FR JULIAN SALDANHA SJ IN CONVERSATION WITH JANINA GOMES
- Tell us something about your early upbringing and call to join the Jesuits
In my family, besides my parents, I had an elder brother and elder sister. Ours was, I would say, a religious family. Apart from the daily Rosary I think it was marked by a spirit of honesty and charity. Since the church was close by, it is not surprising that my brother and I were also altar servers there. Both of us studied in St Xavier’s School run by the Jesuits; so it is not surprising that I joined them. I was particularly attracted by a little booklet which described the Jesuit way of life and formation.
- You are a very gifted person with a Licentiate in Philosophy and doctorate in theology, You also have the help of many language skills, such as Greek, Latin, French, German and Marathi. How have these language skills helped you in your teaching apostolate?
The new testament was written in Greek; most of the church documents, including those of Vatican II, are in Latin. To date, important documents continue to be published in Latin. It is plain how necessary it is to know Latin if one wants to interpret these documents correctly. Quite a number of important theological writings are available only in French or German. Marathi is necessary, to be rooted in the local culture and context.
- You have taught at the St. Pius X seminary for 47 year. What have you and your students gained from this long academic journey with them?
Teaching has enriched my own faith and challenged me to present it in a meaningful manner to others, especially since I have taught about a dozen courses over the decades. I hope it has done the same for my students. Questions which the students ask have been helpful. So I keep updating my courses. Interestingly my students are particularly grateful for the course in public speaking which I still conduct here.
- Apart from teaching, you have also taken on other responsibilities in the past as a novice master and Provincial. What did you feel were the most tested qualities you had to imbibe in training young Jesuits?
I think the most tested quality I had to imbibe,in training young Jesuits and Seminarians, was listening and sensitivity; also availability and updating myself in developments in psychology. This I felt especially as a spiritual director here for about 20 years.
- You have contributed to interdenominational dialogue by being founding member and also Past President of the Ecumenical Fellowship of Indian Missionaries. What impact did your contribution make to Christian unity?
I think my regular participation in the ecumenical “Fellowship of Indian Missiologists” (FOIM) has contributed to a better mutual understanding among the members. All of us realize that we face very similar situations/problems and that we share similar thinking regarding missionary activity. I recall the exhortation of Vatican II to Catholics regarding other Christians: “Let them work together especially for the sake of Christ their Lord” (Ad Gentes, 15).
- You also started an inter-religious group of citizens for civic issues, which functioned in Goregaon, Mumbai for 25 years. What did this group achieve over this long period of time, and is it still in action?
We adopted the name “Manavta” which one of our first members suggested. About 50 issues were taken up, of which about half were successfully resolved. For example: prohibition of sale of ‘gutka’ on railway stations, provision of lavatory outside Goregaon station east, shifting of cattle market, banning motorcycles on station-Subway Road, provision of public gymnasium. The Western Railway also consulted us once regarding a new colour scheme for their rakes.
- You have been engaged in giving retreats for religious, priests and seminarians all over India. You also said that you once travelled on the roof of a metre gauge train for 8 hours to reach your destination in time for a retreat. This shows your zeal to spread the good word and strengthen Christians at the grass roots. Tell us something about this ministry.
The retreat is meant to provide the retreatants with food for thought and thought for prayer. However I realised that it is more important to share oneself than to provide beautiful or clever thoughts. The Messenger should as far as possible be the message !
- You have written 8 books, edited two books and written about 150 articles, plus book reviews on theological subjects and also in dictionaries and encylopaedias. Clearly your scholarly contribution to the Church must be lauded. Tell us about some of the themes you wrote on?
My writings have been mostly in the area of my specialization: Missiology or Mission. But I do also have writings on topics which I have been handling in my teaching here in St. Pius College, e.g. the Holy Trinity, Church, the ‘Last Things’ (eschatology). My latest book, Exploring Frontiers (2016) gives some idea of the diversity of topics I have discussed in my writings.
- You also have to your credit the direction of 3 doctoral theses and being first reader for another 3 doctoral theses. No wonder you are an Associate Professor in JnanaDeepa. You have thus been engaged in strengthening the foundations of the church of the future. How do you rate your contribution in this sphere of scholarship.
My contribution in the sphere of scholarship has been like a drop in the ocean. After all, the church is like a vast family of Christ spread over all continents. Here in India we have quite a large pool of Scholars in philosophy and theology. Although to date no one has articulated the fruit of all this research in a single “Summa Theologiae Indicae”, together our scholars in India can make a very valuable contribution to the Church in India, Asia and even the world.
- That you are still retained as teaching staff in Goregaon seminary despite your age, shows how much you are valued by the hierarchy. Sum up your 47 years contribution to the formation of young people studying to be priests.
I have always viewed my work here as having a multiplying effect. Namely, through the priests (& bishops), I touch the lives of the innumerable people they minister to. It is fulfilling to know, that in this way I have responded to the Lord’s injunction: “Feed my sheep” (Jn21:15 ff.). And my students are well placed to know whether the Messenger was also the message ?
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
Like the proverbial old soldier, it is time to ‘fade away’:
“For all that has been ‘thanks’; for all that will be,‘Amen’” (Dag Hammarskjold)
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