Minutes of 10th Year CALL MEET

The Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Christian Association for Lay Leaders (CALL) on the 26th Oct 2011 at the Arch Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Santhome Chennai

THE TENTH GET TOGETHER ON 26th OCTOBER 2010
AT ARCH DIOCESAN PASTORAL CENTRE SANTHOME CHENNAI

The annual get together of Christian Association for Lay Leadership (CALL) was held on 26th Oct 2010 in Arch Diocesan Pastoral Centre Santhome, Chennai. The meeting formally started at 11.30 am with sharing of the one year experiences of those who had come for the meeting. The self introduction of the members followed. The following members were present: Rev M C Michael, Josephraj, Dheepam, Anthony Fernandez, Gnanaraj, Sara Christie, Armstrong, Alex, Kavaskar, Dr John Bosco, Women Wing President Catholic Union Dr Arul Jyothi and Sudha
The Following were invited: Auxilia Peter (Women’s Commission, Chennai), Sheila, Rosario, Xavier, Pauldoss, Jayaseelan, Rita,
Invited but Expressed Inability: Rita Tanjavur, Sheila, Rosario, Edward Tensing
Absented: Jayaseelan, Pauldoss, Xavier,

Gnanaraj explained the purpose and objectives of the gathering as envisaged in the first meet held ten years ago at Josephraj’s residence at Chengalpattu.
1. to share one year experiences, sorrows, agonies, victories, failures, ventures etc
2. to plan concretely where intervention can be made as individuals, as groups, as members of organizations, associations, movements
3. To revive and revitalize the link among the various catholic youth and workers organizations.

Further he recalled the tasks listed out in the earlier meeting held at Arch Diocesan Pastoral Centre Santhome, Chennai.
1. To help women entrepreneurs in consultation with Tamil Nadu Minorities Development Corporation Ltd, Chennai
2. To conduct education and career guidance for catholic youth at Vicariate level,
3. To help the catholic community to make use of internet as a source of income
4. To sustain, guide and animate youth movements like YCS/YSM, AICUF, YCW, DYC etc through dynamic and critical intervention.

The ball was set rolling by inviting Tony Fernandez on his foray in to body politics by launching Indhya Christhuva Makkal Katchi (Indian Christian People’s Party) a year ago, later by Armstrong on his involvement with Tamil Christhuva Viduthalai Iyakkam(Tamil Christian Liberation Movement), Thookku thandanaikku Ethirana Iyakkam (Movement to abolish Capital Punishment), Kavaskar from Idinthakarai on the Peoples Struggle against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tirunelveli Dist , Josephraj on his efforts to obtain Most Backward Classes - MBC status for all the Christians in Tamil Nadu, Gnanaraj’s visit to Bangkok, Thailand as YCS/AICUF delegate from India to the 10th anniversary of Cardijn Community International - CCI and General Assembly.

Tony was jubilant about his sharing of the experiences after launching the political outfit. He has realized that the mobilization of people within the church is not possible as both the church and the laity have not considered necessary. Having worked with the Diocesan Youth Commission, catholic renewal movement of india (CRMI), Catholic Union (AICU), Diocesan Laity Commission, National Biblical Catechetical Liturgical Commission (NBCLC) Bangalore and association with other youth groups like YCS, YCW, AICUF, CWM he has realized that creation of participatory structure within the church is still a pipe dream. However, having been trained to go out to the world to be salt of the earth by the Vatican II, he could not sit idle. There are a number of Christian political outfit already some with the overt blessing of the church some without any official support. Vazhvurimai Iyakkam and Kristhava Jananayaga Katchi are two examples for the former and latter. Still with long term plans the party was launched with Most Dr Rev A M Chinnappa SDB, Ph D the Arch Bishop of Madras-Mylapore and Most Rev Lawrence Pious Auxiliary Bishop of Madras-Mylapore. The response from the laity in Chennai area was overwhelming. Similarly, the response from other places like Puduchery, Trichy etc was also encouraging. However, some have objected to the new outfit as already some existing outfits are functioning with similar aims. Albeit the slight murmur, the group went on to contest in the local body elections in Tamil Nadu on the 17th October in some areas where the Christians are in a sizeable manner. A moderate presence is made and in particular, the support to the mayoral candidate of MDMK for Trichy made the candidate to the third position. Many candidates have won up to 200 votes in many areas. However, having forayed in to the new area, lots of lessons have to be learnt in the near future. The official church also backed out in the wake of criticism by many.
Josephraj intervened to suggest that the precautions to be taken to work as a political party, need some prominent person with sound financial background who can travel around with a small crowd to make impression of the existence of the party, a strong media coverage, regular programs to highlight the party etc. At the same time he shared the fact that except the Christian fisher folk no other Christian community enjoys the Most Backward Class status in the state. Hence, efforts are taken by him with his friends shortly to convene conference at Chennai to invite the ruling party ministers and CM to make a formal request to include all Christians in the MBC. He lamented that the church is taking a lot of efforts to impress the Central Govt to extend the benefits of the SC to Christian converts, has little paid attention to the above problem. Hence, we must move out of the church to achieve the needs of the community through political intervention.

