We were quite heartbroken with the overnight imposition of lockdown. Seminarians were dejected as all the holiday plans were shattered and tickets cancelled. With the summer at our doors, water scarcity was looming large over the seminary and we were not prepared to overcome the same. After that came the stricter rules of lockdown including social distancing. To add to our misery, Belagavi district was declared a red zone with a lot COVID-19 positive cases around us.

Being in the Lenten Season, more intense prayers became a way of life for us. We wholeheartedly prayed to the Almighty to help the mankind to find a solution for the terrific pandemic that spread like wildfire across the continents. Holy Week and other celebrations were minimized following the government directives. Of course we concentrated more on spirituality and less on the external celebrations. We always made it a point to strictly observe the social distancing norms and hygiene advisories. We were not going out of the campus nor allowing anybody to come inside.

On the Wednesday after Palm Sunday, came the sad news about demise of Fr. Julio Vivas CMF from Spain. We embraced our spirits and permitted the same to grow stronger. Thus we could observe the memorials of Jesus’ last supper, passion, death and resurrection in more meaningful and prayerful way. Thank God, we were lucky to have abundant rain on Good Friday and indeed felt the same as showers of blessing from above; with this we were hopeful of overcoming the water scarcity.

As we restricted ourselves to our campus due to extended lockdowns, we planned diligently to make use of the time and resources. We ourselves carried out different works including cleaning the whole campus, repairing the fencing around the property, emptying the garbage tanks, sorting out the items, keeping them in separate tanks that we made with stones and mud, preparing the land for cultivation, planting vegetables and grains and fruit trees, deepening the existing canal to preserve the rain water, digging a new canal towards the open well to increase the water source, etc.  We also manufactured some cattle fodder on our own in order to reduce purchase from market. Similarly, we have prepared enough organic manure for our garden, vegetable garden and seasonal food crops for the forthcoming season. We learnt great lessons in self-reliance care of mother earth.

Inspired by the news of our Claretian companions and many others doing a lot of humanitarian works, we felt very helpless, as the lockdown orders forced us to remain indoors. The young seminarians initially displayed some feelings of homesickness, but got used to the rhythm with prayer and work schedule. Every member cooperated to make it meaningful experience.

Online prayer being the new normal, the community were very happy to join in prayers with Pope Francis for the intention of alleviating the suffering of mankind caused by COVID-19. Being in our own space, we could also devoutly join the diocese to have Eucharistic adoration combined with Holy Rosary for the month of May. Indeed, with right attitude and intention we were able to turn hard times into blessings and learning.