A Change of Leadership

Rev. Fr. Mathew Koodaparambil (Jigmy Achan) had been the beacon of MCCL since 2015. He has now been entrusted with new assignments by the Almighty. We extend our sincere gratitude to all the services he had provided in faith formation of our children. The baton has now been passed on to Rev. Fr. Jinto John. Prayers and greetings for their respective new tasks for the glory of God.
As St. Paul says, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but it is God who makes it grow" (1 Cor. 3:6).

LATEST CIRCULARS!!!

Circular 16
Circular 17

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017

The Gospel according to St. Luke says about the parable of the fig tree told by Jesus.

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vine dresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’  And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” (Lk. 13:6-9)

A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines only. But in this parable, we see that a fig tree is located among the grape vines, in the centre of the vineyard. The important inputs like manure, even the surrounding environment, were meant for the vine. But a part of these inputs went to the fig tree as well. We all are like the fig tree, surrounded by good people, people who love us and care for us, those who help us in our growth. There are so many of them- our parents, brothers and sisters, teachers, friends, and the list goes on. Whatever they earn, a part of it is for our own benefit. However, we tend to ignore their contributions. After a certain age, pride takes over, and we claim that we grew using our own talents. These assertions are absolutely baseless. Living in a society, there are always people, no matter how small, who support us in our growth according to the best of their abilities- the servant/maid who cleans our homes, the person who collects wastes, the person who delivers newspapers at our doorsteps, the autowalas to whom we waive our hand and request him to and trust him that he would take us to our destination safely. We should never forget these people and always be thankful to them, and to the society.

There were people much talented than us who are no more among us. But we have been provided with another year, just like the fig tree. What can I, as an individual, give back to the society that has nurtured me so well? If I have been fruitless, how can I bear fruits in 2017 so that the society may benefit from me? There are four important relations in life.

The first one is with God. Our parents didn't ask for our permissions before giving us birth, did they? We are born into this world for a purpose, for a reason. In this gruelling journey of life, we will always, at every step, need the grace of God. The grace of God is 'to find favour in the eyes of God.' And when we find favour in His eyes, all we need to do is 'ask, and He would give all the nations' (Psalm 2:8). Never forget to pray to Him. Recite the daily prayers given to us by our Church fathers. Always follow the Ten Commandments. Love, peace, joy, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are the fruits given to us by God. As we run the “race marked out for us,” we need to lay aside the entangling sin and worldly distractions, “fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:12). He is our life.

Second relation is with other human beings. When we get angry at someone, we shout. We shout because the distance between our hearts increase and in order to make them hear our voice, we have to raise our voice. Never allow the distance between the hearts to increase. A good remedy is to have a good sense of humour. This can be achieved only through practice. We should not allow our instincts to take control of our actions. Reason out things. If parents or teachers scold you, try to understand the reason behind their scolding. It will always be for your own good. So then be happy, because they love you and care for you. Appreciate the good in others. Be humble. Never hesitate to say sorry if it is your fault. Your image will never be tainted if you admit a mistake.

Third relation is with nature. Our environment is very crucial for our development. Save electricity and water. Turn off the lights, fans and the tap when not in use. Do not waste food. There are over millions of people in the world without access to water and are malnourished. Plant a tree. If not a tree, then at least a creeper like money-plant in a bottle in your balconies. Help in saving the environment and sustaining it.

Fourth relation is with ourselves. Love yourself. Never pay heed to the negative comments of some people. Everyone has his/her own perspective of looking good. Every morning when you get up, thank God for another day, look at the mirror, say not with pride but with a smile,"How beautiful I am." Take care of your health. Avoid junk foods and drinks, tobacco, alcohol. These are very hazardous. Study well, take up good habits like reading.

May the coming year 2017 be a time period of improvements over the past mistakes. Have a blessed new year! May God bless you all, fulfill the desires of your hearts, and make all your plans succeed.

A MESSAGE FROM A TEACHER

There was once a poor little boy with 5 sisters studying in a remote village.
He never thought about his poverty or the lack of basic facilities but always gave his best. After his class 12 exams he tried for IIT as would any other science student and cleared it with his brilliance and hard work without any extra coaching or reference books.
He went home all excited and broke the good news to his family. His father was overwhelmed but replied,"Son, I am glad that you cleared the entrance exam of the most prestigious institution in the country but unfortunately I cannot afford it. Why don't you continue your education in some government college here only." The young boy was sad but not dejected,  took it up as a challenge to always excel in whatever he did.
This young lad who grew up into a fine man with a great value system is none other than the founder of Infosys Narayana Murthy- the pioneer of India's software industry, showing millions of Indians that it is possible to gain wealth legally and ethically. Today he is an icon of simplicity, uncompromising quality and a great philanthropist.

