SHEPHERDING HOPE | KAIROS GLOBAL | JUNE 2022

Author:  Manoj Sunny

Intro: Jesus Youth International Formation Director and former International Coordinator, Manoj Sunny speaks to H.E. Bishop Paul Hinder, the outgoing Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia. 

About Bishop Paul Hinder

Bishop Paul Hinder was born in Switzerland, on 22 April 1942. He joined the Franciscan Capuchin Order in 1962 and was ordained a priest on 4 July 1967. After specialised studies in Canon Law, he obtained his Doctorate in Theology in 1976. He was active as a professor, in the formation of young Capuchins, later as provincial in Switzerland and as General Councillor in Rome for the worldwide Capuchin Order. 

On 20 December 2003, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Arabia and was ordained Bishop on 30 January 2004 in Abu Dhabi. In 2011, when the Vicariates of Kuwait and Arabia were reorganised into the Vicariates of Northern Arabia and Southern Arabia respectively, Bishop Paul became the first Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia which encompasses the UAE, Oman and Yemen. Having reached the age of retirement, Bishop Paul Hinder is to be succeeded by H.E. Msgr. Paolo Martinelli OFM Cap.

Q. Please tell us about your early life, your family, upbringing; growing up during World War II. 

I do not remember the war myself. Maybe, it is present in the subconscious because I must have heard the bombing of Friedrichshafen, on the other side of Lake Constance, when I was a small child, but I can't remember it. In fact, I only remember a strange meeting sometime in May 1945. I was in the arms of my mother, and people who gathered said, ‘So now this nightmare is over.’ That has remained in my memory. 

I was born as the youngest of four boys. The eldest was born in 1931, the second in ’33, and he later became a Benedictine monk. And then the third was born in ’36, and myself in ’42. I am the only surviving one now. My nephews and nieces all have their families and I'm in touch with them. 

My father was Wilhelm Hinder, who died just a few weeks after my ordination as a priest in 1967; my mother, Agnes Meile, survived him until December 1985. 

The conditions where I was born were very simple. It was a rural countryside, in the strict sense of the word. I cherish these memories, although it wasn't always easy. The food was simple. The whole lifestyle was simple. We had what we needed, we never went hungry; but we didn't have all the facilities, which a few years later became common, even in the countryside. I was very unfamiliar with the town, a small historical centre, about eight kilometres away, where we used to go sometimes to the market. 

We belonged to the countryside parish, about five kilometres on foot. At that time, we didn't have any other means of transport. Of course, we couldn't go every day, it was mainly on Sundays. Later, I used to bicycle to church.  That was the time when evening Masses were introduced, at least on Fridays. Our prayer life in the family was in a simple way. 

As a boy, I had to do my share of work, help my mother in the field, to collect potatoes or to remove weeds. Simple things that I now cherish, which I didn't like at all at that time! At the age of seven, I began elementary school, which prepared me later for secondary school, or as is called in Switzerland, Gymnasium.

Q. This was before the Second Vatican Council. What were the religious practises at that time, and how did you live your faith as a child?

As a child, my mother helped me learn my first prayers that I would pray before going to bed or during the day. I remember, once I was working with my mother on the field, we were harvesting potatoes. And my mother said, ‘Paul, you don't need to say a lot of words, you can simply say, “Jesus, have mercy on me. This prayer you can pray wherever you are, without making a lot of noise.”’ And that remained in my memory and I still practise it. Because sometimes we make prayer very complicated. But in reality, to be in touch with the Lord is a simple thing, if we are open to it.

Q. You celebrate your 80th birthday this April.  When you look back at these years, who, apart from your immediate family, has been a deep influence in your life? 

Surely my parish priest. I was for a while an altar server before I went to boarding school run by the Capuchins. The way he prayed and how he celebrated the liturgy made a deep impression on me. I'm still profiting from that experience. I had an uncle who was a Capuchin lay brother, a very simple man who was not very educated, but was very wise. He also made a big impression on me, without making a lot of publicity for his congregation! His name was Uncle Filiberto, my mother’s favourite brother. And every year, it was a joy to have him for two-or-three days at our house, when he came for his holidays. 

Later, at the boarding school, the Capuchins there had a very positive influence on me. As a boy, I had difficulties in school; I was not always disciplined, as I should have been, and created some headaches for my teachers. But on the whole, they deeply influenced me, especially certain teachers who accompanied me spiritually. I am still grateful to them, for guiding me through the difficult years of adolescence. 

