MEMORIES OF THE EIGHTH NATIONAL YOUTH CONVENTION

Here are some thoughts that came to my mind after being present for the unforgettable closing ceremonies of NYC-8 here in Shillong...

• The numbers were stunning - a vast ocean of humanity congregated in the area around Calvary, near the grotto, around the Cathedral, on the roads and in the gardens, along the hill-side and any which way you looked...but for those who have attended the Annual Eucharistic Procession here in Shillong, most present were witnessing for the first time such a massive crowd for a Eucharistic celebration...
• As usual the general tenor of devotion and recollection was never lost - there was a variety of dances and the cultural diversity of the North-east was aptly on display - but nothing could take away from the solemnity and decorum that befits the celebration of the Eucharist...
• An outstanding choir bridged the gap between contemporary music and the rendering of some classical Latin chants (in their English equivalents)...
• The apostolic nuncio Rev. Salvatore Pennacchio spoke beautifully in his homily inviting the youth and all present to be "grounded in faith" that is "nourished by prayer" in order to be "witnesses to the world". He definitely hit the right notes judging from the impact his words had on the young people gathered for the Eucharist...
  
• The weather was fantastic - a cloud cover ensured that none would be tortured under the burning sun...and in the afternoon when nothing could dampen the spirits - the heavens poured out their cooling showers...
• The cultural extravaganza that followed the lunch was a veritable feast for the eyes and the heart...The different north-eastern states provided glimpses of their rich heritage...There were speeches, too, and among the more memorable was that of Smt. Agatha Sangma, one of the youngest ministers of the Union Cabinet, who exhorted her contemporaries to a lived faith which would lead to making India a better place...
• The crowd remained rooted to their places till the very end of the program which culminated in a prayerful benediction service and the handing over of the Cross to the Diocese of Jullunder - hosts of the next youth gathering...
• I am certain that the entire concluding ceremony will be remembered fondly by all those present for a long time to come...It was testimony to a faith that has transformed the world based on the person of Jesus Christ...and the story goes on as the young people of today carry forward the mission of liberating the world...
• Needless to say - we raise a prayer of thanks to God for this fantastic experience we have had and give a rousing applause to all those who made it all happen...
• God bless all of you! ------- Kublei shibun!!!
  

YOUTH AND FUN - PART TWO

On 19 September we had another Youth Fest - this time for the other tribes of the Northeast - many of whom interact with our brothers every Sunday. Another wonderful time of togetherness when we reflected together on how God's word can make a difference in our lives...Here is a detailed report and here are some pictures of the event...

THE FACE OF THE ‘MISSION’ TODAY…

What is the mission in the North-east really like? That is a question I have been longing to seek an answer to. When one looks at the institutional development in a city it is hard to fathom what the reality was before the missionaries came. Well, yesterday I had a chance to see first-hand what it must have been like as I took a trip to one of the oldest mission stations of Meghalaya – Mawkyndeng. The journey began early (5:30 am) and luck was on our side as the traffic was light on an otherwise busy road. We were in Jowai by 7:30 and at our destination by 8:15 – The regulars were shocked at how little time it had taken us to reach. They are used to more like 5 hours on the road.

The 'mission' compound is almost a self-contained unit, centred on education with a plethora of schools both formal and non-formal. The parish church is at the very centre of things (literally and metaphorically). There are two large boardings (one for girls run by the FMAs and the other for boys under the care of the SDBs). The school buildings give one the impression of solidity and seriousness. Even though it was a school holiday, one could see many children around the place. There is also a little pond and other structures that ensure safety and security to the compound. The greenery all around bears witness to a native ecological sensitivity that pre-dates our own feeble efforts on the issue today.Being at the mission to animate a recollection, I did not have much time to go around but I was impressed by the pioneering vision of those who chose this rather isolated and difficult terrain as the locus of a new 'kingdom'. They brought well-being and peace, they brought education and development. They strove hard in the face of unimaginable difficulties but never gave up. God bless them for their courage and God bless those to who continue the 'mission' there (and in other territory) that would daunt the faint-hearted.

Returning back after sunset on the journey home, I was lost in thought and my mind was filled with gratitude for the work done. So many sons and daughters of the soil now labor to bring the same message of peace and development, of well-being and education in other parts of the state of Meghalaya, in other parts of India and some even in other areas of the world. The fire that has been lit in 1882 now burns on - not just in the physical structures, but more especially in the hearts and minds of those who have been 'lit' and now carry the light onward.

YOUTH AND FUN…

This certainly seems to be a strange title to a blog entry but I could not help thinking that the two have come to be linked inextricably. And this Sunday it was played out before my eyes, when we had about 700 young people on our campus to celebrate the Annual Youth Fest that is hosted by our students of theology. These young people ranging in age from 15 to 25, are part of the 21 parish youth groups animated by our brothers every sunday. They are in college or working or somewhere in between these two phases. Many were here for the first time and it was evident that they had a good time.

