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NDTV
28-05-2025
- NDTV
30 Terrifying Minutes On A Delhi-Srinagar Flight That Changed My Life - By Derek O'Brien
There are some things about life that we take for granted. Sometimes that list includes life itself, whether we realise it or not. On Wednesday, May 21, I boarded an Indigo flight from Delhi to Srinagar. Just another day in public life. Just another flight. I take my usual seat at 19F, at the emergency exit. Opting for that seat is an old habit. I'm on autopilot, doing all the things I normally do on a flight. Forty-five minutes in the air. Halfway to our destination. Then, there is an announcement over the PA, asking us to fasten seatbelts. But there's no turbulence. About five minutes later, we see lightning, clearly visible as it stabs through daylight. Now there is some turbulence, but it progresses rapidly. I realise this is not your regular turbulence. This is severe, the likes I've never experienced on my 'frequent flyer miles' before. Not Your Usual Turbulence The plane is scarily tilting to the right. I am acutely aware of this because I am seated on the right-hand side of the Airbus A321neo. I'm accustomed to planes banking for a variety of reasons, but this does not feel like a normal situation. It is not a series of bumps or jerks. The entire aircraft starts tilting precariously. We are hurtling down, seemingly to a sickening drop. Not a minute or two, I would say, at least ten terrifying minutes. Outside, all we can see are clouds, ripped apart by angry streaks of lightning and constant hail. My mind is racing. Now there are other noises in the passenger cabin. Not the normal buzz of conversation or a meal service. No, now people are screaming. Praying. Chanting. Some are actually screeching. The wave of sound creates added tension and fear. I am conscious of passengers trying to film on their phones. But a voice - was it male? Female? Passenger? Flight attendant? I can't remember. The voice says, 'Stop filming'. My life doesn't flash before me. Instead, I'm consumed by the thought that if something goes terribly wrong, I will miss the wedding in a few months of my only daughter. I think of my daughter, wife, stepdaughters, brothers, colleagues, friends. I think of what a tragedy it would be to leave them all behind, without the chance to say goodbye to any of them. Sadness. The sadness is overwhelming. It is a deep, abiding sorrow for relationships and friendships that will not progress beyond this fraught afternoon. Counting My Blessings Yes, I am aware of how blessed my life has been. Perhaps - I honestly don't know - it had something to do with going to a dingy lane in Kolkata in 1990, which housed the worldwide headquarters of a congregation of nuns. The setting was spartan, almost awkward: four tackily painted wooden stools set out on a verandah overlooking a quadrangle. My first meeting and touching the hand of Mother Teresa (now St. Teresa of Calcutta). So, what else ran through my mind? I didn't think about politics. I didn't think about Parliament. I didn't think about the number of followers I had on X or Instagram. I was focused on the people I love. People who mean the world to me. People who have been an important part of my life. I prayed to a higher being. I made a pact. A pact to be good. My colleague, a few seats away, had felt the tension too. We had battled our own fears in our ways. Bathed in perspiration, he looked as if he had just stepped out of a shower. At the time, I didn't think to ask him what I looked like. It was probably thirty minutes before we landed. Before we touched down, a member of the cabin crew asked us to pull down our window shades, because we were landing at a military airfield. After taxing to a halt, the engines were switched off and everyone began to deplane. A Newfound Gratitude I didn't follow. I remained seated. Alone. Why? I'm not sure. Perhaps to let it all sink in. Perhaps to process it all. Perhaps to decompress. I don't know why exactly. But it gave me a chance to speak to the pilots before they left the aircraft. I thanked them on behalf of all the passengers and crew. The captain told me that it had been the most difficult flight in his forty-one years as a pilot. We kept speaking, but I promised him that the rest of our conversation would remain private forever. I only saw the damage to the nose when I deplaned. I still have no idea what that damage could have done, or the potential danger it posed to our collective safety. I am home now. It's been a week. I thought I'd dealt with it in my own way. But I was wrong. Then, a few hours ago, I spoke to a childhood friend. He did the best thing any friend could ever have done. He listened. I had to stop several times as my emotions welled up repeatedly. All he said, amid the prolonged silence and my stifled sobs, was a simple, quiet, "It's all right. I'm here." I had to stop several times to regain my composure. That flight changed who I am. It changed how I regard every aspect of my life. That experience was unforgettable. Deep. Life changing. Now I fully comprehend that life is a gift. It is to be cherished. I haven't forgotten my pact. It will be the basis of the new profound gratitude I have for life.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Spice of life: Life beyond report card, review child's progress
