The endless stream of HOPE:  to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour 

Fr Calistus Fernandes

Among the many Marian devotions that enrich the spiritual life of the Church, devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour occupies a special place in the hearts of millions of Catholics worldwide. Unlike the renowned Marian shrines of Lourdes and Fatima, whose origins are linked to apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this devotion is centred on a sacred and ancient icon depicting Mary tenderly holding the Child Jesus. For centuries, this revered image has been a source of comfort, hope, and strength for the faithful. Through Mary's loving intercession before her Son, countless devotees have experienced spiritual renewal, consolation in times of distress, and answers to their prayers. As a result, devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour has transcended geographical and cultural boundaries, becoming one of the most beloved Marian devotions in the universal Church.

A Papal Mission to the World

The original icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is enshrined in the Church of St Alphonsus in Rome, and is entrusted to the care of the Redemptorist Fathers (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer). A significant turning point in the history of the devotion occurred in 1866, when Pope Pius IX entrusted the miraculous icon to the Redemptorists with a memorable mandate: "Make her known throughout the world." Faithful to this papal commission, the Redemptorists became the principal promoters of the devotion, carrying the message of Mary's perpetual help across continents and cultures. Today, the image is venerated in churches and homes throughout the world, and continues to be a source of hope and consolation.

Ancient Roots in Manori

While the Wednesday Novena devotion became widely popular only in the 20th century, devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour has much deeper roots in the Archdiocese of Bombay. The historic Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour at Manori, situated on the shore of the Arabian Sea, stands as one of the oldest centres of this devotion in the region. Built by Portuguese Franciscan missionaries in 1559, the church served generations of local Catholics. During the Maratha-Portuguese conflicts of the 18th century, the church suffered extensive damage, and eventually fell into ruin. It was later rebuilt and renovated in 1815, and again in 1912, preserving its legacy as an enduring symbol of Marian devotion.

The HEART of the matter is… The Matter of the HEART

Fr Terence Murray 

A pre-eminent devotion

Most of us traditional Catholics, covered in Catholicism, will have grown up in a home where a framed image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (sometimes a 3-dimensional one) took pride of place at the altar. In some homes, it continues to do so. Consciously or unconsciously, we bowed before the image, touched and kissed it on our way out, and as we entered the home, and especially before embarking on important ventures. We gathered before it every evening to pray the family Rosary. The Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy highlights the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as one of the most widespread and enduring practices in the church. 

Historical Background  

On June 16, 1675, as St Margaret Mary Alacoque was kneeling on a stone slate, a few feet from the altar, eyes fixed on the tabernacle, our Lord took it upon Himself to set our frigid, pitiless hearts aflame. Breaking the silence of centuries, He made the revelation of His Sacred Heart to her. On her tombstone, inscribed in French, is the message that is said to have emerged from her many revelations, 'If you believe in me, you will experience the power of my heart.' These words show how faith, covenant, and power are woven into a beautiful tapestry for understanding the heart of God.  The devotion to the Sacred Heart was unequivocally called for by Jesus Himself; hence it necessitates reflection on its relevance to our contemporary world to deepen our understanding and practice of it.

Scripture Speaks

The evangelists repeatedly describe Jesus as being 'moved with compassion'. He notices the hungry before they can ask for food (Mt 14:14-16), he stops for blind Bartimeus whom others are trying to silence (Mk 10:46-52); he restores dignity to those ostracised by society (Luke 19:1-10, John 7:53-8:11). These moments reveal a profound truth: the heart of Jesus is never distant from human need. It sees, listens and responds (Heb 4:15). 

Jan G. Vovenmars, a Catholic priest, most recognised for exploring the theological and spiritual significance of the human heart in Scripture, mentions that the heart is referenced over 1163 times in Scripture, which suggests that it is more than a simple body organ.

Different Paths, One GOSPEL 

Sr. I. Sahaya Jeniba DMI

“The lamps are different, but the Light is the same," said the Persian mystic Rumi. This beautifully reflects the lives of these two apostles, who possessed different charisms, gifts, and ministries, yet were united in one mission: proclaiming Christ to the world.

Down through the ages, the Church has been blessed with countless saints, theologians, scholars, and holy men and women. Among them stand two great giants of the Christian faith, pillars who continue to guide and inspire the Church throughout history. They are none other than Saint Peter, the first Apostle and steadfast rock of the Church, and Saint Paul, the great missionary whose zeal carried the Gospel to the nations. Though their paths were different, their message remained one – the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Net and Pen: Two ways to fish for souls

An ordinary fisherman who once knew only nets, rods, and reels now stands in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, holding a key. Yet, this is not an ordinary key. It is the fulfilment of the promise made by Jesus of Nazareth: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19). 

Unlike Peter, Paul never walked with Jesus of Nazareth during His earthly life, nor did he witness His public ministry firsthand. Yet, he glorified Christ through his life, faith, and mission. Highly educated and intellectually gifted, Paul became one of the greatest writers of early Christianity, contributing 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament.

The Roads where the Saints were made

During the Passion of the Lord, Peter denied Jesus three times. Overcome by fear and disappointment, he eventually decided to leave Rome. According to Christian tradition, while fleeing the city, Peter encountered the risen Lord on the way. In astonishment, he asked: "Quo vadis, Domine?" (Where are You going, Lord?) Jesus' silent yet powerful response reminded Peter of His earlier words: "When you were younger, you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." (John 21:18-19). These words revealed the manner of death by which Peter would glorify God.

