Over the Rocky Mountains

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

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

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

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

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

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.