Wie schon in vergangenen Jahren besuchte auch heuer Father Cyril, SJ ein
Priester aus Indien, organisiert über die Religionsprofessorin Dr. Veronika
Hübner, verschiedene Klassen. Er berichtete von seiner Arbeit in Indien und wie er dort seit über 40
Jahren mit jungen Menschen die Botschaft des Evangeliums ganz konkret im Alltag
umsetzt.
Im Folgenden einige Eindrücke von SchülerInnen der 4A-Klasse, die im
Rahmen des im Englischunterricht behandelten Themas „India“/„children in India“
Father Cyril, SJ heuer zum ersten Mal im Rahmen eines fächerübergreifenden
Projekts kennenlernte und eine Unterrichtsstunde lang seinem mehr als
spannenden Vortrag lauschen durfte:
MMag. Verena Schörkhuber
On 28 April 2016 Father Cyril, a Jesuit priest from
India, paid us a visit. He told us many things about the life of poor people in
India, especially in the countryside. I think his youth group, which helps
children and women from poor families, is amazing. They support the families so
that they can send their children to school and they also take care of the
women. Some women were beaten by their husbands and have to walk long distances
to fetch water. I think his talk was very interesting and I find the idea of
forming a youth group fascinating. (Alyssa)
What I found really remarkable was that Father
Cyril founded a youth group at quite a young age. His childhood was really hard
because his parents died and he had to live on the streets. Later on he
organised a group to help those people who have to live on the streets, no
matter of which religious belief they are. I think he cares more for other
people than for himself. I think it is very important for us pupils that he
tells us about what he’s doing in India and how people are treated there. (Flora)
Father Cyril is a nice person who has made lots of
experiences that we should learn from. His personality is what’s special about
him – he is so friendly. His group is awesome and fruitful. If people in my
country, Syria, made groups like this one, all people would live happily. (Alia)
Before Father Cyril‘s visit we didn’t know much
about India but his story was eye-opening and very inspirational - it was
honestly heartbreaking to listen to him. He told us how women had to walk
several kilometres from their villages to fetch water and carry it back on
their heads in special buckets. Men wouldn’t lift a finger even if that woman
was pregnant or sick. This is why some women gave birth to stillborn children
or children with disabilites. Father Cyril and his organisation are now trying
to change that way of thinking. They carried the buckets on their heads instead
of the women to show that they (men) are NOT above those duties. I think they
did send the message loud and clear. Knowing what Father Cyril is doing
made me think that other countries that might be seen as ‘lost‘ really aren’t…
there’s still hope for them. (Maria)
