APPOINTMENTS - V

Fr Jervis D’Souza : to be Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Bombay

Fr K. T. Emmanuel : to be Additional Secretary to the Archbishop, while continuing to the Staff of the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of with Residence at the Holy Name Cathedral, Fort

Fr James M. D’Silva : (on loan from Vasai Diocese) to be Assistant, St Jude Church, Jeri-Meri, and Principal of St. Jude High School, Jeri-Meri

Fr Gavin J. M. D’Souza : to be Assistant, Our Lady of Fatima Church, Sewri, and Principal of Fatima High School, Sewri

Fr Gavin Lopes : to be Assistant, Our Lady of Health Church, Sahar, and Principal of Our Lady of Health High School, Sahar

Fr Prakash Tuscano, OFM Cap : to be Assistant, St. Anthony Church, Mankhurd, and Principal of Padua High School, Mankhurd

Fr Pravin Fernandes : to be Assistant, St. Joseph Church, Colaba

Fr Edwin Gaurea : to be Assistant at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Majiwada (and not as announced earlier)

Fr Joseph Castellino : to be on the Staff at Our Lady of Health Church, Sahar

Fr Joaquim A. D’Costa : to be on the Staff at St. Ignatius Church, Jacob Circle

Fr Donath D’Souza : to be on the Staff at Our Lady of Salvation Church, Dadar

Fr Ralph A. Fernandes : to be on the Staff at St. Francis Xavier Church, Vile Parle

Fr T. O. Jacob : to be on the Staff at St. Sebastian Church, Marouli

Fr Savio de Sales : to be Diocesan Director of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, while continuing as Assistant at Our Lady of Victories, Mahim

Fr Joseph Gonsalves : deputed to do Masters in Social Work

Fr Minguel D’Souza, SFX : to be Assistant, Our Lady of Fatima Church, Ambernath

Fr Vitorino Fernandes, SFX : to be Assistant, Sacred Heart Church, Roha

The above appointments take effect from June 1, 2012.

(To be continued)

+ Oswald Cardinal Gracias,

Archbishop of Bombay.

May 14, 2012.

EDITORIAL

PERVASIVENESS OF HIS PRESENCE

Perhaps one of the best pictorial examples of Christians being confused and dumbfounded is the description of the event of the Ascension of Christ being taken into heaven and disappearing into the clouds, which has often been misinterpreted. When Jesus had gone from their sight two men in white asked the apostles “why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” (Acts 1:10-11). This is the core question for believers throughout the ages. This leads to the next question, which is: “Now what?” Is Christianity a religion with a ‘pie in the sky attitude’ leading to inaction and escape from the world because we merely focus on a farewell to Christ’s historical and limited presence to the community.

A modern generation that relies on science, space exploration and technology needs to hear the Christian interpretation of this mystery in a way that is not naive or simplistic. The Ascension of Jesus is not just Jesus’ physical absence but about a different kind of presence. Jesus ascending to the Father described in a dramatic way enveloped by the cloud emphasises the pervasiveness of His presence in the universe as Triune God, challenges all categories of time and space.

The Ascension, this neglected and misunderstood mystery teaches us many powerful truths about our religion in whose light we must live. Jesus cannot be captured by any one country. He is Lord of all nations. He is no longer bound to any one language. He is not owned by any one culture. He belongs to all cultures. Jesus is the universal Lord. Every nook and cranny of our world comes within His redeeming and healing grace.

The Ascension teaches us that Jesus is now with us in a new kind of a way, not visually but in His spiritual, sacramental presence. Our experience of Jesus is not like that of the disciples who saw Him, touched Him, and ate with Him. Our experience of the Risen Lord is like that of billions since then, who have real contact with Christ through faith, the sacraments and the life of the Church. He is with us with the same redeeming power and cleansing love as He was with the Apostles.

Finally, in rightly understanding the significance of the Ascension, we discover that the commission given first to the disciples is also given to us. “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel.” This is a daunting task! However, we have been promised the power that comes from the Holy Spirit. This certainly answers the question: Now, what do we do?

Jesus may no longer be a tangible presence, but this does not mean we are alone. Having conquered the chaos of sin and death, He is exalted with God and still lives with us in His Spirit. The Spirit will help us to spread this good news “to the ends of the earth.”

The Spirit becomes the agent of change. From now on we have work to do. We have a commission to fulfill. From now on we are the Body of Christ. We must proclaim the Good News. We must drive out demons that hold us in their addicting clutches. We must embrace all people with the merciful love of God. We must stand as answer to the question: where did Jesus go?

The Ascension means that Jesus is gone from our sight but not from our life!