Hobbies vs Apostolate

 The other day we had a meeting of the Leaders and in the Varia points as part of the Agenda there was a discussion about one of our earliest communities.  The point raised was, what can we do at _____, given that it is one of our earliest Salesian initiatives in the Province?  The whole idea is triggered by this misinterpretation of 'Master plan'.  The itch for this is to see what NEW can and should be done, because we are already there for donkeys years. 

Sitting and listening to the proposals and ideas being proposed, I made no attempt whatsoever at getting involved.  Several months or more than a year ago itself I had made my stand clear:  Our 'Master plan' is primarily in response to a local need.  What more we need to do for the young people of the locality is what needs to be our guiding principle and criteria.  And that should not begin and end with infrastructural additions.  Rather it should be initiatives which are tested and if found worthy of investment (financial and personnel) time and our commitment will tell.  

However, since then the discussion of a 'master plan' is in the air, without any consideration of what is the need that we are addressing.  The whole focus is on what 'we want to do'!!!  But is that what we want, the same as what is NEEDED by the young people?? Secondly, the whole craze is to have new buildings! What for? The same things we already are doing!  So my basic question is what improvement have we done or wish to achieve, other than new buildings??  

Sitting in an ac hall we discuss matters about what we want.  That's deciding on hobbies, not finalisation of apostolate! 

Insulated against social issues

 In quite a few of our Province discussions and meetings, there is a small group of individuals who point out that most of all we do, say and think about is inward looking!  In other words, what happens in the country or even beyond our gates hardly makes an impact on us or on any of our interventions.  We consciously keep ourselves away from anything social or humane matters.  We say all the right things, but still be comfortably untouched by the socio-political-justice dimension of our wider society. 

It is not a matter of jumping into politics or dabbling with political matters.  It is more about looking at those oppressed and marginalised as my brother and sister, because we have One Father.  

My personal take on this conscious denial of the fact is that we have always been - and prefer to continue being - an inward looking, in-house focused congregation and Province.  We set up base and wait for people to come to us.  One of the first things we do when we go to a new place and buy or get a plot of land, is to put up a compound wall.  The wall not only is to prevent others from coming in, but also from letting us move out! We stay insulated.  We build and then spend the rest of our lives and energies safeguarding what we built!  

There is also the fear of safeguarding our FCRA, society status, or our built up image of 'spiritual leaders'! Not that we do not do good work or noble apostolate; but only those who come to us get that assistance.  The wider reality of the society and nation is not our concern!  Living ministry outside our walls is something we dare not venture out for! 

Round table of apostolate

 There is a great temptation in our apostolate to view one better or greater than the other.  Not maliciously but mostly out of misplaced fervour. But the fact is that there is no hierarchy of ministries.  There is only a round table of apostolate.  Just like at a round table, there is no one greater or higher.  We are all at the same level, face to face with one another and on an equal footing. 

The hierarchical or pyramidal view of the types of apostolate arises when one views 'pastoral work' as true religious apostolate (top of the pyramid) and other works among civil groups or human rights based activity as 'social work' (bottom of the pyramid). 

The criteria then is not what we do, but with what Spirit we do what we do.  By that criteria, where, who, when does not matter.  'Why' is of primary importance.  Therefore, if love of God is what urges us to a particular activity or service, then it is an apostolate.  If love of the Father does not drive one to clean the sacristy then that service is no better than a protest march carried out on behalf of our brothers and sisters for a just cause, even though the sacristy is closer to the altar! 

Attract rather than chase

 One of the only quotes I've ever had as a desktop wallpaper was the following quote: 

Of late I've realised it a perfect summary of what I've been trying to tell for quite sometime about the way we operate and seek funds. Most of us seek funds with only a concept in mind - never tested, never really the need (that's the real sin!) and never out of genuine concern for the poor but mostly to fan our desire to 'work'.  Instead of that, the best and the proper way is to identify the need, and start with something small, with whatever is at hand!  Let others see that noble and qualitative work you do, with the meagre resources you have and then they'll naturally pitch in!  If not with tons of financial resources, with what they have or can.  Most importantly, people for and WITH whom you are doing this apostolate will own it. 

Attract rather than chase!!! 

