Reflecting on my Religious life

Backward and forward
I am now 10 years old a Jesuit! Time went very fast! It only seems like the other day that I joined the Jesuits. I have been staying outside my country ever since I joined the Jesuits. So I decided to reflect on my religious life so far...

Meeting a Jesuit for the first time
“Father if I want to join in your Society what should I do” was my first sentence ever spoken to a Jesuit, namely the late Fr.Joseph De’Souza, when I was a student of Dhaka Christian Hostel.
“You have to learn English” he replied smilingly. I gave up the idea immediately since it was almost impossible for me to learn English. Later on, when I joined the pre-novitiate, I once asked Fr.Joseph jokingly, why he had put forward the condition of learning English? He replied that he wanted to encourage me to learn English.
First visit to a Jesuit Residence
It was on a weekend, one of my friends requested me to join him, when he was going to a Jesuits residence. I gleefully accepted to escort him just to have some sumptuous food and gala time. When I reached the Jesuit residence Fr.Jerry (then Sch.Jerry) warmly welcomed me. Before I could express my desire to join the Society, he mistaking took for granted that I was their feasible candidate. He took my address and began to correspond with me. It was from him that I came to know about the Jesuits and their works. Consequently most of my weekends were spent in the Jesuit Residence.
Changing track
When I was about to finish my Interdemiate exams Fr. Jerry returned to Calcutta. I was supposed to join after the final exams, but his departure made everything indecisive. Finally I decided to do a computer course and pursue my higher studies. On a particular day I went to the computer centre to enroll myself but decided to get admission the very next day. When I returned home I found a letter from Fr.Ignatius, asking me to join at the earliest. The next morning I landed up at the Jesuit Residence. From then it had become my permanent home.
As a Jesuit
I came to Kolkata in 2000 for my novitiate and subsequently did my juniorate and college studies. In 2003 when I returned to Bangladesh I was already a Jesuit Scholastic. From then on I have been regularly visiting Bangladesh every year to renew my visa. When I joined the society the Jesuits were almost unheard of. After three years when I had gone to Bangladesh I could see the Jesuit presence was tangible. Fr.Aelred’s and Bishop Linus’ involvement with the BCR and CBCB initiated the Jesuits in the religious circle and Church hierarchy. Practically all the Jesuits were much sought after for their retreat ministries, youth animations and Sacramental ministries.
The time is ripe
Now the Jesuits are into the formal ministries. We have taken up a parish and helping in a school. We have ventured out from Dhaka city to the rural areas. Many young boys are coming forward to join us. What is most astounding is that most often they themselves take initiative and join us. In Bangladesh, we Jesuits we can do a lot. Some of the ministries, which Indian Jesuits are doing in shaping up their nation, can be implanted in Bangladesh. I remember, once a diocesan priest telling me, ‘Take up some challenging ministries and give us a new direction. Only you Jesuits can do it with your rich traditions and experiences’. I think time is ripe for us. With the ordination of Deacon Kajol and two more to be followed soon, the galaxy of Jesuits can do fabulous work in Bangladesh. Are we not ready to set out and listen to the signs of the time…?

(Ripon Rozario sj)