Q. How did you discern your vocation to priesthood? 

As a child, I simply liked to go to church, and serve at the Mass. I thought how wonderful it would be if I too could one day be there at the altar, like my parish priest. This was a world which I liked. 

I remember how one of my neighbours used to comment, when as a child, I would sing the Preface in our home. He would say, ‘Are you practising to be a priest?!’ At that age, I didn’t know what it really meant. Afterward, it had to be matured, and that happened mainly during the seven years of boarding school with the Capuchins. And when I finally decided at the age of 20 to join the Capuchins as a novice, it was I would say, a maturation of the vocation.

Q. And your brother opted for the Benedictines.

He made his choice before me, because he joined as a postulant in 1954, even before I joined boarding school. And that I remember, was on the sixth of January, Feast of the Epiphany. When I was not yet 13 years-old, I went with my father to the Einsiedeln Abbey, where my brother was a postulant. That was the second time I was seeing this beautiful baroque church; I had been there as a first communicant in August 1951. I saw the beautiful liturgy and almost 100 monks, who solemnly entered the church. Seeing them, I wished that one day, I too would be one like them. Then I saw the abbot in his festive vestments, take the throne. I remember thinking how beautiful it was to sit on that throne, not realising that some fifty years later, when as a bishop, I visited my brother, the abbot led me to that throne and to lead the liturgy. 

But this road was everything but practical and convenient, as I dreamt as a boy. It was a world which simply fascinated me, and I was very often there. But finally, I decided to go to the Capuchins. And I remember once a Benedictine monk said, ‘You have made the right choice; not because I don't like you. It's better if two siblings are not in the same religious community!’

Q. You are completing 55 years of priesthood. Looking back, how do you sum it up? 

First of all, I was ordained during a transition time. The Second Vatican Council had just concluded, and the first signs of the post-conciliar difficulties began to show. And on the other side, it was a time of hope, of enthusiasm, a wonderful feeling of belonging to the Church, looking forward, and bringing a lot of joy to the people. 

Soon afterwards, I had to experience that not everything was only light, neither in the Church nor in the world. But I understood my priestly life as service to God, to the people. Celebrating the Eucharist, that was always something very important for me. And to do it, without falling into a routine – a spirit-less routine, as can happen. 

It was always, for me, an important point, to live the liturgy meaningfully, also with the heart. Then, of course, I like to preach, though it was difficult. People sometimes thought they could let it come out of the sleeves! But it was hard work, even till today. But I liked to share the Word of God, to give people hope and joy, because I was never a preacher who wanted to bring down the people, to threaten them with wrath of God. My concern was rather to bring them the Good News, without turning down the quality of the Word of God, to reveal that God loves us and our task is to love him back.

Soon, I was charged with responsibilities. My pastoral experience was relatively short in the beginning; afterwards I was entrusted with tasks within the order, to educate young Capuchins, to bring them up in the same spirit. Also, because it was a time of transition, nobody knew what exactly the right way was. I had to partly find it myself, of course in communication with my superiors. 

It was always both education work, leadership work, but also pastoral work in the parishes. I still cherish the five years I was in the mountain region in Switzerland, from 1981 to ’86. Every weekend, I would be in one of the parishes in the mountain region, with these people who had also to address real difficulties, economic difficulties, calamities, and so on. Also, since I came from a completely different region, without mountains and close to Lake Constance, I learned to read the pulse of the people living in the mountains in a simple way. I still have friends from that region till today. 

Q. It is now 18 years since you were ordained Bishop of Southern Arabia. How do you look at these years of being the spiritual father to more than 1.7 million Catholics there? 

First of all, it was not easy to accept at the beginning, because it was a break in my life. I had not joined the Capuchin order to become a bishop. That was difficult. I had to go through a process of discernment. 

Eight months before I was really appointed, I got my clarity, during the Holy Week, in Jerusalem, in the year 2003. While there, I knew of the ‘threat’ of my becoming a bishop. I took those days of the Holy Week as my personal retreat and discernment. On Maundy Thursday, I went from the Upper Town down to Gethsemane. I had tears in my eyes and said, ‘Lord, what shall I do if it happens?’ In the church in Gethsemane, I simply knelt down, with tears in my eyes and prayed with Jesus, ‘Father, let this chalice pass; but not my will, that your will be done.’