MPE Rewind 2026

 I've been wanting to pen my learning from the recently concluded Mission Poverty Eradication (MPE) Rewind 2026 meeting held in Delhi.  I purposely kept delaying it to achieve some sort of objectivity and fairness (historical distance!), rather than let my reflection be moved primarily by emotion. 

While I truly still feel, a virtual meeting would have sufficed, but to be fair, I cannot but appreciate the meeting content.  Rather than come without a set agenda and let things unfold, the meeting was aimed at collating the efforts of the last one year, across the provinces of south Asia.  So the best was that preparation done.  We did not walk into the meeting, arms swinging.  Each province had to prepare two definite presentations and a video. So, in that sense, there was much effort and planning and thought put into the meeting itself. 

What I'd sincerely appreciate is a little more of openness and synodal approach towards the whole enterprise.  This is about the methodology at work of the whole initiative rather than the meeting per se.  I somehow sense a strong suspicion underlying the initiative, that most Salesians are against this endeavour.  That outlook really hampers the owning up of the undertaking because much of it depends on involvement and commitment.  When people tend to feel emotionally hurt, the tendency is to either resist or stay aloof - both of which are foolish and immature reactions.  Neither of which is helpful for the dissemination and imbibing of a noble initiative like MPE.  

That said, I see the potentiality and the ultimate goal that this undertaking strives to achieve: an attitudinal and strategic change in the way we exercise our ministry, focusing our attention consciously on the poorest. 

Personal commitment

 I had another round of discussion with a confrere this morning, again very profound and touching some of the basic issues concerning our Salesian apostolate across the province and in the individual communities.  

One of my primary concerns - was and - is that we Salesians have become numb to the challenges of the youth!  We have found our safe haven in our houses and in our own worlds.  Our commitment to respond to the needs of the youth, is lost when faced with the slightest of discomfort or smallest of a hurdle.  We have basically losing or lost the SPARK!

I truly believe that if I am passionate about working with and for the young, and I notice that there is a challenge which the young people are struggling with - not in the air, but in my vicinity - I will pour out myself, in response to it.  Literally, pour out myself.  I will use every bit of space, every tiny infrastructure, every resource around me, every ounce of my strength and give my best to assist the young or the needy.  I need to 'own' up that challenge, with and for the young.  I will not wait for a mega project to be sanctioned, a new building to be put up, extra space/land to be provided, or someone from somewhere giving me directions as to what to do.  I will just do whatever I can, with whatever I have.  

Without that bit of will, that tiny effort, that initial investment of myself - all of myself - (and the little I have), no amount of money or resources or infrastructure or land or even God himself (by Himself, all alone) can make any meaningful and sustained impact.  

Future of apostolate

The future of our Salesian apostolate lies in building people, movements and processes, rather than continue the erstwhile style of huge buildings, heavy machinery and mega projects. Therefore, to be future-ready we need to be clear with our vision, generous with our commitment and be data-driven about the contextual needs. Openness to partner with like-minded individuals (especially, laity of the Salesian movements) and organisations, is another must. Without any of these essential aspects, we would end up doing great and good amount of work but without much impact.

That's my personal take on the way we need to approach the ministry in practice.  However, at a more deeper and personal level, without personal commitment to Jesus and His Gospel values, the end result too is going to be the same as the concluding line of the previous para.

The dynamics of why and how

 Last night I had a long and very revealing discussion with one confrere.  It was basically about finances but that was not the core.  We were basically discussing about the fixed deposits and the way I have been classifying them under a heading, with a clear purpose for each of those FDs.  Discussing and explaining to him about the financial situation and plans of my office, over the last four years, I realised for myself how profoundly my own emphasis on purpose has shaped the financial resources (available, investment and future reserves). 

I have never been a big fan of money or let finance decide my plans and motives.  That's a fact everyone knows, including myself. And I'm very happy for it.  What I do strive to seek is PURPOSE.  Because I've come to believe that if I have the purpose and intention clear, the path will unfold before me, not necessarily at the beginning of the initiative, but eventually and certainly.  So anytime there is something I strongly feel that we as Salesians need to engage ourselves with, finances is never on my list of immediate requirements or needs.  It never has been, never will it be!  And I believe that's the way it is to be.  

Don Bosco's trust in Divine Providence is exactly this practical outlook: Do the good; the necessary support or resources (even financial) will eventually flow in.  But if it is the reverse, namely, finances is my priority, then we hardly do any good!  Everything is mostly about finances and not about the good to be done. 

