When you are a priest, Father Jose Luis Saldanha says, people treat you differently. People hold their gaze with a priest. Some nod, others bow a smidge. Most just stare. Blatantly. Respectfully. Distantly. Everyone wants to touch the hem of his garment.
People want to believe. People want to believe that a priest is not just a man. And when people see the “priest” they see a holy man. This is the reality that people seek when they seek after the priest.
It is only the priest who can give it to them. They are living vicariously. But Father Saldanha, 76, is also a man. He loves to sing. He updates his Facebook three times a week. He can get very cross. He is blind.
In 50 years as a priest, he has learnt many things: relationships are important but they don’t matter. Nothing beats an afternoon siesta. Jesus is a vagabond. “People are too serious about Jesus. Jesus is a clown!”
At his clergy home at the Queen of Apostles Parish in Ruaraka along Thika Rd, Father Saldanha, the blind priest, lays it all on the pulpit, and in his verve and off-colour quips, he seems a crossbreed of an evangelical preacher and an Old Testament prophet.
His humour is an acquired taste; and has a mouth like unswept glass — when you least expect it he cuts you. The Baby Boomer’s answer to Gen Z’s spirituality.
What’s the first thing you did this morning?
Are you popular on Facebook?
What’s a typical day in the day of a blind priest?
Over the weekdays, I have breakfast at 8am, and sit at the table with my computer till 10am and do all my correspondence. Michael, my assistant, is the one who comes to help me. I have a screen reader but Michael reads letters and the papers for me. My main work is to visit the elderly and the sick, because I kind of identify myself with them — but just the old part ha ha! Besides, I like an old gossip just as much as they do ha ha! I am back after lunch.
My afternoons are very sacred. I studied in Italy. And Italy is famous for its siesta. We never did anything in the afternoon. All my friends know not to call me at that time, because I am in la la land.
Father Jose Luis Saldanha during the interview on November 6, 2023 at Queen of Apostles, Ruaraka Catholic Mision in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
What time does the siesta start?
What do you do in the gym?
What are you listening to now?
Did you always want to become a priest?
What do you struggle most within priesthood?
When a person comes to me, I know immediately what they want. I want to get to the crux of the matter so I can help them. I am blind and I could say that is my struggle, but I wouldn’t say it has brought me down. They said I would be blind when I get to 40, but I drove way past that.
Maybe the struggle is that I miss seeing your face, seeing colour and the small children — maybe they are smiling at me and I am not reacting. But I have enjoyed my 50 years in priesthood.
Have you ever questioned God about your blindness?
50 years as a priest, what are you learning about yourself now?
What’s your favourite part about being you?
Father Jose Luis Saldanha during the interview on November 6, 2023 at Queen of Apostles, Ruaraka Catholic Mision in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
Does it feel like a burden depending on other people?
What memory would you like to relive?
Can you still do it now?
But that was my next question! Okay, so what remains unchanged about you since childhood?
What’s your temptation?
I wish I had more money to help the people who are coming to me. Sometimes, their problems are financial: school fees and hospital fees. And I don’t want people to think I am a money dispenser, God has given me a separate vocation to be a blessing, my words are a blessing rather than giving handouts.
What do you have that money can’t buy?
What matters way less than you thought it would?
What do you do when you are lonely?
Father Jose Luis Saldanha during the interview on November 6, 2023 at Queen of Apostles, Ruaraka Catholic Mision in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
What song are you listening to now? “Wise men said, only fools rush in. For I can’t help falling in love with you. Shall I stay; would it be a sin, if I can’t help falling in love with you. Like a river flows, surely to the sea, darling so it goes, somethings are meant to be…take my hand, take my whole life too, for I can’t help falling in love with you.”
That’s very nice. If you weren’t a priest would you be a musician?
What is something I wouldn’t believe about you?
What do you desire that you haven’t gotten?
What’s one thing you are ashamed of?
It is so easy and it just needs a little spark coming from God. There is a person I haven’t talked to for nearly 25 years, and we were very good friends, and I am ashamed of that. I don’t work at antagonising people but sometimes it happens in such a serious way that relationships are broken. I know them and I keep them close to my heart, so that maybe things will work out someday.
Why won’t you be the bigger man?
What will people mourn about you when you are gone?
What’s important to you now?
Father Jose Luis Saldanha during the interview on November 6, 2023 at Queen of Apostles, Ruaraka Catholic Mision in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
What do you like eating?
What is the most painful thing you’ve been told?
Were you a mama’s boy?
What’s a special memory that you have between the two of you?
What are you praying about now?
What is one question you wish more people asked you?
Who do you identify with most in the bible?
But I identify with Prophet Isaiah, a princely prophet; and Amos, who stood at the gates and he shouted at the priests getting embarrassed, and John the Baptist. People came in their thousands to hear John the Baptist’s message. People come to me for the message.
Which Bible verse do you struggle with most?
What makes you happy now?
Then, I ran a refugee program here. In the 90s I stayed with my mother, and got really good food. In the aughts, I was the chaplain at Nyumba ya Wazee. I got a little bored, and came here. Now I am enjoying life.
Who do you know that I should know?
