IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS IN SCHOOLS

 MESSAGE FOR THE 6^th Annual Sports Meet, Cluny Convent School

Deepatoli, Kokar (Held at Khelgaon, Ranchi, Jharkhand): 30 November 2023

Respected principal, the management, teachers, parents, well-wishers and our incredibly talented dear students of the school,

I am grateful for your invitation to be part of your Annual Sports Meet. I feel privileged and humbled. I stand before you with immense pride and excitement as we gather to celebrate the spirit of sportsmanship and the incredible achievements of our students at this year's Sports Day. It is truly an honour to witness the dedication, passion, and companionship that our students bring to the field.

Sports Day is not just a day of competition; it is a day of unity, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence. It is a day when our students showcase not only their physical competence but also their flexibility or resilience, discipline, and ability to rise above challenges. Today, we witness the embodiment of the values we hold dear in our school—determination, respect, and the relentless pursuit of success.

As we look around at the sea of colours representing different houses, let us remember that each colour is a testament to the diversity and richness of our school community. Whether they stand on the podium or not, our athletes have demonstrated a commitment to personal growth and have set an example for all of us.

To the parents, thank you for supporting and encouraging your children to participate wholeheartedly in sports. Your role in nurturing their talents and instilling fair play and perseverance values is invaluable. Our students are not just athletes but ambassadors of the values we hold dear in our school.

To our dedicated teachers and coaches, your efforts in honing the skills and character of our students have not gone unnoticed. You are the guiding light, shaping the future of these young minds, and teaching them that success is not just about winning on the field but about the journey, the lessons learned, and the friendships forged.

So, let us enjoy the spirit of Sports Day, celebrate the achievements, and applaud the efforts of every participant. May this day inspire all of us to embrace a healthy and active lifestyle, face challenges head-on, and always strive for excellence in everything we do.

Thank you, and let the sports begin!

Importance of Sports in Schools

Sports play a crucial role in schools, contributing to students' overall development and well-being. Here are some key reasons highlighting the importance of sports in schools:

Physical Health: Sports promote physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Regular physical activity helps prevent obesity, improves cardiovascular health, and enhances overall well-being.

Mental Health: Engaging in sports is not just about physical health; it also has positive effects on mental health. Physical activity is known to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, promoting better mental well-being among students.

Teamwork and Collaboration: Team sports teach students the importance of collaboration, teamwork, and communication. These skills are valuable in sports and various aspects of life, including academics and future careers.

Discipline and Time Management: Participation in sports requires commitment, discipline, and time management. Students learn to balance their academic responsibilities with sports training, helping them develop essential life skills.

Character Building: Sports help instill important character traits such as leadership, perseverance, resilience, and sportsmanship. Facing both victory and defeat on the field teaches students how to handle success and failure with grace and dignity.

Social Skills: Through sports, students have the opportunity to interact with peers, coaches, and opponents. This interaction enhances their social skills, including communication, empathy, and the ability to work with diverse groups of people.

Healthy Competition: Healthy competition is a fundamental aspect of sports. It teaches students to set goals, strive for excellence, and compete with a positive attitude. Learning to compete with integrity and respect for opponents is an important life lesson.

Academic Performance: Studies have shown a positive correlation between participation in sports and academic achievement. Regular physical activity is associated with improved concentration, cognitive function, and overall academic performance.

Lifelong Habits: Involvement in sports at a young age can foster a love for physical activity that lasts a lifetime. Students who develop a habit of staying active are more likely to lead healthier lives as adults.

Community Building: Sports events bring communities together. School sports contribute to a sense of school spirit and pride, fostering a positive and supportive school culture.