Many times I have come across students blaming circumstances. Let this story inspire you to dream big.
Be focused and study hard because all others may leave you but a good education will always stand by you.
You may find studying difficult, boring or a drudgery today but the stones you carry now will become Gold one day. If you on the other hand you decide to relax and waste your time in meaningless conversations then your life will reveal the consequences of your action today.
It's time to Act.
Speak less Work more.

-MATHEW K. THOMAS

(The author teaches Mathematics in Don Bosco School in New Delhi. The above article was posted on his facebook page on Teacher's Day in the year 2016.)

The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery, as it was well said by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan,"The true teachers are those who help us think for ourselves."
HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY!!!

"In everything set an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us" (Titus 2:7-8).
May God bless all of you.

My Relation with God

It was the month of October in 2015 when I had for the first time attended a class by Fr. Anthony Kakkanadu. It was a part of the Suvishesha Sangham prayer meeting. Taking part in it had happened by chance: a senior member of my parish had requested me to attend it because of very low representation (But there are no accidents! Everything happens for a purpose). It was his hypnotizing baritone that had caught my attention initially. Now, while writing this article, I quite clearly remember few of his many points that had calmed an unknown tempest in the depths of my heart.

He had narrated the story of a man who was shoved while he was waiting for a train. He fell on the tracks of the fast approaching vehicle. Suddenly, he was pushed aside by another person. He was saved. But at the cost of his saviour's legs. Now the man cannot just move on, tapping on his saviour's shoulder and commending on his bravery. He, from that moment onward, owes his life to him. Similarly, we all were in a deep, dry well when Christ held out a rope to us. The only effort that we had to put in was to hold on to it. He was the one who pulled us out. The "power of attorney" of our body- our thoughts and feelings, our five senses- as well as of our material belongings is His. Out of His boundless mercy, He has bought us with a ransom. The price that He had to pay was His own body and blood. So, what we do, what we see, what we hear, and what we feel, everything should be done with his prior permission. He is our MASTER. Next time when we withdraw cash from the ATM, it should be done with his prior permission. When we plan to spend money on something, it should be done with His prior permission. He is the LORD. 'Lord' means the one who has authority. He has authority over everything that we own. We are only the caretakers.

He is a FRIEND. Often we divulge our secrets to and share our problems with our closest friends, not our parents. Christ is our friend, who is ever ready to lend His ears to us. He had addressed his disciples as friends. Jesus had said to them, "I do not call you servants because a servant does not know what his master is doing. I call you friends because I have told you everything that I have heard from my Father" (Jn. 15:15).

He is our FATHER. Just like a father, he would punish us when we do something wrong. But we need to understand that it is for our own good. For it is written, "Do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you because the Lord rebukes the one He loves, and He chastens everyone he accepts as His son" (Prov. 3:11, 12). And St. Paul also says,"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined- and everyone undergoes discipline- then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought the best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Heb.12:7-11). Therefore, there are two kinds of pain, but we all will have to endure either one of them- the pain of discipline, or the pain of regret.

He is the GROOM, and the Church, therefore we, the members, are his bride. A wife always delights in being close to her husband, listens to him, and makes him happy in every possible way, irrespective of whether she would get anything in return or not. She finds it as a burden, however, when she doesn't love her husband. Similarly, when we don't love Christ, we find going to church, reading the Holy Bible and daily prayers as burden.  We may do it but for material gains. It thus becomes spiritual adultery. We become harlots and not his wives.

But what reason do we not have to love Him and to follow His statutes? "Even if my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord will take care of me" (Psalm 27:10). Again, it is recited during the Holy Qurbono of the Syro-Malankara Catholic rite- "just like a father has mercy on his children, Alleluia! The Lord will have mercy on His devoutees." When God felt that Abraham's devotion to Him was dwindling after He gave him a son, he tested him by commanding Abraham,"Between you and me, let there be no Issac." In our lives, we will definitely encounter Issacs in different forms- studies, career, money, cell phones, different forms of media, or some persons. Let such Issacs never shatter our relationship with God. His mercy for those who delightfully follow His commands is so infinite that He is slow to anger and quick to forgive. He punishes us for our own good and for His greater glory, just like a father would do to his children. Today we may suffer. But with the passage of time we will understand the reason behind it. "Wait on the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage. Wait on the Lord" (Psalm 27:14).

FOR OUR PARENTS...

Your love had sowed me,
Nurturing through tides of time
So I may blossom
To spread sweet fragrance
Among deprived and tired.
Your warm embrace guard me
From harrowing grief  and numbing loneliness.
Efforts you had deployed-
Seamless and selfless,
To cast away dark clouds engulfing truth.
Beacons in my stormy path.
They continue constant as ever,
Turning a blind eye to folding skins
Hanging loose.
Tender smiles veiling silent endurance
Oblivion to any.
Mercy personified!
Now as I endeavour to
Accomplish ambitious heights like an eagle,
Your prayers and blessings shroud me
From vicious prying eyes.
So thankful I am!
For these invaluable souls-
Holy temples of the Almighty.

-THOMAS YOHANNAN