At the Church for the new year

On December 31st night, I joined my family for the midnight Mass in the Parish - it was not out of love for the midnight Mass but that the morning Mass was in Telugu, something my people are not comfortable with.  I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people attending the Mass!  There was hardly any parking space.  The Church was packed, so was the choir loft and every chair in the corridors.  Secondly I observed that it was mostly a family affair.  People attended Mass as a family.  Though I did not see very many youngsters, it was nice to see that so many people preferred to spend the first moments of new year in the Church rather than in front of the TV or at some party.

The only thing I felt a bit odd - at the same time happy - was that there was hardly anyone I recognised in that whole crowd.  It has been 20 years since I joined the Seminary and I suppose people also have moved on.  There are just a handful of people whom I recognise and those who know me.  The rest are all Parishners, but unknown to me. 

Parish or a Prison?

In Jesus' time there were no parishes, just private homes (and of course, the synagogues). And these homes defined the social order of the day geographically (as is prevalent even today in most parts of the world). Jesus to convey his message had no boundaries and so any home with the possibility of sowing the seeds of the Kingdom was fine with him.  But this did not go well with those in authority and perhaps everyone. He went in and out of houses, for various reasons, houses belonging to the apostles (simple fisher folk), the tax collectors ('traitors'), Pharisees (religious leaders), friends (Lazarus), Chief Priests ...

However, once the Church was established and the Parish structure stabilised, Jesus has been held captive! Neither is he permitted to visit 'other' houses (and I certainly do not mean other parishes, but any house where his presence could make a difference) nor do we move out ourselves.  This could very well be applied to every Christian institution.  The very structure we built to widen our reach has become our prison.  

Chastity and the wall

The parish Priest of Mangalapalem wrote to the Bishop asking his help to construct a compound wall around his Parish.  Citing the primary reason that people use the open space around the Church for their natural calls, he emphasised the need, even more when he added that it is very scandalous and "seducing" to see women and girls go for their needs in the open and that too in clear view of the young Priests and Clerics helping him in the Parish.  The Parish Priest received a reply, on a postcard, from the Bishop Gopu Mark.

Do you think that the lack of the compound wall was the reason why Charles David left Priesthood?  (Charles David was a young Priest who had left Priesthood lately). 

The Parish Priest replied, of course on a postcard:

I know not Charles David, but I certainly know King David! 

[Heard this amusing incident from one of our former Spiritual Directors]

The Beauty of Faith

On Good Friday the supplement of The Hindu had the feature on my home Parish of St Theresa's, Sanathnagar, Hyderabad.  I was pleasantly surprised as I caught glimpse of the paper lying on the sofa and the picture caught my attention as some place familiar.  I picked up to read the first line and I knew it was about St Theresa's.  To read the whole article and view the photo, click here. The title of the article, The Beauty of Faith encapsulated the spirit of the write-up. 

Ministry abroad? Then...

Fr Wilson's sermon this morning was quite challenging. Using the Gospel of the day, wherein the mother of James and John asks Jesus for a place on his side in His Kingdom, Fr Wilson asked the Brothers if their motivation to Priesthood too was just for similar reasons. Whether they were willing to partake of the cup of Jesus or only intending to use Priesthood to go to the States or Germany?

As I reflected on these words of Fr Wilson and their truth, it struck me that most often words alone do not inspire. To really sift the present generation of young people joining the Seminaries or formation houses intending to become Priests, we ought to present the real picture. Like for example, Fr Joji, our present vocation promoter does not go around in the Bolero that is available for him. He goes about in any public transport that he manages. I'm sure it makes a great impact on people, especially young people, when they see such a person. Most often, youngsters join not because of Don Bosco or the person of the vocation promoter but because of the type of vehicle the Priests of that congregation go about in! (Besides, the person of Joji himself makes a profound impact).

I know not how sensible it is or feasible at all (given the mindset of those already Priests) but radical it is: Let those who crave and 'demand' for a trip abroad, whether it be for ministry or any other purpose, agree to work on their return, for double the amount of time spent abroad, in a very rural or backward part of the Diocese or Province. I know it's a barter but as they say in Hindi, when one cannot take out ghee with a straight finger, one must bend his finger!

