In this interview, Father Thomas D’Cunha, Chaplain at Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi, shares the experiences that have touched him most in his hospital ministry. He has seen the power of prayer, the deep faith of persons of other faiths in Jesus’ healing touch, the generous commitment of hospital staff. He also lets us see the source of his strength for ministry. He is a diocesan priest of Delhi Archdiocese.
He was interviewed for MAGNET by our Associate Editor, Sr Theresa Phawa FMA.
MAGNET: Father Thomas, could you please share some of your touching experiences as hospital chaplain?
In my two-year ministry as the chaplain of the hospital, I have come across persons with various types of suffering and pain. I have accompanied a good number of them with my prayers, distribution of the Holy Communion, through the sacraments of confession and anointing of the sick; and counselling for many others. While rendering my priestly ministry, I not only bear witness to my Catholic faith; I have become stronger in it. I have witnessed the faith of patients in the healing power of Jesus, more often from those who are Hindus, Muslims and others.
I would like to recall a few incidents that have enriched my own faith and strengthened my trust in God.
In one of my daily rounds in the hospital, I met a lady from Haryana, whose husband was hospitalised with a very critical health condition. Sadness gripped her heart, and she felt helpless. She would go into the hospital chapel every day, and prostrate herself in prayer. There was perpetual adoration in the chapel, but she did not know what that means, nor who Jesus is. All she knew was that there is a God who can give what she needed. She approached me and asked for prayer and blessing for her husband. “Only Jesus can do something,” she said. What a strong faith from a Hindu woman! I did pray for the ailing man, gave him my blessing and made sure that I visited his sickbed. The healing power of God worked a miracle! He got better. The woman’s joy was boundless. She came to thank me for my prayers. It is not me nor my prayers alone that brought about this healing. I strongly believe it was her own faith in the divine healing power of Jesus.
Another touching case. A woman from Jharkhand who works in Delhi, and whom I knew, was brought to the hospital with brain haemorrhage. Emergency operations were done, but there was no great improvement. Her son was heart-broken and lost all hope. I saw his sorrow and knew that he was undergoing a lot of pain. As I assured him of my prayer, I prayed for her every day. After about a week, I again witnessed a miracle happening, a quick healing which was not expected. With faith, her son and I earnestly sought God’s healing power to touch and grant a healing that is beyond all medical sciences and technology can perceive or comprehend. The son convincingly acknowledged that it was purely a miraculous healing and he is deeply grateful to God who answers our prayers.
Yet another incident was an urgent call from a lawyer to inform me that his colleague’s mother was on ventilation for days in our hospital. The family and relatives were not sure of what to decide about her case – to leave her in that situation for more days or take her home for a peaceful death. I was therefore called to counsel them. In critical cases, I have given counselling to many with regard to accepting life, sickness and most importantly death. In some cases, it is successful, while many find it difficult to accept the reality of death. In this particular situation, as in many similar ones, I accompanied my counselling with prayers for the patient and the family, knowing that they were in a dilemma. The result was that the family was able to decide what was best for the patient. Their faith in my prayer and counselling, which is of a priest who represents God, is incredible. They were sure of what they asked and God granted it, simply because of their trust in God that HE can do anything for them.
So, this is an active type of ministry. I find that prayer is effective in all ways. Not only Christians call me for prayer, Holy Communion or anointing of the sick; Hindus, Muslims and others come and fold their hands asking me to lay my hands on their sick ones. I willingly spend time with every patient in prayer. After I have said a prayer, they would immediately reach for my hands to bless them. I do this with the sign of the cross. Their faith in the prayer of a Catholic priest edifies me a lot. This calls for a greater commitment from me. God works through his people and through me in spite of my unworthiness.
MAGNET: Who are the patients? What is their background?
The patients come from all sorts of backgrounds. They differ by place of origin, language, religion, income, education and medical condition.
The hospital always opens its doors or whatever available places, especially in times of epidemics. There have been times when the rooms were packed, yet no patient was denied treatment; they would be given a wheel chair and lie along the corridors just to get proper treatment. Above all this, the staff members are dedicated and ready to render help and assistance even though it meant risking their health too.
The hospital compound is also a welcoming place for everyone. For example, you may find the Muslim community gathering beneath the trees for Namaz whenever their hour of prayer comes. They feel at home to do this. For me, this speaks volumes on the friendly and welcoming spirit that prevails on the hospital campus.
MAGNET: You will certainly see the doctors, nurses and other staff at work. What have you learnt from them?
