POST-VISITATION INTERVIEW WITH VERY REV. FR. FRANCIS CARVALHO
(Superior General of the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier)

At the Rania unit of the Province

1. This was the last of the four Provinces you had your Canonical Visitation. How was the overall experience ?
It was a well-organized canonical visitation and well-executed to the last t. It started with the visit to Kinnaur Mission in HP which followed the trail of our missionaries who reside in the flat at Shimla but travel – by jeep/bus through the winding snow-covered roads on the ridges of Himalayan mountain ranges along the river Sutlej meandering through their deep gorges – to minister, regularly, the small Christian Community of locals and Jharkhandis at Reckong Peo.
From there we moved to the upper mountainous regions of J&K to visit our missionaries ministering at Bakshinagar & Reshamgarh Mission. From there we moved downwards to the mustard fields of Punjab & Haryana and visited our missionaries, whose ministry, predominantly, revolves around the ministry of 'Satsanghs' or 'Bandagis'. It is presumably a coincidence that I had to conclude my canonical visitation with the visit to the Catholic Jharkhandis working at the Ghodda-farm – a horse-breeding farm of the Indian Military at Hissar. It was an awesome experience to stand before the majestic Stallions (horses and mules), who, I am told by the military colonel, are used to transport ammunitions and provisions for the military personnel posted in the mountainous terrains along the LOC.
As I stood before these majestic Stallions, I recalled to my mind the dynamism and daring of all our missionaries I had met all along the route from Kinnaur to Hissar.

2.a. Your Impression of the apostolate shouldered by our members.
My first impression is that I encountered daring pioneering missionaries who dare to be where others fear to tread – I was touched, especially, by their innovative and creative ways of making Christ present among those who do not yet know Him and among those who have become indifferent to Him.

2.b. You shared about the Apostolic Vitality in the Province with a certain type of 'New Evangelization' and its extension to people of other faiths. Could you elaborate on the same. Are some ministerial dynamics unique to the Province ?
I did share my above-mentioned impression with the members at every Local Community Meeting as well as Local Assembly. Let me elaborate on the same here. The above-described pioneering evangelization evolves, predominantly, around the regular evening visits to the far-flung villages with the well organized programmes of 'Satsanghs' (a charismatic type of prayer and healing service) or 'Bandagis' (Bible service), and other popular devotions, like Marian devotions and Way of the Cross, etc.
The uniqueness of such programmes lies in the fact that all the villagers (Catholics, non-Catholics and non-Christians) are evangelized through such programmes. The uniqueness of this pioneering evangelization is in the combination of all the three dimensions of missionary activity of the Church in one village programme: (i) pastoral ministry among the Catholics with the proclamation of the word of God and with the help of other popular devotions; (ii) new evangelization of those become indifferent to Christ or whose faith in Christ is still superficial, viz., Christians belonging to other Christian denominations, like Salvation Army, Methodists, Pentecostals, etc.; and (iii) evangelization of people of other faiths, who willingly participate in such 'Satsanghs' or 'Bandagis' – this could be, rightly, considered as one of the models of inter-religious dialogue. Such mixed congregation would not have been possible if only Holy Eucharist was celebrated at Mass Centres.
Another uniqueness that I noticed in these means of pioneering evangelization adopted by Delhi Province is that all the above-mentioned programmes are celebrated as out-reach programmes of the educational apostolate conducted in its majestic school buildings 'all plastered with marble grit' (a trademark of Delhi Province?). Surplus income accruing from educational institutions is directed towards such out-reach programmes of social and spiritual welfare of the less fortunate ones. Probably this nexus between educational apostolate and the social and pastoral work has been adopted from the mission dioceses in North India – where surplus income from educational institutions is directed towards social and pastoral works of each mission.

2.c. Which avenues for evangelization, in your opinion, are well attended by the Province ?
As mentioned above, the Delhi Province has adopted the three types of inter-religious dialogue, viz., (a) dialogue of life, (b) dialogue of action, and (c) dialogue of sharing of spiritual experience with people of other faiths – by combining the educational apostolate with the pastoral work, new evangelization and evangelization of people of other faiths in one village programme of 'Satsangs' and 'Bandagis'.
This combination could be complemented with the programmes of Social Work and Small Christians Communities (with three types of Lumko Method of Prayer). Both these types of programmes would empower those in the peripheries, and generate lay leaders among the Christian-faithful. The baby-steps taken by the Delhi Province for these two types of programmes are commendable.

