If not in life...

Came back this evening from the funeral of Fr Pasala Jojappa, a novitiate batchmate of mine, who later joined the diocese of Nalgonda. He died under mysterious circumstances and things are too shady even for one to speculate.  However, the good that happened today, at least for me, was that I got to meet my Gunadala aspirantate and novitiate batchmates.  Most of them I am meeting after 20 to 23 years!  It was great to meet them.

Of the batch of 14 novices, way back in 1995, five of us are Salesians (4 Priests and me), one already in heaven, one laid to rest today and the rest are all married and settled down in life. Today Anil, Shantha, Kasu and William were absent.  The rest of us were all there: Anand, Kishore, Rayappa, Rajkumar and Thomas.

We stayed back after the funeral just to stand around and recall our days in Gunadala and Manoharabad.  We still remembered our nicknames and pet names.  Finally before leaving the village, we once again called on the family.  Most of us were not in touch with the family but all the same they invited us inside the house when we informed that we were a batch once upon a time.  We did spend some quality time with the mother, sister and a relative (a Priest).  Some intimate details about his death and the circumstances around the same too were shared in this close-knit gathering.

If not in life, his death brought us together.

RIP: Pasala

At Gunadala

I was in Gunadala (Vijayawada) the other day to spend a day with the boys who had come to participate in the Vocation Camp (there were 28 of them). On my way, from the centre to the house, I could not but help notice the changes that have come about there since the time I was an aspirant at Gunadala (in 1993-1995).  The muddy streets are all now well laid out concrete roads, the petty palm-leave covered shops are now with a decent shutter and a concrete roof, the houses look a bit more tidy and well kept.  One thing that has been good is that practically all of them have planted some plants or trees in their little spaces.  So the whole place is green.  Of course, one of the few things that have remained constant is the stench emanating from the budameru (three of them) and the filth flowing – or lying stangant – along.

Power of Don Bosco, stories and... Fr Lens

The other day when I was in Gunadala, Fr Louis (the Rector) and Fr James Jerome (the dean) asked me to give the goodnight to the boys after supper and Rosary. As I sat there waiting for the boys to finish their night prayers, I was reminded of my days at Gunadala (way back in 1993-1995) especially the moments in that Chapel. Of course then the Chapel was smaller, carpetted with some coir mats and with no amplifier and sound system. During my second year there, Fr Lens was the Rector and I still remember the weekly narration of Salesian history he gave just before the Sunday adoration... we just loved it!! The very fact that it was about the life of Don Bosco was enough to make it interesting. But what made it all the more 'addictive' - if I may say so - was that it was narrated by Fr Lens. If it were someone else, I don't think it would have made such impression upon us. On Sundays when he narrated the life of Don Bosco for just 10 minutes, we hung on to every word of his, every action of his was followed, every expression on his face was registered. There was nothing, really nothing, that we would have exchanged those 10 min. for.

Power of Don Bosco, and the power of story telling and I would also add, the power of Fr Lens!

Grounded formation - days at Gunadala

Reflecting this whole day on formation and formation processes, I was reminded of my grounded formation in Gunadala. Looking back the first few months at Gunadala were the most formative days in community living. I'd reached the aspirantate with a very high opinion of those who came there to become priests and brothers. Once there I was in for a rude shock when I observed within the first month that very many boys there, were worse than my school companions whom I'd kept a distance from!!! That brought me back to the earth! Priests and Brothers are after all made of the same flesh and bones like the rest of humanity!

The second experience which kept my hopes and aspirations alive was the celebration of the community day. That was the second time I wept in Gunadala - only this time they were tears of joy and a sense of great fulfillment. The feeling of being together with such a large group was terrific. What we can do as individuals is great and praise worthy, but that what we can achieve as a community focused on a particular mission is something unbelievable.

True that I've learnt much more over the years in the Salesian congregation, but these initial experiences I'll never forget!