February 2013

© St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church, Toronto

Ganagandharva Vijaya Sandhya –

Toronto Malankara Catholic Mission

Fund Raising Initiative

MONTHLY EVENTS FEBRUARY 2013 Newsletter Volume 4, Issue8

Feb 16

Womens’ prayer

meeting at Santhosh

and Aswathi’s

residence (6:30 pm)

Feb 23

Monthly prayer

meeting at Alex &

Rosily’s residence

(6:30 pm)

Contact Information

Fr. John Kuriakose,

222 Ridley Blvd,

Toronto, ON, M5M 3M6

Tel: (416) 485 7781

[email protected]

Malankara Catholic Church St. Mary’s Mission Toronto

St. Eugene’s Chapel◊13 Regina Avenue◊Toronto, Ontario◊M6A 1R2 [email protected]

www.stmarysmalankaracatholicchurchtoronto.ca

Time is flying….April 13th is around the corner……..A Historic day for our

church………blessed singers Dr. K.J. Yesudas, one of the most loved, revered and

popular singers and his son Vijay Yesudas are chosen by Almighty God to

showcase their talent and help raise money for our church. Dr. K.J. Yesudas has

recorded more than 50,000 songs in languages such as Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi,

Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tulu, Malay,

Russian, Arabic, Latin and English during a career spanning five decades.

Vijay Yesudas sings in different languages like Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi,

Kannada, Telungu etc. Vijay Yesudas has worked with great music composers

such as Dakshinamoorthy Swami, Ilaiyaraja, A.R.Rahman, Ravindran Mstr,

Hamsalekha, Deva, Ousepachchan, Vidyasagar, Mani Sharma, Keeravani, &

Mohan Sitara. He also worked with recent top music Directors such as Yuvan

Shankar Raja, Karthik Raja, M.Jayachandran, Sabesh Murali, Harris Jayaraj

G.V.Prakash, D.Imman, Srikanth Deva, Deepak Dev. Vijay Yesudas has been

awarded as best play back singer with several awards including Kerala State

Award, Sathyan Memorial Award, Vanitha Film Award, Mathrubhumi Film Award,

Kerala Film Critics Award, Swaralaya Award, Amritha-Mathrubhoomi Award etc.

The combination of these two excellent talents along with our hard work to

sell tickets to as many people and above all God’s providence will make this day a

Grand success.

(Cont’d on Pg.3)

Sunday Liturgy

2:30 PM Sunday School

3:30 PM Song Practice

4.00 PM Namaskaram &

Confession

4.30 PM Holy Mass

INSIDE THE ISSUE

Letters to the Editor

2

SPOTLIGHT:

Ganagandharva Vijaya Sandhya

3-4

SHOWCASE:

Lent: Our Sacrificial Journey

Towards New Life

5-6

How to Be Catholic in School: 6 Steps

to Success! 7-8

SAINT OF THE MONTH:

St. John de Britto

9

mailto:[email protected]


Malankara Catholic Church

Letters to the Editor

The thing that really compelled me to send this feedback is the January 2013 Newsletter. It’s awesome!!!

I love the fact that:

*Background is light and font is so clearly visible and easily readable

*The theme pictures are well offset to the background. The contrast is so well suited that we can see the picture behind and yet read the material without much of a strain on the eye (e.g on pages with articles)

*I like the idea of the photographs from a main event being covered on one page. The fact that the photographs were taken on a camera with high-resolution helps. Even the small photos are very well visible. However, among the pictures for Christmas I personally feel that a better picture with Eusebius pithavu saying the mass should have been inserted. The pictures on the page do not show Eusebius pithavu as clearly as we can see Gigi Achan on the Parish Night page. Please take it as a constructive comment.

*The idea of naming the Editors was good. It makes the whole newsletter look a lot more professional

I have not had the time to read the articles. But needless to say the ones from Amit and Prathibha – I am not worthy to comment on them and I’m sure Jonathan, Isaac and Shanjini have done a great job too. Neil, you have done a great job taking all the pictures.