Apart from the Catholic priests engaged in the Hospital administration, the hospital has a large number of lay staff: around two thousand in all, working at different levels and in various departments. Although Holy Family is a Catholic hospital, most of our staff belong to other faiths. When we speak about their dedication to work, I would say, it is tremendously inspiring. They are always ready to come to the hospital in emergency situations even if they are not on duty. For instance, when there was a fire in one of the apartments in the neighbourhood, victims were brought in to our hospital. Some were dead. Others were seriously injured. The doctors and other staff members responded to the emergency call and rushed from their homes or quarters to help out the people on time. It is indeed inspiring to recall how they feel the sense of service without counting the cost in terms of time, energy and their home situations. They are ready to make sacrifices at any point of time when required. As you know, in this type of work, an emergency can crop up any time.
As for the doctors and nurses so, they are truly a dedicated group. I like to mention in particular the nurses who reside in the hospital quarters or hostels. They are always ready to give extra service. Some of them were even called at night when required. I am edified to see them go cheerfully without murmuring or complaining. Seeing this has increased my own motivation as the chaplain here.
MAGNET: All ministries face hurdles. What do you see as problems or difficulties in your type of work?
So far, I have not come across or felt any difficulty in carrying out my ministry here in the hospital. I find my mission fruitful, and it is a witness. There were moments when I was not allowed to meet patients of swine flu without wearing a mask. Even though I would say, “Don’t worry, Jesus is with me, He will cover me,” they would not let me in without a mask, since they were concerned about my safety. There were also cases when I was stopped from meeting Tuberculosis patients. I could only bless them from outside the room. I understand that such rules are good, and they protect everyone’s health. But, in those moments, I really felt bad about it. However, I believe that the patients too understand such situations. They realize why I cannot approach them and bless them.
MAGNET: The nursing students belong to different faiths. What do they feel about the Catholic prayers we say?
The Nursing School is open to students of all faiths. One thing that strikes me very much is that they are very open to our Catholic prayers and services, especially the Holy Eucharist. They know very well that we will not impose any practice on them, nor try to “convert” them to our faith. I find that many students of other faiths are often better examples of a Christian spirit and a Catholic way of life than many who profess the Catholic faith.
Once a student belonging to another faith approached me and asked me to hear her confession. I took time to explain to her about the practice of the sacrament in the Catholic church. Nevertheless, she was persistent to make her confession. I finally agreed, making it clear that I would do would be to listen her and offer her some counselling. That is what she wanted. This was one of the touching experiences I had with the nursing students here in the hospital.
MAGNET: Any group or person or experience that impressed you in particular?
Yes, I would like to say a word of appreciation to the Medical Mission Sisters (MMS) who are here. [Holy Family Hospital was started by the Medical Missions Sisters, who ran it for years, and then handed it over to the Archdiocese of Delhi.] Those of them who are working in the hospital are not so young. Yet, they have such zeal and strength to carry out the task of either working in the hospital or teaching in the nursing college. Their active role in the college is worth emulating, and, for me personally, very inspiring. Love has no limit. Age does not limit one’s sense of duty or one’s passion to serve humanity. This is what I see in these Sisters.
MAGNET: In meeting sick people and their family members every day, and in trying to bring them comfort and hope, what is your main source of strength?
Jesus in the Holy Eucharist gives me strength and confidence. Every morning I spend an hour in prayer and meditation. I allow the Lord to walk with me all through the day. Whenever I lay my hands on the sick, it is the Lord who works through my humble priestly ministry. I am always available at any time or part of the day for any urgent call from the patients. Hence, I do not go out much. Reason: They may look for a priest any time. As long as I am here, this is my passion—to spend time with the patients and pray for them and accompany them even if it is just by words of comfort or encouragement.
In my twenty-three years of priesthood, I have always experienced the presence of God as the strength of my life and ministry. In one of the parishes where I worked earlier, God worked a miracle through my humble prayers for those in need. There was a lady who was desperate because she had sold everything she owned to apply for a job abroad. But she was not called for the interview. However, her trust in God’s power was great and inspiring. She came daily to the church for Mass and personal prayer. When she told me about her problem, I was impressed by her faith in God, on whom she relies completely. I assured her my prayers and we recited novena prayer to St Anthony, who is known as the “restorer of what is lost.” She had an admirable devotion to this well-known saint. To my amazement, within three days, she was called for the interview and her visa was also granted. The lady was so overwhelmed by the favour received from God through the intercession of St. Anthony. To show her deep gratitude, she came to the parish, cleaned the church and offered a donation for its renovation, since the building needed repairs.
God gives us strength when we place all our trust in him and serve his people with love. We are only his humble servants or instruments in His hands.
Sr Theresa Phawa FMA
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