Bp Varghese Thottamkara CM
Balasore

You are back to your country and the diocese of Balasore from Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte, Ethiopia. Why do you think you were transferred to Balasore?
Indeed, the transfer notice came to me as a surprise. I was told by the Holy See that the diocese of Balasore has been vacant for more than four years and they have to find a bishop immediately. They thought as I am a Vincentian Bishop and was a missionary in Orissa, I would be able to take this responsibility. Besides when I was given the responsibility of Nekemte, I was told that I am to make a transition so that an Ethiopian bishop can take over from me in future. So, after 10 years they thought it is right time to give me a change and begin to search for an Ethiopian bishop in Nekemte.

How was your experience in the Ethiopian church? With the long history both of Christianity and Judaism, how is the community of Ethiopians now? Is it fully lost in tribal wars? How do you see the church and the Christians in Ethiopia?
Though Ethiopia is known to be a Christian country with long traditions, the Vicariate of Nekemte is more a mission area where Catholicism is very young and the faith of the people very shallow. There are also many non-Christians in the area. Hence my primary task was evangelization and re-evangelization. As the people are very poor, they look to the Church for help in education, medical and social fields. The government machineries are busy with war and other issues, they give very little attention to the matters connected to the daily life of the people and their problems.
The ethnic clashes and tribal wars are constant maladies on the people. It seems difficult for them to come out of it as many selfish people seem to be fermenting it for their political motives. The poor and innocent people are victims to it.
The Church is trying its best to help the victims of all the calamities to alleviate their sufferings and at times playing the prophetic role of intervention and education towards peaceful co-existence.

What were the real problems with the 50,000 Catholics in the Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte, which is located in the western region of Ethiopia. It covers an area of 33,000 square miles, has 92 parishes, and mission churches, 37 priests and 70 religious brothers and sisters. How could you work with them in their mission and Christian life?
The people in the vicariate of Nekemte are mostly living in the country-side doing rain-dependant agriculture and animal husbandry. They struggle with the needs of their daily living.
Most of them have no opportunity for education, clean water and medical facilities. They look to the church for support. So, we do a lot of intervention in these areas. Last five years these people have been struggling between the rebel forces hiding in the forest and the government forces controlling the towns. Both the groups, instead of helping the people are exploiting them and troubling them a lot. The poor people do not know where to turn for help. There are thousands of people who are internally displaced and almost every family has stories to tell of their dear and near ones being kidnapped and killed. Due to lack of security and travel restrictions, the church also is not able to reach out to the needy. There are many parishes and outstations which have been closed down and not accessible for last 3 to 4 years. One Indian priest and a nun were kidnapped by the rebels and they asked for big ransom to get them released. In spite of all these challenges, the priests and religious live among the people, being one of them and doing whatever they can to alleviate their suffering.

“Help the victims of all the calamities to alleviate their sufferings and at times playing the prophetic role of intervention.”

You are coming back to Balasore diocese with about 70 000 Catholics, what in your mind is the primary area of attention in the diocese which did not have a bishop for a bit long?
Though I have visited many places within Balasore diocese several times before, I have not worked for long time in this diocese. Hence, I am now going around seeing priests, religious and people to listen to them and to know their challenges needs and problems. I have already started this fact-finding mission. Only after studying and learning the situation can I say what is the priorities in the diocese. I know there are many priests, religious, catechists and lay ministers who are very committed and doing wonderful services to the people. I need to encourage them, motivate them and work with them for the good of the people.

India is becoming a country of persecution of Christian faith, how do you look at Hindutva fundamentalism and its racial ideology?
India is becoming more and more intolerant due to some politically motivated people who try to take advantage by polarizing the people. They are waiting for any opportunity to pounce upon the missionaries to create problems. Yet, many know the good the Catholic Church does for the people and for the country. We have to continue loving and serving all people without any discrimination. Our living of gospel values and the selfless and non-discriminative services that we render will be the best message we can convey to the people. We trust in the Lord that the good works that we do for the people will bear fruit in due time.

How do you look at the mission today, has it dampened to mere social work?
Mission today is bearing witness to the gospel values in the circumstances in which we live. The whole world is looking for life witnesses. The mission work includes pastoral, catechetical, socio-educational and developmental works. We need to render services to people which comprise an integral dimension. Our pastoral and spiritual works are mainly oriented towards faith formation by strengthening and deepening the faith of the Christians. With faith we do our services and wait that our socio-developmental and social works also will yield fruits even for the spiritual welfare of the people.

Pope Francis has called for a Synodal church, he appointed 75 lay persons with voting power to the coming Synod bishops in Rome in October. Is he deconstructing the notion of authority of episcopacy in the church? How do you look at the Synodality envisaged by Pope Francis?
Pope Francis, according to me, is reawakening the church to the vision Vatican II had. We all are convinced that Church is the people of God and all have to play their role in building up the Church. Empowering men and women to take responsible role in the church is a need of the hour. The bishops and priests have their role in the church, but allowing the lay people to be more proactive in the affairs of the church is what is being done by the Pope. It is from this conviction that the present emphasis on synodality arises. It comprises in walking together, listening to one another and encouraging one another. Allowing lay people to play their role is not negating the role of bishops and priests. Hence, we need to walk this path without fear and with more openness.

What type of leadership do you live and practise in your episcopate? As a religious priest how do you look at the vow of poverty in a market-oriented culture we live in?
I have made it clear to my priests, religious and laity that I have come to listen to them and to journey together with them and play the role of an animator.
I understand the vow of poverty as living a simple life. We should not allow the world to influence our living and our needs which the world tries to market through advertisements. It is possible that we look for more than what we need and our inclination to possess can be a hindrance in being a witness and be an effective missionary. I need to be constantly aware of what I need for my normal living and for my ministry and what can be a counter witness to my mission. A missionary needs this perfect balance in one’s life.