Page 22 - Y Mind

Noel Fernandes SJ & Pius Rutsa SJ
utsa SJ
Noel F
er
nandes SJ & Pius R

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s

gupshup WiTh sr. sagaya

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upshup
agaya
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Sr. Sagaya Mary belongs to the ‘Sisters of Charity’ of St Annes. She
is an advocate by profession and has been very active in her aposto-
late. She has been practicing her profession for many years. She is
from Tamil Nadu and her brother is also a Jesuit of the Bombay Province.
hat inspired you to become a religious e heard that you stayed with the or-
Wand to work for the poor, the down- Wphans. What is your experience with
trodden especially for their rights and justice? the children and the inmates you serve?
I had a good family atmosphere which inspired me I was with the orphans and the street children for
to become a Sister. My family had a great devotion almost six years, four years with the elders and
to the Eucharist which nurtured my vocation. Even two years with the children. At first there were a
during the exams we were encouraged to attend lot of struggles you feel like they are stubborn, but
the mass. As a young girl I was very active in the when they experience love from you they change.
parish activities. I was inspired by my parish priest Love from the heart, and an unconditional accep-
who was “down to earth” and was one with the tance without any judgments. They are wounded
people. My vocation promoter was Fr. Philip Ter- just because they are orphans they need some-
rasa S.J. a man of the spirit. I was deeply touched one to listen to them, understand them and love
by a quotation during my vocation camp “If you them with all your heart without any attachments.

don’t want to be useful you are unworthy to live”. With the inmates I learnt to give without expect-
ing anything from them, do everything for God.
ow has the pandemic affect-
Hed you, and your apostolate? hare some experiences of the poor suf-
Before the pandemic began I used to go to court Sfering during these pandemic times?
almost every day for different cases. But now due During this pandemic the rag-pickers are one
to the pandemic I am unable. However this pan- of the most affected people. They cannot even
demic has taught me to live a simple life. And it go out because of the lockdown and bcause
has also given me the opportunity to reach out of this reason they are unable to earn money
to other people who are in need. During this pan- for their daily bread. The transgenders are also
demic I was able to reach out to the transgen- badly affected. Even some middle class fami-
der, rag pickers, wage workers and migrants, pro- lies are also struggling to get their daily bread.
viding them with one month’s ration through
the help of my community and other organiza- hat message would you like to give us; es-

tions. My community has always encouraged me. Wpecially the juniors who have just begun our
journey in the religious life. And also suggest what
s you have done Law and you are we can do to help the people during this pandemic?
Aan advocate by profession, do you All of us should live a simple life and live in the
use your profession in your apostolate? present and be content with whatever we have.
I have been practicing law for ten years now. Ev- Live life to the fullest as it cannot be refunded.
erything I do is a mission for me. I see Christ in Suggestions:
all the prisoners, and when no one appears for - Identify the poor who are really in need
them then I take up the challenge to release with the help of the parish, reach out not
them from the prison. Every prison door is a mer- only to the Catholics but also non-Catholics.
cy door for me and it gives me an immense joy in - Be sensitive to the poor and also to those middle
working for the prisoners. In court, some people class families who are struggling due to this pandemic.
have said to me that “I am a person from God”. - Be available to the youth and the children. Es-
I have released almost 125 prisoners from the pecially the youth who are in depression and
prison and in doing all this I give glory to God. are in need of someone to listen to them.

-Be creative in your think-
ing and learn to think out of the box.

21 Young Minds 2020