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Bombay’s Catholic newspaper marks its 175th anniversary – Crux

Bombay’s Catholic newspaper marks its 175th anniversary – Crux

The Examiner – 175th Anniversary

By Nirmala Carvalho, Contributor – Mar 11, 2024

MUMBAI, India – As it marks its 175th anniversary, Cardinal Oswald Gracias calls Bombay’s diocesan newspaper “a beacon of truth, a voice of reason, and a source of inspiration for countless individuals across India and beyond.”

“As we reflect on this momentous occasion, it is impossible not to be awed by the rich history and the legacy of excellence that The Examiner embodies,” the cardinal said.

“Since its inception, The Examiner has remained steadfast in its commitment to upholding the values of the Church, fostering dialogue, and serving as a catalyst for positive change within our community and society at large,” he added.

[Editor’s note: Nirmala Carvalho, Crux’s Asia correspondent, was awarded The Golden Pen Award for Excellence in Journalism, by Cardinal Gracias on March 10. The entire Crux staff offers our congratulations to her!] 

Gracias noted that beyond its role as a purveyor of news and information, The Examiner has played a vital role in shaping the narrative surrounding critical issues facing the Church and society.

“Through its insightful articles and reporting, thought-provoking commentary, and unwavering advocacy for justice and compassion, The Examiner has not only informed minds but also touched hearts, inspiring countless individuals to action and reflection,” he said.

The Examiner was established on July 10, 1849, by the Jesuits. It is the oldest English language Catholic newspaper in India.

“Looking ahead to the next 175 years and beyond, let us recommit ourselves to the values and ideals that have guided The Examiner since its inception: Integrity, excellence, and a steadfast commitment to serving the Church and society with humility and compassion,” Gracias added.

“May this anniversary year be a time of renewal, celebration, and rededication to the noble mission of journalism as a force for good in the world,” he said.

Father Anthony Charanghat has been the editor of The Examiner for over 25 years, and associated with the magazine for 50 years.

“As raise our hearts on the occasion of the 175th year of the uninterrupted publication of The Examiner to give thanks to God for the gift that He has given us,” he said in a message sent to Crux.

“We do not take this occasion to trumpet the glories of our work, for we are just frail vessels of clay made from the earth, and unto dust we shall return. But praise we must: Give glory to God for the wonders and marvels of His work, and loudly proclaim and communicate the grandeur of His Love.,” the priest added.

“Where do we begin to tell the story of how great the love of God can be, greater than the ocean and the sea, a communion between God and humanity! This is the essence of the branding of The Examiner insignia which gives us the motto, and the icon of what a religious Catholic newspaper ought to be,” Charanghat said.

The priest said The Examiner is a religious magazine which gives primacy of place to human relationship with God.

“Hence, The Examiner is called to function as a mirror of God’s Love revealed by His Word, who is Christ. The Examiner, being a Catholic religious newspaper, has to interpret the deeper insights of God’s Word in the language of the common person,” he said.

Charanghat said the newspaper has employed the language of scripture to convey the message of the mission entrusted to every person “to fulfil their call to bring the Kingdom values on Earth.”

“The literary genre of the language of the Bible has been extensively used in The Examiner and by our writers who were legends of yore, that has elevated the tenor and tone of The Examiner and raised it to the touch of the Divine, casting a spiritual glow that makes The Examiner so riveting,” he said.

“It is interesting to observe that human religious writings are always inspired by God, especially if they mirror the revelations of God, as evidenced by the authors of the Bible. The language of the Bible has been extolled as the best literature in the world which touches the mind, moves the heart and changes the world. The Bible has been deemed universally as the greatest story of Love ever told,” the priest added.

“Above all, the Bible is a story of Salvation realised in the redeeming life of Jesus Christ, our mediator between God and man,” he said.

He also wanted to pay tribute to a galaxy of eminent writers and contributors who have “embellished the volumes of The Examiner over the years with their expertise, knowledge and writing skills, who have made it a readers’ delight to be found not only in many Christian homes, but also avidly read in public libraries, educational institutions and hospitals, to bring comfort and solace in the healing powers of God in their moments of pain and suffering.”