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

Creating a Vibrant Synodal Community in the Seminary

A synod is an assembly of Bishops under the leadership of a Pope convened for the purpose of the pastoral care of the People of God.[1] The first such assembly was held in Jerusalem (Acts 15) where certain issues pertaining to the life of believers in the changing scenario were discussed. The practice of hierarchy deciding the life and mission of the Church continued until Pope Francis issued a clarion call for “Synod for Synodality” to listen, reflect and discern as one family, known as “People of God.” The People of God is an “assembly of various people” with “different ranks” exercising sacred and secular duties by virtue of her condition and manner of life (LG 13). Due to its sacred, secular and plural nature, the Church needs to update its theological and social way of life in a changing space and time in order to maintain its catholicity. Though the weltanschauung of one society differs from the other, a fundamental Catholic tradition can be thought of if one sits and discusses as a family of believers under one umbrella redefining ‘traditional hierarchism’ which Pope Francis is trying to achieve through the synod. To that matter, Pope Francis considers the Church to be a “Polyhedron,”[2] a multifaceted sphere where vox populi is heard and understood as one family. He expresses it, “The polyhedron has a form similar to the sphere, but it is multifaceted. I like to imagine humanity as a polyhedron, in which the multiple forms, in expressing themselves, constitute the elements that compose the one human family in a plurality. And this is true globalization. The other globalization—that of the sphere—is an [sic] homologation.”[3]

The basic assumption for achieving this renewal is noteworthy: the part and the whole relationship between the universal and the particular Church. By strengthening the particular Church, one can strengthen the universal Church as the Vatican Council II expresses, “the whole and each of the parts are strengthened by the common sharing of all things and by the common effort to attain to fullness in unity” (LG 13). Ever since the synodal process was initiated in the local Churches, significant changes in the life and mission of the church have been noticed when taken seriously. The community which has been lethargic otherwise, has become enthusiastic. The working document that came up after the first round of synodal hearing from the respective dioceses and episcopal conferences is itself self-sufficient to prove this fact. This implies, with positive hope, that the community of believers have become more vibrant than it was otherwise. I believe that with the fresh transfusion of synodal spirit in the veins of the Being, the Church will surely realize a Pentecostal experience.

Keeping the spirit of synodality, St. Albert’s College framed the theme for the academic year 2023-24 as the “Synodal Way for the Vibrant Community.” I began to reflect on how to make the seminary, per se any formation house into a vibrant synodal community. Basically, to create a vibrant and synodal community, the seminary needs to foster a sense of collaboration, open communication and shared responsibility among the staff and students. Given below are 12 tips to build a vibrant community.

1. Cultivating a Culture of Dialogue

Dialogue is the life of any community. If healthy communication is missing, a community can become a place of chaos and confusion like that of the Tower of Babel. Therefore, one needs to Encourage open and respectful communication among the staff and seminarians. Creating spaces for dialogue where everyone feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions is the task of the formators. They must understand that fostering an environment where questioning and discussion are nothing but opportunities for growth rather than challenges to authority.

2. Implementing Regular Community Meetings

At times a number of meetings seem a nuisance, but they are essential for the success of an organization or any event. In the seminary, one should schedule regular community meetings to discuss important matters, share updates, and allow seminarians to voice their concerns or ideas. For this purpose, every major seminary has a platform known as ‘students’ council’ or ‘staff-student dialogue’ sessions. Formators need to ensure that these meetings are inclusive and participatory, involving input from all members of the seminary community.

3. Establishing Small Faith-Sharing Groups

Most of the major seminaries have smaller units under the guidance of a formator known differently by different seminaries: living groups, animation groups, sharing groups, etc. These groups can provide a more intimate setting for seminarians to discuss their spiritual journeys, challenges, and successes.

4. Promoting Team Building Activities

Events like sports, competitions, skill-developing activities, retreats, certain seminars, cultural programmes, etc., help the seminarians in team-building and strengthen bonds among them. Besides these things, they instil a sense of self-confidence and motivation in them.

5. Encouraging Diversity and Inclusivity

Diversity is the spice of life. The beauty of a peacock is in its colour-filled feathers. So too cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity adds flavour to the seminary. The more diverse the staff and students in a seminary, the better the formation. It is not sufficient to have these kinds, but it is essential to celebrate these diverse cultures and traditions. One must ensure that different voices, perspectives and experiences are heard, and felt regardless of their background.

6. Developing Leadership Skills

Formation house is a laboratory where skills, talents and qualities like leadership, empathy, collaboration, etc., are identified and nourished. Therefore, it is the duty of the formators to provide sufficient opportunities for the formees to excel in them. This can include assigning roles for organizing events, leading discussions, or managing specific aspects of seminary life.

