Priestly Ministry

Sometimes in my vacant moments the thoughts would come to me whether I did accomplish anything in my life.As a priest, I was a silent wayfarer in this long march of humanity. For most of the people, they have families to think of .Through their work and sacrifice, they struggle hard to form future generations.Their children carry the imprint of their lives for generations to come.Their sacrifices and their struggles bear fruit in the lives of their children.Others through their positions of political or social prominence have left their impact on the society.What about us , priests? What are our legacies?

The word s of Gerard Manley Hopkins in one of his sonnets known as the Terrible Sonnets do beautifully express my misgivings about priestly life. Speaking of the birds,he said, they build.At least they build their nests.But priests--What do they have?Nothing. Moving from place to place, having no roots, they leave no foot prints behind.

Our impact on people is easily forgotten.People may sometimes for a little longer period remember us but once we get older and move away from the scene of our activities, we are often forgotten.We become distant memories as the people of our age move or fade away from life.

Is there any message that I can give from my life? All that I have is what every Christian has--my faith in Jesus and my love for him.I know He will not abandon me. That is all I have. I f I lose that there would be nothing in my life that would give me peace and joy. No Bishop, no priest will be there to support me.The same is also true with regard to me too. I won't be there to support them. Each one is on his own. It is that thinking that is sometimes frightening.

At this age of my life, I do have very few friends with whom I can communicate freely and openly.Those with whom I have worked have moved away or are in places where I cannot reach.

I don't think any one has seriously studied the inner lives of priests. Most of the priests from the Indian background that I have come across are concerned with their position in the church and hence their interest is in keeping a good and balanced relationship with their Bishop.It is a life of total dependence.Of course, their faith and love of Jesus will keep them safe and happy in their personal lives.

By the grace of God, in my personal life, as I was teaching in the college, I was protected by the laws of the State from the vengeance or envy of others. Also my Bishops were very considerate to me and they gave me a lot of opportunities for service. I am thankful to them because without their support, I would not have come to this position in my life. I have only words of gratitude to them and to also all the good priests that I worked with at Chanancherry ,Kerala.

I have only words of joy and thanks at this age in my life.I have to praise and thank the Lord for those blessings.

What gives strength to priests is their faith in and love for the Lord.There was a lot of emotional tensions in my life on account of the celibate life that I have chosen. It is because of the pure grace of God and of his unbounded mercy and forgiveness that I am able to continue my ministry.

So, do I have a message for others? What have I learned in my life? What can I tell others?

Just what Jesus has told us---Love one another.Show respect to others.

With regard to priests, I have to say the following:" Don't speak ill of others, priests or lay people.Do what we can in the best way possible.We should not step on the toes of others for our personal advancement."

Our prayer life should make us more soft and gentle, forgiving and compassionate and not hard-hearted and arrogant.What is the meaning of our prayers if we cannot talk to someone in a very understanding manner ?Our prayers and observances of rituals will be only smokescreens , hiding our selfishness and arrogance, if we are not compassionate and loving.

President Carter and President Clinton

President Carter came to St.Matthew's Cathedral along with the Vice President and many senators at the funeral mass for George Meaney , one of the great labor leaders of the States.I was a concelebrant at the mass and after the mass, as we walked down the aisle, President Carter was walking just behind us. After exchanging a few words with the Pastor, he walked out of the Cathedral.

I had a chance to shake hands with President Clinton when I was working at St.Patrick's church.

He came for the inauguration of the new CIA building which is just a block away from St.Patrick's.Our Pastor , Msgr.Vaghi gave the invocation.All of us priests were invited for the function.After the inaugural function, The President greeted all of us who were there.

I had a chance to see President Reagan after the election when he came to visit the Republican Head Quarters which was across the street from St.Matthew's.It was a view from a short distance as I was returning from my classes at the Catholic University. In that way , I was able to see or meet three Presidents of the U.S. during my stay in the U.S.

Mother Teresa

After my M.A. examination in 1970, along with a priest-friends of mine form the college, I went to Calcutta with the desire of seeing Mother Teresa and knowing more about her work.We stayed at St.Xavier's college,Calcutta and fro there went to see Mother teresa's lace.We were disappointed when we found out that she was not there.But we spent time with the sisters there and visited the places where the infants and the dying people were nursed and cared for.We some to some of the sisters. There was only one foreign-born sister and she was form Germany. She was young sister and we asked her how she joined the Congregation.She then narrated her story.She came as a visitorfor the Eucharistic Congress in Bombay and at one of the receptions given by the Bombay Archdiocese, she was sitting opposite to Mother Teresa.She noticed that Mother was looking at her specially at the time of the meal.After the meal was over, she walked over to Mother Teresa and inquired why she was looking at her. The Mother replied that she would give her a saree if she would join her group. She went back to Germany but then could not remain there.She felt the pull of Mother Teresa's words and she returned to Calcutta to join her Congregation.

I was really elated when one day after breakfast, one of the priests who was the Director of Communications for the Diocese mentioned that Mother Teresa would be coming to St.Matthew's Cathedral.

