In Sketches

2011-12-21T02:29:00.000-08:00

CanI Start My Christmas Today?

Ido not think I can easily make mistake remembering one Christmas time more than30 years back that’s when I got a new shirt with an extended enlarged pocket - ofcourse only on my insistence so that I can drop in all my little possessions init. This was days much before theChristmas Day and I remember exactly that early chilly morning with the newdress on asking my dad if I could start off my Christmas day. I don’t think Iever waited for what he has to say; anyway I was already off to somewhere toshow off.

Itdoesn’t matter which part of the world you come from, whose generation you referredto, children always have the first taste of Christmas celebrations. May be theyare too impatient to see the new Christmas KID or they are too excited abouttheir new look – the new dress, the toys, the gifts, the snow or Santa Claus orthe carol and the like of the season. I have seen children with the sameexcitement and anticipation even in a more sophisticated society. I wish wehave little more of this enthusiasm and excitement even though that meanslooking little childlike.

AtSan Romano (my parish here in Rome) you can have some of these privileges. Allthese days a day passes by with something to remind you that we are at thethreshold of the great event and the anticipation keeps you wild awake for theday we await. Think of the musical concerts we have had in the parish inpreparation, some special meals with special groups or movements, a day of celebrationfor little school kids, and lots of spiritual initiatives to prepare us wellworthy of the day.

Iguess everyone out there too is busy working out something special for thisChristmas and that is great. I wish friends, acquaintances, and all lovers ofChristmas celebrations God’s manifold blessings on this Christmas too and getsomething to take forward to a Happy New to begin with.

A smallvideo clip to have a glance of San Romano Martire Parish, Rome.

2011-11-27T12:07:00.001-08:00

Findinga Home at San Romano Martire

Iguess I have taken too long to settle down. In fact it is more than a monthsince my last update. I haven’t said a word about my new place, people andparish here in Rome. I don’t know why I waited so long. May be I did not knowwhere to begin and what to begin but waited rightly for a New Day of the NewLiturgical Year (27^th Nov. 2011). Look at the lovely 1^stSunday Advent candle lit at our parish church. With such sentiment I would wish everyone out there,busy in one’s own right, a season of great hope, a time to reclaim our faithand reaffirm our commitment to the Gospel.
As forthe parish, named San Romano Martire (St. Romanus Martyr) that’s where I findmyself, I must say I am much impressed and edified in the practice of faith bythe people in this parish. This is one parish in Rome where I found the Churchis rightly used. We have four masses (plus the vigil mass on Saturday)celebrated on Sundays and every mass the Church is filled to its capacity. Onweek days too many people frequent both the masses – morning and evening. Ifound what is even more edifying to see people visiting the Blessed Sacramentall the day through. You hardly find the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament emptyeven though we do not have perpetual adoration (we have it every Thursday). You can drop in any day of the week at 6.00 pm to join inpraying the rosary. Besides, the parish is engaged in numerous otheractivities and movements to take the parish forward both in faith and in theday to day life of the parish and parishioners.
A young and dynamic ParishPriest Don Marco Fibbi is definitely the man pulling the string, keeping theparish going strong and alive. He is assisted by his Assistant Don Julio andtwo other student priests Don Ayad and me of course who lend him a helpinghand. I am more than happy to find myself here to offer my priestly ministry.Youdefinitely would like to know more about this parish. You can visit the site atwww.sanromano.org and find out moreabout the parish. This picture is the interior of the church – the sanctuarybeautifully done in mosaic art.

2011-10-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

Running Away to Home

Home after three years must be something. I wasn’t expecting something I wasn’t waiting for. In fact, I really needed to be home. I needed to get back and get the feel of the familiar surroundings. I needed to get the sense of the reality out there and not be frustrated by the outlet news. I disparately needed to get the smell of the kitchen smoke which I generously got it spending time with my Dad & Mum around the oven. I wish I could endlessly describe from day one to the finishing hour of my home stay - cut off from the basic necessities of modern gadgets. First of all, no electricity, no road connectivity to the village, I actually walked home 8 kms as the village is cut off from the public transport, no water supply, no possibility of internet connectivity, no televisions around – it all sounds like you lacked everything. But in fact, I had everything. I had all the time. I got no time to waste while I did nothing. I Spent much of my home stay, going around to say hello to as many as I could some of whom I definitely know I will not see them again when I get home the next time (that’s the sad part of it).

I was able to divide my short time (from 17 September to 09 October) between home & diocese. I stayed at bishop’s house where I could say hello to a good number of priests. I spent a day in Mumbai with my brothers and cousins around there. I reached San Romano Martire parish, Rome on 10th October where I will be doing my pastoral ministry as a student priest and continue my studies. The coming days are going to be very busy trying to get myself registered in the university, get settled in the parish and get used to parish life here. I hope friends will say a prayer for me so that I cope up with this new situation. Probably I will be able to share more of my home stay experiences even at later pace when I am allowed to. I only want you to know that I am back and that my escape to home was worth the making.

The Woods

2011-09-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

I had some real quiet time as I could not excess to the internet for over a week as both the parishes that I stayed did not have it in their rectories. I had much better time without having to worry if I have to browse for some news or messages. I had some good time doing the things I loved. I was so excited when Fr. Scott Nobbe invited me to join him for fishing and had great time enjoying every single fish I pull up – I tried out with the big mowing machine at St. Joseph’s and ended up cutting the entire open ground of the parish. At Fr. Aaron Jenkins (Bright) I would go around looking for deer, turkeys or geese which I always found them and it was more than exciting. I must be grateful to him also for taking me out to a place I love – the woods. It was in fact a day out – picnic with his parents, sister and family. We really had fun, going around the woods with the four wheel little car and a grand picnic lunch. You will love to spend in such a natural world.

Ordinary Days

2011-08-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

Passing off an ordinary day of the week days can be an extraordinary day if you have nothing to cry over. Imagine you have the best house with everything you need: a room, a TV, a laptop, a cell phone, food and drink – just lack nothing in a sense. But what do you do the whole day – get up - say your lousy prayers, sit before the television set for a while, browse in for some news and updates from around the world, sip a coffee, move out of the house for a walk around and come back to the same empty house? I mean, you may have the best of everything, but there can be a sense of emptiness, restlessness, or whatever in such a situation. This can be frustrating when you apparently have everything and lack everything - when you have no one to relate to except creating a virtual world around you with modern technologies.

I have tried not to fall into such a monotonous situation. In fact over the past weeks, I have occupied myself doing several things. Going to places has been my weakness for the moment. I stayed a couple of days at Nashua NH with Fr. Daniel, spent a weeklong at Tampa FL with Fr. Augustine Mailadiyil sharing some old and new stories of Manipur and the diocese, a day with Joyce & Annemarie NJ and occasional cookout or dinner out with Fr. Jim & Fr. Josekutty. To me each of these days had been always an extraordinary day. So if guys are wondering how I pass off my ordinary days, it has been always extraordinary, it’s as simple as that. See also the video clip.

