Everyday Holiness

I’m from Kerala, India. My family was big, with eight children – four brothers and four sisters. Sadly, my mother passed away in 1989, followed by my father in 2006. I also lost two brothers along the way. Two of my sisters are in the convent. Growing up I had a strong religious foundation, deeply rooted in Catholicism built by my parents who were devout.

In high school, I found myself drawn to the idea of priestly life. One of my sisters was already in the convent, and her visits during vacations inspired me. Additionally, having relatives who were priests further fueled my admiration for the calling. By the time I completed 10th grade, the idea of becoming a priest had firmly taken root in my mind although I did not know yet which kind of priest I was to be.

After 13 years in seminary, I joined the Indian Missionary Society, based in the northern part of India. I served all over India for 17 years. In 2007, a fellow priest from my order, who was serving at St. Mary’s Nativity in Raceland, had to return and I was asked to take his place and that’s how I ended up here. As a missionary, I had been trained to go wherever needed, adhering to the motto “Bloom where you are planted.” Having worked in various states in India, each with its own language, food, weather, and culture, adapting wasn’t too challenging for me. However, the distance posed a new difficulty initially, but I’ve since grown accustomed to it.

My day starts with prayer – beginning with the Liturgy of the Hours Morning Prayer and Office of Readings. Then I delve into the Mass readings and get ready for daily Mass at 8:30. After a quick breakfast following Mass, I head to the office to work on the day’s tasks. Some days involve funerals, visits to the sick or hospitals, anointing the sick, checking in on the homebound, making other house visits and performing house blessings. Evenings are filled with various meetings, and Tuesdays we have religion class. Before the day’s end, I spend time in my personal chapel, in front the Blessed Sacrament, saying my prayers—a little spot I recently set up near my room.

The Cajun culture here surprisingly resembles some aspects of my own culture —family, faith, and a strong sense of community. People are warm and supportive which feels great. When it comes to food, it’s all about the spice, and rice is a staple, just like back home. I love the music and parades—they remind me of the lively celebrations during our church feasts in India with long parades with fantastic music.

People here are very honest and straight forward. Those who are religiously driven and deeply devoted really pour their hearts and souls into it—just genuine commitment. It’s inspiring to see their sincerity, and they take their beliefs seriously. The appreciation I receive for what I do is overwhelming. Witnessing the unwavering faith of some individuals motivates me to grow even stronger in my own beliefs. Overall, people are incredibly supportive and helpful, making this community feel like home.

Holiness isn’t this distant, unattainable thing. It’s not reserved for the perfect; anyone can achieve it. We just need to shift our perspective to putting our hearts and souls into ordinary tasks, doing them faithfully and honestly.  Our weaknesses can be a pathway to holiness. Many saints saw themselves as the worst sinners. Challenge to confront weakness through perseverance and prayer. Faith plays a crucial role—it’s about recognizing that God sanctifies me if I just try my best. Making prayer a daily habit, attending the Eucharist, reading the Bible, and learning from the lives of the Saints all contribute to our perseverance in holiness. Having good hobbies is also a way to avoid getting caught up in life’s distractions. For me, fishing and traveling help keep my mind refreshed. My work as a missionary priest in India was mostly among Hindus. Places where there were no proper roads, electricity, enduring severe weather without any air conditioning or heat and in some places, I had threat to life from other religious communities. None of these things or the language barriers, food differences, being away from home bothered me at all. God carried me on my mission the whole time.

I hold a deep reverence for the Eucharist and a special devotion to Mary. Every time I approach the altar, I find myself praying that the Lord allows me to continue offering this sacrifice every day for as long as He desires. The Eucharist is my spiritual strength, and source of great joy. My connection with Mary dates back to my baptism in my home parish, where I was dedicated to Mary as per tradition, much like Jesus was offered in the temple on the 8th day. I’ve fostered a special devotion to Mary, and it’s a daily practice for me to recite the Rosary. I was fortunate enough to establish a Marian Grotto right here at St. Joseph. When I came here what I most enjoyed celebrating the Sacraments like marriage, baptisms, etc. Living mostly among Hindus didn’t afford me as many opportunities to do that in India.

What I miss most are my family and the food from back home. Also, in my native region HolyEucharist is celebrated in a different rite called Syro-Malabar, where the priest and the faithful chant, and there’s a lot of singing involved. To keep some traditions alive, I’ve introduced celebrations here. For instance, we celebrate Thanksgiving and come together for Onam, sharing a great meal. I’ve also incorporated certain liturgical practices. On Ash Wednesday I personally go with Ashes to all the sick and homebound. On Holy Thursday, there’s a Eucharistic procession with Adoration, creating a Garden of Gethsemane for everyone to experience. On Good Friday, I organize a walking Way of the Cross, where we go outside, with children portraying Jesus and carrying the cross at each station. I also make an Easter fountain during the Easter season, following our tradition from back home.

For those thinking about priesthood, remember that it’s God who’s calling. Be open to doing God’s will, and don’t doubt your worthiness. If you’re willing, God will make you worthy. On the other side, don’t consider yourself as someone important; let God work through you in His way. Just be yourself, don’t pretend, and say yes while trusting God; He’ll guide you. If the vocation is true, embrace the fulfillment that comes with being a priest, free yourself from unnecessary worries, and focus on God and the people you’re meant to serve. Show your happiness in being a priest.

As for anyone pursuing holiness it’s as I’ve already said. Be good to everyone, appreciate what you have, and understand that holiness is a lifelong journey. It’s a struggle we make with faith in God, avoiding occasions of sin, and concentrating on God, the Bible, prayers, and the lives of the Saints. All of this will help you move closer to holiness.