03 May 2020: How do you approach a Pandemic and the consequent lockdown that seems to be one of the ways (a ‘pause button,’ as Mr. Rahul Gandhi would put it) to manage this situation? The present situation of course has brought along with it a plethora of problems as well as opportunities. The medical staff, the law enforcement personnel, and volunteers are doing their best to manage this Pandemic. Our friars in India and abroad are doing commendable work to help people cope with this situation. On the other hand, today the social media is filled with images of people managing this particular time in creative ways.
The story of Oysters is familiar to us. When something goes inside the shell of an Oyster, even a grain of sand, it gets hurt. To manage this crisis, it has a mechanism. It produces a powerful stuff that begins to cover the irritating thing over and over again. Eventually this stuff is transformed into a beautiful pearl. Twelve artists from CARP (Company of Artists for Radiance of Peace) decided to do an Oyster! They had a novel approach to this Novel virus. They painted…. The result was an online painting Camp ad exhibition, a first of its kind as far as we know. Twelve among the CARP members residing in different parts of India, came together online under the theme “Caring Strokes,” with a tag; Carp Covid Creations. CARP is an association of artist - friends, who are like minded, from all walks of life, like, Religious, Priests and lay men and women. Their sole aim is to become people who radiate peace through their art. They conduct art camps for school children and adults in a non-competitive atmosphere. The resultant art works are often exhibited for the public.
Art in different forms, as we know, play a vital role in transforming people. A visual art form, like painting has proved that it can act as a powerful tool of resistance, dissent and revolution like Banksy, the anonymous artist, whose art is always satirical, antiauthoritarian and witty. It can act as a reminder to humanity of the atrocities it has committed. Pablo Picasso’s Guernica is a grim reminder of the ravages of war and at the same time a protest against such bloody undertakings by humanity. The attack by the Germans and Italians on Guernica, one of the Spanish cities, took place on a market day when ordinary folks gathered on the streets as usual, buying and selling. The notoriously famous carpet bombing was experimented for the first time then that was designed to destroy everything systematically. The survival of humanity depends on the ability not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Guernica, as a painting, has acted as a conscience keeper for generations. A simple cartoon can expose the fact that the king is indeed naked.
The following were the participants in this online art Camp: Fr. K.M. George, Roy M. Thottam, Joseph Joyson,OFM Cap., Sunil Jose, CMI, Fr. Manoj Ottaplackal, Mariakutty,CSI, Vincy Kallidukkil, HSM, Sandra Soiya, SFN, Athulya Priya, Fr. Ebey Edassery, Vimal Kallokkaran, RCJ and Jamesmon,OFM. Fr. Ebey Edassery was the coordinator, organizing it in a very creative way. The works of art were then exhibited online. The artists not only painted but also made a few comments on their works of art for the benefit of the viewers. Through their works they reflected on various elements of this Pandemic and their personal perspectives and discoveries that have enabled them to cope with it, and many of them considered it as a learning curve as well.
Fr. K.M. George named his painting, ‘The Blessed Plant.’ This title comes from certain Christian traditions of understanding Christ as a blessed Plant, that heals the humanity with its medicinal powers. Through deep contemplation one can transform oneself and become a source of healing to all. Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu from the Sangama traditions would rightly illustrate to us. As the world is seeking healing once again, all of us can delve into the reservoir of our being and spread this energy of positivity all around us.
Times of trials and Tribulations are also times of creativity and Aesthetic productivity. We see the touches of care and solidarity, the Contradicting / complimenting ,the Female-Male energy, the YIN YAN of our existence, and the soul of humanity gets so tangible and being seen around us so vividly at these times of a pandemic. Roy M. Thottam, SJ brought out this ongoing wheel of life through his work titled ‘Caring Hands.’
Joseph Joyson, Ofm,Cap. titled his work the ‘AC-BC Divide,’ (After Corona –Before Corona) the historical context that this Pandemic is creating, which is also throwing light on our life experiences, filled with light and darkness, our strength and helplessness.
Corona acts as a Bodhi tree that brings enlightenment to all, bringing along with it a wisdom that brings people together in solidarity and fellowship, transforming the world through a new understanding, as Fr. Manoj Ottaplackal reflected through his work of art tiltled: ‘Bodhi.’
We are always in a hurry and we take no notice of the little delights the nature offers us. We claim to have drunk from the elixir of knowledge, and exploit everything around us to our own advantage. But a little organism could put a break on our unbridled horses of narcissistic wanderings. We have become like a helpless babe, says Suil Jose,CMI through his work titled ‘Dissolutus.’
