New Delhi: A group of Catholics, both married and single, has been leading a different kind of community life for more than two decades in India. Their community is known as Santvana’ (consolation).

They were inspired to adopt the name after an incident. In 1995, some of them had to attend to a woman dying of burn wounds. As they were caring for her, the woman kept repeating the word ‘Santvana’ as she prayed for divine intervention.

That experience gave the group to launch a mission of consolation. The website of Santvana says it is a registered charitable Society founded with the purpose of building a culture of love, for restoring human dignity where it has been deprived and bringing consolation and healing to the needy and suffering people.

Santvana community also has some physically challenged persons and people of different walks of life and professions. They all live in communion. The members are full time volunteers who, had earlier worked as teachers, advocates, artists, social workers, and other professionals.

The Santvana community recently held its General Chapter. The chapter elected its new Servant Leader and the council to lead the community for the next four years. The new team members are Bro. Jeevan Kumar (Servant Leader), Mr. Alexy Pallan (assistant servant leader), Mrs. Sali Santhosh (Secretary) and Sr. Reena Kujur.

Alexy Pallan, the assistant servant leader, shared with Matters India the history of their community and what it has been doing all these years. Excerpts:

MATTERS INDIA: What were the major topics and issues discussed at the latest chapter?

The Chapter of ‘Santvana Community of Disciples’ takes place once in 4 years. The theme of our General Chapter 2016 was ‘Strengthening Community Life and Organizational set up for the Effective Mission.’ The main discussions were on that theme. Emphasis was given to Community, Spirituality of the community and the Mission of the Community.

During this Chapter we had special discussions about the amendments and modifications required in the Statues of the community. Every General Chapter will have the election of the new Servant Leader and the council.

Did the latest chapter decide on some action plans?

During this Chapter the focus was on amendments, corrections and modifications of the ‘Statues’ of the Community.

In the face of fast changing socio-religious and political scenario of our country the community realized the need to deepen its rootedness in the infinite love and mercy of God in order to face the latest challenges. Therefore main focus of discussion was how God’s love and mercy manifested in Jesus Christ could be assimilated in our own lives, and be made available for all people and the entire creation.

Santvana has initiated a campaign to pray for God’s blessings upon the nation and divine consolation (Santvana) for all who suffer in any way. Presently there are more than 500 people daily praying for India. While those who are in the network pray and offer spiritual sacrifices daily for a particular a state and for the various needs of that state, a Bishop or a priest from that state offers Holy Eucharist for the same intention. We had also organized a National Prayer Journey in a Jeep through all the states of India in October 2015. In May this year another prayer journey- ‘Pilgrimage of Mercy’ was organized visiting every cathedral in Kerala and praying for God’s mercy.

One of the major concerns of the community was the irreparable harm being done to the Earth threatening the bio-diversity and ultimately human society itself. The first and the worst victims are the marginalized. First action that was proposed is to study the document “Laudato Si” to create awareness so as to bring about a change of attitude among the members. The chapter decided to speed up efforts to build a Santvana Village in Kerala to experiment an environment friendly life style. The work was started two years ago on a `1.5 acre land in Thrissur. It was held up due to various difficulties.

In its early stages all the members of the community lived in one place which enabled the members to have a deeper bonding with each other. But now as we have spread out our ministries to different places we felt the need to look for different ways to maintain the mutual relationship. In view of strengthening our mutual bond community we have decided to have frequent coming together at regional levels and at least twice a year at national level, for sharing and fellowship to strengthen our mission.

Tell us more about your community? How did it all start?

In 1989, Indian Missionary Society Father Dheeraj Sabu, who is the founder and the Shepherd of the community, had a spiritual experience along with a divine mandate to prepare the laity to participate in the mission of the Church. Since it was not a work of his aptitude, he remained confused and hesitant not knowing what to do about it. By the continued divine interventions a small team came into existence in 1992 which gradually developed and in 2000 became a community called ‘Santvana.’ God consoles his people; “Console, console my people” (Isaiah.40:1); The God and Father of all comfort, “comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1, 4).