2.d. Do you see hopeful prospects for the future ?
In line with Bp. Franco Mullakal of Jallandar, for the next decade, I see a great future for the works of evangelization adopted by the Delhi Province, especially the ministry of 'Satsanghs' and 'Bandagis', combined with educational apostolate, social work, and pastoral work. But with the proviso that: (i) those engaged in the ministry of 'Satsanghs' and 'Bandagis' should be fluent in Punjabi language, Bible-savvy and prayer-full; (ii) those involved in social work and pastoral work could acquire more training in Social Work (BSW/MSW) and Pastoral Theology (MTh).

3. Did the Visitation program contribute in any way to your personal study and reflection for the XIX General Chapter scheduled for August this year ?
I have been always a leaner in my life – I learn more by observing life, people, and events around me! Yes I did learn a lot from my canonical visitation of Delhi Province. I was pleasantly surprised and humbled to meet all the missionaries – especially my students of canon law - doing daring pioneering evangelization works in the hills of HP and J&K, which were still covered with snow, and in the plains of P&H, which were still carpeted with yellow sarsoun-ka-ful.
My take-away from this canonical visitation is my knowledge of the unique combination of diversity of means of evangelization adopted by Pilar the missionaries in Delhi Province to accomplish our Society's one mission ad gentes. Availability to the people – especially to those in the peripheries in the villages and hills – sharing the 'word of God' with them and sharing at table with them their simple 'rotti' with 'sarsoun-ka-saag' seems to be hallmark of this unique combination. I was deeply touched when the senior villagers reminded me of the missionary work done among them by Pilar missionaries of happy memory, like Fr. A. Devanand, Fr. Vincent, Br. Felix, Fr. Cristo Rei, etc.

The Province Annual Retreat was scheduled in two batches towards January end and the beginning of February, 2017. The first batch was scheduled from 29th January to 3rd February, 2017, while the second was scheduled from the 05th February to 10th February, 2017. Xaverian Niketan, Bathinda, Punjab with facilities of sufficient self-contained rooms and other required amenities was to be the ideal venue for the virtual get-together of the members.
The Provincial Superior had earlier reminded the members through the correspondence to the Local Delegate Superiors that our Annual Retreat is an opportunity for us to renew our missionary commitment. He quoted from our Constitutions: D 34.7 – “Members are to make their annual retreat for five full days …” (cf. c. 276.1). “On this occasion, members renew their dedication to the missionary call.” [C.45]. He therefore requested the Local Delegate Superiors to ensure that every member avails himself of this opportunity for one's spiritual growth. He had also requested special prayers in one's community that this annual retreat may bring along God's grace into our hearts and in our communities, enabling us to love, forgive, care and share our lives for the communities in which we live and for the mission of our Society and the Church at large.
Fr. Anil Thalakkottur CMI (Director of 'Vidyavanam Ashram', Bangalore) preached the retreat with the theme Realizing the Inner Self. Highlighting the legacy of the Indian traditions towards spiritual pursuits, he had made us aware that we are an indigenous congregation and impressed on us the need to imbibe the spiritual practices taught and lived by the saints and sages of old. His talks were very thought provoking, practical, well explained and I believe have challenged the participants as well. Some of the topics of his interesting sessions included 'A Call within a Call', 'Cosmic Energy and the Blocks', 'Isha Nama Yoga – Breathe Jesus', 'Kingdom Principles', 'People of Head and Heart', 'Self, Mind and Senses', 'Time for Renewal', 'Vows and Religious Life', 'Introduction to Yoga', etc.
In his final address of gratitude, the Retreat Preacher expressed his joy to witness a very satisfactory response in terms of the number of members who participated in the retreats. He said that in his experience, priests tend to give preference for some other activities or place some excuse or the other and skip their common annual retreat. Having stayed along with the members of the Society and also getting a little bit acquainted with the ministry of the members, he appreciated the missionary dynamism of the Society. In his parting address, he identified a commonality with his congregation and the Society of Pilar in that both the congregations were indigenous and both would need to substantially require to understand and assimilate the spiritual reservoir of the land for our personal and ministerial growth.
Many members who participated in the retreat found the retreat to be very engaging, practical and an apt facilitation to awaken and realize one's inner self. It dawned to many members that the breathing techniques, yoga asanas, Jesus prayer and other approaches though having a simple appeal at first, unearthed deeper aspects of consciousness and renewal.
Fr. Eulalio Fernandes (Local Delegate Superior of Xaverian Niketan, Bathinda) coordinated the preparations and smooth running of the daily schedule during the retreat. The food prepared by Mahavir, Binay Samid, Satish Kumar, Raghunathan Hansda and others was simply a treat for the taste buds. The house maintenance under the supervision of Ms. Sunita Adhikari and other employees was also very remarkable. Br. Abner Kispota (Disciples of Don Bosco) coordinated the daily marketing very efficiently.
marketing very efficiently. Please find ahead a small description 'About the Retreat Preacher: Rev. Fr. Anil Thalakkottur CMI' and a write-up by the Retreat Preacher, 'Approaching Christian Mysteries with Eastern Methods: A need of the Hour …'

