Indischer Priester

Chapter 1: A village in South India Pulangudi, a village in South India. Most inhabitants are farmers, living from the harvest from their fields. There is one little shop, and a school, in which Xavier learnt to read and write 25 years ago. One day, his studies would lead him to Germany, but he did not know it then. There is also a big church in Pulangudi. Even though Christians are a small minority of 2,5 % in India, their numbers in the South of this enormous country are larger. In the counties Kerala and Tamil, for instance, the Christians are the majority. Of course there are also little temples, in which Hindi pray and offer their sacrifices. in the South of India the Christians, Hindi and Muslims cohabitate here without any problems. It is only natural that all children of the village gather, when Xavier returns home. And of course he has to tell all about this strange country Germany and how they speak there. The reason for his visit is a very special one. A big event is imminent. For the first time Xavier is visiting his home as a priest. Because of this he will celebrate his first holy mass in the village on Sunday. Such an event has not taken place in this area for a long time. And this is Xavier’s family. His mother has waited a long time for his visit. It has been more than 2 ½ years since Xavier returned to his parents’ home. The first relatives have arrived to partake in the big event. A lot has to be prepared in the house. There is a big hustle on the village square. Chefs are building a fire place. In a shed nearby the feast is being prepared. The square in front of the church is festively decorated. Whether old or young, everyone is contributing somehow. Chapter 2: Mass in South India Last preparations for the church service. The first fellow priests are arriving in the parsonage. The priests played an important part in Xavier’s journey to his consecration, and were also his friends, teachers and clerical advisors. Time is running and it is not easy for Xavier to find time for his own thoughts. And then it’s time: the whole village is out. Guests have come from far distances. To welcome a priest from your own ranks is something very special here. Everyone wants to partake. To some western visitors some of this might be exaggerated, but on such an occasion in India all this is normal. They parade their priest through the village like an icon. Looking at this parade, we are reminded of the Hindi idea of priests belonging to a higher caste, enjoying a very special adoration from the public. Xavier is already the 13th priest in Pulangudi. 18 women from religious orders also come from the villages’ borough, proving how attractive the choice for a religious job seems to be to young Indians. The procession through the village leads to the church. All together they walk into the church. Some of the ceremonies in front of the altar appear strange to us. There are also some Hindi elements from the temple tradition found in the Indian liturgy. The bowl symbolises the presence of God. The light symbolises Christ. The descending scent from the incense sticks is the divine ghost and the flower symbolises the creation of the Holy Father. At the altar Xavier speaks to his borough for the first time, the words Jesus spoke at the Last Supper, words he will from now on speak so often as a priest. How many times would he have heard those words from other priests, priests who became his role model? Now he follows their footsteps. And then they celebrate. Already in church, dance plays an important part. A prayer without dance, without the possibility to praise the Gods with all senses, is not imaginable to an Indian. Seamlessly, the service descends into celebration. The food seems to taste exquisite. Till late at night the dancing continues and theatrical pieces are shown. And next comes the parting. Saying goodbye to the parents; when they will meet again is uncertain. It is an Indian custom to bless each other. Xavier will need those blessings. Back in Germany, far away from home, he will often remember his village in which his fellow countrymen honoured him with such a magnificent celebration. Chapter 3: The Steyler Missioners The Mass in the tiny Netherland village of Steyl. It is the year 1875. A cultural war is rioting through Germany. Arnold Janssen, a priest from Münster, got it into his head to preach the gospel to the whole world and inspire young men with his ideas. A task some think far beyond this simple man. But they underestimate him. Buying an inn, he laid the foundation stones for a worldwide enterprise. A few comrades join and leave for China, soon after for Japan and India. For all, the beginning is difficult. Some lose their lives on their journeys but others succeed to settle in distant countries. They study the culture, build schools, create an infrastructure, and even their own fleet reach parts of the world which had yet not been touched by civilisation. And they preach the Christian God, one who doesn’t want offerings but wants to free the human race from their fears. An international enterprise is growing out of these enthusiastic beginnings. That’s how Xavier came to Germany. In St. Augustin, close to Bonn, he learnt German