I would
like to share with you my Personal and Pastoral Reflection in Siddhpur
Parish
As I step into the 10th year of my life as a Priest in the Archdiocese of Gandhinagar on 1st May 2016 and as I complete 4 years in Siddhpur Parish (including 3 years in a rented apartment and 1 year in the newly built School building), I bow my head in gratitude to God for making me His instrument to reach out to many people.
After my priestly
ordination, I was appointed at St. Xavier’s School, Deesa and by the grace of
God proved to be a good administrator, teacher and pleasant co worker in the
school and in the Parish. Within a span of one year, I was asked to take over
the Parish work since the Jesuits were leaving Mehsana. By the providence
of God and diligent work, I was able to make it into a proper parish with the
starting of Small Christian Communities. Thereafter, I was asked to do
Master of Social Work, which I completed successfully from Nirmala Niketan,
Bombay whilst staying at the Holy Name Cathedral, Colaba, Mumbai. By the
benevolence of God became pastorally effective in reaching out to the poorest
of the poor in the Slum and became a bridge between the rich and the poor and
flat owners and slum dwellers. I was there at the time of need for the sick
& dying and the grieving families of deceased members.
On
completion of my studies, I was appointed at Siddhpur to pioneer into a new
mission by His Grace Stanislaus Fernandes. Literally, I had to begin from
nothing. On the 20th August 2012, Shital
Chhaya Charitable Trust was registered at the Asst. Charity commissioner’s
office in Patan. A lot of hard work had been put in and much more running about
was done to activate the Trust. Right from the preparation of the Trust Deed to
its translation, correction, approval, consultations, clarifications,
submissions all was done prior to the registration. After the Trust
registration, obtaining a Pan Card of the Trust, 12AA certificate and opening
of an account in the Union Bank of India, preparing an emblem of the trust were
important tasks. Then we also obtained 80 G certificate and TAN from Income Tax
Department. Every year the accounts were audited and submitted to the
Archbishop, Asst. Charity Commissioner and Income Tax office in Patan and
Ahmedabad. I was personally present for all the hearings conducted by Charity
Commissioner, Income Tax officer.
His Grace
Archbishop Stanislaus handed over to me the xerox copies of the documents of
the land and then I went about to survey the land and erect some poles to mark
the boundaries of our land at Umru, Siddhpur. As we had the land inside without
proper entrance His Grace Archbishop Stanislaus was kind enough to buy a piece
of land in order to have access to the existing land. This too took much time,
energy, meetings, correspondence, visits, decision making, etc. After long
struggle we obtained the NA permission and building permission for Umru. The
priest was venturing into the villages for visiting and meeting on account of
starting legal aid and strengthening of local governance in this vicinity with
the help of Fr. Stanny Jebamalai. Many projects were written and sent to many
agencies but hardly any response. The Archdiocese gave support for the new
building, Holy Childhood for the school equipments such as children’s play
area, tables, chairs, desks etc. Propagation of Faith helped for the priest
residence.
With the
help of the faithful, pastorally we have become vibrant with well prepared
liturgy, with effective breaking of the Word and celebration of the Eucharist
and other liturgical services also seven step methods of Gospel sharing. By the
grace of God, sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Holy Communion,
Confirmation, Marriage, Viaticum, anointing of the sick, funerals were
celebrated in the parish in the past years. Carols singing in Catholic homes,
hotel and School, Celebration of Christmas, New year, participation in the Stations
of the Cross in different homes, celebration of Holy week, Easter celebration
added strength to the faith of the believing community. The thematic preaching
of Novenas for the Nativity of Our Lady has made the parishioners very much
involved. The parish is sustained with the generous donations from the
Archdiocese, some friends and parishioners. At this moment, I gratefully
acknowledge the blessings of our Lord and people. We offer every effort to the
feet of the Lord.
At the
Archdiocesan level, as the Director of Youth for the past 3 years and Director
of Archdiocesan Spoken English Course for 4 years, by the grace of God imparted
Christian values to the young people. I have conducted life orientation
programmes for the youth to get into the public sector by equipping themselves
with various skills needed for it. We had conducted IAS, IPS, Village officers
training programmes for the youth also various competitions for them in order
to be more creative and dynamic in life. For Spoken English course besides the
knowledge of the language, we had taken the catechism and faith formation
seriously to bring up vibrant Catholic communities in the Archdiocese. I also
emphasized on the preamble of the Indian Constitution to be better citizen of
India.
Finally,
amidst all these struggles and endeavours, it is the prayer life which
sustained me and gave enough strength to be more dynamic and creative in the
ministries. I know and trust that the Lord is always faithful and will never
let me down. I bow my head in prayer and kneel before the Lord for tremendous
providence I experienced. Finally, I thank God for both my Archbishops
Stanislaus and Thomas for their love and concern. All the well wishers,
especially Martin and Philip Fernandes, Catholic members of Siddhpur parish. I
am grateful for the encouragement you render to me. As letter to the Hebrew in
Holy Bible states in 3:13 ‘Every day, as long as this today lasts, keep
encouraging one another’ Much of my
life as a priest has been about encouraging people with the Good News of Jesus
Christ, offering them ‘fresh heart’, even in the most troubled moments of life.
I do realise that I too need to receive encouragement and I am happy to be
blessed with a wonderful family and very special friends like you who never
stop encouraging me. I am very grateful also for the warmth of your support and
prayers, not just today but from the time I came in contact with you. You have
become a part of my life and ministry. I am confident that the Lord will watch over our new work and
initiatives in the coming days as we get on with our work with a new English
medium School. Mother Mary be our constant support as we break new ground in
serving humanity. St. Joseph the worker intercede for the work of our hands.
All Glory to God. {Xavier James}(1st May 2016)
No comments:
Post a Comment