About the Retreat Preacher: Rev. Fr. Anil Thalakkottur CMI

This year Rev. Fr. Anil Thalakkottur CMI had obliged to be our retreat preacher. The members were beforehand given an idea about the Retreat Preacher (via correspondence th DP/194/2016 dated 30 November 2016) in a bid to assist their personal preparation and renewal in the course of the spiritual vacation (Retreat) with the Lord.
Fr. Anil Thalakkottur, a Religious Priest, belongs to the Congregation of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). Fr. Anil is a native of Kerala and at present serves as the Director of Vidyavanam Ashram. Vidyavanam Ashram is an Indian Christian Meditation Center situated in Bangalore, where people come for their personal/group retreat, renewal and Indian Ashram Experience.
He pursued for specialisation in Christian Spirituality from Madras University, Communication from the University of Philippines and Human Resource Management studies from Annamalai University. He has been directing retreats based on Indian Christian Spirituality, especially by using Yoga and Jesus Prayer traditions.
Fr. Anil explained that the emphasis of his retreat was on “Realizing the Inner Self ”, an inner journey towards the image of Jesus imprinted within us. The power of this image can renew, transform and transcend us. Those consecrated in a special way by the Divine Master are oriented during the course of his retreat to get strengthened and re-energized by experiencing this abiding presence through silence, breathing techniques and meditation.

Approaching Christian Mysteries with Eastern Methods
A need of the Hour …

- Fr. Anil Thalakkottur CMI

Recently I visited an ashram in Rishikesh that was managed by a foreign lady. We were about seven priests and were allowed to have a meeting with the Ashram Mathaji. In our meeting with her, she shared some of her thoughts about foreigners who visit holy places like Rishikesh and Haridwar. According to her many of the foreigners come to India, especially to Rishikesh and Haridwar to find an answer for their soul's thirst for the divine. Many of them are Christians and they are looking for a deeper divine experience. She added from her experience that they are really searching for a synthesis of Christian and Indian ways so that they could experience their Lord through Indian spiritual paths.
If we look into our own nation, we see, many of our young Catholics are into different Hindu ashrams in search of divine experience. After doing some yoga along with some breathing exercise, they feel that they are relaxed, stress is gone and refreshed. From my interactions with some of them, I could understand that they are regular to the church on Sundays.
They do it because of some external compulsion, to fulfill the obligation and 'please God'. But they go to those meditation centers and ashrams voluntarily to acquire peace of mind and happiness.
The sad part of this is many of the young people who search for divine experience fall into “false hands”. These false hands are gurus who are motivated by some material gains. They lead the true seekers of God to “spiritual fantasy” or “spiritual fictions”. These spiritual fantasies or fictions, like any scientific fictions, are very attractive and sense capturing. Spiritual fictions are more fascinating than scientific fictions since it deals with eternal things. These false gurus sell it and make money out of it. For example, if you read through many of the spiritual books on yoga, they just create an imaginary magical feeling. Ordinary people think that all these magical powers are at hand and spend their time and money going behind these things and finally get exhausted. Some even go to the extent of occult practices and lose their normal senses. Can we, the catholic religious leaders quench their thirst and guide them to the right path ?
In Christianity, we have the “treasure”. But it is still 'hidden in the field' for majority. Many of the believers know the treasure, but have never experienced it. That may be the reason why the church becomes a spiritual super market where people demand for particular material blessings and, sometimes even bzargain. I strongly believe that it is the duty of the religious leaders to expose the treasure in such a way that the common people may understand properly and experience it. The problem is not with the treasure, but the way it is exposed. It is very true that the western world is behind eastern spiritual methods for selfrealization. If that is the case, why can't our spiritual leaders go deeper into these eastern methods and use it for realizing the truth and to share it with the believers. I think it is the duty of the leaders to expose the treasure in a more appealing way through eastern spiritual ways like yoga, Jesus prayer, etc. It is a great challenge and responsibility. If we do not do it, the same thing that happened in some of the European countries will happen in India that is alienation of the church from the 'spiritual realm' of the people and be confined as a social and political force. Let us take up the challenge of presenting Christ by using our own spiritual means and make the believers realize Christian mysteries as an experiential reality.