Somewhere Someday

‘The world is growing smaller by the day. It will not be too hard to track you down.’ That was the note and mood of our NE Gathering as we wished few of our fraternity members good luck in their new apostolate. The detail report by Fr. Francis Hembrom is reproduced below.

Abp Jala Joins NE India Rome Fest

By Francis Hembrom, SDB

International, May. 16. Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong joined Northeast India celebrations held at Salesian University, Rome (UPS), 16 May. Over 40 priests, sisters and brothers from northeast India studying or working in Rome participated. Besides keeping Easter, the fest also served to bid farewell to members returning to India after their studies. The Chief guest at the celebrations were Mr. S.L. Vaiphei IFS (and family) an official at the Indian Embassy, Rome. Bishop Joseph Aind of Dibrugarh, Fr. Joaquim D`Souza, the Superior of the UPS-Rome vice-province and Fr. Carlo Nanni, the Vice-Chancellor of UPS and Fr. Tone Presern and Fr. Cyril D`Souza also made brief visits at the fest.

From earlier hours of the day Fathers, Brothers and Sisters coming from around Rome started cooking traditional Naga, Khasi, and Manipuri delicacies. At noon, they joined archbishop Jala at the solemn concelebrated Eucharist at UPS Don Bosco chapel. Archbishop Jala visiting Italy for the gathering of Salesian Bishops for the feast of Mary Help of Christians in Turin (24 May) exhorted NE India faithful in diaspora to pray for the success of India government`s ``Look East policy`` as well as pray for immediate restoration of peace in the on-going violence caused by the current Manipur-Nagaland & Assam-Meghalaya border disputes.

Priests, brothers and Sisters from North East India, studying in various Pontifical Universities of Rome will be a great asset to the mission of the Church in North East India. The various studies they are carrying out will help the Church work for the transformation of society in the region where the Church has grown visibly in the past 100 years.

President of the NE India Rome Association, Fr Peter Salew SDB was ably assisted by the Secretary Sr Rani Mathew MSMHC and the Vice-president Fr Isaac Honsan. Fr Francis Hembrom conducted the social gathering where the members present had chance to introduce themselves and share news about each other. Fr Sanjay Aind SDB, the newly ordained priest and Fr Sojan Xavier of Kohima diocese who brilliantly defended his doctoral thesis in Catechesis at UPS were felicitated. Among those given farewell were Frs. Sanjay Aind, Paul Rabha, Paul Breson, Wilbert Marwein, Brother Justin Narzary (to be ordained Deacon on 29 May), Br. David Kujur (CMSF) and Sr Molly Kaniampady FMA who completed her two-year spirituality studies. Earlier Sr. Irene Lyngdoh fma left for home because of the illness of her mother.

Adding a Point

I heard some people say that life is made up of points. If there is some truth in that, I shall add and add a point – and I want it that to be a friend every time I get a go. It was fun and a fine memory to recalled Esther Thiankim travelling together with Bishop Dominic and Fr. Mani from Thanlon - Imphal way back in 2006. Today I was glad to meet her and to know Sheeja her companion. It was a good day to be together and know each other. A visit to Assisi is always an occasion to feel the presence of peace and tranquility amidst the sound of violence all over. In fact, it was a quiet day at Assisi – less tourists and more pilgrims and that counts when you are visiting a place like Assisi.

I wish my two sisters a happy ministry in Germany and of course they have promised to pray for me.

Mother remembers

Not many days since I spoke to my mom. She asked me an unexpected “how are you looking?” question. I knew it was a direct question. She did not mean the state of my being. I said, ‘mom, why do you ask that? I have not changed. I look the same. After all it’s just a year since you saw me and I could not have changed much’. And she said, “I always see you skinny - thin and lean.” I think every mother has a perfect picture of her child – whatever and whoever you are. It would be absolutely impossible for her to give up on you. Whatever be the picture, she has a picture of you and she would not let it go and no one can take that away from her.