Our Sunday Ministry

Rintu Mondol, NSJ

In the novitiate, we undergo different kinds of experiments through which we learn many things and gain many values for life. They provide us with experiences with the needy and poor, with sick people in a leprosy centre, with simple villagers, and with street children.  By doing these ministries we develop our spiritual life and gradually build up the foundation for a solid Jesuit life.  Our Sunday ministry is one among them through which we are not only being trained but also tested of our competency and talents.  During the ministry we do very simple and humble work and try to cultivate humility, willingness and readiness within us.

On Sundays the second year novices go to different villages for conducting prayer services for the faithful and for teaching catechism to the children.  It is an enriching experience.  Each Sunday there will be different experiences waiting for us.  We start with the prayer service.  Many people come and attend the prayers.  Feeling butterflies in my stomach, I manage to stand on my shivering legs.  But their way of praying and listening to me brings me a new enthusiasm.  Next comes teaching catechism to the children.  First of all to make them sit and shut their mouths requires a huge amount of patience and then to bring their attention to the Biblical stories is real hard labour.  It looks very simple but I have learnt the hard way that it is tougher than teaching the senior students.

Ministry does not mean the greatest work.  Rather it is the meanest and simple work.  On my Sunday ministry, I enjoy interacting with the villagers, especially their simple way of living, despite all the difficulties.  Their strong faith shows me a new meaning and teaches me many things.

Gratitude... all the way through...

By Vijaya Raju Gopanaboina, SJ

My heart is filled with joy and gratitude to God, the Society of Jesus and to my parents.  Last two years, though a short time, transformed me into a new and different person.  It changed me from being a fearful and selfish person to a person with great hope and a greater dream to bring light in the lives of many.  Today I begin my journey with a greater trust in the Lord to become a fruitful instrument in His hands and in the Society.

The story begins from my school days when I saw the Andhra Jesuits working tirelessly in and around my parish (Darsi), filling people’s lives with light and hope.  The desire kindled by them became deeper and stronger as I received Jesuit education till my school final.  All through these years God intervened to move me towards the path that he wanted me to travel.  There are so many people who helped me and encouraged me to respond to this call.  Today I thank all of them heartily and pray that they may continue to inspire many more souls.

Of course it wasn’t a smooth sailing for me, especially after I joined the Society as a candidate.  However, looking back at all those years, I wonder at the way God has moulded me and led me.  He was with me at every moment of my life.  The two years of Novitiate has been truly a transforming experience.  What I enjoyed most in the Novitiate was the personal care that the Society offers to each individual and the freedom I received which helped me to grow to be more responsible.  It was a challenging life and I fell down many times.  But the Society was always there to help me to get up and walk once again.  I am grateful to the Lord for the gift of my formators.

The grace that I truly received in the Novitiate is the personal experience of Jesus in my life, in the world, in the suffering, the poor, the creation and in every person.  This sets me on a mission to serve Him in the world.  My heart is filled with gratitude to God and I am eagerly waiting to share this joy with the world.  With this trust and gratitude I move forward to become a greater instrument in the Hands of God in the Society.

A honeymoon novitiate indeed!

by Rakesh Mondol, SJ

I remember being told during my first probation that novitiate is the honeymoon period of religious life.  To be honest I was not quite convinced.  Today as I look back at my novitiate life, it has indeed been so.  It was a period of wholesome growth especially in spiritual and emotional aspects.

When I began my novitiate I had a lot of fears and doubts.  But today I feel serene in the hands of God.  My faith has deepened and the person of Jesus has become somebody close and real to me.  I believe, everything that happened in my life was according to the plan of God.  The long retreat helped me to refocus and redirect my life drastically.  The various experiments that I went through helped me to grow stronger in my vocation.  I still cherish those beautiful moments of concretely experiencing God’s presence.  I enjoyed the companionship of my friends working and living together.

There were moments of doubts and darkness as well.  Sometimes it was difficult to go on yet I feel it was God who held my hand to lead me on.  It was through grace and understanding of my Novice Master that I overcame many hurdles and difficulties.

Today, as a Jesuit, I am filled with joy and gratitude for the wonders the Lord has done in my life.  I have no words to thank Him.  The only thing that I can do is to be faithful to him each day and respond to Him generously in my everyday living.  I am grateful for my vocation and for the grace He has given me to commit myself to Him.  I am grateful to so many Jesuits who formed me and continue to do so.  May God continue to lead me through the years of my formation.

Value of physical labour

By Novice Rakesh Mondol

I went to Loyola Jayanti Vidyapith, Bankura, for two weeks of work experiment.  This was the last experiment for my novitiate life.  I was determined to give my best.  It was a wonderful opportunity for me to experience the struggle of the daily labourers.  Now I understand more deeply the value of hard work of the poor and every single rupee they earn.

The work was quite tough for me in the beginning.  As the days went by the physical energy also reduced but the desire and enthusiasm did not diminish.  Even though we were only three yet we could do a good amount of work.  I learnt that we can do a lot of things together.  There were difference of opinions yet we were united as a group.  I think that working together despite our differences is the core of our Jesuit community life.  I am happy that this experiment has helped me to understand that.

On the whole this experiment, though a short one, was very helpful for my growth.

How I was inspired by the Sisters at Shantinagar

By Novice Manu Tomy

Shantinagar is a huge leprosy hospital where I stayed for a month for my hospital experiment.  It is not just a hospital but a loving home for the lepers and for the people who live around there.  It was also a loving home for me because I learned there the true meaning of love.  After spending one month in Shantinagar I can say that I have a heart that understands the suffering of the people.

In Shantinagar, I learned and experienced many things but what inspired me most was the work of the MC Sisters there.  I was really taken up by the way they live their lives.  They are really living Christs because they resemble Jesus in many ways.  They are simple, humble, loving, patient and full of compassion.  They call themselves the spouses of Christ and I think this expression is really very meaningful because like a spouse they always give their whole life and time to Jesus and his people.  They say that their source of energy is prayer and I found that it was true.  The fruits of their prayer can always be seen in their action.  They inspired me not only through words but also through their action.  In the one month I spent in Shantinagar I could never see a person who came for help going back with a dejected face. The sisters are ever ready to give away all that they have because they believe that everything is given to them freely.  All through my life I will thank the Lord for giving me this beautiful opportunity to be with these inspiring MC Sisters.