Fr. Arul Edward Joseph takes leave after six years in the Gulf

The name of Fr. Arul Edward Joseph is easily recognized among the Catholics in the UAE and the other countries of the Gulf. Many articles have featured the commendable work this Capuchin priest has done during the six years of his ministry in the region. Now as he completes his mission in the UAE and plans to embark on yet another journey, we take a moment to sit down with him and talk about his experiences in the Gulf.
 

Early years
Brought up in a poor, humble, yet strict household, wants and hardships accompanied Fr. Arul from his very childhood. His mother had to decide to move to Malaysia, and due to the special circumstances of hardship the family was facing, she was forced to leave Fr. Arul in a boarding school for orphan boys back in India. Being separated from his parents at a young age deeply marked Fr. Arul. However, as he reflects on his journey, he’s quick to add that he regrets nothing and that, these painful experiences, helped him to relate better to children and youth who experience lack of parental love. This experience has thus become a major aspect that illuminates his ministry. 

The call
It may come as a surprise for many to know that as a child, Fr. Arul never wanted to become a priest. The thought was far from his mind. His mother, however, who had earnestly prayed for a son and promised God that she would offer her firstborn to Him, strongly impressed on him her desire for him to join the seminary. He shares, “I wasn’t very passionate but I joined only to please my mom and because I had a certain fear of God.” 

An experience of healing
Fr. Arul began to study for the priesthood in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. “When I look back, it was after joining the seminary that I recognized what it meant to be loved.” During his first year in the novitiate, he happened to visit the Anugraha Institute of Counseling, Psychotherapy and Research which was run by the Capuchins. “This was the time in my life when I took a big U-turn,” he says. Though initially sceptical, to his surprise he found that the experience of counselling helped him to heal his inner wounds. This led him to a deep interest to study the subject, combining it with spirituality. He hoped to one day share this experience of healing with the world. 

Further studies and work
Fr. Arul was ordained to the priesthood on 14 January 2008. All his family members were present at the ceremony, and the joy of his mother was great at seeing her son now ordained a priest in fulfilment of her dreams. Soon after his ordination, he worked in the Anugraha Institute till 2010, when he began to study for his Masters in Counselling and Psychology. After graduation in 2011, Fr. Arul was appointed as the Secretary of the Institute, where he stayed on till 2014. It was during this time that in 2012, he visited the parish of St. Mary’s Dubai for a month to substitute for one of the priests who were on leave. During this brief period, Fr. Arul helped many people, counselling them and lending a listening ear. Many of those who met him was touched by his presence and assistance and requested the then parish priest, Fr. Tomasito Veneracion to bring Fr. Arul to serve in the parish. 

Start of ministry in the Gulf 
With the Bishop’s approval, negotiations with his home province followed and Fr. Arul arrived in the UAE to serve in the Vicariate in September 2014. His first assignment was in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Ras Al Khaimah for three years, during which the Bishop requested him to build up a new ministry which concentrated mainly on counselling. Fr. Arul clarifies the aim behind the commencement of the new ministry, “The objective was to create a healthy family life amidst the people of our faithful and to enhance their mental and spiritual wellbeing in a psycho-spiritual way.” 

Family Ministry
He was later delegated with the responsibility of being the assistant in charge of the Family Ministry which was under Fr. Cajetan Menezes. “The moment I started helping out there, I had a vision of how my mission could be brought about systematically.” When Fr. Cajetan's mission ended a year later, Fr. Arul was delegated with the task of leading the Family Ministry. Under his guidance, the Ministry became well established, catering to many sectors of the family in the Arabian Vicariate. As he talks about his ministry, Fr. Arul cannot but commend all the lay people who worked hand in hand with him enough, “The moment I gave them my idea, they gave their full cooperation and effort. They would pitch in their ideas. It was wonderful to work with them,” he said. 

Marriage Encounter
In October 2017, Fr. Arul moved to the parish of St. Mary’s Dubai. An expanding ministry meant extending their mission within it and as the coordinator, Fr. Arul’s responsibilities were ever-growing. Under him, a group called Pastoral Peer Support formed in parishes across the Gulf. This group consists of parishioners who had volunteered to be trained in the basic skills of counselling. “They are doing a wonderful job. Recently, during the pandemic, they teamed up with the Samaritan group and helped cater and listen to the needs of many in real pain.” Besides, the Ministry also began to reach out to married couples through seminars called, “Marriage Encounter,” (ME) the goal of which is to help married couples better their good marriages. The local ME team has now reached out to almost 1000 families in the Vicariate and plan to extend their assistance to the ME teams in other countries as well. 

Gratitude to God’s grace
During the month of August 2019, Fr. Arul transferred his base to Abu Dhabi at the Bishop’s House. Under Fr. Arul’s leadership, the Family Ministry reached out to all that needed assistance: from families to children, to young adults, even to the elderly and differently-abled. In addition, Fr. Arul also took up the role of Spiritual Director for certain groups, the Young Adult Ministry being one of them. When commending him on his remarkable mission, Fr. Arul remains ever humble and jovial, “It’s God’s grace that works through me. I simply choose to become an open instrument for Him.” Now the baton has been passed on to Fr. Peter Fernando, who now will guide the Family Ministry. “I know he will do great and carry the ministry forward.”

Further plans
It has been a memorable six years for Fr. Arul as he leaves the Gulf. For the future, Fr. Arul plans to go do further studies abroad and aims to acquire a Doctorate in Psychology. At the moment, however, he will go back to his province until the current circumstances ease. Fr. Arul remains open to coming back to the Vicariate sometime in the future, “I really enjoyed my mission in the Gulf. I love the people here and they in return love me as well. I will miss them.” The feeling would be mutual for the many faithful who will miss his lively greetings and energizing homilies. 

We pray that God may bless him abundantly in his future endeavours, touching the hearts of many people in his ministry just as he has done in his mission here in the Gulf. 

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(Stephanie Maria Joseph from St. Francis Assisi Parish in Jebel Ali, contributed to this report along with John E. John from the AVOSA Office of Communications)