Fr Gregory Arockiam SVD is at heart a missionary who has made the spirituality of Jesus very tangible and real in his own life. A committed priest and ardent in his following of the Divine Word, spiritual direction comes naturally to him as you will see reading through the lines of this life giving interview. Through his compassion and intent listening he has brought solace in the lives of many a troubled soul. His responses to Janina Gomes’ questions generate warmth in our hearts.
- You joined the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) at a very early age when you were just about 14 years old. How did you become aware of your calling?
My vocational journey to religious life and priesthood was a slow and gradual process of growth and self-transformation that has made me what I am today. At every stage of my formation, the formators and my companions have shaped my vocation and mission. At this moment, I am very grateful to my first Rector Fr. Karl Ritz, SVD, a German missionary, who saw my talents and potential and empowered me to live a life of radical dedication and missionary commitment.
- You have an elder brother who is a diocesan priest in Tamil Nadu. Are you from a very religious family and have you had a religious upbringing?
I thank God for my late parents, for their life of prayer and discipline. My father was a very generous and spiritual person, who instilled in us a life of prayer at home. My elder brother, Fr. Arul Arockiam, a diocesan priest of the diocese of Palayamkottai, has been my role model and Mentor. He has a heart for the poor and needy. There was also a good atmosphere of family prayer and piety at home.
- You have had an all-round education and formation, with a degree in Maths, study of Philosophy and Theology, at Jnana Deepa in Pune, and training in counseling in Australia. Is it because your superiors were prescient about your potential and talents?
Yes, I am very grateful to my Congregation, the Society of the Divine Word, and to all my Superiors both in Papua New Guinea (P.N.G) and in India who offered me many opportunities to equip myself for the various ministries, and helped me make a significant contribution as a pastor, formator, counselor and spiritual guide. I am also grateful to many others, who placed their trust and confidence in me and my abilities.
- You spent 18 years of your life as a missionary in Papua New Guinea. What were your experiences of mission life there and can you recall and narrate any interesting incidents relating to this mission?
My eighteen eventful years in Papua New Guinea as a Divine Word Missionary living in an international and intercultural community, are still the best years of my religious and missionary life, meeting all the challenges posed by a new culture and setting. I had to learn a new language and unlearn many things, in order to adjust to a new way of life. I was greatly enriched by living among 250 SVD priests and brothers in one single province, and it has made a big difference to my life. I have been amazed by some of the extraordinary missionaries who have generously made a great contribution to the life and mission of the people. One among them is the late Archbishop Leo Arkfeld, SVD, who was fondly called “the flying Bishop”. He was a pilot and he flew his own small plane to reach his people and fellow missionaries.
The first ten years of my life as a grass roots bush missionary were a challenge and I consider this phase of my life as the best part of my missionary life. I admire my fellow missionaries who have taught me a very valuable lesson by their dedication and hard work, in building a viable local church by promoting local vocations and empowering the laity in the life and mission of the church. Papua New Guinea has the first local Cardinal now. It is a dynamic local church and we – the SVD missionaries and Holy Spirit Sisters – have continued to serve them during the past 126 years. I wish to salute my fellow missionaries who continue the mission with great dedication, despite the many struggles and challenges.
- You have combined pastoral work with administration and counseling activities at different stages of your life. Has it made you a more compassionate human being?
When I look back with gratitude, I realize that I am still growing to be a more compassionate person, aware of my strengths and limitations. I am fully aware that I am a “Wounded Healer” and a person on a lifetime inner journey of healing and self-transformation. It is an unending journey of compassion, sensitivity, and care. As I move to the wisdom years of my life, my fond wish and prayer is that I radiate ever more God’s love in a new and creative way.
- When you worked as Asst. Parish Priest in Sacred Heart Church in Andheri, did you find it a dynamic parish with lay people playing an active participatory role in Parish activities?
Yes, it is very true. When I returned to India in September 2000, I was assigned to a multicultural parish in Andheri East, Mumbai, where the laity took a very active part. A significant moment in the Archdiocese of Mumbai was the Archdiocesan Synod in January 2001. It offered a vision and mission statement, for the renewal of parishes. Today in Sacred Heart Church Parish, 36 Small Christian Communities are active and empowering the laity with their formation and empowerment programs. The parish has become a vibrant parish with many cells and Associations, with a vision, mission and an action plan. The parishioners are very generous and actively participate in many activities.
- You were Asst. Director of Atma Darshan for a few years, known to be a leading centre of spirituality and counseling. Did you do administrative work there, or were you also actively involved in counseling?
There was minimum administrative work and more time for counseling, retreats, and psycho-spiritual seminars for priests, religious, and laity. I was busy with Guided Retreats for religious and priests. Besides, I was a student Counselor in St. Arnold’s School, on the same Andheri campus. I also used to go out to preach retreats for Diocesan priests and religious men and women all over India. We today have an active SVD Lay Partners Group both in Mumbai and now in Pune known as Disciples of the Divine Word (D.D.W) and I am their Spiritual Director. I guide the group and we reach out to the less privileged through our “Feed the Hungry” Programs. All these ministries have reshaped my worldview and enlarged my horizon.
- You have been a formator of SVDs and have undertaken retreats and spiritual direction for the religious and lay people. Do you feel a lacuna in these areas and how important are these for the future and growth of the church?
Today religious and priestly formation is an integral and holistic experience. The fourfold aspects of formation are human, intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral. That is the ideal, but the reality is very different. I have spent half of my priestly life as a formator in two countries and two cultures. There are many challenges, and the motivation for formation is often a mixed one. Today the Indian church has become a mission-sending church and consequently, our formation should be shaped by those global and local realities. We need priests who have had a deep mystical experience of God and our lifestyle and ministry should be ever new and creative. Our formation should empower many to be prophets and to be the voice of the voiceless and the people on the periphery.
- You are known to be a very understanding counselor in giving spiritual guidance, do you see this as the fruit of your long and comprehensive training for the role?
Thank you for your very affirming words. Besides the long years of formation and special studies, my ministry is shaped by many experiences of my priestly life and supported by a life of prayer and a contemplative lifestyle. I also seek personally, counseling and spiritual direction and guidance, as I accompany others humbly in their sacred inner walk. I am also convinced that I need to become a more mellowed channel of God’s grace and compassion. My wish and prayer is to be ever a humble minister to the ministers.
- Is there anything you would like to add?
For me, life is a gift and blessing. As a religious missionary, I experience even more the joy of living, with a very simple lifestyle. Our next SVD General Chapter in 2024 has the following theme: “You are the light of the World: Faithful and Creative Disciples in a Wounded World.” As I look at the sunset years of my life, my wish for all priests, religious and young people in formation is that they be ever more faithful and creative disciples in a post-Covid world.
Fr Gregory Arockiam SVD
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