God Bless the Editorial Team for the efforts and the time you put into it. The Editorial team has done a great job.

Rajesh Jacob, Markham

The first month of the year has gone by really fast. We hope much of your resolutions still stand. January offered a mixture of all the weather conditions whether it is severe cold, to thunderstorms to snowstorms and slippery icy road conditions. Such is also life, and we learn to accept it. In every situation we deal with life the way we are.

Jonathan’s article is of such particular importance, taking a close look at how to deal with life in post-secondary school system. It lays out six different ways to keep ourselves at bay and strong in faith. It shows how important this phase of life is and indicates in it the lasting impressions it can provide.

Malankara church is getting ready for one of the biggest venture we have ever initiated – Musical concert by Yesudas and Vijay Yesudas. Jessy Jaison talks much about the involvement of the church in this aspect and gives through her article, many biblical perspectives. This exciting read lays out a generic view of the fruitfulness of all these efforts.

In this edition we hear way up from north as well. From Thunder Bay, Betty shares a great article on St. John de Britto, a missionary from Portugal, martyred in India. His life shows the mystery of Catholic faith of embracing the good things in the cultural and traditional system of particular regions. It encourages one to be more diligent and sensitive to the people around him so Christ may be proclaimed to him.

February is a short month. Yet it is filled with little, beautiful things like the Valentine’s Day and family day. Along with these special little things, is the beginning of the Great Lenten season. Daniel Philip’s article on Lent is not only inspiring but also invites the Malankara family to take it with great care and devotion.

Most of you might have noticed some subtle changes we’ve been trying to incorporate in the Layout such as neatly defining sections for various articles and incorporating a “Table of Editors” which we unveiled in the Jan 2013 newsletter. This month we also include a new section “Letters to the Editor” where we include the valuable feedback from our readers. Please keeps the feedback pouring in. It matters a whole lot to us and helps keep us on our toes. A heartfelt “Thank you” for your support and goodwill.

-The Editors

Great Layout, Pictures and Artic les

Dear Readers,

Table of Editors Editors ------------------- Sebin and Stephina Alexander

Layout-------------------- Lynn Babu

Chief Editor------------- Amit Mathews

Advisor------------------- Rev. Fr. John Kuriakose

Got Feedback? Please address to Amit Mathews (Chief

Editor) at [email protected]

Letters will be published in the next issue of the bulletin


‘SPOTLIGHT’ : CHURCH HIGHLIGHTS


Ganagandharva Vijaya Sandhya – Toronto Malankara

Catholic Mission Fund Raising Initiative (Cont’d from pg 1)

One truth throughout Scripture is that God uses people to fulfill His plans and answer prayer. Sometimes they are people we least expect. From Genesis to Revelation, the Lord used ordinary people to meet needs and be used as His instruments to bring deliverance, provision, or leadership. The following are just a few examples of those that the Lord called and used. God called a normal man named Abraham to leave everything behind to start a new life in an unknown land he had never seen (Genesis 12). Through this man, all people would be blessed. Through a man who was disgraced, God delivered a nation from captivity. That man was Moses, a leader who was reluctant and insecure (Exodus 3). Gideon was an obscure man from a family of no prominence, but the Lord used him to defeat an enemy that was so oppressive that they impoverished the people of God (Judges 6). God chose a young shepherd boy named David to be the King of Israel (1 Samuel 16). The prophet Amos answered a critic by saying, "I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, 'Go prophesy to my people Israel' " (Amos 7:14-15).

