LIFE SAVED FOR MANY | KAIROS GLOBAL | NOVEMBER 2021

Author: Fr. Joseph Thaikadan SDB

Intro: Salesian priest, Fr. Joseph Thaikadan tells us about his mission in Zambia and how his life was saved.

Prayers of thousands had to storm heaven to preserve the life

of an ordinary Salesian priest, who had just completed eighteen months of ordination; God heard those prayers with a greater purpose of making him intercede for the lives of the poor. 

I was ordained a priest on 31 December 2006. After a year-and-a-half of ministry in a small parish and school, I reached Kolkata¹ only to be diagnosed with septicaemia. Doctors predicted ‘no way of comeback’ but nurses who were active Jesus Youth members along with the JY team all over world and Salesians forced (as Abraham did) God to ‘go back on his decision’ by storming heaven with their prayers and sacrifices. It made me realise that I was no more my own property; instead I was set apart to fulfill HIS will in HIS vineyard, in the way HE wanted. With that openness I had the opportunity to work among the Santals, Bengalis, Adivasis² living in the Indian states of West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar and people of the neighbouring country of Nepal. All these missions brought me fulfilment in ministry, worked out as means of holiness, blessed me with happiness and peace, and great satisfaction of effectiveness. I could present myself as a priest available to minister sacraments to Catholics of different languages, cultures as well as to migrant workers, get involved in formal education at schools and colleges, train and create job opportunities for poor and school drop-out youth, help in the formation of young brothers on their way to priesthood, and work for the welfare of socially and economically backward people.

A Call within Call

A trigger in my heart, never experienced before, happened sometime  in 2018 on the invitation that read, ‘the people of Zambia need shepherds …’ which I shared with my superiors and priest friends who, without exception, guided me to pray and discern in the light of the Holy Spirit. It took two years of prayers, novenas, retreats and spiritual guidance regarding this call, to be available for the more needy and poor. Today I am in Zambia.

Ours is the Vice Province of Zambia, of Salesians of Don Bosco, consisting four countries, namely, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Namibia. All these glorify the Lord of Creation for HIS magnificence in natural beauty. But the hallmark of these countries is POVERTY. Let me concentrate on Zambia where I am placed for the ministry. Zambia is a small country with a population of 18.09 million within an area of 752,618 sq.km. Covid-19 could not be a concern (though there have been a total of 200,049 positive cases and 3,484 Covid related deaths so far) because around 2 million Zambians (11% adults and 14.6% children) are affected by HIV and AIDS. Every year one million die only of HIV-AIDS. So we can say that malnutrition due to extreme poverty is the alarming situation of the whole country.

When I reached Zambia, I was placed in a Salesian community at Chingola, Copperbelt Province. Here the Salesians are involved in providing vocational secondary schooling and technical college education for the poor youth, Daily Youth Centre for the youth, and above all, ‘Saturday Street Kids Programme’ for the children and adolescents who are literally ‘on the street’. The people over here speak Bemba/Chibemba, one of the seventy-two tribal languages. I was fully involved with youth activities and programmes for street kids. I also got the opportunity to be the chaplain for school and college students and minister sacraments and offer counselling. 

They really need us, priests and religious.  They need a father, mother, brother and sister – because most of them do not have one. Sad! A good number of children are born outside wedlock – whether Catholics or non-Catholics or non-Christians. It is also the same among the poor and rich. So most of them are abandoned, or looked after (at the mercy) by uncles or aunts, or by relatives. Poverty forces them to become school drop-outs. They become helpless victims of society.  Most of them are victims of sex abuse, pre-marital sex, drugs, alcoholism, robbery … 

Every afternoon (14.00 to 20.00), the Youth Centre welcomes these youth and children, to give them – Love – in the form of guidance, counselling, prayers, sacraments, teaching basics, providing various entertainment, sports, games, theatricals, music, etc., which would, in one way or another, prevent them from being victims of abuse; at least for these few hours, they are ‘free children of God’. Another group I interact with is the vulnerable children, brought from the streets on Saturday morning. We divide them into groups, keep them happy with various fun activities, training in various talents, competitions of various types, stories and prayers, etc.  They are given facilities for a good shower with necessary toiletries (for many, the only shower that week). They are also provided with a sumptuous meal (only full meal of the week). We also try to put them into schools and try our best to return them to their homes. 

Another fulfilling experience as priest is celebrating sacraments, especially Mass for the people of the parish. They celebrate sacraments! The celebration involves their body, mind, heart and soul. They have great esteem for priests, God-Person for them. Thousands still wait for the ministry from priests! We are also engaged in giving retreats. There are a lot of vocations coming in; but the families and societies from which they come make it very difficult to sustain their vocation to be a priest and religious. If not with spiritual accompaniment of these candidates, we cannot make them realise the gratuitous gift of vocation. Now I am engaged in teaching and formation of these religious candidates too.

I want to be called ‘Moses’!

I want to be called MOSES; because I was drawn out of deep waters. Just before leaving for Zambia, I got the opportunity to bid goodbye to my family. On the compulsion of my nephews and nieces, I went swimming in the nearby pond. Due to my own negligence, I lost control of my senses; in those deep waters, I met the doors of death. But the Good Lord extended his help through the hands of my nephew. If not for (H)im, I would be dead today. I was reminded of the psalm which David prayed, Psalm 18:16, He reached down from on high, he took me; he drew me out of mighty waters. It was like Jonah, taken out of the water to be His messenger for Ninevites … It was like Moses being chosen to deliver God’s people from the slavery of Egypt … I was drawn out of deep waters… from my deep sinfulness and unworthiness (1Timothy 1:12) … for God’s plan which is to be fulfilled amidst the poor of the Lord in Zambia.

God Bless!

Fr. Joseph Thaikadan is a Salesian priest. Having served the order in various capacities in India and abroad, he is now Dean of Studies, Sacred Heart of Jesus Post Novitiate Community, Makeni, Lusaka, Zambia.