AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH | KAIROS GLOBAL | MARCH 2022

Author: Sumol Pious

Intro: The lack of Mass in their native language drove many Pakistanis to attend a Pentecostal church. Sumol Pious recollects the beginnings of the Pakistani prayer group in her parish.

Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told Habakkuk 1:5.

God changes our perception once we encounter him and his love. This is a testimony of how he used us to stand together and build a fellowship group for the Pakistanis in our parish in Muscat. Many times I have seen Pakistanis standing before the grotto and praying to Mother Mary. But I had never seen any of them attending Mass at the church. Later I came to know that most of them went to the nearby Pentecostal church.

One of the main reasons was that there was no Mass in Urdu, their native language. Most of them were people who didn’t know any other language. And the only option for their spiritual nourishment were the Urdu prayer services in the Pentecostal church. Around that time, we came to make acquaintance with an active youth of Pakistan who was serving the usher’s ministry at our church. He was the only strong Pakistani Catholic we had seen in church till then. After a simple chat we invited him lovingly for the preparatory meeting of a youth retreat by Jesus Youth. 

Surprisingly a few hours later, we received a phone call from him assuring us that he would be there for the meeting and asked if he could bring one of his friends with him. When we understood that the Holy Spirit was paving the initial way for an Urdu group, we were filled with joy and awe at his work.

The very next week with seven Pakistanis, God allowed us to start the Urdu group. This group which started in 2012 is the first Jesus Youth Urdu group in the Middle East. Later, they were able to have Mass once in a month for their community. They were added as the eighth language group in our church too.

As for their spiritual and sacramental life, God opened the door wide for them through this group. Their weekly gatherings also consisted of Catechism and Bible study lessons. Once a month we used to study household material with them too. Their allowing us to intervene in their social and material difficulties made us see the strong sign and love Christ has given us to love all people beyond borders.

Today the Holy Spirit has inspired us to work with him through the various activities and ministries. He has given us the grace to actively participate in their Mass once a month and we take this as God’s Word coming true. The scripture says in Acts 1:8, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. We were instruments used to reach out to a new nationality by our loving God. All glory and praise to him.

Most of the people of this group are from Sialkot province in Pakistan. When they go back home for their holidays, they start Jesus Youth groups there in their regions; something that has made us happier than before. Some of them started attending formation courses to deepen their spiritual life. We are ever grateful to God who made this possible through our small and simple efforts.

Author info: An active JY in Muscat, Oman Sumol Pious works as a higher secondary school teacher.