And then on Good Friday, I did the Stations of the Cross from Gethsemane up to the Church of the Resurrection, the Holy Sepulchre, always pondering this saying, ‘Lord, if it happens, help me.’ And then the celebration of Easter, was in a relatively small community with Cardinal Martini, who, at that time lived in Jerusalem. On Easter Sunday, in the afternoon, I went back to Rome, with peace in my heart. I continued my normal work for the rest of the eight months until the decision was taken. 

Coming back to your question; looking back, it is gratitude, gratitude for what I have received from the people here. Yes, I am the shepherd of the people, I’ve tried to do what I could. But I was also receiving, probably more than what the others received from me; that is something extraordinary. I feel in a certain way, guilty. Of course, a lot of things were achieved, building churches, being in touch with so many people; but at the same time, I see more of what should have been done. But on the whole, it is mainly gratitude to God, who allowed me to have this experience. 

I remember when I met Pope Benedict XVI then, I told him, ‘Holy Father, I didn't want to be a bishop, but if I have to be the bishop, I prefer to be bishop where I am now in Arabia. There are so many people who support and help me, and give me the feeling that here I can do a service that will bear fruit within the people.’

Q. Your motto is ‘Justice and Peace and Joy. Please could you share why you chose this motto?

I chose this motto from Romans 14:17, For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 

I had a certain experience of the Gulf, because I had come as a visitor of the Capuchins, who were working here. I also knew of how problematic the Middle East in general was – a conflictual region. There were many things that were not necessarily the expression of justice, in the societies. And so, it was my desire to serve. In a certain sense, a prophet of these values – justice, peace and joy. 

And looking back, as a bishop, given the situation of the people here, I knew that it was the right choice. I won’t pretend to have succeeded in establishing justice, joy and peace, but I hope that I could at least bring a share of it in my spiritual guidance of the people. By the way, the text of Romans 14 is the reading on the solemnity of Switzerland’s patron, St Nicholas of Flue, who has also influenced my choice. He is also venerated as the saint of peace in Switzerland, and he reminds me of this motto.

Q. You were always a prophet of peace. You played a very important role in the release of Fr Tom Uzhunalil, when he was captured by the terrorists. Could you please share your experience of that? And how is the present situation in Yemen?

First of all, my role was entirely in the background. Of course, I followed it, and tried to do what I could, but the main work was done by others. I'm grateful that finally after 18 months, he was released. 

The situation in Yemen remains disastrous. I have no other word; precarious, for many people, for different reasons. This country, these people have been hit for many years, by wars, sicknesses, poverty, internal conflicts. The Christian community has shrunk down to a tiny minority. It was never very strong in Yemen. Now there are just several hundred Catholics living there. They are surviving, doing what they can. 

The Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa are still there, in Sanaa, and down in Al-Hudaydah, on the shores of the Red Sea. There is a Missionary of Charity priest, who has been serving them for over two years.

There are a few Christians in Sanaa, and some in the southern part in Aden, but communication between other parts of the country is very weak. And we do not know how long this conflict will last. Their efforts to come to a ceasefire, to a just solution, will still take time – because people don’t trust each other. There are too many interested to continue the war, especially those who can profit off the traffic of arms, etc. I have not been able to go there. It has been six years since I was last in Yemen. It’s impossible for me to go there now. But I’m in touch with them by phone or internet – when it works there, keeping them in prayer. I know that those who have worked among the Salesians in Yemen continue to pray. And some of them hope to go back one day, if possible. 

Q. You've had the privilege of hosting Pope Francis, maybe the first ever visit of a Pope to the Middle East. Could you share some highlights of the visit? 

I would have liked to host him in the Bishop’s House, but it was not possible because of the security issue. And he was the guest of the Crown Prince. The official buildings, where he was accommodated, were just walking distance from here. 

It was undoubtedly a great moment. I would have preferred a bit more time for the Christian community, for the Catholics. That Tuesday morning was so intense, also for me, because I could join him for breakfast at the residence. Then I could receive him at the cathedral, with the people who were already there. There were young people, handicapped people, elderly, some priests, the nuns, and so on. That was a beautiful moment because after the official contacts, who are not necessarily the strengths of Pope Francis, he certainly became more joyful and serene, when he met the people at the cathedral, shook hands with everybody.

