Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guwahati (Agenzia Fides) - "To be a missionary who proclaims the Gospel, build peace and act for reconciliation and brotherhood among people": this is the spirit of His Exc. Mgr. Thomas Menamparampil, Salesian Archbishop of Guwahati and current head of the Office for Evangelization, within the Federation of the Asian Bishops' Conference (FABC). On the occasion of his 75th birthday, the Archbishop talks about his 60 years of commitment to evangelization in an interview to Fides .
On the occasion of your 75th birthday, how do you remember the beginning of your ministry?
My only ambition was to be a missionary, a simple missionary. This is what I wanted to be, to help those in the needest situations and to speak about Jesus. It is a desire that has not changed: it is what I would like to do even today, after 56 years of religious life, 46 years of priesthood and 30 years as a Bishop.
What are your feelings today?
I am grateful to God. I feel just like a "novice" trying to learn the essentials of religious life, like a young priest timidly searching for ways of being serviceable, like a newly appointed bishop seeking to discover the central tasks of Episcopal ministry.
What are the fruits of many years of pastoral work?
We have brought into existence over 50 parishes, as many schools and colleges, institutions for the handicapped, 2 seminaries and 5 hospitals, I am happy and I will be truly happy if all these institutions fulfill the mission for which they were brought into existence. We worked hard, along with many members, and despite moments of pain, the results are what you see.
What do you mean by "moments of pain"?
For example, in 1996 a serious ethnic conflict in Assam drove 250 thousand people out of their homes and about 500 people were killed, houses burnt, entire villages destroyed, we were totally helpless. So many of my own flock were among the refugees, taking shelter under huts made from leaves, amidst slush and sicknesses and fear of death. It was to respond to this tragic situation that our Peace Team came into existence, first for relief, then for peace negotiations. Another painful moment was when one of my priests was kidnapped. I went through two months of agony, rushing around meeting people, discussing with leaders. Then he was released. The friends we made during those moments were immense help for our peace efforts later.
As Archbishop, you have come to be known for your Peace Initiatives. Can you say a word about your approach?
We have succeeded in being helpful on more than 7 occasions of serious ethnic conflicts. All I have tried to do was to tap the resource of good will that is always present on either side even during conflicts. It may be at a very deep level of their consciousness, but it is there. Our first step in times of tension is to make an effort to bring down the anger of the parties concerned. It is never an easy task. But once the anger comes down, people begin to think more logically and solutions emerge more readily. The hardest part of the negotiation, then, is to help remove prejudices: it is a decisive step towards the return of peace. Finally, we need to convince everyone to give up some of their rights for the sake of common good. Here Christianity has something to teach and our faith is very useful.
What can you say about the future of evangelization in Asia?
I have a simple suggestion: adopt a "Path of persuasion" in the way we relate to others. I think we can aim at "convincing" the mind or the heart - as Jesus did - rather than imposing an obligation. In Asia, we are not living in a secularized world, but in a society that takes religion seriously. What we have to struggle against is not atheism or paganism, but the misuse of religion for political and partisan purposes . Our task is not to plant religious faith in human hearts, but to ensure that faith contributes to the growth and development of the person. Therefore, we propose that Jesus Christ is the "Way, Truth and Life". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/11/2011)
