My experience of 42 days at Gadhinglaj Mission
From 24th March to 04th May 2022, I was at Gadhinglaj Mission, Kolhapur District, to substitute Fr. Joseph Monteiro SJ the Parish Priest, at the request of my Provincial. I have returned back to Loyola Hall, Miramar, Goa on 5th May noon.
Gadhinglaj was earlier part of the Ajara Parish run by the Jesuits. In 1990 it was separated from Gadhinglaj and erected as an independent parish and Jesuits continued to serve it. Gadhinglaj proper has 65 Catholic families. Most of them settled down in this town for education and jobs.
There are 17 sub-stations. The number of Catholic families in the sub-stations vary from 1 to 25. Two sub-stations are approximately 40 kms away from the Gadhinglaj Church. Day by day the number of Catholic families in villages are dwindling due to the migration to towns and cities. These Catholics were originally from Bardes, Goa. Most of them have their surnames as Bardeskar. Earlier they were coming to their respective villages in Goa to collect “zønn”. Now the amount of “zønn” is too small and they have to spend more money for traveling to collect it. Therefore, they have given it up. In fact the name ‘Bardeskar’ here has become synonym with Catholics. Since they live in a Marathi speaking area, though they understand Konknni and some of them do speak Konknni, most of them prefer to speak Marathi at home and with fellow Christians. Masses are celebrated in Konknni only. In villages I preached partly in Konknni and Marathi. They read Konknni in Devanagari script. A few youngsters prefer to read in Roman script. They use Konknni mainly for Mass. They do not read or write Konknni. They are fluent to read and write Marathi. The reality is that they have lost their Konknni identity and acquired the new identity Marathi speaking Catholics.
Like the Catholics of Coastal Karnataka, these Catholics too are rooted in Indian culture. For example from their dress pattern and food habits one cannot distinguish them from the other communities. Most of them keep their footwear outside the church. They are peace loving and friendly people. Therefore, they are highly respected and loved by people of other religions.
Originally the Catholics of this area were farmers. But now they have given up farming. A few are still farmers. The rest are working in the IT sector as engineers, technicians. The others are doctors, nurses, lawyers, medicare personnel, teachers (in majority), businessman, etc. A few elderly ladies continue to sell dry fish. Practically in every family postgraduates, graduates, and qualified persons are found. Most of the young people live and work at Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Bengaluru, including abroad. For holidays and family functions they come back to their native villages. In Gadhinglaj proper except a few families, others live in beautiful bungalows. A few live in ownership flats. Mostly elderly persons live in them.Gadhinglaj is a taluka of Kolhapur District, Maharashtra. It is an educational hub and also a fast growing business centre. Except an Allopathic medical college, all the other colleges are found here. Due to this, from villages students come here for their education and stay as hostelites or as paying guests in various families. A few Catholics are in this business. Day by day huge trees, vegetation, and fertile fields are disappearing at an alarming speed and concrete buildings and structures are built. Due to the wrong concept of development, this beautiful town is on the way of emerging as a concrete jungle city! People are saying that temperature is increasing every year!
People are very devout, simple, friendly, and of cooperative nature. They are rooted in their traditional Catholic faith. Out of 17 sub-stations, four have chapels. Every sub-station has its own Catholic cemetery. In other sub-stations the Mass is celebrated in houses in turn. In villages when there is Mass, all the families come and take active part in it. Except three small sub-stations, I offered Mass in other Mass Centres. In a few sub-stations, I blessed the families after Easter. Since the Catholic families are related to one another, for the Annual Parish Feast of St. Anthony on 18th May, village Chapel Feasts, weddings, First Communion, funerals, the First Death Anniversary, and other religious and social functions all the Catholic families come together.
It is said, “To earn the respect (and eventually love) of others, you first have to respect them.” I did this and the result was really excellent. I am grateful to my Provincial Fr. Roland Coelho SJ, the Parish Priest Fr Joseph Monteiro SJ, and Fr. Paul Fernandes SJ who supported and guided me to fulfill the given mission. I take this opportunity sincerely to thank the Gadhinglaj parishioners who cooperated and showed much appreciation and affection for my little service to them during my stay of 42 days.
It is my dream and prayer that Gadhinglaj may become a vibrant and model parish in its neighbourhood, according to the vision and spirit of the forthcoming Synod 2023. May God continue to bless them and all of us.
– Fr. Pratap Naik SJ