New priests from India bring recent earthquakes in Gujurat closer to New Ulm diocese

by Paula Marti

Four new priests serving in parishes in the diocese of New Ulm bring closer to home the recent devastating earthquakes of the Gujurat region of northwestern India.

According to Father John Kodankandath, now serving at St. Anne, Wabasso, the entire infrastructure of the region will need to be rebuilt. "All churches, schools, social work centers, convents, priests’ houses of the diocese including the communities of Bhuj, Bachau, Morbi, Anjar will need to be rebuilt." The killer earthquake left nothing intact in these villages. Father John explained that the Rajkot diocese is making appeals to the general public and is receiving supplies through several relief services. People can send direct contributions to the relief and reconstruction effort to the following address:

Rt. Rev. Gregory Karotembrel C.M.I.

Bishops House

RAJKOT, Saurastra

360009 University P.O.

Gujarat, India

Four come to serve in the New Ulm diocese

Although our four new priests are keeping in touch with the community needs in India since the announcement of the January earthquake, they are also settling into their new roles as intern assistants to the pastors of the four parishes where they are serving in the Diocese of New Ulm. These priests have been adapting to life in Minnesota and service to our parishes thanks to months of coordinating efforts on the part of Father Frank Garvey, director of Priests’ Personnel, who has helped make their transitions go smoothly. We wish them well as they begin their ministry in Minnesota’s most rural diocese.

Father Jose Paul Pynadath C.M.I. was born in Kerala, South India. His early education was in the communities of Karukutty and Koratty. As a member of the CMI Congregation he studied as a seminarian at S.H. Province Kalamassery, Dharmaram College, Bangalore, and Rajagiri College of Social Sciences. He completed his Bachelor of Divinity at the Gregorian University, Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1974 and served as a parish priest. He completed advanced degrees in Education from K.E.B. Education College, Mannanam, Kerala, and an M.A. in English Literature from Thevara S.H. College, Kerala. He taught in four high schools in Karikattoor, Pulinkunnu, Calvarymount, and Karukutty, all in Kerala.

Father John Kondankandath, C.M.I. was born and was a member of the church of St. Thomas in the Archdiocese of Trichur, in Kerala State, South India. He graduated from Infant Jesus High School, Vazhakulam, and entered the Novitiate beginning his religious training in the Order of Carmelites making his final commitment in 1968. He completed seminary at Dharmaram College, Bangalo and Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1972. Before coming to the Diocese of New Ulm he served as a hospital chaplin, Warden, and high school principal. He was also Director of the C.M.I. Center, Bombay, and Prefect of Prior Generals House, Cochin, India.

Father A. Melchizedech completed his early education in Maiyanur, Tidivanam, and Cuddalore, India. He attended St. Arulanadar College, Madurai University and completed a B.A. in Philosophy at Bangalore University and St Peter’s Seminary. He did theology and pastoral studies at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalone, Italy. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1984 at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry. He served for a year as parish assistant at Assumption Church, Nellithope. Then for nearly 6 years he was the secretary to Archbishop and Chancellor of the diocese. He also served in parishes in Villupuram and Kakkanur. He worked at the International Opus Centre, Mammolshain (near Frankfurt) Germany.

Father Sagayadasan Nicholas was born in Kamanayakanpatty, India and completed his seminary studies at St. Peter’s Minor Seminary, Madurai and St. Paul Seminary, Tirchy. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Xavier Cathedral, Palayamkottai in 1987, and served as a priest for the diocese of Palayamkottai. In 1998 he served in several communities of the Archdiocese of Durban, South Africa. He has worked as a missionary and comes to the United States with an interest in spiritual renewal. Fr. Nicholas is an accomplished musician having completed five recordings of his music with Gospel themes featuring local traditional values and practices.