Faith and presence

In the past week I have had two invitations to attend the Parish feast in two different places: at Muniguda (our own Salesian mission in Orissa) and at Narpam (one of the substations of our Kondadaba Parish, here itself). Both of which I do not intend to attend. Reason: I dislike crowds. I like some peaceful and short celebrations which are more personal than directed to no one in particular. However, I intend to visit these places some other time. But what was brought to my notice was that me visiting these places some other time is totally different from being present when they are inviting us. I really did not know the difference till the person stated that being called for an occasion has a significance greater than just being present. It means strength, prestige, power... and faith too. I really did not understand, till this morning, when one of the old ladies who invited me to Narpam said, the greater the presence of Brothers and Fathers, the greater the witness value to the local population. Of course, there is whole ball game of name, fame and prestige to say that 'so many' attended the feast, but I also realise this aspect of enriching the faith of the people has some truth behind participating in large numbers for feast and other public occasions. However, I now know it, but am not fully convinced of it.

Merit beyond the word 'Christian'

The grueling exercise of sitting through the admission process for the school children is an experience of a totally different kind... something I've never had before. While for most of it, it is a smooth sail for I had been doling out instructions clear and strong right since the beginning. I've also not minced words in stating facts or withheld information of anything pertaining to the progress of the school and related matters. However, the worst part of this exercise is sitting with Catholic parents, specially our own Parishoners. In practically all the instances that I had to sweat it out, they are like the cat sitting on the fence: just waiting to see which side is favourable. While they wish to enroll their child in the school (for they are well aware of the quality education children receive at Don Bosco), they would like to save the most. Of course, saving on the financial front is everyone's effort (after all, it is their hard earned money) but demanding that they are entitled to a concession purely on the basis that they are Catholics is very nauseating. Worst still, those demanding are hardly seen in the Church on Sundays!

I've kept a simple principle: no concession for whomsoever... of course, the request for concession could be looked into after a couple of years of the child being in the school and that too on the basis of their overall performance (besides their economic background). Parents - and children - need to earn their merit not demand it, purely because they have the tag 'Christian'.

Lessons in youth ministry

Yesterday's Parish youth meeting was a good learning experience in youth ministry. The Parish Priest wanted to have a youth group and therefore called together all the youth and straight away held the elections for the leaders. As is the case in any Parish of the world, the youth here too are divided on the lines of language and culture. Though this was a known fact to all involved, the realisation dawned only after the meeting that the strategy could have been different in getting them to work together. As was bound to happen, the election ended up in a big uproar and poor Thathi was caught in the cross fire!

The ideal would have however been to first form a group... really FORM a group and only then let the leadership emerge from that. Now there is neither group nor leader. Youngsters need to know why at all is the youth group necessary and what ultimately is the whole concept of a youth group. Thathi was right in his final decision: to henceforth gather the youth for some animation sessions and only after a certain period of time, when they have sufficiently understood what a Parish youth group is meant to be and they know each other sufficiently well, then have the election for the office bearers! So, first build the group and then let leadership emerge.

Praying and staying together: Parish Community

Yesterday evening, being the feast of the Holy Rosary, we prayed the Rosary together with the staff of the house. It reminded me of those old days when the Parish was smaller and our Chapel served as the Parish Church. There used to be lot of life then. Being a small community, interaction was at a deeper and friendly level. The month of May used to be special. Being fervent devotees of Mother Mary, the whole family used to come every evening to the Provincial house for the Rosary and Mass. As Brothers some of us used to take turns to animate the services. The summer camp then, though only for 10-15 children, was a full time work. And I am glad that those children, now young men and women, some of them even married and with their own children, do remember those days with great joy and pride. At times when they meet me they narrate of incidents which I hardly remember; but for them, they are as vivid as yesterday!

The most surprising and happiest of all "metamorphosis" is that of Franco. He was most uncouth and indisciplined of the lot. Today he is such a refined guy that I can hardly believe my eyes every time I meet him. I think his wife, Radhika has a big role in his change for the better. Whatever be the case, I truly am happy for all of them. The only guy who still seems to be searching for his identity is Laddu. Hope he settles down fast, especially to the satisfaction and consolation of his aging mother.