At 11 a.m., she came to the Cathedral, accompanied by Archbishop Hickey. Some of the Spanish Catholics who heard about her arrival were waiting at the steps of the Cathedral to greet her.they sang songs as she walked up the steps to the Cathedral.

After spending some time in prayer, she walked around the Cathedral. I had some pictures taken with her with the Archbishop.When I told her that I was from Changanacherry, she right away mentioned that she had no convent in Changanacherry.

I felt really happy when I got a chance to see and meet her at St.Matthew's Cathedral.

Meeting with John Paul ll in D.C.

One of the happiest moments in my life came with the arrival of Pope John Paul ll in Washington D.C. in 1979.The Holy Father said mass at St.Matthew's Cathedral for the priests and invited guests.After the mass, he had lunch with the Cardinals at the rectory.Nine of us priests who worked at the rectory were told that we would be able to meet the Holy Father as he came down the stairs after the lunch.We were waiting at the foot of the stairs .The Holy Father was going from there straight to the white House. Archbishop Marcinkus who was coming with him stretched out his hand in front of us saying that the Holy Father had no time as he was getting late for the meeting with the President.But , then, Cardinal Baum, took the Holy father, behind the outstretched hands of the Archbishop and introduced all of us to him. When he came to me, he asked whether I was from India and I kissed his hand and said :"Yes."That was the first time in my life , I have ever come closer to a Pope.

The night before, the street in front of St.Matthew's was occupied by people.We could see in the wee hours of the morning, people bringing their chairs and sitting in the middle of the street.While the Holy Father was having lunch,people who were waiting for him , were shouting, "John Paul ll, we love you ". After the lunch, he asked the Pastor to bring a mike to the balcony and responded to the acclamation of the people, saying" John paul ll, he loves you." There was a thunderous applause from the people, hearing those words from the Holy Father.I had the privilege of distributing communion at the mass at the Cathedral and later at the Mall.

This was first and last time I had ever got chance to meet the Pope and speak to him.

Later, during my visit to Rome in 1980, I was present at the General audience.

By that time, Cardinal Baum moved to Rome and I met him at his apartment.Through him, I could have got a private audience with the Holy Father.Since I had already met him in Washington D.C., I did not show much interest for such an event.

The people I met in the U.S.-3

Bennet Williams

Bennet Williams was one of the top defense lawyers of the U.S. What impressed me most was his presence at the mass.On Saturdays, the priest himself would open the door of the church for the morning mass at 7a.m. at St.Matthew's Cathedral. Every Saturday, when I opened the church, the first person,I would meet was Bennet Williams. This was a great source of inspiration.

There is a big law firm carrying his name in Washington D.C.

William Conway

Bill Conway is the M.D. of the Carlyle corporation and was a a regular attendee at the morning masses at St.Patrick's church.One day after the morning mass, as I was greeting the people, he came towards me told how appreciative he was of my short homilies focussed on Jesus at the morning masses.

He helped the Syro-Malabar Diocese several times through his generous contributions.

Fr.Paul Liston and Msgr.Michael Farina

They both were good friends while I was working as an Associate Pastor at St.Patrick's.We had very lively conversations after meals at the dining table and I have often gone with them on their trips to Southern Maryland.I sorely missed their company when I left Washington for Chicago.In Chicago, I was living mostly with young priests who came from India who did not have much experience or University education.Their narrow vision was evident in their conversations.It was very difficult to engage them in conversations that touched on American culture or life.

Mike who passed away a few months ago was a great person who was always encouraging and inspiring.When Mike celebrated his 50th Ordination anniversary, I went from Chicago to D.C. to participate in the mass as well as in the reception.

Fr.Liston is a great scholar and a historian.I used to gather a lot of information about the history of the American church from my conversations with him.

In my life in Chicago, I miss people like them.

The people I met in the U.S.--Senator Patrick Moynihan

Senator Patrick Moynihan

Senator Moynihan was a regular participant at the Sunday masses at St.Patrick's church,Washington D.C.He as formerly a Professor at Harvard University and later, the U.S.ambassador to India.

I have always been impressed by the faith and humility of Moynihan.If any usher was absent, Moynihan would come forward to take up the collections during the mass.After the Sunday mass, Moynihan would stand up and face the organist and listen to his playing of the organ after the mass.

When I was standing in the vestibule of the church after the mass, greeting the congregation, he would come and express his appreciative comments about my homilies.One sunday , he came to tell me that one of the quotes I used for the homily at the mass , was penned by one of his friends at Harvard.

As I did not get a chance to bid goodbye when I left Washington for Chicago, I sent him a note thanking him for his appreciative comments.But soon after, he got sick and passed away .One of the doctors who treated him at GW hospital had told me alter that when he was brought to the

hospital, he spoke to his wife about me and she mentioned that she had received a note from me.

The people I met in the U.S.--Sargent Shriver

Sargent Shriver was the Director of the Peace Corps and the brother-in-law of the late President John F.Kennedy. The first time I met him was at the RFK stadium,Washington D.C. I had gone there to watch a football game with Msgr.Louis Quinn, the Pastor of St.Matthew's Cathedral.The box in which we were seated was next to that of the Kennedys. There I met Ethel Kennedy, the wife of late Senate Robert Kennedy.

