The Jesuits in Galle, Sri Lanka, were planning to open an apostolic
school to promote native vocations. Having heard about it from
Fr. Starace, I showed great interest in going to Sri Lanka and
joining the Jesuits. This came from a sense of adventure, certainly,
but also from a certain sense of mission, since it provided an
opportunity for me to work outside of Kerala, that already had
a large Christian community since the times of St. Thomas and
St. Francis Xavier.
After considerable reflection and prayer, I offered myself to
work in Jamaica. I had learned a little about Jamaica and got
interested in the island for the first time from my good friend,
Fr. Kenneth Ramsay, a Jamaican diocesan priest, whom I first met
at Coop City in New York in 1972, while he was visiting his relatives
there. Jamaica offered me an outlet for my apostolic dream to
work among the disadvantaged and for the poor.
Soon after my return the new Jesuit superior told me: "St.
Helen's needs a priest who is relatively young, healthy, and with
experience working among the poor. Your experience at St. Patrick's
in Waterhouse certainly qualifies you for this job. We will give
you all the support you need. A retired Jesuit from Boston College
has been there for a few months and he found the parish too extensive,
with five missions, and hence has moved to Port Antonio."
And I was very happy to take up the challenge.
Looking back on my simple life as a Jesuit, as a priest, I am
full of gratitude to so many around the world. To my family, to
begin with; then to my companions in India, Sri Lanka, Naples,
the U.S., and Jamaica; to my friends all over the world, especially
those in Kingston and St. Catherine, Jamaica; to my superiors,
especially to those who were very good to me, encouraging and
inspiring me; finally, to the children and teachers at St. Patrick's
Primary School, Donnington All Age School, and especially at St.
Helen's Prep School. Sometimes I wonder why the good Lord has
been so good to me, while the world around me seems to be beset
with so much sorrow, tears, and tragedy! Indeed the Lord writes
straight with crooked, mysterious lines! And I exclaim from the
bottom of my heart: Thanks, dear Lord, for all that has been.
Yes, dear Lord, to all that is to come.
