulations could be heard outside the walls of the convent, which was closed to visitors.
A handwritten notice saying "no visitors" was posted at the entrance. A nun at the door explained that the convent had no space for more visitors as nuns "have come from all over."
Nuns who attended the chapter have begun returning to their missions scattered around the globe.
MYANMAR Church-run center gives 'Hope' to HIV/AIDS patients
MYITKYINA, Myanmar (UCAN) -- For people who fear that infection with HIV means an illness followed by death, the Hope Centre lives up to its name.
The center, which the Columban Sisters run with the help of Myitkyina diocese, helps people recover from illnesses related to AIDS, brought on by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and look to the future. It is located in a suburb of Myitkyina, capital of Kachin state, which borders China in northern Myanmar.
Rosaline, one of 22 people currently staying at the center, tested positive for HIV in June 2007.
The 42-year-old Catholic woman's shock turned to anger and despair after her husband, who she says gave her the virus, abandoned her to it. She found herself alone at home, as her nieces who also lived there went about their work. But even when they were home, they made Rosaline stay in her room if guests came over.
"I feel very angry and sad when thinking about my family," she said tearfully. "One caregiver from the Hope Centre came and visited me. When my health worsened, I was moved to the center last October."
Her fellow residents are Buddhists, Catholics and Protestants, most of them women, from around Kachin state.
Rosaline began antiretroviral treatment (ART) but had a rough start.
"As I was very weak, malnourished and had no resistance, I got a headache and fainted on the spot," she recalled. "I could not even swallow rice, so the nuns fed me rice gruel."
The center provides medical treatment, three nutritious meals a day and seasonal fruit for snacks. Each new patient also receives new materials such as blankets, a pillow and a mosquito net. Besides this, however, the Columban nun, Franciscan nun, two nurses and one social worker on staff help residents develop a positive outlook.
"We counsel them not to become depressed but to live with hope in the future," Lucia Maran Joi Nau, a staff member, explained. "We arrange embroidery and weaving for them as professional skills, and concentrating on this work encourages them."
Some people have recovered well enough under the center's care to return home. Hope Centre helps them with a small start-up capital for home businesses using the skills they have learned.
One of the male patients, Joseph, 32, recounted how he developed a high fever that two or three clinics could not treat successfully. A friend advised him to go to Myitkyina, where he tested positive for HIV and was sent to Hope Centre.
"I have been here about four months and am still taking the ART medicines," he said, describing himself as "like a normal person now."
The Baptist man, who says he does not know if he contracted HIV from a sexual relationship or a used hypodermic needle, expressed gratitude for the nuns and their work through the center, "which has saved my life."
Columban Sister Mary Dillon, with helpers from Myitkyina, carried out home visits and helped arrange blood tests for three years, from 2004, before establishing Hope Centre in 2007 to serve the urgent needs of people living with HIV and AIDS.
It is one of at least eight Catholic Church initiatives to provide care for these people, a ministry for which the Myanmar Church has set up a working team. Such care extends to school fees for patients' children and, when necessary, funeral arrangements. The Church also organizes annual observances of World AIDS Day Dec. 1 and conducts training to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, and the discrimination affected people face.
Joi Nau, 63, said she has been working with Sister Dillon for several years and is very happy to see patients recovering from AIDS-related diseases.
When Hope Centre began, "because of lack experience we were losing some patients," she said. "But now everything is improving, and I believe we'll be able to help more patients and save more lives."
She sees the center as "giving hope to those who have no hope and see no future."
Rosaline has come a way along this road. Now she believes she might recover, and if she does, she wants to volunteer at the center to help others make a similar journey.
INDIA Archbishop questions credibility of commission investigating attacks
MANGALORE, India (UCAN) -- A government commission investigating attacks on Christians in Karnataka last year is taking a "prejudiced approach," says the leader of the Catholic Church in the southern Indian state.
Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore, in a March 21 press release, charged that witnesses testifying on the anti-Christian violence that occurred in September were asked "confusing" questions. The commission, he added, also allowed media persons into its sessions, who drew unverified conclusions from proceedings.
The prelate was responding to news reports that a priest who testified on March 11 had said that the Church promotes "idol worship" to attract Hindu converts. The reports led to a media debate.
The state government headed by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian people's party) set up the commission headed by B.K. Somashekhar, a retired judge of the state High Court, to investigate attacks on 24 churches in September 2008.
Hindu militants were said to have vandalized churches and prayer halls, destroyed bibles, prayer books, crosses and crucifixes, and desecrated the Blessed Sacrament.
Hindu radical groups often accuse Christians of converting Hindus through force and allurement.
The commission began its probe in the second week of January and is expected to submit its report in six months. The sittings were completed in Mangalore and Udupi districts, where most of the attacks took place.
