Creation is a precious gift, and each of us has the duty to cherish and protect it. Fr. Luke Rodrigues, a Jesuit, embraced this idea wholeheartedly, devoting his life to serving both God and people. In this insightful interview with Janina Gomes, we delve into Fr. Luke’s deep connection with Ignatian spirituality and his profound love for the natural world.
- Tell us something about your early years and how you felt called to be a Jesuit.
In the 1970s and 80s, social life centered around the Church and we were in close contact with different priests in the school and parish. Our parish and school were run by the Jesuits and many of us grew to admire and respect them. Their example fueled in me the desire to imitate their way of life and this gradually led me to enter the Society of Jesus. Having said that, it must be mentioned that both my brothers (Fr Savio and Bishop John) joined the Diocesan Clergy! God works in strange ways indeed.
- From the very start you were already engaged with environmental issues, teaching Environmental Education as a Teacher Educator. How did you learn to invest so much of your time in ecological issues?
The Bandra that we grew up in still had a number of fields, ponds and open areas. Climbing trees, plucking fruit, catching fish and doing some gardening – all of these were an integral part of our childhood and youth. This love for nature has shaped my inner being and I always feel a deep urge to pass on this passion to others. With the disappearance of the familiar fields and ponds, I felt a greater urgency to be involved in caring for creation. Nature has been a precious part of my life and it would be a crying shame if youth/children are deprived of this gift.
- As a teacher educator you combined theory with practice, taking teacher trainees for rural camps and nature treks. Did those trips help your students become more interested in ecological issues?
It would be hard to quantify the impact in terms of numbers and intensity. What I know for sure is that the students enjoyed the treks and were delighted to spend time in nature. I would emphasize the sacredness of creation and invite them to explore how they could experience God in nature. I am not in touch with many of the students now but the few who have met me always recall those experiences and mention how they still enjoy being in nature. It is my belief that we need to first fall in love with nature and then we will surely do all that is necessary to protect her. The purpose of those treks was to help students be gripped by the wonder and mystery of creation. Hopefully, this has been achieved to some extent.
- As a Jesuit, one of your fortes has been teaching Ignatian Spirituality to the Laity, first in Byculla for 5 years and then in Rome for 7 years. How relevant is Ignatian Spirituality to the modern world?
The chief characteristic of Ignatian Spirituality is its emphasis on ‘Finding God in all things’. It affirms that the Divine Presence is everywhere and we can experience this presence at all times and in all situations. This is a spirituality of daily life and is therefore relevant at all times, but particularly now when we seem to have lost a sense of the Sacred. Discernment, another key feature of Ignatian Spirituality, is the spiritual art of choosing whatever leads me closer to God. This is extremely helpful today when we are faced with multiple options and need guidance to make the right choices.
- You have consistently offered Eco recollections and Eco retreats over the years. To whom were these retreats given and did the participants gain a deeper understanding of the connection between Christian faith and ecology?
Retreats of six and seven days have been offered mainly to priests and religious. Many lay persons have participated in three-day eco retreats and still more in half-day recollections. Several of these participants have kept in touch and mention how some specific input or prayer exercise has changed their perspective or behavior. Praying with nature has become a part of their prayer life. Yes, I do believe that many of them have come to a personal realization that caring for creation is an integral part of our Christian faith.
- You were also Assistant to the Jesuit Provincial for 4 years. Did you have a role to play in the formation of Jesuits too?
Prior to this role, I had a stint as Province Coordinator for Formation. It was a privilege to accompany our young men as they journey through Religious Life. I have also been taking classes for our Juniors in Homiletics, World History and Eco Spirituality and have offered spiritual direction for a few of them. It’s good to be in touch with those in formation. It helps us stay young and we learn so much from them!
- Your present assignment is to head the Archdiocesan Office for Environment ( AOE). You said you are striving to make Mumbai a Laudato Si diocese.
Well, we are a whole team working towards this goal and much credit goes to Bishop Allwyn D’Silva who has spearheaded the ecological efforts in the Archdiocese (and across the country as well). In 2018, Cardinal Oswald Gracias issued a call to make Mumbai a Green Diocese and entrusted this to Bishop Allwyn and the AOE. Later, the Vatican launched a seven-year plan called the Laudato Si’ Action Platform and we have become active participants of this program since 2022. This platform invites us to work on Seven Different Goals, all related to Integral Ecology. These goals are achieved through a number of activities such as promoting renewable energy, waste management, water harvesting, educational sessions, eco prayer services, upholding the rights of the poor, lobbying with government authorities, adopting a simple lifestyle, etc.
- You say your goal is to build up model green parishes, one per deanery and that they in turn would animate other parishes in the deanery. Is this an achievable goal?
Yes, it is an achievable goal, but it involves a lot of planning and commitment. We took the parish as our unit for engagement and realized that it would have been unrealistic to try and reach all parishes in the Archdiocese. Hence, we selected one parish per Deanery and worked with the teams there. For this academic year, we have selected a second parish from each Deanery and will now engage with the Eco Cells of these parishes. In this way, we hope to create a critical mass of interested parishioners who can take forward this mission at the parish and deanery levels. Different parishes will show varying degrees of competence and commitment, and we do not want them to be competing with each other to see who is doing a better job. Our desire is that parishes set their own markers for growth, examining where they are now and where they would like to be after three years and then seven years.
- You train eco ambassadors. What role do these eco ambassadors play?
The AOE organizes a Certificate Course for Eco Ambassadors – the fifth batch will start this October. Participants receive a theoretical framework about ecological issues and become familiar with the Church’s teachings in this area. They also work on implementing a practical project in their parish or housing society and are encouraged to link up with active NGOs in their locality. These Eco Ambassadors are expected to initiate and sustain some activities related to Laudato Si’s goals. I am glad to note that several of our Ambassadors have taken the lead in setting up or re-vitalizing Care for Creation groups in their parishes. They continue to engage with the AOE and even keep pushing us to expand our services!
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
Care for Creation is today no longer optional for a Christian but is rather an integral part of living out our faith commitment. The Lord who has given us the gift of Creation also invites us to be faithful stewards of this gift. May the Holy Spirit continue to inspire many young men and women to commit themselves fully to the ecological mission of the Church.
To subscribe to the magazine, click Subscribe
