L-Isqof Awżiljarju Joseph Galea-Curmi qal li fl-Indja għad hemm Ġiżwita Malti, Patri Paul Aquilina li ta’ 93 sena għadu qed jagħti kontribut u servizz f’missjoni li jkompli jxandar fuq il-passi ta’ Ġesù l-bxara t-tajba mad-dinja kollha.
Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi said that in India, there is a Maltese Jesuit, Fr Paul Aquilina who is still contributing to the mission.
In comments to Newsbook Malta, Galea-Curmi recounted how he went to India to be part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the first Maltese Jesuits who went to India for their missionary work.
He explained that in October 1924, Fr Anton DeBono and student Bernard Bugeja together with Sicilian Jesuit Giuseppe Cordaro left Europe to go to India as part of the Sicilian Province of the Company of Jesus.
He reminded that Fr Anton did not yet know the language of the place he was assigned to – Majlispur, a village north of Calcutta. After a year, Fr Benjamin Cauchi and Fr Giuseppe Cordaro and Fr John Grech Cumbo joined him in the village where there are hundreds of Christians, as well as a significant number of Hindus and Muslims.
The Auxiliary Bishop said that “the seed planted 100 years ago has grown into a beautiful reality. With the work begun by the Maltese Jesuits, there are three dioceses that were developed with the mission and the Santani tribe”.
He said that during a mass celebrated on Saturday by the Archbishop of Calcutta, there were about 20,000 people. “It was a beautiful celebration because it showed people’s gratitude for what the Jesuits have done over the years”.
Galea Curmi said that during the celebrations, he had the opportunity to meet with Fr Aquilina. “Where he lives, one can see the photos of all the Maltese that gave their contribution, and who have been in the mission for many years”.
He said that in his visit to India, he was accompanied by Fr Jimmy Bartolo, a priest who works in the mission, and Fr Cecile Azzopardi, a Jesuit who spent 42 years working in India. “Fr Jimmy Bartolo said that they were 73 Maltese Jesuits here who gave a contribution over the past 100 years”.
He said he also had the opportunity to visit the cemetery where some Maltese missionaries are buried to pray with gratitude for all that they managed to do. “They gave their lives to the mission and died here”.
He continued by saying “even thinking about how difficult it was to go to India from Malta at the time, it was a significant sacrifice. They did not have many resources, but they always gave priority to preach the Gospel, provide education, build hospitals and clinics to help them grow and take responsibility in their lives”.
He said that the gratitude towards the Maltese Jesuits is also present in the community. “They are very happy when you tell them that you are Maltese”.
The Bishop Galea-Curmi said that his wish is to see “that which was built over the years to continue being developed and create fruit”.
He thanked the contribution of the Maltese Ambassador to India, Reuben Grech.
The Bishop said that while he was there, he had the opportunity to go to a convent where a Maltese nun, Emmanuela Borg, has been there for 60 years and worked in education.
Source: Newsbook.com.mt