| Blessed Chavara, a pearl truly indian and oriental.
Fr. Thomas Panthaplackal CMI
It was after a very serious study on the life, activities and spirituality of Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara, that Archbishop Antonius Petti, the Promoter General of Faith, for the Causes of Saints, Rome, could present Chavara to Pope John Paul II in 1983, as a pearl truly Indian and Oriental, requesting him for the beatification of the Servant of God Chavara. What was said by the Arch bishop has been re-affirmed by illustrious persons like the late Pope John Paul II, Mr. R. Venkataraman, the former president of India, the Major Archbishop Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil of the Syro-Malabar Church, the apostolic church of St.Thomas and Prof. A Sreedharamenon, a Kerala historian,
Here I am trying to quote the words of those grate personalities who narrate about the real life story and contributions of Blessed Chavara to the people of India. I am also very happy to introduce Blessed Chavara on the occasion of the commoration of the Republic Day of our country – INDIA.
Archbishop Antonius Petti, the Procurator General of Faith for the Cause of Saints, presenting the document on the life and spirituality of Chavara in Vatican in 1983 said:
“Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara is an authentic Indian, a pearl truly oriental, and not just one among the many Causes of India, as there have been many European missionaries, both men and women, who have worked in this vast country.
In fact, Kuriakose Elias Chavara is a native of India, born at Kainakary in Kerala, on 10th February, 1805, of an indigenous family. He had his formation in the religious Institute of the place (1818-1829), was ordained priest on 29th November, and became a religious on 8th December, 1855; worked among and for the people of his country. He was engaged in apostolic activities all along his native land, and his days full of merit came to a close at Koonammavu on 3rd January, 1871, lamented and admired by all.
A very zealous priest, Fr. Chavara was a true apostle of the renovation of the Christian life of Malabar (Kerala). It will not be an exaggeration to affirm that there was no aspect of the ecclesial life of Malabar which had not gained in some form by his beneficial influence.
…In all the manifestations of his intense apostolic activity, the Servant of God figures as a perfect exponent of his country, formed in the millenial culture of his country, and above all an affectionate supporter of the customs and traditions of the place resulting in the happy combination of natural and cultural background and Christian faith, there emerged the spiritual personality of Kuriakose Elias Chavara.”
The late Pope John Paul II, during the Beatification ceremony of Blessed Chavara at Kottayam on 8th February 1986, said:
“…In co-operation with Fathers Thomas Palackal and Thomas Porukara, Father Kuriakose founded an Indian Religious Congregation for men, now known as the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. Later, with the help of an Italian missionary, Father Leopold Beccaro, he started an Indian Religious Congregation for women, the congregation of the Mother of Carmel. These Congregations grew and flourished and religious vocations became better understood and appreciated. Through the common efforts of the members of new religious families, his hopes and works were multiplied many times over.
Father Kuriakose’s life, and the lives of these new Religious, were dedicated to the service of the Syro-Malabar Church. Under his leadership or inspiration, a good number of apostolic initiatives were undertaken: the establishment of seminaries for the education and formation of the clergy, the introduction of annual retreats, a publishing house for Catholic works, a house to care for the destitute and dying, schools for general education and programmes for the training of catechumens. He contributed to the Syro-Malabar liturgy and spread devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Family. In particular, he dedicated himself to encouraging and counselling Christian families, convinced as he was of the fundamental role of the family in the life of society and the Church. But no apostolic cause was dearer to the heart of this great man of faith than that of the unity and harmony within the Church. It was as if he had always before his mind the prayer of Jesus, on the night before his Sacrifice on the Cross: “That they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us” (Jn 17:21). Today the Church solemnly recalls with love and gratitude all his efforts to resist threats of disunity and to encourage the clergy and faithful to unity with the See of Peter and the universal Church. His success in this, as in all his many undertakings, was undoubtedly due to the intense charity and prayer which characterized his daily life, his close communion with Christ on earth.”
Dr.R.Venkataraman, the former president of India, releasing the commemorative stamp of Blessed Chavara on 20th December 1987, said Father Chavara represents Indian Christianity at its best.
