By Jose Kavi*
New Delhi, April 7, 2020: Catholic parish priests in India say the nationwide lockdwon has given them new insights to their role as pastors while seeking new ways to retain their smell of sheep.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 announced a 21-day lockdown for the entire country from the midnight that day as part of the government’s efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic that has the world at its deadly grip.
How do parish priests in the Catholic Church address this unprecedented period? Matters India spoke to a few diocesan parish priests in various parts of the country to find how they tackle the lockdown period.
Like their countrymen, the lockdown had caught most Catholic parish priests in India off guard. What makes them sad is that they cannot be with their people in the Lenten season, Christianity’s most sacred period that coincides with lockdown.
They are dismayed that they have to conduct the April 5-12 Holy Week services in empty churches, like their counterparts in other countries. But all seem resigned to God’s will that allowed the virus outbreak and the lockdown.
“I was frightened and anxious when the lockdown was announced,” admits Father Pabitra Badset of St. John Church, Nayagargh, a remote parish in the eastern Indian state of Odisha.
Similarly Father Maria Susai of St. Thomas Church in the national capital’s R. K Puram parish experienced “a mix of fear, worry, anxiety and tension” as “nobody was sure what would happen.” His is worried about people contracting the virus as well as the availability of essential commodities for the poor. Uncertainty over the lockdown duration too makes him anxious.
But Father Shyju Xavier of Mother Teresa Church in Delhi’s Indraprastha Extension area was prepared for the government taking strict measures to tackle Covid-19. “My only worry was about a few parishioners who are daily laborers. They have no money to buy food or medicine.” His worry was eased when the Missionaries of Charity Sisters started distributing food to such people.
Father Charles Irudayam of Kalladithidal in Sivangangai diocese in Tamil Nadu too agrees the necessity of the lockdown but shares the concern for the daily wagers. The world renowned retreat preacher is also worried that some of his parishioners might get exposed to the virus. But his greatest worry is to leave his people without their shepherd during the Holy Week.
Another priest in Tamil Nadu, Father Devasagaya Raj M Zackarias of Our Lady of Periyanayagi Shrine, Konankuppam, finds the lockdown too long. “But it is needed for the good of the country and its people.” He says a Marian shrine attached to his parish used to attract thousands of pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, besides Tamil Nadu, during the Lent. “Man plans one thing and God has His own way,” he says resignedly after canceling several programs planned during the Lent.
Father Jose Pulickal of the Cathedral parish in West Bengal’s Krishnagar diocese too is worried about the poor. “How will they manage,” says the priest who feels helpless because of the lockdown. “Life is important, we shall make sacrifice for the love of life. I will cooperate; let me not be a cause for someone else’s suffering,” he adds.
Loneliness?
Father Zackarias says staying alone is nothing new for a diocesan priest. “Diocesan priests in remote villages are used to isolation and we know what is to be quarantined,” he says. According to him, a parish priest would be lost if he thinks he is lonely. “If they make use of the time properly they can win over the loneliness, he said and suggested reading, writing and some hobbies to beat boredom.
Father Ginto K Tom of the Noida Syro-Malabar parish and the public relations officer of the Faridabad diocese that covers the national capital, misses his people but the presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle removes his loneliness. “When Jesus is there I am not alone,” he adds.
Loneliness does not affect Father Xavier, a self-proclaimed introvert. He spends time reading, watching YouTube channels, praying and cooking new dishes. Although he misses the Sunday crowd, prayers help him unite with the Universal Church. “I am also in touch with the poor people. We have prepared a list of people who need help. We plan to give them grocery items.” He also posts daily readings, reflections and prayers in the parish WhatsApp group.
Father Susai misses meeting parishioners in the church, visiting the sick and others in need in their homes. He offers private Mass daily and telecasts the Sunday liturgy live through YouTube and Facebook. “We have daily special prayer and adoration for the present situation,” he explains.
The virtual world also keeps Father Tom to link with his people. He conducts online competitions for children, adoration of Blessed Sacrament and reciting rosary with the parishioners. He is available online if his people require his help. “I try my best to make my people feel that they are not alone during this crisis.” The lockdown has given him an opportunity to understand deeper meaning of life.
Father Badset beats loneliness by phoning friends, relatives and parishioners. He also updates with the news and conducts Mass and other services and engages in gardening, cleaning the house and surroundings.