Falling for Niagara Falls

2011-07-27T17:24:00.000-07:00

Making a visit to Niagara Falls one of the natural wonders of the world has been my secret desire ever since I landed the United States. But I know not all desires need to be fulfilled and I made no extra effort to realize it. I am only wondering when it comes to good things happening to you, you begin to appreciate and thank God for making it happened. Well, this time around it was Fr. Josekutty who organized a trip for me to Niagara Falls. It was more than a surprise to me when he announced that he has arranged a two day visit to Niagara Falls along with Fr. Sanjay. I was really excited about it and we took off for Niagara on July 26, 2011. It was rather long 8 hours drive from Mt. Carmel Church, NJ but timely coffee stopovers and plenty of music kept us through.

Niagara Falls as we well know is situated at the Canadian-United States International Border – in the Province of Ontario and the State of New York. It is the second largest falls on the planet next to Victoria Falls in southern Africa. And one of the most exciting moments on visiting the Falls was the night visit to the site where coloured floodlights illuminating both sides (United States & Canada) of the Falls for several hours of the night. It almost looked like an artificial colour display over the natural water falls. Looking down from Goat Island or the Bridal Veil Falls, the Cave of the winds looked unbelievable with a rainbow surrounding it. And the most exciting of all is the long expected Maid of the Mist boat ride. It’s just unbelievable and as you near right up to the bottom of the Horseshoe Falls you can feel the weight of the sea of water falling on you. It is an incredible feeling to be right there.

It’s worth spending hours watching the wonder of creation, the beauty of nature all around. It’s a trip worth the making. No one regrets when you have spent every moment enjoying it.

This is Niagara Falls. Enjoy it.

Surprise and Surprises

2011-07-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

From here to there and there to here has been my constant surprieses. Now it is to Washington DC. I do not think if I even had a remote plan to go to Washington DC unless by some surprise. And here you go again, from day one Fr. Bill wanted something special for me and it could not have been better than to take me to the Country’s capital, Washington DC. This means six plus hours of driving. Besides, finding people to cover him in the parish (he is the pastor) isn’t always a pleasant thing to do. But he did not seemed to mind with all these inconvinces. I will never know why he did all these for me.

Up we left at 2.00pm July 5 from Our Lady of Mercy, Winston-Salem NC for Washington DC. We put up at the Friary in Washington who treated us as special guests. The following day we took a double deck hop on - hop off tour that took us around the Washington DC. The tour covering all the important sites of the capital city. You admire the grandeur of the city and all its important sites especially when you visit places like U.S. Capitol Builiding, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, JDR Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, or the Arlington Cemetery and the site of the JF Kennedy family tombs, etc.
The following day we visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at the Catholic University. I must say it was quite an experience, expecially the lower level – the crypt which is so well designed giving an aura of spiritual depth. Then we came back home-home, Our Lady of Mercy. You are up the next morning and it’s Friday and you must soon be moving to the next weekend. The time here passed by so fast. I hope to mark a special sketch in here as I move on to the next.
Below is a short clip.

Tour, Detour & Re-Tour

2011-07-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

I have posted right away on FB the ordeal I went through as far as my journey to the United States is concerned. As it stands my tour should have began on 29^th June. I promptly started off at about 8.30am from Collegio San Paolo, Roma for the Airport which normally would have taken me 45 minutes-maximum. I earned much patients this day and learned what it means to be caught in the traffic. And promptly reached the airport after 3 hours on the road and 15 minutes left for the flight to take off. By the time I hop on to the shuttle bus and reach the counter I was left with 5 minutes and as much as I hated to hear, I was politely told in negative. They managed to assure me on standby for the next day’s flight. I think the real agony began there. You are never sure if you are going to find a seat the next day and sure enough after hours of anxious waiting the next day until the boarding started and to be told that there isn't a seat to spare. They did find a seat in the flight that goes to Charlotte NC and I boarded on it and got connected to Philadelphia in time only to find that the checked in baggage did not arrived. I got it the next day anyway. This really was an ordeal. It was something like a tour, detour and re-tour if there is such a thing.

And now I must get into action for which I am here for. My first mission station is at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Winston-Salem in the diocese of Charlotte NC. I reached Greensboro on the Saturday July 3 and Fr. Bill Robinson OFM the pastor was there to pick me up. He is such a kind man and very caring. He made sure that I was really feeling at home and at ease especially after all travel adventures. The mission appeal experience was very positive and the people were actually eager to hear more about our mission, more so Fr. Bill. I am going to be with him through the week until the next weekend when I will move out to another parish in the same diocese of Charlotte NC. I am so happy to have met Fr. Bill, who is well informed, learned and deeply spiritual. We are having great time.

Hi Friends

2011-05-18T04:02:00.000-07:00

Shamelessly I’ve turned my back and burried my sketches for more than 100 days. Many things have happened in these long grace filled days. It’s true that the workload has been rather heavy and demanding over the past couple of months finding myself hushing up and patching up my final works especially with the thesis. Otherwise I have no other reason to justify my negligence.

Among many other things, I know I should have sketch it atleast the visit of my companion priest Fr. Stanis from Luven, Belgium - 26^thto 29^th March. We had such a wonderful break from our studies. We manage to even make a trip to Loreto. And then the visit of Fr. Samuel Kapani from Innsbrugh, Austria -, 26^th April to 1^st May. We had a wonderful time. We even manage to make a dashing visit to Florence with Srs. Kainee Rose and Irene Mizo on 29^th April. We witness the great moment of the beatification of John Paul II on 1^st May which we participated among the flowing sea of people with great emotion and awe.

A wonderful get together with the 14 bishops of the region of Northeast India at Collegio San Pietro on 8^th May was a homely experience. And finally, I could be guilty of negligence if I don’t make a special reference to the meeting with the Holy Father Benedict XVI on 12^th May during the Ad limina visit of the bishops. This, I must admit was a unique experience and blessing to be able to see him and talk to him personally and receive his blessings.

Now the last days in the school are fast approaching which means I have to be preparing for the term exams and more importantly being the last year of the license I have to also defend it. I’m sure I am in your prayers and I am immensely grateful for this great faith I have in you.

A Day at San Giovanni Rotondo

2011-02-09T02:57:00.000-08:00

It will be a great omission not to visit the Shrine of Padre Pio especially if you are in Italy. In fact, the statistics showed that it is the second most visited shrine in the world. It is located at San Giovanni Rotondo in south Italy. I took an opportunity to be there on 4^th February 2011. This was a wonderful pilgrimage especially in the company of my friend Anna Menghi and three others (Piera, Roberta & Alessandro). We had rather a long drive of nearly 4 hours from Macerata and spent the entire day which included participation at the mass, visit to the tomb of Padre Pio, his living cell, the crucifix of the stigmata, etc. and came back in the evening.

Santa Maria delle Grazie is the Church built during Padre Pio’s own life time. The way of the cross with the statue of Padre Pio at the base and the figure of the resurrected Christ at the top end reflects the serenity of the place. The new Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church is magnificent in its modern architectural grandeur. The interior decorum is a wonder by itself. It’s a wonderful place to spend a day of recollection.

THE IRRESISTIBLE ATTRACTION

2010-12-29T06:25:00.000-08:00

It sounds funny though, but get yourself back as a three or four year old boy or girl and watch yourself how you used to measure the height, wrists, hands, legs and compare it with your dad’s and mum’s and brothers, sisters or friends. I did it a lot. The desire to be an adult, wanting to be like dad/mum or the older guys is just irresistible. This applies also to imitations. This desire to be older seemed to continue to grow even stronger unto late teenage years. Every New Year gives you HOPE to the imagined liberation, if you agree to what I intend is acceptable. The only problem is that the year comes so slow and so late. The waiting can be excruciating for the little ones to go out to see the world and especially for those whose days at school are not so kind.

