Marathi book on Fransalian missionary Fr Jacquier

News published in MISSIONARIES OF St. FRANCIS DE SALES (Fransalians) Pune Provincial website, January 2009

Release of Book on Fr. Jacquier Gurien msfs
30th December 2008, on the day of the Final Profession of 18 of our brothers from Fransalians Seminary a book on Fr. Jacquier Guerin of Ghogargaon was released by Fr. Mario D’souza msfs in the presence Fr. Sebastian Annaikandathil the provincial of Nagpur Province and large number of confreres and guests. Fr. Mario said that normally it would be someone from the Congregation who would write about its history or about its members, but today it is someone who has been touched by the great missionary work done by the congregation who writes about an msfs and about the congregation. It only goes to show the appreciation and the acknowledgment of the good that we as msfs have done, and are doing. Mr. Camil Parkhe a renowned journalist from Pune Sakaal Times expounds the history and the mystery of this great saintly Fransalian Jacquierbaba. He attempts to narrate objectively the spiritual journey of Jacquierbaba from France to Ghogargaon and how he worked untiringly for the up-liftment of the people of Marathawada. This book is certainly a source book of inspiration based on the life and the spirit of Fr. Jacquier Guerin a committed Fransalian Missionary and Visionary. Our Province has sponsored the complete printing and the publication of this book in Marathi as part of our province commitment during this Salesian Year. We thank Mr. Camil Parkhe for his commitment and dedication in bringing out a book on a Fransalian.

Catholic Church's marriage preparation course

GET TUTORED NOW BEFORE TYING THE WEDDING KNOT…
Camil Parkhe
Monday, March 02nd, 2009 AT 11:03 AM
Tags: Christian youths, marry, widding kont, preparation course
Youths attend a marriage preparation course which concluded at Nav Sadhana hall in the city on Sunday. The Catholic Church has made the two-day course mandatory
Pune: Christian youths planning to marry in the next few months this year will have to secure a certificate of having attended a marriage preparation course before they face the altar and say ‘I Do’.
The two-day course for the would-be brides and bridegrooms deals with basic lessons in relationship between husband and wife, intimacy between the two, sex education, responsible parenthood and family planning.
A batch of 80 boys and girls who planned to get married during the next few months attended the course in preparation for their marital life, held at Nav Sadhana Diocesan Pastoral Centre on Tadiwala Road on Saturday and Sunday.
The Catholic Church has made the marriage preparation course as mandatory for marriages solemnised in churches. The Vatican has directed bishops all over the world to organise the courses with the help of experts.
“You may wonder how we celibate priests can guide you about marital life,” said Pune Bishop Valerian D’Souza in his inaugural address on Saturday.
“But many times, people seek our counselling on drug addiction of one of their family members or about some family crisis. We are here to help you to start your married life, so that you are equipped to face the challenges ahead,” he said.
“The Church conducts these courses so that the youths know certain issues, problems and difficulties likely to be faced by newly wed couples and how to face them,” said Fr Roque Alphonso, course coordinator. The Catholic Church does not recognise divorces although it does annul marriages in some rare cases.
“We encourage the would-be husband and wife to attend the course together. The course also involves thought sharing of the two,” said Fr Alphonso. Often the course also provides the first opportunity for the boy and girl to talk to each other, he said.
Except two lectures by the clergy, all the other lectures during the course are given by married couples. Dr Noella Godinho, medical administrator of Sahyadri Hospital in Hadaspsar, guides the youths on sex education, causes of infertility and natural family planning while her husband, Philip, speaks on sexuality, intimacy, the myths and reality of living together.
“The course content is good. It offers insights into many issues related to married life,” said Ajit Waghmare from Sahakarnagar who attended the course along with his fiancée, Pradnya, from Nashik. These courses are held at Navsadhana every two or three months in English, Hindi and Marathi. “The boys and girls come for the course just to secure the mandatory certificate but while going home, they are always happy that they attended it,” says Fr Alphonso.

A Girl who becomes the President
Camil Parkhe
Monday, December 08th, 2008 AT 1:12 PM
Tags: Rashtrapati Pratibhatai Patil (Marathi), book review, president
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Title: Rashtrapati Pratibhatai Patil (Marathi)
Author: Chhaya Mahajan
Publisher: Rohan Prakashan
Pages: 156
Price: Rs 150
Five decades ago, a college-going student was encouraged by her family members to seek nomination to contest the State Assembly election in Maharashtra. Y B Chavan, the first chief minister of Maharashtra, offered her Congress ticket and the girl won the poll. Pratibha Patil later also won the distinction to be the first woman President of India.
Rashtrapati Pratibhatai Patil, a Marathi book written by Dr Chhaya Mahajan, chronicles the journey of a girl born in a conservative family from Jalgaon to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
Pratibha Patil holds many firsts in her 50 years long public life. She was among a handful of women politicians in Maharashtra and in the country who had proved their political leadership in various capacities. She was only 27 and without any political legacy in her family when she entered Maharashtra State legislature in 1962. A loyalist of the Congress party, she held important political posts including that of a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government and the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha before she suddenly went into political hibernation. The political pundits had almost written off when after the return of the Congress at the Centre, she took over the gubernatorial post in Rajasthan.
The book, which is based on a series of interviews with Patil, deals with various events in her personal life — her childhood, marriage and continuous struggle to successfully play her roles as wife, mother, minister, governor and now as the President. The author has pointed out that this had even some times caused tension, albeit temporarily, in her family life. Patil’s views on feminism, a woman’s role in family and in public life, and the so-called conservatism or traditionalism versus modern, liberal outlook becomes interesting addition in the book in this perspective.
The author has mentioned that Pratibha Patil is among a few politicians in Maharashtra who had never quit the Congress, not even after the turbulent political period of the Emergency and has written about her intimate relationship with the Gandhi family. It would have been better if the biographer had dealt in depth on how Patil faced crises in her political life — especially during the Emergency and later — and her close relationship with the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The author also fails to highlight her personality as a politician. However, the author’s narration style is impressive.

