PAASAM at Dindigul – A Franciscan Evangelization
At the centre of Franciscan life is found the experience of faith in God in the personal encounter with Jesus Christ in the abandoned brothers and sisters of the present day world.
Moved by the love above the ordinary, stirred by the desire above the ordinary, pressed by the emotion above the ordinary, St. Francis of Assisi ran forth, put his hands around, embraced and kissed the foul-smelling leper. This unique and distinctive action signalled a new forma-vitae and a new message in the world. It is now eight centuries since St Francis first gave his way of life to the world. Yet no one can doubt its relevance or its power to attract even in our times. The witness given by Francis goes far beyond the limits of his own day and culture
Led by love, desire, and emotion above the ordinary and remaining faithful to the charism of Francis, the members of the Franciscan Brotherhood at PAASAM (Plan of Action for AIDS victims and Social Action Movement) have embraced the present day lepers, the people infected by HIV, with the intention of accepting them and treating them as their brothers and sisters. PAASAM in Tamil means ‘motherly affection’, and for her members, PAASAM is a home where they get care, support, love, affection and dignity. Friar Arulsamy, the Director and Friar Joseph, the Assistant Director and the staff of PAASAM give themselves in total commitment to serve the HIV-affected brothers and sisters. PAASAM indeed is a Franciscan Evangelization!
As part of my summer ministry I had a meaningful, enriching and strengthening experience at PAASAM. This was my first experience with the HIV victims. As I had never related to them before, I had developed several false ideas about them. When I reached PAASAM and began to share my life with these brothers and sisters, my false ideas and thoughts disappeared. I met a number of HIV-infected brothers and sisters who are dying everyday. They wept as they narrated their agonizing experiences of life. I found myself with no words to console them. All that I could do was to listen to their life stories attentively.
The district of Dindigul stands fourth in the list of the number of HIV-infected persons in the state of Tamilnadu. Hence there is immense need for care and support for the HIV victims in this district. From the time of its birth PAASAM has undertaken various activities with an objective of spreading awareness as well as giving medical, nutritional and counseling support for the people living with HIV.
Most of the members of PAASAM are widows who were brought to their unfortunate situation because of their husbands. There are a few HIV-infected children as members of PAASAM. A widow, while sharing her life story, said, “The only property that my husband has left behind for my children and me is HIV.” The women and children endure this agonizing condition for no fault of their own. This is what really makes me ponder!
HIV-infected people face discrimination and isolation from the society. Even their near and dear ones abandon them. Besides the health related problems, the stigma and disgrace that the HIV-infected brothers and sisters suffer make their life all the more miserable. Unable to cope with their depressing and hopeless situation, a few women have attempted suicide. It takes great courage for a HIV-infected person to accept his/her distressing condition and to carry on living. It is here that we have a role to play. PAASAM is involved in making these struggling people strong in their resolve to live a meaningful life. PAASAM conducts several meetings regularly to instill hope in them and to tell them that they deserve to live.
We have five women staff who are also HIV-infected. Their main work is to visit the members of PAASAM in their houses to see how they are in their health and other areas of life and to report the visit later at the office. I accompanied them on a few occasions. It was indeed touching to see these brothers and sisters living in extreme poverty. These visits make them happy and they feel affirmed that there is someone to care for them.
Once I visited a HIV-infected man who was helpless as his health was worsening day by day because of Tuberculosis. He had a large tumour on his neck and was coughing frequently. His wife committed suicide a year ago once she came to know that her husband was infected with HIV. His only son was taken by his wife’s family members. He was living with his aged mother who herself was sick. He had no proper food, medicine and money to travel to the government hospital. His situation was really pathetic. When I spoke to him in his house, he said that he was contemplating suicide for sometime and that if we had not gone to his house, he would have died. When we brought his case to the PAASAM office, they were quick to make arrangements for his treatment and other things.
The HIV-infected brothers and sisters frequent the PAASAM office because they feel at home there. There are many who come to the office seeking medical assistance. They are treated immediately and given medicine free of cost. There are others who come for counselling; they are listened to and given advice and support. Then there are those who come to the PAASAM office just to be there and they are given a smiling welcome. Nutritional care is given once a month to those who live in extreme poverty. More than the material assistance, it is the love, care, concern, support and affection received by the HIV-infected brothers and sisters from PAASAM that keep them going in life.
As Franciscans we are all called to proclaim the Kingdom of God in and through our life and mission. This will be a visible reality when we strive to live our experience of faith in the midst of Human community, when we create a fraternity of love and service open to all, when we live in simplicity and work and when we participate in the pain, suffering and hopes of the marginalized, discriminated, sick, needy and poor. I find this vision of Franciscan life taking a concrete form and shape in PAASAM where we friars are a leaven of the gospel, sharing our life with the poor and the abandoned of our times – the people with HIV. However, this is a formidable task which requires courage, audacity and commitment.
johnsekarofm 