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.

Can I Start My Christmas Today?

I do not think I can easily make mistake remembering one Christmas time more than 30 years back that’s when I got a new shirt with an extended enlarged pocket - of course only on my insistence so that I can drop in all my little possessions in it.  This was days much before the Christmas Day and I remember exactly that early chilly morning with the new dress on asking my dad if I could start off my Christmas day. I don’t think I ever waited for what he has to say; anyway I was already off to somewhere to show off.

It doesn’t matter which part of the world you come from, whose generation you referred to, children always have the first taste of Christmas celebrations. May be they are too impatient to see the new Christmas KID or they are too excited about their new look – the new dress, the toys, the gifts, the snow or Santa Claus or the carol and the like of the season. I have seen children with the same excitement and anticipation even in a more sophisticated society. I wish we have little more of this enthusiasm and excitement even though that means looking little childlike.

At San Romano (my parish here in Rome) you can have some of these privileges. All these days a day passes by with something to remind you that we are at the threshold of the great event and the anticipation keeps you wild awake for the day we await. Think of the musical concerts we have had in the parish in preparation, some special meals with special groups or movements, a day of celebration for little school kids, and lots of spiritual initiatives to prepare us well worthy of the day.

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

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

  

Finding a Home at San Romano Martire

I guess I have taken too long to settle down. In fact it is more than a month since my last update. I haven’t said a word about my new place, people and parish here in Rome. I don’t know why I waited so long. May be I did not know where to begin and what to begin but waited rightly for a New Day of the New Liturgical Year (27^th Nov. 2011). Look at the lovely 1^st Sunday 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 faith and reaffirm our commitment to the Gospel.
As for the parish, named San Romano Martire (St. Romanus Martyr) that’s where I find myself, I must say I am much impressed and edified in the practice of faith by the people in this parish. This is one parish in Rome where I found the Church is 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. On week days too many people frequent both the masses – morning and evening. I found what is even more edifying to see people visiting the Blessed Sacrament all the day through. You hardly find the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament empty even 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 in praying the rosary. Besides, the parish is engaged in numerous other activities and movements to take the parish forward both in faith and in the day to day life of the parish and parishioners. 
A young and dynamic Parish Priest Don Marco Fibbi is definitely the man pulling the string, keeping the parish going strong and alive. He is assisted by his Assistant Don Julio and two other student priests Don Ayad and me of course who lend him a helping hand. I am more than happy to find myself here to offer my priestly ministry.You definitely would like to know more about this parish. You can visit the site at www.sanromano.org and find out more about the parish. This picture is the interior of the church – the sanctuary beautifully done in mosaic art.