Fr. William Paul Macwan SJ - by Fr. Bandhu Ishanand SJ

The Late Fr. William Paul Macwan (1933-2009)

Bandhu Ishanand Vempeny

“Our Fr. William is no more”. Yes, Rev. Fr. William Paul Macwan of Anand, of the Gujarat Province is no more with us. He has gone to his Eternal Home to be with Jesus about whom he had preached so many sermons in Gujarati, Hindi and in English and to be with Mother Mary about whom he has written so many poems and bhajans and whose portraits he has painted with great love and much skill. I have no doubt that this passionate lover of Jesus and Mary was warmly welcomed by them after he had completed his purgatory on his death bed for a few weeks of intense suffering in the Hospital of Our Lady of Pilar in Vadodara. I remember Victor Afonso, our co-novice, a Mumbai painter of national and international repute, telling him about one of his earlier paintings of our Blessed Mother: “Willy, your Mother Mary is exceptionally beautiful, perhaps a bit too beautiful to my taste”. Pat came Willy’s (so all his Jesuits friends called him) reply: “Can you imagine a son choosing an ugly woman for his mother? Remember Jesus chose his mother”.

Our Willy is no more: Many of us who lived with him – prayed, studied, worked, taught, dined, played and relaxed with him for more than half a century, cannot easily digest this stark and painful fact. During my visits to Willy in Pilar Hospital (four times), when I gave him my name, holding his hand, he tightened his grip on my hand and said looking at me: “Thank you Vempeny, please pray for me”. I, who concelebrated the funeral mass with some sixty priests and watched by many other Priests and Religious both men and women, did not think that my fourth visit would be the last. I was surprised to see so many people for the funeral mass on a weekday when there were a number of religious functions like charismatic retreats and religious seminars and conferences in and around the Anand Parish.

I first met him in June 1955. As I got out of the train with my companions for the Apostolic School, in Canishius’ House, Anand, I saw an energetic young man rushing towards us shouting, “Here they are, Father, here they are!” In those bygone days trains in India ran with coal energy. After three days of journey in an unreserved compartment, due to the long exposure to the charcoal smoke, we looked like people of Sub-saharan Africa in mourning dress. But Willy, in his immaculately white dress, rushed towards us and shook hand with each one of us saying, “Welcome to Gujarat”.

All of us had brought from home quite some money. There was no one nearby to whom we had to give an account of the money. On the following day it was Willy who took me to Anand Town to buy all sorts of things. Among the things which he bought for me I still remember the two t-shirts which remained with me for many years though I grew too tall and stout for them. Showing the extra money remaining in my purse I requested Willy to take me to a tea-shop, as my eldest brother used to do after marketing with me. Willy said: “We Apostolics are not supposed go to tea-shops or hotels without the permission of Fr. Prefect or Fr. Rector”.

From then onwards I looked at him as my eldest brother. I began to ask him umpteen questions about Gujarat, people of Gujarat, Religions of Gujarat and so on. A couple of days after my arrival he took me to his house which was near the Canishius’ House. I still remember the rose flower with which his mother welcomed me. I began to talk with his parents and other family members in the mixed language of Malayalam, Hindi and English unintelligible to most people in normal circumstances. But the truth is that, I felt that they understood me and I understood them especially his affectionate parents. The deeper truth of the matter is that if there is love in the one who questions and in the one who answers in a home of love, all will understand each other because of the language of love. If there is no love it would be like Babel where all spoke one language but no one understood each other. On the other hand in the Pentecostal community the international crowd spoke in many languages but all understood one another because of the language of love. I was fortunate that the first family I visited in Gujarat, spoke and understood the language of love. Fr William was the product of such a family.

Some Biographical Data

Fr. William Paul was born on 06-10-1933 in Moger village of Anand parish. His parents, the late Paul Macwan and Regina Paul were very much associated with the Fathers in Anand. In 1953 he left his home for the apostolic school (Canishius’ House) in Anand, when his youngest sister (Sr. Vimla, AC, the present Principal of Mt. Carmel, Gandhinagar) was just a newly born infant. In 1955 he left Anand for Vinayalaya, Mumbai, for his novitiate training. He did his juniorate studies (57-58) also in Vinayalaya. He had his philosophical (58-60) and theological studies (63-66) in De Nobili College, Pune. He was ordained priest on 24-03-1966 in Anand by Bishop Edwin Pinto. He did his Tertianship under the guidance of Fr. M. Balaguer in Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu. He took his final vows in 1973 in Anand.

