Last Sunday in October

Nellore St. Joseph's catholic cathedral church.
My classes here are about to finish. The subject I teach is almost over.
Since I came to Nellore immediately after the Kerala flood I retuned home only once. Its been so many weeks since I went to Mary at Vallarpadam.
Yes I miss Vallarpadam but not God. God is always with in us no matter where we are. Yes certain place help us to connect with Him more.
Thank you my lord for the wonderful opportunity to be in the village where you sent me. Bless me with the grace to do well what you have sent me to do. Help me to be useful to the people I come across. Never let me go to stray away from you.

Bless everyone Jesus who are in similar situation, struggling with life to make ends meet still enjoying the near finishes and misses.

Bless you my lord!

Realization

May you have the blessing and grace to be aware where you are in life, accept it with all your heart-good or bad and know fully well that your life's situation can change any moment no matter what you think or do.

Sunday at Nellore

23-09-2018
It has been two weeks since I went to Vallarpadam. A surprise opportunity for a guest lecturing at an institute in a village at Nellore, Andhra Pradesh has taken me away from my home town.

I went to the St. Joseph's church at Nellore for the Sunday mass. Though the mass was in Telegu  and I did not understand most of it did not lessen the importance of it. There was one of my students who came with me to the church. Though he was like me from Kerala and had the Same language problem, he never missed a Sunday mass. I had noted very proudly he was very attentive too.

Nellore town at the moment is celebrating the state festival of Rotella Ponduga at The Bara Shahid Durga. An event which signifies the religious and political harmony of the town. Both Muslims and Hindus exchange Rotis at the Durga, a ritual of thanks giving for a wish granted and a wish prayed for.

It was so nice being back at the St. Josephs, but I couldn't meet any of the sisters I knew at the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master.

Though, I couldn't be at Vallarpadam the spiritual happiness of being in the Gods  presence was the Same and the blessed memories of Lady of Ransom kept me smiling while riding a share auto rickshaw back to the village where I stay.

Never give up

During these trying time let us continue to remain positive. We can prevail over the hard time, we can rebuild our houses and our lost dreams and hopes.

Thank you Jesus for your wonderful example. Thank you apostles for bringing His message to us.

Death & devastation

What to say, what to write when so many have died and many of us have lost everything.
Even the mere thought of rebuilding everything both in money and in physical sense appear an impossible task.
Feeling lost and outraged. Outraged 'cos if this could have been avoided why was it not?
No matter how long we live, we will not forget the force with which the water came and the ones who are responsible for it.

Flood 2018

The Sunday after the Flood.
There were hardly a dozen people in the church at noon.
The horrible rain had stopped. But the neighbouring areas of Vallarpadam lay completely submerged in water. The church neighbourhood was safe.
When so many have suffered miserably being lucky is very humbling.

Sunday

Second Sunday after the awful deluge that destroyed us.
Our neighbouring areas like Varappuzha, Kodungallore, Njarakkal, Parur etc were completely underwater.