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Noel Fernandes SJ & Vishal Waghmare SJ

inTervieW WiTh

fr. charles rodrigues sj

Fr. Charles SJ is from Bandra, Mumbai but belongs to the

Midwest (US) Province where he holds the office of PCF

hat inspired you towards the apostolate of at that deeper level. So I would say one of the
WIgnatian spirituality, retreat ministry? challenges that I face in this line of work is that
I did not choose to take up the Ignatian spiritual- people are so active that they are not able to lis-
ity but when I was finishing my Theology studies, ten how God might be acting in their own life.
my provincial said that he wanted me to prepare Their prayer becomes saying prayers (vocal) and
for work in formation. That gave me two options I talking to God and not trying to listen to how God
could either pursue psychology and counseling or might be talking to them and giving them peace
Ignatian Spirituality and history. The second one and consolation.
seemed more appealing to me because I really
wanted to explore our tradition, our legacy. hat difference do you find between the
Wcommunity life in Chicago and here in
indly share your experiences directing peo- Vinayalaya?
Kple spiritually. The first thing I would like to say is that, one of
I would describe my experiences like you going the blessings of the Society of Jesus is that, even
for concerts, or like watching a football game though, at some level, there may be so many dif-
and you are given the best seat. I feel that it has ferences in terms of life-style, the time table of
been a blessing in this work of giving retreat and the day etc., but for my companions from Chica-
spiritual direction. Why? Because I am watching go who have come to this house, as well as my
a concert taking place between God and the re- companions from Bombay, who have gone to Chi-
treatant. And I have the closest view, I am not cago, within a few days, they know that they are
giving them consolation, only Holy Spirit can give in a community that belongs to them. They feel
them consolation and the insight, but I can see at home in one brotherhood. So the commonal-
it unfolding, happening before my eyes, knowing ity is much stronger than differences. There are
that there is nothing that I said that triggered this, differences, you could say, the main difference
it is God and the Holy Spirit working on this per- might be that, in Chicago on one hand the com-
son. I get the best seat in the house, to watch God munities have more resources. They have a few
in action. cars at their disposal, they share cars, there may
be 2 or 3 TV rooms, and everybody would have
hat are some of your challenges that you a computer. So they have more resources in that
Wface during your apostolate today? way. But on the other hand, they also have more
The challenges have largely to do with pressures responsibilities in the sense that, communities
of life that people in Mumbai tend to have. As often have to cook their own food; they do their
you well know Mumbai is the fast paced city, it’s own cleaning of the houses. Here in India, I would
an expensive city, it’s a competitive city. People say, the community life is very informal and re-
don’t have proper accommodation, people are al- laxed. For formation of course there is stricter
ways feeling effects on their health, on their hous- time table. But beyond formation, the time table
ing, on their diet. All these pressures can affect is more relaxed. In India there’s a lot more free-
any retreatant or anybody and very often most of dom, a lot more spontaneity in the communities.
the people’s energy goes in just trying to survive
these pressures. These pressures are so strong eing a Mumbaikar, what made you join the
that they are not able to allow God to touch them BChicago province? What inspired you?

19 Young Minds 2020