The close of the academic year often brings parent-teacher meetings, a time traditionally focused on reviewing a child's achievements. Yet, witnessing a parent's stern disapproval of her teenager's average grades recently prompted a crucial question: What truly defines how we measure our children's growth? My mother excelled in academics and drama, finding joy in school plays and advanced studies. My passions, however, lay in writing and public speaking, which I happily pursued through debate and creative writing. My Gen Z son gravitates towards science and sports, immersing himself in Olympiads and table-tennis tournaments. While my mother and I thrived in our chosen activities within the supportive embrace of our immediate community, my son navigates a paradox of choice. He observes and competes with students and athletes from across the nation and the globe. Adding to this is the constant influx of information on trending topics for high-schoolers – financial literacy, summer programmes, sports camps, start-up fests, and finishing schools. Every time he glances at his phone, he encounters children his age achieving extraordinary feats as spelling bee champions and sports prodigies. This constant exposure presents a dilemma: While some may find inspiration in these remarkable stories, others might feel overwhelmed by the weight of expectations from loved ones. Millennials and Gen X, in contrast, benefited from an upbringing enriched by the wisdom and stories of their grandmothers, tales filled with years of lived experience. They enjoyed hands-on experiences like playing outdoors and gardening, and the simple pleasure of evening gatherings with neighbourhood children in local parks. So, while we readily assess our children against tangible metrics, how do we measure their character and values? It's no wonder we often characterise the 21st century as an era of high IQ but potentially lower EQ, a world grappling with unprecedented mental health challenges. But shouldn't we reflect on our role in shaping the next generation? Don't we owe it to them to emphasise a holistic education, one that values social interactions as much as textbooks and classroom learning? The next time our children face a multitude of options, let us guide them towards choosing happiness, fulfilment, curiosity, and wonder. True success isn't solely measured in accolades and achievements displayed on a report card. It lies in the kindness they extend, the empathy they demonstrate, and the connections they forge within their communities. Consider the recent pandemic, when daily routines were disrupted, and online shopping became the norm. In my neighbourhood, several elderly individuals felt disadvantaged by their lack of digital literacy. It was then that a 10-year-old boy took the initiative to teach a group of elders how to shop and browse online. That simple act deeply moved me, echoing the profound words of Mother Teresa: 'Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.' ashmeg20@ The writer is a Ludhiana-based freelance contributor
Washington Post
16-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
They lost their federal government jobs. A pet rescue is providing solace.
As a 10-year-old, Denise Joseph told everyone she wanted to be Mother Teresa. While Joseph never became a saint, her passion for public service drew her to the Education Department, where she began working as an analyst in 2015. But when Joseph was placed on administrative leave in January — and learned three months later she would be fired — she turned her attention to something else: dogs.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
St. Teresa of Calcutta church upholds legacy of Mother Teresa
MAHANOY CITY — On Palm Sunday, the streets resounded with the sound of cracking whips and the sobbing of mourners as Christ staggered under the weight of his cross. For the 36th year, Active Christian Teens in Our Neighborhood, or ACTION, held its annual live Stations of the Cross. 'We wanted to show our community how much he sacrificed for us,' said Debbie Walker, ACTION director. 'It was a beautiful start to Holy Week.' Walker, who has been with the ACTION youth group for 40 years, said the participation of 35 people in the annual ritual is reflective of the deep-rooted faith of the community. With the exception of several years during the COVID-19 pandemic, the live Stations of the Cross has been held every year since 1982. Most of the participants were students in eighth grade and high school, as well as some youngsters who portrayed the children of Jerusalem. ACTION youth group is associated with St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church, named for Saint Mother Teresa. * Victor Hanley, a senior at Mahanoy Area High School, portrayed Jesus in a live Stations of the Cross on Palm Sunday in Mahanoy City. (SUBMITTED) * Sienna Napoli played Mary, Mother of Jesus, in a live Stations of the Cross on Palm Sunday in Mahanoy City. (SUBMITTED) * Saint Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church in Mahanoy City, pictured Friday, April 25, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Plants adorn the altar at Saint Teresa of Calcutta in Mahanoy City, Friday, April 25, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * The main aisle leads to the altar at Saint Teresa of Calcutta in Mahanoy City, Friday, April 25, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Show Caption 1 of 5 Victor Hanley, a senior at Mahanoy Area High School, portrayed Jesus in a live Stations of the Cross on Palm Sunday in Mahanoy City. (SUBMITTED) Expand A Saint's Visit On June 17, 1995, Mother Teresa concluded her visit to the United States in Mahanoy City, where a branch of her Missionaries of Charity had been established at then-St. Joseph's Church. In a town whose churches were founded by immigrant coal miners from Europe, throngs of people reached out to touch Mother Teresa as she walked down the church's aisle with her hands folded in prayer. A frail, stooped figure, she spoke out against abortion and in support of adoptions after an hourlong Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh of the Allentown Catholic Diocese and priests from a five-county area. 