Canvas:

We've heard there are many life-giving people  in your lives - including authors and saints. Can you tell us a bit about your relationship with them?

Vivek:

I wouldn't be who and where I am had our Lord not used the following people to form me -  sometimes in the very, deepest intimate details of who I am. Even while I list them below, there is no doubt in my mind that it has always been the Lord Himself, working through their words, their examples, their love for Him etc. Who has fed, nourished, challenged, led me and allowed to be born in me aspirations and desires I didn't remotely know I could possess and 'hold'.  

My first 'hero' / influence was Don Bosco! I recall as a child (6 years old?) pouring over large fabulous A3 size comics books telling me the story of his life and wanting deeply to be like him. Naturally, I developed a warmth towards St. Dominic Savio too.

Will fast forward to after my conversion in 1988. My first teacher then would have to be St. Alphonsus Liguori, I used to drink in his book (Spouse of Jesus Christ) before the Blessed Sacrament for months on end . He seemed to know me better than I did myself and I recall being simply fascinated by his wisdom. At this same time, St. John of the Cross (The secret of Sanctity of St. John of the Cross) came into my life giving me very clear guidelines (in the way only he can) as to how I had to live my life if I wanted to get out of the mess I was in.

After that a number of saints became life long companions and friends, closer than any human being. I came to Dubai already in relationship with: St. Francis of Assisi, St John Vianney, St Francis De Sales, St. Augustine, St. Ignatius of Loyola, The Martyrs (I knew a lot of people died for Jesus)... 

Before coming to Dubai, a lot of healing and 'light' came to me through the writings of Jean Vanier (namely 'Man and Woman he made them' and "Community and Growth'). I also drew from Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Fr Richard Rohr, the Linn brothers, to name a few.

It was in Dubai though that I got to know and study more deeply that beautiful man, Pope John Paul II. It was in Dubai that I grew to know in an intimate way Sts. Philip Neri, Bernadette, Therese of Liseux, Teresa of Avila, the Canadian Martyrs... the list is endless... Sts Vincent de Paul, Catherine of Sienna, Jane Chantal, Frances of Rome, Joseph Benedict Labre, Daniel Comboni, Cardinal Newman... somehow not mentioning them doesn't feel right!  

On a human relationship level, Fr. Gino Henriques CssR is special and top of my list. It's remarkable how this holy priest would cross my path just when I needed him most. It was through him that I understood deeply " the Church exists to evangelize". However before coming to Dubai,  Bishop Bosco (from Bombay) it was he who encouraged me to 'get' into community and make love real and tangible. Till then my spiritual life was a largely interior one. So much formation was given to me through the numerous seminars he sent me for. 

Lastly, there was PRH, a school of psychology that has helped me and continues to help me in a wise and gentle manner.

Lastly, lastly... there was Sr. Basil Quinn...a dear Irish nun... no one probably prayed for me and encouraged me as much as she did in the early years of my conversion. May her soul rest in peace forever.

Lastly, lastly lastly, I have to mention my sister Neena, my brother-in-law Elric and the kids Rach, Jem and Tish. It was in their loving home in Dubai that our Lord was able to tend to me and make me strong... in the words of Hosea (Chp 11): "I myself  taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms... I was like someone who lifts an infant close against his cheek; stooping down to him, I gave him his food." 

All my love always 

Vivek

Ps. Like it always happens with me, I'm going to remember a lot more people (saints too) after I've sent this!  

God made a way for me

by Pavan Gongale

Hi, I am Pavan and I am a member of CAYG youth group. It's been two years I have been part of this group. I want to share about how God has been merciful to me and how he is working in my life right from the beginning. I come from a Buddhist family background and apart from me no one else has accepted Jesus as our personal Saviour.

My entire family and relatives don't believe in God because there is no God in Buddhism. But right from my childhood I had the belief that there is someone who has made this universe and there is someone who cares for me more than anyone else.

At the age of 8 or 9, I had seen the movie on Jesus (Doordarshan) on Easter day. I could hardly understand what it was all about. I didn't know the meaning of Easter and Christmas also. But one thing I could understand that this man is good and he is doing something good. I could experience the peace within after seeing that movie. I still have the images of that movie in my memory.

Years passed by and my desire to search for the truth became intense when I reached in 12th class. One day my father got an invitation for meditation camp and I also joined him, which was the turning point of my life to know the truth and to know the real god.(My own religion led me to Jesus) I started reading scriptures of my own religion and attended many Meditation Camps. I was quite good in meditation and satisfied up to some extent but deep down I had a feeling that I am missing something.

I came to know about Jesus when I met one of my best friends in class 12th and within a month we became good friends. He started sharing bible with me and I always used to argue with him about God. Gradually I started taking interest in bible and started going to bible reading as well- as I was interested in all the religions. Some times while reading bible I used to cry and used to wonder what's happening in my life. Still was very confident of my Buddhist practices, I have to accept that I learned many good things from the meditation and also have to accept that God can use any medium to bring you close to him.

The real journey started when I met another friend of mine in my college. I saw the change in him how he gave up all his bad habits for Jesus. He was a chain smoker and alcoholic and was also into politics and leadership. And he shared his life with me that how lord has changed his life and made him a better person. I found the love and joy of Christ in him. But even after knowing Jesus I went away from him back to my previous life.

But he wanted me to go through all that because any part of my life I should not have doubt to go back to that life again. Twice I went away from him due to my poor faith in him. And I believe that it was all in plan so that when I come back I should know the importance of it. Now I am in state where I can't think of my life without Jesus. Where will I go without you lord? Trust me he is real and with him all things are possible. I used to be very strong in my own belief but he has shown me how weak I am and nothing without him. My faith has grown more after coming to Dubai and joining Comealive. On 22 December I received baptism in St. Mary's church Dubai. It took me around 5 years to take this decision because not an easy one. God strengthened me while facing my parents, relatives and friends to tell them the truth when I went home back in India.

I believe whatever I’m today is just because of Him.

God will make a way, where there seems to be no way.

He works in ways we cannot see, he will make a way for me.

He will be my guide, holding close me to his side.

With love and strength for each new day.

He will make a way.

Love you Jesus!