He worked in so many places in the North, South, Central Gujarat and also in the Saurashtra region. In fact, he replaced a number of Jesuits in emergency situations. One of the things the Society of Jesus cherishes most in her sons is availability. One might say that Fr. William was, so to say, availability personified. In fact, he called himself “The Lord’s Spare Wheel”. Here I shall give a brief list of the places he was appointed to: Vadodara (1967), Anklao (1968), Nadiad (1971), Gomtipur (1975), Anklao (1976), Gothada (1977), Petlad (1977), Khambhat (1985), Khambholaj (1986), Bhiloda (1986), Karamsad (1987), Anklao (1993), St. Mary’s-Mount Abu; Bharuch (2004), Kalol (2005-08), Khambhat (2008-09), Jeevan Darshan Infirmary, Vadodara (2009-). As a person who said goodbye to so many places with great detachment, it was relatively easy for William to say the final good-bye to the world of us mortals.

Fr. William in the Eyes of His Near and Dear Ones
(I apologize for not doing justice to all the sweet, affectionate and valuable statements of the writers below because of my pre-occupation with keeping this obituary within the prescribed limits.)

Mr. Joseph Paul Macwan (Brother next to Fr. William)

Since I am next to Fr. William we were very closely and intimately related from early childhood. As children we did so many things together. We played, ate, prayed and went to bed together. I experienced from my elder brother special affection, warmth and care from early childhood. This may be the reason why his departure from Anand to the novitiate in Mumbai affected me deeply. In fact, so far I have not got out of the painful fact that he is not going to knock at our door again as he did whenever he came for home visits.

Like our parents he was very religious. After leaving home for becoming a priest, his first home was the Society of Jesus. As a Jesuit missionary he had to adjust to different places people and food in Gujarat and outside. But we the family members were struck by the fact that he never spoke against the Society or against his fellow-Jesuits. Whenever he came to Anand he spent very little time with us family members and went about visiting other families especially the poor and the sick.

Sr. Vimla Paul, AC (His Youngest Sister)

My brother has been very loving and affectionate to me and every member of the family. My love for him grew more and more as I grew in religious life. His simple lifestyle, generosity, openness and genuine love I did experience even though I have not met him often. What used to surprise me was whenever he came to Anand, we heard from others that they met Fr. William. His visit however to my house would be very short. I understood his spirit of detachment and love and commitment to his work much later. Really I experienced his love and encouragement not so much in words but more by his loving ways. I knew my brother loved me. All people I met in different places used to tell me that my brother blessed their nuptials. My brother helped them in their family problems. He has lovingly given medicine to children suffering from Asthma and also to adults. Whenever we gave something to him I knew that the next person who went to meet him would be the lucky one to get it. My brother was in a genuine sense a priest for God and a priest for others. He didn't care for any criticism. According to my talk with him he always upheld his Jesuit brothers. Never did I hear a word against anyone from his mouth. A Guileless person. Even in his sickness he taught me a lesson to accept and never complain about pain and suffering in life, not to speak about any person and always be happy and positive in life. His greatest friend was Jesus. He told me that he got many transfers and he was ready always to do God's will through holy obedience.

He did use his hobby of photography to share Jesus' joy with others. Big and small, children and adult, he took trouble to take their photos and sent them to their places. Believe me it was all free service which means he spent his money and time, all to bring joy to others. Yes my brother William has passed away from this earth but he lives in heaven and in all our hearts through many fond memories and photos.

Fr. Alpesh Joseph Macwan, SJ (Mr. Joseph’s son and Fr. William’s nephew)

When I joined the novitiate he came to see me at home and told me three things: Pray always, don’t miss prayer. Be committed to the work you are doing, and don’t get into backbiting and criticizing others. You do your work and don’t worry about what others are doing or saying. These points he used to repeat whenever he met me. As I hear from his companions he too, put these words into practice. On his birthday (06-10-2009), which I never thought to be his last birthday on earth, he told me “By the grace of God a lot of work has been done and good work. God will give me the strength to go through this pain”. “ Praise the Lord and God bless you” were often the words of his greetings.

Here I would like to add what a catechist master told me when he was speaking about my uncle’s compassionate nature. He had gone to a village with Fr. William to celebrate Holy Mass and Fr. William began his visits to the families. He came across a house. The people of the street told him, “Father, there is a man in that house suffering from T.B. Don’t go in” (at that time many people thought that T.B. was an incurable and very contagious disease). Fr. William went in and saw him in very bad condition. He said to the catechist: “How can you let this man die this way?” He immediately washed, dressed the man and carried him to a jeep himself, as none came forward to touch the man, and took him to the hospital. The owner of the vehicle was angry with Fr. William for taking that man with such a terrible disease.