Caring strokes that accompany us as we go through life, from the time we start breathing on this planet till we stop, is what finds expression in a work called ‘Caring Strokes’ by Fr. Ebey Edassery and he ponders, ‘how grateful are we’? He reminds us about our need to create a culture of care and gratitude at the same time.
Vimal Kallokkaran, RCJ, a Rogationist priest painted a very intense moment that speaks volumes about eyes that are anxiously and expectantly looking out ward to a better future with better living conditions. He feels that the whole creation is in a reset mode. He calls his work, ‘A New Outlook’.
During this pandemic, people are ‘being cared’ and there are people offering care, though their own life is at stake, like Doctors, Nurses, health workers, administrative authorities, Police men, NGO’s, volunteers and other law enforcement personnel. This intense, dynamic relationship is portrayed by Sandra Sonia, SFN through her Untitled work.
Vincy Kallidukkil, HSM felt that a little virus called Corona could bring about a kind of insight about our need to stop, reflect and proceed with much caution about our existence, our need to be responsible with ‘the given’ of our nature and life as a whole. ‘Protecting Strokes’ is the title of her work.
Athulya Priya, an artist from Trivandrum, portrayed India within a bubble, which stands for the lockdown on which we harbor our hope. But this bubble, as we know, is very delicate and therefore the need to take care. Our carelessness can cause much harm to everybody. She calls her work, ‘Lockdown.’
Mariakutty, who belongs to the Secular Institute of Caritas, paints the earth as ‘a beautiful lady with a rainbow’ that adorns her. The present situation is something that we need to deal with by caring for one another.
Though we are often addressed as the stewards and care takers of the nature, we have become a head ache to the planet Earth. But during this lock down, which many countries have adopted to wage war against this novel virus, we are increasingly noticing the positive movements that are taking place in the nature. The nature, the flora and the fauna, is breathing easy once again. Jamesmon, OFM tried to portray this through his painting titled ‘Return.’
CARP exhibited the paintings online and the response was quite encouraging so much so that they are already planning another online camp where more participants are showing up from the CARP family. We believe that works of art gets in to the thought process of people in a deeper way and gives lots of insights and enlightenment about the present situation the humanity is facing. Art has and will play a very important role in forming our response to this pandemic.
friar Jamesmon, Ofm.
Date |
Name of the Friars |
Events |
Year |
02 |
Arulsamy A. Mesia Elias Moses M. Arvind Kerketta Benedict Gomes |
Ordination Ordination Ordination Ordination |
1991 1999 2005 2008 |
03 |
Charles Arulanandam Alwyn D’ Souza |
Birth Ordination |
1978 2006 |
04 |
Davis Kallookaran Tommy T.J. Arockiasamy P. Thomas Manakuzhiyil Saji P. Mathew Arun Devasia Nattalil Roshan Lobo Francis Michael Velcy Barreto |
Birth Birth Ordination Ordination Ordination Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Birth |
1950 1959 2002 2004 2004 2017 2017 1992 |
05 |
Mathew Koottumkal Jesu Maharajah G. Peter Saleth Nathan J. Andrew Thomas |
Ordination Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Birth |
1999 2010 2010 1997 |
06 |
Jayaseelan P.R. Fulgence Ekka Thaddeus Baxla + Leopold Vaz Xavier Durairaj Manoj Xalxo Baikim Chadra Minj |
Birth Ordination Ordination Home Ordination Ordination Ordination |
1970 1997 1997 2000 2009 2012 2012 |
07 |
Vincent Soosai Salim Baxla Augustine Tirkey A.J.Mathew Joseph Bipin Kishore Kandulna Ushar Kachhua |
Ordination Ordination Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1999 2011 2017 2017 2017 2017 |
08 |
Julius Arul Rayan Robin Lakra Ajith Kerketta Shanborlang Wartde |
Ordination Ordination Ordination Solemn Vows |