But get to any older guys and you see just the contrary. How one wish that the year be little longer and slower, for he thinks that a year has just began and another year has come in so fast and he is so conscious that a year is been reduced from his stipulated life span. So he is sad that a new year has come in to take away part of him.

This play of human behaviour sometimes intrigues me. On the one hand the irresistible attraction to move forward as the young do and the defined resistance of the old in facing the reality of time on the other.

I can gather only one conclusion to it. If there is no GOD and if there is nothing to hope for, this outright resistance is bound to persist. In a sense, time is God. If you are conscious of time, you are conscious of God. And if you are conscious of God, you appreciate the value of time.

Let us Welcome the Year 2011 gratefully. Because if we are young there is so much to grow and if we are older there is so much to offer.

Guys, Have A Wonderful Time At The Thanksgiving And The Welcoming Of The New Year 2011.

SHUT HIM OUT OR PULL HIM IN

2010-12-22T01:30:00.000-08:00

It is two days away from celebrating the grand Birth Day and everyone is on high as it should be. And I am here trying to be good or that is what you think by doing some good acts of charity: to make few courtesy calls, say hi to few people around or whatever. And there you go. Going around the neighborhood, you meet a mother struggling with two growing disabled teenagers and a sick husband preparing to undergo a surgery with a tumor in the stomach, and you are expected to wish them to have a wonderful Christmas Celebrations. You enter into another house and here is a couple practically incapacitated, the husband immobile for the last seven years, neither can he move his lips to speak nor make himself comfortable on the bed to sleep. All he has is his eyes to communicate. And the wife seated on the wheel chair for the last five years with paralytic legs and broken hands. But you are there to wish them and the daughter who nurses them all the very best for the joyful celebrations. This must be a great joke.

I am not been pessimistic or have any intention to be sentimental. I just see my situation, my helplessness and uselessness in these situations. I can avoid it and go about as though these realities don’t exist and preach wonderful Christmas sermons. But I felt a real sense of fulfillment- taking Jesus in the Holy Communion to these people, to be able to accompany them in a little way - to help them to put themselves in the place of Jesus – who was helpless, hopeless and lost on the cross and at the stable. Christmas for them will be to be able to be Jesus in some sense – totally dependent on others and for those who care will be an opportunity to be with the human face of Jesus. In this sense, we still have lots of rooms for Jesus at Christmas. You shut him out or pull him in. This will be our Christmas CHOICE.

Wishing you guys A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS from me, my table and chair.

HE COMES, COMES EVER COMES

2010-12-16T06:54:00.000-08:00

Santa Claus comes, comes ever comes, steals into our houses at Christmas eve to leave gifts for the children and disappears. God bangs into our houses and leaves the Baby Jesus in our homes. He comes, comes ever comes in to stay. He won disappear like the Santa Claus. He shamelessly finds his home in our homes. That’s the difference between the two. So, what do you do with him, who comes to stay? Throw him out - tolerate him or celebrate him? This will be the theme of my reflections for this year’s Christmas. What do you think about it? What’s your take? Let us begin our Novena and think about it.

I bet you won’t throw him out - tolerating is indifference, its worse. I guess you will find a good room for HIM – the first time he found Himself in a manger. I do not think he enjoyed it.

A FURIOUS SERMON

2010-11-30T12:25:00.000-08:00

I know guys are wondering why I am not making any entries in recent past and I got no reason to justify. I was out to a little parish in Central Italy for the first Sunday Advent Mass and you can expect the old traditional advent homilies … things like waiting… expecting… hoping or whatever and then the expected boring explanations over the dry theological and biblical exegesis. Let me tell you what? This old fashioned priest unexpectedly came up with a surprise and disturbing questions. After having described the horrible things going on around the world, he asked the most sensible question: what am I refusing to expect? What am I refusing to see? What are you allowed to expect? Do you pretend to have solutions to all the problems? Who is playing the game? Well, I rather leave everyone with the same soul searching question: what is wrong out there? Who is responsible for the hopeless situation around? Don’t tell me that God has changed his mind. He made one foolish decision and he will honour it, he will not change, never. He will honour HIS - I am not sure of MINE.

Listening to Kelly Clarkson “Because of you” I am sadly thinking of a family, crumbling in their relationship and wandering why so many such promising families get crushed - because they refused to see… see what? I guess there is a CAUSE and I am praying that you SEE.

… isn’t it troubling? Listen to the video music

My Youngest Pal On Line

2010-10-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

Miryam is my youngest online pal. We regularly video chat or discuss over the phone about our school day activities. She is in the scuola materna. She sometimes asks me to sing to her some of my rhymes. She always shows off hers. Today she is two years old. BUON COMPLEANO MIMI.

I will be forwarding this video clip @mimi.it and discuss about it later in the evening. Where is technology taking us anyway?

Every day is my Birthday

2010-10-21T03:27:00.000-07:00

This is how I look at my birthdays. One time you have a life size cake celebration and the next one may be just you, a table and a chair to accompany you. But at the end of the day you have a good laugh to see them both. I know my mum cares least about my birth date. For her every day is my Birthday.

Welcome back to the final year of your school

2010-10-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

I am sorry to begin with a negative remark but what is actually wrong with academia? I asked a number of kids in a parish in the United States as they began their academic year if they were eager to get back to school and every single kid shook their heads in negative. Back in Italy it was just round the school reopening season and I shot the same question to kids around only to have the same negative nod. And now it’s back to myself and companions in the college and university. Believe me, of the 190 student priests in Collegio san Paolo who have promptly responded to the pursuit of academic excellence and yet I must confess the majority are refusing enthusiasm of going to school. Isn’t it funny? Wishing to and not wanting to.

Anyway, I must welcome back myself to where I must be and hang a reminder tag: ‘Il partente,' that’s an indication you are in your last year at Collegio San Paolo.

The Madonna at Lourdes

2010-09-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

To make a pilgrimage to Lourdes has been a long time consideration and I must honestly acknowledged that I am more than blessed to make it possible from 17^th to 20^th September 2010 on account of Anna Menghi and Rita yet for another time. They had in fact arranged everything. I did only the going. And of course at the end, it was they who thanked me. How does that sound? I guess the guy must be a real nut.

Anyway, it was a wonderful experience. Among thousands from Italy we were 143 in our group from around the Marche region. There was a group from Milan who numbered to 3000 of which more than half were on wheel chairs. From the moment we landed to the time we took off for home, every single hour was definitely organized and always kept occupied. The Eucharistic processions, the candle lit rosary processions, the way of the cross, the International Eucharistic celebration, the visits to the grotto of our Lady, etc. are all incredible events.

I only continue asking the same question over and again. There is so much faith here. Where do they disappear from here? Where does this enthusiasm vanish?

Hi and Bye

2010-09-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

By way of saying ‘hi’ I wish to thank everyone I came in contact in the US during my two months sojourn there. I will never do any justice to anyone if I start mentioning people who matter, for instance Sandy at St. Michael’s Indianapolis who was more than willing to sacrifice any amount of time be it driving me to the parishes for the weekend minstry or a lift to the airport at any inconvenient hour or for that matter Fr. Varghese Maliakal and Fr. Josekutty whose services I took for granted just because they are priests of my diocese. So I should be thanking very many people at every parish for their generosity and the wonderful experiences I had with them. I only wish to think and say that I try remembering every single person whom I came to relate personally. God bless their goodness.

