Shyju is an Augustinian Recollect for seven years. He is the only Indian in the Order. He comes from the state of Kerala, in the southwestern coast, known also as the Malabar coast. There lives one of the Christian groups of the more ancient tradition of the world to which his family belongs.
Q.- How did your religious vocation emerge?
R.- I come from a Christian family of the Syro-Malabar liturgical rite. According to tradition, the Syro-Malabar Christians received baptism from the hands of the apostle Thomas. My parents are alive, and I have four older brothers who live a very profound Christian life. In my life, as it is customary in all Christian families here, every evening, before dinner, we pray together the Rosary, we read the Bible and we make a personal prayer. This climate helped me much in finding Christ on the way. Everyday, when I woke up, I would give thanks to God the Father for the new day and I would ask for His presence in my life. Evidently, even if I start my day with a prayer, more often than not some doubts come to me from all sides, and I had provocative thoughts typical of the youth. But I never stopped praying and trusting in Jesus, even though I was seeing myself full of fragility. I always tried to see Jesus at my side as a friend of my age.
From the hospital to the convent
Q.- And how did you know the Order of Augustinian Recollects if they are not present in your country?
R.- During the last year of my career, I read the Confessions of Saint Augustine. Then I came to know the existence and life of the Augustinian Recollects through a cousin of mine, who is a Poor Clare nun in the convent of Santo Ángel Custodioemm of Granada. I was fascinated by the charism, the way of life of the Augustinian Recollects.
Shyju, after his ordination, with his parents, ordaining prelate and prior provincial
Q.- What were you into before entering the Order?
R.- After finishing my career, I started working in a hospital in Kerala. I was earning enough, enjoying much the company of my friends, but I always felt in my interior a voice that was telling me: “This is not your life. You have to dedicate your life for the rest. It is not enough to enjoy with friends. You have to give yourself up for all.” That “all” would include the poor and needy, in all aspects: poor in affection, love, respect, health, money, forgiveness, friendship, etc.
Q.- What have been your models/references before entering the Order?
R.- The works of charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta attracted me much. Then, I started praying: — “Lord, what do you want from me? I am weak to follow you.” During those days, I remembered the words of Saint Teresa of Jesus, which I had read long time ago: “With God I am the hero, without God I am naught.” Or, even though by myself I am weak, with Jesus I am strong, I am the hero. I remembered also the famous biblical phrase: “ I can do everything in the One who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4: 13) The words of Kahlil Gibran came to mind: “When you love, you must not say: ‘God is in my heart,’ but rather: ‘I am in the heart of God.’ It is thus. I perfectly understood that I was and I am in the Heart of Jesus. With Him I can do everything, so much so that I left my work, and, with the help of my cousin who is a nun, I entered the Augustinian Recollect Order.
Formation
Q.- How did the process of your formation in the Order go?
R.- I underwent the different stages: postulancy, novitiate, theologate in the major seminary of Saint Augustine (Burgos, Spain) and in the seminary of Our Lady of Good Counsel (Granada, Spain). And on January 23 2010, I was ordained priest in my parish in Kerala, India. Then, I have lived in the community of Guadalajara (Spain), and dedicated myself completely to the tasks entrusted to me primarily as director of the intern students and secretary of Colegio Agustiniano that we have there.
Augustinian Fraternity
Q.- How is your life in a community belonging to another Order?
R.- I am now in St. Augustine’s Study House in the city of Aluva, state of Kerala, India. It is a major seminary of the Order of Saint Augustine, Philippine Province. I am the only Augustinian Recollect living among the Augustinians. I am learning with them the formation and operation of the seminary. The friars treat, respect and help me greatly. They are always concerned of me. I am now learning and enjoying much with them community life and Augustinian fraternity.
Vocation Promotion
Q.- In what does your work in India, a country without the presence of the Augustinian Recollects consist?
R.- During weekdays, I visit some schools, and during weekends, I pass by the parishes, I celebrate the mass for the youth, I dialogue and I talk with them about the Order. I help in some parishes, by celebrating the mass and hearing confessions. I also give some talks to groups of seminarians, religious sisters and the youth. I am verifying that there are enough vocations. The youth like Saint Augustine very much, and they would want to be part of us. This year, I have had 16 boys who wanted to enter. And actually another boy who wanted to enter has just called me. But, not having our own house, our activity is very limited.
The house and community where he lives
Difficulties
Q.- Do you believe that the Order has a future in India?
R.- Yes, of course. Without doubt. But, to be able to receive vocations, it is now necessary to have a physical presence. The Episcopal Conference has just prohibited to take the youth abroad without having first received a basic formation. For this reason, we would have to open a seminary here. Surely we would not be lacking in vocations, even though the numbers are not the same as that of past. The families want to know where they are going to send their sons, and that too limits our activity, by not having a place to send vocations that are certainly emerging.
A strong stake
Q.- Is this paving the way for the Order to be established in India?
R.- Recently, I have received the report that our Prior Provincial has just sent to all the religious of the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, just almost before the Chapter, which will take place this coming July. I have liked very much some things that I read in it. They put forward a personal opinion of the Provincial, Miguel Ángel Hernández Domínguez, but I make my own. These are valiant, I would say, even prophetic statements. He says, “My personal opinion is that the time has come to take risk and to take a step forward in what we used to call “proyecto de la India.” It is the time to take the risk and to allow the Holy Spirit to uninstall us, to take us out of our comforts, to break our schemes, to leave us in bleakness so that, trusting only in the Lord, we may follow His voice and, renewed in our missionary zeal, we may be able to revitalize our religious life.”