Dnctimes august

AUGUST 2015AUGUST 201502

all of Pope Francis, 'Wake up the World' ring

bells of alertness for the youth to get out of Ctheir slumber to think, execute, engineer,

expand and uphold dreams of tomorrow ingeniously.

The theme of this issue, Youth: Gala Time and…calls

the youth to reflect upon their lifestyle and inculcate

the missing links. We hear from the time of conception,

'Aaj Ke Baache, Kaal ke Bavishya' but are we

harnessing the right values and

principles they need to

integrate giving them the

responsibility? In response to

this Ms. Renuka Zachariah

pens down few tips to mentors

and teachers in channelizing

t h e e n o r m o u s p o w e r

youngsters have to be formed

as beings for others.

Wake up dear youngsters, wake up to the

reality. In this consumerist and spiced up reality you

will be weathered like seasons to face everything, the

only tool that will assist you is patience and the moral

values that bind you. In my talk to students I noticed

that youngsters are too restless, lacking love and

companionship. They can't express their feelings to the

other, which is a major concern leading them to take

law in hand and misuse life. As they are seeking for

love, they fall prey to the unconscious desire, whims,

unvoiced fantasies of life and anxiety. Therefore I call

the youngsters to 'Wake Up' to the realities around

them. Learn the art to love; just don't learn for learning

but to practice it in words and action. Sr. Lovely Mary

takes it further in her article envisioning the words of

Pope Francis, “Women have much to tell us in today's

society,” she highlights how feministic approach can

help Youngsters build trust and find companions to

share.

The August edition 'Youth: Gala Time and has

a blend of Experts sharing their views, concerns and

expectations on 'Youth life'. Brain Pereira emphasis the

challenges in the youth apostolate and the scope in

reaching worldwide. Konrad Noronha gives a Doctors

eye view of cases raised by youth and Tinu Francis

explicit a case on addiction to show youngsters how to

be present to the happenings in their life and to accept

one's condition to be free. 'Spirituality of the Young'

presents a conflict of religious youth engulfed by fast

life and the Principle and

foundation of Ignatian life

style. In view of youth

employment struggles, Dr.

Vijayananta with facts and

experience elaborates on the

aspect of Migrating youth and

t h e e t h n i c t u r m o i l i n

settlements. The DNC artists

have expressed their views

too.

Dear passionate readers, I draw your attention

to Pope Francis' words to the youth, 'Go and mess,

engage the world,' yes our youth need to move out of

their ghetto mentality and mess the world with their

creative and lively ideas. They need to learn to weep

with others and share the inner conflicts, to grow into

matured beings. 'Wake up, dear youth, Wake up to the

reality', listen to your heart, follow the conscience –

the Voice of God and Thy will, will be done. Hope

you have a youthful reading, enjoy it.

EditorialEditorial

John Fernandes, SJ

oday's adolescents are facing more

competitions and challenges than that of Tthe previous generations. They are

independent, autonomous and opinionated. They

have information available at their finger tips and

possess great potential which needs to be

channelized in the right direction. Thus a teacher

has a noble duty of pruning and preparing them to

live a better human life.

Serving as Biology teacher in a Jesuit

institution for over a decade has given me an

opportunity to journey with the adolescents. Every

teacher working in a Jesuit Institution shoulders a

great responsibility to be committed to carry

forward the rich Jesuit tradition of educating the

mind while not neglecting the heart; imparting

academic skills while not forgetting the dimension

of service especially towards the poor. This calls for

a greater commitment and spirit of generosity. In

this short write up, I would like to enumerate a few

points to equip ourselves to do this important

service a better.

· Teaching from one's very life- “Practice what

you preach”.

Teachers have strong influence on students. An

action speaks louder than words. Thus the

students learn more from what a teacher does

than what he or she teaches. Hence a teacher

must live a life witness to the values and ideals

that he/she wants the students to imbibe and

internalise.

· Encouraging and enabling the students –

Creative Excellence:

Apart from forming the students academically a

teacher must be able to facilitate active learning

through effective participation and motivate

them to think critically and independently. A

positive response from the teacher encourages

students to express, interact and clarify doubts

without feeling embarrassed. Students learn better

in a classroom that provides them ample freedom

and is free from fear. Class room learning must be

student centred and not teacher centred.

· Know thy students – insight into your students:

The Ignatian Pedagogy Paradigm (IPP) places a

great importance in knowing the context of

students. Knowing their background, family

situation, capabilities, passion and dreams and

understanding their feelings, fears, problems,

health issues, learning difficulties will help the

teacher to deal with the students in a better way. It

establishes a right bond with his/her students.

Therefore, a teacher must be equipped with

sufficient knowledge of adolescence psychology,

social and peer pressure to help them make a

smooth transition from childhood to adulthood.

· Firmness with kindness – a fine blend:

A student might forget what you say but never

forgets how you made him/her feel. Harsh words,

derogatory remarks and insults used to discipline a

student can hamper his/her growth. Hence a firm

teacher with an ocean of kindness can form a

student better.

· Holistic development- forming men for

tomorrow:

Student life must not be confined to acquiring

knowledge and preparation for examinations.

Teachers must identify the untapped potential in

each student and provide ample opportunities for

development of body, mind and soul. Hence the

purpose of education must be extended to moral,

physical, emotional, social, psychological and

spiritual dimensions of students.

· Magis- doing more for the Greater Glory of God

Teachers must inspire their students to always strive

for excellence and to move from self centred

Empowering, Enabling and Ennobling the AdolescentA Challenge to Every Mentor and Teacher

Empowering, Enabling and Ennobling the AdolescentA Challenge to Every Mentor and Teacher

Ms. Renuka Zachariah

03

Article

Cont’d on pg.9


ndia has the distinction of not only being a

populous country but it is also comparatively a Iyounger nation. It is widely recognised that the

youth constitute a valuable human capital resource

base for India. Their 'value' can be understood as

embedded in their skill matrix, knowledge levels,

experiences, health and other characteristics.

According to the 2001

Census, 26 per cent of

India ' s youth (72

million) were illiterate.

