PEOPLE WHO ARE BLESSINGS ARE TO BE SHARED!

Life is never predictable – no matter how many changes one sees in life – be it in family life, work life or in ministry. In fact over the past 4 years, there were so many changes compared to the earlier 4 years In this retreat centre, there were times, I wished things could remain the same. I have never felt that more than in late September 2012, when I heard that the Asst. Director of our retreat centre, Rev. Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C., was being posted to Sydney, Australia to set up a new retreat centre.

“I was chosen and sent to help the faith of God’s chosen people and to lead them

to the truth taught by our religion…”

(Titus:1:1)

Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C.

The first question I thought of was, “God, why does it have to be Fr. Michael whom you take from us here?” The second was the joy I felt for the great blessing and opportunity for Fr. Michael to begin the Divine mission in Australia! I remember sitting in my office for a few confused moments – not knowing what to feel. It is never easy to hear someone who is so loved by all of us in this retreat centre to be leaving our Divine Family. Fr. Michael came to Divine in early December 2006 - just before his priestly ordination on 31 December 2006. I was really busy on a book project but I heard snippets of someone with a booming voice preaching so eloquently as I used to be rushing back and forth from the Divine Printers office. It made me really curious as to who was the person behind this inspired preaching? I was completely taken aback to see it was this really young looking slim “kid”. I asked around and was told he was a deacon. Even then, I remember distinctly telling our director, Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C, one day very shortly after, “Father, like Simeon, I can tell you that I have heard your successor. Please bring this new deacon back to Divine when he is ordained.” Fr. Augustine sat back and laughed heartily! Thankfully, that Is exactly what happened and Fr. Michael joined Divine Retreat Centre in March 2007.  It is the greatest blessing and gift God gave to Divine Retreat Centre in the 8 ½ years I have been here!

 From the very first, all of us were in awe - it seemed like this ridiculously young-looking priest sounded as wise as old Moses probably was! How can it be? That was all we were asking each other. We saw the same stunned reaction from all the retreatants.  I know how many times I felt my heart being pierced by the impassioned preaching of Fr. Michael and being moved to tears so MANY times over the course of these 6 years during Father’s Holy Masses, Physical Healing sessions, Inner Healing sessions and during the year-end Thanksgiving Adoration services. It was never-one off and it was not just me. The retreatants and lay volunteers were always so touched by Fr. Michael’s priestly ministry. What was it though that so touched all of us?

There is only ONE answer. In Fr. Michael, we see clearly a person who LOVES Jesus above everything and everyone else – not a SINGLE person can doubt that!  The passion and the love for Christ can be heard in Fr. Michael’s voice and seen in every moment he carries out his ministry.  Fr. Michael is really loved by all of us – not because he ever went out of his way to be popular. It was quite the opposite in fact.  I do not think Fr. Michael cared even a little if we liked him or not – he was just so focused on proclaiming Jesus and being a holy priest. Fr. Michael is one person who has never sought the limelight. A fact, Father himself admitted during his farewell speech to us.  We never ever saw him onstage during any major Divine celebration events! I used to wonder where Fr. Michael was. Often I would see him for a few minutes at the very back – where we, the volunteers would sit. We never ever saw other priests seated there with us! That really touched the hearts of all of us who serve here. This was true Christ-like humility! He was not in the least interested in recognition and applause. Fr. Michael was only on stage if he was preaching the Word of God. I always remember this words In my heart whenever I see Fr. Michael – “More of you, Lord, and less of me.” That is the MAIN lesson I have learnt from Fr. Michael. He is a beautiful example of servant leadership. A tireless and zealous priest who lives for God! Nothing and no one but Jesus!

Off the stage, Fr. Michael is not seen around much. He is very soft-spoken and seems quite an introvert usually. One thing truly stood out – Fr. Michael is a priest of deep prayers with a tremendous love of the Holy Eucharist and a devotion to Mother Mary. He lives God’s Word. There was never any partiality to a single person. He was fair, firm and loving to all of us. What I admired most personally in Fr. Michael was this – he was very upfront if I needed to be corrected but he never kept it in his heart against me! I appreciated that he would address the issue to me directly and not just keep silent. He always heard me out if I wanted to speak up too. I never ever heard Fr. Michael say, “All the others are saying…" There was never these general statements where I could never even know in what context or why it was said…after all, how can any person respond to that?  There are always two sides to a situation and in Fr. Michael, most of us found a person who did just that! He will always listen to both sides and he would pray and make a decision. It did not matter who were involved. All of us know Fr. Michael is a very fair person – a person of great discernment.  It Is the one comment I heard from nearly all the volunteers who shared with me especially when news of Fr. Michael’s Australia posting was known.  To earn this respect in such a big community here is really an achievement! It is this very quality that makes Fr. Michael so greatly loved by all of us who serve here. He is known as being a very frank, upfront person and yet a very merciful, loving and impartial priest.