Then, I had the opportunity to travel with him in the same car, from the cathedral to the site where Mass was to be celebrated. It was the only moment where we had some sort of privacy, and could speak to each other. And then the change to the popemobile, the solemn entrance into the stadium, which was really overwhelming when I saw the joy of the people to receive the Holy Father, to participate in this Holy Eucharist. It was a moment when tears filled my eyes, tears of joy. 

And afterwards, I got the chance to introduce him, just a few moments after Mass, to people from Yemen. The Crown Prince had made it possible for them with an extra flight. Then I accompanied him to, and took leave from him at the airport. It was surely a historic moment

Also, the signing of the human fraternity document. I didn't know anything about it, and was not involved in the composition of the text. But once it was signed, we worked with it. I had to speak in several places around the world, answer questions of people who were not very happy about it, and to try to give a little bit of context. Of all the questions we may have to ask, an important step forward is mutual understanding, and to look for a minimum of common ground where we can work together and go forward together. And, of course, I met him again, later in a private audience. But I’m grateful, whenever I look back at this event. 

Q. The Church exists to evangelise. So every baptised Christian is a missionary and called to share the Gospel with others. But it is more of a migrant church in the Middle East. How will you look at the mission of the Church in this context?

I refer again, to an experience in my childhood, because we were somehow in a similar situation. There was little possibility of explicit evangelisation around us, we were mainly in a Protestant region. But I always experienced that evangelisation happens with the personal witness of the credibility of our life. 

When I came to the Middle East, I took to my heart what St Francis of Assisi told his brothers, who were going among the Saracens. The first was to live as good Christians among the Saracens, to be submissive to everybody and every creation. And I think that is the point we have to live here. We cannot evangelise in an aggressive way, as may happen elsewhere. And I personally think it wouldn't be the right way. But it is possible, in a modest, humble way to live our faith, to be honest, to be people who love, even those who oppose us sometimes. And this is seen by the others. 

I have also experienced witnesses, even among the Muslims, who look at us. Sometimes it starts with the Christians serving in a Muslim family. They have a big influence indirectly. Even if they may not be able to practise their faith in the full form, they bring over the message and understanding of love. Sometimes they can also speak about Jesus Christ, who is familiar to the Muslims. 

So, I encourage my brothers and sisters here that we accept, in humility, this our role. We are not a leading society, even the few who are rich, they remain foreigners in this part of the world. We share the destiny of Jesus Christ, who was not at home in his own country in a real way, and who was exiled at the very end, even to Golgotha, but there happened the essential. And I think if we simply accept this role in faith, without making an ideology of it, to live our faith in a credible way, that's what we can do. And I'm deeply convinced it works in one way or another; it may not be that the whole world suddenly becomes Catholic, but it will be impregnated by the reality of Jesus Christ.

Q. When you look at the upbringing of Catholic children and their faith formation, do you think people here face any challenges? 

We do try, and have established a system of Catholic Catechism in the whole vicariate, with formation also to our catechists, who can afterwards give a secondary formation to the children. Of course around the world, people look at how to best give Catechism to the children, in different ways. The perception of the Americans, would not be as that of the Koreans; the Indians unlike that of the Filipinos; Europeans from Africans, etc. So we have to find a way that can somehow fit everybody, but I dare to say we have in the Gulf catechetical formation, which may be better than in many parts of the world. Also, it's not perfect. 

When children reach adolescence, many of them ‘cool down’, even in their enthusiasm of faith. What I feel is that we may not always have given the right place to the youth in the activities of the Church; sometimes for reasons that have certain justification. 

Just this morning I had a discussion with one of my collaborators regarding involving people more in the ministries of the parishes, although they are still young. But it’s there they learn joy. I remember how I was proud to be an altar server, how later I was proud at the boarding school to be given certain responsibilities within the Marian congregation of the students’ association, how it motivated me to study and to share these things. And sometimes I feel, we are not seriously taking into account the potential of the youth. 

Coming back to the Catechism, we are working on that and it has to improve. We know the limits for different reasons, we are a structurally weak Church. We don't have the stability as churches in other parts of the world whose people have been living for generations in the same region. Here we have a coming and going. The percentage of those who are here for generations is relatively small compared to other parts of the world. And that reminds me that faith can also be left in the status of pilgrimage. And we are a pilgrimage Church basically.

