Jamshedpur, Jul 12: The members of the Jamshedpur Jesuit Province came together to pray at the memorial mass for Fr Stan Swamy at Xavier Labour Relations Institute Chapel, here, on Sunday July 11. Though the mass was virtual, the main celebrant was Jamshedpur diocese administrator, Bishop Telesphore Bilung, SVD.

At the outset, Fr Jerry Cutinha, the provincial of Jamshedpur Jesuits said, "We have gathered to thank God for the gift of the life and contributions of Father Stan Swamy. By the death of Father Stan, Jamshedpur Jesuit province, the Chotanagpur Church and the entire nation
lost a daring, dedicated, committed, and gentle priest. He has embodied love, mercy, equality, justice, truth and peace. He walked on these great values and gave his life for these values.

"He left behind a legacy of in-depth Christian faith for us all to imitate. He has become an example for us. He looked at the reality of life in a different way, thought in a different way and inspired to work. He lived a very simple and ordinary poor life, fought battles for the rights of the Adivasis, Dalits denied to them. He fought till his last breath for those who were deprived of human rights and for the release of those who languished in jails. He is not present with us physically. We will continue to keep the legacy of Fr Stan and his daring missionary zeal alive in the days to come. We will continue to fight for justice and his sacrifice is not in vain. We hope and trust that he is alive with us in our journey of struggle to bring justice and humane life.

"Yes, the life of Fr Stan is a clear indication that the present regime and law did not bail him out. He was denied bail, but God released him from all sorts of captivity. God has certainly called him saying, 'Well done my faithful and honest servant, come and participate in the joy of your Heavenly kingdom'."

Fr Cutinha called on the gathering to reflect on the theme 'Father Stan Swamy, the prophet of our Time'. May God grant him eternal rest and give all of us the grace to follow his inspirational life fully."

Fr Ranjit Kindo, spoke on Fr Stan Swamy as a dedicated and committed servant of God in justice and reconciliation. He recalled the words of Fr Stan Swamy before his arrest nine months back on October 8, 2020 saying, 'I have never been to Bhima Koregaon for which I am being made an accused'. Fr Stan Swamy had asked for questioning through video conference and hoped that better 'human sense' would prevail. 'What is happening to me is not something unique happening to me alone, it is a broader process taking place all over the country. We all are aware how prominent intellectuals, lawyers, writers, poets, activists, student leaders are all put in jail because they have expressed their dissent or raised questions about the ruling powers of India.'

Fr Stan had said that he was part of 'the process' and in a way happy to be so because he was not a silent spectator and was part of the game. "I am ready to pay the price, whatever be it."

Yes, truly Fr Stan was a prophet of our times and a shepherd for his people of Jharkhand. He took up the leadership, leading people to get their fundamental rights, to fight against the unjust system of the country. He would sit with the suffering people in any type of agitation, raise his voice against those in power and the powerful suppressing the voices of Adivasis of Jharkhand. Everyone is called to live and practice the role of a prophet. A daring prophet always communicates the relationship between God and his own prophetic role.

Fr Stan Swamy deserves the title of a prophet as he was a spokesperson for God. He listened to the inner voice of God in his life. He condemned all that was happening against the human rights and fundamental rights of the people. There is no doubt that late Fr Stan Swamy lived an exemplary prophetic life.

Fr Ranjit Kindo stressed in his message that the prophetic life lived by Fr Stan Swamy and his death as a martyr should not go in vain and continue to fight for the struggles of the Adivasis and Dalits of Jharkhand and spread the message of love, mercy, equality, justice, truth and peace.