“…Father Chavara lived at a time - the nineteenth century- when our society was passing through a period of intense depression and gloom. An alien power which ruled us bothered little about the living conditions of the people. The roots of our culture and tradition had been shaken by an insidious propaganda which sought to highlight our weaknesses and undermine our strength. The result was that a great sense of inferiority and despondency came over our people. Father Chavara was one of those precious persons who knew how to link India’s past with her future destiny. He turned to the vedas and sacred texts, studied Sanskrit and Tamil and brought our ancient wisdom in direct touch with all that he imbibed through Christian theology. He wanted to share his knowledge with the people. He therefore recorded for posterity his experiences over forty years in the chronicles which is an authentic history of Kerala from 1829-1870. He also wrote the biographies of Fr. Thomas Palackal and Fr. Porookara. These latter form a worthy supplement to the history of Kerala in the latter 18th and early 19th centuries. He also wrote for the common people documents unsurpassed in their sincerity and practical wisdom.
Education was an activity close to his heart. Religious and general education was for him two sides of the same coin. Father Chavara regarded education as a means of uplifting the poor. … It is remarkable that his schools were open to members of all communities who sought admission, including Harijans. It was indeed a revolutionary act at that time.
Father Chavara’s vision anticipated modern developments in yet another field: the role of women. As early as 1866 Father Chavara laid the foundation for the Indian Congregation for Women, thereby accelerating the great change that has come about in the status of women”.
The major Archbishop Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil of Syro-Malabar Church, the Apostolic Church of St.Thomas, in his pastoral letter on the occasion of the Bi-centenary of the Birth of Blessed Chavara, wrote:
“…Our loving God the Father often sends apt persons in crisis situations to solve them. In the 19th century it was Blessed Chavara whom God sent to propose solutions to the religious, social and cultural problems that affected the Church and the society of that time and to give a new vitality to the people by opening up new avenues of growth. Blessed Chavara’s first priority was to equip the priests and religious to give leadership to the people of God. He supervised the training of priests as malpan (master) and examiner for about 42 years from 1829. …It was for the renewal of the family, which is the basic unit of the Church that Blessed Chavara gave the greatest emphasis. He tried to renew families through regular Sunday sermons and parish retreats. “The Testament of a Loving Father” of Blessed Chavara is a guiding light for the families even today.”
Professor A Sreedharamenon, a historian of Kerala, in an article wrote Chavara as a Renaissance leader who walked ahead of his times.
“…Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara was a social leader, a great genius, who was born ahead of his time. A holy light that was farsighted and gifted by the nineteenth century. A social reformer to whom Kerala historians have not done justice. …Kerala historians, however, have generally neglected Christian social reformers. By this defect in Kerala history, Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara has not received the recognition that he deserves as a renaissance leader.
The age before Father Chavara was born had great political and social importance in the history of Travancore. … The 18th century ended, however, in an atmosphere of political disturbances and discords. One of the reasons for this was the threat of invasion by Tippu Sultan. In the beginning of 19th century there was also the challenge of the British over lordship. Father Chavara’s life and activities were during this period 1805 to 1871.
It was during this period that Protestant missionaries came to Travancore and started their activities. Associations like London Mission Society and Church Mission Society introduced western education by starting educational institutions at important centres like Nagarcovil, Alapuzha and Kottayam. The Kerala Catholic Church was inactive in this field.
In this context we have also to deal with some general chacteristics of Kerala society. Some irrational customs based on the caste system were prevalent here. When the higher castes (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Nairs and so on) were given greater importance, the lower castes had to suffer great negligence. In the Hindu social structure the principles of freedom, equality and fraternity did not have much place. … Untouchability and unseeability remained in force giving a bad name to the Hindu society.
We have to understand a few things also about the Christian community of the time. Since there were many groups among Christians there was no unity among them. There was great rivalry between catholics and non-catholics. There were many divisions even among the catholics. Following the process of Latinization under the Portughese rule, deep divisions appeared. Educationally all groups were backward. The reason was the absence of systematic educational institutions. In those days the only schools were the village ‘kalaries’ conducted by ‘asans’.
It is in the context of these facts that the life and achievements of Father Chavara have to be evaluated. He was able to bring the Catholic community to the main stream of Kerala society. It was to assimilate the Indian spiritual wealth that he exhorted his followers. For this he gave importance to the study of Sanskrit and for the purpose started a school. The many customs he introduced to revitalize the spiritual field were Indian.
He strived to bring to the Catholic Church, the powerful non - Catholic groups in Kerala, especially the Jacobite Syrian Christians. He argued that this was possible by retaining the special features of the Syrians. This was the beginning of the reunion movement which is an important event in Kerala Church history.
Thus Father Chavara initiated the many-fold changes in the Christian community. Therefore Father Chavara could be called the pole-star of the cultural renaissance of Kerala Christians. Father Chavara took these steps at a time when nobody spoke about national integration which is much acclaimed today.