I took leave of US on 7th September after two months of going around the different parts of the country. I must admit it was fabulous and a rare experience of all sorts. This been my first visit makes it all the more interesting and expecting the unexpected at every stop. I wasn’t sure of anything at any place but that made every experience unique.

Now I am back to where I belong or rather found a temporary refuge at St. Helena in San Severino Marche where my old friends awaited my return. I shall be here through the month of September until I get back to Rome when we start our classes in the first week of October. So as I bid good bye to one part of the world I begin another new day in another part of the world so the song seem to tell me.

Over the Rocky Mountains

2010-08-31T06:53:00.000-07:00

A weekend in San Francisco was quite an experience (21-23 August 2010). It was a round trip worth the making beginning from Indianapolis IN to Denver CO – San Francisco CA – San Diego CA – Kansas City MO and back to Indianapolis. Imagine taking off from Denver for San Francisco and you are right over the Rocky Mountains and you think of those undying classics by John Denver, like Rocky Mountains, Country Road or whichever you pick, you feel you are right there. I feel more than ever at home flying over these mountains. The blue sky was just perfectly matched by the colourful landscape juxtaposed and I hardly took my eyes off the blue sky up and the natural art below.

St. Catherine of Siena Church, Burlingame-San Francisco in California was my destination for the weekend. Fr. Edward the Associate pastor was prompt to pick me from the Airport and was very kind to take me around as well to see places. San Francisco is a lovely place, a sort of a hilly city but surrounded by the Bayswater. Passing by the pacific, or a view by the golden gate overlooking the Rock Island and the downtown just lets you appreciate the city’s anatomy.

The mission sharing ministry at St. Catherine Church was also well accepted and people were very appreciative and listened to our mission stories intensely. It was a lovely experience from all counts.

Listening to John Denver such as this, brings you even closer to the places you are actually seeing it.

So Far So Good

2010-08-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

The village boy running around the United States is doing fine so far. He appears to be enjoying and having good time. He must be hitting hard on himself on many irrelevant questions. He is never got the answer as to why some people are always fortunate or so it appears to be. He keeps wondering why he himself should be there in the first place. Has he merited? None!

He wonders at every stop and admires every gadget. He wonders why the trees are greener, the squirrels, the deer or the birds scot-free. Is he questioning some basic fundamentals? For the moment, he is flying around the country enjoying every aspect of life here. He will definitely learn much from these experiences.

A recap in splinters.

From Pennsylvania to Indiana

2010-08-09T13:18:00.000-07:00

A week in Pittsburgh PA and now a week in Indianapolis IN have almost got me into a rhythm of a normal system. You get up in the morning and have your morning spiritual exercises and celebrate the mass and if you are a regular priest here then attend the office or sick calls or whatever and the day is done. But even as I get into the rhythm it’s time to move to the next weekend ministry.

From Indianapolis to St. Thomas More, Mooresville IN is less than an hour drive. I reached here at St. Thomas More Church on 7th August. I was almost sad that for the second time I was to manage the weekend without the pastor (also here without a cross anywhere on the external of the Church- that was a surprise discovery though). But it turned out to be a wonderful experience. First, the liturgical celebrations were so well organized from down order - the celebrant (me), to the top order-coordinator of the celebration. I particularly appreciate and admire Maureen Shea who saw to the entire liturgical celebrations in the absence of Fr. Mark Gottemoller, the pastor. The community participation was excellent, be it singing in the mass or the warm interactions outside the mass. Maureen also saw to my stay and food arrangements. It was at the Mexican restaurant with Maureen, Rose and Anita for the dinner, at an Irish pup with Steve & Eileen Egenolf for luncheon and Fr. Mark himself to an American Catfish for the dinner before he drove me back to St. Michael’s Indianapolis. I was happy I met him.

I feel sorry I couldn’t get a picture/video clip of St. Thomas More parish.

A tour of Pittsburgh

2010-07-29T18:56:00.000-07:00

I wish to keep in record a week’s stay at St. Alphonsus Church, Pittsburgh as rich in experience. Nothing really is glamorous here except the practice of faith. I was wondering how it was possible to celebrate two masses on week days in an ordinary parish Church. But to my surprise, you not only have people participating at the mass but you always have young boys or girls serving at the mass. That was something amazing. As mention in my earlier entry, the Church is open from 6.00am to 9.00pm and it’s very encouraging to see people walking in at any part of the day to spend time in prayer.

I also mentioned how young is Fr. Murphy not in age but in deed. I just admire his zeal for life. He is always full of questions to be learned. He would not pass by a day without a day out somewhere even if it is just to downtown Pittsburgh or he would drive me to Pittsburgh University - the tallest educational building in the world, to St. Paul’s Cathedral, to North Park or to Mt. Washington view, just anywhere but something new every day. I just kept admiring his dynamism coupled with his genuine care and concern for me.

A video clip to keep the memory alive.

It’s now at Pittsburgh

2010-07-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

Continuing my journey of sharing the stories of the Archdiocese of Imphal, I left Indianapolis for Pittsburgh PA on 24th July. Fr. Peter Murphy, the pastor was promptly at the Airport to pick me up and left for St. Alphonsus Church, Wexford – Pittsburgh. I saw for the first time after I arrived the United States some hilly curves somewhat similar to some of our places in Northeast India. In fact, St. Alphonsus’ Church itself is placed beautifully in an elevated little hillock.

Speaking of the parish here I must say, I was rather surprised for the first time to find a Church not air conditioned and it was rather a hot day but people were there for the mass. They don’t seem to mind to bear the inconveniences as long as they were in the Church. This was very edifying and as for me I felt quite at home with the hot fresh air in. As in other places, people were very cordial and happy to participate in our mission effort. In fact, we had 5 masses celebrated: one at 5.00 pm on Saturday and 6.00 am, 8.00 am, 10.00 am and 12.15 pm on Sunday. Two of these masses I celebrated by myself. I must only continue to wonder why people should be so kind to us. May be just because we belong to the same big family and they care about us. I shall continue to enjoy the hospitality of Fr. Murphy and Fr. Rob through the week until I move out to St. Maximilian Kolbe Church for the weekend. Fr. Rob is the associate pastor who has just moved in after he was ordained in June. You won’t believe that Fr. Peter Murphy is in his 42nd year of priesthood but is as dynamic as a year old priest. He is the first to get up in the morning for 6.00 am mass on Sunday and 7.00 am masses on weekdays and the last to leave the Church before he closes the doors at 9.00 pm every day. That says it more than I and you need to guess.

The Mission Continues

2010-07-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

My mission keep growing and going. The 17th and 18th July at St. Timothy Church, Trenton in the diocese of Detroit (Michigan) was an experience by all means. I must say I am much edified by the associate pastor Fr. Edward Vella who is in effect the pastor, as the pastor is on sick leave. Fr. Edward was himself an experienced missionary as he worked in Brazil for 14 years. His simplicity and ability to educate the faithful on the missionary life and activities made my job far easier. I found the same simplicity at the rectory. I must say it was rarity to find an austere rectory anywhere around. And I found one at St. Timothy’s.

