Can you present yourself?
I am Sarath Kumar, born in Vandavasi, Tamil Nadu, India. I am 23 years old, and we are five in our family - my parents and three siblings. I went to Sri Lanka to do my novitiate, and there I made my first profession on 29 August 2020. After completing my Post Novitiate studies and doing a year of practical training in Sri Lanka, I made this decision. In the light of joining the province as a missionary, I responded to the appeal of the Rector Major for this 154th missionary expedition.
What inspired you to make this choice to become a missionary?
I do not know exactly the moment, but as a young guy when I started to go to church after Grade 5, one day I heard the Gospel passage during the mass which went like this “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15). This verse very much captivated my heart and one of my parish priests used to share some missionary experiences of his friends who are working as missionaries in various parts of Africa. That inspired me to be a missionary, and I opted to join the missionary aspirantate. There my interactions with the missionaries increased my passion to be a missionary. I was inspired to go to Sri Lanka, which would become almost my home. My stay there during my period of Novitiate and Post-Novitiate inspired me to stay there and serve the people of that little island, the pearl of Indian Ocean, which has become like my own home.
Are you happy about the place where you are going? Have you any fears & inhibitions about the new place, culture, and people?
I am so much happy to be a missionary in Sri Lanka, which is like another home for me. I feel one with the people of that land, as if they are my kith and kin, and I am eagerly waiting to go back to this ‘home’ of mine. I am really grateful to the General Councillor for Missions for guiding me to make this choice, and be a missionary in Srilanka. I see the Salesian mission in front of my eyes and I am really excited to go there. I have no fear about the place, because I feel that it is my home, and nobody will feel afraid to return to his own house.
How did your family members, friends & confreres react when you told them about your missionary vocation?
Initially my family members felt afraid, when I told them about my decision to do my novitiate in Sri Lanka. My mom was not willing to send me, but at last she gave way because of my stubbornness. My told me, “Son, it is your life and you have decided. It will be difficult for us to make you change your decision, but we have great faith in you, that you will surely do well, and God and our Mother Mary will guide you.” Those words gave me a lot of strength, as I consider her as my role model. She is a strong woman, and all my success I attribute it to her. My companions from India felt weird when I told them I want to join Sri Lanka, because of the economic crisis that was going on in Sri Lanka during that time. My Rector in the Post Novitiate, my superiors both in the province of INM and LKC were of great support and gave me a lot of guidance to make this choice.
What are your plans and dreams about your missionary life?
My dream as a missionary in Sri Lanka, is to build up the lives of the young people. In the present situation, the young people are confused and have no means to move on a secure path, because of the chaos caused by the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. There is also a slight decrease in the vocations, and I want to give my best to rejuvenate the young, and build them up as honest citizens and God fearing people. I feel that this situation is similar to what Don Bosco faced as a young priest, and my personal desire is to spread joy, hope and happiness in the hearts of the young people.
Have you in mind any model of some great missionaries whose style and life you want to follow?
I always considered that the great model of my missionary life will be our Bl. Mother, who went out to proclaim the joy of Christ to Elizabeth, who gave Christ the good news to the world, who led the people to Christ during moment of perplexity during the wedding at Cana, who stood as a brave disciple, at the foot of the cross bearing all pain and sorrow to do the will of God, the one who gathered the first children of the church the apostles and the disciples when they were frightened and helped and prepared them to receive the Holy Spirit. I also love Cardinal Caligero, whom I always admired as an aspirant, though he was naughty and troublesome, he became the great leader and missionary because of his love for Don Bosco.
What is your message for young people about missionary choice and vocation?
God has his own way of calling each of us, for some he gives the choice to choose and they choose easily and come, for some (those like me), he makes them go as they want but he makes them realize his call. He never forces but appeals to us. All he needs is a moment with him where he will make us understand a lot. He is a God of joy, cheerfulness, happiness, and of courage & strength. He wants us to live in the world fully but be united with him, his holiness comes through freedom and happiness not thruogh fear and avoidance of world. He wants us to be in this world fully and live our lives to the full, he will make his will known to us when the appointed come for us, but all we need is to be ready at that time to listen, he will give all the opportunities for that still the choice is ours.