In the New Testament, God used a young virgin to be the mother of Jesus; and the disciples included fisherman, a tax collector, and religious zealots. None

of those would have been on the Jerusalem Who's Who list, but they were chosen by God to turn the world upside down. By the world's standards and today's aptitude tests, Judas Iscariot would have been seen as the only one acceptable. He was personally resourceful, financially shrewd, and corporately calculating. The other disciples would have been rejected because they were petty, self-centered, concerned with personal power and position plus rash and vindictive. God, however, chose them before the Holy Spirit changed them and set them ablaze for His purposes. They were ordinary, imperfect, and unprepared, but God knew their potential and promise. Every Sunday we say a special prayer for the intention of building a church. The Lord impressed and continues to impress people to give financially, become volunteers, or meet other needs that we prayed about. We thought it would take about 3 years to raise the funds, prepare internally, and fund the expansion. The Lord, however, put the major pieces of fund raising and volunteers together in just 3 weeks. The key reason was that God used people to become part of His ministry. I keep a card in my wallet to remind me of this foundational truth. The card states: "Great people are ready to help me at just the right time, in just the right way, from people I don't even know yet. I promise I will never give up because I don't have what I need, but I will trust God to provide." God uses people to meet needs, accomplish worthwhile tasks, and open doors of opportunity that possibly only God and the person in need know about. In faith and trust, we pray and God answers — sometimes in unexpected ways.

(Cont’d on page 4)

GOD USES PEOPLE,

AND HE WANTS TO BLESS

OTHERS THROUGH YOU.


Biji Abraham

Joint Treasurer

Regi Mani

Treasurer

Babu Mamoottil

Secretary

Elsamma Alexander

Member

Joshua Joseph

Member

Renish Thomas

Joint Secretary


Congratulations to the Newly Elected Parish Council Members!

The good news is that God will use people around us in the same way. All the funds our parish needs are already around us. God has already put them in peoples' hands and bank accounts. The key is to share your vision and ask God to speak to their hearts to release the funds He has entrusted to them. God will use the big dream that drives us to inspire them to invest in what the Lord is doing at our church. All the volunteers we need are also in our church. The key is to ask God to call them while we regularly extend invitations. As you are serving in the fund raising ministry, be encouraged for God is using you to be the answer to peoples' prayers. When God uses you, past failures do not disqualify you and imperfections do not diminish your abilities. As God calls you, His Spirit is working through you to be effective and powerful. Again, God uses people, and He wants to bless others through us. As you listen and respond to His prompting, you will be blessed. By following God's lead, you will be an answer to prayer, used to change and save lives. God is using you! All of us go to work without fail because we get paid. Let’s work in harmony with enthusiasm and take

great pride in working for the Lord, for He has promised that He will do everything for us if we have the faith. Isaiah 45:2&3 says:

I will go before you and level the mountains I will break down gates of bronze and cut through

bars of iron I will give you hidden treasures and riches stored

in secret places So that you may know, that I am the Lord, the

God of Israel.

Please hold on to this promise that the Lord has given us because Mark 13:31 says: Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away Right now our youth and adults are eagerly engaged in ticket sales and promotion of this grand event. Our goal is to fund raise approximately $80,000 to aid to the resources towards building a church. Packets were prepared with all required marketing and sales tools and handed over to each family. Our youth are following up on a weekly basis for updates and support. As St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Mission embarks on this adventurous journey… Let’s pray for an amazing, power packed and blessed Ganagandharva Vijaya Sandhya!!!!

-Jessy Jaison

WHEN GOD USES YOU,

PAST FAILURES DO NOT

DISQUALIFY YOU

AND IMPERFECTIONS DO NOT

DIMINISH

YOUR ABILITIES.


As we enter February, the second month of this

Year of Faith in the Catholic Church, let us be mindful

of the spiritual preparation we are about to undertake

for our renewal within the Great Lent. The Lenten

season according to Western Catholicism begins on

Ash Wednesday, which is set to fall on February 13th

this year. However, according to Eastern Catholicism,

Great Lent begins exactly 40 days prior to the

Saturday eve of Palm Sunday, which would be the

Monday before Ash Wednesday. Though varying in

duration, Lent is a journey with only one culmination;

the fulfillment of our faith in the Resurrection of our

Lord Jesus Christ.

