Day 6 – August 16

Today was my first Sunday morning in India. Much the same as in most parishes in the US, the pastor and I awoke and started preparing for the first Mass. The Mass was entirely in Kannada, the native language of the people of the State of Karnataka. Bangalore, now changed to Bengaluru, (spelled in different ways) is the state capitol. They have their own language with an alphabet and calligraphy of its own. Since consonants include vowel sounds (so, ba and bo are two different letters) transliterations ae difficult. To boot, Indians were taught hw to pronounce English by the English for whom vowels sound nothing like vowels in American English. Add to that my pain in recognizing an English word spoken by an Indian because we accent different syllables. This all means that it is hard work to make out what people are saying. Worse, they have to decipher my New York accent. The twain, if it does meet, only does so with difficulty.
Back to the Mass. The Church was beyond packed with the crowd overflowing. The music was enthusiastic. The choir was small; but everyone n the congregation took up any slack. The instruments were n electric guitar and a synthesizer. The sound was distinct but surely modern/popular. One major shock for me was that the celebrant received by intinction. Otherwise all was totally familiar to me. The lectionary was British. I liked that translation better than our own.
After Mass, as usual in the US, we enjoyed breakfast together in the rectory dining room. The rectory had a staff including a young man who performed all sorts of menial tasks and a cook/housekeeper. I believe there were other workers as well who also hve duties at the school. There is a guard at all times.
Today we visited another project. This was a home for children (from new born to teens) who are HIV+. Now, they also take in women with HIV/AIDS. The Servants of the Poor (a religious order of women formed in Kerela, India in 1969. They now have 652 nuns serving in 62 homes.) started the house in 2001 because no one would touch them. They would find these children abandoned in the gutter. First, there were two; now there are 74. Most of the 74 were abandoned. The sisters give them a home, love, care, milk, food, and whatever medications they might need. It costs 50,000 rupees (a little more than $1,000.00) a month to keep their ministry up. Sister Veronica, the superior, told me her greatest joy comes when she embraces children whom others, including their mothers, are afraid of. Her sadness comes whenever a child dies. She and the staff do get attached to the children. For her, serving the children is serving the Lord. And, there is no indication when another death will occur.
We watched the little toddlers play with one another. There was a great deal of interaction. When a one or two year old enters for the first time, he or she is extremely fearful. In about a day, they change. The happiness of the other children draws the new child to come and play together. It’s true. I witnessed that phenomena in progress.
The treasurer-for India of Love & Care presented Sister with a check from the donors in the US. It was generous. However, it covered only 2% of the home’s budget. They need more. Their greatest need is food.
That visit made the day.