Students and teachers from St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe, have had a life-changing experience in one of the poorest nations in the world. ROBIN WILLIAMS reports on their journey
DIVINE Word Missionary Father Liam Horsfall may be in his 80s, but age has yet to stop him from escorting secondary school students to India to visit and work with some of the poorest and most marginalised people in the world.
For the past three years, Fr Horsfall has been accompanied on his November immersions by students from St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe.
He said he found the college’s boys had a well-developed compassion and openness to the people and communities visited.
Fr Horsfall said the month-long trip visited many of the places he had ministered to during his mission work in India.
Eight Year 11 students – Jackson Da Forno, Blake Henley, Aaron Hogg, Aaron Loader, Jack Nolan, Jock Power, Nick Siliato and Joe Shearman – were also joined by three of the college’s staff Matthew Hawkins, Michael Phillips and college dean David Gardiner.
Mr Gardiner said during the visit students followed in the footsteps of Fr Horsfall, visiting Mother Teresa’s tomb, celebrating Mass in Mother’s House in Kolkata and spending three days volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata.
He said also on the itinerary was work at Daya-Dan – a centre for children with physical and mental disabilities – preparing Christmas parcels for 800 street children of Kolkata and working with the “Rainbow” children of Loreto School in Kolkata.
“Loreto educates, feeds and houses 300 street children along with 1000 other students,” he said.
Mr Gardiner said St Patrick’s students spent several days in Puri including a visit to a leprosy colony started by Fr Horsfall.
“They visited a school in Puri for children of leper patients where the boys visited classrooms, attended a welcome concert, fed the students lunch, played cricket and soccer, and enjoyed each other’s company,” he said.
“(The boys) also worked with the physically and mentally challenged people at the Missionaries of Charity Brothers’ centre in Puri and visited the ‘Untouchable’ colony in Rajangpur.”
Mr Gardiner said a challenging experience for the boys was the two days spent visiting the leper colony in Puri.
“It included joining the local doctor on his rounds of the colony hospital,” he said.
Mr Gardiner said students involved were selected after an application process as part of the college’s Leadership Formation Opportunities Program for Year 11 students.
“The aim of the immersion is to help the formation of the young men involved in the program witness first hand the power of education to make a difference in the lives of the poor, show solidarity within educators, Church workers and those who are at the margins,” he said.
He said the experience formed young leaders who deeply understood the Church’s mission in the contemporary world context and who had experienced the charism of Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers, alive in the developing world.
During the trip the students handed over $8000 to various educators and Church workers. About $6000 of that was raised from the St Patrick’s College annual “Shore to Gate” walkathon with the remaining $2000 coming from carwash and chocolate fundraisers.
Nick Siliato said his experience with the “Untouchables” would always leave him with the message that everyone had the ability to make anyone happy.
Blake Henley said he learnt people were forever grateful.
“The way Rinky smiled and got excited about 23 cents ignited a realisation in me that no matter what some people’s circumstances are, they are forever grateful,” he said.
Jackson Da Forno said working with the “rainbow” kids at Loreto was special.
“They are the poorest of the poor kids, kids whose parents have barely enough money for food, and shelter. I will always cherish the friendships I made with Nazma, Guria and Renu,” he said.
Aaron Hogg said even though the “rainbow” kids at Loreto had so little that it could fit into a shoebox, they made up the riches with heart, love and kindness.
Joe Shearman recounted the following story.
“We met this kid on the train who people told us that his mother had sold him. Nic gave him 40 rupee (AUD$1) and a banana, and I gave him a pillow. This made him really happy,” he said
Jock Power said he learned a lot from visiting the Mother’s House.
“What I got from this experience at Mother’s House is that in life you will be faced with some hard and difficult challenges, but to give up on that task will simply ruin you for what you receive at the end,” he said.
“So persist, work hard and do not give up on what you are working on.”
Jack Nolan said Australian donations made a big difference to people’s lives.
“A contribution like the one made by Mooney House, can make a huge difference to the dignity, self-esteem and future of those people,” he said.