It is with even more spiritual petition that we must

begin our journey towards the most central mystery

of Christian Life, in this most fittingly declared Year of

Faith. Without the Passion, Death and Resurrection of

Jesus Christ, both the greatest sacrifice of an only Son

and the greatest victory over mortal death would be

unknown to the human soul. Yet it is our ability to

translate this mystery of our Faith into daily practice

that determines the fruits of our preparation,

sacrifice, fasting and prayer. In his Lenten message of

2012, Pope Benedict XVI cited Hebrews 10:24, saying,

“Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response

in love and good works”. As the people of Faith, we

are called to sacrifice in the hope for a better world,

one that epitomizes Jesus Christ’s greatest

commandment to love one another as He has loved

us.

Jesus Christ himself fasted for forty days and forty

nights, strengthened by the Holy Spirit while

remaining unyielding to the temptation of the devil.

Just as Jesus refused to turn stones into loaves of

bread, we must find the understanding in our fast and

sacrifice that humankind does not live off the quelling

of its own belly’s hunger; rather it yearns for the Word

of God. The devil tempted Jesus further by taking him

to the highest pinnacle of the Temple demanding that

He call upon the Lord in his concern. Again Jesus

reminded us that we have been given a cross and the

strength to bare it and that it is our willingness to

accept the trials and tribulations that the Lord sets

before us, which provides clarity to our Spiritual lives.

Even at the offer of worldly riches and mortal wealth,

Jesus counters with spiritual modesty and service to

and under God.

It is how we choose to represent our Faith in

eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ in our

‘SHOWCASE’: SHARING OUR FAITH

LENT: Our Sacrificial Journey Towards

New Life

”Yet even now,” says the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.”

Joel 2: 12-13


“Let us be concerned for each

other, to stir a response in

love and good works”.

-Pope Benedict XVI


everyday lives that indicates the measurement of

merit in our Spiritual lives. In a world where wealth

and possessions determine the equality and equity of

a nation, must we marginalize others for the sake of

our own prosperity? Do we surrender ourselves to

material wealth and worldly temptations at the

expense of our relationship with God and our

fellowship with humanity? No – instead we meditate

on the growing reality that any single individual is only

as great as the least of their brothers and sisters in

humanity.

As we begin this Lenten season, let us seek to

prepare and develop our spiritual condition and

Christian lives with the thought of the condition in

mind. Let our prayers and fasting be dedicated to the

voices that go unheard, and the mouths that remain

unfed. Let our almsgiving be motivated by the

inequality and poverty that stricken God’s children in

all corners of the Earth. Let our quest for spiritual

renewal and eternal life with God be fuelled by the

wisdom and beatitudes conceived out of the modern

human condition. For as the Prophet Isaiah said, “Is

not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of

injustice, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the

oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not

to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the

homeless poor into your house; when you see the

naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from

your kin?”

As Malankara Catholics, we are ambassadors of our

Christian St. Thomas heritage to both India and the

world, and our spirituality serves as a testament to

the future generations of our planet. Let us invoke the

teaching of India’s greatest spiritual and political

figure Mahatma Gandhi; in being the change that we

wish to see in this world. In this Year of Faith in the

Catholic Church, let us be the change we wish to see

and let this change begin with our Faith in Christ.

-Daniel Philip


Liturgy of the Month

Week Gospel Readings Epistles Old Testament Readings & Reader

Feb 3 Jn 5:19-29

The Work of the Son

2Pt 3:8-13

1Thess 4:13-18

Gen 49:29-33

Eccl 7:1-14

Is 38:9-22

Christine Jaison

Feb 10 Jn 2:1-11

The Wedding at Cana

1Jn 4:13-21

Rom 12:16-21

Gen 3:1-13

Sir 2:1-11

Isa 58:1-14

Wilson John

Feb 17 Mk 1:40-45

The Cleansing of a Leper

Jas 1:12-18

Titus 2:1-10

Num 12:1-16

2 Kings 5:1-14

Isa 59:1-8

Daniel Philip

Feb 24 Mt 9:1-8

The Healing of a Paralytic

Jas 3:1-12

Rom 6:15-23

Deut 30:15-20

Sir 9:10-18

Is 30:19-26

Mathew Cherian

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his

only Son, that whoever believes in Him should

not perish but have eternal life”

