“George, you should go to the circus tent pitched near our parish church, and offer holy mass for the circus artists whenever possible. There would definitely be some Syro Malabar faithful in the circus troupe!” One of the advices Fr. George Kavukatt (hereafter GK) received from Fr. George D’Souza of Pune Diocese’s Kirkee parish was this. When Fr. GK along with Fr, Lonappan Arangasseril, reached for the first time in Pune in 1984 commissioned by the then superiors of MST to provide pastoral care to the Syro Malabar diaspora in and around Pune, Rt. Rev. Bp. Valerian D’Souza the Bishop of Pune arranged father Kavukatt’s stay with Fr. George D’Souza.
Fr. GK fondly remembers father D’Souza’s influence in shaping his own attitudes and enthusiasm towards pastoral care and missionary work. Without the wholehearted support of Bishop Valerian and pastors such as George D’Souza Fr. GK’s mission in Pune would not have accomplishment the way it has looks today. It was plan of God that Pune mission would eventually be the precursor for Kalyan Diocese.
Being the leader and shepherd is not a silly joke. It involves getting into the life of people. Fr GK had that Christ like attitude of Kenotic love; often he would be moved with compassion when encountering people. Fr. GK’s life in Pune was one which getting involved in lives of people not only of the Syro Malabar Community; but he became a pastor and universal brother for everyone whom he met. He would be at their service both in their good times as well as bad times. He appeared like an angel in front of them when they were distressed with ailments, or bereaved of the loss of their dear ones. The allegory of the ‘circus tent’ by Fr. George D’Souza inspired Fr. GK all throughout his missionary life. Mission means getting into a trapeze. And Fr. GK had proved himself to be an expert on the oscillating trapeze in life’s circus ring.