Kavaskar from idinthakarai Tirunelveli has shared the background of the struggle of the people of his village against the koodankulam atomic Plant (KKAP). He stated that the danger level is high and the recent events in Fukushima, Japan has doubled the fears hence the overwhelming participation of the coastal people in the struggle. However, the public is not convinced that after a gap of two decades, after spending a colossal sum of Rs 10000 Crores the renewed struggle has not won any support from the public. Further, the Nadar community has openly supported the plant and accused the fisher folk of preventing the development of their community as well as the area. The direct involvement of the church including the bishop and clergy has further overshadowed the struggle. The state Govt has stopped with a resolution in the assembly to stop the work in the plant and has not further progressed. The dilemma of the protesters is how long the struggle can be extended and what would be the strategy to sustain the movement to internationalize the issue of nuclear hazard. It seems the Govt has not learnt any lesson, since the accident in the Three Mile Island (France), Chernobyl (Russia), Fukushima (Japan),

Armstrong shared his experience with the movement for abolition of capital punishment in India in the wake of the rejection of mercy petitions of the accused in the Rajiv Gandhi murder case by the President Of India and the Tamil Christians Liberation Movement in support of Internal displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka for early rehabilitation and resettlement in their homeland, taking up the war crimes against the President of Sri Lanka in the international forums including the International Court of Justice, he has been successful in organizing many meetings in favour of the Sri Lankan Tamils along with the like minded people including the students and staff from Arul Kadal, Foreshore Estate. For the abolition of capital punishment he has collaborated with various political outfits from MDMK, Communist Parties, Naam Tamizhar etc.
Gnanaraj Finally has shared the experience as the Indian delegate to the CCI Tenth Anniversary and General Assembly at Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting was attended by 45 delegates from Srilanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Belgium, France, Kenya, Burma, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Indonesia and India held at the St Camillian Pastoral Care Centre, Lat Krabang, Bangkok, Thailand from 23rd to 25th July 2011. Rev Antoine sondang former chaplain IMCS/ICMICA delivered the key note address on “Peace Building Through Sustainable Development”. A notable participant was Charles Santiago former YCW and Civil society member now opposition MP in the Parliamen Klang Malaysia. Thereafter the country wise reports were presented to chalk out the future work. The cultural evening was held on the evening of 24th where every country delegates were asked to share the dance/song forms of their countries. The meeting elected the new international team of President, Secretary, Treasurer, Collaborators and Co-opted members. Translation of the works of Cardinal Cardijn in to various languages, celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Vatican II, feast of Pentecost to be celebrated with like minded youth groups of the locality to ensure unity of purpose etc were some of the resolutions of the assembly.
Apart from the assembly, he shared his observation on Thailand.
The lunch was served at 2.00 pm. Thereafter the meeting continued till 3.30 pm with common sharing on the campaign against the nuclear energy and expressed that the group organized a one day fast along with like minded secular movements, parties, organizations like Physicians for Peace, Pennurimai Iyakkam, DYC, on the marina beach as early as 1988 on the wake of Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Russia. A note of thanks giving was given by Dheepam the host for the meet to everyone including M C Michael who despite his age and preoccupation at his school and parish, for having come to coordinate the meeting, Gnanaraj for sending SMS and contacts to make this meeting to happen and Tony Secretary, Arch Diocesan Laity Commission for having arranged the meeting hall and lunch. Another one year full of action by the members is wished to every one. May the Lord give us the strength and stamina and healthy life to carry on our campaigns and struggles and involvement.

(Gnanaraj T X)
Coordinator
x_g_raj@yahaoo.co.uk ,
Rev M C Michael 9865097601, Anthony Fernandez 9789978155, Josephraj 9443326295/27426295 Gnanaraj 9445393659 / 9445003794, Sara 9283228113, Sheila 9840997999, Armstrong 9445487103, Jeyaseelan 9841979928, Dheepam 9444330393, Paul Doss 9884249461, James Victor 9443131231, Rita Devanesan 9443710133, Rosario 9840251065, Tensingh 9444248879,