'Families that pray together stay together,' said the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner, who spoke for 15 minutes inside the church and another 15 minutes to a crowd of faithful outside. Saint Teresa of Calcutta church will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Mother Teresa's visit on June 30. The Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa's order, still has a convent in Mahanoy City. Fr. Kevin Gallagher came to Mahanoy City 16 years ago as the founding pastor, when St. Teresa of Calcutta was formed with the merger of six parishes. He has kept treasures from the previous parishes to preserve their continuity. 'The heritage and the faith of the people is phenomenal,' Gallagher said. 'This town has spawned so many vocations.' The Sorrowful Way As the Palm Sunday procession made its way up Catawissa Street to Saint Teresa's, Debbie Walker thought of the Via Dolorosa, the path Jesus followed on his way to crucifixion. 'It was very much like Jesus' walk to Calvary,' recalls Walker. 'We were right there with him.' As Jesus, Victor Hanley, a senior at Mahanoy Area High School, carried the cross. Sienna Napoli, a junior at Mahanoy Area, played Mary, watching in agony as her son endured his fate at the hands of Roman guards. The ACTION presentation of the live Stations of the Cross was dedicated to Carlos Acutis, the late 15-year-old Italian boy who was to be canonized on Sunday, April 27. It was postponed due to the death of Pope Francis. The event was also dedicated to the memory of John Usalis, a former Republican Herald reporter, who wrote extensively about religious affairs. 'The live stations deepen their understanding of faith,' said Walker, office manager at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Pottsville. 'They are feeling the pain of the fall, the nails and the sadness of Jesus' mother Mary.'
Boston Globe
26-04-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Francis was the pope who made the most saints
The decision to recognize those killed in an attack on their coastal town in southeastern Italy was first made by Pope Benedict XVI, Francis' predecessor. But Francis was the one who ultimately saw through their sainthood when he took over and got a big jump start on his canonization count. After that canonization ceremony at the Vatican, Francis went on to recognize more than 100 additional saints in rites at home and abroad during his papacy. Advertisement Mother Teresa, the nun who died in 1997, had already been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 in recognition of her work over decades caring for the indigent and ill in India, and she was considered a 'living saint' by many. But when she was officially canonized, Francis, who shared her respect for all religions and concern for the less fortunate, noted that she might always be best known as Mother Teresa. Advertisement 'I think, perhaps, we may have some difficulty in calling her St. Teresa: Her holiness is so near to us, so tender and so fruitful, that we continue to spontaneously call her Mother Teresa,' he said. In 2017, Francis added a category for beatification and canonization, opening a path to sainthood that did not exist before. Broadly speaking, saints generally attain that honor through martyrdom or miracles, meaning they either died for the faith or performed extraordinary feats worthy of veneration (although there are some other recognized modes). The new category was created to recognize those Christians who sacrifice their life for others inspired by their beliefs, among other steps. The category, known as 'offer of life,' applies to Christians who 'have voluntarily and freely offered their life for others and persevered with this determination unto death,' as Francis put it when introducing the concept. 'The heroic offering of life, inspired and sustained by charity, expresses a true, complete and exemplary imitation of Christ,' he said, deeming it equally 'deserving' of admiration as the other saintly behaviors the faithful recognize. One prospective saint that Francis beatified and soon intended to canonize will now have to wait just a bit longer. The first millennial set to be canonized will be Carlo Acutis, a British-born Italian teenager who died of leukemia in 2006 when he was 15. In his short life he had gained a reputation for his faith and power to perform miracles. His canonization ceremony, previously scheduled for Sunday, will be delayed during the mourning period for Francis, according to the Catholic News Agency. As for the pope, he could someday be named a saint, although not all popes have qualified for this distinction. The first pope was Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, who led the church around A.D. 30 and was declared a saint. He and most of those who followed him in the role of pope for the first 500 years of Roman Catholicism were recognized as saints, while fewer than 10 popes were named as saints in the next 1,000 years, according to Pew Research Center. Advertisement It said in 2014 that only about 30% of popes over the years were ultimately declared saints. This article originally appeared in
