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! 

Infrastructure vs Empowerment

 In the last council I had to AGAIN speak strongly about rethinking our investment and the priorities of our mission.  

Most of our financial reserves and earnings are being funneled into buildings and renovations!  Truly a black hole!  I firmly believe that we should shift the emphasis on building people, rather than buildings!  

Investments on infrastructure are a trap.  The attention they need and the constant care that eats ones time, resources and energy is huge.  That's one of the biggest drawbacks of institutionalisation.  We never have 'enough' of buildings and institutions!  We first invest in construction, then in maintenance, then in renovation and constantly seek beautification!  Not even half of that is invested in, what I feel is the most essential: people!  Skills, training, education, creativity, thinking... these need and demand attention.  That should be what we Salesians should be pouring ourselves (and our resources) into.  And for most of these, infrastructure is not the most essential; even if it is, very minimal of it would do.  

 I am convinced that if I truly offer QUALITY training or education, no matter how poor or little infrastructure I have, young people will soon realise the CONTENT and be the most direct beneficiaries.  

Proof of Concept (POC)

As part of our discussion today about revamping our approach and outlook of one of our skill training centres, I learnt some new technical aspects of the IT world.  

Most importantly I heard of the IT equivalent of what I've been blabbering about in my own broken English or religious language; namely, the idea of starting small, gaining experience and riding on the success of that initiative, scaling up or evolving it into something bigger and wider. 

In the IT market I learnt the same procedure is referred to as POC, Proof of Concept!  

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.  

Self-sustainability or apostolate sustainability

Investment in the revenue generating institutions to increase self-sustainability… while this investment is being done, are we undoing the apostolates/places (boardings, street children,) where this revenue is to be spent? Seen positively, we could be moving from institutional structures to non-institutional apostolate (scholarships, migrants,) . But needs to be made consciously and strategically, not sporadically or ‘unconsciously’. Also, this needs to be done, with a new and different mindset; not the same old doling out mode. Negatively, there is an erosion of the ‘poor’ from our sphere of apostolate. 

My mission? Really?

1 Sm 1: 1-8/ Ps 116: 12-13. 14-17. 18-19/ Mk 1: 14-20

… at once they left their nets and followed Him (Mk 1: 18)

It is certainly possible that before Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James and John, they had heard of him. They certainly would have given a thought to what Jesus had preached and so when His invitation reached them, they accepted it instantly. Each one of us called by the Lord. Have we heard of what He wants of us? Have we given that a thought? Or have I presumed something without ever listening, or verifying that what I believe as my mission is actually what the Lord wants of me?

Abraham, Mary, Martha and Jesus

Today's reading speak about hospitality and treating guests. Abraham royally treats the strangers not knowing who they truly were. But given his Jewish upbringing and natural habit of taking care of those who travel, he treats them well.  Mary and Martha too attend to Jesus when he visits their house in Bethany.  The difference in both these instances, as stated by the Parish Priest in his lovely sermon today, is that Abraham did not know whom he was attending upon. Mary and Martha knew very well who and what Jesus was.  Not knowing that they were divine beings, Abraham offers them whatever comfort he could provide, since they needed it.  Martha was busy offering Jesus the things He did not really want, not immediately!  It was not necessary to give to Jesus then, but be open to receive from Him!

What and whom to give, has been stated by Jesus elsewhere... To the Samaritan woman he says, "If you but knew who is asking you for water, you'd be the one who'd ask Him to give you the living waters!"  Martha and Mary knew Jesus, yet Martha was keen only on giving to Jesus.  Elsewhere Jesus says, "When you throw a banquet, do not invite those who will be able to repay your invitation in kind, rather invite those who will not be able to pay you back!"  This clearly states whom to invite: strangers, poor, the destitute... your enemies.

Quite a point for reflection:  Jesus has more to offer than you have to give!  

Overseeing and investment

Overseeing the construction work at Sabbavaram, has put me in a dilemma. The work is slow, unsteady, all in patches and nothing synchronised. What pains me most is the time and resources spent on that ... they no where match the outcome!! To make that match, 'someone' has to be there... constantly pulling the masons and others up, giving them directions and definite orders, making sure that deadlines are met and the quality of the whole structure is not compromised. That there is the contractor and a supervisor appointed by him is as good as saying that there is a tree behind the building! Nor am I saying anything new here. 'Someone' ought to be there in person. But my dilemma is, who is this 'someone'?

I remember hearing a couple of years ago that the JMJ Sisters have (had?) a Sister who was incharge of all the constructions in the Province. She had her own team of masons, carpenters, welders, suppliers and all that jing-bang and she would be there to make sure that the building being put up (a JMJ institution, of course) is near perfect. Can we too follow suit? But on the other hand, did we become religious for this? If not one among us, who then will feel the work as 'our' work and get things done right?

However there is another dimension of this whole process that is nagging me. Why at all spend so much on cement and bricks and paint? Why not invest it in people? Make use of existing structures or adapt our expertise and services in such a way that most of our energies is not spent on putting up buildings, in the first place, and the rest, in maintaining those... but on empowering people.