7. Creating Collaborative Projects

For any mission to be successful, the partakers need to collaborate effectively. The seeds of such collaboration are formed in the formation houses. The collaboration makes the community vibrant. Therefore, sufficient projects and initiatives must be provided to exercise this virtue to build a sense of shared purpose and accomplishment.

8. Promoting Accountability

Accountability is an assurance that a seminarian or a formator is evaluated on one’s performance or behaviour related to something for which one is responsible. The term is related to responsibility but is regarded more from the perspective of oversight. This includes holding each other accountable for commitments and actions and fostering a culture of trust; and accountability with regard to one’s pocket money or expenses incurred while in the seminary, etc.

9. Seeking Feedback and Input

Often, seminarians are afraid of the ‘final report’ or evaluation prepared by the formator due to which they fail to grow naturally. Timely corrections and feedback become burdensome if the superiors don’t understand their real psychological state. Instead of making them fearful, regular correction, feedback, group dynamics, programs related to personality growth, human formation, and psycho-sexual integration seminars do help.

10. Providing Mentorship Opportunities

Facilitate mentorship programs where more experienced seminarians or faculty members can support the development of others. This helps create a sense of continuity and guidance within the community.

11. Providing Healthy Food and Living Conditions

This is a common adage, “If food is taken care of, everything is taken care of.” The majority of issues that pop up in the formation of houses can be averted if healthy food and living conditions are provided. Complaints about food is a common problem in seminaries. While healthy food and living conditions heal many sicknesses and psychological pressures, they also ease the holistic growth of individuals. Add to this, a neat and clean environment is also a factor for a healthy life.

12. Celebrating Milestones and Achievements

The community needs to recognize and celebrate individual and collective achievements within the seminary. This can contribute to a positive and uplifting atmosphere. The celebrations also could be days of special significance like minor orders, major orders, jubilees, and even birthdays and feast days, if possible.

Conclusion

Creating a vibrant and synodal community is an ongoing process that requires commitment from both leadership and seminarians. Regularly assess the effectiveness of your initiatives and be willing to adapt and evolve based on the needs and dynamics of the community.

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

19 November 2023

Endnotes

[1] Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Vatican Council II, ed. Austin Flannery (Bombay: St. Paul’s Publication, 2007): 320-390. Henceforth LG.

[2] Querida Amazonia, no. 29. “The Amazon region is host to many peoples and nationalities, and over 110 indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation. Their situation is very tenuous and many feel that they are the last bearers of a treasure doomed to disappear, allowed to survive only if they make no trouble, while the postmodern colonization advances. They should not be viewed as “uncivilized” savages. They are simply heirs to different cultures and other forms of civilization that in earlier times were quite developed.” Available, https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazioneap_202 00202_querida-amazonia.html.

[3] Pope Francis, “Video Message of Pope Francis for the Third Festival of the Social Doctrine of the Church” held in Verna, 21-23 November 2013, accessed http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages /pontmessages/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20131121_videomessaggiofestival-dottrina-sociale.html.

Deepavali, the Festival of Light

Deepavali, also known as Diwali, is the festival of light. Etymologically, Deepa is a lamp. But in the religious sense, it is an earthen lamp (diya) in which oil is poured and a cotton wick is placed in it to light up. Āvali means ‘to line up’ or placed in a row. Thus, deepavali means diyas lighted in a line or row. The festival Deepavali connotes a symbolic of triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and prosperity over dereliction. It is celebrated by Hindus, Sikh, Jains, Buddhists, tribals and even by Christians. For Sikhs, Deepavali marks the release of Guru Hargobind from imprisonment in 1619. To celebrate, they light up their homes and gurdwaras with diyas and candles, and hold processions known as Nagar Kirtan. Jains celebrate this occasion as the anniversary of Lord Mahavira’s attainment of moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. They offer prayers and decorate their homes with lights and rangolis. Buddhists also have a special significance for this festival as it marks the day Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism. They celebrate by lighting candles in their homes and temples, offering prayers, and meditating on the teachings of Buddha. The festival brings people together, promoting harmony, peace, and understanding among different communities.

Though the festival is celebrated across the country, “it is not a single festival in honour of a single god or goddess,” but “contains several independent items” (P.V. Kane, History of Dharmaśāstra vol.5, 194). The feast, lasting from two to five days depending on the culture and place, is celebrated mainly for three days from 13^th to 15^th of Aśvina month and beginning of Kārtika.

