How I First Came to This Country.

How I first came to Canada is indeed quite the story.  I was already a Jesuit priest working in a school mission in Sangamner, a small town in the State of Maharashtra of the Pune province in India. 

In July 2005, I lost my maternal aunt of 87 years who was instrumental in raising my two sisters and myself. We were orphaned at a very early age, when our parents died in a road accident. The loss of my aunt brought great sorrow to me, and also to our relatives in Canada. She was the matriarch of our clan.   

It was in such a crisis, that my first cousin in Canada  generously invited me over and would even sponsor me.  I was shocked for I did not think my provincial would agree for me to even think of the trip.  However, my spiritual director understood me and coaxed me to ask the provincial.

So when the provincial came to visit, I very nervously and timidly asked him for his permission.  It was as if asking for the moon, it was hope against all hope.  He refused and even encouraged me not to give it a second thought or even contemplate it for very long.  

When I met my spiritual director again after a some time, he encouraged me to represent my case again to the provincial, and assured me, that if he was the provincial, he would have granted me permission to go and visit my relatives. Imagine my great surprise to learn a few months later, that my spiritual director was appointed provincial effective immediately.

Soon after, the new provincial visited my ministry, and with great renewed hope I requested permission to come to Canada, and of course it was granted. 

Now began the process of obtaining the visa.  A travel agency did the work for me. My cousin in Canada, Vince Leitao, who had a successful pharmacy business helped me with the sponsorship papers to visit Canada on a tourist visa. 

In the meantime, I contacted my retreat director from many years ago in North Point in Darjeeling India,  Fr. Van SJ and asked him if he knew of any parish in Canada that would be interested in receiving my help for six months.

Some weeks later, I found a letter from Fr. Jean Marc (the then provincial of  the Jesuits in English Canada ) in my junk mail, and was about to delete it as I had never known him, but out of curiosity I read a letter of enquiry. I found myself thanking God, that I did not delete it.  I replied immediately to his letter, and stated that I would be happy to work in any parish of his choice during my six month visitor visa tenure there.  The work would distract me from the pain and loss I was feeling in my heart.  

In his next mail, he asked me:  “would you like to work at the Shrine ?”  “Of course” I replied, as  I’d give anything to be there from what I had learned about the Shrine .  I was simply elated at this prospect. 

Come the 25th of June 2006, I find myself at Pearson International airport, picked up by my cousin, and taken to his home, where I met his ailing mother,  who was eagerly awaiting for me.  She spoke non stop for over three hours, and enquired as to how everything went on with the funeral of aunt Sophie Leitao the matriarch, about the other relatives back home in  India.  Later that night, she woke up at 2am asking for me. I was fast asleep and I did not hear a word

Others came to console her but did not dare to disturb me and call me to her.  When I woke up my cousin told me that she was asking for me.  I immediately went to her, but she lay unconscious, and breathed her last in the hospital a week later. 

Her departure truly moved me, and I marveled at God’s ways in my life to bring me in time for her departure into the hands of our Heavenly Father.  In the mean time, I managed to meet with the Canadian provincial, who directed me to meet the then director of the Shrine, Fr.  Alex Kirsten SJ who needed me urgently at the  Shrine as it was in full season. He asked that I come with clergy shirts. 

Fr. Jean Marc gave me some money and asked me to go to the nearest church store near the Jesuit headquarters and I purchased what I needed.   A few days later, I would be at the Martyrs’ Shrine, beginning to minister to the thousands of pilgrims who visited that summer. 

On a fine morning in July, my whole family drove me up to the Shrine in three cars. I was met by Fr. Larry Brennan SJ at the front desk.  His first words to me were: “you are late by a week, you should have been here a week earlier ! ”.  To which I replied, with the loss of my aunt I was delayed. 

As we all sat in a basement room discussing things in general, Fr. Alex Kirsten arrived in his shorts and a baseball cap. Our first thoughts were that the gardener that had come to say hello.  Instead, we were shocked to discover that it was the director coming to greet us.  He asked me to come for a meeting at 5pm in the recreation hall. 