Santvana is a community of Disciples of Jesus Christ, consisting of missionary families (couples with their children); missionary brothers and sisters (consecrated); and Clergy living as one community recognizing each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, each with the same call to holiness.

In 2003, the community received canonical approval as an Association of the Faithful in the Archdiocese of Delhi. It has centers in the Archdioceses of Delhi, Agra and the Diocese of Kottappuram in Kerala.

Why was such a community started?

The community came into existence in response to the Lord’s call to focus on “prayer and proclamation of the Word,” by being witnesses to the Lord in the modern world and to bring divine consolation to the needy through Eucharistic Adoration and prayer of intercession.

Another important aim of the community is to motivate and enable the faithful to participate in the mission of the Church. “The need for all the faithful to share the Gospel is the right and duty based on their baptismal dignity, whereby “the faithful participate, for their part, in the threefold mission of Christ as Priest, Prophet and King.” Therefore, “they are bound by the general obligation and they have the right, whether as individuals or in associations, to strive so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all people throughout the world” (RedemptorisMissio. 71).

What has the community done in the past 15 years?

The community has been conducting 30 days training programs for catechists and other animators serving in the mission parishes of northern India to equip them for their apostolate.

It also:

• Conducts life orientation programs for the youth, to deepen their faith journey.

• Organizes Mission Exposure trips for the faithful from the traditional Christian communities to different mission stations.

• Manages Santvana Sahara as an integral development program for the underprivileged children and women. There are 232 children being empowered through this service.

• Manages LifeSchool – Santvana Neighborhood Homeschools for the faith formation of children, mostly for the children of the Community and its associates. It is an initiative of the community where two or more families together homeschools their children as a Neighbourhood homeschool to help the parents ensure the integral formation of their children. Vision of Lifeschool: To enable a child to grow up like Jesus, advancing in ‘wisdom and age, and favor before God and man’. It is an effort to create an environment, conducive to the formation of every child, focusing on God’s purpose, child’s own uniqueness and her/his future role for the good of the society, especially as a responsible steward of the creation.

• Manages two centers for perpetual Adoration and intercessory prayers, one in Delhi and the other in Kerala. Many people from different parts of the country call to these Adoration centers in moments of stress and need.

• Organizes prayer campaign for Rise India mission with social media groups such as WhatsApp

• Conducts National Prayer Journey and State wise Prayer Journey

Who are the community members?

Members are those who have taken commitment for life. Right now the community has 11 regular members (full time members) who have taken vows of the Evangelical councils of Poverty, Chastity (Conjugal Chastity for couples) and Obedience. These consist of three Missionary couples with their children; two missionary brothers and three missionary sisters. One of the couple members is doing the Post Graduate course on Marriage and Family at ‘Cana’ John Paul II Institute, Changanacherry (Kerala).

Members with temporary commitment: There are one couple and two missionary brothers under formation who have taken temporary commitment for two years. There are seventeen children in the community belonging to four couples. The Couple members are doing Theology studies (B.Th.) at Jyothirbhavan Theological Institute, Kalamassery (Kerala).

Missionary Disciples is another level of commitment, which also consists of couples and single members. It is a new development of the Community which began about three years ago. Missionary Disciples stay in their own houses and while continuing with their profession finds time to participate in the mission of the community. They support the community with their prayers and contributions. Presently there are 19 missionary disciples and their number is gradually increasing. They witness to Christ and function as leaven in the secular world.

How do the married members and those with religious vows live in the community? Are there any problems?

