Orissa: I prayed to Mother Teresa as the Hindus hunted us
Khandhamal (AsiaNews) - “We have to love others and give until it hurts, until the last drop of blood,” said the Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata whose words have inspired so many missionaries and believers victims of acts of persecution and injustice like those that have recently touched the Indian state of Orissa.
Br Oscar Tete, a 25-year veteran of the Missionaries of Charity, lives among the people of Khandhamal district who have been affected by recent anti-Christian attacks. In an interview with AsiaNews he explained how “it is possible to give until it hurts.”
“It was 10 pm on 25 December,” he said, “when a group of 80 Hindu extremists came into our compound, our Shanti Nivas, armed with swords, axes, sticks and iron rods. To avoid violence we moved the 33 patients, all Hindus, to the last floor of our hospital; 22 of them are very old and suffering from malnutrition, tuberculosis and diabetes.”
At one point outside the extremists ran after me and three fellow brothers as well as six local villagers, throwing stones but thanks to the Blessed Mother Teresa’s intercession none of us got hurt.”
“The extremists then turned on the chapel and tore it down, literally; they razed it to ground; not one stone left unturned. Religious articles and symbols of our faith were desecrated. Nothing was left where our place of worship once stood; only a pile of rubbles fills the space. The missionaries have no place to celebrate the Eucharist.”
After telling the missionaries not to clean up the place before they could inspect it, local police showed up only last Saturday.
Brother Oscar said that even today the situation remains very tense and residents of the village are still haunted by the memory of that terrible day.
The Missionaries of Charity have been operating in the area for more than 25 years and have offered their services to everyone, irrespective of religion, to Hindus as well as Christians. In this district the latter are a minority.
“It is very sad that after all we have done for the Hindu community, such fury should fall on Christians,” said the brother. “Right now we are only hoping that peace might prevail.”
Under the circumstances Mother Teresa’s words, “Give till it hurts,” acquire an even more meaningful among the missionaries in Khandhamal who offer Christ’s persecution for the salvation of Hindu extremists.
The Missionaries of Charity pray that the Blessed Mother Teresa may protect them and give them the strength necessary to keep “giving,” bearing Christ’s message of love for Hindus and Christians, persecutors and persecuted alike.
.png)
20/02/2019 09:59