I had my weekend anticipated and extended. You don’t find such occasions lying down. I must say it was one of the loveliest time out. Thanks to Dr. Benjamin and Elizabeth (family). We, Fr. Varghese Maliakal, the four sisters and me practically rented out their cute palatial house overlooking to the blue waters of Port Huron and Canada on the other side. We really had fun and enjoyed every bit of our stay. The sisters learning to hit their legs on the water added more fun. The water was really blue and clean. You could stay on in the waters for hours, even have some drinks on the lawns or meals all served at the mention of it. It was a luxury. I am afraid they were too good to us. But at the same time I do not think it a sin to have a nice time for a day or two in a villa like this at the blue waters only if you can find some good people like the family of Dr. Benjamin.

But I must keep my focus and keep going and do what I must do. Every little love you share, you make a clean drop on your sketch.

See a little recap in the video clip.

At St. Aloysius, Nashua (NH)

2010-07-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

Many things have happened during a weeklong stay at St. Aloysius, Nashua (4th to 11th July 2010). It was a week full of movements and new experiences. A day out with my new found friend Andrew Nelson and his parents to Portsmouth National Park, to the York Beach in the Atlantic, and to a grand Luncheon are all fun. A visit to Boston city was wonderful when it brings you fresh memories of your history classes on American History and the revolution and the Boston Tea Party, etc.

Fr. Daniel, the pastor is such a wonderful man. His care and concern were remarkable. When I arrived at the rectory the first thing he told me was that on the first day I would be treated as a guest, then on I will be treated as a member of the family. I felt so much at home hearing it and I actually experienced that in him and all his collaborators at the parish office. For instance, he makes sure that I try out different dishes to lunch or dinner – to a typical American restaurant or a Mexican or a Colombian. He makes sure that I was comfortable and at ease and I was. During the week I also participated in two funerals which were really impressive and moving. The weekend Eucharistic celebrations were beautiful and I was able to share some of our mission experiences. I was even surprised to realise that they were so interested in knowing our mission efforts and share our stories.

I am going to miss them all but I am also going to remember them for a long time to come. Yet the missionary must keep going and he goes.

The First Days in the States

2010-07-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

I landed at Philadelphia International Airport on 1st July at about 5.00pm and Fr. Josekutty was waiting to receive me. He will be my host for the coming days and weeks during my stay in the States. The first two nights I spent with him at St. Simon Stock’s parish, Pine Hills in New Jersey. On 3rd July I flew to Manchester to go to St. Kathryn’s parish, Hudson in the state of New Hampshire. Here I will begin my ministry of sharing our mission experience.

St. Kathryn’s Church in Hudson is definitely one of the Churches I will love to remember. I like everything about it and around it. The entire surrounding gives you a sense of serenity and quietness. The stations of the cross beautifully synchronized in the quiet natural setting, our lady of Lourdes placed on the side of the front Church in a perfect natural environment with a running stream, the cute little Emmaus Chapel attached to the parish office, and the awesome presence of silence in the interior of the Church all adds to the spiritual atmosphere of the place.

I won’t gone in to details but I loved the liturgy at St. Kathyrn’s which were celebrated so orderly. And of course, I should be particularly grateful to Deacon Ray and his wife Gayle who in the absence of the Pastor, Fr. Gary took best care of me. With all the best of feelings I left for St. Louis, Nashua for the next week end ministry.

15000 Priests with the Holy Father

2010-06-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

I went not to be out there but to be in there. It’s an incredible feeling even if you have to fight the heat, you know you are not alone but more than 15000 brother priests concelebrating with the Holy Father, the biggest concelebrated Mass ever. The details below are quoted as reported by Catholic Culture.

At a Mass in St. Peter's Square concluding the Year for Priests, Pope Benedict XVI said that it was no coincidence that the sex-abuse scandal struck during a year set aside for celebration of the priesthood.

The Year for Priests was dedicated to a spiritual revival of the clergy, the Pope said in his homily. "It was to be expected," he said, "that this new radiance of the priesthood would not be pleasing to the Enemy."

Thus it was not surprising, the Pope reasoned, that during the year "the sins of priests came to light-- particularly the abuse of little ones."

The Pope said that the Church must "insistently beg forgiveness from God and from the persons involved, while promising to do everything possible to ensure that such abuse will never occur again." He called for vigilance in the training and supervision of future priests, and emphasized the importance of discipline within the Church:

The Church too must use the shepherd’s rod, the rod with which he protects the faith against those who falsify it, against currents which lead the flock astray. The use of the rod can actually be a service of love. Today we can see that it has nothing to do with love when conduct unworthy of the priestly life is tolerated. Nor does it have to do with love if heresy is allowed to spread and the faith twisted and chipped away, as if it were something that we ourselves had invented.

At the same time, while acknowledging the sins of some priests, the Pope said that the scandal should give the faithful a new perspective on the great gift of the priesthood. "Had the Year for Priests been a glorification of our individual human performance, it would have been ruined by these events," he said. But in fact the revelations of priests' weaknesses is a reminder that God serves the Church, and makes Himself available to the world, through the ministry of weak and fallen human persons.

The priesthood, Pope Benedict said, is a demonstration of the "audacity of God who entrusts Himelf to human beings," fully realizing their weakness." God's astonishing confidence in man comprises "the true grandeur concealed in the word 'priesthood,'" the Pontiff said. "The world’s religions, as far as we can see, have always known that in the end there is only one God. But this God was distant," the Pope continued. Through the priestly ministry, God becomes immediately present to his creatures. Therefore a Catholic priest is "no mere office-holder" but a direct participant in Christ's saving action.

Pope Benedict delivered his long and beautiful homily on the priesthood at a Mass that closed the observances of the Year for Priests. This year coincided with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, who was frequently cited by the Pope this year as a model of priestly dedication. As he celebrated the Mass the Pope used the chalice that once belonged to the French saint.

More than 15,000 priests-- who had come to Rome at the Pope's invitation for the final celebrations of the year-- joined in concelebrating the Eucharistic liturgy.

Somewhere Someday

2010-05-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

‘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

2010-05-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-09T14:31:00.000-07:00

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.

Day Out to Time Out

2010-04-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

It’s a day out for Collegio San Paolo (25th April 2010), a tradition every

after Easter. This year it was a day out to Subiaco at the monastery of St. Benedict (the Benedictine monastery at Subiaco is in fact the first and origin of the Benedictine monasteries) and a time out to Tivoli at the villa d’Este (Villa d’Este is a garden ornamented by splendid display of fountains of water and natural decorations). You can imagine the contradiction and convergence of the two places, something like - in the
world but of the world. Guess what I mean.

Definitely it was a time out where we could afford to spend time to gossip and talk about anything from politics to romance, music to business and to church scandals of course. It was a good time out before we plunge ourselves into intense preparations for annual exams.

8th Ordination Anniversary

2010-04-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

7 years has passed me by since the day my hands were anointed to be at HIS service. He is ever faithful. He has never let me down. Should I …?