This indicates that over

one quarter of the

young population did

n o t p o s s e s s t h e

educational capability

to plan their future or

gainfully contribute to

the country's future.

Among the 74 per cent literates, only 22 per cent youth

had completed the secondary level of education or 10

years of schooling. In other words, only one in five

youths in India were able to complete 10 years of

schooling and one in 10 were able to complete 12 years

of schooling; only seven per cent of literate youth

completed graduate education in India. In short, only

15 million out of a total 273 million youth completed

graduate education in India. These alarming statistics

point to the critical shortage of educational

qualifications among Indian youth. It is an indicator of

underlying inequality in our country.

The ILO report on Global Employment Trends

for Youth states: “Today's youth represent a group with

serious vulnerabilities in the world of work. In recent

years with a down turn in the global employment

growth and increasing unemployment and

underemployment, disillusionment has hit young

people hardest. As a result today's youth are faced with

a growing deficit of decent work opportunities and high

levels of economic and social uncertainty.”(ILO, 2005)

Youth and migration

The youth today seem to be in a perennial search

of a livelihood option which will ensure some economic

stability in life. Migration seems to be the hallmark of

the survival strategies employed by the youth. As per

the statistics one in three Indian youths is an internal

migrant and lives in a place that is not his/her last place

of residence.

T h e 2 0 0 1 C e n s u s

enumerated 315 million

internal migrants based on

the criterion of place of

last residence. In absolute

numbers, 92 million youth

w e r e m i g r a n t s ,

representing 34 per cent of

the youth population. The

migration of youth is not

just internal. Youth also migrate to other nations. In

2010, there were 27 million international migrants aged

15 to 24 in the world, accounting for 12.4 per cent of the

214 million international migrants worldwide, and

when migrants between the ages of 25 and 34 are added,

young migrants represent over 30 per cent of the total

number of international migrants.

The challenges youth face in migration

Internal or international migration can have a

positive impact on young people by opening up new

opportunities, a path to participate in higher education,

a better and decent job, a chance to gain professional

experience or to pursue personal development. This

may happen by building self-confidence and allowing

them to acquire skills and competencies beneficial to

themselves and their countries and communities of

origin as well as destination. Through international

migration, young people are able to build and expand

their professional networks, which in many cases is

important in facilitating employment and access to

opportunities.

Dr Vaijayanta Anand

Youth and MigrationYouth and Migration

04

Cont’d on next pg


Article

However, for many young people, especially young

women, the migration process confronts them with

many challenges and enhances their vulnerabilities.

These vulnerabilities include discrimination based on

gender, migration status, ethnicity or religion; lack of

education and any formal skills pushes them into the

informal sector. They get absorbed into a vortex of

circumstances which includes poor working

conditions, lack of access to basic social services such

as health, risks associated with sexual and

reproductive health and lack of social protection or

loss of social protection entirely. Therefore, the

migration experience can end up representing either an

opportunity or a risk for young people and can either

lead to their development or the very opposite.

There are various components and motivations

for youth migration; decent employment being the

main one. This has become all the more evident in the

wake of the global economic crisis. Currently, some

73.8 million young people globally are unemployed.

Consequently, millions of young women and men are

pushed towards the decision to migrate, with the

purpose of seeking alternatives to improve their job

prospects.

Educational Status of Youth

However, the scope to improve their prospects

of getting a job and subsequently their life situation

depends a lot on the education qualification and skill

training of the youth. It is significant to look at some

statistical data related to this. In 2005, a task force on

skill formation in the organised sector was constituted.

The study report prepared by them indicated that

It can be clearly seen that mere migration is not

enough to change the life circumstances. Access to

opportunities to improve educational qualification and

acquire skills is very important. Youth equipped with

education and skills have better chances in the job

market and may escape the vulnerability embedded in

the informal sector.

The government agencies and the NGO's can

play a very important role in this aspect. Youth

migration is inevitable in this globalised world but the

vulnerability can be minimised by provision of good

educational courses and skill training opportunities.

of the

15 to 29 years age-group that comprised 27 per cent of

the total population ( as on 1st January, 2005) only 11.5

per cent had received (or were receiving) any training,

whether formal or informal.. A significantly lower

proportion of women have received any kind of

training, formal or informal. The largest share of youth

with formal skills was in Kerala (15.5 per cent),

followed by Maharashtra (8.3 per cent), Tamil Nadu

(7.6 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (5.60 per cent) and

Gujarat (4.7 per cent). Among those undergoing

training, Maharashtra had the highest share. The lowest

incidence of formal training was in Bihar. The southern

and western states, a continuous zone, had a relatively

high share of population with formal skills. Together

these six states, accounted for 63 per cent of all formally

trained people. Overall, only 2.5 per cent of the labour

force had any formal training. Of the unemployed, the

NSSO Survey on Employment and Unemployment

(1999-2000) found that only 16.4 percent of the male

unemployed workers and 18.8 per cent of female

unemployed workers possessed specific marketable

skills. In urban areas alone, while the proportion of

unemployed men remained the same, there was a much

larger proportion of women unemployed with no skills,

viz. 32 per cent.

Conclusion

05 AUGUST 2015AUGUST 2015

Article

Youth and MigrationYouth and Migration

he children now love luxury. They have bad

manners, contempt for authority; they show Tdisrespect for elders and love chatter in place

of exercise.” - Socrates.

Youth is a word, which is used, abused,

misused and overused in the lanes of history. The

constant complaint about youth is that they are crazy

and always think out of the box. The pesky paradox of

our time, which is usually attributed to youth, is really

nauseating. The litany of complaints reads that they

spend more, but have less; buy more, but enjoy less.

They have more degrees but less sense. They drink too

much, smoke too much, spend

too recklessly, laugh too little,

drive too fast, get too angry, stay

up too late, get up too tired, read

too little, watch TV too much,

and pray too seldom. They have

multiplied their incomes, but

have reduced their values. They

have learned to rush, but never

learned to live their life as a gift.

