The person who moulded me as
a Jesuit…
On August 1, while offering Mass in the morning, I got
a few missed calls from a Jesuit companion. Guessing something important, immediately
after the Mass, I called him back. On receiving my call, he said, “Fr Aelred
Gomes is no more.” This news came to me as a huge shock. I was well informed about
his illness, but his sudden departure was beyond my imagination. Last year
around this time, I spoke to him over the phone. He inquired about my study, my
future plan, and promised to share with me certain issues when we meet in
person. Had I known that would be my last conversation with him, I would have
talked to him a little more!
My first meeting…
In 1998, I was studying in Notre Dame College and was staying
in the BCS hostel, Asad Gate in Dhaka. It was the time that I began to interact
with the Jesuits (the Society of Jesus), that later become my second home. I
was in touch with Fr Jerry Gomes SJ (then a scholastic) and was trying to
explore the possibility of joining the Jesuits. One day, Fr Jerry informed me that
his Provincial Superior, Fr Aelred Gomes SJ, was on an official visit to Bangladesh
and he would come to the hostel to meet me. I was little bit nervous and
anxious to meet an Indian priest. But the simplicity of his life and the
intellectual calibre had touched me on the first meeting itself. He wore very
simple dress, had put on cheap sandals and carried an ordinary handbag with
him. After the initial talk, he began to talk Rabindranath Tagore, Bangla band,
cinema, computer, cricket...finally just before leaving, he invited me to join
the Jesuits after the final exam.
My second meeting…
I did join the Jesuits in Dhaka after my final exam in
1999 along with another four companions. In 2000, having completed his tenure
as provincial Superior, Fr Aelred came to Bangladesh for a short break. We
began to stay in the same community and he began to teach us English. His
creative method of teaching English was remarkable. Once during prayer on the
Eid day, the biggest Muslim festival, he made us read a short refection on the
inner meaning of Eid from the Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo and asked us to reflect and pray. It was the first time
ever in my life that I had the taste of a different prayer. During his stay
with us, he made us to see, reflect and know the world from a very different
perspective. He was always eager to learn and could easily engage in
conversation from spirituality to computer, from art to sport, from philosophy
to politics …and list is endless.
My third meeting…that till the end of his life
After having completed the pre-noviciate in Dhaka, I
along with another three companions were sent to Calcutta for the Noviciate,
the first canonical stage of Jesuit formation. Just before going for the
Noviciate, we were told that Fr Aelred Gomes would be our Novice Master. Thus,
in the Noviciate, I began a journey with him, which lasted almost till his
death.
I have many memories of Fr Aelred. He is the man who
moulded me as a Jesuit.
Today,
- If I claim that I have some Ignatian spirit or Jesuit spirit, it is because of him.
- If I claim that I have certain principles and philosophy of life, it is because of him.
- If I claim that I love Tagore songs, or classical Bengali films, it is because of him.
- If I claim that I can pray with text of some great personalities or Sacred Scriptures of other religions, it is because of him.
- If I claim to enjoy the inner beauty of consecrated life it is because of him.
I have many memories of Fr Aelred. I am ever grateful
to all that he had done and been to me. Thanks Fr Aelred for being so kind to
me, for inserting in me the spirituality of St Ignatius and for encouraging me
for what I am today. We shall meet again...till then continue to inspire me...
(This short piece I penned immedieately on hearing the death news of Fr Aelred Gomes SJ)