The Shroud of Turin

2010-04-13T04:04:00.000-07:00

The shroud, called Sindone in Greek is the linen cloth with which the body of Jesus was wrapped and buried. The resurrection account tells us that the linen cloth was found pushed to the side in the empty tomb. Peter took it and had it preserved in a secure place (the Quran caves) and later brought at a present side at Turin (it has a long history). The various scientific researches today testify to the death of Jesus linked to the shroud.
I am particularly moved by what I saw and witnessed on 10th April 2010, the first day of the exposition of the shroud for public view. I must say, we (Breson & me) were fortunate to find a place on the very first day. First of all, the very visit itself was under hard consideration as we had just returned back from the same region after the Easter ministry but to think that we might regret it for the rest of our lives helped us to reconsider of making it.
When we reached at the Ingresso – the entry check point, there was definitely chaos – too crowded for the organizers to maintain order. The crowd in hundreds passing through a metre width bridge and into a small entry door reminded me of the narrow gate Jesus indicated. From this point to the duomo –where rested the shroud took us 2 hours. They led us to an open garden at the back of the duomo. There were not less than 10 major stops to scan us through. Finally we arrived at a dark hall before we could enter the Holy Sanctuary of the shroud. Here every single group was animated in about 5 minutes on the shroud with audio visual aid. Then we made a past through the shroud in semi darkness and stopped in front of the casketed Holy Shroud (illuminated) at few metres away.

Here was a moment of intense prayer assisted also with prayerful audio comments for all. Then we made a quiet exit. There is another entry to the duomo where recourse to the sacrament of reconciliation is made available or spend time in prayer and contemplation.
What I gather from here is the faith of the people. On the one hand we see the dying faith and yet the thirst for God on the hand. What we see here on the Holy Shroud is the suffering God – the marks of the real brutal torture, the stains of human cruelty to Jesus, the vengeance of sin. The blood stained face of Jesus imprinted on the shroud, besides other marks like the wounds on the hands and legs, the bruises all over the body, bore witness to the fact that Jesus really suffered inhuman torture. The shroud has left a perpetual fountain, a bleeding suffering God so that his creatures may recognize HIM.

Away to Sardegna

2010-03-23T04:03:00.000-07:00

A day or two in Sardegna (an island in Italy) could be fine and refreshing. We (Wilbert, Breson and me) had this in mind to visit Sardegna and we were able to make it finally on 19th and 20th March 2010, thanks to Dino our friend who hosted us with great love and affection. We landed at Cagliari airport where our friend Dino was waiting to receive us. The remaining two days were spent moving from one point to another point of Sardegna. Fernanda and Daniela organized the dishes at their home. They were always typical Sardinian dish –can imagine enjoying the rici (sort of sea creature) eaten raw. We were grateful to Padre Alberto, a Dominican priest at whose place we spent the night and celebrated the mass.
In particular the visit to Barumini - the Nuraghe heritage was impressive. The Nuraghe people or civilization existed in 15th century b.c. The heritage, the so called the nuraghe hill, today an archeological zone is well preserved and tells of an incredible civilization of the age. The tour of the nuraghe hill was quite an experience of the sort.
Above all, we enjoyed the friendship and hospitality of Dino and family.

A pilgrimage to Cure of Ars.

2010-03-10T11:19:00.000-08:00

Reflecting on priesthood and observing the year of the priests – there is no better way to honour it than a pilgrimage to cure of Ars, the tiny village of St. John Mary Vinney the patron saint of all the priests. A pilgrimage planned and organized well in advanced by the College resulted to a beautiful experience for all (5th to 7th March 2010). We, 110 priests of the college left Rome at 7.30 pm on 5th March by two Coaches. The journey was long and tedious though. It took us 14 hours to arrive there with regular stops for fresh air. It was a journey of spiritual reflections with regular pauses of spiritual exercises.
If we had gone to Ars to satisfy the sense of magnificence; be it the scenic beauty, the panoramic angles, or some sort of artistic rarity, than it could be a disaster. Everything is normal and natural here. If there is anything to appreciate, it’s the simplicity of the place. For example, if you are entering from the front of the basilica there is hardly any place to stand around for chitchat (in case you are imagining a spacious piazza). The interior furnishing has no particular attention either. In fact, the benches are hardly comfortable to seat.
I am convinced that saints are great not by the impact of the magnificent monuments or sensational appeal they create. Saints are normally normal. We make them sensational.

Circle of Friends

2010-02-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

What a better way to celebrate than in the company of friends after your feverish good old exams. I remember myself speaking on friendship to young friends especially on in-depth relationship, loyalty and equality, self-disclosure, trust, need and all that. All that is true but friendship would be only a pie in the sky if one is not willing to step out and accept risks. Remember the last time you had been with friends breaking knuckles, counting the stars, fought with because an apple must be eaten skinned off or gone to a funeral service and smile all the way because one of you had a wrong hat fitted. When you can’t spot out one, you are in to be locked up. Stanis (reached here on 11th February 2010 from Leuven, Belgium and left on 14th), Reginius, Wilbert, Breson, and self, out on 12th all around the city of Rome. A sort of historic day in Rome with 2 hours of heavy snowing in 24 years. We really did nothing special – everything was special though, bumped into a bar for a cappuccino, or warm up in a smoking chimney, or create sentiments of reunion in a cute little Peruvian Restaurant in style, or you could end up cooking yourself to allow the rest to pick on your expertise or unveil your ignorance. A visit to Assisi would not go unnoticed. Anywhere you sketched - is going to leave a mark, a sketch of its own when you are with a circle of friends. Create circle of friends. They cost nothing but priceless to sell it off.

Any Place is the Best Place to Find Love

2010-01-29T00:38:00.000-08:00

At the end of everything what matters is love. Age gives way, beauty melts, wealth only glitters, power keeps sinking and it stinks.
Love is something that keeps you thinking. It reminds you to remember. It has no sense of time. It keeps you nagging to the point of irritation when you are distracted.
It’s not the number of years - to wait and weight love. A passing comment, an acknowledgement of recognition or an attentive look can make a lasting impression. August gatherings are not august occasions. Where you encounter love is what counts, better if it was and is across the table over a cup of tea.
Never forget to remember what matters is love. It has no age, no time bound and any place is the best place to find love.

A song like this can remind us to remember.

In the face of Tragedy

2010-01-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

In utter hopelessness I heard him pray in despair: “God, are you there when people need you? Did you die for these people? Or you eliminated them because they are too poor to be around? Did you also die for him? What was his crime? Was he too good to be around? Are you jealous and afraid to lose him? You have no answer. Are you saying you also died for her? Why did you take on her then? Why did you allow her to perish in guilt? Why do you come up with such mask and give false hope? Are you a just God or a compassionate God? Don’t tell me you are both. But if you are a just God, fine go ahead, but don’t border me anymore and expect me to be around. I can take care of myself. You don’t need to save me. I am already doomed. I make a big mistake believing you all along.”
I keep hearing these screaming souls all over – tragedies after tragedies. I hear souls crying out in despair, in anguish and grief, lonely and depressed passing through the darkness of no hope. And I’ve got no answer. I only have one + sign - the cross. Go beneath the rugged cross. You got to have an answer. Yes, you got to be there and no sermons for God’s sake.

NB: The earth that shook part of Haiti on 12th January 2010 left 1000s buried beneath the debris, 200 seminarians in record, priests (number not ascertain) and an Archbishop. Did God make a mistake?