This problem is not new to this era; it has been a

problem right through history. The tautological truth is

that the present day elders were youth once. In their

heydays, they too had distanced themselves from their

elders. In reality, nothing has really changed - we are

simply revolving in a vicious circle.

But today, in the post-postmodern society, not

only the present youth but also the former youth (the

elders too) have imbibed a refracted cum deviant

behaviour. Their cognitive and meaning making

structures don't seem to be pro-human. Their systems

are affected by certain viruses called: globalization,

consumerism, pragmatism and individualism. The

entire credit to this cultural and ethical catastrophe

goes to the aftermath of postmodernism. With the

invasion of post-modern thinking into the minds and

hearts of the youth, the very understanding of life itself

has taken a deviation. The definition of postmodernism

is to have no definition. They follow only two rules.

Rule 1: Follow no rules. Rule 2: Follow the first rule.

Particular interests interest more than those of the

common one.

The Characteristics of Postmodernism are

pretty good: (i) There is no absolute truth, (ii) Truth and

error are synonymous (iii) Traditional authority is false

and corrupt (iv) Collective ownership would most

fairly administrate goods and services (v) Morality is

personal and ethics is relative (vi) Globalization vs

Nationalism (the latter causes wars).

A consequence of this

post-postmodern thought

hurricane is nothing but

f reelance th inking. This

freelance thinking and living is

cancerous to any civilized

society because without role

models and leaders there will be

a loss of synergy and resources

and time will be wasted in

unhealthy activities. With the intrusion of media into

our private life and culture, the spectrum of our thinking

patterns has got deviated from the alignment of our

ancestral wisdom.

Of course, the blame game never brings a

positive change in history, because when time changes,

the thinking patterns also change. One is bound to think

or act according to what s/he is exposed to. What we

need today is a collective, synergical and revolutionary

teamwork.

“The ignited mind of the youth is the most

powerful resource on the earth, above the earth and

under the earth. I am convinced that youth power, if

properly directed and controlled, could bring about

transformational changes in humanity for its progress,

meet its challenges and bring peace and prosperity.” -

Dr. Abdul Kalam.

A Post Mortem Report on the Post-postmodern Youth

A Post Mortem Report on the Post-postmodern Youth


ArticleClement Jesudoss, SJ

outh Ministry is very important in the life of

the Church. In our fast changing, Ytechnological and socio-political context,

our work with the youth can and will bear lasting fruit.

“In the digital age, Youth Ministry is bringing the Good

News to young people by the art of living well…,”

opines Bp Frank J. This can be well brought out by the

spiritual witness and service to the youth by a woman.

As Pope Francis rightly puts it, “Women have a special

role in opening doors to the Lord, in following him and

communicating His face because the eyes of faith

always need the simple but profound look of love”.

The road of a

female animator in youth

ministry is paved with

o p p o r t u n i t i e s ,

responsibilit ies, and

challenges. In order to be

with the youth, first and

foremost we need to

understand that both

young men and women are created by God in His

image and likeness with an inherent value. They have

their own qualities, characteristics, interests, and gifts

that make up their personalities. Hence, a woman in

ministry is not for the cause of women but it should be

for the cause of Christ. It is not about being a feminist;

it's about sharing hope. God calls people who are

willing to dream His dreams and who are available for

His ministry. Only trust in Him is required.

Down through the centuries the presence of

women in the Church hasn't been emphasized much.

However, they continue to be the major arm of the

Church, be it in education, hospitals, orphanages etc.,

because they walk in the confidence of God. He is the

one who continues to shape and mould them to be more

like Him. Therefore, women are and should be the

catalysts for supporting, challenging and transforming

the youth.

Some of the unique qualities of a woman are

being compass ionate , car ing , loving and

understanding. Youth need a friend who understands

them; this friend should be able to guide them in their

wanderings. Women with their natural qualities can

truly be friends for our youth. To make the youth more

active and build their confidence, a female could plan

out different programmes like conducting prayer

services with the youth to strengthen their faith, taking

them for an outing,

o r g a n i z i n g c a r e e r

guidance programmes and

sports days, motivating

them to help the poor by

sharing their resources,

organizing choir groups in

the church, preaching the

word of God in the parish

etc.

Today's youth are full of possibilities, desires,

fears, but there is lack of motivation. They are also

demanding, criticizing, and pleading in their own way.

They, who are infinitely alone, are in need, terrified and

yet persistently trusting. They are alert – they wait to see

if someone can offer them something different or

whether someone will just close yet another door in

their face. It is here in the midst of these challenges that

a woman can be a good instrument between Christ and

the youth.

Therefore, youth ministry provides a unique

opportunity for women to bring out their Feminine

Genius to lead the Church into unchartered territories

by bringing a feminine perspective to spirituality and

faith. Thus, a woman can pave new ways for a vibrant

Church of the Youth for Christ.

07

Feminine Touch to the Youth MinistryFeminine Touch to the Youth Ministry

Sr. Lovely Kharnaior


Article

he youth are the pulse of a nation. They

represent the hope and the future of a nation. TEvery nation dreams of bringing about a

change in the country. This change can happen, only

when the youth are determined to plunge into building

up a new home, where poverty and other inhuman

activities can never trespass. The recent survey shows

that I

We have youth who come from diverse

cultural backgrounds. Our nation can theoretically say

that we have got powerful weapons with us to battle

modern viruses. But what

is the reality today? The

lives of our young and

energetic Indians have

become a paradoxical

question mark now. Are

they able to respect the

dignity of the other? Are

they capable of bringing

about a change in the

nation?

Currently, the youth are engrossed and

immersed in a highly techno-savvy culture, which has

swept their time and energy completely. These days,

technology has become the yardstick and the frame of

reference for them. Every minute, sees a new

development in the field of technology. We are

supposed to be the masters of technology, but in reality

it is technology that has mastery over us. Today,

communication has become not only wireless but also

humanless. We are beginning to live in a materialistic

world where the attitude of 'I, me, and myself'

dominates. We are ignorant of the real situation in the

world. Where is the human culture today?

