In their lighter moments together, Fr. George D’Sousa would often make up this joke to Fr. GK. It’s about God himself welcoming various Bishops into heaven after their royal mission on earth. When the bishops from the Latin Church reach heaven God the Father would walk up to the pearly gates to welcome them, while for the bishops from the Syro Malabar Church, God would sit stubborn in his throne and let the bishops walk in to meet Him.
Fr. GK would then curiously ask Fr. D’Souza why God is too partisan with the Latin bishops! To which Fr. D’Souza would reply that God would not need to worry about his throne while the bishops from the Latin Church would walk in unlike the Syro Malabar Bishops! Then both the pastors would burst out into laughter and Fr. D’Souza would advise Fr. GK not to budge an inch from his dedicated pastoral care of the Syro Malabar migrants.
Father GK literally practiced that advice. When a parish was in its shaping that would eventually become the first parish of a future Kalyan diocese, Fr George was nonetheless unconcerned about claiming any chair, forget a throne! He is hopeful and certain that God the Father would walk down not only to the gates of heaven, but will accompany him in each of his own daily trials and triumphs.
Even though Fr. GK is resting now, he is very active. He still looks after his foster children and empowers them in every level. A month ago he was seen taking admission for one of his foster child Pradeep in a nursing college. He remotely organises to preparation, cultivation and harvesting of the fields he was looking after earlier.
Fr. Gk was always driven by the mission of Jesus as expressed in the Bible verse: “Whatever you have done to the least of these brethren, you have done unto me”. He worked and dreamt for the least of his brothers and sisters. The yields are shared with needy people and among his friends and benefactors. In his last visit to US he picked this idea of community sharing point of resources. He alleviated not only the pains of people, but also their hunger. Fr. GK meticulously prays every day: “Give them today their daily bread”.