Father Chavara took the initiative to provide noon meals to poor children in schools. This step of Father Chavara was the inspiration behind starting such a reform in Travancore. In the note submitted by Divan Sir C. P. Ramaswami Ayer to the king on 1936 November 26, recommending the providing of noon meals for children in government schools, there was a reference that this was a practice followed in Christian institutions. He strove also to give women their rightful place in society. It was for this purpose that he floated the idea of a religious congregation for women. His plan was to develop a group of women that would strive for the development of all women. He started many programmes to ensure the freedom, equality and self reliance of women. …Father Chavara really understood the importance of preserving historical documents. The chronicles that he wrote from 1829 to 1870 are important documents in the history of the church.
I feel sorrow for not having been able to study more deeply about Father Chavara whom I have often met in studying and writing about Kerala history. This note is meant at least in part to remove that sorrow. People like Father Chavara should be given the place they deserve.”
- Department of Research and Documentation Chavara Hills, Kakkanad, Kerala, India.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message on National Youth day by Dr.J.Henry Rozario, M.S.W., Ph.D., Regional Director South Asia, Students Partnership Worldwide, New Delhi
Youth Potential
Youth constitute a significant group in society in terms of power and energy. They constitute an invaluable human resource of a nation. They have emerged as a most important segment of our population. They are physically strong and mentally agile and look for change and dynamism in their own life and in the life of the community they live. They embody power and strength. Wherever their energy has been channelized into socially useful and constructive activities, it has resulted in prosperity and development. They are idealistic and so accept new ideas and views without much hesitation. They are also impulsive and in this way generate necessary power to carry out what they consider as important to themselves and the society.
Youth Development:
If youth have to contribute to the development of the nation, it presupposes that the development of youth takes place first or co exists along with the development of the nation. The youth are not only powerful but also vulnerable. They have abundant energy but are still dependent on parents and other adults to equip themselves for the demands of adulthood. This phenomenon brings home the importance of planning youth development as the youth are involved in the development of the nation.
Such a development of youth must be holistic in nature. It must cater to their overall development in the spheres of physical, mental, emotional, moral, social, economic and political. That is why the development of youth must be holistic and not lopsided. Most of the nations have realized the potential of youth and have devised ways and means of tapping their energy and directing it towards development of the youth and of the nation. Both the government, the non- governmental organizations need to play a pioneering role in creatively responding to the needs of youth. As we celebrate National Youth Day in India, these thoughts need to reverberate in the minds of every one involved in the field of Youth Development.
Major Project Holders’ Get Together 2009
Major Project Holders’ Get Together 2009 of CEVA Cochin was held at Karl Kubel Institute for Development Education, Coimbatore on 22nd and 23rd of October 2009. Sixteen partner organizations were represented in the program with 23 participants.
Rev. Fr. Joy Vattoly, Secretary, CEVA presided over the inaugural session and Dr. Sigrid Maurer, Coordinator, Development Cooperation, KKS Germany inaugurated the Get Together. Mr. T.K Nathan, Executive Director, KKID welcomed the guests. Representing the project partners, Rev. Sr. Anila Mathew, GSHEC, Karamadai and Mr. Susairaj, KRWCDS, Karwar lighted the lamp along with the chief guests. Mr. P. Alva, Maithri Trust, Mangalore and Mr. C.C. Poulose, Prachodana, Hassan felicitated in the inaugural program.
Rev. Fr. Joy Vattoly welcomed the new project partners - Prof. Hilda Rayappan, Prajna Counseling Centre, Mangalore, Karnataka; Mr. C. Nambi, CSED, Avinashi, Tamil Nadu; and Sr. Catalina A.C, Udayam, Thanjavoor, Tamil Nadu.
In the inaugural session, participants paid homage to the departed souls of Rev. Fr. Tobias, who served as Director of Shanthidhan, Nagarcoil and Mr. Murugesh, the former accountant of VIKASANA, Tarikere. They observed one-minute silence in respect of those two beloved partners and remembered their active cooperation and valuable contributions in the development field.
The two-day get together was filled with programs such as sharing of achievements and learning by each project partner, input session and group discussion facilitated by CEVA on the significance of planning for training and exposure, sharing of news and views from KKS, input session on Managing and leading an NGO by Dr. Henry Rozario, and key observations and views from CEVA. The sessions were empowered by group games and inter-group activities which provided the participants with ample opportunities for relaxation.
With guidance on the changing perspectives and needs in the partnership, by sharing the learnings and enriching the spirit of partnership, Get Together 2009 has opened up a wider foreground for the partners to forward their oars with an improved understanding on the strategies for development. |
