Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Fatima and Santiago de Compostela

I guess I necessarily need to share an experience of such magnitude – a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Fatima (Portugal) and Santiago de Compostela (Spain). To go to Our Lady of Fatima has been always among the many destinations I have in my so called little priority projects. And I have fulfilled it. I only have to admit that by now it has become a habit to take advantage of some peoples’ generosity and it looks like I have almost demanded this pilgrimage from Anna & Rita ormai I have become part of the family.

We left (6^th September 2012) from Aeroporto Roma Fiumicino for Porto in Spain to arrive at Santiago de Compostela. We were 28 in the group. We put up in a comfortable 4 star hotel (less you be scandalized, we do not have to spend longer time in the hotel as we kept moving all the time). I must admit, I had very veiled idea about Santiago de Compostela but turned out to be a surprised discovery of the great history of the city of St. James the Apostle - the Basilica, the tomb, the grand thurible, the tradition of the saint, of the conchiglia (the sea shell), etc. On 7^th, we made the pilgrimage to the basilica on foot for about 4 km. We celebrated the Holy Mass (International) presided by Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship. We made a detailed tour of the Basilica with the guide, visited the quite beautiful city as well.

On 8^th we left for Fatima, feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Lady. On our way we visited the city of Coimbra and Porto, two very important cities of Portugal. At Fatima, we celebrated the Holy Mass in one of the chapels and later joined the Holy Rosary prayed in various languages around the Chapel of apparition followed by procession with Our Lady around the square. It was altogether an awesome experience. (I shall upload few visual clips on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/rkhonsan).

On 9^th we spent the whole day at Fatima – visit to the museum, Eucharistic Celebration (International), visit to the houses of Francesco, Jacinta and Lucia (the three little shepherds), the places of apparitions, the way of the cross, the Basilica, etc. Everywhere we went there was an absolute atmosphere of prayer and deep recollection. In this place people come to pray and contemplate. There was quietness everywhere. 

On the 10^th we left for Lisbon, made a tour of the city and for the last Eucharistic celebration together with the group at the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua (the birth place of St. Anthony and the basilica is built on it). After our lunch we exchanged greetings and left for the Airport for the home return. 

First Communion

I was little embarrassed though, but I was impressed how a little first communion kid, after having made his confessions went and pulled his mother as well and bringing towards me I heard him say: “mum go, go and confess to him”. That was yesterday (May 12). The First Communion Mass was held today (May 13, 2012) at San Romano Martire Parish, Rome presided over by Don Marco the Parish Priest. There were 24 kids in all.

This picture of the day tells a world of distracted tranquility. 

Like anywhere else, you can see the kids, all smiles and excitement for a great memorable day - the First Communion. Each one holding a white single petal lily, they processed toward the altar and placed right beneath the altar as a special gift of themselves to Jesus. Each one then found a place right on the sanctuary and stayed there through the Eucharistic celebration. This really made the kids special. As you can see also in the video clip, the Church was more than packed, but it was a beautiful day. And of course, I don’t have to mention the other celebrations that followed.

Keeping the Wait

You will be much surprised to know that a parish like San Romano Martire, Rome is very modern in all senses and yet very traditional. The faithful for one thing participate actively in the liturgies. You would have seen the participation at the Mass of the Last Supper followed by vigil through the night (the various groups taking turns) until the next morning and then continue to sanctify the day by praying the hours at 8.30 am, 9.30 am, 12.00 noon, 4.00 pm and the Veneration of the cross at 6.00 pm. It is then followed by Via Crucis (way of the cross) at 8.30 pm passing through all the living quarters/apartments until 11.30 pm (all this while a priest is made available for confessions). I think I have said enough or else some may begin to doubt my sincerity.

The meditation music tells us just one thing – the love of the Father for us. I managed to clipped few shots in between the confessions as I walked along the way of the cross as penitents pop up every now then for confessions.

Palm Sunday 2012

We the parishioners of San Romano Martire, Rome join the entire Christian community to celebrate the Palm Sunday 2012. This little clip is a glimpse to one of the four celebrations we have at the parish. Every one of these liturgical celebrations went beautiful with the faithful participating in full. We will hope to continue the rest of the liturgical celebrations of the Holy Week in the same spirit. We wish everyone meaningful and fruitful Holy Week celebrations.

The Old Rugged Cross is Back

I listened to all kinds of music. I love all types of music. I spent time listening to rap, jazz, country or pop or whatever. Any music has its beauty. It helps to put you in perspective. May be we devote too much time to pop culture today. Anyway, I won urge anyone to abstain from listening music. I would only ask you to do some charity to yourself. Change your music genre for a while. It can do you a lot of good. Do it as a Lenten penance. I listened to an old classic hymn of George Bernard today. It is said that "On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross". If you have to cling on to anything, cling on to this. Well, this hymn places you right there. Listen to it and spend little time meditating on it. It won harm you anyway. You can follow the words as well as scripted below.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Farewell Dear Fr. Chacko

     The news of the death of Fr. T.J. Chacko has left me somewhat in despair. I can do nothing about it except silently thank him and bid him farewell. I feel so bad that I am denied this final rite. I saw him last October and he looked healthier and happier than ever.  He gifted me his autobiography part II. I never thought that he could leave so fast. I always think of him because he is part of my vocation story. How much influence he has had on my path to priesthood I will never know, maybe I was too young to know or I am not willing to appreciate what I know. But I am too sure of too many things when it comes to how it all began.

     How much do I believe in the plan of God for me? I don’t know. But one thing is clear and everything seemed to unfold with the arrival of Fr. Chacko to Chingjaroi (my village) in 1980 as the first parish priest to pioneer the centre. Because that’s the first time I ever saw a priest and that’s the first time I ever step into a school (the school was then managed by the Church and subsequently absorbed into the new parish school the following year). With his arrival many things began to role in to the life of the Church in Chingjaroi as well. That’s the first time I went to a catechism class to prepare us for the First Communion. That’s the first time I ever saw teachers coming from outside the village (Ms Christina & Ms Sara). So many things were taking place in this first year and the following. I see Fr. Chaco everywhere – teaching songs now, a throw ball game or an Arabian flag game there, villages constructing a temporary thatch roof school, a boarding house, clearing the jungle for gardening, collecting dry firewood, clearing the path to the great dream of connecting road from Razai to Chingjaroi and the list can go on. All these left a great impression to the young boy. Perhaps for a little rustic like me, it was too great a dream to dream to be a priest but I guess I quietly desired to be one. The truth is, whenever I think of or speak of my vocation, he always takes the front seat. That says much and done to a little impressionable mind. 

     Today, I am still wondering how on earth I was able to get around him as a small boy. I mean we all knew him as a tough man, a disciplinarian and demanding and kept him as far away as possible. But for whatever reason, I happen to be one among the chosen ones to be there to mind the parish house and look after the pigs and chicks during the vacations when the boarders are home away. This personal care, trust and confidence placed on us later pay dividends – (two priests). Fr. Parvis was no different in this matter.

     Today, as the final rite is been celebrated I can only join from afar with the community of faithful of the diocese of Imphal along with the  bishop, priests, religious and his dear and loved ones. I join them all in commenting his spirit to the Lord.  I will always be ever grateful to him for what I am today. Farewell dear Father!

     I was just listening to this old song today and thought of him. Really, ‘What can I give you in return’ for all that you are to me and so are my friends and the many people for whom you toiled and labour and above all gave them Christ. We can only say we will miss you Father.