Fr. Michael praying over my Mum during Anointing Service in Holy Week 2008

Living in a community, no one can live here without some sparks flying because of problems or misunderstandings. I had my fair share with Fr. Michael too. Neither of us are easy going persons. I think one of the traits we do share is we are quite intense in our personality. Yet what I always remember is the kindness, priestly love and concern that Fr. Michael has always shown me in the time we have known each other. When I heard about the death of my father in 2007, I had known Fr. Michael for only a few months. Yet in a heavy storm, he came to see me as I was packing my bags to catch a flight home. My father had passed away on my birthday and as I sat and just chatted with Fr. Michael about my dad, about an hour before I had to catch my flight, I truly felt the comforting Love of Jesus. I have never forgotten that act of love by Fr. Michael – of reaching out to me in such a personal way. I needed that. He was equally so kind and open-hearted when my mother came to spend two months with me in India a few months later – always warmly speaking to her every day even if she at times asked him the same questions again! She absolutely loves Fr. Michael and I was very grateful that he made her feel so at home in Divine by his thoughtfulness and friendliness.

There have been numerous instances of this deep thoughtfulness of Fr. Michael. He also appreciated each of us and showed it clearly in his quiet and genuine way. Many of us remember the time Fr. Michael called all of us volunteers to the front of the retreat hall on the last day of a Konkani convention a few years ago - towards the end of the Anointing service. He insisted, when those of us who were not from the Konkani section just remained standing at the back because we were not part of the Konkani retreat team, to come forward. And then Fr. Michael asked all the retreatants to raise their hands upon us and he prayed for us. It was such a beautiful prayer that EVERY ONE of us volunteers openly cried – the male and female volunteers! We could not help ourselves. For many of us, it is the first time in our ministry, we were being thanked openly with so much love in prayer. There was a tremendous healing in our hearts that day for many of us volunteers. There are hurts and pain even when serving in ministry. In that ONE loving act of prayer, Fr. Michael showed beyond a doubt his compassion and love for all the Divine volunteers – not just those in his team – but for everyone who serves in this retreat centre.

Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C. (left) and Fr. Augustine Vallooran  V.C. (right)

Fr. Michael is now blessed with a great mission to be the 1^st Director of Divine Retreat Centre Sydney, Broken Bay Diocese, Australia. As Fr. Augustine shared at the farewell gathering, it is with great joy and pride the Vincentian Congregation of India are sending Fr. Michael to be the pioneer of the Divine-Potta retreat ministry in Australia…in a another Continent!

We will all miss Fr. Michael. I felt really emotional at the farewell get-together a few days ago  (19 February 2013) as we have all lived together as a close-knit Divine Family for 6 years – and a most precious person in our midst is moving on.  Yet as I struggled with tears, I felt the same great joy as when I heard the news the first time - of the great grace, honour and blessing God has bestowed upon Fr. Michael. In his young priesthood, he is to pioneer the Divine-Potta mission by setting up the new retreat centre. Like St. Paul, Fr. Michael Is sent forth to renew, reignite and inflame thousands of hearts with the Power of God’s Spirit in Australia and from around the world! There is no doubt – we cannot wait to see the fruit of Fr. Michael’s Divine mission taking shape in Australia.

One thing we are certain - Fr. Michael will NEVER rest until the WHOLE world knows Jesus! So just as this post is dedicated to Fr. Michael for being such a personal inspiration to us in the Divine Retreat Centre, this song, “UNTIL THE WHOLE WORLD HEARS” by Casting Crowns, is definitely all about the one desire in his life!

I am quite sure Fr. Michael is squirming at what I have written so openly in this blog post but Fr.Michael is a great blessing when he was with us and will now be in Sydney, Australia – a shining light of the Divine-Potta ministry… 

God bless and protect you always, Fr. Michael! Our prayers will always be with you!

“My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but that at all times, and especially just now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being, I shall bring honour to Christ, whether I live or die.”

(Philippians 2:20)