- John 3:16



The journey into university/college is a massive change. It’s a time of new beginnings, life changing experiences and a healthy dose of independence. It is also a time of crisis; a place where your very foundation will shake, academically, morally and spiritually. Our bridge into adulthood may begin there and it may be a narrow twisted path until you become the person you are meant to be. I can assure you that your faith will be tested in ways that you never thought possible and in the midst of this conflict, it is very easy to lose sight of God and everything we have come to know until that point. Whether you’re thinking of attending university/college in the fall or halfway through the year already, here’s a list of things I believe you should do in school in order to resist against spiritual adversity and grow in the faith. 1. Join a Christian Club on campus. In your first week on campus, you will probably realize a couple of things. One is that, the place is huge with way too many frantic people trying to find classes. Second is that, you will see many clubs trying to promote and recruit new members. In regards to this, try to find a Catholic club on campus that is in synchrony with the teachings of the Catholic Church. You have no idea how helpful it is to have a source of spiritual guidance whenever you need it. Also, clubs like these may also conduct daily mass, which will help keep you in a state of spiritual grace.

2. Beware of the courses you take. A fundamental part of university is learning, which involves books, professors, team projects, reports and exams. As a Catholic, there is no knowledge that is forbidden to us, whether it is the sciences, humanities, mathematics or any other course. Despite this, the way this information is presented may be contradictory to what you’ve learned in church. You may come across professors with a long list of academic accomplishments who will misinterpret various teachings of the church. You may be exposed to ideas that may confuse you and conflict with what you believe thus far. Courses such as humanities and social sciences may be taught with a certain bias against the Catholic Church. It is always important to cross-reference these teaching with a reliable source such as a priest. It is always fruitful to understand and learn different perspectives, but be careful of the things you accept.

3. Go to retreats regularly. As the school year goes on, life becomes complicated. The pressures of schoolwork along with the various different experiences you have will undoubtedly add baggage to your life. Going to a retreat is a way of renewing your life. It will give you a new strength and in addition to this, you will meet people who are in the same spiritual state as you. Growing in faith as a community is a great way to maintain an active spiritual life during school.

How to Be Catholic in School: 6 Steps to Success!


Holy Father’s Intentions for the Month

FEBRUARY 2013 ….

General Intention: That migrant families, in particular mothers, may be sustained and accompanied in their difficulties. .. Missionary Intention: That peoples experiencing war and conflicts may be

the protagonists in the building of a future of peace.

Coffee Sponsors Feb 3 Joshi & Italia

Feb 10 Renish & Rani

Feb 17 Leo & Robin

Feb 24 Alex & Rosily


4. Adopt a Saint. Your post secondary education will be a time where you experience a huge change, both in your environment and in yourself. If you’re in a big institution, everyday, it may seem like you’re in the middle of a marketplace. There will be flyers for different events plastered on the walls, different groups promoting their ideas, people talking about the latest news and fashion and updates from the institution on various classes and professors. If you’re in a smaller institution, this may be on a smaller scale. Nonetheless, this type of environment has the ability to affect the way you think and act, especially if you’re involved in the buzz. A good way to remain true to who you are is to adopt the traits of a saint or pray to a saint for intercession. St. Thomas Aquinas is an amazing Saint and is the patron Saint of students, so perhaps you could start there. Find flaws in your personality and try to match yourself with saints that can help you. In this way, you can still be part of the dynamic atmosphere and still improve on a spiritual level.