and studied Theology with Christian followers from Africa, Papua New Guinea and even China. Despite their differences in mentality and culture, they are all part of one big family: the Steyler. But it`s not only their studies of Theology which is difficult for the prospective missionaries. St. Augustin prepares them for all areas in which they need to be fit to face the tasks in their new lives. When they are finished in their studies and have gained some experience in various parishes, they are ordained to priesthood. In front of the altar Xavier promised his religious order to dedicate his life to preaching God`s word. Where he will be sent, whether it is India or Germany or elsewhere, was left to his order to decide. They also have a number of establishments in Germany: schools, boroughs, houses of education. Places holding great challenges for the young priests. Chapter 4: as a chaplain in Germany Introducing the service to the new chaplain from India. The congregation at the service is small and those who are present are mainly part of the older generation. Xavier, who is used to a very different experience in India, is suddenly confronted with the reality that churches are facing in Germany, as well as a mentality that is suspicious of foreigners. “Someone didn’t want me, as a foreigner, to hold the funeral service. He wanted a priest to do the service. And when he heard that the Indian priest, the Indian chaplain would hold the funeral service he said, without even knowing us, that he wants a Bavarian or at least German priest. That does happen. But then he came here and met me – and all of a sudden he was happy for me to do the service. I don’t know what he was told. Opinions change quickly, when experiencing things personally”. What is much more of a concern to Xavier is not the reluctance he is met with as a foreigner, but the pessimistic attitude within the German church. Instead of happiness and joy in their belief found in many young churches throughout the world, he finds a joyless mood. Somehow people are more pessimistic here, they have less children, no one goes to the services and the church numbers are falling – it seems as though people have lost all hope. Most have said that in India the church is still alive, but not here. I thought that is not true, the church is alive here as well. But they are not willing to accept or see it. My task as a missionary would be easier if they found it themselves. I don’t want to preach believing - that is God`s task alone or that of Jesus Christ. I know I believe in God and by living that way I want people to see that I’m a missionary. Mission means to enjoy. Enjoy doing work, enjoy to believe that is the mission for me. The church in Germany is alive, but we don’t notice it. For example I’m proud to have come here and by having done that I give something for the German church and hopefully make it livelier. Chapter 5: Working with youngsters Xavier starts working. On a weekend he asks the ministrants he was able to get for his first chaplain job to Munich. He also invites all the children who will receive their first communion this year and everyone else who is interested. His idea takes off – having started with a handful of ministrants he soon has 25. His down-to-earth approach is charming. The young chaplain has not only brought along the ability for interesting Indian dishes but also a rather different understanding of time. In India time doesn’t mean to be there on time for an appointment, but simply to be there and maybe even forget time. Chapter 6: working with the homeless Sunday afternoon in a soup kitchen in Munich. Nuns of Maria Theresa have invited the homeless. Xavier holds a service for them every fortnight. Back in India he had already got to know the community of “Sisters of Charity”. He was so fascinated by their work that he always returned in his leisure time to help. “Sometimes it was very difficult to work with the poor and the injured but I really enjoyed it. I helped to wash the injuries and to bandage them. It was great to see how much the people from the street appreciated when a young man picks them off the street and has the time to listen to them – I really enjoyed that.” Those afternoons with the homeless are also an opportunity for Xavier to talk to them and understand their worries and concerns, rather than simply to preach. “They help me feel what they are and what they want, what they’ve been through and I learn a lot. I learn a lot from the homeless.” Working with the nuns of Maria Theresa does not only connect Xavier with his Indian roots but also with German reality. Life and teaching God’s message go hand in hand for Xavier. Our actions and our words need to match and therefore he finds it difficult to understand why Germans only criticise their church. The church is not an opponent for Xavier but an institution he is part of and something he can influence through his work. “Instead of the constant wailing about hierarchies, why priests, why bishops, why the pope, I wish people would question what they can do for their church and when everybody does something, then we will discover and experience things and the church will be alive here. That’s what I wish for everyone here.”