When Fr Niran Veigas SVD answered his vocational call to become a missionary priest, he could not have foreseen himself ministering in Russia and now the Tiwi Islands, but the Indian-born priest is embracing the new challenge of getting to know the people and helping to make a difference in their lives.

Fr Niran was born and raised in a Catholic family in the city of Mangalore, in southwest India and says he began discerning the possibility of being a priest as a young boy.

“After getting to know the charism of various congregations, I found the SVD’s charism, of being frontier missionaries, attracted me,” he says.

He joined the Divine Word Missionaries in June 1999, making his first vows in 2006, his final vows in 2012 and being ordained a priest on May 3, 2013.

Soon after his ordination, he arrived in Russia for his first missionary assignment, beginning his language studies at Tambov and then taking up an assignment to St Nicholas Parish at Volgograd, where he ministered for about eight years.

“As soon as I landed in Russia it was a new land and a new experience for me,” he says. “I felt dumb, as I did not know Russian. I could not communicate with anyone, so this challenged me to learn the language quickly.

“Once I was able to communicate with the language, I could experience the warmth of the people.

During his years in Russia, Fr Niran was mainly involved in parish ministry, taking part in children’s catechism, parish youth and the parish Rosary group.

“I also involved myself in a ministry to support International Students, which was the most satisfying of all the ministries I was part of,” he says.

Fr Niran says, while his seminary formation exposed him to people from all parts of India with their various cultures and traditions, it was still a challenge to learn a new culture which was so different to his Indian heritage.

“But I was at ease,” he says. “Working as a missionary in the Russian context was indeed a challenge, but with the grace of God, everything is possible.”

He says that he enjoyed seeing his first snowfall, only later coming to know the real pain of living in winter conditions where the temperature dives to minus 35 degrees Celsius.

“Russia is a huge country and I enjoyed travelling far distances to administer the sacraments, sometimes 350km or more. I enjoyed visiting people,” he says.

Fr Niran says while he remains indebted to the SVD URAL region (Russia) for trusting him and giving him opportunities to grow, he is enjoying his new assignment in the Tiwi Islands just north of Darwin.

“Being a Divine Word Missionary, we are given various opportunities and various ministries,” he says.

Since his arrival at Bathurst Island, Fr Niran has spent time listening to the Tiwi people and learning more about their culture.

“I discovered that they have a rich and varied heritage, expressed with great eloquence. I also observed that they hold deep respect for the priests, which was possible through the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart’s immense contribution to this mission for over 100 years. Being with the Tiwi people is a constant learning experience for me,” he says.

“During my nine months on the Tiwi Islands, I have learned about various aspects of the Tiwi culture. For instance, I discovered their unique style of painting, which reflects their way of life and culture. The Tiwi people also have a strong connection to the land and sea, as reflected in their hunting and fishing practices. Additionally, I learned about their unique language and dialects, which have been preserved over the years and are still spoken today.

“Over these months, I have experienced the Tiwi people’s warm welcome, and I have come to appreciate how deeply their traditions and customs are rooted in their way of life. As a Divine Word Missionary (SVD), I feel it is fitting for our charism to work with First Nations people. Our missionary approach should be rooted in their culture.

“Though there may be many challenges, we, the Divine Word Missionaries, are here to walk alongside others and contribute to this mission. I am reminded of the words of St Arnold Janssen, ‘Bring the Gospel to all, communicate it to all. It is not just for a few people or a limited period of time.’ Let St Arnold Janssen bless our mission.”

PHOTOS

TOP RIGHT: Fr Niran Veigas SVD with parishioners in Russia.

BOTTOM LEFT: Fr Niran celebrates Palm Sunday Mass on Bathurst Island with Darwin Bishop Charles Gauci and Fr Hung Nguyen SVD.