"A Catholic university must make choices, choices that reflect the Gospel" Pope Francis greets Isabel Capeloa Gil, rector of the Catholic University of Portugal and president of the International Federation of Catholic Universities, during an audience with federation members in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Jan. 19, 2024. Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, looks on. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) Faith, a search for truth, respect for human dignity and a desire to help every student discover his or her vocation should set Catholic universities apart, the pope told members of the International Federation of Catholic Universities.
https://www.usccb.org/news/2024/catholic-universities-must-be-more-business-pope-says

HOLY FATHER: Calls for global equality in healthcare By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis sends a message to participants at the International Conference on "The Declaration of Helsinki: Research in Resource-Poor Settings," which explores the theme of ethical considerations in clinical research within low-income countries.
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-01/pope-francis-message-conference-helsinki-agreement-peace.html

HOLY SEE: Cardinal Grech highlights key outcomes of October's Synod - Vatican News

Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops -  Addressing participants at the Philippine Conference for the New Evangelization, Cardinal Mario Grech looks at key outcomes from last October's Synod Assembly, "A Synodal Church in Mission," and his hopes for the next session later this year.
The Synthesis Report - https://www.synod.va/content/dam/synod/assembly/synthesis/english/2023.10.28-ENG-Synthesis-Report.pdf
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-01/cardinal-grech-highlights-key-outcomes-of-october-s-synod.html

INDIA: SXUK at Kolkata Book Fair 2024- CNUA

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the 47th International Kolkata Book Fair on Thursday in the presence of Tridib Chatterjee, president of Publishers and Booksellers Guild; Sudhanshu Sekhar Dey, general secretary of the guild, mayor Firhad Hakim and others Photo - Ashim Paul, my Kolkatta

 

 

 

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata has set up a stall in the 47th Kolkata International Book Fair. The stall was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Dr. Mamata Banerjee on January 18 at 4.00 pm to the great excitement of the faculty and students who had gathered at the stall. Fr. Felix Raj blessed the stall after its inauguration. Faculty members and students in turn man the stall and receive guests. The KIBF 2024 will be held till January 31, 2024. https://www.felixrajsj.com

ITALY: Social media in flames - Pope targeted for not preaching fire and brimstone By Cindy Wooden, CNS / USCCB

Detail of a miniature of Dante and Virgil entering the fourth circle of hell. Written in exile between 1307-1321, the "Divine Comedy" tells the story of Dante's journey through the realms of the afterlife, a spiritual pilgrimage from hell, through purgatory, to heaven. (CNS photo/Priamo della Quercia, British Library via The Public Domain Review) Reaction was strong to Pope Francis' statement that he hoped hell would be empty. https://www.usccb.org/news/2024/social-media-flames-pope-targeted-not-preaching-fire-and-brimstone

PHILIPPINES: Papal Award means commissioning to be “beacons of light," says Cardinal - RVA News

 

Cardinal José F. Advincula, Metropolitan Archbishop of Manila, Philippines
https://www.rvasia.org/asian-news/papal-award-means-commissioning-be-beacons-light-says-philippines-cardinal

SINGAPORE: Authentic Leadership By Abp. William Cardinal Goh, RC Archdiocese of Singapore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgTE0KBOIZI

SPIRITUAL: Ignatius – the God Seeker: a new film on the Spiritual Exercises By Godehard Brüntrup SJ, Loyola Productions - Munich

Image: St. Ignatius of Loyola | Peter Paul Rubens  Watch Movie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKJhoYzYH-Q 
https://www.jesuits.global/2024/01/16/ignatius-the-god-seeker-a-new-film-on-the-spiritual-exercises/

SRI LANKA: Anti-drug operation leaves hundreds of children without parents by Arundathie Abeysinghe, AsiaNews

 

The police are making thousands of indiscriminate arrests. The children are abandoned without care and are often fed by neighbours living in poverty. The Sri Lankan Bar Association is trying to lead an action to investigate how the police are investigating. https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Colombo:-anti-drug-operation-leaves-hundreds-of-children-without-parents-59917.html

TESTIMONY: Twin Sisters of Life share their vocation stories prior to Life Fest By Francesca Pollio Fenton, Catholic News Agency

Sister Pia Jude (left) and Sister Luca Benedict (right), twin sisters and Sisters of Life. | Credit: Sisters of Life
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256543/twin-sisters-of-life-share-their-vocation-stories-prior-to-life-fest

 

YOUTH: The scandal of the youngest migrant who now sets an example in Spain By Felipe Herrera-Espaliat – Cadiz, Spain

 

 

 