A Tangkhul Naga Among the Magi to Arrived at the Vatican Crib

2010-01-07T02:54:00.000-08:00

Today is 6th January, Epiphany of our Blessed Lord and after returning back from the parish ministry I passed by St. Peter’s Square, Vatican. And what I saw was more than a surprise. I thought of the wise men from the east but certainly not one from the region of Northeast India, least to say Manipur hills. My joy was obvious when I saw a lady clad in Tangkhul Chongkhom (traditional shawl) found herself right behind our lady at the Vatican crib.
I thought to myself, after all Rome is not too far from Manipur, I mean the Church is one. And if Rome is the mother Church, she cannot be far from any others. In fact, she is closed to every member. She is the symbol of unity. She always gathers. The presence of this little piece of shawl is only symbolic of her actual presence in our land and culture.

Another Feather to Your Life

2010-01-04T01:53:00.000-08:00

A year gone and another comes in. Some people think it is cyclic and are too optimistic - others fear it is passing by and forget to appreciate what life is all about. We celebrate life one day at a time.
Definitely there is a bit of confusion with feasts and celebrations over the past one week. It looked sort of like jumbled up toys. Too rich a liturgy for a distracted sort of me – the birthday (JESUS) to Martyrdom of Stephen, of St. John, the Holy Family to Mother of God and NEW YEAR. Anyway I am not questioning the wisdom of the Church.
My own movements were a bit of over exaggeration. Back from North Italy (Piemonte) on 28th Dec. and out to Marche - S. Severino on 29th and to Marcerata the next day or to Civitanova the following day. In fact, I did spend in these three places for the NEW YEAR 2010 – the eve, the day, and the night fall. What a nice way to bit farewell and welcome.
A NEW YEAR 2010 FOR ALL - LIVE TO LOVE ANOTHER YEAR

Children have the upper hand

2009-12-22T02:37:00.000-08:00

If we have the eagerness to celebrate life as much as children do, we definitely have fewer problems. It’s -9o here at Cassine on 20th December 2009 and the cold is – well imaginable but that’s not going to stop them from pulling their mother’s apron to the piazza to ride on the trenino, visit the presepe, and most importantly tickling the aging at the hospice to moments of laughers with their presumptuous gifts and Christmas carols. I see the impatience of these children to celebrate but such impatience would have been a treasure in our adult world.
And watch out, we are definitely going for a white Christmas. Some think it unfortunate but I think it is romantic and poetic so the song reminds us. In truth, it takes you back to the manger.

It's time for Christmas

2009-12-14T22:47:00.000-08:00

Be it in the Christian world of the West or the world of other faiths, Christmas is still phenomenal to our planet. In a sense Christ is proclaimed worldwide even if it is for many a season of profit making. Bringing together families, relatives, friends, acquaintances and communities definitely is the height of Christmas regardless of one’s faith. I always loved and highly value this aspect of coming together.
Unconsciously this thought was conscious to me as we (me and Breson) spent our time with friends from S. Elena di San Severino Marche on 13th December 2009. They (eight in number) came to Rome for no particular intention if not to visit us and exchange Christmas wishes. That make a lot of sense to friends.
We passed off the day having nothing to do in particular (that wasn’t the purpose) but found no sufficient time. We participated at the Angelus with Papa at St. Peter’s Square, enjoyed ourselves a leisure lunch to the self service Ciao Restaurant at Termine, make a merry go round the city – passed the Christmas stalls, visited P. spagna, fontana di trevi, monte citorio, Pantheon, P. Navona or along the trastevere. This is good for a meaningful Christmas celebration in context. We can definitely carried forward such wonderful experience into the Christmas event and pray for each other more concretely even when one is not physically present to each other. I offer the same complement to everyone, friends in particular to a happy Christmas preparations and to the meaningful celebrations.

See friends of the Day (video clip).

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FEELING AT HOME IN NAPLES-POMPEII

2009-12-08T03:39:00.000-08:00

I, together with Breson and Marwein make a dashing visit to Naples-Pompeii on 5th and 6th December 2009. In a word, I felt quite at home. As you alight the train, you will be surprised to see the leaking roofs at different parts of the station. Walk in through the street, you sense the shit all over, you will not be surprised of the blasting horning from all directions and if you are crossing the road you got to be very careful, they get right through you. People are definitely rough and tough and rustic and less discipline. And of course, they look suspicious too. There is sufficient disorder here and I felt at home at the very first sight as we ourselves are from a house of disorder-India. I made no comparison with other cities of Italy, be it in its orderliness, beauty, aesthetic and artistic consciousness or whatsoever. Naples has its own originality in its disorder. We had a different experience altogether.

UPS! THERE WE ARE!

2009-11-29T12:55:00.000-08:00

The brothers and sisters of North East India wandering around in Rome came together for a headcount at UPS on 29th November 2009. We were not less than 50 present for the Holy Mass at 12 noon and of course later for the grant fellowship meal. It was a wonderful occasion to meet fellow brethren, many of whom we already know or at least heard of and never met or seen. We had ample time to interact among ourselves and to find out how we all are doing out here. It was also a good day out to refresh ourselves away from books and computers screens. To sing those familiar hymns at the mass, say prayers that are homely, those typical tribal cuisines–apparently unattractive though, but leaves no trace of it at the end, etc. means a lot to a pilgrim away from home. So much better, but we have to take leave of each other sooner than expected; for we must go miles before we sleep.

We may be far from home but we have a family here (see traces of it in the video clip).

Say a Prayer for Her

2009-11-25T03:31:00.000-08:00

(Remembering Alungphy, a cousin and friend. She passed away on 23rd November 2009).

Alung - my sister, Let this little picture I photographed on 6th January 2007 be our point of connection and consolation. I left a copy for you before I took leave of you. I am sure you took a good look of it yourself before you took leave of us. I heard you passed off peacefully. That doesn’t lessen my grief though. I wrote to you sometime last year and you were grateful to me. The last time I spoke to you over the phone, I sense you were anxious about something and… I promise I shall keep it. Forgive me for not been there to lay you to rest. But I promise you will be my first host on my return home. I will be there on my knees at the Church’s grave yard before your tomb’s stone – I promise. Tonight I offer your soul to the Lord (with veryheavy hearts though) in the offering of His body and blood at the Eucharistic table. I did it for you, all alone. Now, go in peace my sister.

You my friends, whisper a prayer for her as you listen to this music.

New Places-New Experiences

2009-11-17T10:02:00.000-08:00

Any journey to a new place is an adventure. You cannot pre-determine too many presumptions. We got to be prepared to face any circumstances, expected and unexpected. But the worst thing that can happen-happens unexpectedly. A weekend, free from your normal routine can be a wonderful idea if not habituated. To visit Leuven has been contemplated for quite sometime especially to pay a visit to compatriot Stanis and exchange few pleasantries, a chitchat of everything. Breson Paul and I took off for Leuven on the 13th November by Ryaniar at 08.30 hrs. Everything was in perfect order until the first disaster struck. I realized my mobile phone gone missing. I felt the ice flowing right through my spine and to think that I may never ever again hear some people. I felt part of me going missing – the inability to communicate. The second disaster and the first casualty of the missing mobile came immediately. Fr. Stanis who must be at the station to pick us up is not around even after two hours of waiting and the link by now is cut off with the mobile gone. He seemed to have disappeared for ever only to discover later that we were then looking for each other at the twin parallel stations. This is true and still happens in the modern hi-tech world when a quantum of it gets disrupted. The rest you can well expect. How we found each other - in fact we had no time even to evaluate the entire episode. We had too many things to talk and too many places to reach in this short time. Leuven is known worldwide for its love for knowledge and for producing well known theologians, educationists, philosophers etc. The entire atmosphere actually speaks for its importance. Brussel, the capital city definitely is far modern in contrast to the cute little antique city of Brudge or the city of Kent immortalize by the famous painting – The Mystic Lamb. Take a trip on the video clip.

