Punalur

On 20^th of the month (December 2010), there was an official invitation and meeting with the bishop of the Punalur diocese. Morning around 8 we started our journey from Kumbalanghy. Fr. Michael Benedict had come from Aluva with the vehicle and we had a smooth travelling. We were of Fr. Sanil Michael, Fr. Michael Benedict, and Bro: Lenin James and I, Fr. Martin and fr. Jijo had come from his parish and Bro. Colin who is having holidays with his family was also there waiting for us. We reached around 12 in the noon at the Bishop’s house. After a short refreshing, as we wait there, the Bishop himself came to meet us. We were invited to be on the hall to have talk with him. The Bishop was very straight forward in his talk. Some of the main points of his saying are as these

·         He is happy to have the Priests of the Sacred Heart in his diocese.

·         He is expecting a community to be there and then to have our presence more and more in the diocese.

·         He welcomes priests and religious who are really ready to dedicate themselves for God and His people. If there comes anyone who is not ready to dedicate them, and then even in the later days, there is possibility that he would ask them to leave the diocese.

·         He would be happy that would be there soon.

·         Newly ordained priests who are coming from big parishes should know that this is a mission diocese and so there would not be thousands of people who come to the church. There would be few, so if there is not dedication there would some dangers of life.

·         He would be happy to have our congregation working in his diocese soon than later.

·         Priest and religious who are spiritually oriented and who are willing to take up challenges for the church and for His people.

·         There are many Latin Catholic people, since there are no priests, they go to other denominations and other rites, so our motto is also to establish Latin Catholic church and bring back the sheep who have gone astray.

After the talk, we were invited to have lunch with him. Indeed the lunch was simple, but tasty, the cook has cooked the food with lots of love and dedication. Hope this would be an example for the future missionaries to Punalur to cook the word of God with love and dedication for the people God.

After the lunch we were guided by the procurator of the diocese to show a proposed house. He was happy to ride his stylish vehicle for us and with us. The proposed house is somewhat 30 Kilometers away from the Bishop’s house. The road is good. We reached there in less than one hour. The house is in the place called Ranni. The particular place is on road side. From the main road, its just two minutes walk to the proposed house. The surrounding is with rubber trees and families.  Since it’s a forest and cultivation area, the weather is good and feels cool here. The water is plenty and so no short of water at any season. Electricity and phone connections are already there. Since there is already land phone connection, the internet would not be a problem in future too. There is strong mobile signal here. There is an Orthodox Church close by. There is a Hindu high school nearby. The community is of mixed religion. But there is no tension between any religions, because all are equally major and minor.

The proposed house is very good. There is a big entrance to the house with a big gate and wall on one side of the house. There is a small garden in front of the house. There is a well with plenty of water in it. As we talk about the house, there is a small entrance room, dinning hall, and kitchen and there are two bed rooms down floor, there is one bath room outside the house and then one on the down side of the stair. On the first floor there is one room, one hall, one bath room and a very small room. Since this family is of Muslim, this small room is used for prayer. Of the terrace is open. So even in the future we can construct two rooms there on the top too.  Just in short, these are enough for three or four members to live there lavishly. Transport, water, electricity, shopping and such things would never be any problem for anyone who would live there. There is half acres of land around the house. There are rubber trees in it, something is already in it. So there would be some physical work to be done too. The amount that they are asking is `65, 00, 000 (Euro 100000), total for the house and property. Since all who have visited have a very positive opinion about this house and property, all are happy about this.

We all could go into the house and see the rooms. So all have a good impression about it.

We all come back to bishop house and had a tea and then say thanks to each other and it was good day and hope that there would some fruit out this visit from the both side of Bishop of Punalur and from the District of Indian SCJ.

As we come out of the Bishop’s house, we just made visit to Cusmano sister who just neighbors of the Bishop’s house. The share with ice cream. It was good. We begin our journey back home and on the way we pray Rosary for a second time, to thank Mother May for Her Intercession for our life and mission in Punalur. Hope and pray that mother would never leave us. We come back home around 9.30 in the evening.