CALLED TO A HOLY LIFE
by Fr. Salvador D'Souza, sdb - Administrator,
Don Bosco Borivli, Mumbai
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CALLED TO A HOLY LIFE |
As a boy of 5 or 6 I can still hear the words of
my godmother chiding me gently: “When you become a priest, I will not come for
confession to you!” I vividly remember the day she said this. I am sure there
was something she saw in me that prompted her to say so. She often repeated this
on other occasions.
We were staying at Cumballa Hill, St. Steven’s Parish, Bombay. Mum, dad, a
brother and two sisters were my immediate family. I was the third.
My primary education was at St. Francis, Borivli at the age of 10.I came to Don
Bosco's at Matunga in the secondary school. It was a new school and I was a
dayscholar.
Fr. Tuena, a Swiss missionary who admitted me, hearing that I came from Kumbala
Hill, suggested that I join as a boarder. Much against my will, I entered the
boarding at Matunga on June 9, 1943. I gradually realized that the youngsters in
the boarding were those who showed signs of a vocation. The boarding was run
like a minor seminary and dear Fr. Maschio sent the boarders home only for
Diwali and Summer holidays. Even then, those who stayed back were the more
promising youngsters who helped him with his work.
Every year there was a well-preached 3 day Retreat and Fr. Maschio would make it
a point to meet every boarder and ask them: “Would you like to become a Priest?”
For him every boarder was a probable vocation. Touched by the personal question
from such a wonderful priest, I said 'yes'.
After my Metric I returned to continue my studies at Khalsa College where I was
admitted to study Science. To my surprise I found that five others had also
joined for the same reason.
A beautiful memory I still have of those early years is that we were held
responsible for ourselves. No one breathed down our necks and our focus was
“Holiness of life,” rather than studies. Our models were St. Dominic Savio,
Mickey Magone and Maria Goretti. Fr. Maschio believed that if a boy is HOLY he
will do everything well everything falls into place.
I went to Kotagiri in the Nilgris for my Novitiate and on receiving my cassock I
prayed that I would be faithful and keep the vows that I professed.Today we are
easily discouraged but if Christ is our model and He fills our hearts then we
find happiness and fulfillment.
Could God be calling you to be a Don Bosco Priest, Brother or Sister? The Late
Pope John Paul II said, “When God calls, He provides. Be generous with God and
you will find true happiness. DO NOT BE AFRAID!”
If you feel the call to be a Don Bosco Priest or Brother,
we could help: Contact us at frbrian@rediffmail.com