Wanted: Looking for a few good men. Develop lifelong friends, learn English, complete your education, and acquire specialized skills in our comprehensive program. Employment is guaranteed after completing program. Package includes: Total job security, Housing, Travel opportunities, Heavenly fringe benefits package, Stylish uniforms. Must be willing to work weekends. Apply: nearest seminary.
The Pope wants to know why the vocations are flourishing in India and not in the West where they are in decline. I've wondered about this too so I've asked. The answer I get from the older priests is: poverty. They refer to the great Irish Famine as a historical precedent. Men became priests during that time just so they had a chance to get something to eat. This undoubtedly must be a factor and it may even be the impetus for starting the process. But it can't be the only motivating force based on what I've seen.
At least two other factors are involved. One is that they talk about the vocations here. The children are exposed to real life examples and the vocations are respected, valued, honored lifestyle choices. Also, no one starts dating at age 12 like in the West. Marriages are arranged by the family and according to their timetable. No one expects to meet someone, fall in love, decide to get married and start a family. They wait until their family makes the decision. So there are no attachments formed between young men and women.
The wash out rate at the seminary is very high- anywhere from 50% to 95%. Some leave, some are asked to leave. It normally takes 14 years after grade ten to become ordained and the Bishop just ordered another year added on. They do everything in English from the minute the enter the minor seminary, regardless of whether they've had English as a subject in school. telegu is the native tongue here.
Nothing about this educational track is easy and when they "graduate" they can look forward to a life of service in impossible conditions, continuous hours, a complaining public, and a life of total obedience where no decision is ever again totally your own. Poverty is a given, even though the Diocesan priests don't take the vow, they sure live like they did. The priests in this Diocese will easily travel five+ hours to say a feast day mass together, then turn around at 10:00 at night and drive all night to get back. There's little accommodation here and their work it back at the parish.
There is always disagreement in any organization and the Diocese is no different than any other "family". But I've seen incredible displays of unity and for the most part, they sure look like they are happy with their lives. I've heard some say that they'd rather die than not be a priest anymore and I know they mean it.
- Father Bala runs a leprosy colony. He's 59. He's been there 3 years already and he knows that the likelihood of ever leaving for another post is slim. Nobody wants to be sent to an isolated post like that, he's older, and he's had a chance to do mission work in Africa, so he knows this is where he'll likely be for as long as he can still say mass. One hundred percent of the inmates are there to die. They are all Hindu.
- Several of the priests came from more affluent backgrounds. They could have joined their local diocese where life would have been considerably easier but they choose to come to Cuddapah. Cuddapha is considered a mission posting even in India. Life is no picnic here for the residents and it's certainly no picnic for the priests. Their housing is old, leaky and rustic in the extreme. Most don't have a cook. A few have their moms live with them. A few get meals from the local nuns. The rest are on their own. There is no airconditioning in the villages. They are lucky to have power. Most of the time, it's cut for ever increasing hours per day as the days get hotter.
- All of them stretch their meager allowances to support someone. A few send money home to family. But most of them are also supporting someone who has no one to help them- an orphan they're putting through school, someone who is ill, the stories go on. This assistance is done outside of the normal channels and it's completely on their own. Most struggle to figure out how they are going to gather up enough for the next tuition, medication, etc.
If they became priests because they were looking for a life with purpose, then they have found a great occupation.
if they are looking for a life with purpose, then they have found a great occupation
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