Stay hidden

 The pic says it all!

Drops or floods?

 A few years ago there was an itch to engage in new ministries, new types of apostolate and be creative in reaching out those in need.  While the concept in itself looks appealing, there was a lurking danger: the focus was on trying something new, not on the purpose!  

Often we try to multiply or increase the number of services.  But the fact is not about the number of services or the creativity with which we engage in the outreach, although each of them has a significant impact, but about making our outreach impactful.  Rather than do a hundred and one unrelated good things, which do not have a direct impact on the lives of people, which create only a temporary or illusory effect, the attempt to be make our apostolate integral.  Rather than carry out the ministry as piecemeal, or scattered or segmented, the effort should be to make it unified and complementary. 

We do all that we do, with a singular focus and purpose.  Without that primary binding motivation and guiding principle, all our efforts remain scattered and like drops in the desert; while the efforts are proportionate to a flood in a desert!  

Diplomacy in the apostolate?

 In today's reading we find Paul before the Sanhedrin, making a very shrewd move.  Indeed he shows glimpses of this 'Saul' personality.  Put on trial for preaching Christ, he cleverly incites one group (Pharisees) against the other (Sadducees), without letting them even get wind of his clever move. He merely puts out himself as one among the Pharisees, being accused of believing in the resurrection! The Pharisees fall for it and then the debate is all a fight between the two groups.  Paul, in the meantime, walks out with a sly smile (that's my addition!). 

And just when I thought that was it, there comes the message from Jesus: You bore witness to me in Jerusalem, now be my witness in Rome as well.  

One can be like the crowd, easily swayed by someone's clever distraction, missing out the core argument and point.  We end up, fighting and arguing, without even realising that we long stopped reasoning and focusing.  We can be like Paul, playing a diplomat or a politician, rather than being an apostle. Or could be that Paul was only being wise not wanting to waste his time 'preaching' to the group; hence he merely lets them get entangled with one another, while he gets back to investing his time and energy into positive outcomes and possibilities. 

Getting back to the scene played out at the Sanhedrin, the feedback of Jesus can be interpreted as an endorsement of the ploy that Paul played. Or it could be read as a chastisement.  I prefer to side with the latter.  For in Christianity, honesty is more valuable than diplomacy.  Paul was called to be an apostle, not a diplomat, and certainly not a politician!  

Substitution

 Today we commemorate the feast of a man who wasn't the firsthand choice of Jesus as one among the 12 apostles. 

Mathias was a substitute or replacement of Judas. He was filling in the shoes of someone who had betrayed the very Master. Not a pleasant or exciting offer. 

He knew well what apostolate meant. Nor was he a first timer or random passerby who got dragged into the inner circle of the early apostles. I'm sure he was around when Jesus went about his mission. So when the slot fell vacant, the choice of Mathias was not surprising to those around. 

Being a substitute he could have acted as a spare wheel, rather than take on the full responsibility. But I'm sure that wasn't the case. In fact I'm almost certain, he would have continued being who he was and doing exactly what he was doing earlier. Even if he were not to have been chosen, he would still been the same and done the same amount of good. I guess the same is true of Barsabas, the alternative option who was considered for the substitution.

That's virtue. That's integrity. Valuing who I am and doing what I truly believe is good no matter the circumstances around me or the existence or non-existence of power, position and responsibility.

Balanced apostolate

 Among the Priests and religious there is an allergy towards the paper and desk.  So anything to do with studies, documentation, forms, surveys, reflection is always the last thing to be attempted - if at all one does.  The contemporary religious are light years away from the priests and monks of the medieval ages who excelled in diverse fields. 

Today our morning discussion as part of the Mission Poverty Eradication review, I realised another dimension of the same 'desk-fatigue'.  But this dimension has more to do with a lack of organisation and repetition that leads one to slump everytime one hears or is told to fill out a form.  

There is a tussle between engaging oneself in/with charismatic services or apostolate on the one hand, and keeping tab on the impact or effect, on the other.  Called to be apostles, the Gospel does not tell us to keep track of all the good one does: let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing. One is called to love and do good. End of story.  But unless one does an assessment or review of what one has done and if that has actually done some benefit, one does not know if he or she has to continue the service, the style and the procedure or rework it all.  Furthermore there is the fear of the inability to answer the question: 'What are you doing?' or 'What did you do?'

