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My name is Fr. Biju Abraham Chempottickal, M.S. I was born on February 2, 1975 in Kerala, in southwestern India. I am a member of the Syro-Malabar Rite, an Eastern Catholic Rite in full communion with Rome. We are known as Mar Thoma Nasranis or Syrian Catholics. Our particular Eastern Rite has 4.6 million believers worldwide and traces its origins to the evangelistic activity of St. Thomas the Apostle who came to Kerala in 52 A.D.
My family is very faith-filled. Every evening when I was a child we would pray for an hour before our family meal. This time included praying the Rosary, reading of the scriptures, prayer and praise requests, and intercession of the saints.
Although India is a secular country, for ten years I was faithfully involved with religious education offered in my parish every Sunday.
How did you first contact the La Salette Missionaries?
Often a local La Salette Missionary would come to assist our parish priests. The testimony of faith of these La Salettes – their simplicity and missionary experiences – inspired within me a deep desire to become a La Salette Missionary like them. In 1990, a Carmelite priest from our parish introduced me to the nearby La Salette Seminary!
What La Salette formation have you received?
At the age of 15, I decided to enter the seminary. In successive years I completed high school and then studied philosophy. In 1995, at age 20, I left for the Philippines for two years to do my Postulancy and Novitiate with the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. I made my first profession of religious vows as a La Salette on May 1, 1997 in Silang, the Philippines, and then I returned to India to do my theology studies.
Four years later, in 2001, I was ordained a priest in the chapel of our first La Salette house in India. In the following July, I was sent to Rome to study Moral Theology, then received my Licentiate Degree (S.T.L.) and finally my Doctorate in 2006. Soon I returned to India to become Professor of Moral Theology and Rector of the Seminary, and served as Provincial Vicar (Assistant Provincial) for three years.
All these responsibilities were not easy! But I believe that my support in these studies and ministries came from my faith as well as the prayers of my seven uncles who are priests, and my fellow religious men and women.
Where do you presently minister?
At the request of our Superior General, I am now ministering at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette on the Holy Mountain in France. For this ministry I have the opportunity to use my great facility with speaking several languages, including French, German, Italian, English, and Malayalam – since we do welcome many Indian pilgrims!
A Syro-Malabar Ordination of a new La Salette priest in 2011: left are the concelebrants; right is the congregationIn my international Community on the Holy Mountain, each language has its own special gift: French to debate with others, German for its clarity and technical prowess, Italian when speaking about the culinary arts, the Word and prayer. Of course my own native language, Malayalam, is quite useful for religious and ascetic topics. I love reading anything related to theology, philosophy, or politics. Also I love Nature and walking among the stunningly beautiful Alpine mountains.
Where did you acquire you interest in other languages?
My home country of India is a multicultural country. There are twenty-two official languages. India has no national language, but the official language of our government is Hindi. English is widely used in business and administration and has the status of "subsidiary official language"; it is important in education, especially in higher education. The language of Kerala is Malayalam. I began my study of English about ten years ago. I have some knowledge of Hindi, the Kannada, Konkani's, Philippine Tagalog, and Syriac dialect of Aramaic, and Sanskrit.
What about the La Salette message still inspires you?
My passion is still the event and mission of La Salette, especially the full call of hope from the Beautiful Lady: "If they are converted, the stones and rocks will become heaps of wheat..." “If..." Her words reflect a God who does not impose his will, but respects our freedom. Every person is free to respond to this invitation.
And if we are converted, joy, abundance and peace will follow. In my language, the word "shanti" means "peace"! Jesus constantly offers us his peace which, in St. Paul’s description, “surpasses all understanding” (Phil 4:7).