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Thanks to our Missionaries
By Fr. Jose Valiaveettil (V.K.) SDB
Guwahati, Jan. 12. May the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of our Province be a time of gratitude to God who sent many missionaries to our land, to the North-East. May God grant eternal bliss to all the missionaries, and if it is His will let us see some of them being elevated to the altars.
Last week, I got an opportunity to visit Garo Hills as I accompanied Br. John Colombi who was going to Tura to meet Br. Eligius Khain. Br. Elig was not keeping too well; in fact he was in the Holy Cross Hospital but was about to be discharged from the hospital. The same evening he was discharged. But the next day he was unwell again, and according to Fr. Provincial`s instructions he would be taken to Guwahati shortly.

Br. Colombi and I visited most of the Salesian Houses and some other missions in the Garo Hills region. We paid a visit to Bishop Emeritus George Mamallassery. All our institutions were closed for winter holidays, but for a Salesian vocation camp that was being conducted on in Tura. We were happy to address the 43 boys who were gathered for the camp.

During the visit I could see the good co-operation between the Salesians and the diocesan Fathers and other religious groups in the Garo Hills. I could also see the tremendous growth of the Catholic Church in the past few years. About 20 years ago, the Catholic population in the diocese of Tura was below 80,000; today it is about 2,20,484. How grateful we need to be to the first missionaries in this area: Fr. Gill, Fr. Piasecki and Fr. Marmol. We cannot forget the contribution of the Servant of God Bishop Orestes Marengo, Fr. Julius Costa, Fr. George Stadler, Fr. Buccieri, Fr. Frassy and Br. Solomon. Thanks to Fr. Busolin, Fr. Victor, Fr. K.A. Thomas and other religious, priests and lay people who have toiled to bring the good news to this land.

I am very fortunate to have read the life of Bishop Marengo (written by Fr. Joseph Puthenpurakal). A very inspiring life! I believe the ``Devil`s Advocate`` in the process of his beatification will have no points to make! At present, I`m reading the life of the Servant of God Fr. Constantine Vendrame (written by Fr. Barnes). His life too is very edifying and inspiring. One incident from Fr. Vendrame`s life remains fresh and foremost in my mind, when I talk of an inspiring life:

`One day at the oratory of St. Vincent there arrived a poor woman with her two little children, one three years old and the other about a year old. She had fled from home on account of her druken husband who used to ill treat and had threatened to kill her. Fr. Vendrame took her into the orphanage and after instructing her in the faith, he baptized her and her two children. Two weeks after the husband whose name was John and who hailed from West Khasi Hills appeared at St. Vincent.
``Are you Fr. Vendra?`` queried the man angrily.
``Yes! Khublei``, replied Fr. Vendrame with a gentle voice.
``Where is my wife?`` the man said in a threatening voice.
``I keep her [here] because I know that you ill treated her and wanted to kill her``, said Fr. Vendrame.
``Send her here, I want her``, demanded the man.
``No``, replied Fr. Vendrame resolutely, ``She is baptized and will not go with you anymore.``
The wife who was listening to all this conversation, began to weep bitterly. Then all of a sudden the man became calm and mild as a lamb.
``No, she must not be afraid``, continued the man in a gentler voice. ``I can see you are God`s man. The sight of you changed my heart. Please call my wife. I want to ask pardon from her``.
The man had actually carried along with him six bottles of kiad (a Khasi liquor) and a knife. He had intended to drink the liquor and then kill his wife and the missionary as well. At his request Fr. Vendrame called his wife and on seeing his wife and the children, the man took out the bottles of kiad and poured them on the floor and then broke the bottles into pieces. Then he took out the knife and handed it to Fr. Vendrame telling him that he could use it for kitchen purpose. [...]
Mr. John who had actually completed Class IX, soon became the Rangbah Balang (Church elder) and became Fr. Vendrame`s right hand man.` (Burnt Out for Christ, pp. 25-26.)

May the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of our Province be a time of gratitude to God who sent many missionaries to our land, to the North-East. May God grant eternal bliss to all the missionaries, and if it is His will let us see some of them being elevated to the altars.

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