Sargent Shriver , when he heard that I was from Kerala, spoke about the political situation of Kerala and about the communist rule in Kerala through elections.

Later, when I was at St.Patrick's church, Sargent Shriver and his wife, Eunice Shriver ,were seen coming for the masses in the evening.One day, he came after the mass and asked me whether he could receive communion as he was late to come.I offered him communion even though it was not a practice at St.Patrick's.

Eunice Shriver has often showed her appreciation for the homilies I preached at the masses.

People I met in the U.S.--Msgr.Louis Qinn

Msgr.Louis Quinn of St.Matthew's Cathedral

As I was finishing up my first year Catholic University, I was looking for a parish to work during the summer as the dorm where I stayed would be closed for the holidays.It was one of the Malaylee families that suggested to me to contact St.Matthew's Cathedral.One day, I called for the Pastor and talked to him expressing my desire to wrk there for the coming summer if there was a possibility.He graciously invited me for dinner .I accepted the invitation and went there one evening.I was totally surprised in seeing more than eight priests, all clerically dressed for the dinner.When they heard that I was doing my Ph.D. in English, one of them asked me about a recent novel that became a hit--The Thorn Birds. Fortunately, I read the novel while I was in New York , the previous summer. I saw people reading the novel in the subways and at various reception counters.I thought then of reading f the book , even though I had heard about the book in one of my classes for M.A. at the Indiana state University. One of the students gave a copy of the book to one of the Professors, telling him to read it as it was very interesting.Then, I did not think of reading it.

My discussion of the theme of the book opened the hearts of all very favorably towards me. Then the Pastor invited me to watch the TV along with them for a few more minutes and told me that they would be happy to have me right away and that I could stay there not only during the summer but until the end of my studies. But,I had to finish six more months at the dorm as I signed up as a Campus minister for a year at C.U.

The stay at St.Matthew's opened a whole new world for me.It gave me the chance of meeting some of the greatest Catholics and leaders of the world.

Msgr.Lou Quinn was a perfect gentleman. He was a great conversationalist at the dining table.He was the only one one always talking at table and he was very smooth and gracious. During all the three years I was there, there arose no controversies or disputes.All were treated very cordially.

Even after I left St.Matthew's Cathedral, he was very regular in writing to me every Christmas and sending me mass intentions. It has been a few moths since he passed away.Even the Christmas before, he sent me a Christmas card , with his special notes , giving an update of his activities.He is someone I can never forget in my life.May his soul rest in peace.

Families-2

The Fusellis

When I was working as a substitute for Fr.Mathew Muthuplakal at St.Michael's church, Bronx, I was living on the 24th floor of one of apartments in Co-Op city, Bronx.Opposite to our floor was the one occupied by Joe Caputi. When Joe was going to the hospital for a surgery, he asked me whether I could water the plants in his apartment. But his surgery became complicated and hence his daughter Anne Fuselli came to be with him for a few weeks.Anne was at the hospital when I went to see Joe. That was the beginning of my friendship with the Fusellis. Anne and her husband, Nat later invited me to spend the Thanksgiving at their house in my first year at the Catholic University.

From that time onwards, they became a family for me and they had invited me to their home for several of their Christmases and other celebratory occasions.I have also stayed a few times at their summer apartment at the Ocean city.That apartment had a beautiful view of the ocean.

When I broke my arm, slipping on the ice at the Campus of the Catholic University, they invited me to their house and I stayed there almost two weeks.

When their eldest son ,Frank, had a terrible motor bike accident, I went to visit him at the hospital before the surgery.

Anne's mother , Josephine too was also very loving and considerate.

At Christmas times , I met their extended families and became friends with all.

Their daughter ,Donna, came with me , on one of my visits to India, as she was going to Mother Teresa's place in Calcutta.Her stay in Calcutta had transformed her in such a powerful way that she became very considerate and loving to those who are less fortunate. Donna and her husband, John, decided to adopt children and they have now 18 adopted children five under guardianship. They both are remarkable examples of powerful witnesses to the Catholic faith.Their house is a model house of Catholic prayer life and living.They are not only home schooling their children but are also homeschooling more than 100 kids. Already one of their daughters has decided has to join a convent and one boy has joined the Seminary.

I said a mass recently for them at their place and I was really impressed by their lively participation in the mass. Their daily prayers, hours of adoration and attendance at masses are examples of great Christian living that we don't find in any official Catholic houses of prayer.

Anne is a great source of support for them.

Anne is like a sister for me, helping me in a lot of things while I have been here in the States.

She guided me when I experienced difficulties and challenges and encouraged me to become active in charismatic prayer groups.

It was she who encouraged Donna to go on a trip to India to spend some weeks at Mother Teresa's convent.

She had once arranged for me to meet with Walker Percy, the novelist on whose works I did my dissertation, when he came to address a gathering in one of the Smithsonian museums.Walker Percy autographed the book I published on his works.It is at that gathering that I was able to talk to Percy personally although he was gracious enough to respond to me whenever I wrote to him while doing my research on his novels.

I am deeply grateful to her for all her support and enceouragment.