By Santosh Digal
Manila, April 29, 2020: An Indian Vincentian priest is left alone in a major seminary in Ethiopia, Africa, due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
“I was supposed to return to my province, India, by the end of June after completing my classes in Philosophy and theological institute. However, due to the Corona pandemic, I am uncertain when I will be able to return to my country,” Father Mathew Nayak, a member of Congregation of the Missions, told Matters India through email.
The Indian priest is the rector of St. Paul’s Major Seminary, Kolfe Karenyo, Tero, Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
All seminary staff and seminary staff have left the place because of the health crisis just like in many parts of the world.
“I wish everything comes back to normalcy at the earliest possible time. Sometimes it becomes a nightmare as I am alone in the seminary,” said Father Nayak who went to Ethiopia as a formator, in 2017, on a sabbatical from Odisha state in eastern India.
Since then he has served as the rector of the major seminary of his congregation in Addis Ababa, as well as teacher of philosophy in the Capuchin Institute of Philosophy and Theology.
His return to India was delayed after two Vincentian bishops appealed the congregation’s Ethiopia provincial to prolong the Indian’s service. “I was requested by the Ethiopian provincial to help them as the rector,” added Father Nayak, an educationist.
He and the Vincentian seminarians then went to St. Paul’s Major Seminary on October 3, 2019. It was the first time the Vincentian seminarians stayed with those studying to become diocesan priests.
Father Abraham Solomon, a local Vincentian, assisted him as the vice rector and bursar of the seminary.
St. Paul’s Major Seminary established in 1993 belongs to Nekempt Vicariate. But the present new building where they live now is adjacent to the old seminary built in 2001. The new building houses seminarians of Nekempte as well as Jimma-Bonga vicariates.
“I am the first rector of the inter diocesan as well as congregation since October 2019,” Father Nayak explained.
The seminar has 13 seminarians this year for philosophy as well as theology. Two priests: one is rector; the other assistant rector and bursar; the third one a permanent deacon, serve as the spiritual director of the seminarians.
The seminary stopped classes on March 15 because of the coronavirus epidemic. “We had to send the seminarians to their respective homes from March 27 onwards,” Father Nayak said.
A few days after the seminarians left, Deacon Thomas, an Indian, went with Vincentian Bishop Varghese Thottamkara of Nekemte vicariate, to the bishop’s residence.
“My assistant priest, Father Abraham Solomon too left for home on April 9,” Father Nayak added.
There are three women workers, for cooking and cleaning the seminary. Two were sent home.
“I have no problem to stay alone. I do my normal duties. I consider it a blessing to be alone. I got a lot of time to compose liturgical hymns both in Amharic as well as in Odiya,” said Father Nayak, a noted poet, lyricist and musician.
“I have almost completed composing lyrics as well as music for two liturgical audio CDs on the title: ‘The Year of the Word of God-2020,’ to be published as soon as the lockdown is over,” he said.
The Ethiopian government has declared for five months of emergency except for schools, colleges, certain private and international offices and places of worship. Most government offices and business centers are open. People still openly move about and do their business as usual in the capital, the Indian priest said.
According to the government report, Ethiopia had only a few deaths from Covid-19 cases, and less than 200 positive cases. The situation seems better than many other countries so far, Father Nayak said.
He said classes were not completed in the institute. The reopening is still unpredictable. Therefore, he now debates if he should leave without completing his classes in both the institutes or stay back to complete them.
“I hope, things will improve soon and I would go back to India,” he added.