This is the 24th year of my priestly life. It feels as if I was ordained yesterday, so quickly have the years passed. What springs forth from my heart after more than fifty years of life and twenty-four years of priestly ministry is a deep sense of gratitude to God.
I had spent thirteen years in active pastoral ministry, and ten years as editor. In another two years I shall be completing twenty-five years of priestly life.
Seminary Influence: Learning in Freedom
Sacred Heart Seminary, Poonamallee, Chennai, is my alma mater. It was a place of significant learning and growing. I was not a very clever student, but the seminary made me grow in intellect and integrity. There was a lot of freedom to think, raise questions and try new ventures. Fr Joe Mannath was one of my professors. Fr Joe’s teaching was the most enjoyable, as it was packed with knowledge, humour, life-values and, above all, a space for dialogue between the teacher and the students.
Learning was encouraged even outside the class room. It was also a time of emerging new trends: Liberation Theology, Feminism, Dalit Theology, etc. It led us to involvement with the poor. The study of theology was done while understanding the life of the people. The professors were open to change and dialogue. I thank Fr Joe and other for inspiring me. That has made me what I am today. It taught me to think and act with freedom and responsibility.
Theology of the Common people
Soon after my ordination, I was appointed as an assistant priest at St Thomas Mount, Chennai. The faith of the faithful was a great source of learning for me. What sustains the Catholic families is their faith and trust in the Lord. I was touched by their unquenchable longing for God, the spirit of endurance in times of trouble, the never-decreasing hope of the people of God even when things seemed very dark and disappointing. Youth participation, catechism, children’s involvement, contribution of pious associations, dedication of the choir, amazing response of people for every liturgical function—all these regular activities helped me deepen my faith.
One day, after Mass in the morning, a mother with her two children came to the church. She looked frightened, and wept inconsolably. “Why are you crying?” I asked her. She said: “My husband left us a couple of days back, I am driven out of the house, our debt is beyond our ability, I do not know what to do. Where can I go now and with my two children?” I said, “You have come to the right place. This is the house of God; He will protect you. Go inside the church and pray for some time and we shall see what can be done.” I too prayed. To my surprise, two FMM Sisters reached there just then. I asked them if they could help. The Sisters took the family with them. They gave the mother a job in their school, and admitted the children in their school. The husband returned home after seven years. Now the children too are settled well. There is a dawn to every night.
Celebrating Faith and Life
Some of my companions who despised the faith of the people and spoke of liberation have left their priesthood because they found no meaning in the faith of the people. I enjoyed celebrating the faith and life of people. The faith and goodness of the people have taught me precious lessons. Here is one touching experience.
While visiting the homes of the parishioners, I met an elderly woman who was seriously ill. She seemed to be on the point of death. After some months, however, I saw her in the church. I could not believe my eyes. She was healthy. She thanked me for the prayers. I said, “God has blessed you with good health. . Pardon me because I thought you would not recover soon.” She then said, “Father, God has given me good health again. I will be admitted in the hospital for a surgery next week. Please pray.” I asked her, “Why?” She replied, “My son-in-law became blind due to an accident, I am going to donate my eyes to him.” I could not control my tears. I said, “Mother, your love is great and your faith is strong.”
Felt Loved; Never Lonely
Till today, I have not felt lonely in my priestly life. There were moments of trouble and struggle, but never did I experience any feeling of hopelessness. Sorrowful moments, like funerals, made me cry many times. Experiencing loss, pain and sorrow made me understand the mysteries of life.
The people loved me dearly. Once, when there was some trouble around, and some opposing forces (not Christians) threatened to attack me one night, my parish elders and youth stayed with me day and night giving me protection. Even now, when I think of it, I become emotional.
The grace of God came to my aid, especially in moments of sorrow. I have lost my elder sister and my dad. The days when I was with them in their sickness, the parish community stood by me. The feeling that a community is there to support me was really comforting. Prayer life is the key for our consistency in our mission. More than helping others to pray, I felt the need of prayer. Every obstacle in my life was broken by the power of prayer.
Whenever I began something in the parish or in my personal life, it was always with prayer. I never gave up the hope in doing God’s work. When I began the church construction, the resources were very limited. But in a miraculous way, the church was completed. It was so with every effort. I began many projects with nothing, but ended with great success.
Unexpected Call to Media Ministry
Like a phoenix, the New Leader had risen to great heights through the hard work and professional journalistic touch of Fr Joe Antony SJ, its former editor. He served as editor of the magazine for twenty years. Now, the Archbishop wanted me to be the new editor. As a preparation, I did the Diploma in Journalism at Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, and took up the post. I was frightened when I took charge. But the Lord’s nearness has always given me strength.
Besides publication of The New Leader Magazine, we have also published forty books under “New Leader Publications.”
The era of cyber intelligence has unlocked many opportunities for knowledge. Communication and networking are made easy. While it is true that we have more possibilities to create a better world, there is a danger that we become mechanical and impersonal, that our relationships become more virtual than real, more commercial than communal, our hearts crowded but empty, our minds brilliant and not wise, our lives busy and not purposeful, our needs gratified and not satisfied.
Catholic journalism is a challenging ministry which should have the professional touch of the secular journalist on the one hand and the evangelizing concern (spreading the good news) on the other hand.
I find media work interesting and meaningful. Spreading stories of good-news—hope, humanity, justice and equality—is what the world needs today. While the secular media is flooded with violence, sensationalism, glamour, commercialism and individualism; the ministry of story-telling with a difference—with a positive slant, touching the goodness of every human being—is the need of the hour.
When we venture to do little things which are beautiful – pleasing to God and profiting human race – the world becomes a better place to live in. If we can become a little more kind, a little more generous, a little more caring to the poor and needy, a little more loving and forgiving, a little more tolerant, a little more humble and selfless, a little more holy and honest, then, I am sure that this world will turn out to be a home where God dwells with us. He is Emmanuel, God with us.
Fr Antony Pancras, a Catholic Priest of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore, is the Editor and Publisher of The New Leader, an international Catholic magazine established in 1887. He is also a musician and writer, with a book and 300 songs to his credit.
Fr Antony Pancras
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