...:: OUT OF AFRICA ::... News Bulletin of the Fransalians in Africa

Vol. III (2006-2007)

[An interview with Rev. Fr. Thomas Olickal MSFS the Provincial Superior of the Province of East Africa by the Editor of Out of Africa on the occasion of the celebration the Silver Jubilee of his Sacerdotal Ordination]

Fr. Thomas Olickal msfs

OOA: Dear loving Fr. Thomas Welcome! Since last 25 years as a priest you are actively involved in various missionary and pastoral activities both in India and Africa. What do you think is the greatest quality that a missionary needs to work especially here in East Africa?

Fr. Olickal: Thank you Fr. Johnson. Apart from the call of God and positive response from the individual, I would say that one of the primary qualities a missionary must have is deep trust in God. It is to be established through a solid relationship with the person of Christ. With this deep trust in God one should be able to venture into new vistas of missions. A missionary in Africa should be able to face the hardness and newness of life. Many things here may not be in the way one used to have it in one’s homeland. To be effective as missionary one should be also creative and innovative in the means of the Apostolate.

OOA: What are the usual challenges that a missionary has to face in Africa?

Fr. Olickal: The answer is very easy as we face them every day! To make the answer simple and clear I can enumerate them: Constant attacks of malaria, typhoid, lack of personnel, lack of enough local vocations, lack of stable financial sources etc. Also these days many confreres are deprived of a true community life as the circumstances compel them to stay alone due to acute shortage of personnel.

As simple as that!

Fr. Thomas as a pastor in Tabore, Tanzania in 1993

OOA: As the Provincial Superior of the Province of East Africa, what are the challenges that you face and that are ahead of you?

Fr. Olickal: I experience now a struggle between the need for stabilization and consolidation of the established missions and the expansion of the new missions. As said above lack of finance is yet another problem that we face. But it thrusts us to have greater trust in God. When I look forward I can say that in spite of all the problems and challenges, we have a bright future. I feel very confident that we as Missionaries of St. Francis Sales can do a lot in the name of God and for the society Africa. With the same attitude of Mother Mary who faced many challenges quietly we are optimistic that God will not abandon us.

OOA: What do you think is the most important need of the time for the Church and Society of East Africa?

Fr. Olickal: The people should have real God experience and deepen their faith. The Church has to play her prophetic role in society of Africa. Society needs transformation in various levels and the family bonds are to be strengthened. Life oriented holistic education is a must for any society and more so in today’s context for East Africa. Political stability together with social security is also very important. Only that can woo the foreign as well as local investors which will result in better standard of life.

OOA: Fr. Thomas! You are often presented as an enthusiastic educationist. I believe it is true. What makes you such a one?

Fr. Olickal: It is true. I have a passion of the apostolate of imparting education. I believe from my experience of both in India as well as in East Africa that quality education is the key to personal success and true development of the society. It helps the individual to have positive attitude towards life, society, religion etc. It makes the people seekers of truth. Education teaches people to respect the dignity of each person, understand appreciate different cultures and motivates the individual for the selfless contribution to the development of the society.

Fr. Thomas Olickal with the Apostolic Nuncio to Tanzania

His Excellency Archbishop Dr. Joseph Chennoth (extreme left)

at Fransalian House Kola, Morogoro, Tanzania

OOA: This year you have completed 25 Sliver Years of your Priestly Ordination. Hearty Congrats! When you look back, can you recall any moment of your priestly life as something very spectacular? Any memorable experience?

Fr. Olickal: Well! I do not intent to pin point a particular moment or a spectacular experience in my life as priest. But life as a priest was and is filled with such experiences. I would put it this way: For a priest who is aware of the dignity and power of priesthood which is a gift from God - and of the need that the faithful have for such persons and if he is ready to respond positively to this need, I am sure one’s priestly life will be full of memorable experiences.

OOA: When we look at the Fransalian Missionaries in Africa at present we find that most of the confreres are very young. What is your message for them?

Fr. Olickal: First of all I would thank God for the gift of vocations that we have both from Africa as well as from India. I must acknowledge the great works done by confreres in spite of all the challenges they face. Dear confreres you are wealth of the Fransalian Mission in Africa! You are young and dynamic. Keep up the genuine enthusiasm and the true Missionary spirit after the model of St. Francis de Sales and Fr. Peter Mary Mermier. The thirst of Mission should never cease. Do not get discouraged when facing sickness, loneliness, and financial constraints and so on. Deepen the trust in God. Strengthen the bond of unity among yourselves coming together in apostolic communities and other forums.

OOA. Finally, dear Fr. Thomas could you please put in a phrase or in a sentence the Motto of your life so far.

Thank you! Well, if you allow me, I would put this way:

“Total self giving for the glory of God and for the joy of God’s people. “

(The Editors and Readers of OOA thank Fr. Thomas Olickal for his availability)