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! |