At just 25 years old, Mohamed has accumulated life and work experience that allows him to respond assertively and effectively to the needs of migrants arriving today in southern Spain. (Giovanni Culmone/Global Solidarity Fund) Mohamed, at just 9 years old, fled his home in Morocco to seek a future in Europe. After passing through various centers for the protection of minors, a community of nuns welcomed him, gave stability to his life, and accompanied him in a human process that today sees him working toward a university master's degree and engaged in helping other migrants at the Fundación Centro Tierra de Todos.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZUrRnKvlqg
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-01/scandal-youngest-migrant-who-now-sets-example-in-spain.html

 

YOUTH: Ecumenical approach to Ignatian spirituality By Pola Jasinska, Jesuit Youth Ministry - WAJ, South Poland Province [From “Jesuits 2023 - The Society of Jesus in the world”]

 

 

 

Encouraging testimonies of young people about the Jesuit Youth Ministry in Cracow, nourished with Ignatian and Taizé prayer. How does the Society of Jesus fulfill one of the Universal Apostolic Preferences – Journeying with Youth – in Poland? https://www.jesuits.global/2024/01/18/ecumenical-approach-to-ignatian-spirituality/

 

INSPIRATION: Brahma Kumaris - C N U A

• Self Mastery - Within each one of us there is a master of the universe. Not the universe out there but the inner universe of our thoughts and feelings, attitudes and actions. Most people realise too late what awaits within and how valuable it is. For too long we allow ourselves to be distracted and bewitched by all that is happening outside. To be the master of your inner world is to be the master of your own destiny.
• Determination and Patience - Determination is the strength that will enable you to pass the barrier of useless thoughts in order to create positive thoughts and to be successful in whatever you wish. It comes from within and its partner is patience. Patience teaches you not to push but rather to wait and appreciate the game of life instead, knowing that nothing remains the same, and everything will change at some point.
• Thoughts, Words and Actions - The gap between what you say and what you do, between what you promise and what you deliver, is like a drain in the road. The drain is where water escapes, just as your power will seep away if there is a difference between your words and your actions.
• Efficiency & Effectiveness - Calmness increases efficiency. Silence increases effectiveness.
• Anger - Never give way to anger - otherwise in one moment you could burn up the joy that you collected over a long period.
• Tolerance - You have the power to tolerate anyone and any situation. But tolerance is not just suffering in silence. It means going beyond any personal discomfort you may feel, and giving a gift to whom ever you would tolerate. Give your time, attention, understanding, compassion, care – all are gifts, which paradoxically, you also receive in the process of giving. And, as you do, you will experience your own self esteem and inner strength grow. In this way you can turn tolerance into strength.
• Anger - Anger is an acid that does more harm to the vessel in which it is stored rather than to the person on whom it is poured.
• Beauty, Truth, Peace, Happiness - The treasures we seek are not outside but within ourselves – beauty, truth, peace, happiness. We have everything we need. Just as in every walk with nature we receive far more than we seek, by looking beneath we become aware of our greatness.
• Seeing Only Specialties - Nowadays it is a fashion and also a compulsion to wear glasses. So wear the glasses of seeing only specialties. Nothing else should be visible. For instance, when you wear red glasses, even something green will appear to be red. So when coming into connection with everyone, adopt the vision of seeing only their specialties and you will become special.
• Talking To The Self - When you talk to yourself in your mind, which self do you address? And how? Usually people do not talk to their divinity, but to the most superficial aspects of their everyday personality. And often its a stream of fears, complaints and mindless repetition of old things. If we talked that way to another human being, we would have to apologise. Learning to talk properly to the self is a spiritual endeavour. Thoughts from the past and worries about the future do not create good conversation. Instead learn to talk to your mind as if it were a child. Talk to it with love. If you just force a child to sit down, he won’t. A good mother knows how to prompt her child into doing what she wants. Be a good mother to your mind, teach it good, positive thoughts so that when you tell it to sit quietly, it will. Love your mind. Stay happy.
• Conscious Choices - Everything in our lives is chosen either consciously or unconsciously. All your choices yesterday, last year, ten years ago, have resulted in where you are today, what you do today, what you have around you today. This is hard for many people to swallow. They prefer to see life as fateful, or luckful, and therefore avoid responsibility for their own destiny. There are many random, uncontrollable and unpredictable events, but our destiny is not defined by these events – it is defined by how we respond to them. And our responsibility – ability to respond – is always in our own hands. If we respond with desire we will likely be disappointed at some future stage when we do not get what we want. If we respond with expectation we will again, at some stage, be let down. If we respond with annoyance or frustration we only dis-empower ourselves. Desire, expectation and getting upset are never the best choices. Until you can see this, you will not choose how you live. Life, circumstances and events will likely choose for you!
• Patience - Patience teaches us to sow the seed in the form of right actions and to allow the fruits of those actions to ripen in their own time. I don’t need to think about the future benefits of what I do now, because I know I will receive what I need when the time is right. If I let go of expectations and allow things to develop in their own time, I will be able to enjoy what I am doing in the present, and the future will automatically become good.

Source: www.brahmakumaris.org