Hi to everyone.....
“I was doing my class five”..... i remember....i was on my way home after the school, i met a relative of ours. The whole village was one family...all were related. I did not wish her nor did i answer her when she called. She was very upset and reported the matter to my parents. My parents too were very upset with my behaviour. My fault was i did not say a ‘hello’ to that relative of ours.That day I learnt a lesson to say ‘hello’ to all whom I knew.
It is rather in other parts of the world. People wish each other before beginning business, in the shop, in the hotel, in the bus, in the tram, in the train...everywhere. It is interesting and inspiring. Hello, hi, how are you? How is today? Good day...and more....
It is a sign that we acknowledge and appreciate others presence.
It is a sign that i do not ignore any body.
It is a sign that we mean good to them
What a simple gesture, with a deep meaning of relationships!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
MY FIRST SUNDAY MASS
MY FIRST SUNDAY MASS....
It was my second day and it was a Sunday. As a good priest(!) I enquired the details of Sunday Mass. There was no community mass. A priest who was guiding me told me he has mass in a nearby chapel and said that I join him. I was happy. The next day on our way he said that I can concelebrate with him, and added saying that there is no meaning that you stand nearby and say nothing. (also because I did not know the language). Later he told me that there is no concelebration in this part of the world. One celebrates the mass and all the others just attend the mass.
We reached the chapel and it was huge church where they can accommodate about 2000 people with chairs. The sacristan was busy arranging and lighting all the candles about 30 in three alters, the Organist was playing the hymns for the mass and two choir members (ladies) practising the hymns. “It is going to be a great celebration” I said to myself. The Priest and I were the first ones to reach and we were waiting for the rest of the congregation. At 10.00 am there were about 40 people we were near the altar not even quarter of the church filled. And I was the youngest in the congregation and I am only forty years old. The celebration was great in a country where secularism is the law.
The next Sunday I was asked to celebrate the Sunday mass for the community where we would expect about 10 people. I prepared with a good sermon, written ofcourse, it is expected here. As usual I was the first to reach. Later two people came in. It was a bright sunny day which is rare here. After a while one of them said that others would not come since it was a sunny day. So I celebrated the mass for three. We were only three till the end.
Nobody talks of religion. The country was once a Catholic country. Now it is s protestant country. But practically nobody pays attention to religion. There are huge churches all over the country. They are all monuments of the nation which invite tourists and are open on Saturdays and Sundays for the visitors. Some are being reconstructed for meeting Halls for the city.
GOOD GOD WHERE ARE YOU?....
It was my second day and it was a Sunday. As a good priest(!) I enquired the details of Sunday Mass. There was no community mass. A priest who was guiding me told me he has mass in a nearby chapel and said that I join him. I was happy. The next day on our way he said that I can concelebrate with him, and added saying that there is no meaning that you stand nearby and say nothing. (also because I did not know the language). Later he told me that there is no concelebration in this part of the world. One celebrates the mass and all the others just attend the mass.
We reached the chapel and it was huge church where they can accommodate about 2000 people with chairs. The sacristan was busy arranging and lighting all the candles about 30 in three alters, the Organist was playing the hymns for the mass and two choir members (ladies) practising the hymns. “It is going to be a great celebration” I said to myself. The Priest and I were the first ones to reach and we were waiting for the rest of the congregation. At 10.00 am there were about 40 people we were near the altar not even quarter of the church filled. And I was the youngest in the congregation and I am only forty years old. The celebration was great in a country where secularism is the law.
The next Sunday I was asked to celebrate the Sunday mass for the community where we would expect about 10 people. I prepared with a good sermon, written ofcourse, it is expected here. As usual I was the first to reach. Later two people came in. It was a bright sunny day which is rare here. After a while one of them said that others would not come since it was a sunny day. So I celebrated the mass for three. We were only three till the end.
Nobody talks of religion. The country was once a Catholic country. Now it is s protestant country. But practically nobody pays attention to religion. There are huge churches all over the country. They are all monuments of the nation which invite tourists and are open on Saturdays and Sundays for the visitors. Some are being reconstructed for meeting Halls for the city.
GOOD GOD WHERE ARE YOU?....
MY BON VOYAGE
My Bon Voyage....
I was a bit confident this time when I left for the Netherlands because it was my second time. The moment I heard that the flight from Chennai was delayed by four hours and again at Paris by two hours i knew that i had to make own my way to the place i had to reach. At the Air port they told me it is difficult to get to the next boarding place since the air port is big and English is not the common language. I was tired waiting for the flight till 5.30 in the morning. It was a long flight from Chennai to Paris about eight hours and it was very difficult to sit or sleep. I was impatiently waiting for the flight to land. After landing following the handout that they gave me in the flight about the Paris air port and just by following the guidelines i did reach easy and fast to the point of departure. At the immigration the man took a long time and was with a long and grin face. He examined my pass port and the visa for a long time and finally allowed me to go. But he never spoke and i either. The flight took about one and half hour and I was down at the Schiphol Air port in Amsterdam. I doubted if my luggage reached because we were delayed so long. I was anxiously looking for it belt after belt in search of my luggage. Finally I was happy to see mine, a fantastic typical colour in blue. I picked it up and walked out with my trolly longing to see some placard with Don Bosco and I walked up and eagerly looking for someone who would walk up to me and say Don Bosco. To my disappointment there was none.
I picked up courage and walked up to the nearby mobile shop and sought help to make a call. He sold me a sim card for 25 Euro, with which I called India if they had informed. They said yes and told me call back. Then I said I ,ll myself. I did call and i was happy that they picked it up for the first time. Generally they say to leave a message. I said that I had reached and asked if anyone is here for me. The voice from other end said that they are on the way to the Air port. I was happy and I thanked God ...for two things...one for the English voice that replied over the phone the other that they picked up the phone. Then I heaved a sigh of relief....
The Lord will guide your steps....
I was a bit confident this time when I left for the Netherlands because it was my second time. The moment I heard that the flight from Chennai was delayed by four hours and again at Paris by two hours i knew that i had to make own my way to the place i had to reach. At the Air port they told me it is difficult to get to the next boarding place since the air port is big and English is not the common language. I was tired waiting for the flight till 5.30 in the morning. It was a long flight from Chennai to Paris about eight hours and it was very difficult to sit or sleep. I was impatiently waiting for the flight to land. After landing following the handout that they gave me in the flight about the Paris air port and just by following the guidelines i did reach easy and fast to the point of departure. At the immigration the man took a long time and was with a long and grin face. He examined my pass port and the visa for a long time and finally allowed me to go. But he never spoke and i either. The flight took about one and half hour and I was down at the Schiphol Air port in Amsterdam. I doubted if my luggage reached because we were delayed so long. I was anxiously looking for it belt after belt in search of my luggage. Finally I was happy to see mine, a fantastic typical colour in blue. I picked it up and walked out with my trolly longing to see some placard with Don Bosco and I walked up and eagerly looking for someone who would walk up to me and say Don Bosco. To my disappointment there was none.
I picked up courage and walked up to the nearby mobile shop and sought help to make a call. He sold me a sim card for 25 Euro, with which I called India if they had informed. They said yes and told me call back. Then I said I ,ll myself. I did call and i was happy that they picked it up for the first time. Generally they say to leave a message. I said that I had reached and asked if anyone is here for me. The voice from other end said that they are on the way to the Air port. I was happy and I thanked God ...for two things...one for the English voice that replied over the phone the other that they picked up the phone. Then I heaved a sigh of relief....
The Lord will guide your steps....
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