Gone are those days, when the youth slogged

for the welfare of the nation. Earlier, the youth shed

their blood to bring freedom to our country but now

ndia has more than 65% of its population below

the age of 35.

they are enslaved by technology. Of course, technology

is a must for the youth of today and no doubt that it has

been the cause of remarkable progress in our country.

But it has replaced our hearts with its metallic parts,

making us all think and behave like machines. Our

streets are a living paradox – the poor, the dying and the

destitute occupy one side and the rich, sophisticated

ones with the latest gizmos occupy the other side. Can

we be at peace when one part of our body is wounded

and bleeding?

Mother Teresa, the saint of the gutters once said,

“The hands that help are

holier than the lips that

pray.” It is great to be great

but it is greater to be human.

We, the youth need to strive

to become better human

beings every day. We have to

involve ourselves in the

socio-cultural realities of

our day and work together

towards the betterment of

tomorrow's humanity. In 2013, while celebrating the

World Youth Day Pope Francis said, “We need saints

who have a commitment for helping the poor and to

make the needed social change.” We can bring down

poverty in our country; we can improve the standard of

living for all. Humanity is not what we feel for but what

we make of it. If one is determined to change one's

nation into a home of love and peace, then one should

wake up and march ahead to face the challenges that lie

ahead.

Let us be reminded of what Nelson Mandela

had said, “This generation of youth stands at the border

line between the past of oppression and repression and

the future of prosperity, peace and harmony.” Are we

ready to take that leap into the future that awaits us?

08

Youth living in our Consumerist CultureYouth living in our Consumerist Culture

Oscar Daniel SJ


Article

e was there before my office. His eyes were

downcast, and his legs were shaking Hnervously. He was shabbily dressed and

looking at him I thought that it's not

going to be a usual, casual chat. He

greeted me avoiding any eye

contact. I invited him into my office

and asked him to take a seat. I

observed the tension and the

perspiration on his face and so I

allowed him to settle down but he

blurted out, “I can't spend a day

without smoking. Yesterday, my

father caught me stealing money from his pocket but I

couldn't tell him the truth. I am ashamed to face my

father now. I have tried to quit smoking but can't. I am a

disgrace to my family.” I was having this conversation

with Ajmel Mohamed, a fifteen year old bright student

preparing for his public exams. It had all started during

a combined study session in his friend's house where

he had to prove his 'machoness'. It had seemed fun and

he thought that it eased his tensions but now he couldn't

live without it. He who once was a bright student - one

who had made his family proud is now a disgrace to the

family because of his habit of smoking.

What is addiction? It is a condition wherein a

person consumes any substance or engages in an

activity that seems pleasurable but that same substance

or activity eventually leads to a compulsive

attachment, interfering with one's ordinary life, work

and relationship. Gambling, watching pornography,

shopping, alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, and other

recreational drugs can easily become addictions.

Getting addicted is a gradual process. Slowly and

steadily it affects the individual's routine and makes

the person feel restless without it. A well

organizedstudy has proved that those who try to quit an

addiction often undergo a severe relapse. As far as my

knowledge goes, smoking is more dangerous than

alcohol because people get more easily addicted to

tobacco than alcohol. The content of nicotine acts on

one's neurotransmitters and affects our mood.

Therefore, when one is tensed one is more likely to get

addicted to smoking to control one's

mood swings.

Though it is difficult to quit

smoking it is not impossible to

overcome it. Here are some tips to

beat addiction.1) Accept that you are

addicted. It will help you to discover

the harm you have done to yourself as

well as others. 2) Share your affects

with someone you trust because it will boost your will

power to quit. 3) Prepare a practical preventive plan to

overcome it. Keep yourself occupied with work or

hobbies. 4) Be accountable – once in a week check the

progress you have made, encourage, reward, or punish

yourself. Be firm and strict with yourself. 5) Spend time

in meditation, yoga or in prayer. These are a few steps

which can help one to overcome addiction.

09

Addiction, its Effects and the Key to Overcome itAddiction, its Effects and the Key to Overcome it

Tinu F Pondicherry, SJ

thoughts to other centred and also instil in them a

deep desire to do more for the good of the society.

Adolescents are like hidden treasures and we

mentors have the responsibility to unearth their

preciousness. In today's world, when teachers are

bogged down by the pressure of completing the

syllabus, and producing better exam results, I wish

there is something more while not neglecting the

former. I wish classrooms were not restricted to mere

learning the subjects, but are temples of learning life. I

wish many faces which are lost and go unnoticed in the

crowded classrooms are lit up with ennobling

encouragement. I wish every adolescent bestowed to

our care is transformed into the mind and heart of

Ignatius – a man or woman for others....

Cont’d from pg.3

Empowering, Enabling...Empowering, Enabling...


Article

There is a great potential in youth.

It is like nuclear power. Nuclear power

can do great good when used in the right

way. It can produce electric power and

dispel the darkness but in wrong hands, it

can be used to take life, often thousands of lives.

Similary, things can happen in the life of youth. It all

deppends how the youth power is being used. When a

large part of the youth power is used for good, youth

life is in the light. If a large part is used in unproductive

activity then youth life is in shadow and it makes the

future of the youth gloomy.

Lazarus Basumatary, SJ

Based on my experience, youth

are of two kinds. The first ones are those

who keep on moving towards their goals

realizing their own potentials. They have

clear goals to focus on. Even though they

face failure, they never get defeated. They are always

receptive and establish relationships of authenticity

with others. Their compassionate and committed life

makes the world a better place. On the other hand,

there are some with a carefree attitude, who live

luxurious life, and waste away their lives. It is not

entirely their fault because they lack role models at this

particular stage of life. There was a time when drugs

were the greatest challenge before the youth. Today's

youth are intoxicated with new electronic gadgets.

When one comes out of it, half the battle is won.

Manoj Lakra, SJ

Youth are the symbols of energy

and fullness of life. They are creative and

always ready to take up any challenge.

The only thing they need is freedom with

responsibility. Then they can indeed do

wonders in the world!!! Society is the platform where

they can express themselves. We can say that youth are

like newly planted small plants. Whichever direction

you want them to grow, they will grow but they need

someone to guide, nurture and direct them. The real

responsibility for the growth of youth falls on their

families, elders of the society and religious leaders. Let

us join our hands together, not to overshadow, but to

accompany our youth to use their freedom with

responsibility.