I am happy to say that many who were in the Gulf, later move to Canada, or Australia, or the UK, where they become actively involved in the parishes there. They implement again, what they have learned here. Sometimes I hear in the vicariate that we form catechists, and when they have received a good formation, they move to a new place. But I say never mind, because they take their competencies and what they have learned here to a new place, which is also part of evangelisation. We shouldn’t look only at our own interests, we share. We die like the grain of wheat, which then produces more fruit. 

Q. Your Excellency, I heard that you used to sing, and you were a very passionate actor as a child. Do you still sing?

Now, of course, I have no more the same potential; in the liturgy, but otherwise, no. Earlier, I used to sing operas and classical songs of Schubert, Bartoni, and of course the Gregorian choral chants. That’s why I like to sing the Preface or the Doxology, whenever I have the opportunity. Sometimes the youth provoke me to sing a short song when we have a gathering. They want to hear the bishop!

Q. For the past 18 years, you have always been a good friend, advisor, a motivator and encourager of the Jesus Youth movement. What are your experiences with the Jesus Youth movement and some of your expectations?

My experience with Jesus Youth has been positive. I always considered them as an important part of our Church in the Middle East, who are actively on my side, loyal, faithful. When we have to deal with difficult questions, which are not perceived by everyone in the same way, it is important that there are people who go with the bishop, when some may oppose. I remember experiencing in Riyadh, when this group of Jesus Youth stood by the bishop at that time, in a conflict. I too had this same experience elsewhere. 

Then, of course, you have your pride, that’s your good right to be proud of what you have achieved as Jesus Youth; though it can sometimes lead to be a little bit of church in the Church. And that I have always given the opposite advice: that you have to work within the Church.

Be proud of your spirituality. Of course, you have your own way to address many things, but be integrated where you are the maximum possible, even if the label of Jesus Youth is not always on the forefront. 

I always think that you have to shift from Malayalam to English, to give you the chance to expand; otherwise, you'll remain a group of Keralites.  It’s as I said before, as a grain of wheat; you die within the Church to really flourish in a new way. And that has to pass also to the conversion of language that you have to deny your origins and continue to do that for practical reasons to win over other people. 

Q. What is your message to youth, families and religious? 

To rediscover, if it is not already there, the joy of the Gospel, to speak in the language of Pope Francis, because I see so many people criticising, seeing only the dark sides – be it of the Church, of society in their own life. Of course, this is a reality, I see the shadows probably more than other people. But the core of our faith is Jesus Christ himself, and with him, the Risen Lord, we can live the joy of the Gospel, at its full. But for that, we have to be open to the Holy Spirit, who is a Spirit of truth, yes, but also a Spirit of joy.

And whoever has a leadership function, he shouldn't be the one who laments all the time about the sins and weaknesses of the people, but to give hope, to show that Jesus Christ has the potential and the strength to change the human being, to lead also the sinner forward, bringing them up to holiness and sainthood. As Pope Francis has often said, every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. And if we give this, then young people can more easily identify. And we can also regain credibility we may have lost in certain parts of the world. 

But I hope that the little bit I can contribute to the spirit of hope and joy, not only in this part, but as people come from other parts of the world to the Gulf, they see that there is a Church life despite all the difficulties, and to bring it as a sign of hope to others who may have lost hope.

***

Manoj Sunny was both the first JY National Coordinator for India and the JY International Coordinator. He is presently the JY International Director for Formation.

Grateful Hearts!

H.E. Bishop Paul Hinder is a shepherd, who has been relentlessly working for the flock entrusted to his care, even at the age of 80!

I have fond memories of Bishop Paul Hinder with regard to the guidance he gave to our movement, and the way he guided the Church in Arabia. 

The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia is home to 150+ nationalities, a classical example of Catholicism. The needs of the faithful vary from community to community and language to language. Bishop Hinder, with his firm leadership, humility, and gentle way of listening to everyone has won the hearts of the people, communities, and fellow priests working under him.

When it comes to Jesus Youth, he has always been available for us, to join us, and guide us with his presence. The Jubilee Conferences held in India and in the UAE, were to name a few, events where he was present with us the entire time. 

We will miss a true shepherd, who has a special place in the heart of every Jesus Youth, and every Catholic in Southern Arabia.

Renjith Joseph is the current JY Middle East coordinator. He is an entrepreneur and lives in Abu Dhabi with his wife and three kids.