Father Joseph Menezes, pastor of Bangalore's St. James Church, was one of the witnesses, and the priest mentioned in the news reports. He was attacked and some statues in his church destroyed.
Speaking to UCA News on March 24, the priest said he became a "scapegoat" as he was asked to give only "yes or no" answers. "They asked me if the Bible permits idol worship, I said no." The commission asked him if churches have statues and "whether Hindus are attracted to these."
"I said yes," said the priest. "It was their conclusion that the churches keep idols to attract Hindus and convert Hindus."
Father Menezes, 51, said the entire interrogation used the same method. "I was confused and harassed by highly prejudiced and carefully drafted questions," he admitted. Some media persons present there reported it "as they wanted," he added.
Father Adolph Washington, public relations officer of Bangalore archdiocese, told UCA News all the commission members were Hindus, and some are reportedly members of Hindu radical groups.
Somashekhar is assisted by six other people, who accompany him at the hearings but have no power to make decisions.
He was not available for comments.
Archbishop Moras said the commission takes a "prejudiced approach" and makes baseless conclusions. It does not crosscheck "the real teaching and practice" of the Catholic Church and creates "misunderstanding and discord between Hindus and Christians." He insisted that the Church does not worship idols.
The prelate also said Christians know their constitutional right to "profess, practice and propagate" a religion of their choice. "The Church will continue to proclaim her faith without hurting the faith or sentiments of the people of other religions."
Source: http://www.ucanews.com
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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The German-born nun, elected on March 24 to lead the congregation, said she felt "unworthy of the office" held by Sister Nirmala Joshi for the past 12 years and by Blessed Teresa earlier.
Interviewed the day after her election, Sister Prema said she felt humbled at taking up leadership of her congregation's mission of serving "the poorest of the poor.""With God's strength, I will do this work and be part of this mission," she said.
The nun was elected at the end of the congregation's general chapter which began on Feb. 1. It earlier elected Sister Nirmala for a third term, but she reportedly withdrew because of ill health. Her third term would have required papal approval also since the congregation's constitution allows only two six-year terms for the position.
The chapter of 163 delegates from across the world then elected Sister Prema, who for the last six years was part of Sister Nirmala's team of councilors. The chapter is a mandatory gathering of nun delegates every six years to discuss the congregation's work and future.
The new leader said that MC members are "entrusted with a grave responsibility to take to Jesus broken humanity."
"The cry of the poor is to be satiated daily as we have to give God's compassion to all people," she said.
The nuns are called to work "for unity at all levels and to make the Church present in our world today, through humble means and works of love," she said.
Sister Prema said she had "a very clear call of Jesus" as a young woman, to work for the poor. Malcolm Muggeridge's 1971 book on Mother Teresa's work, "Something Beautiful for God," made her aware of the Missionaries of Charity.
She met Mother Teresa for the first time in 1980 in Berlin, Germany. When they met again, the young German expressed her desire to join the congregation.
According to a priest closely associated with the congregation, Sister Prema is an able administrator.
Archbishop Lucas Sircar of Calcutta, who presided over the election in a secluded MC house 30 kilometers away from Kolkata, said Sister Prema was elected "on the first ballot with a two-third majority."
Blessed Teresa founded her congregation in 1950 and began her work among the poor in the city, formerly called Calcutta. She died in 1997 and was buried inside the MC motherhouse in Kolakata.
The chapter delegates returned to the motherhouse on March 25 and had a thanksgiving Mass at Blessed Teresa's tomb. Sounds of clapping, joyous singing and congratulations could be heard outside the walls of the convent, which was closed to visitors.
A handwritten notice saying "no visitors" was posted at the entrance. A nun at the door explained that the convent had no space for more visitors as nuns "have come from all over."
Nuns who attended the chapter have begun returning to their missions scattered around the globe.
MYANMAR Church-run center gives 'Hope' to HIV/AIDS patients
MYITKYINA, Myanmar (UCAN) -- For people who fear that infection with HIV means an illness followed by death, the Hope Centre lives up to its name.
The center, which the Columban Sisters run with the help of Myitkyina diocese, helps people recover from illnesses related to AIDS, brought on by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and look to the future. It is located in a suburb of Myitkyina, capital of Kachin state, which borders China in northern Myanmar.
Rosaline, one of 22 people currently staying at the center, tested positive for HIV in June 2007.
The 42-year-old Catholic woman's shock turned to anger and despair after her husband, who she says gave her the virus, abandoned her to it. She found herself alone at home, as her nieces who also lived there went about their work. But even when they were home, they made Rosaline stay in her room if guests came over.
"I feel very angry and sad when thinking about my family," she said tearfully. "One caregiver from the Hope Centre came and visited me. When my health worsened, I was moved to the center last October."
Her fellow residents are Buddhists, Catholics and Protestants, most of them women, from around Kachin state.
Rosaline began antiretroviral treatment (ART) but had a rough start.
