16 LUMEN | JOURNEYS
Postcards from
Pakistan
I guess that is what ‘ true listening ’ is and it is a very active and exhausting activity - requiring much silence
religious and racial lines across the world . Over here it is the Christian minority . It was heart wrenching to be with this friar whose family members were burnt in a mob revenge attack over a rumor in another village about a Christian marrying a Muslim !
8 January 2011
This afternoon I visited another village with the friars . Here there are 31 Christians living with 350 Muslims but they live well , peacefully and watch cricket in each other ’ s homes . It ’ s the fanatics who will fuel mob mentalities . The village reminded me of the " City of Joy " but the tea they serve is the best teh I ever had !
9 January 2011
It ' s foggy and very cold . I will leave the mission outpost to visit the Formation House of the Friars in Lahore and spend three days there before returning to Karachi . After a brief rest , I will then move to the Interior Sind Province and to the surrounding missions where the friars work with the tribal people .
There is an ordination of a young friar in city of Multan – apparently a centre and hot bed of fanatics . It is so edifying to see how they love Christ , keep the faith and endure difficulties . But at the moment my challenge is the cold and the toilets ! I am presently sitting warming myself with some coal embers and will try to send this before a power cut !
10 January 2011
I am back in Lahore now . After lunch with the Archbishop , I had the wonderful experience of meeting the aspirants – young men interested in taking up the Franciscan vocation – good young men who are comfortable with just a bed and a chance to learn . I also had the privilege of visiting some of their families . Home in the village is one family room with beds , TV , fridge , computer , sink and cupboards that showcase the crockery ! There is a clear separation of roles between the sexesladies will prepare tea and the men sit and talk !
You must shake hands – touch is very important in this culture !
12 January 2011
It was cold and it had to happen ! I think it was the water at Mass when purifying the chalice ! Fell ill and was purging badly . I am living on Sprite and burnt ‘ charcoal-like ’ toast ! It feels worst when you look out the window and see the dense fog that never seems to lift .
17 January 2011
The fog in Lahore is so quickly a distant memory as I am now in the Interior of Sind ! Spent two days in Hyderabad – it is the second largest city after Karachi and earned its importance once because of the River Indus and trade . Today it ’ s just a dusty , noisy and overpopulated city . The noise is unbearable ! In the middle of a cacophony of noises , a Shiite procession is forming . The people had recently celebrated Muharram – the first month of the Islamic calendar – considered sacred . However for the Shias this is synonymous with Ashura – mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali , the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad . The Shiites wear black top to toe , as a sign of mourning but there is a sense of revelry too . It is fascinating to see horses dressed ceremoniously and trotting in a trance state . It ' s usually in these processions that the violence can also erupt , as there are tensions between the Sunnis and Shiites ! Much like the Protestant / Catholic tensions in Northern Ireland and the politics behind it !
The journey here by road at times remind me of the Holy Land , rocky and dry scrub – dusty . But they say it gets very bad in summer . Everything is filled with a layer of brown dust ! Petrol stops here have about two armed guards , as robberies are notoriously common . They don ' t target banks here but petrol stations !
19 January 2011
Celebrated Mass at another village ! Church is big but all sit on the floor , men and women on