by P. Ivel Mendanha *
On the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus, the reflection of the superior of the Vice Province of Majella of the Indian Redemptorists: “In religious families, each elderly or sick brother is a hidden gem that must be carefully cared for” .
Mumbai () – Today is the liturgical feast of Saints Joachim and Anna, grandparents of Jesus. Pope Francis wanted to give importance to this festival by instituting World Grandparents’ Day, which is celebrated on the Sunday closest to July 26. During the flight that took him to Canada last Sunday, the Pope recited the Angelus with journalists and then spoke of “the ‘grandfathers’ of consecrated life”, inviting young religious and novices to cultivate relationships with their elderly brothers . We publish below the testimony of Fr. Ivel Mendanha, Superior of the Majella Vice Province of the Redemptorists of India.
The care of elderly and sick priests and religious is part of the apostolic life of Redemptorist missionaries. It does not matter what work you are doing, whether in formation, in administration, actively preaching, engaged in other aspects of mission, or confined to your room or bed due to illness or age. He is always a Redemptorist missionary.
In the last two years we have had four brothers who went to God at an advanced age. Each one of them was assisted by specially trained nurses who worked and lived in the community day and night, so that the brothers could participate in the daily life of the missionary community even if they were elderly or sick. Everything possible was done so that they had all the medical and professional assistance they needed and the brothers were always with them for prayer, the celebration of the Eucharist, personal conversations and community recreation. ‘I am eternally grateful, dearest father, for everything he does for me,’ Fr. Antonio Rodrigues, who passed away at the age of 96 a couple of years ago, told me.
At this time the oldest Redemptorist in India is Fr. Frankie Menezes, 81, a famous mission and retreat preacher and a great communicator. Today he suffers from Alzheimer’s and is in a residence of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Saint Marc in the district of Palghar, in Maharashtra, 3 hours by car from the city of Mumbai. I visit him regularly at least twice a month and spend the day with him. He doesn’t always remember my name, but he is glad to see me and smiles; he is moved when I tell him important moments from his past life.
The Redemptorists in our community take turns visiting him every month and spending a day with him. I brought all our young parents to visit him and receive his blessing, and also our seminarians. Spending a day with him arouses mixed feelings in me. Sadness to see an extraordinary brother in such a state, but also joy to see him smiling and happy, so well cared for in all aspects by the nuns and the staff of the house.
Caring for the elderly and sick brothers, ensuring that they are happy and at peace, that their needs are met and that they feel they belong to the Province has been and will be one of the main priorities of the apostolic life of our Province. It is a way of expressing our gratitude to the elderly and sick brothers for their contribution to the life of the Province through prayer, the offering of their sufferings for the intentions of the Province and the words of wisdom born of experience that they offer. everyone, and especially me every time I visit them. Each elderly and sick brother is a hidden gem of the Province, hidden because he is no longer in active ministry, but a treasure because each one of them is a gift.
* Superior of the Majella Vice Province of the Indian Redemptorist Missionaries
(with the collaboration of Nirmala Carvalho)
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