FAITH AT WORK :HOW TO BE ACTIVE CITIZENS

How do we integrate our faith with our vocation?

Many would in fact prefer to keep them separate as one seemingly belongs to the personal realm of belief, spiritual life and a private matter of a person while the other belongs to the material world of earning a livelihood, public life of business and work and the hard realities of a demanding world. Life continues in this manner like the parallel lines of a railway track, and one may find it much more manageable this way by not facing any prick in their conscience or feelings of any guilt or shame.

But what about those who love to break the sacred secular divide and try to live a life of integrity by integrating their personal faith and belief with their professional life and vocation? How do they find their journey? What are the struggles they face and what are the joys they experience?

We would like to listen to a few participants of our recently concluded “Faith and Active Citizenship” online course conducted by TRACI.

Raaj Mondol, Director-Thought Leadership is in Conversation with Dr Joseph Francis Dominic, Ms. Jennie. A and Ms. Ravali Pidaparthi.

Dr. Joseph Francis Dominic: Dr. Dominic has a Post Doctoral degree in Oncology Medicine. He has been practicing oncology in a hospital in Chennai since 2006 after training at AIIMS New Delhi. His area of interest is in whole person care which is the integration of all aspects in caring for the sick including the spiritual and palliative care. He is married to Candice, and they have two children studying in college. Dr. Dominic serves as an elder for a youth group in his parish.

Ms. Jennie A: Jennie is a research scholar in the development sector. She has done master’s in social work. She lives in Mumbai and is engaged in fostering political approaches that promote social justice.

Ms. Ravali: Ravali leads Esther, a social-purpose organization that enables young Bahujan, Dalit, and Adivasi women to have a voice and choice in their lives and aspirations. Esther has been working across rural Telangana, transforming how first-generation learners navigate their transition from college to adult lives through programs focused on building life skills, future readiness, communication, and mentorship.