Indian priest in Uruguay as missionary without borders

Montevideo: After 16 years of missionary life among the Garo and Khasi tribes of Meghalaya, a northeastern Indian state, I was invited to join our congregation’s universal mission. So, 2013, my superiors sent me to South America.

I am a member of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, commonly called the Claretian Missionary Fathers, founded by Saint Antony Mary Claret (1807-1870), in 1849 in Spain.

We are present in almost 70 countries engaged in various ministries.

I serve in the Claretian province of San Jose del Sur comprising Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

I spent first two years in Argentina and Paraguay to study Spanish, the common language of all South American countries except Brazil and get inculturated to the region.

India_MattersIndia_Fr Thoonickavil with Uruguay Catholics

It was really a challenge for me to merge in a church that is highly influenced by the liberation theology. Being grown up in an Oriental ritualistic culture it was difficult for me to adapt to a liberal Church where social justice is given more emphasis than sacramental life.

I realized that a missionary should carry only Jesus and his gospel and leave behind everything else.

The challenge of adaptation helped me realize that our evangelization needs to be a prophetic and liberating, in solidarity with those who suffer persecution, poverty and violation of human rights.

Every missionary has to help transform the world according to God’s plan, promoting an ethical and solidary culture that fosters human dignity and strengthens cooperation, peace and reconciliation among peoples. I realized that we have to go out in search of the poor and marginalized and to help them feel the Church as their home.

Pope Francis while addressing the Italian religious on September 30, 2019, told missionaries that by leaving behind their beloved native country they are proclaiming that with Christ there is always novelty in life, without boredom, fatigue, or sadness. “The missionary needs the joy of the Gospel: without this one cannot be on a mission, one does not proclaim a Gospel that does not attract.”

I humbly admit that I do not do wonders in my missionary ministry but feel happy and thank the Lord each time when a person could receive the grace of God through my ministry.

The joy of my life and ministry as a missionary lies in transmitting the love of God and the gospel values. Each Claretian missionary is to be a man on fire with love, who spreads its flames wherever he goes.

I pray every day for the people who are entrusted to my pastoral care that they may be filled with the grace of God through my presence and ministry.

Let me narrate something about the situation of the Church in Uruguay where I have been serving for five years for better understanding of the challenges of our ministry. The Catholic population is only 38 percent, atheists are 41 percent, other Christians 9 percent and others 12 percent

Uruguay’s Archdiocese of Montevideo where I am presently working is animated by Salesian Cardinal Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet, with his auxiliary bishops Luis Eduardo González Cedrés and Pablo Alfonso Jourdán Alvariza.

For two years, we are on a project named “Casa de todos” (“house of all”) to search for the lost brothers and sisters and invite them to be back in the Church.

This was in response to Pope Francis’ call to come out of the church doors and search our lost brothers and sisters. Our mission has received tremendous responses from all the parishes of the archdiocese. They organize various programs to reach out to the brethren in the streets, public spaces, parks and private houses inviting them to come back to the community to experience the grace of God.

As a missionary, I feel happy and satisfied with my present ministry of re-evangelizing in this region of the kingdom of God. I was at the peak of my missionary activities in northeastern India, when I was asked to leave my people whom I loved so much, and missions that I served with dedication. It was difficult and painful, but remembered Abraham, who was called to leave his place and all that he had to go to an unknown place. This strengthened me to accept God’s call to be a missionary in this part of the world.

Our founder has invited us to embrace sacrifices, smile at slander, and rejoice in all the torments and sorrows and to give glory in the cross of Jesus. He himself was a great missionary in Cuba and his spirit animates me to live my missionary life to its fullness.