Roby Alphonso, SJ

F o r m e r P r i m e M i n i s t e r

Manmohan Singh said “I have no doubt,

that if we are able to channelize the

immense energy of our youth in a positive

direction, we can successfully address

even the most complex challenges facing our country

today.” I feel that the dreams of this generation are

based on self-interest and personal motivations, as is

seen in the quest for jobs abroad, hero worship and the

obsession with many things. As a youngster, my first

motivation should be that of dreaming the dream that

lifts up my nation than my own personal motivation.

When this motivation gets deeply rooted in every young

heart, our nation indeed will march ahead into a great

future.

G. Sravan Kumar, SJ

I see the youth as potential pillars

– they provide a strong base to take our

country forward in the light of truth,

humble service and honest living. Today,

the youth are faced with challenges of

being competitive and committed; they have

capabilities of doing creative work and becoming true

to oneself. Frustration, the inability of dreaming big and

high, the inability to withstand reality and fight for their

own rights, the inability of becoming role models for

others are some of the shadows of youth.

Nirmal Kullu, SJ

As a Youngster, how do you See the Lights and Shadows of Youth?

As a Youngster, how do you See the Lights and Shadows of Youth?


Opinion Poll

ithin seven years, the average age of an

individual in India will be 29 years, Wwhich makes us the youngest country in

the world. India has got dynamism, creativity and

young minds who can achieve great things. We are

moving ahead with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm. This

young India does have lots of problems attached to it.

We have manpower, but there is a scarcity of

opportunities to exercise the capacity that we possess.

What is a way out of this mess?

We have an unemployment

problem. We are not able to

provide equal opportunities.

Inequality and discrimination are

prevalent and we also face the

problem of rampant corruption.

We don't have role models. The

politicians, who are supposed to be

role models, are not models of virtue any more. The

film actors we idolize portray an imaginary world. We

have a few individuals who fight for justice but they

are not noticed very often. We need inspiring leaders

who are worthy to be imitated.

We are a mimetic society. Therefore, we have

ended up imitating our colonizers. We want to become

rich like them. We go out of our country in search of

wealth. In the process, we end up losing our originality.

With the aim of westernizing our youth and society we

have adopted westernized education, life style and

culture.

Today, we have a BJP government which has

slogans such as, “MAKE IN INDIA.” But the same

government goes out and sells our country to the

multinational companies. Our local indigenous

industry and markets are dying out. We are privatizing

everything. What is left if the government privatizes

everything?

What about the poor children and the youth in

our country who don't have an opportunity to grow? We

need to develop our indigenous industries. We have to

boost our agricultural economy. We are tempted to use

ready-made goods available in our markets that make

us forsake our various indigenous industries.

The youth face a lot of dichotomies in their life.

Youth have a zealous desire to achieve something in life

but that same desire can make them individualistic and

selfish. Having the support of a peer group is good in

order to achieve goals, but the

same peer group members can

foster bad habits in us. Youth

make friends easily but the

same group of friends can

make them distant from their

parents.

We need to create new

opportunities. We need to

grow – we cannot be satisfied with the status quo. We

need to be honest. Above all we need models of

inspiration who should be persons of high moral

standards. We have to grow morally first, and then

success will come automatically.

Youth and their ProblemsYouth and their Problems

Jenith Xavier D, SJ

11

For a lot More


Article

Video Talk on

Photos

Church and Youth by Fr Joyce

Ignatius Feast-2015

www.dnctimes.com

he young lad, Stephen liked to go for

exhibitions and parties. He always wanted to Tmake new friends. Stephen was the life of all

parties and he was able to make a difference by his

mere presence. He liked to meet different people, greet

them with his smile, have fun and cheer up and play

with children. Rakesh, a middle aged gentleman had

observed Stephen on several social occasions and saw

the joy that radiated from his face. He wanted to meet

Stephen and get to know the secret of his happiness.

Many people came to meet Stephen and so he could not

meet the young man.

At a party, as Stephen

was enjoying himself, he saw

a beautiful girl. There was a

small thought at the corner of

his mind; he imagined that

she was his soul mate. But a

thought suddenly came to

him, “Nothing is permanent,

b e c a u s e y o u a r e n o t

permanent. One should not possess what is

temporary.” Before he could say hello to her, she gave

him a beautiful smile. He was astounded because she

was the first one to give him such a smile. Soon they

began to introduce themselves to each other and

exchange pleasantries. Gradually their conversation

went deep and long.

She said to him, “What is the secret of your

happiness?” He said, “Because I am going to die.” She

told him “Don't be so silly!” Stephen told her, “Shirley

I have cancer. My time has come to leave this world”.

She added, “No Stephen! Let it not be done to you. I am

here for you. I will save you my dear. He laughed but

her words pierced his heart. She asked him the reason

for his laughter. He said, “Our friendship is not even a

day old.” She said smilingly, “Friendship is not time

bound my dear”. Before they could talk further,

Shirley's father beckoned her and she left abruptly.

Rakesh, who was at the party thought that it was

the right moment to meet Stephen. So he came near and

said, “O young man! You are so cheerful and energetic.

Could you tell me the secret of your happiness? Stephen

said “The shorter you live the happier you are.” “What

do you mean?” Rakesh asked and Stephen immediately

replied, “I am suffering from cancer and am going to die

soon. I have only a few days to live.” Rakesh asked him

not to be ridiculous and said “I am sure life has much to

offer you.” Stephen replied, “Yes Uncle, life has taught

me many lessons and I cherish my life. However, the

time has come for me to leave.” Stephen and Rakesh

continued their conversation and

they shared their experiences,

ideas etc.

A few days later, death

visited Stephen. He sensed that

something was going to happen to

him. His mind went blank but he

was soon clam. He thanked God

for the graces he had received. He

embraced death happily.