Reimagining Professional excellence for TEACHERS in Today’s World

Vincent D'Silva

Teaching has never been just another profession. It is the profession that shapes all other professions. Every doctor, engineer, entrepreneur, artist, scientist and leader has, at some point, sat in a classroom and been influenced by a teacher. Yet, in today's rapidly changing world, the expectations placed on teachers have expanded dramatically. 

They are no longer mere transmitters of knowledge. They are mentors, facilitators, role models, counsellors, collaborators and lifelong learners. Professional excellence in teaching, therefore, is not about perfection. It is about the daily commitment to become the very best version of ourselves for the sake of those entrusted to our care.

At the heart of professional excellence lies character and integrity. A teacher's influence extends far beyond the curriculum. Students observe how teachers speak, treat others, handle conflict, and respond to challenges. Integrity, honesty, fairness, reliability and authenticity build trust—the foundation of every meaningful educational relationship. Children may forget many lessons, but they rarely forget how a teacher made them feel.

Excellence also demands professional competence. Good intentions alone are not enough. Teachers must possess strong subject knowledge, effective pedagogical skills and the ability to engage diverse learners. Careful planning, meaningful assessment, constructive feedback and a commitment to completing the prescribed curriculum remain essential responsibilities. As envisioned by NEP 2020, teachers are called to embrace learner-centred, activity-based and experiential approaches that prepare students not merely for examinations, but for life.

Equally important is the commitment to lifelong learning and adaptability. The world our students will inherit is changing at an unprecedented pace. Artificial Intelligence, digital technologies and evolving societal expectations require teachers to continuously update their knowledge and skills.

Where Bullying ends, LOVE begins

Hailley Turakhia Shah & Lynette Turakhia

A Spiritual Perspective on Children's Well-being

Picture a school playground. Two kids argue. One pushes. Another whispers something cruel. Somewhere in the corner, another is quietly left out of the game. Bullying doesn't always wear a name-tag, but it's there. Now picture the same playground where instead of shame, kids hand out high-fives like candy. That's the vision we should be after.

When we started writing this, we were trying to envision how religion, spirituality and social-emotional skills can come together to make children' s lives better in school. We wanted to understand their role in shaping children's thoughts and actions, and what we ended up with was a beautiful melange of a modern schoolyard Cross showing us two pathways to healing and growth, one being social-emotional skills, and the other being spirituality. 

As much as we would like to avoid it, bullying exists today, and is quite pervasive in school compounds. Call it what you may—name calling, gossip-mongering, exclusion, beatings, or cyberbullying (which is basically an internet-enabled form of cruelty). As a society, we're too afraid to accept it in its face, and say out loud that we need help. Where empathy exists, exclusion exits.

The Challenge faced by Education today

Schools are struggling to address bullying. Punishment and suspension often escalate harm, deepening anger in the bully and trauma in the victim. Suspensions may even give bullies more time to rehearse harmful behaviour. While society is trying, are we doing enough? As Matthew 19:14 reminds us, "Let the little children come to me…". Perhaps we must also nurture the spiritual dimension, awakening the inherent goodness within every child.

If you look at bullying, it's not just a verbal, physical, or emotional violation; at a higher level, it's a soul violation. Those who are bullied carry the experience and memory far into their adulthood, and it takes courage to face it, and live with it, even years after. There's a loss of dignity, a sense of doubt – where there should be a sense of belonging and love. Bullying isn't a discipline problem; it's a relational issue. Every bruise may fade. But every insult echoes.

The GIFT nobody wants

Dr Fr John Singarayar SVD

There is a moment in grief that nobody warns you about.

It comes after the casseroles stop arriving. After the last sympathy card. After the people who love you have run out of things to say, and quietly returned to their own lives. You are left sitting in a room that used to hold someone, and the silence has a weight to it. You can feel it on your chest like a hand.

I have sat in that room.

And I will tell you something I could not have believed at the time: God was there. Not performing. Not explaining. Not offering reasons. Just there. The way a father sits with a child who has finally cried herself out. Not fixing anything. Just staying.

That silence did not feel like a gift. It felt like being forgotten.

But I have lived long enough now to know it was one of the holiest things I have ever been given.

And I nearly missed it. Because I kept trying to fill it.

We are, most of us, frightened of silence.

Not the silence of an empty room; we can solve that in thirty seconds with our phones. I mean the deeper silence. The kind that arrives when we have run out of explanations. When prayer starts to feel like talking to a ceiling. When we are finally alone with ourselves and discover we do not entirely like what we find there.

We are endlessly creative about avoiding it. We fill time the way Nature fills a vacuum — instantly, without thinking. We scroll. We schedule. We perform. And if I am honest — and a priest ought to be honest — we do it in church too. We pack the service so full of sound that nobody has to sit with the question God might actually be asking them.

But the things that most need to happen in us almost never happen in the noise.

Consider Elijah. He had just come off the mountain — literally. Called down fire from heaven. Executed the prophets of Baal. Outrun a chariot in the rain. By any measure, the greatest day of his ministry.