While the value of accountability can never be undermined, on the one hand is the accountability to God and to one's own conscience. For this no log book or account abstract need to be prepared.  On the other hand, one is also called to be accountable to our benefactors, the government, the religious community, the society at large. 

One has to have a BALANCED approach.  If lobsided, one might as well live in a cloistered monastery (but even there one will have to be accountable in the latter sense!) or in a cave, all by oneself. And if leaning on the other side, one might not be charismatic.  

Rethinking apostolate

 We Salesians have earned for ourselves a reputation for 'going big'. Our interventions on behalf of the young are often mega events and involving large numbers.

Our buildings and homes are huge. So much so, that if we have a small residence or building we feel claustrophobic - the young therein are absolutely not bothered by the size of the building though! 

Perhaps this has been one of our characteristic style of operating. But we need to realise that we have huge multiple buildings but no children therein! If we do, they are so few that even if we allot a room for each, we will still have rooms to spare! We may still be blessed with 6-7 digit figure project funding, but those projects define our apostolate; not the need of the place or the poor that define our mission. 

Sooner than later we will need to radically rewire ourselves, our attitude and our approach to see apostolate as disjoint from buildings, projects, and a 'me-first' outlook. Move from 'going big' to 'going deep'.

Don Bosco's boys spilled all over the place and then he built bigger places; he didn't build mega houses and then look for boys to fill the house!

Means and ends

 The Gospel of the day was another stark reminder of a similar, if not the same, principle of belonging and opting for Christ. Perhaps somewhere down the line, and this sequence of events is natural, we as a congregation (for that matter any organisation) have shifted our focus from empowering the young to safeguarding our institutions. Now, this is quite natural outcome of the growth of any initiative: the wider and bigger a movement grows, structures, rules, regulations and procedures come into play. And eventually, there comes a time when these start to take an upper hand or even override the charism of the initiative. This tussle is healthy – as long as we are open to discerning the Spirit and the times. 

 Between the young and our institutions, the one criterion we need to always bear in mind is that our institutions and structures are FOR the young. If and when, the institutions become an end in themselves and stop being a means of reaching out to the young, then we’ve strayed far from Don Bosco’s charism. Delving a bit deeper, if and when we as individuals (Salesians) become and behave as the end, when all our plans and thoughts and efforts are all geared towards our own selves (comfort, ease, success, positions, name, fame…) then we have not just strayed from the charism, we have sinned!

Biting more than we can chew

Today was a rather challenging day... in spite of my natural tendency to be critical, I decided to enter into the meeting and discussion of the day (a particular apostolate at a centre) with an open attitude.  I did tell myself repeatedly that I needed to be optimistic and encouraging; rather than obstructive or pessimistic. 

Nonetheless, it was exactly the opposite of what I wanted to be and do, that I ended up being and doing.  I really had to clip wings, curtail fantasies and get our feet back on the ground.  And I'm not in any way disappointed with myself, even though I broke my own resolution for the day!  In a way, looking back (even though it is not much of a historical and temporal distance that I can claim) I'm happy to have played the devil's advocate. 

My basic principle was (has always been): Dream big, but start small.  And from experience in the Salesian life, all the more in the last three years as the Economer, I've learnt that we Salesians are good at 'wasting money'.  Not in a bad sense or in malice. But purely due to misplaced prioritisation.  

I firmly believe and have seen it in action (with regard to the school here at Bandlaguda) that when we embark on a new mission or apostolate, we need to build ourselves first; our quality, our expertise, our attitude, in order to make a real impact on the beneficiaries.  Once we actually deliver a quality service, we do not need to resort to campaigning or pleading for people to come to us, or avail themselves of our services.  They will be a queue eager to learn from us.  At that point, nothing else matters (lack of extensive of fanciful infrastructure, for example). 

If we deliver QUALITY, people WILL come to us for enriching themselves.  We do not need to beg, plead, campaign, canvas, advertise... And if we do have to resort to these, then it is a clear sign that we have fallen short of qualitative standards.  

Coming back to the start (of an apostolate), begin small, but with the best of quality (and I do not mean show). Riding on the success of that small initiative, then scale it up or widen it to reach more people or diverse services.  In the meantime we have gained the first hand experience of knowing and handling the challenges, so that we can avoid mistakes and build on our strengths.  