After a week, Shirley met Rakesh at an

exhibition. He asked her about Stephen. She told him

about Stephen's death. Rakesh felt very sad. He recalled

the beautiful moments spent with Stephen. Nothing is

permanent in this world, everything is changing. Today,

we are here and tomorrow some others will be here.

The Time Has Come For Me The Time Has Come For Me

Sagar Babu, SJ


Short Story

eing bad to good people is devilish, being

good to good people is natural but Baccommodating both is a quality of true

leadership. A leader is someone who encourages

people to work for the betterment of the society at

large. Only through self-determination and dedication

can the youth eventually achieve leadership in their

respective communities. They need broader

involvement and horizon. A leader should help to

promote what a country has

and leave an impact on

one's society. In this present

era, it is really painful and

sad to see true leaders being

victimized and harassed. It

is a sad fact that those

holding positions are

insincere, dishonest and

don't even possess a sense

of commitment. In the

present scenario there are no platforms for the poor

people to be leaders. There are many who are pushed

out and thrown out just because they have followed

their conscience. The best way to become an effective

leader is to struggle through difficulties so as to

achieve one's goal.

There are basically five qualities that a leader

should possess:-

1) The tenacity to pursue one's passion:-Be

passionate about the work you do. Great people

mobilize others with their authentic energy. As young

Church leaders we need to have an authentic energy

which will help us to lead people for the greater good

of society.

2) The ability to listen and observe:-Today's

leader needs to be a champion in listening and observing. He should understand the strengths,

weaknesses of his people and motivate them. Today,

many of us fail to listen to the suffering around us

Youngsters need to be heard; they need someone to

show them the way.

3) The ability to empathize: - Youngsters often

think that nobody understands them. There is no greater

strength than the expression of empathy which is an

opportunity to exhibit understanding. A moment of

kindness allows confidence to be built.

4) A sense of one's personal identity: - Your role

should not define you.

There should be a

willingness to sacrifice

time and energy for

others without anyone

noticing it. A leader must

possess the qualities of

servanthood and the

ability to make others

f e e l c o m f o r t a b l e .

Everyone needs to be

known, greeted and cared for. Let the leader be the first

one to over-throw the hierarchical system of

governance and set an example before youngsters and

spread the message that all the roles in society are

equally important.

5) Self-awareness: - Self-awareness is a crucial

element in one's leadership journey. We can test our

level of self-awareness with those whom we love and

like. We should have the ability to laugh at our mistakes

and the guts to try new things.

To me leadership is a quality that allows the

person to lead a group of people without being affected

by criticism. Leaders are the ones who use their skills to

make a difference in this world. Often the creativity

exhibited by youngsters is mistaken to be rebellion.

But young leaders are creative and they can

courageously take bold steps. Leadership and learning

are indispensable to each other and every opportunity

presents one with many new life lessons. Let's learn

from the teachings of life.

13

Ashish Kujur, SJ

Youth Leadership: Live To LearnYouth Leadership: Live To Learn


Article

have a cousin who works in the automobile

industry. He often gets to ride the latest models of Iluxurious foreign cars. He often tells me that the

biggest dream of his life is acquire one such costly car.

He believes that this would make him really happy! I

see the deliverymen of Flipkart and other online

shopping services at the

door of DNC, quite often.

Our talks often revolve

around online shopping,

latest gadgets, offers and

discounts on such gadgets.

We are living in a world of

consumerism. We are

tending towards becoming

compulsive shopaholics.

Thorstein Veblen referred to

such a society as a society

plagued by “conspicuous

consumption”. Young people today are becoming

more and more susceptible to this culture. They are

going through certain existential tensions as to what

their true identity is, amidst this whirlwind of

consumption which promises true happiness.

How can Jesuit spirituality help us respond to

such a culture? The core of Ignatius' spirituality is

transformation of human attitudes towards God,

human beings and nature; it helps us to become

discerning persons. Discernment is making deliberate

choices with freedom of heart. This helps one to lead a

life that is expected of a committed responsible human

person today.

The Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual

Exercises of Ignatius tells us, “man is created to praise,

reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means

to save his soul. Other things on the face of the earth are

created for human beings so that they may help

him/her in reaching the end for which he/she is created.

Thus, one should use them as much as they can help

one to reach one's end and we ought to rid ourselves of

them so far as they hinder us from reaching our end (Sp.

Ex 23). This forms the preface as well as the synthesis

of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.

The Principle and Foundation helps us to realize

that we are created beings. We are limited and our days

are counted here. We are not here forever. But today's

media propagates the belief

of eternity. You are here and

to be happy here, you need

to accumulate as much as

possible. In order to live

happi ly you need to

consume more. 'Have more'

is the mantra of the day.

Today 's cul ture

makes us believe that our

identity comes from what

we have, what we do and

what other people say about us. Ignatian spirituality

teaches that the fundamental goal of our lives is to

praise reverence and serve God. Praise means to have

the right understanding of oneself and accepting

oneself as a child of God. Our true identity is that we are

the 'beloved' of God. Reverence means to admire God's

creation. Genesis tells us that God appoints us as

caretakers of this nature. We are responsible for its

protection. Serving God means serving one's fellow

human beings

All other things on earth are there as means to

reach God. Material prosperity is not bad in itself. But it

should lead one to God. All goods should become

means to reach God. But what happens in today's

context? Many young people are simply sucked into to

the vicious circle of materialism which makes one think

that having is more important than being. Ignatian

spirituality challenges this particular philosophical

view. It calls us for a deeper understanding of our own

selves through prayer, meditation, contemplation, the

daily Examen and discernment. It is an antidote to the

present existential crisis and meaninglessness.

Spirituality for the YoungSpirituality for the Young

Bala Kiran, SJ

14

Ignatian Spirituality


1. I feel very nervous when I am in the

examination hall. I forget whatever I have

studied. I work hard but I am not able to get

good marks in the exam. I feel very much

humiliated to face my parents when the results

are out. (X, Calicut)

Anticipatory anxiety occurs before stressful

situations. In your case it is exams. Learn some de-

stressing techniques like breathing exercises, which

will help you relax before exams, and you will be fine.

