Calcutta report

26 January 2000 22:12

A ‘TRUE LIFE IN GOD’ PRAYER MEETING IN CALCUTTA

Vassula Ryden, the messenger of ‘True Life in God’, announced her visit to India’s six metropolitan cities during March 1999. I was asked if I could organise the prayer meeting with Vassula for the first time in Calcutta. I joyfully accepted the invitation saying ‘Yes’ like the Blessed Virgin Mary – without realising the hardships which I would have to face in order to get the programme organised successfully.

I put my trust in the Lord – and contacted some members of prayers groups existing in my parish to get their wholehearted support from the very beginning. I then started tapping all possible material from the internet for which Mr.Gasper Chacko started using all his energy and time on his computer. And I started to learn more about Vassula and her mission in the work. Slowly my understanding about Vassula became clearer and my enthusiasm started to increase day by day. I started copying materials for distribution among the hierarchy and printed thousands of handbills and entry passes and distributed them in each and every parish of Calcutta archdiocese and also among three neighbouring dioceses including protestant churches.

An organising Committee was formed to take over the various responsibilities and personal letters were written to all parish priests, pastors and heads of the various institutions. I started going to the main churches of the city to speak about Vassula Ryden and about her mission. In one of the biggest churches of Calcutta – on one Sunday I said 3 masses and preached in another 3 masses – speaking all bout Vassula’s mission. So much so, that at one time someone commented that I was full of Vassula and nothing seemed of importance other than Vassula. However, the Lord’s hands were at work with my organising committee members in order to bring praise and glory to God.

Jut two weeks before Vassula arrived in Calcutta no books were available. I started praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 o’clock and I asked some people to fast for me to get all necessary things arranged on time. Prayer groups prayed and interceded on Saturday and Sunday with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. As we did our part, God did His. Firstly, 2000 books of messages from Vassula in Bengali were printed as well as 10,000 ‘True Life in God’ prayer meeting guideline booklets, both Bengali and English. In the meantime, Tom Austin sent me some important material about Vassula’s prayer meetings, which helped me a lot. Programmes were printed and handbills and posters were sent and distributed among the people with free entry passes. A stage was erected on the open air at St. Thomas School ground, near our St.Ignatius parish. Police personnel were informed and permission was sought from the authorities.

On 17th November, 1999 at 2.30 pm, a working day, the Lord blessed us with a very good harvest of about 5600 people from all Christian denominations who were present with great expectations of God through Vassula. The people of the City of Joy (Calcutta) welcomed Vassula with traditional dance and the washing of hands and garlanding.

The rosary was begun by me and completed by Vassula, and a welcome address by me was followed by an introduction by Fr. “X”. Finally Vassula spoke so tenderly the messages of God, which were translated into Bengali by Fr.Robin Gomes. She spoke about one hour and 15 minutes and the choir sang the Holy Spirit Hymn before Vassula prayed over the people. After the prayer the whole congregation sang a Bengal bhajan led by Fr. Gregory Monteriro during which Vassula left the stage to pray over a sick child who was bedridden. Finally, while the choir sang a thanksgiving Hymn, Vassula bid goodbye waving her hands to the crowd. Testimonies from the crowd revealed much about God’s wonderful and merciful love for His people here on earth.

The following day we drove to St. Xavier’s College Auditorium for another prayer meeting, this time with only priests and nuns, which was again a wonderful opportunity to discover more of ourselves with Jesus and His Ministry entrusted to priests and nuns here on earth. Questions were asked by some of the nuns and seminary professors and Vassula concluded by advising that all priests should spend more time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. In this way Vassula concluded her first trip here in Calcutta, with a great hope of returning again to speak to the thousands of people of Calcutta who are hungry and thirsty for the Love of God.

Fr. Stephen Raphael, St. Ignatius’ Church, Calcutta