Scriptural Reference

The scriptural account of this great festival (mahā-utsava) can be traced back to three Purāṇic episodes: Bhaviśya Purāṇa (BhvP), Padma Purāṇa (PP) and Skanda Purāṇa (SkP). And all three accounts narrate the account in similar way. The protagonist of the story is Bali. According to the Bhaviśya Purāṇa, it is Vishnu instituted the feast to commemorate the great generosity of the King Bali (BhvP 140.59-64; PP 124.59-46; SkP 10.51-52).

Bali was an Asura king (daitya or dānava) who was known for his generosity and peaceful rein. In a battle, Indra kills him; but his teacher rejuvenates him and makes invincible who in turn attacks Indra and defeats him. Indra’s mother pleads Vishnu for help who comes to Bali as a dwarf brahmin for alms. Bali without realizing who the person is, promises him the gift that he wants. Bali asks three steps of land. With the first step he covers the entire earth, with second the heaven and places his third foot on Bali’s head and pushes him to pātāla, the nether-world (BhP 8.15-23).

The SkP specially mentions that Kaumudi (commonly understood as lotus) to be used during celebration of festival, while PP highlights on Yama-dvitiya (124.71-98). Thus, the feast of Deepavali is also the Kaumudi festival. However, Ku means earth and mud refers to joy (mudita), implying the feast to be the joy on the earth. On this day all over the earth people give joy to one another; on this day lotus-flowers (kumudā) are offered to Bali. As a mark of joy people place rows of lighted lamps and illumine the houses and paths.

Three-Day Celebration

The first day begins with Yamatrayodaśī, the 13^th of Yama. This is the day of austerity and devotion: ritual bath, the pledge of three nights of austerity to be observed in the form of eating food without salt and sleeping on the floor and spending day in devotion to Lord Krishna. In the evening diyā is lighted and placed outside the door with the prayer, “May the sūryaja (the son of Sun) be pleased with me.” The belief is, Yama, the Lord of the dead when comes to call, one is ready to face death. Thus, the day is also seeking “protection from untimely death” (Subhash Anand, 194). This day is also known as dhana-trayodaśī and popularly known as dhana-teres, the day of wealth. Some also believe that it is the birthday of Dhavantari, the divine physician who emerged with elixir (amrita) when devas and asurs churned the ocean.

The second day is marked by Naraka-caturdaśī, the 14^th of Naraka. On this day people take oil-bath, give libation of water to Yama, offer a lamp to Naraka and light lamps around. The belief is, Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, who reside in the oil and the water used for the bath in the morning. Thus, the day is known to be the day of prosperity and wealth.

On the 15th, that is on the new moon day, there is a ritual bath, worship of gods and ancestors and a memorial for the departed are celebrated.

There is another interesting celebration on this day: the Govardhana Pūja (PP 124.30-33). The puja refers to the act of Krishna who saved the people of Gukula and their cows under the hill from the fury of Indra’s torrential rains. On this day, cows are decorated, bathed, oiled and allowed to move freely. This day the people neither milk the cows, nor make them work. In some places, people make a small hillock in govar (gobar or cow dung) as the symbolic of wealth (dhana). It may be possible, the word ‘govardhana puja’ is the reflection of this thought.

The second day of Kartika is known as Yama-dvitiya or Bhrātr-dvitiya or popularly known as Bhaiya-duj or Bhai-bij (BhP 14.18-27; PP 124.88-98; SkP 11.3.-73). According to Purāṇa, Yama goes to his sister Yamunā’s house for meal. It is advised that on this day sister prepares a good meal for her brother and brother intern gives her good gifts. With this Deepavali comes to an end.

The feast as a symbolic of a yonder reality

The story of Bali and Vāmana is a common myth found in the south Indian tradition of Onam festival can also be connected here. Vāman’s taking away of the prosperous Kingdom of Bali and his goodness, and subsequent prayer for a ‘peaceful kingdom’ and to allowing his return for a day or two for a review, points either to the suppression of one cult or absorbing into the other or a combination of both. Therefore, the feast may be a metamorphosis of a historical reality or event. G. Woodcock in his book, Kerala: A Portrait of the Malabar Coast opines about the Onam feast, “in all probability a south Indian emperor of cherished memory whom the Indo-Aryans conquered” is a metaphoraization of a culture overpowering the other.