Working hard vs Working with a purpose

Jesus' mission of sending out the 72 disciples to the places he himself intended to visit, with the clear instructions as to what to do, and not to do, in practically each and every possible situation has a strange twist to it at the end of that passage.  This is the gospel of the coming Sunday (Luke 10; early verses).  

He sends out the disciples with clear instructions; a specific list of do's and don'ts - a perfect SEPP, with lines of action (as said by Sarath).  However, when they return and recall the great things they were able to achieve, (the evaluation of the same SEPP!!), Jesus states something he has not said a word about earlier! What they have achieved, and for which he congratulates them, is something he never spoke to them about!! 

Jesus tells them not to rejoice because they were able to work miracles, see Satan fall from heaven, heal the sick, cure diseases and what not; rather he tells them to be happy because their names are written in heaven!  Now that's not something he told them about before their departure.  

I take it as a lesson not to get lost in the immediate results or achievements; the petty victories or even the activities we so meticulously plan, implement and are proud of carrying out. The real progress and achievement is in setting in motion a PROCESS; a deep rooted change or IMPACT that works as a ripple effect, well after any of us has stopped working or even left the place altogether.  

The disciples being with Jesus learnt that he was not just DOING good things; there was something deeper and greater he was working at.  When following his steps, they subconsciously fulfilled what he had in mind; now he was calling their attention to becoming conscious of that purpose, while continuing doing the good things! 

Generosity

Two essential traits of a Salesian: joy and generosity. Talking to the young Salesians the other day, I told them that it is against these two virtues that they can gauge the authenticity of their vocation. Because these two qualities are purely my own decisions. They are not dependent on someone else or something else. No matter what others say or do, I can choose to be joyful and generous with myself, FOR OTHERS. 

The case of St Mathias, the saint of the day, is a typical example. He was elected into the group of the apostles, purely on his merit of being close to the mission of Christ. Neither before nor after his election would he have changed! I’m sure it would be the same of Justus too, Mathias’ contemporary who too was considered as a possible replacement of Judas. The fact that he did not get elected would certainly not have deterred him from being and doing the good he was already engaged in. 

This is what I call personal commitment to being joyful and generous when it comes to our purpose in life.

Construction and comfort

With new constructions and renovations being planned and executed in very many communities, most confreres prefer to now go for AC-utilisation mode – all in the name of modernisation and better living conditions. This means reduced ventilation spaces and special painting and low-ceiling and tiled floors... However, what I have a difficulty is the inability of our guys foreseeing the additional expenses and inconveniences these modifications incur. Besides laying separate wiring, sockets, and the cost of the AC unit itself, there are the hidden but certain costs of higher electricity bills, extra load on the total consumption, even to the extent of leading to the necessity of having an independent transformer. Add to that the uncertainty of continued power supply in most of our locations. So we’ll sooner or later need to buy generators – that too, those which can support the load of these AC units. 

The greatest disadvantage in planning of exclusively AC rooms is that when the AC is inoperational, the room is as good as an oven, given our hot climate. The greatest risk of enhancing the comforts in our rooms and offices, is that we eventually get stuck to these rather than our active apostolate AMIDST the young. Between the dirty streets or the scorching playground or the sweaty hall and the air-conditioned office or room, the temptation to seek refuge in the latter is too overwhelming. 

I’d rather prefer that we plan and construct rooms, halls or buildings which have the maximum arial ventilation and light. Even those limited and selected rooms where we wish to use AC units, there should be a reasonable option for natural ventilation and/or fans.

 

Salesian priorities

 I came across this beautiful description of the shift in our Salesian approach towards young people, in the last General Chapter GC 28, p. 38 (AGC 433): 

We do not doubt this truth of the young people themselves, a truth we recognised at the same time in the Chapter hall: “They ask us for time and we give them space; they ask us for relationships and we provide them with services; they ask us for fraternal life and we offer them structures; they ask us for friendship and we provide activities for them. All this commits us to rediscovering the riches and potential of the ‘family spirit’”.[CG28, Priority of the Salesian mission among today’s young people. First nucleus, no.5]

I think this para exactly sums up what we should be focusing on (spending time, building relationships, developing friendships...), rather than what we are presently engaged in (creating spaces where we Salesians are missing, offering services, structures, and activities).