remember being assigned in 1968 to replace Xaverian priest Fr. A. Morini, in
Sawah Lunto. I can recall the first
meeting with the Christian community, during the Sunday Evening Mass.
Fr. Peter Grappoli, as the Vicar General of the Diocese, introduced me to
the community. A gathering followed
after, with the official “take over” of the community.
Among the present, the Leader of the Parish Community said: “We, the faithful of Sawah Lunto don’t want Fr. Mario as our pastor, but we want Fr. A. Morini to stay with us.” What a humbling experience… for I was not welcomed!
At the end, I just said “that first you taste the food, and then you can say if it is good or bad…” Then I just added: “I came here after the decision of the Bishop. I am here to obey his decision… and I plan to stay.”
The first night was much tormented. Some small animals kept me up all night. The following day, I just burned the whole bed, and made due with what I found around the rectory. Even the rectory itself needed a make over, from top to bottom. The school building was dirty, and abandoned. At the end of weeks of elbow’s grease, I even got sick to the point that I had decided to “just leave,” and return to the city, Padang.
I mustered my courage and enthusiasm, and worked to clean and better organize the church, the rectory, and the school. The school… that was a challenge. I even gave prizes for those who would bring a new student to the school. Everyone responded well to my appeal… so much so that there were little room to spare.
Day after day this thought became stronger, till I couldn’t do it any more, and packed my bags and went to the bus station. I bought a ticket for Padang, and waited for the bus. I had spent about four hours waiting for the bus, till I sent for some information. The bus broke down, and would not pass that day! What a pity… I thought to end my Calvary, but God had other plans. And while I was waiting and thinking what to do next, with two bags in my hands, a girl of 7-8 years approached me and asked: “Father, you want to leave us, too?… Don’t leave us orphans!” and started to cry. Those tears touched my heart! I then left the girl and went back to the parish. Before entering the house, I stopped in Church for a visit… I knelt in front of the tabernacle, but my eyes would stop on the Statue of Our Lady who seemed to cry herself. I asked her help, but I ended up shedding my first true mission tears. The words of that little girl kept bothering my mind: “You too want to leave us? You want us to leave us orphans?”
After some quiet time, I finally said “No” to my heart, and that I would absolutely stay there, and never leave them orphaned. And I ended up spending three full years there. And what a blessing those years have become for me.
I mustered my courage and enthusiasm, and worked to clean and better organize the church, the rectory, and the school. The school… that was a challenge. Once I got rid of drugs, street people, and the like, I asked everyone to send their own children to school. I even gave prizes for those who would bring a new student to the school. Everyone responded well to my appeal… so much so that there were little room to spare.
Which brought me to the next question: how can I provide for all these little children? Most of them were children of Ombelin miners, very poor indeed, who seldom saw a meal on the table. I asked the Government School Board to give me a hand, and their response was “charge them tuition or close the school.” That could not be the only answer, and certainly not mine! So I started looking for benefactors and friends to support this educational effort, from within Indonesia, and from overseas. And many responded generously to this call! Divine Providence did the rest, and became very real. I could help children in their educational expenses, in their daily food, and in their books and uniforms. They were on my mind day and night, and I wanted them to learn well, to come to know wisely, and to learn to forgive!
I considered them as my children, no matter their religion, race or social status. But how difficult it turned out to be the educational effort and the forgiveness factor in their lives, and to put into practice the love of God in their lives. But God provided also the joys of so many efforts, and that school become a “paradise on earth.” It became a model school, with visits from governor and authorities in the educational system. They wanted to know the method used, but I could only say to them that “love for everyone” was the principle behind this school. I even thought them the song “Kota Kwali,” a beautiful melody that children kept singing even in the evenings, to help them dream new dreams for a better humanity. To know that every child in the valley knew “Kota Kwali” made me happy, and brought much joy in my heart.
How can we not see the works of God, even in the midst of our difficult times? Truly, it’s the Book of Life for us missionaries.
(From Xaverian News)