Come 5. pm in the recreation room, we were all sitting in our chairs, with our glasses and snacks in hand,  introducing ourselves to each other.  Fr. Kevin McKenna SJ, Fr. Joe Newman SJ.  Fr. Steve Leblanc SJ, Fr. Larry and Fr. Alex were all relaxing over refreshments.  I was looking at my watch to see when the meeting would begin.  Supper came and I was still waiting for the ‘meeting’ to take place. Later I learned that this ‘meeting’ is a fellowship time for the Jesuits at the Shrine at the end of a working day.

I found life at the Martyrs’ Shrine very interesting, and was eager to be present in  every possible way and to be of service to one and all who visited the Shrine. I was thrilled to encounter so many nationalities and cultures who came to this holy place in prayer.  Unfortunately, the time came for another season, and time for me to return to India. 

I had asked my provincial permission to extend my stay here in Canada for another six months.  Instead I got a letter ordering me in holy obedience to  report back to the Pune Province.  Or else…..  It was a shocking letter to me, and to my cousin here, who suggested that I leave the Jesuit order, and join the diocese.  I was not inclined to even think of such a thing.  As I returned to my province, I told all in Canada, that I would return with permission from my provincial. 

I then reported back to my provincial in Pune, who accused me of ‘fishing in some else’s pool’, and of being a ‘deserter’, and heaven knows what else…  Even the expensive  Scotch I picked up from the duty free in Paris, did not quell his rage.  I then took a hasty departure from his presence and went about my work, assigned back to my previous ministry at the school in Maharashtra. 

After my tershianship, I was assigned to a parish in Kolhapur District in Maharashtra State. But I still had this deep yearning to minister to the pilgrims at the Martyrs’ Shrine so much so that in October 2008 I once again went to my provincial asking if I could return to ministry in Canada.

 His response, was to contact the Canadian provincial and ask his thoughts on it.  My heart was so glad that I immediately went to the nearest internet café and wrote to Fr. Alex of my availability to help out at the Shrine that summer.  I got in touch with the then provincial Fr. James Webb, SJ. who approved my working at the Martyrs’ Shrine in 2009; even offering to pay my airline ticket.  Such amazing generosity.

The Second Coming.

My  prayers had been heard.  I finally arrived in Toronto on the 9th of June. 2009.  Fr. Alex, came to pick me up at the airport, and we spent the night at the Canadian Martyrs’ residence in Toronto.  The next day, I had an interview with the provincial of Canada, who asked me if I would be interested in schools.  To which I responded, that I did not wish to be a ‘policeman’, and that I had spent many years in teaching.  He had a hearty laugh at this.  Then Alex and I left for the Shrine, a place that already felt like a second home.    

One day, an old lady who visited the Shrine, came into the sacristy after mass, and asked me my name.  I told her that it is ‘Patrick’.  Then she asked me my ‘Indian’ name.  I told her that it was still ‘Patrick’.  Looking puzzled, she then asked me as to when I became a Roman Catholic.  I told her that I was baptized as an infant. She then asked me, as to when my parents became Catholic.

So I told her ever since St. Thomas the apostle came to India sometime after Christ’s resurrection – in 43 AD to be precise – people were born Catholics.  She then told me that coming from India,  I spoke very good English, and I responded,  ‘so do you, thank you’.  I then told her, that no longer do we have elephants and tigers roaming on the streets, but now have very good reserves for them for the tourism industry, and I even suggested she visit India to see for herself. 

As the years have passed in my labours at Martyrs’ Shrine, I have been blessed.  I have had the opportunity to pray with thousands of people from the many cultures that make up Canada.  I have had diverse roles in ministry that have been both pastoral and administrative.  I have had the chance to see many parts of this great country, and even the honor, on the 21st of December 2015 of becoming a proud citizen.  A very great gift to me. 

As Canada celebrates her 150th year –  this milestone of her glorious growth –  being a Canadian means a great deal to me. It means much to me that I can help in my own little way by working at the Shrine with the millions of visitors.

This country has so much to give us in a way of opportunities we citizens enjoy, especially in its diverse cultures that peacefully co-exist in our various cities. Canadians I found are such beautiful, patient and kind people, with a great sense of humor.  Although, they may have some difficulty understanding my Indian accent, they accept me.  I am truly proud to be a Canadian and will do everything possible to help make this a great nation.  God bless this beautiful country – God’s country – Canada.