“I know who I put my trust into”

Père Maria Paschal GEORGE

I distinctly remember my first mass after the ordination. This is how my uncle, who was a bishop, started the celebration: “From the Blue bay to the Blue Hills” (suggesting that I was going from the seaside to another diocese located on the Blue mountain). Today, I want to express it differently: “from the Blue bay to the other side of the Indian ocean, from the end of India, to the Blue bay, from this side of the Indian ocean, to Mauritius”. It was in 1970 and summer was almost over. With great apprehensiveness, I climbed up the stairs of the parish and shyly knocked on the door. The priest opened it and scrutinized me: “Well… What is bringing you here?” Shaking, I said: “I would like to join the seminary.” His face lit up and he welcomed me as if he were waiting for me. “Were you sent by your father?” “No, I came here on my own…” He didn’t ask further questions, and only told me “Get ready for the selection in two weeks”. This is how everything started. At 13 years old, I entered the minor seminary. While living there, I completed my secondary education. I was filled with peace and joy, but there was something bothering me. I found the courage to reveal to the director of the seminary that I wished to become a missionary in the North of India. My parents were reluctant as there were all sorts of persecutions in this part of the country. After passing my Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1973, I expressed my wish to another diocese, in Ootacumund, located around 700 km away from home, in the same Tamil Nadu state. There, the bishop welcomed me with great joy, maybe because he was the director of the major seminary my brother was studying at. He sent me to college so that I could continue my studies. Once I had graduated from the Madurai Kamaraj University in philosophy, I joined St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore in order to study theology. And D-day arrived! On 25 April 1984, the Lord consecrated me with his anointing.

Mission in the diocese

Right after my ordination, I was appointed vicar in a parish dedicated to Mary. It was a huge joy for me to be in the field, visiting families and supervising young people, and faithfully accomplishing all the tasks my parish priest had given me. After two years, the bishop appointed me to another parish. This rushed nomination surprised me, but I remembered that “He who sent me is with me”. Putting my trust in him, I began my ministry. It was a fulfilling experience in a small parish, where I fought for the rights of the most vulnerable, often oppressed by the high caste families who lived there. Three years later, my bishop transferred me to another big parish, and, two years after, in another one. Despite all these changes, the closeness with my people brought me a lot of joy. But, once again, I felt a void, similar to what I had felt in the minor seminary. After many prayers and a lot of thinking, I told my bishop I wanted to be sent “elsewhere”, as a missionary. Much to my surprise, he received my wish joyfully, declaring: “Even if it means we won’t have enough priests, I will never oppose those who wish to work for our sister Church”. These words strongly encouraged me, and after a certain time, he sent me to France as a chaplain for the Indian Catholics in Paris.

He who sent me is with me

When I arrived in Paris, I noticed that the chaplain emeritus had already left his position, without any transition. I had to find everything myself. It was a great challenge, but He who had called me was with me. His presence continuously gave me courage. Little by little, I started meeting the families of the Indian community, discovering them and meeting them in various regions. My ministry was expanding. I lived in Paris, but I was rushing from Strasbourg to Marseille, from Angers to Reims, to meet them, support them and get them back on their feet. It was a beautiful experience that reminded me of saint Paul who had founded various little Churches while on his journey. At the end of my chaplain mandate, I met the late Father Raymond Rossignol, superior of the Paris Foreign Missions, and I expressed my wish to leave for another mission, towards the unknown.

« Here I am… For you have called me”

A few weeks later, Father Rossignol called me and told me: “We have a request from Mauritius. Would you like to go?” Woooaaah! Was it what my heart had been longing for? My heart was rejoicing in my whole being. Without knowing where it was, without knowing where I would go, I said: “Yes, Father.” And I gave it all to Mary, who has supported me since the very beginning of my journey.

A new horizon takes shape

I landed in Mauritius on 3 December 1997, on saint François-Xavier day. On this day, I felt a a mix of different emotions, because he was the one who had come to evangelize us. Our ancestors came from saint François-Xavier. What he gave us, we carefully hand it over. I was warmly welcomed by Father Henri Petitjean, Father Guichoux and Father Joseph Viot. This warmth of friendship and fraternity was no novelty to me. I had known them for more than five years at the MEP Headhouse in Paris. Later, I met our bishop, Mgr Maurice Piat, who appointed me as vicar of the Sacré-Coeur parish in Rivière-des-Anguilles, alongside Father Robert Giraud, Great soul. I arrived on 20 December, and on the 24, I celebrated my first Christmas mass. I was welcomed by many smiles, but also by dark faces. “Li ene Indian li. Li ene monper hindou li… Li ene malbar baptisé, li ene madras baptisé… » Everyone was expressing their feelings. However, it didn’t last long. Visiting the families with Désiré Esther, the president of the parish, was a true blessing, and it cleared all my doubts. My ministry was evolving in scale. I started reflecting upon my journey. From India to Paris, to then end up in Mauritius. “Yes, he alone led me along a path of detours” (Dt 33,10). Since I began in India, I have always believed that it was impossible to forget one’s first parish and parish priest.  Yes, once, more, it is true. I give thanks to God every time I remember when I started in Rivière-des-Anguilles. “[…] And everytime I pray, I do it with great joy” (Ph, 1, 3-4). They let me leave with a heavy heart in 2003 when the bishop appointed me to Saint-Anne, Stanley. “He who sent me is with me” (Jn 8, 29). A new experience in Saint-Anne and Saint-Odile. Supported by these two patron saints, I experienced a lot of joy in my ministry. Visiting the families always brought me a lot of courage, comfort and strength. Fifteen years in Saint Anne. I had never experienced such a long ministry. In 2018, I received a new nomination in Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Pointe-aux-Sables. This new nomination brought me closer to saint Mary Magdalene, of whom I only knew the name. A wonder, a new adventure on Mary Magdalene’s path, who shows us the only thing that truly matters: “Do not look at your fall, but fix your gaze on Christ, who is holding out his hand to you.” Discovering this saint has become a great passion and a great joy of mine. Today, my greatest happiness is talking and preaching about her and guide my people so that they could find in her a reason to hope.

My strength resides in him

I look back on the last forty years with a lot of gratitude. A journey accomplished with a lot of joy and a ministry carried out with a total trust in Christ’s merciful gaze. My second strength is the joy of my people, entrusted to my care. Their smile is my all-time strength, which constantly gets me back on my feet. I keep walking on the path of the one who called me, without giving in to discouragement, thanks to the Lord’s mercy and the wonderful smile of my people. I know who I put my trust into. I see my last forty years serving the Church. A life that testifies of devotion, dedication and strong faith. A journey marked by ups and downs, joyful moments and difficulties, but, most of all, by a constant commitment to the Gospel’s values and teachings. It gives me the opportunity to think about the many ways through which faith has been challenged, made stronger and richer. It is a time thanks to which I can remember the lessons I learned, the relationships I formed, the spiritual experiences I had and the blessings I received. It is also a moment to express my gratitude to the ones who supported me and guided me along this path: my family, my friends, the ecclesiastic authorities above me, and all of those who shared their testimony and their love. Finally, reaching forty years of service in the Church is the opportunity to look towards the future with a grateful mind and renewed determination. It is a moment to keep on serving my Lord and my Church, my mother, with zeal and joy.

Father Maria Paschal George, MEP