By Fr Mathew Moothasseril

BORN MISSIONARY

Fr George Kavukatt is a born missionary. He did not become a missionary by learning books or church documents on mission work. He imbibed missionary spirit from the missionary environment in which he was brought up. He picked up ideas from the life of people he came across.

Kavukatt family was traditionally Catholic, based in Kadanad parish of Pala diocese, which is famous for the legendary Paremakkal Thoma Kathanar, the author of Varthamana Pusthakam. Servant of God, Mar Mathew Kavukatt is the paternal uncle of Fr George. Fr George went to the local school owned and managed by the parish. His catholic foundation was reinforced by the education he received there. Missionary fervor was kindled in him by Cherupushpa Mission League (CML), a missionary lay organization originated in Kerala. He joined Mission Home, Palai, to discern his missionary vocation. Mission Home promoted vocations for Latin rite missionary congregations in North India. Msgr Vellaringatt, the Director of Mission Home had a big impact on him.

Missionary Society of St Thomas the Apostle, an indigenous society of apostolic life for Syro Malabar Church was founded on 22nd February 1968. It was the initiative of a group of priests of Palai diocese under the direction of Mar Sebastian Vayalil, bishop of Palai. Mar Mathew Kavukatt, Archbishop of Changanacherry also was involved in the foundation. At his advice Fr George joined MST and continued his formation in Good shepherd minor seminary, Palai. After completing philosophy and theology studies at Vadavathoor. In between these course he did one year regency in Ujjain to get hands on experience in mission. During his formation years he had begun his missionary career in a small way on his own.

Having been appointed as the vocation promoter at Deepti Bhavan he got plenty of opportunity to interact with the pioneers of MST. He was sent to Ujjain Mission and there he became a full-fledged missionary. That mission was in the initial years of its formation. The pioneers were not trained missionaries but experienced pastors from the diocese of Palai.

ITENERANT MISSIONARY

Fr George began to experiment his ideas about missionary apostolate. He started as an ITENERANT missionary following just exactly what Jesus said when he sent out his apostles, “Then Jesus called the twelve and gave them power and authority to drive out all evil spirits and to heal diseases. And he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He instructed them, “do not take anything for the journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even take a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave the place. And wherever they do not welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust off your feet: it will be a testimony against them.” (Luke 9:1-5)

He visited houses in the villages accepting their hospitality, as well as facing their hostility. He proclaimed the Kingdom of God accepting anybody and everybody as brothers and sisters. He treated their sick to the extent that they lovingly called him ‘SURGEON FATHER’. He forged a lasting relationship with them and got involved in solving all the problems they brought to him or he found there; about health, education, politics, social issues, agriculture, etc. Fr George still cherishes all those relations he had with the village and villagers and many of the relations are still live even after 40 years, occasionally talking to them on phone or visiting them personally.

ACCOMPANYING PASTOR

The second phase began with his transfer to the diocese of Poona as chaplain for Syro Malabar Catholic migrants. There he transformed himself in to a pastor like Blessed Kunjachan of Ramapuram. Fr George became an ACCOMPANYING PASTOR for the faithful of Pune, Nasik and Ahmednagar.  Accompaniment means to be present with the people, support them spiritually and materially, in every phase of life, every walk of life, every struggle and success, helping them the realize God’s plan for them.  We are like a bridge of support, connecting others to Jesus Christ.  Pope Francis’ pastoral style is with a specific focus on this concept of accompaniment. This is a major theme in his papacy, that he emphasizes it a lot in his teachings. Many consider this as emblematic of him as Pope.

At the end of this second phase of his ministry as a pastor Fr George left behind a well developed pastoral set up for the diocese of Kalyan with parishes, churches, community centers, school, and missions. Even in this successful pastoral phase he did not leave his missionary nature. He was always on the lookout for missionary possibilities. As a result he could gain for MST a new mission region namely Sangli Mission. This mission comprised of four south western districts of Maharashtra.

FOUNDER OF SANGLI MISSION

Third phase of his ministry starts as the FOUNDER of Sangli Mission with the districts of Sangli, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg as its area. This is the third Mission region of MST after Ujjain and Mandya.

 In the new mission a new method evolved, Evangelization through Christian Presence, as chances of direct evangelization was comparatively lesser. A clear vision was made for the new mission. These included providing the holistic liberation which was pertinent to Jesus’ mission, social development through quality education; show the Merciful face of Jesus through works of mercy; help farmers from Kerala who migrated to Konkan; to develop farms in Konkan to produce food materials for the charity homes. This phase was short but he succeeded in giving a clear direction to go ahead.

CHALLENGING GRASS-ROOT MISSIONARY

The abrupt end of this difficult and crucial time as a founder made a deep impact on his life. He once again became a wandering missionary searching missionary possibilities among the poor and needy. That took him to the next phase as FATHER BABA to the Adivasi villages in Shahapur Taluka of Thane district in Maharashtra. He became a savior for the abandoned, marginalized, least and the lost. He practiced, Fratelli Tuti, much ahead of Pope Francis’ document saw light. He saved them from starvation, teaching them to cultivate tapioca, a tropical tuber crop. The illiterate adivasi youth were organized with a self help group, and he named it PRERANA. He taught them to do things systematically in an organized way. He cared for their young and old, women and children, sick and healthy. This program at the village Variachapada was broadcast on the national TV in many languages to as promo for India Shining.

 Fr George had acquired a residence in a housing society at Asangaon. He promoted education and started a balwadi in the nearby village. Many boys and girls dropped school after primary education since secondary schools were far away from the village. He encouraged them to continue education and helped them with transport, mid-day meal, stationary and uniform. There are many graduates from the village.

The women of the villages earn a living by selling tree leaves and fire wood collected from the forest. Fr George organized the women in a Self Help Group and taught them to manage their meetings; keep accounts and to write their names, sign a bank cheque etc. The lift irrigation system he installed helped them to cultivate seasonal vegetable to earn some money for their sustenance.

His tireless hard work affected his health badly. He had to leave that area and move to Sangli Mission of which he was the pioneer. He is the foster father of a number of abandoned children he got during these years. He calls it Josephine ministry because he is like St Joseph the foster father of Jesus.

RESETTLED WITH NATURE

Now at Sindhudurg, he is an apostle of organic farming. He is 24/7 in the field, planting trees nurturing plants, caring cows, dogs, cats, chicken etc. All these are done by developing waste land. 30 acres of land, lying abandoned, owned by the Diocese of Sindhudurg was recovered, developed and cultivated. This is named Isidorian ministry because he admires and follows St Isidore the patron of farmers.

Fr George takes pride in being a champion of Laudato Si of Pope Francis.  Much of what he lives and leads are quite in tune with the perspective of Pope Francis’ teachings as well as the social teachings of the Church. He is a quiet but enthusiast missionary in the field. A life we should consider a model for reshaping our own missionary perspectives.