In the North Indian Culture, the feast Deepavali is also associated with Rāmāyaṇa, where it is the feast of glorious return of Rama from the forest dwelling and killing of Ravana, the asura king of Lanka. It is a homecoming of Rama and thus the return of the Kingdom of Rama.

Deepavali is celebrated after the automnal equinox when the sun crosses the equator in its movement towards the south. With this winter sets in the northern hemisphere, the sun shows himself for a shorter duration. Thus, the feast represent the changing season. In the words of Subhash Anand, it is a “rite of passage.” during this time, days become shorter and longer nights. It is a time to remind us that we need more artificial light to lighten our path, take away the darkness and look with hope for a brighter tomorrow (uttara-āyana). The lights directed towards east symbolizing this even (pūrva-diś) since the sun rises in the east. The closure of rains and coming of winter also suggests that there is plenty of harvest in the barn and thus prosperity and looking forward yet another prosperous season of plentiful. The turn of season also marks the beginning of a ‘New Year’, a fresh time to begin the life, being healed of all darkness and look for a prosperous time ahead. Symbolic bath, other libation, ancestral worship, etc., are some pointers to this fact. 

Thus, Deepavali is commemoration of the good rule of Bali. Along with commemoration of the past glories, the feast looks for a hopeful future of good and prosperous time. It is also a festival of hope how one should look at life after loosing everything (Mahabharata 12.216-17).  King Bali represents the Sun who brightens all the creation. “The myth itself is a symbol of transcendence; nature as the sacrament of the divine, nature as the best initiator into the mystery of life.” Being Sun himself, Bali is a symbol of cosmic harmony and ethics. By its regular rising and setting teaches us that life here on earth is momentary. The joys and sorrows will have their end and therefore one should look for eternal joy and peace which comes only through the divine union.

Deepavali is also a festival of wisdom. Wisdom enlightens the ignorance. Padma Purana gives a reason for this. When the Shankh asura stole Vedas, the books of wisdom and took it away to the pātāla, Vishnu took up the Mathsya avatara (fish-incarnation) and rescued them for the humanity. Therefore, Deepavali reminds us that we should be vigilant. The devil of ignorance is all around and even within us who can take away our knowledge.

Protection of the weak and vulnerable, respect love for our fellow brothers and sisters, practice of virtues, alms giving, etc., culminates the feast of Deepavali. Being the feast of Bhaiya-dūj one is expected to treat one’s sister, brother or neighbours as one’s own family. Hospitality is a virtue to be practiced here. The Goverdhana pūja reminds us of our indebtedness to the weak and vulnerable that include animals, plants, creation and earth. Mahatma Gandhi reminds us, “Cow protection means protection of the weak, the helpless, the dumb, and the deaf. Man becomes then not the lord and master of all creation but he is its servant” (M.K. Gandhi, In Search of the Supreme, Vol.3, page 202).

Let the Kingdom of God come and let us have prosperity and love reining once again.

 

References

G. Wookcock, Kerala: A Portrait of the Malabar Coast (London: Faber and Faber, 1969).

M. K. Gandhi, In Search of the Supreme, 3 vols. Ed. V.B. Kher (Ahmedabad: Navjivan Publishing House, 1961).

Pandurang Vaman Kane, History of Dharmaśāstras, 5 vols. (Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Institute, rev. Ed. 1968-75).

Subhash Anand, Major Hindu Celebrations: A Christian Appreciation (Indore: Satprakashan Sanchar Kendra, 2008).

NB: This article is an excerpt of the chapter on Deepavali festival by Subhash Anand. 

Also, see my previous blog on Deepavali -  Message for Deepavali ; for the blog on Onam -  Onam Festival or copy the links given below and paste. 

https://rfcrasta.blogspot.com/2017/10/let-there-be-light-message-on-deepavali.html

https://rfcrasta.blogspot.com/2011/09/onam-celebrations-t-he-feast-of-onam-is.html

Raju Felix Crasta

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