A Tale of Two Priests: Two Years in Two Days!

Fr. Gilbert Choondal SDB

It was a new world for me when I reached Nitika Don Bosco, Kolkata on 5 June 2018 after twenty years in Bangalore. The following day, when I went to the chapel early morning to pray, I saw a frail priest sitting alone praying with the fan in maximum speed. It was so hot then. Coming from an airconditioned city like Bangalore, Kolkata was like a burning hell for me that morning. He introduced himself and told me: "Fr. Gilbert, if you wish, you can put on the AC. It is quite hot here." That was the first face of Fr. AC in my life. He was the first one to introduce about the life at Nitika Don Bosco. During the breakfast, I came across another priest, Fr. MC Mathew who was limping and walking towards the dining Hall. 

He had a subtle smile. He introduced himself and his illness, Parkinson's Disease. These two priests made lasting impression in my life for the past two years. But, within a span of two days both were gone. Fr. AC Jose was a man of multiple faces. I saw him spending long hours in the chapel especially at 3 pm daily. He was there to help me in my catechetical ministry with his compositions of Biblical rhymes. He personally encouraged me for all my new catechetical initiatives at Nitika. I saw him regularly leaving for Charismatic prayer at a church in the city on every Wednesday. During lockdown, He continued the service by sending recorded adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with his talks for the faithful on Wednesdays. 

The other face of Fr. AC was more visible to the locality around. He was the face of the poor at Nitika Don Bosco. He introduced the parallel tuition for slum children at Nitika Don Bosco where circa 400 children benefit free education and food. His love for the poor was obvious at the slum at Kapali Bagan.(about two kilometres from Nitika). Once I had the privilege to visit this slum along with Fr. Mathew George who was his close collaborator and see for myself this living proof of his charity-works. He continued to serve and feed the poor of this area without interruption from the day one of Lockdown. It was touching to see the visuals of their homage to Fr. AC after hearing about his death. I had the privilege of being the part of his food for the poor by feeding 400 poor people during my jubilee sponsored by my family.

He organised the feeding and asked me to serve them. Amidst all other unwanted celebrations, this event was a memorable moment of Grace in my life. Fr. MC Mathew came to my life as a person who was struggling with his own body. The man who was able to speak and walk a little could not speak much or walk the last months of his life. He was gradually becoming weak finally confined to wheel chair and bed. His inability to move and speak made him silent witness to our own community life. Seeing him sitting alone in his chair or lying in his bed and occasionally tears falling from his eyes were not that uncommon sight in the last few months. He had his share of physical and mental pain. He was prepared well to meet his creator the week before he met Him. Thanks to his brother, Fr. Cyriac and Fr. Patrick Lepcha who prepared him well and he had a peaceful death on 17 July 2020. While his body was taken to Bondel Church, I had to take Fr. AC to Fortis Hospital that day evening.

Fr. AC had developed difficulties with regard to prostate related issues and grown weak. He was saying en route that he might not return. I had to enthuse him to be positive and proactive. The man who blessed many people passed silently to the emergency ward in Fortis as I was the last one to accompany him. Hardly anyone knew that was his last journey. It was shocking for me to receive the death news from Fortis on 19 July evening and communicate to other fathers. He has run his race. He was elated to meet his Creator to hear His Words: "When I was hungry, you gave me food (Mat. 25:35)." Adieu Fr. AC. You are still alive in and around Nitika. You actualised the words of St. Chrysostom to the poor of Nitika Don Bosco Locality "Do not honour the Eucharistic Christ with silk vestments, and then, leaving the church, neglect the other Christ suffering from cold and nakedness (St. John Chrysostom from 4th Cent.)." Dear Frs, MC and AC. as you enjoy His everlasting presence, pray for me, a sinner, now and at the hour of my death, Amen.