A thought for a Birthday

2009-10-21T12:21:00.000-07:00

I am intrigued to thinking of the arrival and the departure of life on this day while thanking God for the gift of my life. Think of what a wise man would have said: ‘man has three friends; worldly goods, which at the hour of death must be left behind; parents and friends who will naturally accompany your body to the grave, shed tears but must forget you sooner; but good works which may have been loved very little will indeed accompany you and be remembered’. If only a good deed passes by everyday.
It does make sense. It is not enough to do, but it is necessary to do well what we do. Not enough to be alive, but necessary to live well.

The sea is blue and so are the skies. You always stand between them to make it one.

4th October 2009, Feast of St. Francis Assisi

2009-10-11T01:10:00.000-07:00

This in fact is my third time in a row at Assisi in a year’s time with no regrets whatsoever. In fact, every visit to Assisi was unique. This time it was occasioned to accompany my Archbishop, Dominic Lumon and Fr. Francis Kalapurackal whose patron Saint’s Feast we went to participate. We reached Assisi at about 10.00 am and found an ocean of people crowding the entire vicinity of the Basilica. We could never possibly venture to go up to the upper part of the Basilica but managed to visit the tomb and returned back home as late as 9.00 pm. Captured video clip of the day.

To the Audience of the Holy Father

2009-10-03T01:50:00.001-07:00

30th September 2009 was like any other day, like any other audience of the Holy Father that one may attend. But to me this audience was something special and memorable. My friend Anna Menghi make all the difference. Special people, special occasion, make the moment memorable. It was an honour to be with her and to lend a little helping hand for her movement as she has to be wheel chaired (impaired physically by polio). Apparently weak from her physical difficulties but superior in her intellectual acumen, God fearing, politically credible, keen in understanding people’s problems, and a person in whose presence you feel at ease. A one time Sindaco (Mayor) of Macerata (a province) and involved in many associations, ecclesial and social activities. I am privileged to find a friend in her. I shall remember this audience with unique memories of her. Find a video clip of the day.

A Pilgrimage to Medjugorie

2009-09-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

I always thought of making a pilgrimage to Lourdes or Fatima but not Medjugorie. It was a surprise and unexpected turnaround, thanks to my friend Anna Menghi. The day started from 3rd until 9th September 2009. We left on a Pullman for Ancona Port and boarded for Split-Spalato, Croatia and spent the night on board. The next five full days were spent at Medjugorie with immense spiritual enrichments. We heard the testimonies of Maria and Ivan to whom our lady continue to appear daily. We visited many communities at Medjugorie to hear their testimonies of faith (Cenacolo, Oasis of Peace, etc). We made the journey to the apparition hill and way of the cross to Kresvac, the mount of the cross. The celebration of the Eucharistic meal, the endless procession of penitents to confessions, the depth of silence at the Eucharistic adoration, are incredible impressions of deep spiritual experience.

What I gather from Medjugorie is all ordinary; in fact too ordinary to believe that our lady chose such an obscure place – but Bethlehem or Nazareth is ordinary anyway. The extraordinary thing here is that everything is ordinary. At Medjugorie there is nothing to see without faith. Everything is simple, natural, apparently nothing supernatural.

Therefore, whether you believe in the apparition of our lady is – but owe to you if you doubt the manifestation of faith by the faithful and pilgrims here. At Medjugorie you find the presence of God (through our lady) more concretely and visibly. The message of our lady is simple: turn back to God (a call to conversion).

Top of the World

2009-08-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

In fact, every peak is on top of the world. In any case, guys must not think that I am only going around doing nothing. In fact, that’s my purpose, to sketch and move on even if it is on a snail’s pace. Every vista, a panorama is a turn in one’s life. A day out to the Sibillini mountains (27th Aug), like Mt. Bove or Mt. Prata or to the community of Castelluccio, seated on a plateau with decorated valley all over and walled around by these scenic mountains. Why not to a lunch or a cappuccino adorned by this beauty. It was indeed a day filled with natural scenic beauty all over you. A visit up to Mt. Bove by seggiovia (ropeways) or walk around at various viewpoints may mean a bit too much but it’s worth the once. It was a day out, and it counts for a holidayed who must get back to work. It’d sure helps to go on and go well.

Never Forget to Celebrate Life

2009-08-26T03:07:00.000-07:00

Keep celebrating life without forgetting your identity. Out for a pizza to Marchigiano or to Serrapetrona for the night to the feast of the maize or more exciting even to be there at Loro Piceno to zip to the vino cotto (which literally would mean cooked wine). It was a night full of life (23rd August). You find crowding from one spot to another, either to a sing out or to the steps like salterello, typical dance of the place. Watch out the video clip of the fire work at the finale. It was just fantastic.

Feragosto 2009

2009-08-19T01:43:00.000-07:00

Feragosto is definitely a day of celebration if not for the Assumption of the Blessed Lady into heaven which at time is sidelined. In fact it is true. People closed up their houses and go off to mountains and beaches. The priest has to go there to find a congregation for the mass. I found myself right on top of Elcito, at the hem of Monte S. Vicino. It is such a beautiful little hived village, an ideal place for holidaying but not live here, so the inhabitants say. They no longer live here anymore except for the summer camping. Right at the tip of the cliff is the church of S. Rocco, cute and adorable. A priest rightly came on these days and celebrated the mass. I spent two days (15th and 16th) here with my parishioners so that I would not be left home alone blinking. Definitely it was an experience and worth the celebration. You can see that people wanting to be away from home and work for a day or two. So if you are working, you deserve a feragosto. (view picture of Elcito)

A Day Like This Counts

2009-08-10T14:08:00.000-07:00

Some People are Always Special. I am back to my old community of Gavonata. They have been always special to me. They are very lovable, warm and homely. You just enjoy their hospitality, love and affection. This is the community where I first began my ministry in Italian, and tonight (4th August) a dinner like this with them is lovely. A day like this really counts.
During my short stay here, I also visited the sanctuary of our Lady (Madonna della Guardia) at Tortona where the remains of Don Luigi Orione (St. Aloysius Orione) whose body still remains intact, uncorrupted and venerated by the faithful. It always moved you to think and reflect on life, death and resurrection. Today, I am back in Sant’Elena. Life and ministry is rewarding when you are wanted, needed and you are able to give your service without reservation. God bless priesthood.

Some Days It Is Like That

2009-08-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

A week has passed off quietly almost unnoticed. In fact, I am spending this past week in a parish at Cassine, in the province of Alessandria to substitute Don Pino while he is away with the parish youth to the mountains. Basically the day is left open to my leisure except the celebration of a mass or two. Saturday and Sunday were exhausting. I have to celebrate two masses late in the evening of Saturday and four masses on the next day with the first mass at 8.00 am. I intend to make up the loss browsing the desk for a while.

Among the Folks

2009-07-27T02:18:00.001-07:00