“I cannot fail to thank the dynamic and exuberant Father Joshan Rodrigues, who has been a pillar of strength, upholding the edifice of The Examiner as he assisted me in editing the content and operations of The Examiner, and on several occasions, writing the leaders of the newsweekly,” Charanghat said.

Looking to the future, the editor said it is his sincere belief and hope that the next generation of the newspaper’s family will “surely steer the forward march of The Examiner to greater heights into the last lap of the bicentennial.”

Award for movie about Catholic priest using yoga to treat addicts – News from Crux.

MUMBAI, India – A documentary about the transformational power of yoga in fighting drug addiction won the Special Jury Mention Award at the 2018 Jaipur International Film Festival.

What is unique about the Kripa Dharavi Center in Mumbai, which finds and takes in some of the most vulnerable members of society, is that it was founded by a Catholic priest.

The Circle was directed by Philippa Frisby, a British filmmaker and certified Iyengar yoga teacher, she met Father Joseph Pereira, the founder of the Kripa Foundation.

After visiting the center, she felt compelled to make the film.

“The Circle is a story that has to be told,” she told Crux.

The documentary tells the tale of four street children through their individual stories, portraying their harrowing ordeals while living on the streets.

The film was shot organically over two years, following their lives as they develop.

It shows how they fall into a cycle of addiction – one from just 7-years-old – and how they live out of trashcans and survive by selling refuse, using drugs to block out their inner pain.

The film shows the children going to school, forming friendships with other boys in the Kripa Dharavi Center, and beginning the process of rebuilding their self-esteem and hope for the future.

The film gives a vivid insight into daily life in the center and the people who run it, some of whom were themselves street children struggling with addiction.

The staff, too, have managed to overcome terrible hardship to turn their life full circle and become role models for the children in their care.

Frisby said she had limited funds to make the film, which was entirely self-financed, and that it was only possible because of her Indian crew.

Originally planned as a trilogy of 10-minute features, the project grew into a 65-minute feature.

“I had used up almost all my savings for this film and when we won, I was overwhelmed. But for me, it was more important to share this inspirational story with the world,” Frisby told the Times of India.

Speaking to Crux, Pereira said the work Kripa Dharavi Center began two decades ago, as the number of street kids making their way into Mumbai, continued to grow.

He said various charities were started to help the children, but it was more difficult for those addicted to drugs, who often continued to live truly marginalized lives on the streets.

“We extended our care to those addicts,” the priest said, but adding it was not easy.

“As soon as we took them into Kripa we realized that these kids could not adjust to inhouse treatment, and they became a nuisance to even the addicts that came from regular homes,” he said. “So we had to create a facility to have them come together in Dharavi itself where they spent their time in finding a source of livelihood by selling garbage and buying inhalants to sustain their habit.”

The Dharavi neighborhood in Mumbai is the location of the second largest slum in Asia, and home to over 700,000 people. It is probably most famous for being the location of the 2008 Danny Boyle film, Slumdog Millionaire. Several of the actors were also from the slum.

Pereira said when children began to be freed from their addiction, they could then in turn help others.

“One such person, Deepak began using his recovery to help other addicts. Gradually, Rajan and others too joined him. The scheme to cater to these children was helped by the International Labor Organization and we began to create a community of recovering children, cleansed in the very place of their living,” the priest said.

He said the project originally reached out also to girls, but this upset the authorities.

“We are still trying to get a facility to save these street girls from all kinds of trafficking,” Pereira told Crux.

The priest said many young students from foreign universities also visit the center and share with the children various useful skills.

“What was a vicious circle of a street child being abused and led into addiction became a pathway to find meaning and love in life that they in turn are sharing with other afflicted addicts, resulting in a virtuous circle of help generating help and even resulting in a global circle of healing,” Pereira said.

Now more people will find out about this in The Circle, and Frisby said it was a unique experience.

“It has been an amazing journey. It has been a life enhancer and life-changer,” the director said.