When you are called to serve in Rome, it implies you had been a reliable and hard-working person with experience. Such persons carry with them also certain degree of self-respect and self-image. I too reached Rome on 03.10. 2016. But shortly after my arrival I was shaken. I expected interculturality in community, but the lifestyle was predominantly European. One must ask, and non-assertive persons can easily be ignored. My work was often limited to computer. I was mostly silent without knowing Italian. This made a person to comment that I did not know much, and another person said that I was moving like a phantom. There was very little chance to be in touch with the people, especially the poor. Hence for me too, the people seemed like moving images. When I visited Rome for the first time in 1992, the city was attractive. But now passing through the streets of Rome was monotonous and heavy. My ego once a wile cropped up to resent, but there was no laguage to explain and the image that I carried of myself said no. As I passed through these inner struggles, one day I felt like no one, empty and bare. My experience was like a house whose roof was swept off in a storm. But there were rays of hope that my roof could be repaired with use of appropriate tools. I began to choose the tools and put them into practice.
Tool 01: Spirituality
St. Paul was struck down and made stand still, during his journey from Jerusalem to Damascus (Act 9, 4-9). It was a journey which made him undergo a process of conversion. I understood that I was struck down because I too needed conversion. Towards this I began to do contemplative meditation, using of the methods of Vipasana, Zen, and Centering prayer. Almost every day from 09 to 10 pm meditation was followed. Added to this, divine mercy prayer was done at 03 pm. Gradually these spiritual practices were helpful to encounter God within, in the people and in the planet. It dawned to me that our commitment to social transformative mission required a deep inner engineering and only those who have experienced the connectedness within, could be concerned about the disconnectedness suffered by the world outside; otherwise, misery of people could become an opportunity for self-promotion and profiteering. Only what we sow inside are reaped outside. It brought a conviction that a JPIC promotor who cannot sit in meditation, is likely to cause more harm than good to the society.
This experience made me to choose prayer and contemplation as important mode of JPIC mission. Hence, I also was encouraging others to practice of contemplative methods of meditation. I have found that there is a great welcome especially among the formators and formees.
Tool 02: JPIC formation to open the eyes and to burn heart
The disciples who travelled from Jerusalem to Emmaus were discussing about Jesus among them. They also welcomed, listened, and offered boarding and lodging for Jesus who appeared as a stranger. While recalling their experience while Jesus was with them it is said that ‘their eyes were opened and their hearts were burning’ (cf. Lk 24, 13-35).
At the personal level opening the eye, implied the learning of local language, culture, politics and geography without which I will be a stranger here. So, I attempted to learn Italian language and culture.
Sharing with others the JPIC resources makes their eyes open to new knowledge and makes their hearts burn with passion. Since all the missionaries have their hands full of works to accomplish, I began to see the global realities and periodically update the missionaries briefly in simple language. The E-news and the News Brief of JPIC Roma, had been a great help to know the world. When I came to Rome my vision was limited to Indian perspective. My learning and experiences from the course for new JPIC promotors-2016 and from the JPIC Roma Working Groups opened my outlook. I also gained a lot from the reports shared by Fr. Kenneth Thesing, on behalf of ICR at FAO (International Congregations Religious at Food and Agriculture Organization).
Learning about, ‘the International days celebrated by the Church and the United Nations(UN), the UN Human Rights conventions, the Social teachings of the Church, the Biblical foundations for JPIC, the JPIC resources from the founders/foundresses and congregation, the Inter religious Spirituality and dialogue, the giving up of single use plastic, the promotion of sustainable constructions and the ethical investments’, are indispensable aspects for the opening of the eyes and the burning of the hearts. Since the hearts of the religious can be effectively accessed through the medium of prayers, the reflections on the above themes were shared in the form of “prayer-reflections”. I thank JPIC Roma for having given me chances to share these resources with the JPIC Roma Commission, JPIC Core Group, JPIC Promotors, the participants of JPIC Roma formation workshops and the participants of the Formators’ training organised by UISG.
Tool 03: Acts of compassion
The spirituality, the opening of the eyes and the burning of the hearts, become credible only when they are translated into compassionate actions. Hence JPIC promotor must walk daily the road travelled by the Good Samaritan from Jerusalem to Jericho (cf. Lk 10, 25-37), serving the wounded people and the planet. These missions have to be done in network with others as well as at personal level.
- In Network
Participating in the name of our Congregation, in the Board of South Sudan Solidarity (SSS), the Assembly cum activities of SEDOS and AEFJN were opportunities for me to serve in partnership.
Our Superior General Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF, Father Pedro the General Prefect of Apostolate have been very encouraging to host refugees in the General Curia in partnership with Centro Astalli (the Italian unit of Jesuit Refugee Service) and to provide food for the homeless in Partnership with lay people, Claretian Family and Sant’Egidio Community.
JPIC Roma facilitated me to serve as a member of the Religious Sector of Laudato Si Action Plate form (LSAP). The Laudati Si Movement involved me in the preparation of “Transition Guide to Divest, Transition Guide to Sustainable Banking and Transition Guide to Sustainable Insurance”.
- Personally
One of my key learnings, from my inspiring formators and congregational leaders, is to leave no day without helping a needy person. There have been opportunities to do acts of love for the persons begging on the road, the refugees in search of work and the sick people seeking cure. Since I am blessed with the skills of healing through alternative therapies, I could assist the health of people almost daily. I could also train the people in the alternative therapies in Italy, Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Democratic Republic of Congo during these years.
These tools have made me feel content, happy and secure, with roof restored above my head.
From Desert to Bagamoyo
In Tanzania there is a seaport town named Bagamoyo which means “the place of heart”. Dr. David Livingston, who was a member of London Missionary Society, was working, until his death (1874) in Zambia. His body was claimed by the Missionary Society as well as by the Zambian people whom he served. At last, it was agreed that the heart would belong to the people and the body to the Missionary Society. His body, after the removal of heart, was sent to London from this port. This is one of the reasons for the name Bagamoyo. Rome seemed a desert for me on my arrival in 2016 and now it has turned to be Bagamoyo. Thanks to my Claretian Congregation, the General Curia community and JPIC Roma for this great transformative experience.
Kolkata Delegation
