MISSION TALK | KAIROS GLOBAL | APRIL 2022

Author: Sijiya Antony

Intro: Sijiya Antony of Technopark, Trivandrum writes about her mission exposure programme to the villages of Visakhapatnam. 

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven (Mathew 10:32).

Omicron waves were hitting hard during those days and we were assigned Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh for our mission exposure programme. Both the pandemic-related challenges and two years of working from home were obstacles for our parents to agree to our mission plans. 

One day during Holy Mass, when Jesus was raised, I looked at his face and demanded, ‘I have longed so much to go for this mission programme. If it’s your will, please make arrangements at home for my permission.’

When I got back home, it was a huge surprise to receive a positive response from my parents. I do not doubt the intervention of my beloved Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist who brought about the change in attitude of my parents towards this mission journey. With their blessings now with me, I began with the final preparations for the journey as well as the leave from office without much hustle. 

Seven months of prayer, preparations and desire – finally our dream mission exposure programme was a reality. We had been learning and preparing spiritually for the mission through our online gatherings. Along with Fr Nigal CMF, 13 working professionals from Technopark, Trivandrum got ready for the journey. Though we were from different parts of the state, the oneness in Christ and Jesus Youth fellowship united us.

When your words came, I devoured them: your word was my delight and the joy of my heart; for I was called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts (Jeremiah 15:16). 

Bearing the powerful name of Jesus, we reached Visakhapatnam at 11.30 pm on 8th January 2022, where we were joyfully received by our JY friends there. Though tired from the long train journey, we soon rebounded and actively started off our mission programme immediately with a Holy Mass by Fr Nigal before going to sleep and rest. 

This mission programme found each of us unusually active and pleasant. Many programmes for the youth and children of Visakhapatnam diocese awaited us. Though not familiar with their language or culture, the love of Christ we were experiencing was easily communicated to the youth groups through gestures and bits of English that they understood. We played with them, prayed with them, sang and danced – we did not miss any chance to effectively communicate Christ with them. It was a fruitful experience for all of us and we silently witnessed the miraculous intervention of the Holy Spirit throughout our services.

Our journey to the hilly terrains of Visakhapatnam and the interaction with missionaries working in the villages there was one of the most enriching experiences of the mission programme, moreover it challenged us too. We were surprised to see the joyful attitude of villagers who lived with the bare minimum of resources. This challenged us to introspect – we who constantly complain about the missing luxuries. Those joyful villagers put us to shame!  

Along with Sr Anitha, a missionary working there, we went to visit the houses of Peddagondi, an agricultural village. There, we played with children playing in front of their houses, taught them action songs and learnt new games from them too. At their houses we were able to meet family members and greet them. We prayed before leaving each house and said goodbye with the Sign of the Cross. The warmth and happiness of the village was slowly infecting us too and our hearts filled with more and more joy and peace on visiting each house there. 

Another heart-warming experience was our visit to a tribal village in Araku valley. They welcomed us with their native Dhimsa dance and rituals. Their tiny church was overflowing with the villagers and we were surprised to see that everyone brought something they had as an offering for the church. They reminded us of the early Christian communities who shared everything they had with others in the community. We too gave them the small gifts we had bought and distributed chocolates to show our token of gratitude for their love. We celebrated Holy Mass with them and as Mass ended, it began to rain. It was like we were being blessed from heaven. 

We found time in between to discuss and study topics that would enrich our spirituality. We discussed the Catholic Church, sacraments and the new evangelisation. It was a blessing to have a priest with us to bring clarity and give us the right conclusions. We celebrated Holy Mass daily feeling every second of it like never before. Altogether it was a refreshing experience for each one of us.

We are grateful to all those who prayed for us and helped us during this mission. From our parents to JY friends, all did their part beautifully to make this experience real for us. Once again, it is a challenge for us to give more of ourselves for missions in the days ahead. 

In fact, preaching the gospel gives me nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion and I should be in trouble if I failed to do it  (1 Corinthians 9:16).

Jesus is inviting each of us to go to the nooks and corners of the world still unaware of the Gospel. Let’s respond to this call from our given circumstances by saying. ‘Here I am Lord, send me’. Let’s pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to witness Christ in our homes, parishes, workplaces and beyond, to the ends of the world. Let us live the anointing to be true disciples of Christ that we received in the sacrament of baptism. 

Glory be to God!

Sijiya Antony works as a QA engineer in Technopark, Trivandrum.