Bp. Joseph Kollamparambil (Auxiliary of Shamsabad)

• What would you like to take as your episcopal motto?

The motto I want to take is from St Mark chapter 16 verse 15, giving emphasis to the second part, which says, “proclaim the gospel to all creation.” I think it is the last order of Jesus Christ, and after these words He stopped giving direction to his disciples. Immediately after, and he ascended to heaven. “All creation” is not limited to humans. The Holy Father is giving importance to the environment. After the creation described in Genesis, Yahweh entrusted the creation to man to look after. Man has to take care of the entire universe; no boundaries can be set – not my parish, not my diocese, not my boundary, but the entire world.

• How do you describe the people in Gujarat who are entrusted to you?

Now I am in Bharuch, which is an ancient city where people traditionally believe that St Thomas the Apostle came in 45 AD or 46 AD, because at that time Bharuch was a trading city frequented by Jewish traders. Recent research says St Thomas came to India twice. First to Bharuch and later to Kerala.

When I was in Kerala, I heard many negative comments about the people in Gujarat regarding their inter-religious relationship. During the last three years that I have been here, my experience has been entirely different. As far as I know, there exists no problem in the relationships of different communities here. They have great respect for priests and nuns. We are not at all involved in an aggressive type of preaching. As the Holy Father said, we are trying to perform by doing something. We are trying to live the Gospel and walk with the people in the spirit of the gospel; that is what we are doing here. We are mainly attending to the pastoral needs of migrants. It is an entirely different scenario than that of the Church of Kerala. The people are actively participating in the liturgy and all the other church activities. Here I feel there is some kind of good chemistry and warmth between the bishop, priests, and people.

• Mission activity in North India has changed very much in the recent past. Hindu fundamentalism may have much to do with it. What type of mission activity is feasible in Gujarat? How will you preach the Gospel there?

I think we should give a different interpretation to it. When we receive the gospel, we have to proclaim it; whether people accept it or not is their own business. In the gospel of St John 1:11, which is about the first introduction of Jesus in the synagogue, you see that all the people rejected him, even his own people. He didn’t react negatively to it. He just went to another place. In the mission field here, I haven’t experienced any difficulty because of Hindutva fundamentalism. Jesus never tried to baptize anyone; he only proclaimed the gospel. We should never try aggressive preaching or baptizing. In the past, we gave a distorted meaning to mission work. It was not a positive one. As St Francis said, proclaim the gospel without uttering a word. Our behaviour and attitudes are the proclamation. Likewise, we are not forcing anyone. If they are convinced, they can come. The mission is dependent on personal conviction and the acceptance of Christ as their leader.

• Fundamentalism, Fanaticism, and Communalism are in a way common to all religions. It has affected Christianity too. What kind of an amicable relationship with everybody do you envisage?

Division and enmity among all religions are a reality. Because we have our own beliefs and setup, we don’t appreciate others. The moment we set out of our boundaries, this problem will cease to exist. Political and communal divisions are facts of life, and so is friction in families. Problems present an opportunity to search for new solutions. It should also help us to get to the real spirit of the Gospel. If we live the gospel, we will be compelled to step of out our boundaries and comfort zones. Sometimes our ego is not allowing us to accept the facts of life. As Mark 6 says, people rejected him by saying he is Carpenter’s son.

• As you said, there are no untouchables and there should be no boundaries. “Catholicism” by its very meaning is universal and inclusive. It excludes no one. How do we revive the inclusive aspect of communion and Catholicism?

Unity should not be taken to mean that there is only one Church. We are one nation, but we have different states, languages, and identities in India. In the Church also there is similar plurality. We need to respect it. We have to keep it. These plurality is a treasure to be cherished by the church. Just as the government is bound to protect the different languages and minorities in our nation, we need to protect the plurality of religions.

• Do you feel comfortable about the protection that the government is providing to the minorities? Or do you feel apprehensive about it?

I think that as a nation we are growing mature. It is a process, and at this stage I think we are mature enough to respect each other and each other’s rights. You may find exceptions to it here and there, which are bound to exist.

• You worked as a professor in a college and also as principal in Aruvitharacollege? What subject were you teaching?

Before becoming the principal, I was a professor of political science in which I have a Ph.D.

• Don’t you see politics in every sphere of life where you come into contact with people?

Politics has changed drastically now. We lost its real meaning. It is no more the politics that legends like Aristotle, Franklin described. There is a string attached to it now. But I am hopeful that this young nation that is only 75 years old will achieve its true sense.

• As an educator, how has been your relationship with the youth and students? How do you see the role of education in the Catholic church?

Not only for the Catholic Church is education very important. We strive to be models that the students to look up to. A teacher enjoys much acceptance in society. People heed what they say. That is why the Catholic Church runs different types of educational institutions. In our student days, a teacher could scold or correct the students. That has changed now. Is that possible for anybody today? The answer to that question is open to different interpretations. Through our education system, we disseminate ethical values and thus build up the Church and the nation. In the absence of it, destructive forces will have a field day.

Episcopal Ordination: October 9, 2022

• Does the exodus of youngsters to other countries for higher education or job make you feel anxious?

It is a sad thing that they can’t find those opportunities here. But I think it’s a temporary phenomenon. Our country will come up, offering immense job opportunities and higher educational facilities.

• Do you plan to import Kerala or Syro-Malabar culture into Gujarat or will you inculturate your faith there?

It’s difficult to give a simple answer to that question. Only through experience, we can find an apt way out for it. The older migrants prefer the Syro-Malabar culture. But our youngsters have a liberal view of it; they want the language of the liturgy to be English, Gujarati or Hindi. Ultimately, they are the people who are to take a decision on it. Our role will be to guide them.

• You are a Catholic bishop who was a teacher by profession; what strikes you most in the life of Christ?

It’s His mentality. He was always very kind towards all and sundry. And also he was very tough in some matters. Many are distancing from Him on the subject of the Holy Qurbana, but he doesn’t change his position on it. He was very clear about it. He mingled with all the different types of people. He was in the midst of the people whether they opposed or stood with him. He was ready to suffer for them. His was an amazing personality. If people want to go, let them go. Let them leave in peace.

• In the gospel of John 6, people came to make Jesus a king when they got bread to eat, but Jesus prevented them and escaped. What message does that have for you and the Catholic Church?

I think it doesn’t have a single straightforward interpretation. It has a deep theological meaning. I am not a theologian by profession. I try to understand the Bible with prayer and I am not good in interpreting it.

• What is prayer for you and why do you pray?

Prayer is simply being before the Lord. As St Paul says, when you don’t know how to pray, the spirit within you will pray for you. That means, which was available to Jesus, is prayer for me. I pray to find out the truth, to get the Holy Spirit.

• What about your family and other personal details?

My father left for eternity in 1980, just one year before my ordination, and my mother in 2010. I have 5 brothers and 2 sisters. I was trained in St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathur. I got my PG from St Thomas College, Pala and Ph.D. from MG University Kottayam on Liberation Theology and its influence on Kerala politics and society. It was then a hot topic of discussion.

• The archbishop, priests and people are on a strike in Vizhinjam. As a scholar in Liberation Theology, how do you view agitation? Do you see in it a Christian point of view?

Unfortunately, I haven’t made an in-depth study of that strike, but we all are with KCBC and the Synod on it. I have read almost all the books on Liberation Theology, especially by Gutierrez. We have to interpret all the theology as derivatives of the Gospels. All theology must explain Jesus. We cannot pick up any one word and interpret it in isolation. We cannot say this what it is. Any theology we interpret should reveal Christ. Some type of Liberation Theology has lost much of its importance, because it’s a distorted interpretation.