CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese

𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝑪𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑯𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚

†Rt Rev. Dr. Malayil Sabu Koshy Cherian

People are changing jobs or careers. Institutions are now designing their own employment structures by keeping only those employees who rise with hope and adaptability. The economy prioritizes jobs. It's important to observe both the relevance and the crises of such an economic system. As the world changes, changes in the Church are also inevitable. That’s why a centralized salary structure was implemented. Prominent parishes must not remain accessible to only a certain group of people, but should enable everyone to recognize the dignity of labour and embrace workers. The work culture among clergy also needs to change. Priests must be willing and prepared to take on large responsibilities. This becomes possible when they are part of a centralized system. When a situation arises where any priest is deemed suitable for any parish, this becomes a model that gains international attention. In the modern world, while institution heads discuss the problem of a lack of worker commitment, workers often feel burdened by the exploitative mindset of management. Today’s era is marked by strategies aimed at establishing administrative excellence in workplaces, creating industrial priorities, familiarizing individuals with all kinds of jobs, and introducing them — even on a short-term basis — to new employment sectors. The Church must intervene to nurture satisfied workers. Unlike shifting societal structures, the Church — as the body of Christ — should be a source of comfort for entrepreneurs, employees, and employers alike. Developed India is preparing to prioritize various employment sectors. It is already identified that changes in the global medical field will affect the job market. The Church must encourage entrepreneurs and employers and take the lead in addressing the challenges faced by workers. Doing so will contribute to individual income growth as well as the nation’s GDP growth. At a time when we face the pressures of mass migration, the Church must call people to work for the upliftment of their own land. Along with that, the Church must embrace the ordinary workers who contribute to their homeland’s growth. It must design projects aimed at improving the living standards of workers. Even my district, Pathanamthitta, is groaning under the wounds of migration. In this time when relationships are vanishing and people fail to recognize connections, clear plans must be made to bring people back to jobs and activate agricultural lands by directing the unemployed toward farming. Letting land lie fallow is a sin. It is our responsibility to preserve the ecological balance of the land God has given and to protect its biodiversity. Preserving the land is a shining example of Christian stewardship and active participation. Talents are not given solely for personal use but to strengthen interdependent families, church structures, and communities, forming a Christ-centered society — and even in its trade practices, we must engage with a sense of justice. Some believe they need no one’s help to make use of what they have received. But when we recognize that what we have is God’s grace, we begin to hear the silenced voices in the quiet workplaces. We must not forget that the society we live in is formed by both the women confined to kitchens and the ordinary people who toil in fields and workshops. It is through the food they provide and the fruits of their labour that our society is formed and progresses. If love, care, and security are to be shared in society, the Church must clearly model this. The question Jesus asked — "Can you drink the cup I drink?" — has the power to bring transformation in workplaces, family environments, and personal life. The realization that the pressure and pain one experiences are for the sake of others is where the search for community-building begins. The sacrifice and dedication of mothers from past generations are becoming alien to us today. The shifts in perspective are causing dissonance within families and breaking relationships. We need to become a society that cooks its own food and consumes produce from its own farms. The change in home food culture is connected to the changes in the workplace. Today’s new food habits are inviting diseases more than satisfying hunger. Not only is health compromised due to the use of unhealthy oils and artificial flavour enhancers, but we are also creating a sick society within our homes. An alarmingly noteworthy paradigm is the quest for new tastes is leading to the growth of fitness centers, the rise of new employment sectors, and the proliferation of super-specialty hospitals. Great thinkers say that even in the use of medicines, moderation must be taught. This is where the value of Christian institutions’ services is recognized by society. We must assess how institutions under the great parishes are progressing. Are we aware of the changes happening in workplaces? As the shifts in the global job market create new priorities in education and in every sphere of life, we must question whether the increasing tendency to go to court even for minor issues is desirable. If we can see the opportunities given by God not merely as personal rights but as reflections of care and duty toward others, then the united and organized voice of the great parish, "Ora et Labora" — pray and work — can be raised. Indifference in workplaces is not acceptable; tasks that need to be completed today must be done today. In this way, we can develop a responsible work culture. When one realizes that the workplace itself is their place of worship, then work becomes a noble act that glorifies God with one’s body.

Kottayam 01-05-2025