Activity

Just now we are organzing an Eco-retreat for a group of 16 Jesuits and FMM Sisters inside a thick forest of Southern India. Mulli in the Attapadi Forest range on the border of two States and still holds this rain forest contiguous to the Silent Valley National Park. The FMM Sisters have been running this 50 year old hospital inside the forest for the welfare of the aboriginal people here.
The Retreatants live inside the hospital compound. There is an electric fence to dissuade the marauding elephants and wild boars. They often visit us and we see them passing by in the nights.
While most of the people are scared of these animals, the Adivasi, aboriginal people take them at a stride. When they have to face these wild elephants, they simply whisper softly to the pachyderms, “Po Raja Po!” which simply means, “O Kiing, just move away from me!” It is so simple and the elephants respect them and give way easily.
The simplicity and inclusiveness of the Adivasi people are awe-inspiring.
The retreatants spend the whole day in the forest, taking walks, befriending the trees and animals, learning to appreciate their mutually enhancing presence on the planet.
The evening liturgies around small camp fires consist of sharing memories of closeness to different aspects of the planet. Yesterday all shared memories of Water. Took about an hour and half around the fire.
The hope and expectation is that as Teachers, the participants will create little eddies of change wherever they will be.
The group is planning similar Eco-retreats for Teachers in different parts of the country. Communication specialist, Rappai Poothokaren SJ, Counselor Sr. Sophie FMM have no plans to stop.
The next stop over is at the Tarumitra Bio-reserve (www.tarumitra.org) in Patna when 32 final year theology students congregate from Morning Star College Kolkata 29 Sept to 4 October.
Then the festival season of the country will begin. We plan to organise a similar Eco-retreat in Nadiad, Gujarat from 26 October for a week.
It is difficult to upload anything from these forests to the cyber universe. The Internet connection is so feeble and weak.
However cheers to all of us here for the pioneering responses along with Jennifer.

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