2004 2007 2011 2017 |
09 |
Joy K.D. Fabianus Toppo Deen Dayal |
Birth Ordination Birth |
1970 2008 1983 |
10 |
+ Clement Griffith Alwyn D’ Souza Lourdu Augustine Hemant Xess |
Home Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Ordination |
1950 2001 2001 2006 |
11 |
Gabriel Mathias Joseph Raj M. Baptist D’ Souza Praveen Henry D’ Souza Salim Baxla Ajit Kerketta Anil Xalxo Anil Xalxo |
Ordination Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Ordination |
1974 2003 2003 2003 2008 2008 2008 2011 |
12 |
Ignatius Baa Fulgence Ekka Jose Palimattom + Baptist van de Sande Vilas Baptist Correia Salvador D’Souza |
Birth Solemn Vows Ordination Home Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1970 1994 1999 2001 2007 2007 |
13 |
Shaju Paliyathil Jesu Maharajah G. |
Birth Ordination |
1967 2012 |
14 |
Kulandaisamy M. Felix Vijay M. Nijil Chiramel Leos Ekka Malom-Noatoli – Church Simon A. |
Birth Birth Birth Ordination Blessing Ordination |
1958 1983 1986 1994 2006 2011 |
15 |
Alwyn D’ Souza Mukti Prakash Ekka Fabianus Toppo Baptist D’Souza Santosh Ekka |
Birth Ordination Solemn Vows Ordination Ordination |
1975 2004 2005 2007 2010 |
16 |
Simon Pinto + Paul Ryan + Egbert Barnes Jerome Kispotta Prasad Papabathuni Joy K.D. Naveen George + Bala Sundar Raj Peter Shashikanth Reddy G. |
Birth Home Home Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Ordination Home Birth |
1952 1958 1985 1994 1995 1995 2011 2011 1996 |
17 |
Balthazar Pinto Anthony Pushparaj Arokiam John Charles Arulanandam |
Ordination Ordination Ordination Ordination |
1990 2007 2007 2007 |
18 |
Bryan Carneiro Arvind Kerketta |
Birth Solemn Vows |
1969 2003 |
19 |
Shaji Nicholas Vadachery Jugal Kishore Lakra |
Ordination Solemn Vows |
1999 2002 |
20 |
+ Thomas Province - INDIA Bernardine of Siena Matthew Koottumkal Jayaseelan P.R. Jamesmon P.C. Thomas A. Joy Valooran Sushil Beck Joy (George) Sebastian Xavier Durairaj Santosh Ekka John Sekar Alangara Boniface |
Foundation Feast Birth Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Ordination Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Birth |
1948
1977 1998 1998 1998 1998 1999 2001 2007 2007 2007 2007 1989 |
21
|
Thaddeus Baxla Ajit Kumar Dung Dung Lalith Kujur |
Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Ordination |
1995 2006 2012 |
22 |
Guwahati Mission Sandesh Manuel Balaswamy Gundiga Benedict Gomes Vijay kAmirtharaj A. |
Foundation Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1996 2004 2005 2005 2005 |
23 |
Anthony Alex Martis |
Solemn Vows |
2004 |
24 |
Dedication of the Basilica of St. Francis Pradeep Kalliath |
Feast
Solemn Vows |
2004 |
25 |
Jose Palimattom Sleeva Reddy Vincent Soosai Matthew Koottumkal Johnson M.V. Shaji Nicholas Vadachery Joy Valooran Tojy Mandapathil Mesia Elias Moses M. Anthony Roobandass A. Arokiam John Charles Arulanandam |
Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1990 1990 1990 1990 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 2004 2004 2004 |
27 |
Basil Lobo Varghese Lakra |
Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
2001 2007 |
28 |
Jerome Kispotta Fulgence Ekka Cajetan Lourenco Francis Agnelo Rozario Sagaya Soosairaj Singarayar A. Prasad Papabathuni Thaddeus Baxla Joy K.D. Assisi Bhavan, Chippilithode Phyrnai Lyngdoh Madhu Sudhan Reddy Deen Dayal Nathaniel vTirkey Jesu Raja A. Johnvinzen Lyngdoh Teiborlang Wartde Rajasekhar Reddy Gopu |
Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Blessing Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1989 1989 2006 2014 2014 2014 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 |
29 |
Varghese Sebastian Scaria Varanath Thomas M.M. Dayanand Bala Marneni Paul Kallan John Chrysostom Regi Matthew |
Entry Entry Entry Entry Ordination Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1970 1970 1970 1970 1990 1993 1993 2003 |
30 |