Considering the uniqueness of different lifestyle the members will belong to four different categories – Missionary Sisters, Missionary Brothers and Missionary Couples and Clerics. Such different categories are formed to ensure the psycho-spiritual growth of each category of persons. However these different categories all belong to the same community and they come together for certain common spiritual and community exercises as well as for ministries whenever required. There are certain houses exclusively for the sisters, certain houses for the brothers and certain common houses where Missionary Families and consecrated persons live together. Whenever misunderstandings/conflicts arise either between individuals or groups of families, they sit together for sharing and reconciliation. Our commitment to the spirituality of Prem Marg (Path of Love) demands not to leave any conflicts buried within but to look for ways to arrive at reconciliation.

Spirituality of the Community?

The spirituality of Prem Marg or the Path of Love which is a conscious effort and commitment to live the New Commandment. The traditional Indian Spirituality mentions various ‘Margas,’ paths that lead a person to attain ‘moksha’ (‘Bhakti Marg, Jnana Marg). Prem Marg is a spirituality that is rooted in both Indian and the New Testament traditions.

The Sacred Scripture reveals God as Love; “God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ex 34, 6) Jesus Christ is the face of the father’s mercy. Mercy has become living and visible in Jesus. As disciples our call is receive his mercy and to fix our gaze on him to learn to be merciful, for love is the only means to know God. The Sacred Scripture says: “He who does not love does not know God; for God is love” (1 Jn. 4: 8).

Lord Jesus said to his disciples; “I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13: 34-35). The new commandment challenges us to become channels of the Divine Mercy for all people in this world and for the entire creation. Our spirituality of Prem – Marg is a conscious commitment to keep on in the path of love in spite of struggles and trials.

Prem Marg has four dimensions. The spiritual dimension is to “love the Lord God with all your heart” (Mk. 12: 30), by aspiring whole heartedly for an ever deepening participation in the Trinitarian communion. The communitarian dimension is to strive to live the mystery of the Holy Trinity in our small community by being compassionate, forgiving and caring for the sisters and brothers. Community is the nursery of love. The social dimension is the overflow of the experience of the Love of God lived in one’s own community to the wider human society by becoming face of God’s Mercy for all people. The ecological dimension of Prem Marg demands a change of attitude, to think of the whole Earth as the common home of all living beings. It calls us to widen the horizon of our minds to assume responsibility to care for the Earth, to be good and compassionate to all creatures just as “The LORD is good to all, compassionate to every creature” (Psalm 145: 8).

What are the roles of the Servant leader and his team?

The leader of the whole community will be called the Servant Leader who is to be elected by the Chapter consisting of all the regular members as per the statutes of the Community. The Shepherd has to confirm the election. A council of four elected members will assist the Servant Leader in the governance of the community. One of the councilors is to be chosen to serve as the assistant Servant Leader. The Servant Leader has power of governance over the entire Community. He/she exercises it according to the Statutes and Bylaws and the directives of the Chapter and with the assistance of the Council and in consultation with the Shepherd. The recent Chapter elected Bro. Jeevan Kumar to serve the community as the Servant Leader for the next four years.

What are the roles of the Shepherd?

Ordinarily the role of the Shepherd will be that of a spiritual animator and guide. By guiding/animating the Servant Leader and his council he ensures that the community functions according to the doctrines, teachings, and the Statutes of the Community. Daily offering prayers and intercession for the Servant Leader, administrative team and the entire community is his responsibility as the Shepherd. As an empathetic listener he does whatever possible to foster unity and smooth functioning of the administrative team.

Are there similar communities in the world?

There are many.

There is an organization called ‘Fraternity of Catholic Charismatic Communities and fellowships in Rome functioning under the Pontifical Council for the Laity. There are more than 160 member communities from different parts of the world in this organization including Santvana. In India, most known community is Jesus Youth, and then there are ICPE an international community and Neo-Catechumenate, Jeevan Jyoti Koinonia John the Baptist Community etc.

Santvana is a missionary community and presents a Family Face of the Church. As Pope John Paul II had observed; “To make the Church the home and the school of communion: that is the great challenge facing us in the millennium…, if we wish to be faithful to God’s plan and respond to the world’s deepest yearnings” (John Paul II, Novo MillennioInuente IV, 43).