Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to live together in unity!
Psalm 133
Living together in unity is not always simple and straight forward. Many have experienced this through the pandemic, with lockdowns straining relationships and putting them under new tensions. All relationships require work, effort, and love – family relationships, relationships with flat mates, friends, colleagues and co-workers, and even those of religious communities living together. This pandemic has caused some relationships to become strained from being closed off in close quarters with little personal space, while others have been strained due to distance and isolation.
I recently arrived at the Arrupe International Residence in Manila from Europe – it was just in time for the festivities running up to the feast of St Ignatius. One of these festivities was a Music Night within our community. I was still getting accustomed to the various cultures and languages we are lucky enough to have over here, so I was looking forward to seeing what was in store during the Music Night. What had all the different community members thought of, and worked on, to present to each other? We had brothers from Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Micronesia, and many others, performing songs for the rest of the community. They even asked me to sing a Maltese song! Now I am no Ed Sheeran, but I tried my best to keep in tune, with a traditional Maltese song – Lanca Gejja u Ohra Sejra, about a ferry boat Captain on his trips between Sliema (a popular Maltese town) and Valletta (our Capital City).
As we enjoyed the ensemble of songs I was able to begin appreciating all the different languages and the different cultures we are enriched with here. To allow for everyone to understand each other, in community, we normally speak English between ourselves. These songs gave us a chance to listen to and enjoy all the different languages we have here in community – their sounds, their tonalities, their melodies, their rhythms. Language is a key to appreciating and understanding cultures, and through their songs we were able to get a glimpse into each culture. It was especially beautiful for myself seeing as I have just joined the community. Singing and celebrating was almost an “excuse” to share who we are, where we come from, and the culture which has formed us, with each other.
I say “excuse”, in a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek sense. Nonetheless I find it to be often true that I sometimes feel the need for an “excuse” to share personal aspects, special, and significant moments. Were it not for this Music Night, my brothers here would most probably never have heard me sing in Maltese. This is something I find important especially as the fatigue caused by this pandemic sets in. Many are finding it harder to share significant moments with others, to share personal and profound aspects of themselves with others. This is mainly due to physical isolation but this in turn can bring about emotional isolation, feeling alone and not knowing how to reach out. This Music Night reminded me that if I am ever feeling isolated, not knowing how to reach out, I could always look for an “excuse”. Thanks to the music and songs prepared by each of my brothers; they shared with each of us a window into their culture, a glimpse of who they are and where they come from – something we can all appreciate and be truly grateful for.
Rob Rizzo is a Jesuit from Malta of the Euro-Mediterranean Province. He recently joined the community at the Arrupe International Residence, starting second year Theology at Loyola School of Theology.