let peace reign and rain everywhere...

She is Sunshine..!

 

‘Just living is not enough; one must have sunshine and freedom’.

These meaningful words of a Danish author H. Christian Andersen came to my mind when I met a dynamic woman in her early eighties who visits the sick in the hospitals of Mangaluru consoling and instilling hope in their broken lives. This morning I had the privilege to accompany her in her mission of visiting victims of Cancer in the Indiana Hospital of Mangaluru.

She was here in our Friary parlor asking for a priest who could administer the holy communion to one of the cancer patients at the hospital. I agreed to her request and prepared myself and traveled with her in the auto rickshaw to the hospital. While on the way to the hospital we only introduced ourselves, our work and ministry.

She’s Mrs. Tilly Peris, a resident of Nazareth Niwas, Bondel Parish who spends her time and energy driving away the shadows of sadness and instilling light and hope in the lives of sick, hopeless and lonely people. What surprised me was her energy, the confidence and faith in the Lord in spite of her own ill physical health.

It was a wonderful experience to see the smiling faces of people when she entered the wards and rooms. One of the patients even exclaimed with happiness, ‘our Sunshine is here!’ I was so glad to be there in the hospital and spread the positive energy along with Mrs. Tilly.

On our way back she shared quite a few concerns she has for the rich (materially) yet poor people who live a lonely life in Mangalore city. There are many elderly people in the city whose children live in far away foreign countries suffer from this sickness of loneliness. Mrs. Tilly, a widow who doesn’t have her own children is a proud mother of hundreds of lonely people. She says, ‘I never go to the parties and functions. People who invite me do so because of the formalities and they never miss me. I love visiting my poor lonely friends because they miss me’.

Though I met Mrs. Tilly only for an hour I’m filled and energized with her confidence and a strong will to visit and console the sick. She is really participating in  Christ’s mission of visiting and healing the sick. If I get a chance to meet and spend more time with her again I shall surely do so and share more details about her.

Eleanor Roosevelt the wife of the 32nd President of the United States of America  Franklin Roosevelt often said, 

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. 
Indeed Mrs. Tilly is a hope and light for many lives. May we learn from her. God bless and long live Mrs. Tilly. 

What type of people you like ?

What is your favorite food? 
What is your most-liked colour? 
What genre of books, movies or music you enjoy? These are a few questions that we all of us have encountered during our friendship-journey. We usually get closer to the people with these initial question-answer tests. 

Today one of my such friends with whom I have just begun the journey of friendship posed a beautiful yet a philosophical question. She asked me 'What type of people you like?' This question made me to think and reflect. For a moment I was silent. I remembered the people with whom I live presently. I started thinking about their behaviors that makes me comfortable to live with. I was also reminded of the unbecoming behavioral pattern of a few with whom I don't enjoy being around. 
After a while I answered her saying, 'I like the company of those people who are spontaneous, liberal, less fundamental, creative and so on'. She didn't reply immediately. After a few hours she said, 'guess I don't come in to that category of the people you like.'

We have a lot of ideals, likings, imaginations or preconceived notions that the people should behave according to our way of thinking or people should correspond to our individual interests. But in reality it's hard to achieve. Even though I desire the company of people with spontaneity, creativity or liberality I wouldn't be successful in making a living with them. 
Life is all about 'compatibility' and not much of 'equality'. We do need the attitude of equality but we also need to accept that we are an unique creation of God. Every person who comes in to our life either brings joy and happiness or teaches us the lessons for life. This whole creation exists and continues to exist due to its harmonious collaboration with each and every living and non living species. 
When we understand this dictum of life we continue to love and enjoy the company of every person we live with. 

A walk with a dog..!

A walk with a dog..!

Walking is a healthy habit. It keeps one in good health and shape. Though I enjoy walking I don't get it to do everyday because of my uncertain schedules. Today I made it a point to go on a longer walk. As I came back to my friary from the Lady Hill convent school after the retreat to the students I rested for a while and started my walking journey. 

As I was out of our friary gate I found a dog with only three legs. A feeling of empathy surrounded me and thus I  started talking to him in my language and he in turn responded in his language. The surprising thing was that he accompanied me up to Kadri Park, which is approximately 2 kilometres. From there I got into the park and walked about 6 kilometres on the walking path which took me almost 1 hour 10 minutes. Being tired I walked out of the park and for my surprise I found my three legged new friend waiting for my company. All my tiredness vanished away and with the spirit of joy and pride I walked with my new friend towards my friary. 
Felt blessed to receive the love and kindness from a dumb, handicapped yet a generous hearted animal.

Blessed and beautiful is the creation of God..!

Retreat in the school

Retreating the young minds...

It was an awesome day with the young students of Lady Hill convent School, Mangalore. Along with Fr Joy D'Souza, Capuchin I had the privilege to conduct a semi-spiritual retreat to the students of this convent school today. Rev Sr Leticia, AC the headmistress welcomed us. Sr Livia,AC along with other staff​ of the school helped us to make this day a memorable one to the students. 

Rev Fr Joy, Capuchin and Sr Levia, Ac

Rev Sr Leticia, Ac

Action songs

Tomorrow we will be concluding the retreat with the Eucharistic celebration in the evening.

A day at Moodubelle...

Last Saturday, that's on 18th of February 2017 I had the opportunity to attend the meeting of Formation commission of Karnataka Franciscan Capuchin Friars at Assisi Nivas, in Moodubelle town of  Udupi.

Moodubelle is a small and picturesque town located 13 Km from Udupi. This town is located between Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats of Karnataka in Udupi taluk.

Assisi Nivas is a beautiful formation house of Capuchin Friars where the PUC students reside and do their studies in Moodubelle Church PU college. Here below are a few snaps I clicked during the day...