Sapphire Evergreen: Three Decades and yet going!!

Three decades? It is no big deal! Mammootty, Mohanlal etc. have been in the field of motion pictures now for more than four decades and are still going strong. Many of my teachers and my colleagues in education had an active career lasting more than 3 decades.  So completing 3 decades does not appear to be a great career accomplishment. 

However, completing 30 years as a minister of the word and of the sacraments of the church, called to be a healer of the planet, makes one feel good - and I wanted to share that joy with the batchmates who have travelled more or less the same path for almost 45 years to accomplish this career mark. Setting aside the questions of careerism in all this, I will briefly narrate our inaugural gathering of the 'Sapphire'  or 'Pearl' anniversary of ordination as some have started naming the 30th anniversary. 

We were a small batch of just 31 - with 4 of us completing the theological formation at Jnana Deepa Vidya Peeth, Pune, 2 from Krist Premalaya Theologate, Ashta and the rest of us from Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram. Two of us have left active ministry to build their own small families, and one has been called to eternal life. Of the 28 remaining, 3 are in Germany, 1 in Italy, 1 in Kenya, 1 in Australia, 1 in the USA, 4 in Gujarat, 1 in the Philippines, 1 in Madhya Pradesh, 2 in Maharashtra, 1 in UP, 1 in Tamil Nadu, and the rest in Keralam. Our section master, Rev Dr Joseph Areeplackal has been in Peru for over 2 decades. 

Yesterday, May 26th 10 of us including Fr Master, gathered on the waters of Alappuzha for the launch of the Sapphire year. Mariyalayam (Josekutty) had been singlehandedly behind calling up people one by one and seeing to the logistics of the gathering place and food. Fr Master's presence served as a catalyst for all to gather. He appeared as young as he used to be 30 years ago! And he had good news to share on his health front. Joshy's presence (that too with a Glen Fohdry!!) was also crucial as travelling from abroad is never easy.  Joshy Plamoottill (generally, Play moottil) travelled all the way from Trivandrum (the last phase from Ettumanoor) befitting a religious using public transport, and managed to be at the venue in time. All others managed to get themselves to the venue in 3 vehicles.  Puncha (Jose Punchapudussery) who had just recovered from a bad road accident involving multiple fractures, was another key figure. Ampalathattil had problems with transport to arrive from the novitiate house in Punaloor. We remembered with pride that our small batch has produced a General Councillor (Paulson) and a Provincial (Mathew Manjakunnel), besides provincials in other orders (Titus, Mathew Perumpil...) and several others doing exemplary and effective ministry. 

The boat was spacious, the food was sumptuous and the snacks and drinks scrumptious - bearing labels of different parts of the world. The pure coconut syrup distilled naturally and locally added flavour to the gathering. Some key experiences were shared. 

The gathering remembered our fellowship and those who have departed from this fellowship through death.  Some very special experiences regarding health were shared by Mathukutty and Puncha. It unanimously resolved to find a better time with better planning to accommodate more people.  Mathukutty (Thengumpally) has promised to host it at Trivandrum. This could be considered a very good option. The other possibility is that of a gathering at the nature centre 'Bhoothathaankettu'.  However, Zachary aka Joshy had a private bill which proposed a gathering outside the boundaries of India - Srilanka, Male, Malaysia etc were hotly considered.  The other important resolve was to urge Puncha to go for a break from his tried and tested routine for a month-long health care programme.  Puncha has agreed to that (!!).  There were very dramatic revelations on the part of Joshy Plamoottil, which the gathering is yet to digest. 

We had an on-call conversation with our friends Varkeychan Thannippara and Job Edathinatt.  Though it was past midnight, Job still obliged and took up the call.  Showers of blessings were there at the beginning of the gathering and towards the end of it - en route trip back. 

The only regret is the short notice and the consequent inability to include our extended batch of the various other orders and dioceses. Hopefully next time. 

I was personally happy to make it to the gathering, as it was not easy to get a convenient flight that would not make me lose working days, which was accomplished. It was thanks to Paulson and the very agile Ginson at the wheels, that I could manage to reach well in time at Nedumbassery - Delhi, snatching a couple hours of sleep at the airport - 5.15 am to Lucknow Amausi - a metro trip to Hazrat Ganj, then a cycle rickshaw to bus station at Kesarbaug,  local UPSRTC bus to Sitapur to be picked up at Khairabad bus stop for a gruelling day with university inspection for a new course - with the core issue being how much each of the university expert panellists is to be paid - that is our UP style higher education and after all that, we yet struggle to get our seats filled.