At the inaugural session the Bible was enthroned and they were exhorted to "Live the Word – Liberate the World" both by the Word itself and then by our own local MLA and Minister of Urban Affairs – Mr. Founder Cajee. The latter, though not a Catholic, spoke in glowing terms of what he had learned from the Catholic Church, exhorting the youth to courageously live the values they are being taught. Then followed an interesting audio-visual presentation on some youth problems viz. drug addiction, sexual permissiveness and media indoctrination. Each young person present was challenged to bring light to the world rather than to curse the darkness. By mid-morning we were ready to enter into the Eucharistic celebration that was presided over by Fr. Sylvanus Nongkindrih. He used some real life situations to bring home the need that all Christians have to encounter the Word of God especially by reading and studying the Bible. After much food for thought – it was time to give some food to the bodies and so the youth gathered in different parts of the campus to enjoy a tasty meal prepared by some of the brothers along with the help of some volunteers.

During lunch many also had an opportunity to look at some of the interesting charts prepared on the theme: "Live the Word – Liberate the World". Some had also participated in an essay competition and submitted their entries which were evaluated and honoured with prizes. With a hectic morning over it was time to move to the more evidently fun part – the cultural program. It was now the turn of the youth to share with their peers their 'take' on the theme. And so they used song and dance to present the relevance of the theme to their lives and to simultaneously showcase their abundant talent. This was duly noted and complimented by our two important guests - Mr. Bindo Lanong (Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya) and Mr. A Hek (MLA) - both of whom encouraged the young to build their own future with hard work and social commitment.

While a great deal happened on the stage, it was evident that there was also another very enthusiastic group keeping the young people rocking as they swayed to the rhythm of the music between the various items. It was fun time and dance time…and it made the 4 hour-cultural pageant pass by in a breeze.

Before we knew it was time to close shop and to part ways. But not before we had time to share a few words to tell each other how much we had learned during the day and to promise our presence next year for the next youth fest. The brothers had a tiring day – on their feet coordinating the various parts of the program and looking after all the logistics that come with keeping a crowd of 700 alive, active and enthusiastic. That their efforts were well-rewarded was borne out by the happy and grateful faces of the young people who had enjoyed some fun moments and been motivated to 'live the Word and liberate the world' around them.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE

We dedicated our evening prayer yesterday to remembering and praying for our two young men who died tragically in the accident near Boko, Assam - Fr. Rajesh Ekka and Cl. Vijay Toppo. The service presided over by Fr. George Maliekal, our Rector included some very poignant moments. The reading from the Book of Wisdom seemed to take on a life of its own when we listened to the words:

"The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect."

There were also some touching testimonies of two brothers who had lived with Rajesh and Vijay. They noted Rajesh's deep commitment to his vocation and his determination to serve the Lord "come what may" and Vijay's "transparency" before God and man. Hymns like "Abide with me" and "God be with you till we meet again" were sung by our community as we recalled these two brothers, now resting in the Lord.

Truly we are shocked and now all that remains is to wait in silence on the Lord as he comforts us in our deep sorrow. He, who commended himself to the Father as he hung upon the cross, is challenging us to commend our brothers to his care. "Lord, help us surrender to you always, even when our reason tells us it is pointless. You are the true meaning of all our lives. In you alone we will find fulfillment and true joy."

THE LORD HAS TAKEN TWO MORE TO HIMSELF

It has been another very sad day for us here at SHTC, in the province of Guwahati and for all SDBs the world over.

Late last night two young SDBs – Fr. Rajesh Ekka (ordained in January this year) and Cl. Vijay Toppo (perpetually professed on 23 May this year) along with two others were killed in a tragic accident on their way from Guwahati to Tura (the community to which they belonged). Few details are available about what exactly transpired.

The shock is palpable among the Salesians of SHTC, Mawlai. Both, Rajesh and Vijay have companions among our 90 odd brothers. They had lived with each other in the past years in different communities and everyone has a touching story to tell.

For now we can only surrender in faith to the Will of God. The Lord gives, the Lord takes away – Blessed be the name of the Lord…

WHY DID SHE KILL HERSELF?

Today was one of those days I would love to forget. We went to visit the family of a young woman who had committed suicide early this morning. It is hard to fathom why a person would resort to this drastic act in a tribal culture where the family support system is still strong.

Could it be the influence of an all-pervasive media that has 'normalised' this behavior (suicide is less reprehensible than homicide?) or is it the downside of urbanization making its way into a well-knit society and sorely testing the coping skills of everyone? Hard to say but the look on the faces of her father and mother, her brothers and sisters, her nieces and nephews shows incomprehension and deep pain.

We need to sit down and examine what is going wrong, before we help one another by providing the suitable ambient to discuss and handle tension and distress in ways that are growth-enhancing, responsible and effective. Faith and already existing support systems can help.