2. My brother always irritates me. He will

make some sort of reason to fight with me. I am

finding it very difficult even to talk to him in a

loving manner (Y, Ernakulam)

Fighting among siblings happens for various

reasons. It should not be harmful to familial unity. If

his fighting is affecting you, you need to tell him that

he hurts you, or let your parents intervene; to maintain

the family atmosphere of love.

3. How can I quit smoking? (A, Calicut)

Quitting an addiction requires a positive

attitude. With the right mindset you can stop. You

might have some withdrawal symptoms, but once you

become aware of what they are, and face them; they

will pass. If your addiction is bad, substituting the

cigarette with something like chewing gum initially,

and later stopping that too would help wean you away

from the habit.

4. Last year there was a girl in my class whom I

loved and still love. When I went and proposed to

her she said 'No' and that we were just friends,

but later I saw her with other boy so I got jealous

and stopped taking to her thinking she will come

back to me. It has been a year now and I can't

forget her. It is affecting my studies and has

made me aggressive too. What must I do?

(B, Goa)

Falling in love has been a painful experience

for you. Knowing that she has moved on, seems to have

affected you vis a vis, lack of concentration in studies,

aggressive behavior, envy and jealousy. All these are

reactions to your inability to be the only one for her.

Since there is nothing that you can do to get her back, as

she has said 'no, ' what you could do is learn how to curb

your aggression with help from a good counselor. It

would be a starting point for you to get back to studies,

and move on in life.

5. My best friend is very beautiful and all the

boys of the class are after her. Nowadays even my

boyfriend seems to like her and inquires about

her when she is absent. I'm getting jealous about

this and feeling very insecure about this. What

must I do? (C, Goa)

The best thing to do is to check with your

boyfriend about the extent of his interest and intentions

about your best friend. You can check whether he is

committed to you or not, which would help with your

insecurity and jealousy. It will also help you decide

whether to continue or not continue your friendship

with both.

6. I had a best friend from school; he never

spoke to any girls in school but was very close to

me. Everyone in school began spreading rumors

that we were in relationship. We never cared

about it until one day a friend of mine came and

asked me if I was relationship with him, in anger I

said yes. He went and told him and from that day

on he stopped talking to me. I tried to talk to him

but he does not listen. What must I do?

(D, Haryana)

It appears that your relationship with your best

friend is strained and you want to repair it. Keep trying

to talk to him, keep yourself open to him, and try to

explain why you said that you were in a relationship

with him. You will have to give him time to get over his

embarrassment or anger and then broach the subject

again. It is always better to explain in person.

The Expert SpeaksAnswering the Doubts of Youth

The Expert SpeaksAnswering the Doubts of Youth

Fr. Konrad Noronha S.J


thn 19 June this year I received a phone call

from an unknown number. During the Oconversation I realized it was Vipul (name

Changed), a prisoner from the Central Jail in Nadiad,

Gujarat. As part of my weekend ministry I used to

spend two hours, every Sunday in the prison. He was

incarcerated for committing murder. He said, “Sir, I

have come out of Prison

on bail and you are the

first one I wanted to

phone.” The next day, I

received another phone

call from Mr. Sultan

(name Changed). He too,

was also accused of being

a murderer. He told me

that he was happy to meet

his family and children. In the eyes of the law and

society they are murderers or dangerous people. But

Prison Ministry India, has taught me to accept them as

repented or reformed individuals who want to live a

better life and be accepted in society.

In the beginning, I was doubtful of the usefulness

of the ministry. The police officials and the prisoners

had their own doubts; they were quite suspicious too. I

got the permission to enter the prison in the name of

teaching English. The officials tried to discourage me

by questioning the need of it. They wanted them and

their children to be taught, even with payments. They

could hardly understand that I was not there to sell my

knowledge and skills but to share Love and the

message of respecting life. Even the prisoners had a lot

of questions. I knew that no answer could satisfy them

except telling them about my motivation, “I was naked

and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you visited

me, I was in prison and you visited me.” (Mt: 25: 36). I

told them that I am not alone and there is a group of

people interested in them, ready to support and accept

them. We love them no matter who they are, no matter

16

Prison MinistryMaking the Invisible God Visible

Prison MinistryMaking the Invisible God Visible

Dominic Savio

what they have done, no matter what religion they

belong to. We believe that there is hope and a possibility

of them becoming better.

This has changed their attitude. They started

sharing their sorrows and struggles. Now I am more

than an English teacher, a friend and a companion, not

only to certain individuals, but to their whole families.

When any new comer

comes to the prison they

would introduce them to

me and we discussed how

senseless and un-reflected

mistakes have led them

there - how a few minutes

of reflection before the act

could have prevented

them from committing the

crime. At times, they broke down as they thought of

their families, children and their lost status in the

society. I gave them an assurance that they will still be thloved. I think the phone call that I received on 19 and

th20 of June this year was the effect of this promise. Mr.

Vipul is an unskilled daily labourer, who is now ready to

give his Higher Secondary Exam with the

determination to do something beautiful with his life.

Prison Ministry is a special call from our Master. It

is an opportunity to love the hated, to lift the

downtrodden, to be the voice of the voiceless and above

all to be the source of life for the lifeless. I do believe,

this prison ministry, is a wonderful way to make the

invisible God visible to those who are made to feel that

even God has abandoned them!


Experience

1. Can you share with us your vocation story?

My vocation story does not have a burning bush or

a light from heaven flashing around me or a cannon

ball shattering my knee. It has a simple story line – God

planted the seed of my vocation, my

parents and well wishers watered it

and a “YES” from me led to the

sprouting of the seed. The story didn't

end with the sprouting of the seed. The

narrative still continues as I am

constantly challenged to return to the

first generosity, to that first “YES.”

2. Can you recall and share an

unforgettable event or

experience that has affected

and shaped your life deeply?

