When I was a studying in Middle School, my parents had a dream to see me as a Catholic Priests. When I was in Class III, the Pilar Fathers and Daughters of St.Anna working in Baratang Parish Church started preparing me to join for priesthood. When I passed class VIII, my parents talked to the Parish Priest and I was to be sent to an Apostolic School in Ranchi. My parents and all members of my family bade me farewell. I came Port Blair but things so happened that I didnot get the tickets for travel to Calcutta. I had no option but to go back home. After a few days, I got myself admitted to Nirmala School. The idea of sending me to Nirmala School by my parents was that I should join a minor seminary after Matriculation. By the time, I passed matriculation, the priest who were promoting me for priesthood were transferred and other priests were not very enthusiatic to send me to a Minor Seminary. So, I joined Govt. Boys School for Senior Secondary, Port Blair. In the due course, I did my Graduation and Post Graduation and the dream or goal of mine to become a Priest lost. I had topped in Arts Group in Senior Seconary Examination and also topped in B.A. Perhaps keeping in view these achievements my parents also never insisted me to go for Priesthood. I did start my career as a Lower Grade Clerk and subsequently got a job in Indian Oil Corporation too which was highly paid job. Once, when I was passing through the road adjacent to Cathedral Church, Prem Nagar, one priest namely Fr. Basilio Rodrigues met me and told me that they have booked a seat at Pilar Seminary, Nagpur and I have to join there. It was quite surprising for me to listen this after about six years. I told the priest that I have a job now and I am not willing. He insisted and I only assured him to reconsider my plan. Thereafter, I was selected by UPSC for the post of Assistant and decided not to join for Priesthood and finally dropped the idea to become priest.
But my parents wanted that someone from their six sons must become a Priest. It was thus, Zacharias the sixth brother was asked to study for priesthood. After preliminary preparations at Port Blair, he joined a Minor Seminary at Calcutta. Unfortunately, an accident took place and he lost his one eye. It was a sad moments for all of us but left everything to God. His Bishop allowed him to study further for Priesthood inspite of the fact that Zacharias had lost his one eye forever. It was a joyous moment for all of us when on 13th May, 2001, he was ordained to Priesthood by Most Rev. Alex Dias, Bishop of Port Blair.
First Mass by Fr.Zacharias Barla at our Village Kanchan Garh on 14.5.2001
While, Fr.Zacharias was still studying for Priesthood, my cousin Tej Prakash Bara (last son of my second uncle Late Paulus Bara) had also joined for Priesthood and was studying at Lucknow and Allahabad. He was too ordained as a Priest on 3rd April, 2005.
(Sr. Neel Prabha Barla, my niece, took her first profession in the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne on 13.5.2012)
But my parents wanted that someone from their six sons must become a Priest. It was thus, Zacharias the sixth brother was asked to study for priesthood. After preliminary preparations at Port Blair, he joined a Minor Seminary at Calcutta. Unfortunately, an accident took place and he lost his one eye. It was a sad moments for all of us but left everything to God. His Bishop allowed him to study further for Priesthood inspite of the fact that Zacharias had lost his one eye forever. It was a joyous moment for all of us when on 13th May, 2001, he was ordained to Priesthood by Most Rev. Alex Dias, Bishop of Port Blair.
While, Fr.Zacharias was still studying for Priesthood, my cousin Tej Prakash Bara (last son of my second uncle Late Paulus Bara) had also joined for Priesthood and was studying at Lucknow and Allahabad. He was too ordained as a Priest on 3rd April, 2005.
Fr. Tej being ordained to Priesthood by Most Rev. Albert D'Souza, Bishop of Lucknow(Now Archbishop of Agra)
(Sr. Neel Prabha Barla, my niece, took her first profession in the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne on 13.5.2012)
I feel happy that we have two priests and one Nun in our family.
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