SHEPHERD'S VOICE - WITNESSES OF SUCCESS | KAIROS GLOBAL | OCTOBER 2020

Author: Arun George Joseph

Intro: Arun George takes excerpts of the interview with Ecclesiastical Advisor, His Excellency Bishop Mar Raphael Thattil by Chris Cammarata, a Houston JY. The interview aired on Kairos Global YouTube Channel

His Excellency, Bishop Mar Raphel Thattil entered priesthood in 1980. Having studied theology and canon law in Rome, he became the first rector of Marymatha Major Seminary in Thrissur, Kerala, in South India. Thirty years later in January 2010, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Thrissur. On January 7, 2018, Holy Father Pope Francis appointed him as the first Bishop of Shamshabad’s Syro Malabar Diocese. His simple way of life, innate humour and youthful personality has earned him a place in the hearts of many young people. Bishop Thattil, who serves as the ecclesiastical advisor to the Jesus Youth International Council sat down with us for an engaging and thought-provoking chat. The complete interview by Chris Cammarata, Jesus Youth Houston, USA is available on Kairos Global YouTube channel.

What if somebody asks you, ‘Who is Bishop Raphael Thattil?’

I come from a very ordinary family. I'm the tenth child of my parents; soon after my birth my father died of a massive heart attack. So I do not have many memories of my father. I see my whole life as a gift from the Lord and consider my priesthood as my gift to God.

When did you first feel that calling in your heart to follow Christ?

I was an altar boy from the fifth standard, very faithful, and obedient. After I passed my tenth standard (in India we call it matriculation examination), I told my mom for the first time of my desire to be a priest. She was very happy but encouraged me to continue my studies in junior college, for then I would be more mature. My elder brothers too felt that it was too early for me to join the seminary. But my parish priest encouraged me, telling me that I could do my junior college and join the seminary at the same time. So, at the age of fourteen, I entered the minor seminary of the diocese, without ever having second thoughts about it. I have always loved the altar and serving the Lord and am a very satisfied priest. Praise the Lord! This December 21st will mark my fortieth year of priesthood.

What would you say is your first message to all the youth of the church?

Recently the Holy Father Pope Francis said that the youth is referred to as the tomorrow of the church, that they’re the future of the church. But, he said, we have to correct it. They are the today, and our investment should be for the youth. Very often we feel that youngsters need to grow more, need to be mature so that they can contribute. But I consider youth as the treasure of the church. The Holy Father made another allegory. We read in the gospel about the young man who found treasure in a field and then sold all his possessions and bought that piece of land. You have to turn the interpretation up-side-down. The church has found out a treasure in the field, and that treasure is our youngsters. We should sell all our possessions, so that we possess our youngsters. I think that youngsters are the future, and the treasure of the whole church, without them the church is zero. 

What are some extraordinary treasures/ talents/ some things that have really inspired you about the youth from your travels all over the world? 

I think the younger generation, of not just the church but society as well, are the most natural part of the human race. That portion with a lot of initiatives and generosity. Sometimes, we see only the negative side of adulthood. We forget to see the good side of the youth.

For example, Jesus felt compassion for the crowd that had stayed listening to him; and he asked how the people could be fed. Peter said that it was too late – it was already evening, and they didn’t have the money either. He asked Jesus to disperse the crowd so that they could go and find food themselves.

But Jesus asked the crowd if anyone had something. Nobody, except a small child came forward, with five loaves of barley bread and two fish. He was brought by Andrew before Jesus, who opened his hands and asked, could you give me. Without a second question the child surrendered it all. Jesus looked up to the heavenly Father, thanked, blessed and broke it; and that became the multiplication of the loaves. The miracle I think is that Jesus saw that young child in the crowd. But the two apostles did not find him except Andrew. So this, I feel is the problem – very often there are a lot of positive things among the youngsters. But we are not able to discover it. We are not able to discover those gifts and talents the young people have to offer.

The church, especially the traditional church considers its possibilities to be within its walls. In other words, a closed-off church. If you look into the documents of the Second Vatican Council, there are two documents which speak about the role of the church. One is the role within the church, the other is in the world. The space for the youngsters becomes more relevant in the world. 

I know one doctor who is very reputed in India. A good physician, he is not a man after money. He serves people with a lot of love. Before handing over the prescription of medicine to the patient, he will give them a medal of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, telling him that my dear brother, you may be a Hindu, a Muslim, etc. … I'm a Christian, but I tell you that doctor and medicine may take you only half the way. God alone can take you all the way. In an interview with Shalom he said that his mission and ministry was not inside the church, but his role as a young doctor was in the world. 

So I think that very often, we are not utilising the talents of our younger people, especially those talented in sports, music, media, etc. We have to give them the chance to make use of their talents to glorify God and to build the church.

Many young people have an eager desire to serve the Lord but are bombarded by so many different voices by the media, by technology, by so much noise. So how do we as young people learn to be quiet and listen to the mission that God has given to each of us in our hearts? How do we discover our personal mission in the church?

One of the best models, I consider for youth apostles in the church, is Don Bosco. He played football with difficult boys. He would perform magic to attract youngsters. According to the Salesian spirituality, every child is a world of possibility, every child has a lot to contribute – to Jesus, to the world, to the Church. But we have a very flawed attitude that youngsters are bad, youngsters have nothing to offer, and youngsters are very negative. No. I think that even in their negativity, they would like to tell a lot to the Church

What great services/ benefits can young people give to the church today?

Music, sports, events, media … these are some of the areas of interest for our youngsters. Jesus Youth has a beautiful music band, Rex Band. I was in Dubai for the jubilee celebration of Jesus Youth movement in the gulf and I found at least 10 to 12 teams of bands. I have a feeling that we have to give more chance to the youngsters. The young are forthright and will openly tell you if you are in the wrong. It is uncomfortable, but they tell the truth and we sometimes fear the truth, so I think that the youth are more sincere, more talented and can contribute more to the church.

What would you say is the role of Jesus Youth as a movement in the church today?

In a quarter century, Jesus Youth has proved to be a very powerful, fruitful and faithful movement and I am very much attracted by their motto – a missionary movement at the service of the Catholic Church. Recently when the Holy Father celebrated the extraordinary mission in October 2019, he wrote a beautiful letter to the Universal Church that concluded with a quotation, “a church if not sent will naturally end”. I think the tragedy at present in the developed countries with the downfall of the church, is an aftermath of missing the dimension of mission. So I like Jesus Youth as a missionary movement. Secondly, at the service of the church.

 In the 17th century we discovered continents geographically and began sending missionaries to baptise. In the church of the present, we have new continents like media, music, sports, television, social media, etc. Evangelisation has three phases. Evangelisation, re-evangelisation and new evangelisation. The work and the mission of the Jesus Youth movement, is to “baptize”, complementing these dimensions to build the church. The role of Jesus Youth movement is in the field of new evangelisation. The same mission, but in a new way. Jesus Youth movement has some magical charisma. They are conquering young hearts. It has contributed so much to the mother church through vocations, good families, youngsters, etc. I love Jesus Youth, as it has great success with being witness.

Arun George is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Marian College Kuttikkanam, Kerala, India