5. Know the fine line between independence and temptation. This one is huge. You spend a lot of time at school. Some of us may even have a temporary residence and only visit home every so often. As such, we have a lot of free time; free time in the sense that we make or own decisions such as when to eat and study, what events to attend, what classes to take etc. It is almost as if you are in control of everything you do, but this much freedom can be dangerous if not supported by a good faith background. Without a proper understanding of what is right and wrong, it is very easy to fall into a mentality where we replace our temptation to do something for our independence. Don’t fall into this! Always seek spiritual guidance before making any decision that may change your life.

6. Pray. This may seem obvious or even redundant to those who are reading this, but your post secondary education is not just the place where you get your degree. It is a place where you cultivate your learning, this means spiritual learning as well. How much you learn in your classrooms should be synonymous with how much you learn in regards to your faith. After all, this is probably the last stretch of studying before we enter the “real world” and it would be unfortunate if all you do is develop the academic aspect of your life. The Bible, rosary and mass are our foundations, but also try to continuously learn from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You would be surprised at how much you learn and how well this book answers the burning questions of your faith. Don’t forget to pray daily as well!

School is a place of growth, learning, hardships and happiness, but with a spiritual focus, we can grow to become the people God intended us to be.

-Jonathan Mani


St. John de Britto

Altar Servers Schedule—Feb 2013 Date Candle 1 Candle 2 Marbahasa 1 Marbahasa 2 Bell Readings Thurible

FEB 03 Issac Alvin Alexi Cyrus Jerry Neil Lynn FEB 10 Sarath Aron Jerome Anugrah Christepher Anil Daniel FEB 17 Alvin Alexi Cyrus Issac Samson Deepak Sebin FEB 24 Anugrah Sarath Aron Jerome Neil Manoj Lynn

Christianity was brought to India with the arrival of St. Thomas the Apostle in 52 A.D. Since then, many missionaries from Europe, especially Spain and Portugal have come to India, continuing the mission work of the Apostle. Among these missionaries was St. John de Britto, a Jesuit martyr, who died for his faith in Christ at Oriyur, Tamil Nadu, whose feast day we celebrate on February 4th.

St. John was born in Lisbon, Portugal on March 1st, 1647 to an aristocratic family and against their strenuous objection, he volunteered to do mission work in India in 1673. He traveled to the missions of Madura which is present-day Tamil Nadu and preached the Christian religion in the region of Marava. There he studied the complex Indian caste system, and found that most converts belonged to the lowest caste. He realized that for Christianity to have a lasting influence in India, higher caste members must also convert. He established himself as an Indian ascetic, a Pandara Swami, lived as they lived, dressed in saffron cloak and turban, and held retreats in the wilderness in southern India where interested Indians could visit him. In time he was accepted as a Swami, his reputation grew, and he converted as many as 10,000. His success in converting Indians to Christianity brought anger to some Brahmins and they decided to kill him. St. John and his catechists were imprisoned, tortured, and ordered to leave the country. When he refused, the rajah ordered St. John executed. He was beheaded on February 11th, 1693 in Oriyur. He was beatified on August 21st, 1853 by Pope Pius IX and canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII.

Let us reflect on the life of St. John de Britto and all the martyrs of our Faith and pray that we may attain one-tenth of the courage they contain. To share and testify our faith before others despite what the consequences may be – even death, for there is no greater glory than to die for the sake of our Lord!

-Betty Thazhamon

BIBLE QUIZBIBLE QUIZBIBLE QUIZ

UNSCRAMBLEUNSCRAMBLE Unscramble the letters in orange

coloured boxes above to figure out

the clue below: A Character in the Bible (5 Letters):

1. What is the name of the synagogue official who asked Jesus to heal his

daughter? (6 Letters)

2. According to the Beatitudes, blessed are the _______, for they will be shown

mercy. (8 Letters)

3. Who did God offer to Moses as a spokesman? (5 Letters)

4. We were therefore buried with him through ______into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too

may live a new life -Rom 6:4 (7 Letters)

Last Month’s Answers:

1.Sixth 2. Priest 3. Salvation 4. Barabbas

UNSCRAMBLE Answer:

Sarah

Saint of the Month


February 2013

Documents

Transcript of February 2013