PUNE DIOCESE: VATICAN’S HUNT FOR THE NEW BISHOP IS ON
CAMIL PARKHE
reporters@sakaaltimes.com
The Vatican has launched its long and confidential procedure to choose suc cessor to Pune Bishop Valerian D’Souza, who is expected to retire on October 3 on completion of 75 years.
The process for selecting a bishop often takes some months and sometimes even a year. Therefore, Bishop Valerian had submitted his resignation letter to Pope Benedict XVI in June, this year, to facilitate the search for the new incumbent in Pune Bishop’s House.

As per the Catholic Church practice, the selection process for the new bishop is conducted by the Pro-Nuncio, the papal ambassador based in the respective country, in coordination with the administration in the diocese concerned.

Panels of a few priests in the diocese and also outside the diocese are considered for the post. The selection committee seeks views of some senior priests on character, administrative abilities etc of the probable candidates. The process goes on until the selection committee shortlists a few candidates. The pro-nuncio in New Delhi then sends the list of the shortlisted priests to the Pope for his final approval.

No lobbying, canvassing or signature campaigns are permitted in the selection process.
Secrecy in the selection process is considered of utmost importance. Therefore, none of the officials in the Pune diocese would like to either con?rm or deny launch of the search for the new bishop.
“Priests having good administrative experience are considered for the post of the bishop who has to ensure smooth functioning of various parishes, schools, colleges, social service centres in his diocese,” said Fr Joe Pithekar, a senior Jesuit who has been a witness to appointments of many bishops in various dioceses in the State.

Prior to his selection as bishop, D’Souza had served as principal of St. Jude’s School in Dehu Road for seven years and was also the vicar general, the second-in command in the diocese hierarchy.
If the Holy See has already stamped its approval on a candidate as the new bishop, his name would be announced on or before October 3. If the selection process is not completed by then, the Vatican may ask Bishop D’Souza to continue till his successor is announced and takes over the charge.

St Joseph Church at Kendal near Rahuri in Ahmednagar district is one of the oldest Catholic church of the Catholic in western Maharashtra

KARVE’S SEX LITERACY MAGAZINE REVIVED

KARVE’S SEX LITERACY MAGAZINE REVIVED
CAMIL PARKHE reporters@sakaaltimes.com
PUNE: Samaj Swasthya, a Marathi sex education magazine published by R D Karve till 1950s, has been revived by a group of activists who say the periodical is needed now more than the conservative society of the previous century.
January 14 is the 126th birth anniversary of Raghunath Dhondo Karve, pioneer of birth control measures and sex education in India.
The activists said that the younger generation urgently needs sex education at a time when it is exposed to sex-related materials in the media and the State government is dillydallying over plans to introduce sex education in schools.
“We want our society to develop scientific attitude towards sexual health,” said Sanglibased Dr Pradeep Patil, psychiatrist and editor of the revived periodical. The first issue of the bi-monthly was released in October, last year.
Patil said this is the only Marathi magazine providing sex education from purely scientific and psychological aspects. The magazine’s editorial board com prises Anjali Mulay, Manisha Sabnis and Ashutosh Shirke. The email address of the magazine is samajswasthya@yahoo.in Samaj Swasthya, published by Karve from 1927 to 1953, had scandalised the conservative people in Mumbai, Pune and other towns as it carried photos of nude models on its cover and a logo, ‘Nudity lies in the eyes of the beholder’.
The magazine carried articles attempting to provide scientific information on sex and birth control methods at a time when even the word ‘sex’ was a taboo.
In Pune, Karve’s mission was actively supported by his cousin Shakuntalabai Paranjapye, daughter of Wrangler R P Paranjapye, India’s first high commissioner to Australia.
Shakuntalabai who regularly wrote in ‘Samaj Swasthya’ during those days also ran a birth control clinic for women at her residence located opposite Fergusson College.
Amol Palekar has directed a Marathi film ‘Dhyas Parva’ on the life and mission of Karve. EMAILreporters@sakaaltimes.com

Pune churches aid