"As I was very weak, malnourished and had no resistance, I got a headache and fainted on the spot," she recalled. "I could not even swallow rice, so the nuns fed me rice gruel."
The center provides medical treatment, three nutritious meals a day and seasonal fruit for snacks. Each new patient also receives new materials such as blankets, a pillow and a mosquito net. Besides this, however, the Columban nun, Franciscan nun, two nurses and one social worker on staff help residents develop a positive outlook.
"We counsel them not to become depressed but to live with hope in the future," Lucia Maran Joi Nau, a staff member, explained. "We arrange embroidery and weaving for them as professional skills, and concentrating on this work encourages them."
Some people have recovered well enough under the center's care to return home. Hope Centre helps them with a small start-up capital for home businesses using the skills they have learned.
One of the male patients, Joseph, 32, recounted how he developed a high fever that two or three clinics could not treat successfully. A friend advised him to go to Myitkyina, where he tested positive for HIV and was sent to Hope Centre.
"I have been here about four months and am still taking the ART medicines," he said, describing himself as "like a normal person now."
The Baptist man, who says he does not know if he contracted HIV from a sexual relationship or a used hypodermic needle, expressed gratitude for the nuns and their work through the center, "which has saved my life."
Columban Sister Mary Dillon, with helpers from Myitkyina, carried out home visits and helped arrange blood tests for three years, from 2004, before establishing Hope Centre in 2007 to serve the urgent needs of people living with HIV and AIDS.
It is one of at least eight Catholic Church initiatives to provide care for these people, a ministry for which the Myanmar Church has set up a working team. Such care extends to school fees for patients' children and, when necessary, funeral arrangements. The Church also organizes annual observances of World AIDS Day Dec. 1 and conducts training to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, and the discrimination affected people face.
Joi Nau, 63, said she has been working with Sister Dillon for several years and is very happy to see patients recovering from AIDS-related diseases.
When Hope Centre began, "because of lack experience we were losing some patients," she said. "But now everything is improving, and I believe we'll be able to help more patients and save more lives."
She sees the center as "giving hope to those who have no hope and see no future."
Rosaline has come a way along this road. Now she believes she might recover, and if she does, she wants to volunteer at the center to help others make a similar journey.
INDIA Archbishop questions credibility of commission investigating attacks
MANGALORE, India (UCAN) -- A government commission investigating attacks on Christians in Karnataka last year is taking a "prejudiced approach," says the leader of the Catholic Church in the southern Indian state.
Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore, in a March 21 press release, charged that witnesses testifying on the anti-Christian violence that occurred in September were asked "confusing" questions. The commission, he added, also allowed media persons into its sessions, who drew unverified conclusions from proceedings.
The prelate was responding to news reports that a priest who testified on March 11 had said that the Church promotes "idol worship" to attract Hindu converts. The reports led to a media debate.
The state government headed by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian people's party) set up the commission headed by B.K. Somashekhar, a retired judge of the state High Court, to investigate attacks on 24 churches in September 2008.
Hindu militants were said to have vandalized churches and prayer halls, destroyed bibles, prayer books, crosses and crucifixes, and desecrated the Blessed Sacrament.
Hindu radical groups often accuse Christians of converting Hindus through force and allurement.
The commission began its probe in the second week of January and is expected to submit its report in six months. The sittings were completed in Mangalore and Udupi districts, where most of the attacks took place.
Father Joseph Menezes, pastor of Bangalore's St. James Church, was one of the witnesses, and the priest mentioned in the news reports. He was attacked and some statues in his church destroyed.
Speaking to UCA News on March 24, the priest said he became a "scapegoat" as he was asked to give only "yes or no" answers. "They asked me if the Bible permits idol worship, I said no." The commission asked him if churches have statues and "whether Hindus are attracted to these."
"I said yes," said the priest. "It was their conclusion that the churches keep idols to attract Hindus and convert Hindus."
Father Menezes, 51, said the entire interrogation used the same method. "I was confused and harassed by highly prejudiced and carefully drafted questions," he admitted. Some media persons present there reported it "as they wanted," he added.
Father Adolph Washington, public relations officer of Bangalore archdiocese, told UCA News all the commission members were Hindus, and some are reportedly members of Hindu radical groups.
Somashekhar is assisted by six other people, who accompany him at the hearings but have no power to make decisions.
He was not available for comments.
Archbishop Moras said the commission takes a "prejudiced approach" and makes baseless conclusions. It does not crosscheck "the real teaching and practice" of the Catholic Church and creates "misunderstanding and discord between Hindus and Christians." He insisted that the Church does not worship idols.
The prelate also said Christians know their constitutional right to "profess, practice and propagate" a religion of their choice. "The Church will continue to proclaim her faith without hurting the faith or sentiments of the people of other religions."
Source: http://www.ucanews.com
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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