Fr. Anthony Moonnu, S.J. (Fr. William’s Friend and Lifelong Jesuit Companion)

William a favourite of hostel prefects and missionaries, was the first to join the newly founded apostolic school of Gujarat Jesuit Mission. We were eight candidates and were mostly recruited from Kerala. We were housed in the Canishius House of German Missionary days. William was the life and soul of the little group. Being talented and available, he was in charge of everything needed for our daily life. In those days without electricity in rural India, every day at sunset, William would faithfully ready and light a petro max for us to study.

As William was available and accommodative, Superiors could send him to many places for pastoral work. Everywhere he could love people with simplicity. He had a great capacity to listen to people in trouble and counsel them. His great concern for the sick and the poor is well known in all the parishes he worked in. People would wait for his visits. He would receive help from the rich, which he generously shared with the poor. He is always remembered as an affectionate and loving pastor.

Wherever William lived, he always shone out as a priest and an artist. He was always available for the priestly ministry of the Word of God and the Sacraments. He prepared his sermons mostly sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament. He preached forcefully. Both the laity and the Religious praised his retreats. A man of great orthodoxy, he would not mince words in attacking deviations in doctrine or devotions. He himself lived a life of intense devotion and love.

Fr. William’s Home

Fr. William belonged to a very religious family. That must be the reason why, after his following the Religious vocation, two of his sisters, his nephew and a niece embraced Religious Life. But one thing what Rev. Bro. Abril told me struck me in a special way. He has been associated with this family for decades. He told me that three generations of the family are associated with the Anand Press and all of them remained loyal to the Jesuit management in spite of various labour disputes in the press. His father, one of the founding members of the Press, worked with great dedication for many years. He was followed by Joseph his son, who was so competent and loyal to the management that he continued for many more years as the office superintendent after his retirement at the request of the manager. Now, Joseph’s son, a third generation man, is working in the press with the same loyalty. But Bro. Abril was touched by the fact that Fr. William never asked any special favour on behalf of them.



Fr. William the Artist

He was an artist both in the audio and in the visual. He used to write poems in his school and college days and he composed many bhajans some of which are in our hymnals (Kirtansagar, etc). He played a number of musical instruments like the harmonium, the tabla, the guitar, the cytar and the mouth organ. His B.A. degree in music from an institute in Panchmady, affiliated to the Allahabad University, includes not only vocal and instrumental music but also dancing. I began this article mentioning his painting of Blessed Mother Mary in the Novitiate. But I was even more impressed by the one which he presented to Fr. Sontag, the Founder of the IHS letter movement.

It is said that artists could survive in the Pre-Vatican Society with much difficulty. I know of a number of them who have left the Society. On the other hand, however abnormal an intellectual in the Society (egr. some of the professors of philosophy and theology) they were very easily accepted. But the ‘abnormalities’ of the artists were rarely tolerated. As this is a very important for a healthy spirituality I shall give an example.

Gandhiji was waiting impatiently for Gurudev Tagore in the parlour of Shantiniketan. Both were supposed to go together for a public meeting. Gandhiji a stickler for punctuality, at last rushed towards Tagore’s room. Lo, and behold! Here the old man was standing in front of a big mirror and was oiling, combing and arranging the curls of his hair and beard artistically in a leisurely way. Realizing that Gandhiji was annoyed at his delay, ‘wasting the time in front of the mirror’ the Gurudev said: “Mr. Gandhi, for you God is Satyam and Shivam. But for me He/She is Sundaram (the beautiful). Any objection?” On that day Gandhiji learned some important lessons.

For us Religious, due to the unenlightened interpretation of celibacy/virginity there is hardly any place for Sundaram. Even today ‘beauty’ has not found its rightful place in Religious Spirituality. As we can make out from the pre-Vat. II Religious Habits, especially of the nuns, uglification of one’s body and habit, was part of spirituality. On the other hand saints like Augustine, Assisi and Ignatius lead us to a God of beauty and order. Among the Jesuits, due to the overemphasis of intelligence (Satyam-Verum), people who deeply appreciated artistic beauty did not have much of a future. It meant heroic efforts on the part of Fr. William, who had a keen sense of artistic beauty, not only to survive but also get immersed in pastoral ministry effectively. From the novitiate days until quite recently Fr. William like an elder brother used to advice me with regard to my dress, hair-style, gestures in sermons, etc.