Father Mukti Minj of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Church, Danto in Hazaribag diocese of Jharkhand state, too celebrates Mass daily, recites Rosary and says morning and evening prayers, but strictly adheres to the social distancing norms.
Father Irudayam also cleans the house, rearranges books and personal things, goes for walk inside the campus and engages in gardening. He watches news in Tamil and English to update about the virus. He too phones priest friends, relatives and others. “We console each other and share daily practices to remain safe at this time.”
Father Zackarias uses the time to finish the parish accounts. “As it is the end of the financial year we had enough and more time to complete our accounts,” says the priest who too reads books, attends phone calls and renews old friendships. “I have enough time to sit in the Church and pray. There is time to think about the meaning of life and the relationship with God as well as with the people,” he says.
Offering Mass alone
Father Xavier, who stopped public Mass on March 20, says it makes him sad not to be with his people.
Father Susai experiences a kind of void especially on Sundays. “We have to abide with the law of the nation for the betterment of humanity,” he says.
Father Tom is dismayed at the suspension of public Masses. “It is a new experience for me. I offer Mass also for all those affected by COVID 19.” The last public Mass in his parish was on March 19, the feast of St. Joseph.
Father Badset stopped public Mass on March 22, but finds no problem as the parish has only a few faithful. “Four nuns joins me in Mass now. So, it is okay.”
Father Irudayam, who stopped public Masses on March 23, now offers Mass with three nuns in his parish. “Being a parish priest, I too feel sorry to offer Masses without the people.”
Father Zackarias, his assistant and a deacon live stream private Mass. Since several Catholic families live in three streets next to the church, they use loudspeakers to help people listen to their private Mass from their homes. “Thus we do not feel that we are offering Mass alone but with the people.”
Father Irudayam too announces ways to remain safe, instruct people to follow the directions of the Pope and their bishop. “It is easy for me to use outdoor audio horns to be in touch around 150 families in my main station. To other substations, I call village leaders to instruct them how to be always united with the Church.”
Father Susai has advised his Delhi parishioners to spend at least one-hour in prayer at their homes and access spiritual materials online.
Father Badset too calls his parishioners to inquire about the experience and need. “I try to help them in whatever way possible,” he adds.
Father Bipin Majhi of the Exaltation of the Cross parish in Odisha Bihabandh, says he feels helpless when the parishioners request for Sacraments.
Father Minj advises his parishioners to conduct family prayers and recite Rosaries.
Some priests such as Father Mathew Mullapally of St Joseph’s Church in Pottenplavu under the Tellicherry archdiocese has pasted photos of every family in his parish on the pews to help him experience their presence during his private Mass.
Precautions against Covid-19
The priests are also serious about taking precautions.
Father Zackarias and his team strictly follow the instructions from the federal and state governments and the guidelines of their regional bishops’ council.
They started giving Communion on hands before the bishops’ conference asked priests to stop giving it on tongues. They removed holy water, stopped shaking hands and started using sanitizers before communion distribution.
Father Tom too practices social distancing and use sanitizers. “Above all I entrust everything to God.”
Future of Church
Will the lockdown wean the faithful away from the Church?
Father Xavier says some parishioners had raised apprehensions that people would stop feel the need to come to the church once the pandemic. “I refuse to subscribe to this. On the contrary, people will come in strength,” he asserts and adds many have called him to say they miss coming to the church. “People have started to pray more as they feel the need for God in their lives. This is the time given by God to introspect our lives.
Father Susai too is not worried losing people after the pandemic. “We have to wait until everything get better. But now, at this moment of great despair and trouble everyone knows that it is the hope and faith in God that would save the whole humanity.”
Father Tom says the lockdown would make people realize more the value of Mass and other Sacraments. “We realize the real value of something when we don’t get it,” he explains.
Father Badset too says the lockdown has drawn people to God and realize the importance of Sunday Mass.
Father Irudayam is confident people would return to the church after the pandemic. “Their faith might be deepened by this lockdown. People will realize that they need God’s protection and blessings. Money, intelligence and science could not help anyone.”
Father M Zackarias says his people are going through “the desert experience” in spirituality. “More people will turn to the Church when it is normal. I could see the thirst in the people to deepen their faith, to participate in the Mass through mass media and social media. There is more sharing of the Word. People learn how to pray together at home. The family prayer which was forgotten has been revived.”
(Santosh Digal, Lissy Maruthanakuzhy and Jessy Joseph have contributed to this story.)