THE IMPACT OF K. P.R.

P FORMATION AND MY EXPERIENCE

Khrist Premalaya Regional philosophate, Bhopal is a true home for all of us. A
place where we grew in freedom laughed in sheer joy and learned to live responsibly. The three years I spent in K.P.R.P is very remarkable in my life. Honestly speaking, this house gave me the holistic growth about which I feel very happy today. I cannot even imagine how these three years have passed. I was a mediocre student in the philosophy classes. As for me the sole purpose of philosophical studies during the priestly formation is not merely to pass an examination or two, not merely to remember and keep afresh always all that is taught but rather to increase ones ability to understand things better, to expand ones capacity, to grasp things clearer and to develop ones mind to comprehend things more intelligibly. I am proud and happy for all the hard work, for all the pain, and for all the tensions and struggles I underwent at K.P.R.P. Probably, the one thing that I always love to cherish most is that, the way the studies kept us busy. Daily we were attending eight lectures; five in college and three in seminary. Thus life in K.P.R.P really kept us busy, not just for one or two days but for three full years. In the initial months life in K.P.R.P had not been easy. We had to put up with umpteen shortcomings and inconveniences. We were also deprived a lot in terms of various facilities and opportunities, which our counterparts in other major seminaries enjoyed. Sometimes there used to be extra works, even of temporal nature too. At times we did grumble at our staff saying that their predicament wasnt any better either. But, all said and done, here was tremendous learning in all these. I believe that all these aspects have contributed to make me a more committed, optimistic and integrated person.

K.P.R.P FORMATION - AS I EXPERIENCED Creation is a chain of relationship. Its a bond of interconnectedness. We cannot exist without the other. We all find fulfillment of our life in each other. We are all invited to serve the humanity in love, according to our vocation to build a better family, a better society, and a better planet earth. To answer this invitation all of us need teachers / guides - our parents, our teachers, our religious leaders etc. We need to be taught from the cradle to the grave at moms lap, in school, as mature people. Formation goes on and on. Its a continual process. We need to be formed by persons who have experienced life, who have insights into what true life is all about and thus able communicate it. We need to be taught the basic values of life - what involves in making decisions and what it means to be responsible.

However, my experience with the formators in K.P.R.P is quite different. Though they are highly qualified, the treasures of experiences have not lost human face and humility in their relationship. In every act of their gesture they come to our level. When any one of our companion is asked to discontinue, naturally we blame our formators, without knowing the proper reason. Often we fail to see Gods plan in all these events. Our formators do not judge us but they help us to grow in Christ. They always look at our positives rather than negatives. They want to know what we know rather than what we do not know. They never scan or sensor any one to send out without proper reason. I strongly believe that no formators can dismiss a student without solid reason. As youngsters we look for role models and they are really our motivators and inspirers. Their commitment and sacrificial life convince us of our vocation and add meaning to our life in Jesus. Our formation always stress on self formation by inviting us to a greater participation in the process of our learning. They entrust us with lot of responsibility to become what we are, and what we want to become. Their sociable relationship and dealings boost our confidence and maximize our potentials to become more mature and integrated person. It is not easy in the modern world to be in the seminary where much of the freedom is curtailed, and facilities and comforts are sacrificed. But our formators take it as a fulfillment of Christs mission, who is our Eternal Master, who spent most of his earthly life with his disciples empowering them to continue his mission. Our formators not just teach us; but they enter into our lives and accompany us in all our activities. They are the best means to trap the sources which we have within. They have become part and parcel of our life. When some of the formators are absent from our community, we really feel and wait for their return. In short, their life with me is a precious gift, their presence is a channel of grace and their service is an empowerment.

THE INITIAL WEEK OF MY REGENCY Fortunately, I am assigned to St. Josephs catholic mission, Deoli (Khandwa Diocese) to serve the church under the guidance and direction of its pastor Rev.Fr. Mathew T.C. This mission is mainly a Korku (a particular cast) mission initiated by Rev.Fr. William Knoop SVD, in 1936. As soon as I received the appointment letter from our Bishop Rt.Rev.Dr. Durai Raj I was a bit worried and I said to myself Regency! I do not know how to face people? How will I carry on with my new and not ever experienced responsibility? Meanwhile, I realized that, this is also one stage of my priestly formation. To be frank, the initial week of my regency was really boring. Because I was alone in the mission; no students in the hostel, father leaves immediately
2

after breakfast to one of the substations to Deoli, named Kalwa, where there is a Primary English Medium School. When we are in a community we dont feel loneliness because one or the other way there will be somebody to listen to us. It was at this moment I longed for K.P.R.P community. The very next week students arrived to the hostel, since they are children I have to be with them always. This keeps me hectic, alive and enthusiastic on the other hand Fr. Mathew directs and guides me. He is so friendly, caring, loving, jovial and what not? I feel very much at home.

CONCLUSION Experience is not what happens to a man, it is what a man does with what happens to him ( Adlous Huxley) I strongly believe that if a person has a basic conviction about his priestly vocation and a certain sense of commitment, it does not matter which seminary he has been formed. K.P.R.P seminary has trained me to know something about everything. It gave me ample opportunities to become master of all trade I was given a great deal of freedom. Along with freedom there was always a demand of accountability which led me to develop personal leadership qualities. Now I see in my regency place, (Deoli) the way I am formed in K.P.R.P, the strict time-table, stiff rules makes me flexible at all circumstances. I am kept alive, vigilant, and away from laziness by various activities. Above all K.P.R.P is a place of good deeds. Whoever comes and stays for a while will definitely have the feeling at home. It was on our convocation day, I found my eyes filled with tears and I said to myself; Are yaar, theen saal kaise katham hua? I am really goanna miss this place. For this house has turned the weak into wise, lazy into energetic, bad into good, and enemies into friends. Thus it has been very enriching experience in K.P.R.P after having stayed for three years. Dear junior brothers, be flexible at all circumstances and surely you will enjoy your stay in K.P.R.P. I take this opportunity to thank all my formators in K.P.R.P. very specially to Rev. Frs. Godwin Viegas, Marcel Tanan and Thomas Aquinas. A special thanks to Rev. Fr. Thomas Chacko the Rector of K.P.R.P, Rev. Fr. Albinus Kujur the Spiritual Director and Rev. Fr. Antony Puthuserry the dean of K.P.R.P, who encouraged me to share my experience in K.P.R.P through an article. I congratulate his efforts and great commitment to bring up this magazine.
Br. Sujin Raj S. Regent Khandwa Diocese