As the paper has gone beyond its space-limit I shall not write about his other talents and character traits. As the above four writers on William have written he was truly a ‘Man of God’. On October 20 (2009) we lost a multifaceted Jesuit. When I joined others in placing Fr. William in the lap of Mother Earth, I did not realize, how seriously the Gujarat Province as a whole and I in particular are going to miss him. Good Bye, Willy my brother, good-bye Willy my friend!

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(ishanandsj@jesuits.net)

Fr. William Paul Macwan SJ

Fr. William Paul was ‘pritipatr’ means to say ‘worthy of love of all’, my companion Sunil wrote to me . Fr. William was loved by all and he loved all. He was loved by his companions and people. It was very much visible at his funeral and at the prayer service. Many came to pay him homage. His love for nature, music, art, dance, poetry, photography, sports, and scouts in young days was part of his ministry as a priest. He went about helping people.

Once a catechist master told me an incident about Fr. William. They went to a village to celebrate mass. And Fr. William began his visits to the families. He came across a house. The people of the street told him, “Father, the man in there, is suffering from T.B. Don’t go in.” Fr. William went in and saw him in a very bad health, he said, “How can you leave this man to die this way?” He immediately took the man in a jeep himself as none came forward to touch the man. He dressed the man and took him to the hospital. The vehicle that day he had taken to the village, did not belong to the Fathers. He had to listen to the scolding for taking the T.B. patient in that jeep to the hospital. This did not stop him from doing the good work he began. This was his zeal to work for the poor and needy of our villages.

Fr. William Paul had been always on a move. He made sure to visit each and every house in the villages he went. He took so many photos of others but we couldn't find a good snap to print as bookmarks to distribute at his prayer service.

When I joined the novitiate he came to see me at home and told me three things and continued to tell me every year. Pray always, don’t miss the prayer. Be committed to the work you are doing, and Don’t get into backbiting and criticizing others, you do your work don’t worry about what others are doing, saying. These tips have helped me through out my formation. As I hear from his companions he too, put these words in practice.

On his birthday he told me “By the grace of God a lot of work has been done and good work. God will give me the strength to go through this pain.” “ Praise the Lord and God bless you” were often the words of his greetings.

Falling in Love - Pedro Arrupe SJ

“Aav Ane Anu-v kr.”

ANy{a id=ahIn -4kva krta&,

p/-u :sune =ae0va, pamva Ane

temna r&ge r&ga; jvu&

Aema& j svŸ ka&; smayelu& 2e.

tu& =ana Ane kona p/emma& 2e,

tne konu& AakqŸ8 ke =anu& `e&ca8 2e,

Ae j tara @vn pr 3erI Asr kr=e.

tu& kone mXe 2e, tu& =ama& rs le 2e,

tne =u& gme 2e,

tara idlne je hcmcavI na&`I

Aan&div-or kr=e,

te j tne vhelI svare `a4lama&9I 7&7oX=e,

Ae j smI sa&je sUyaŸSt 4a8e ke

A5vaiDyane A&te tne daerI j=e.

Aena p/emma& pD, p/emma& r&ga: ja Ane

te tare ma4e dIvada&DI£p bnI j=e.

•Fa. ped^o Arupe Aes. Je.–

Fr. Carlos Suria SJ

Vaa&cn yohan ɉΠp/-uno moklel Aek ma8s AaVyo hto. tenu& nam yohan htu&. Ae ma8s saxI trIke, p/ka=nI saxI pUrva AaVyo hto, je9I b0a ma8so AenI•sUyaR– marfte [a)Àa 0ravta 9ay. Ae pote p/ka= nhoto Aeto p/ka=no saxI hto. •te p/ka= =Bd hto Ý Aap8a p/-u :su i`/St– ….. yohan‰É‰ÉÎÝÉÐ

gujratna& pe/iqt Sv. Fa. KalaeRs sUyaR Aes. Je.

