MY FAITH IS ROCK SOLID!

My faith is rock solid!

Dear brothers and sisters,

Being born in a Catholic family, going to church on Sundays, saying all the prayers (without even understanding the words), and studying in a missionary school headed by a priest as principal and a nun as headmistress were all the taken-for-granted part of my childhood and teenage years.

It was during my junior college days that I started asking myself questions about The Trinity, Mother Mary, Saint Joseph, the Twelve Disciples and saints etc.

I realised that the solid facts that made me proud about my religion are: 

My God is three in one, The Holy Trinity, as compared to other religions that boast of many gods and goddesses.

Jesus Christ's teachings have evolved with time, making the Christian Way Of Life practical and lively, and not dogmatic as I found in the teachings of other religions.

Mother Mary was the first person in the New Testament to hear the 'Word of God' and she became the key instrument in the 'birth' of Christanity.

The first seed of faith that was sowed in my heart was the belief in the Immaculate Conception, that the Virgin Mary was kept free of original sin from conception.

~ If a simple homily young woman like Mary can believe in God and say that 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word'. And if this belief has survived for more than 2,000 years and swelled to billions of faithful, then who am I to question its truth?

~ If the ministry that was formed by Jesus by calling of the fishermen (considered illiterate) can survive and spread throughout the world, then who am I to question its fruitfulness?

I realised that it was the great old Abraham's complete surrender to God and righteousness, that comes from faith, that made Lord fulfil his promise made to him and his descendants that he would inherit the world.

Slowly, my eyes opened to faith, and I started experiencing 'miracles' in my life. 

Just like Pope Clement XI has said — I want to do what you ask of me, in the way you ask, for as long as you ask, because you ask it — I have also surrendered my life to the Most High.

The Christian history reveals that it was not only saints but the lay faithful have also experienced the same difficulties as their Master. The definition of truth is an endless, complex pursuit, and good men and women have suffered the pain of both controversy and error. It is only when the believer is confident in his faith toward God can he be certain that he is saved and on his way to eternity with Christ.

According to Catechesis V — It is not only among us, who are marked with the name of Christ, that the dignity of faith is great; all the business of the world, even of those outside the Church, is accomplished by faith. By faith, marriage laws join in union persons who were strangers to one another. By faith, agriculture is sustained; for a man does not endure the toil involved unless he believes he will reap a harvest. By faith, seafaring men, entrusting themselves to a tiny wooden craft, exchange the solid element of the land for the unstable motion of the waves. Not only among us does this hold true but also, as I have said, among those outside the fold. For though they do not accept the Scriptures but advance certain doctrines of their own, yet even these they receive on faith.

J Mathew

Jollywell: DNA’s Pune edition touches three.

Jollywell: DNA’s Pune edition touches three.: "DNA’s Pune edition touches three. ‘Wow’ or ‘How’ this English daily reached this ‘young’ figure may be many people’s reaction. Launching a..."

DNA’s Pune edition touches three.

DNA’s Pune edition touches three.

‘Wow’ or ‘How’ this English daily reached this ‘young’ figure may be many people’s reaction.

Launching at a time when the city was held by two ‘adult’ national newspapers that started it editions many years ago, the initial ‘publishing’ pangs were managed by a thin staff who worked even on their weekly offs.

Then came the newspaper’s opportunity to deliver. And it printed two editions — morning and afternoon — when Mumbai came under terror attacks in 2008.

Many desk staff worked round the clock to give updated information and Puneties became part of history when they held the paper on the noon of November 27 in 2008. The newspaper printed 30,000 copies on that day, and it counted in many ways.

Adorned by an innovative design, all-colour pages, in-depth and informative columns, and a youthful zeal to connect to readers, the paper took its baby steps with a childlike curiosity and a willingness to form a harmonious blend that captures the spirit of the city.

Celebrating our first anniversary at a time when global slowdown had severely hit the Indian economy, forcing many publishing houses to issue pink slips, made many to question our existence, and subsistence.

Growing competition and a passion to ‘be different’ made DNA to quickly learn to take successful strides. And it did raise eyebrows, both on and off the paper.

The second year was sprinkled with many path-breaking stories with citizens noticing and accepting our paper and its unique name. Our reportage gave readers their value for money, and our community-connect initiatives made many to take up pens for the overall development of the city.

A socially active and vibrant city like Pune gave the paper the requisite environment to grow and prosper, and in return, it bore fruits by capturing and telling the true spirit of the city on the citizens’ doorstep, every day.

DNA has touched the hearts of Puneites, and has finally arrived to show ‘how’ it became ‘wow’.

Come, walk with DNA as it touches more milestones.

Jollywell: Living in a vicious circle of poor governance

Jollywell: Living in a vicious circle of poor governance: "The independent corporator of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), Maruti Bhapkar, is crying hoarse over the populist announcement..."

Benefit of traffic confusion

Driving in Pune is an art, and you have to learn it the hard way. RuIes are made and broken on the road daily by the people behind the wheels. It is free for all. One can take a left, right, U-turns at will on any part of the stretch. The traffic police department is trying to put some sense and semblance on the streets by converting two-way to one-way and vice versa, but the object of its beneficiaries is to rule the road by flouting rules. One can see two-wheeler riders multitasking on the road — driving with one hand, talking on a cellphone with the other. And if you, the ideal follower of traffic rules and wearing a helmet, dare to look at the ‘offenders’, be prepared to receive a glare, as they are the masters of the road. Even if both their hands are holding the handle, then also they will not hear you blowing the horn, as they must be in their own world with earphones plugged. But the chaos on the roads has its benefits also. My friend’s wife told me she is happy with the traffic confusion on the city roads as her helmet-wearing hubby is forced to concentrate on the road and not get ‘distracted’ by the ‘pretty things’ walking on the footpaths.