ECCLESIA IN ASIA ‘My first steps in Pakistan and the joy of the Gospel’

We offer the testimony of Fr. Elbert Balbastro, a young Filipino priest from the Missionaries of St. Columban in the province of Sindh. “Meeting generous and authentic people who, despite having little, share what they have with all their heart, revealed to me the joy of serving the Lord.”

Karachi () – Pakistan is a challenging and, in many ways, arduous missionary frontier for Christians. But it is also a place where the joy of the Gospel is found. That is what counts in this testimony – which we take from the book of the Gospel. from the magazine of the missionaries of San Colombano – Fr. Elbert Balbastro, a young Filipino missionary ordained in 2022 who is taking the first steps of his ministry in the Pakistani province of Sindh.

Like any other vocation or calling, priestly life is full of challenges, difficulties and struggles. Yet, amidst the difficulties and difficult paths of my missionary life, I never lose an unwavering optimism. Beyond the difficulties and hardships of life, there is a profound joy that can only be found in service to God. With this joy, every encounter becomes a fulfilling way of living. Joy can shine like a smile on my face, igniting the fuel and inspiration needed to serve in the Lord’s vineyard.

After a four-month refresher course in Urdu in the mountains, I was asked to introduce myself to the reality of the parishes of Badin and Khipro, in the diocese of Hyderabad, province of Sindh, an area served by the missionaries of St. Columbanus, and another in the city of Karachi, to help me discern which parish I should be assigned to. I was asked to spend a week in each of these three parishes.

My tour began at Badin parish and turned out to be a meaningful and joyful encounter. Meeting the people and hearing their stories of hardship and perseverance despite crushing poverty was a moving experience. We visited the Sindhi Beel colony where our Christian brothers and sisters live, amidst hardship. The place belongs to the landlords and their living conditions are very difficult. Their houses are made of wood, straw and mud, and they live crammed into a very small space.

Arriving at a seemingly remote house, we met some children who were preparing to make their First Communion. The catechist gave the children instructions and then we prayed together and said goodbye. As we were preparing to leave, the owner of the house invited us to dinner. She told us that they had caught many fish from the river and that they would like to share them with us.

Hearing her sincere invitation, I felt a pang in my heart. Despite her simplicity and poverty, and the fact that this might be the only meal of the day, especially for her children, she willingly offered to share it with us. It was the first face of joy that I had discovered on a mission. Meeting these generous and authentic people who, despite having little, share what they have with all their heart, revealed to me the joy of serving the Lord.

The second stop where joy awaited me was the parish of Khipro, where I had served for a year when I was first assigned to missionary work as a seminarian. Five years later, when I returned to Pakistan, I was reunited with the people I had met. Revisiting the villages and seeing the people I knew and had worked with brought back many happy memories. However, what gave me a deeper sense of joy was seeing that their lives had improved and become stronger.

The parish of Khipro is inhabited by the Parkari Kholi tribe, a community considered a lower caste in society. To my surprise, I saw significant progress in their lives. Some of my former students from Fr. Cyprian’s secondary school were now teachers, others were studying to be nurses, and some entered the seminary. Reflecting on our common journey in the past and observing how their lives have improved in the present has filled my heart with immense joy.

It is quite evident that the Holy Spirit is guiding them to embrace their humanity and preserve their dignity. Although they are labeled as lower caste people, they are asserting their right to self-improvement and proving that they are valuable members of society.

My last stop was at one of the parishes in Karachi, where Fr. Dan O’Connor and I visited a community known as Ghugir Patik. The Christians in this area also belong to the Parkari Kholi tribe, originally from the interior of Sindh, who migrated to Karachi for work reasons. They rented houses and most of them work in factories. Every Saturday, Fr. Dan celebrates a mass in Parkari for them.

We gathered in a small house to pray Mass around eight in the evening. Despite the small space, the heat and the multitude of mosquitoes, the room was warm thanks to the presence of the people. They were attentive throughout the Mass, participating actively. What struck me most was the choir, which was well prepared and equipped with a large number of instruments to accompany the songs.

After Mass, I spoke to one of the members of this choir and he said, “Father, do you know that we had almost no one to play the tabla because we were not expecting to celebrate Mass this Saturday? But somehow we managed to find someone because we offer all this to Jesus, our God.”

I thought, “Wow! What incredible faith this man has.” I realized that what he had said was so powerful because the community had put their hearts together, offering their faith and gratitude to God. The smile not only on my face, but also in my heart, was very evident at that moment.

Reflecting on this episode, I have thought of it as an “empowered faith,” where people’s deep, rooted faith enables them to find ways to respond to God’s goodness by offering their praises and talents for God’s greater glory.

Joy is a feeling that is sometimes difficult to find, feel or experience. However, I firmly believe that joy is found in every struggle, difficulty and challenge. Although we are not always aware of it, I have discovered that joy can be easily found if our hearts are open to serving God.

For me, joy comes in different forms in each encounter with the people I serve and meet. My experiences in these three parishes have reminded me that the joy of the Gospel can be experienced on the journey with people.

I may have to face many uncertainties and pains in my mission, but I know that the joy that God has revealed to me will unfailingly prevail. My task is only to open myself to it.

* Missionary of St. Columban in Pakistan

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