IN MEMORIAM: Fr. Pedro Recuenco

Fr. Antonio Marco

              Fr. Pedro Recuenco passed away in Zaragoza, Spain, on the 18^th of May. A deadly cancer had affected his kidneys, and maybe other organs also. He had returned from India one week before. Only in the last days he complained of some pain. Since he was going to Spain, the doctors in India advised him to make a serious check up there. The diagnosis was a cancer in a so advanced development that it didn’t let place for a surgical intervention.

           Fr. Pedro arrived in India for the first time in December 2000, to help in the formation of the seminarians in the house of Aroor. He spent his last years in hour Seminary of Mantharamputhoor, in Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.

              He was retired from the activities in school, and he had just recovered from a serious illness that had let him out from the normal work, to the point of considering himself almost useless for any activity. I remember that he came with some fear, with many recommendations about what dos and don’ts, a lot of medicines for all kind of pains, and with some apprehension on the side of his superiors and relatives.

              For him to arrive in India was like to be born again. The love and kindness of the seminarians towards him, his courses of Spanish to the juniors, his participation in all the activities of the community… were like fresh steps in a newly started life. His generosity an will made the rest. It is true that the climate and the Indian food were for him a handicap, but his strong will found the way to overcome any kind of problems, without more ado.

              His hobbies and his professionalism as linguist offered him a wide field for his work. He soon had the liturgical texts transcribed in order for him to celebrate the Mass in Malayalam. With the help of the seminarians he used to prepare simple homilies in that language. For years he worked in the preparation of a Malayalam and a Hindi Grammar for Spanish speakers.

              India stole Fr. Pedro’s heart, and he was able to get the affection of everybody, especially the seminarians, who saw in him a model of Piarist, a man of piety and human knowledge. He was happy in India during the last 6 years of his life. He felt useful, valued and loved. He recovered the strength of his intellectual work as a fine linguist, and he cultivated other hobbies in which he was also good, as in drawing and painting.

              His dead lets a great empty space among us.

 From India

MY EXPERIENCE IN KANYAKUMARI

(Remembering Fr. Pedro Recuenco)

Bro. Stalin Nasianse

                  Last year I was in Kanyakumari helping in the formation team with Fr. Thomas and Fr. Pedro. There were 25 boys from different parts of India: Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Kerala. Among these 25 boys many were from different parts of Kerala. All were extremely happy and this fact helped us to give them a wonderful formation.

                When I look at the formation field, I realize that there were lots of things to do, especially since those boys came as aspirants not knowing anything about seminary life. Therefore, as formators, we had a great task to teach them many things, and being always close to them. I believe that last year was very good because of our teamwork and the excellent communication among us; as a result I could see at the end of the year a lot of growth in each boy. 

              Being in Kanyakumari I had many experiences. I could mention here some of them, for example I tried my best teaching them Bible and English; there I learnt to guide them well and from Fr. Thomas and Fr. Pedro I gained a lot of values. Fr. Thomas gave me full freedom for I was also appointed administrator of the house. l used this opportunity responsibly. That made me grow a great deal; therefore the experience of Kanyakumari is still helping me regarding my studies, ministry and community life in Bangalore.            

               Every experience comes from God, thus He is the source of all I have received in Kanyakumari. There I was both a teacher and an apprentice, for I learned many things and I taught them also. Learning never finishes in our life span because formation is a never-ending process. Besides, both Fr. Thomas and Fr. Pedro corrected me and helped me to grow in my vocation. They were an inspiration to me to live a good Religious Life and this will continue helping me in my future teaching ministry, and in my community. I will never forget it.   

GUJARAT

Br. Rayappan Ch. Lourdu

Each and every one has a certain experience of life. Whenever we undergo a new activity, we acquire what we call new experience. In the field of pastoral ministry this is very real. Going to new places, meeting and living with new people, facing new situations and undergoing a new climate, help us to acquire the real life experience.

My experience in Gujarat was something like this. First of all, I never traveled alone such a long distance before. When I received the information that my ministry place was Gujarat,  I was filled with fears, just because of the news I received about that place, where an earthquake took place recently and where the climate uses to be very hot.

When I reached the site called Gandhiham, I was happy as I could work in the very place where Gandhi lived. Later on I reached the destination where I was to start my ministry. I received a warm welcome in Raidhanpar which is in the Bhuj Town, in the District of Kutch. I worked in Kutch Vikas Trust. I met two priests there: the director and his assistant. There are also four religious convents, each holding an institution: Eye Specialist Hospital, Hostel for Disable Students, School for the disable students and poor children and the Old Age Home for the Elderly people. There are also many workers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu with local people and some volunteers.

My task was mainly to teach moral instruction in the school for two weeks; to teach catechism to children on Sundays; to go for eye-camps, for polio-camps and to visit all institutions and the working places; to write reports and to share the work with the laborers. I can say I am very happy about my experience, for I have discovered many abilities within me, which I thought were difficult indeed. Whenever I was left alone, I put a great effort and so I learned what the mission is like.