Gregory Fernandes Fidelis D’ Lima Augustine Pinto Sidney J.M. Nicholas D’ Souza James Kallarackan Charles Mathew Kolanchery Joy Prakash Gabriel Mathias Amaladass Manickam Jayaseelan P.R. Jamesmon P.C. Thomas A. Tom John Arockiasamy P. Cajetan Lourenco Francis Agnelo Rozario Sagaya Soosairaj Singarayar A. Irudayaraj Fernando Austin Francis Mukti Prakash Ekka Francis Xavier Wilson Paul Nattalil Basil S. Lobo Thomas M.J. Julius Arul Rayan Alwyn D’Souza Sushil Beck Saji P. Mathew Lourdu Augustine Shaju Paliyathil Bryan Carneiro Ignatius Baa Regi Matthew Bhaskar Reddy Tomy Palackal Benjamin Jojo Joseph Raj M. Baptist D’ Souza Anthony Alex Martis Jugal Kishore Lakra Anthony Pushparaj Praveen Henry D’ Souza Michael Anand Kulandaisamy M. Arvind Kerketta Hemant Xess Pradeep Kalliath Anthony Roobandass Arun Junes A. Balaswamy Gundiga Robin Lakra Arokiam John Charles Arulanandam Sandesh Manuel Benedict Gomes Vijay Amirtharaj A. Salim Baxla Ajit Kumar Dung Dung Francis Xavier Thomas M.J. Saji P. Mathew Joy (George) Sebastian Xavier Durairaj Varghese Lakra Santosh Ekka Salvador D’Souza John Sekar Ajit Kerketta Anil Xalxo Simon A. Naveen George Lalith Kujur Tony Marshall Vijay Minj Manoj Xalxo Baikim Chandra Minj Prashanth Wilson Fernandes Jesu Maharaja G. Peter Saleth Nathan J. Prem Kumar D’ Souza Stephen Lamin Gashnga Jayapal Dwarakonda Joseph Stephen Vinoth Robin Sahaya Dhas J. Praveen Roshan Toppo Felix Vijay Eugene A. Jeddu Praveen Chinna Reddy Nijil Chiramel Joseph Prasanna Kumar Pasala Showri Raju Christopher Phyrnai Lyngdoh Basil Tirkey Vinod Kujur Madhu Sudan Reddy Francis Arokiasamy M. Thumma Ranjith Kumar Reddy Deen Dayal Prashanth Wilson Fernandes Nathaniel Tirkey + Valerian Quadros Jesu Raja A. Johnvinzen Lyngdoh Teiborlang Wartde Shanborlang Wartde Rajasekhar Reddy Gopu Augustine Tirkey A.J.Mathew Joseph Bipin Kishore Kandulna Arun Devasia Nattalil Roshan Lobo Ushar Kachhua Salvador Drego Anand Suresh Minj Emmanuel Christopher N. Anto Leo Martin Sangma Clinton J. Nideesh M. John Albinus Ekka Prasad Rao Kasu Eliyas Reddy Stephen Arun Thomas Kiren Vineet Kerketta Silash Panna Nicolas Marak Adarsh Y. Deepak Kumar Rajesh Praveen Kumar Avinash Kujur Alphone Velankanni Abhishek M. Anmol Bara Akshay Showry Raj Ejekial Lakra Francis Michael Velcy Barretto Henry Jose Ibrahim G Momin Joseph Raj Kalyan Kurmar Manish Ekka Marius Dahanga Nichol John Ravi Bara Salun Kispotta Sujit Ganji Alangara Boniface Anthony Joseph archer Pradeep Anthony L. Jacob Tani Gali Bal Reddy T.S Leo Max Joseph Kishan Niranjan Toppo Peter Shashikanth Reddy G. Ankit Kumar Baghel Niraj Kumar Tirkey Nelson Toppo Avinash Toppo Andrew Thomas Justin Savio A. Felix A. |
Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Solemn Vows Entry Home Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry Entry |
1956 1958 1961 1961 1966 1968 1968 1968 1968 1978 1992 1992 1992 1993 1993 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998 1999 1999 2000 2001 2001 2001 2001 2001 2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2002 2002 2002 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2009 2009 2009 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 |
31 |
Gregory Fernandes Fidelis D’Lima Agnel D’Mello Augustine Pinto Sidney J.M Salim Joseph Nicholas D’Souza James Kallarackan Charles Mathew Kolanchery Joy Prakash Gabriel Mathias Varghese Sebastian Scaria Varanath Thomas M.M. Dayanand Alphonse Moras Gerald Lobo Simon Pinto Paul K.L. Davis Kallookaran Lawrence Simon Arok Sundar Sebastian Dharma L. Bernard Johnson M.V. Shaji Nicholas Vadachery Joy Valooran Mesia Elias Moses M. Irudayaraj Fernando Austin Francis Anthony Pushparaj Simon A. Naveen George Tony Marshall Lalith Kujur Manoj Xalxo Baikim Chandra Minj Vijay Minj |
Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Birth Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows Solemn Vows |
1960 1962 1965 1965 1965 1965 1970 1972 1972 1972 1972 1974 1974 1974 1975 1976 1976 1976 1976 1977 1977 1977 1978 1997 1997 1997 1997 2000 2000 2003 2008 2008 2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 |