By Rev. Fr. Jerry John Mathew
Part 1
Establishing a spiritual community is always a sacred endeavor, but undertaking this task in a foreign land such as Canada introduces several layers of complexity, sacrifice, and unwavering faith in God. In a world where spirituality is of diminishing demand, it is profoundly challenging to gather individuals with shared spiritual convictions. The responsibilities of a spiritual leader become exponentially greater in a community where more than half of its members reside in a diaspora, lacking sufficient time and resources to sustain themselves. Furthermore, attempting to introduce spirituality to a predominantly dormant community demands unwavering dedication, unshakable motivation, and an unbreakable bond of commitment.
Individuals guided by the principles of spiritual contentment often face challenges due to the weight of inherited traditions and identities. These include being an Indian-Malayali-Christian-Syrian, and further entangled in layers of identities such as South-Central-North Keralite. Additionally, they grapple with the intricacies of denominational identities. Residing in a foreign land, these intricate complexities often compel individuals to conceal their authentic selves and avoid their genuine spiritual identification. Consequently, they conveniently remain unaware of their need for spiritual sustenance or even the process of self-identification in a spiritual context. This lack of awareness leads to a state of spiritual numbness. No spiritual leader could remain tranquil while witnessing this and disregard the situation with indifference.
The fear of being overwhelmed by the immense challenges that lie ahead triggers yet another alarm in the otherwise quiet life of a spiritual leader. The obstacles are not superficial; an urgent, effective, and timely intervention is necessary to not only address the pervasive placidity but also find a way to illuminate the path forward. In this endeavor, the only viable approach has been to emulate the example of Christ: to succumb to the intensity of one’s own empathetic desire to save and serve. This is the foundation of every church, particularly in this region, where the spiritual leader’s role is to embody this compassionate spirit and serve with unwavering dedication. In this process, the only precedence that can guide them is the life of Jesus Christ.
Realization about my spiritual responsibilities propelled by an intangible divine motivation on one hand and the undeniable imperative about the need for immediate spiritual attention of a group of individuals on the other, made me feel that I just have to trust in Christ and endeavor to fulfill my responsibilities with utmost sincerity and dedication. In essence, these were not mere contemplations but a series of doubts and questions that I had to answer during the initial days of reaching out to the people on the other side of the vast expanse of water that separates the ‘Automotive Capital of Canada’ from the ‘Automotive Capital of United States’.
What inspired me was the realization that a church in Windsor could serve as a gathering place for God’s people, essentially celebrating the divine essence within them, particularly during times of personal or collective crisis. By doing so, it could assist individuals in finding a profound sense of meaning and purpose in their lives as moral, social, and spiritual beings, upholding their spiritual dignity and integrity. My vision was to establish a community that nurtured mutual support and fostered a profound sense of belonging, ensuring that even the most vulnerable individuals felt attended to and cared for. Furthermore, my intention was to ignite a yearning for sacramental desires within individuals who might otherwise feel indifferent, a purpose that only a church can provide. Moreover, to my surprise, there were no churches for my people in Windsor, which in turn prompted my consciousness to finally relegate my arduous personal struggles in meeting my responsibilities as a husband to a loving wife and a father to three young princesses, and to embrace the mantle of Spiritual calling, embarking on the journey of falling into God’s grace in building a church in Windsor. This evokes the profound and silent sacrifices made by the family of a spiritual leader, whose contributions may not be adequately expressed through mere words of gratitude and would most often remain unrecognized.
Part 2
Life is a progressive journey that leaves behind footprints that we can frequently revisit through the rearview mirror. It is a continuous process of navigating towards a predetermined destination, traversing diverse scenes and circumstances, and making frequent references and adjustments based on one’s observations. In this constant pursuit, I have come to realize that my car has become my primary residence, and I have four distinct destinations: my apartment in Detroit, my church in Detroit, my residence in Canada, and my church in Canada. For those who watch from outside, the lives inside the car as well as the journey as a whole is amazing. Looking out from behind the windows, things are a bit different. I could feel the speed in which time was taking me forward. Distant turns suddenly seeking my attention to make abrupt changes. I am constantly reminded of my mistake of over-speeding and on most occasions I have ignored the sign boards, which I felt was my way of conquering the distance with lesser time and more speed, in a way of defeating my future with my destiny. I have had the luxury of having people traveling with me both inside and outside my living space but rarely I have not been behind the steering wheels. Those outside have sometimes overtook my speed and I have wondered what would they be chasing at.
This also meant that I was always alone in my journey to these destinations. Although my destinations were to reconnect with familiar and cherished faces, and my journeys were along the same route, I came to the realization that each journey was unique and enriched my experiences. The solitary journeys provided me with opportunities for introspection and a renewed understanding of the depth and breadth of my relationships with those around me. Additionally, I have transformed my car into a creative hub, where I have experimented with innovative musical ideas and to develop elaborate sermon structures. On numerous occasions, these journeys served as periods of introspection, prompting me to explore innovative solutions that might have otherwise eluded my attention. Although these journeys were arduous, they were also productive.
I have come to the realization that many life challenges lack definitive solutions and that I must accept these challenges as they are, by modifying my lifestyle to accommodate them. Nevertheless, I have never ceased to endeavor in identifying potential conventional or unconventional solutions that may ultimately provide a moment of joy and tranquility. One such unsolvable problem that perplexed me was the prospect of finding a suitable method to celebrate Holy Communion within a church setting alongside my family. I yearned to stand before my Lord alongside my daughters, demonstrating to them that their father is also a priest. They have consistently admired the priests whom they frequently encountered during Sunday church services, unaware of my desire for their insights into their perceptions of me as a priest. It is feasible if I have a place of worship within their proximity, and Windsor emerged as a potential solution for me.
I was fully aware that a permanent or straightforward solution to my previously mentioned issue was unlikely. Nevertheless, I recognized Windsor as an opportunity for me to address it. Before attempting to share this idea with anyone, I dedicated time to meticulously analyzing all potential outcomes. I was cognizant of the potential challenges that could arise along this path. However, my wife drew my attention to the more significant risks that confronted me, which somehow surpassed my initial introspective assessments. Despite these concerns, we resolved to embark on this journey together, initially planning to do so once a month. I am satisfied that the realization of my dream is a possibility at any given moment.
To be continued……
