By Matters India Reporter
Mumbai, Oct 21, 2024: A symposium on the importance of the reading habit in the digital age heard several priests sharing how books have not only led them to the seminary but sustained them in their vocation.
The program was organized by the local chapter of Pauline Cooperators on October 19 at the headquarters of the Daughters of Saint Paul congregation in Bandra, a suburb of the western Indian city of Mumbai.
Divine Word Father Nicolau D’Costa, who addressed the gathering, said the love for books that he had nurtured from childhood led him to the seminary. He explained how his affinity for books has impacted his ministry as the principal of Bandra’s St Theresa’s School.
Father Joshan Rodrigues, chief editor of The Examiner weekly, said reading books helps one’s all-round growth. He linked his love for books to his mother who rewarded him with a book each time he did well in his studies. Today, his personal library has some 500 books.
Mother was also the inspiration for Salesian Father Cletus D’Souza to start reading books. The catechetical animator of Don Bosco Yuva Sanstha, Karjat, said his mother, now 91, made him read a book a day in the seminary.
Lawrence Coelho, publisher-editor of the Secular Citizen and Divo, stressed the importance of understanding others’ thoughts and words, both spoken and written. He said several types of ‘reading’ enrich the literary world – Utilitarian Reading, Personal Reading, Escapist Reading, and Cognitive Reading.
During the program, a new title from Pauline Publications, “Read to Lead,” by Jeff Brown and Jesse Wiesnewski, was launched.
Ladislaus D’Souza, who hosted the program, said the Association of Pauline Cooperators was founded 106 years ago.