As a young newly ordained missionary, it was my ambition to help establish God’s Kingdom on earth through the preaching of the Word and the celebration of the Sacraments. I was keenly aware of my role as “fisherman” and “shepherd” to God’s people, to the unevangelized and evangelized respectively.
My energy and intent were fully focused on this and contact with people was always my guiding principle. One thing I never even considered in those early years was building any kind of infrastructure. While in Pakistan, many years ago, I did purchase a 4 acre plot near to both a town and agricultural land, and I did build a surround wall to protect the plot from any kind of encroachment, but my plan was always to allow the local Kutchi Kohli people, for whom the plot was purchased, to build up their own houses and community, which I am happy to say they have done.
I have never lost sight of my initial zeal and method of mission but when I came to Belaga, newly re-opened as a parish by Bishop Richard in 2017, the place was truly dilapidated. The church building was passable but even that needed painting, a leaky roof needed fixed, and some serious internal renovation needed to be done. Everything else was a bit of a mess. And so, I finally became involved in building up infrastructure. The church has been painted, the roof of the church has been fixed and some major internal renovation has taken place, not least of which was getting some proper benches made and installed into the church.
Behind the church, which was just swampy jungle, has been built up into a proper kitchen area for seminars and other community functions. There is now a proper parking place for car. The old parish house has been repurposed as the catechists’ house and underwent major internal and external redesign and repairs. Lately, two new and imposing structures have been added to the compound, namely a new and nice parish house as well as a sturdy and spacious parish hall. Am I pleased I got into development work? Yes, I am, I believe this one time it was necessary, and I hope what has been done in the last seven years will continue to benefit St Francis Xavier Parish, Belaga for many years to come.
John McAulay, MHM
