The Mission Continues

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)

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

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

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

‘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.