The Quotation of the Week (January 31 - February 6, 2016)

A quotation of Martin Niemoeller on 'speaking out against injustice,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (A Persian carpet in Toronto: March 22, 2015) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (January 24 - 30, 2016)

A quotation of Mark Twain on 'an Englishman and an American,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (January 17 - 23, 2016)

A quotation of Barbara De Angelis on 'anger and love,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (A divider inside a Costco store in Scarborough, Toronto: April 1, 2015) © Jerome D'Costa

Pope Francis' Book on Mercy Comes Out in the Holy Year

Pope Francis

Artwork © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Pope Francis, in a book-length interview, given in last June to Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli, tells how how the Catholic Church in this modern day needs to follow Jesus' example of mercy, reports the National Catholic Reporter. 

On the occasion of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the interview has been put into a book, called The Name of God Is Mercy, is to be released tomorrow, January 12.  It will be published in 86 countries in about 20 languages. 

 The book is divided into three parts. The first part deals with Pope Francis' teaching on the mercy of God rather than being hypocritical by emphasizing on strict adherence to Church teaching over the practice of mercy. The second part deals with Pope Francis' own encounters with mercy. The third part  explains the pope's own words "Who am I to judge?"

The interview ends with Pope Francis reflecting on the traditional spiritual and corporal works of mercy.  

"By welcoming a marginalized person whose body is wounded and by welcoming the sinner whose soul is wounded, we put our credibility as Christians on the line," says Pope Francis. "Let us always remember the words of Saint John of the Cross: 'In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.'"

For details, kindly read the following:

• In new interview, Francis pushes for a church big on mercy, tough on law (Part I)
• The Pope's personal encounters with mercy (Part II)
  
• Francis explains 'Who am I to judge?' (Part III)

 

The Quotation of the Week (January 10 - 16, 2016)

A quotation of Albert Einstein on 'not to stop questioning,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork © Jerome D'Costa (May 4, 2013)

Malaysian Wives of Bangladeshi Migrants Form a Club

Malaysian wives of Bangladeshi migrant workers in a gathering in Kuala Lumpur on December 5, 2015

L-R: Malaysian wife of a Bangladeshi migrant and their child

Photos courtesy: The Daily Star, Dhaka

In early 199os, Bangladeshi migrant workers and professionals started to work in Malaysia. Now their number is nearing 600,000.

Gradually, these Bangladeshis began to marry local women and have children. Feeling the need for a common forum, some Malaysian wives formed a club, called 'Kelab isteri' (Cute Wives' Club), in 2014, for promoting family values, for having a unity of voice, and for letting their children  connect with culture and tradition of both Bangladesh and Malaysia. Presently, this club has about 200 members. 

For more details on the club and the inter-marriage situation in Malaysia, please read the following:

• Crossing divide (Malaysian wives of Bangladeshis form a club to let their children connect with culture, tradition of two countries) (The Daily Star, Dhaka)
• Malaysian women happy with Bangladeshi husbands (en.ntvbd.com)
• Malaysian wives clebrate bonding with Bangladeshis (en.ntvbd.com) 
• Photos of Cute Wives' Society (en.ntvbd.com) 
• Bangladeshis make fortune with hard work, not only marrying Malay girls (bdnews24.com)

Bangladesh Shaken by North-East Indian Earthquake

The yellow star marks the epicentre of the earthquake that struck the area in the early morning of January 4, 2016

Map courtesy: accuWeather.com/

A 6.7 magnitude earthquake, hitting Imphal of Manipur State in India in the early morning of January 4, created panic and rush in different parts of Bangladesh as well. One youngman in Dhaka died of cardiac arrest and 29 others were rushed to hospitals. Strong tremors of the earthquake were also felt in West Bengal and Myanmar. 

The Meterological Department of India said that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 17 kilometres (about 10 miles) underground. 

For more details, please click on the following:

• 6.7 strong pre-dawn earthquake shakes Bangladesh, spreads panic (bdnews24.com)
• Earthquake panic rush leads to one death in Dhaka, many injured (bdnews24.com)
• At least 32 injured in earthquake panic rush in Sylhet (bdnews24.com)
• How strong was the earthquake in Bangladesh? (The Dhaka Tribune)
• Magnitude 6.8 earthquake hits near India-Myanmar-Bangladesh border (ABC, Australia)
• Earthquake hits India's Manipur state (BBC, U.K.)
• Powerful earthquake leaves at least 6 dead, 79 injured in India (accuWeather.com)
• Recent Earthquakes Near Dhaka, Bangladesh (earthquaketrack.com)
• Earthquake Risk in Bangladesh (American Museum of Natural History) 
• 'Dhaka is one of the riskiest cities for earthquakes in the world' (The Daily Star, Dhaka)
• Bangladesh: Dhaka ill-prepared for quakes (IRIN Asia)
• Live Earthquake Videos from Bangladesh and India (January 4, 2016)
• Video on 6.8 Earthquake in Imphal, India, felt in Dhaka, Bangladesh (January 4, 2016)
• Video on Earthquake India 2016: Earthquake Hits Imphal, Manipur and Bangladesh (January 4, 2016)

The Quotation of the Week (January 3 - 9, 2016)

A quotation of Albert Einstein on 'intelligence,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (A silhouette of two persons on a parking lot in Toronto: Sept. 30, 2013) © Jerome D'Costa

Happy New Year to You All!

New Year Fireworks

Artwork by Andrea Mary D'Costa (Jan. 1, 2016)