•jNm jUn ÊÉ, ÉÑÈÈ Ý mr8 jUn ÊÌ, ÉÑÑÉ–

Aemno JNm Aek piv{a ku4u&bma& Spen de=ma& 9yo hto. te nana hta Tyare teAo roj calta& Skul jta. Aek var te rStama& AavtI ndIma& lpsI pDya Ane temne @vle8 Nyumoinya 9; gyo. temnI mMmIAe temne moNseratna mata mirymne ApR8 krta& p/a9Rna krI Ane te saja 9; gya. yuvanvye tem8e p/-u trf Ane tena lokonI seva krI @vn gaXvanu& nkkI kyu&. Ane te ;sus&3ma joDaya. talIm pUrI kyaR bad teAo s&t f/aiNss zaivyernI jem im=nrI trIke -art AaVya.

teAo ÉÑËÉma gujrat AaVya Tyare jmRn ;sus&3IAo #vara ÉÐÑË 9I ÉÑÉÍ su0Ima& Aa8&d, krmsd, vDtal, niDyad Ane Aamod tabaAonI S9apna krvama& AavI htI. temna nam sUyaR p/ma8e teAo gujratma& p/ka=I W5ya. tem8e im=nno nk=ae bdlI na~yo. ÉÑËÉ Ý ÉÑÌÑ drMyan tem8e `&-oXj, wmre5, 5asra, Aa&klav Ane bocas8 nva tabaAo =£ kyaR. teAo Aek ¥Ça hta. te Aa&klavna& srp&c trIke cU&4a; AaVya hta. teAo -jnm&DXI Ane na4kone p/oTsahn Aapta. tem8e `&-oXjma& mata mirymnu& 0am, Aa&klavma& kalvarI 0am =£ kyaR Ane s&t f/aiNss zaivyernI nanI dIkrIAona& sIS4rona& m&DXnI S9apna krI. Fa. sUyaRne crotr Ane 2yasIna& pe/iqt trIke AoX`vama& Aave 2e. tem8e sa;5 vqR su0I im=nrI trIke gujratnI 0mRs-ane seva AapI.

Fr. Samadha's life

_aruc tabaAe Taajetrma&j Fa. sma0anI somI jNmiti9 wjvI.

Sv. Fa. Jon sma0a sIkSto Aes. Je.

Aek SvPn¥Ça, i=åak, im=nrI, AmULy Daym&D,

•jNm Ì AogQ4, ÉÑÈÑ Ý mr8 É AogQ4, ÉÑÑÌ–

Fa. sma0ano jNm Aek 0ink ku4u&bma& baseRlonama& 9yo hto. teAo ÉÑÊÐma ;sus&3I novIse4ma& da`l 9ya Ane Spen, ;4lI, -artma& tem8e temnI talIm pUrI krI puroiht dIåaa meXvI.

-£c im=n temnu& kayRåaeà bNyu&. Fa. sma0a Anupm hIrasma Ane hIrapar`u VyiktTv 0ravta te9I j tem8e AaidvasI -a;Ao ma4e hIra 3svana Vyvsayma& @vadorI meXvva talIm AaPava hoS4l =£ krI. ‘I have a dream’ te Aemno m&{a hto. temne SvPn jovano j nih p8 tene saca paDva ma4e te prsevo paDta, jat 3sI na`ta `ckata nih. AaidvasI wTkqR ma4e te kayRrt rheta. Aaje -£c, DeiDyapaDa, z&`vav Ane z3iDya temnI 0g= Ane mhentnu& fX 2e. te smye Aa0uink vahnVyvhar wplB0 nhota& Tyare pgpaXa Ane bXdgaDa&ma frI te gamDa&Aoma& loko su0I :suno s&&de= pho&caDta Ane temnI seva krta.

temna puroiht im{ao temne SvaidQ4 -ojn ma4e cI7vta p8 AemnI sa9e rhenara&Aone j sacI hkIkt `br htI. teAo sadu& @vn @vta. Aek var Fa. zubeiLdya temnI jGyaAe prmpUja krva gya. mIs p2I 4ebl pr Aek cI¹I htIÝ ‘zubeiLdya, maf kr=o, MaarI pase tmne AaPava naSto n9I Ae4le je d\an 2e tema&9I ka&;k l; le=o.’ dan Ý£a. ÉÈ htu&. temna& rso;ya pI4r-a; kheta& ke Fa0r fkt b4aka Ane Ameirkn dU0 pawDr pr @vta hta. calIs vqR su0I te Aa rIte grIbIma& @Vya pr&tu loko ma4e svR `cIR na`ta. Aavu& htu& fa. sma0anu& @vn. ÐÍ vqRnI W&mre fa0r sma0a AmULy motI, hIro, Daym&D SvgRnI =o-a v0arva ps&dgI paMya. temnu& SvPn Aaje sacu& pDta diåa8 gujratma& 0mRs-a fUlIfalI 2e.