I was born in a catholic family and my parents, brothers and sisters were God fearing people. We were seven brothers and four sisters and were brought up with Christian faith. My father had a government job and he wanted to educate all his children and I was sent to a catholic boarding school and I finished my High school studies there. The Catholic missionaries’ (fathers and sisters) lifestyle and dedication inspired me from childhood onwards. After my Master’s degree I got a job as Agricultural officer, after 33 years of government service I retired as Deputy Director. I was associated with church activities, as parish council member I used to help sisters to give communion to the sick people in their families. Sister Lizzie introduced me to Assumption sisters, their work and Assumption Together. In 2006 I joined the Assumption Together in Pune. Srs. Alphonse and Lizzie inspired us and provided a very homely atmosphere. Sr. Rekha’s classes on Bible were also a very enriching experience. For the last eight years I am living as a committed Assumption friend, it gives me energy to live as a committed Christian. I want to continue as a committed friend following St. M. Eugenie’s spirituality till my death.
In the beginning we had only one group mainly English Speaking and Sr Lizzie inspired and encouraged us to begin a second group for those who do not understand English and we formed a group for Marathi speaking friends. I am an active member in both groups. We have separate monthly meetings, mainly I help with the translation work from English to Marathi Mr. Vilas Tribhuvan, our Assumption friend, is an active member and helps me in the translation work. We want our Marathi friends also to deepen their Christian faith and discover St M. Eugenie and her spirituality.
Sr. Lizzie, our animator, gives us special attention, motherly care, understanding and listening to each one of us according to our needs. My personal experience with her is that I can share my problem freely and I feel that her prayer has a miraculous power. I was sick, had Pneumonia and could not breathe, and was admitted to the hospital, I lost hope of survival. I had problems at home and most of them were solved. Our friends have also had similar experiences. Her love for St. Marie Eugenie and selfless love for Assumption friends helped me to deepen my Christian faith. I am fascinated by St. M. Eugenie and her spirituality, I wrote a book on St. Marie Eugenie in Marathi so that many Marathi speaking friends come to know about St. M. Eugenie.
I like St. M. Eugenie because of her enduring capacity to face sufferings after her mother’s death, experience of loneliness in spite of dark moments she never gave up her faith. Her wide vision, deep awareness of social problems of her time made her realize that it can be solved only through transformative education. Some of her quotations influenced my life. “My gaze is fixed on Jesus Christ and the extension of his Kingdom”. “The earth is a place of God’s glory”. “All comes from Jesus Christ; all belong to Jesus Christ and must be for Jesus Christ.” “Each one of us has a mission on earth”. ‘Joyful detachment’ etc. all these helped me to deepen my faith and commit myself for the cause of the poor and needy. I get energy through prayer and Assumption charism. I feel proud of being a committed Assumption friend. I thank God for calling me to this vocation of extending God’s kingdom in today’s world.
Mr. Raphael Shelke, AT. Pune