Fourteen years ago, I was standing by my Mom's

bedside, when the doctors broke the news that she had

cancer. The manner in which she accepted the news

has affected me deeply and shaped my life. Her first

reaction after hearing that tragic news was “a gentle

and a silent prayer.” She breathed her last a few months

ago. But her story of courage, endurance and surrender

reminds me of one of the famous quotes of Viktor

Frankl: “Everything can be taken from a man but one

thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one's

attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose

one's own way….. the way in which a man accepts his

fate and all the suffering it entails, the way in which he

takes up his cross, gives him ample opportunity – even

under the most difficult circumstances – to add a

deeper meaning to his life.” (Ref: “Man's Search for

Meaning”)

3. What was your vision as Young man joining

religious life and what is it today?

My vision as a young man joining religious life and

now remains the same: To find happiness and

fulfillment through loving service.

4. Who is the saint you admire the most and

why?

Among the galaxy of saints, those who have gone

through a “conversion experience” in life are the ones I

admire the most. Their stories fill me

(us) with hope that God is always

gracious to us and allows us to make a

U-turn in life so that even a sinner is

given an opportunity to become a

saint!

Among the living saints, I admire

Fr. Maxim Rasquinha SJ (a Jesuit of

Karnataka Province) the most. The

“Mission Manifesto of Jesus” (Lk 4:

16-20) comes alive to me when I see

his life and mission.

5. What is your opinion about the church

today?

So far, you were very considerate towards me. Why

this tricky question suddenly…hahaha!

First of all, I feel happy that our church is blessed

with a wonderful Pope who is leading us by example.

His life challenges us to become “shepherds with the

smell of sheep” or “travelling companions of people –

especially the youth.”

In my opinion, the church should read the signs of

the times; be collaborative and inclusive in its approach

and bring in little more of the “Easter dimension” in its

worship and celebrations.

6. Can you share with us some of the challenges

and opportunities you foresee, in the Jesuit

Youth Ministry in South Asia?

We are having a “Youth Quake” in South Asia.

Out of 1.2 Billion youth in the world, almost 32.6 crore

are in South Asia (that is 27% of world youth

population). This massive youth population offers us

17

Interview with Fr Brian PerieraInterview with Fr Brian Periera


Interview

plenty of challenges and opportunities to serve. Sadly,

80% of the South Asian youth are in the unorganized

sector. These youth are deprived of basic opportunities

in life and are exploited by politicians, drug merchants,

underworld dons, the sex industry, religious fanatics,

feudal and upper caste groups and others. The biggest

challenge for the Jesuit Youth Ministry in South Asia is

to accompany the unorganized youth.

The second biggest challenge is to foster social

consciousness among the organized youth so that they

are motivated to reach out to their counterparts in the

unorganized sector. The third biggest challenge is to

convince the Jesuits to make youth ministry as one of

the frontiers ministries in South Asia and invest more

human and material resources for youth work.

7. What are your dreams and visions for the

youth as the JYMSA co-ordinator?

I wish that the youth of South Asia become

mentally sharp, emotionally strong, morally upright,

culturally rooted, socially committed and spiritually

mature to counter all divisive and oppressive forces in

our region and work collaboratively to build a just and

an inclusive society.

I also wish that the youth of our region, emulate the

example of the teen sensation and noble laureate,

Malala Yousufzai and become prophets of hope!

8. What is your message for the readers of DNC

TIMES?

Let us strike a healthy balance between – Concepts

and Contacts! May our study of concepts and theories

of philosophy and theology, motivate us to go to the

market places and reach out to the unreached. May our

contact with people – especially the poor and the

unorganized youth – deepen our thirst for authentic

knowledge so that we truly become persons of caliber

and persons driven by that magic word, MAGIS!

All the best….

Fr Brian Pereira, a Jesuit priest, is the

animator of Ignitors’ a youth group. He is

also the State Advisor of AICUF Karnataka.


Interview with Fr Brian PerieraInterview with Fr Brian PerieraInterview

Geo

rge

Vic

tor,

SJ

e are living in a global village where

everything is made available at our Wfingertips. Though globalization is one

of the fastest growing phenomena of our society it has

also become the root cause of most of the problems in

society. Rapid and advanced changes in science and

technology, has not only changed our life style but also

our outlook towards life, values, customs and

traditions and this is widening the generation gap more

than ever.

A generation gap has always been there in

every society but today it has reached the zenith.

Generation gap means a difference in attitude, or lack

of understanding between members of the younger and

the older generations. With rapid changes in science

and technology, the exposure, which today's teenager

is getting, is enormous. Value systems have gradually

degenerated and the youth is adopting a new culture.

As a consequence, we have confused parents who are

unable to reconcile with the views of their children.

There is a great divide between the perception of both,

the young people and the adults. One finds that both

are unable to communicate with each other, quite

often. One of the reasons could be that neither knows

what the other is interested in though they may be

living under the same roof. This gap results in direct

confrontation between the young and the old.

Generation gap is not only reflected in the choice of

dresses but also in music, opinions and other behaviour

patterns. The younger generation which has acquired a

different set of values rebels against the older

generation who wish to impose their own value system

on them. In my opinion, the conflict arises when adults

stick to their old ways and refuse to accept any change

while the world rapidly moves ahead.

he hot question

then is, “How can we

bridge this wide chasm

between the young and

the old?” and “Who will

tie the bell to the cat?”

Today, l iv ing and

behaving in one's own

way and according to

one's own terms is the

norm.

Nobody likes to be spoon fed or the 'Big

Brother' attitude of the elders. In my opinion, bridging

the generation gap is not a major problem in families

and society, if we learn to sit together and see things

from each other's perspective. Each one whether young

or old should have a respectful place in the family and

adopt ways and means to spend time together sans the

technology and the social media. The young should

learn to accept the views of the elders and the elders in

turn should learn to adapt themselves to the modern

ways of the world and keep themselves updated with

the most modern technologies, so that they do not feel

left out.

Today, technology has already replaced God.

Most families have given up practices such as the

family prayer and eating and talking together as one

family and are busy chatting or doodling with their

expensive gadgets. Let Technology be replaced by God

and all other things will fall into place.

Generation GapGeneration Gap

Jesu Raju Chikkala


Article

Dnctimes august

Spiritual

Transcript of Dnctimes august