Communications Day: Pauline nuns highlight old values

The Daughters of St Paul in Goa on May 24 telecast a video documentary on cultural values and good customs as part of their celebration of the 54 World Communications Day.

May 25, 2020

PANAJI: The Daughters of St Paul in Goa on May 24 telecast a video documentary on cultural values and good customs as part of their celebration of the 54 World Communications Day.

The 25-minute program interpolated examples from the Bible and everyday lives to highlight the values and customs that the nuns regretted have disappeared from society.

The program was broadcast on CCR TV, a Goa-based channel linked to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

The examples the nuns used included washing of hands, helping the poor and marginalized, offering a seat to the vulnerable in buses, standing for truth even if one is alone, blessing food as an expression of gratitude to farmers and those involved in preparing it, and feeding the poor at weddings.

These values were shared by people who had experienced them in their lives. Many had imbibed the values from their parents and grandparents.

Those values bequeathed by elders to their younger generations were the theme Pope Francis suggested for this year’s World Communication Day. “That you may tell your children and grandchildren” (Ex 10:2) Life becomes History.

Explaining about the theme Pope Francis says, “I would like to devote this year’s message to the theme of storytelling, because I believe that, so as not to lose our bearings, we need to make our own the truth contained in good stories. Stories that build up, not tear down; stories that help us rediscover our roots and the strength needed to move forward together.”

Sister Celine Sebastian, animator of the Daughters of St Paul in Goa, says they have been reflecting on how to convey to people the Pope’s message for World Communications Day. “Many are not even aware of the significance and existence of World Communications Day,” she told Matters India on May 24.

“We also realized many values we live are unconsciously learned from our parents and grandparents, which were handed down to them from their forefathers. So we thought of giving a new impetus to the vanishing values from our life and the result was this video,” Sister Sebastian added.

The nuns’ program let the lay people share the values they learned in their families.

Kenneth Lopez, a senior aircraft engineer, said he liked the idea of standing for truth. “Values we cultivate from childhood help us challenge wrongs in society, fearlessly and persistently.” However, he cautioned that speaking up would “cost us, Sometimes our life itself.”

Emmanuel Menezes, a musician and computer engineer, spoke of the values he learned in his family. “I grew up in a family where I was taught to respect elders. In our young age good values were deeply ingrained in us, by our elders. To help someone weak and vulnerable was only natural and normal. But sadly, helping nature is vanishing from our society and ignoring the plight of others is the new normal,” he said.

For Juliet Ferriera, a homemaker, the custom of beginning the day with prayer “strengthens our faith and increases our confidence. It helps us to face the many challenges of the day. It also helps to lead a disciplined life.”

“Our forefathers walked miles early morning to visit a church, temple or mosque. This kept them healthy physically, emotionally and emotionally,” she added.

Stacy Nickie Ferriera, another computer engineer recalled, ‘Our grandparents taught us the need to wash and change clothes, whenever we returned home after spending time at school or work. This was naturally observed among the people. Now the corona virus forces us to return to our old customs.”

The program also included a message from Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa.

The prelate said everyone has the fascination for stories that are deeply human. “We grew up loving to hear stories from our elders and that childhood sense of wonderment accompanies us through life. They all have a story to tell and we fall a willing prey to their charm.”

Archbishop Ferrao also pointed out that human history is woven with “an immeasurable treasure of stories, handed down from generation to generation across all cultures. As we grow in age, we realize that much of what we are has been shaped by the stories that we have heard, because they helped us to develop a better understanding of life, of ourselves and of others. “

Commenting on the program, Archbishop Ferrao added, “It is my hope and wish that this program may help us realize that, through shared stories and memories, we need to continue to hand over to the next generation the wisdom, the experience and the Faith that we have received from our elders, so that we remain faithful to our spiritual heritage and obtain the strength needed to move forward in these turbulent times.”--Matters India