I got a surprise on Sunday morning. Fr. Joseph invited me to lead the prayers seeking blessing for a small new church in a village called Alliandal. The cost of building the church ( a replacement for a much older church that had fallen into serious disrepair) was sponsored by Child Aid Ireland. The building work started on December 1st, and was completed enough to have an Opening and Blessing Ceremony.
So I thought no more about the invitation as we made our usual journey through the countryside, visiting one or two places of interest to Child Aid Ireland along the way.
We eventually arrived at the new church. Crowds of people were gathered. All around the new church was lavishly decorated. I was attired in a white cassock (the type used by priests here when ministering at the liturgy. After we were greeted, we were honoured by the placing of a garland of flowers over our shoulders, and we made our way towards the church with petals of flowers strewn before us. One might feel a bit uncomfortable with something like this happening, but the ritual was purely one of rich welcome and honour to visitors.
The village where the church was built is an "out-station" in the parish of Mosavadi. Our administrator here in India, Joseph, served here as parish priest for six years, and though he had moved from the parish some time ago still designed and supervised the new church building.
Just after our arrival the electricity failed; a common occurance here. All was not lost, however, because a generator arrived after about an hour, and so began the Blessing and Opening Ceremony, followed by a display of Tamil dancing by young people dressed in wonderful colours.
.The previous one or two days, we had visited some of the neighbouring parishes, meeting children, parents and the parish priest. So for the occasion of the blessing, they came along as guests (dressed in white, like me, in the photo!). I have great respect for these men. They work in very isolated places which are afflicted by poverty. Financial resources in these parishes are non-existent. I imagine that the meagre salary that they receive is funded from outside the country. And yet, in the midst of poverty and little, there is much happiness and brightness in the people and priests we meet. Everywhere we go, we are received as honoured and welcomed guests; we meet smiling faces; we have interesting (translated) conversations; and we are always fed.
Sunday evening turned out to be a real highlight of my time in India so far. I had the feeling of a great sense of community and fraternity amongst the christians of Alliandal, and it was very privileged and humbling experience to be part of their joyful and faith-filled celebration.
