St. Thomas Aquinas Parish                                                                                  Link to Welcome Letter


A Letter from Rev. Joseph K. Kalladan, Pastor


Sunday Bulletin - December 23, 2007


Dear Parishioner,

With all the hectic schedules of this Christmas Season, I could not just forget about a particular day in my life that has been deeply significant for my life and priestly ministry. It was that most memorable day, December 19, 1969, the day of my Priestly Ordination and the First Holy Mass on the following day. I had left my home sweet home at the age of fifteen in 1954 for the minor seminary and for the next fifteen intense years, I was preparing myself through prayer and study for that long awaited day of my life; the day when I would be ordained a priest of Christ. After all those years of formation, at the age of thirty, I had the feeling that I was ready to make that total commitment to God – to serve Him and His Church for the rest of my life in whatever form of priestly ministry or situations of life that He would lead me. After thirty-eight years of varied ministry as a priest of the Church, the events connected to my Ordination and First Mass in my home parish are very fresh in my mind.

One of the research findings of a recent survey by one of the Catholic Universities in the US reported that a very high percentage of priests in active duty find their priestly life and ministry to be very satisfying. The many priests that I personally know in and around our Archdiocese attest to this fact as well. When we feel that we are called and try to do His work in building up His Kingdom, we cannot but be happy knowing fully well that we are doing His will. This does not certainly mean we are on top of the world nor does everything go according to our agenda. There are a lot of crosses related to ministry in the Church. But that is what Jesus has told us and the example He has left for us. United with Him all the crosses of life and ministry can become much lighter than we can ever imagine.

If priestly life and ministry is generally fulfilling and satisfying to them, the question could be asked: Why is it that not too many men want to become priests today? Why is it there is such a dearth of vocations here? Please could you reflect and find some appropriate answer or answers to this puzzle?

What could you possibly do to promote vocations to inspire the young to consider the possibility of God’s call to the Priesthood or Religious Life? Personally, in your family, or in your parish? Let us not fortget what Jesus has told us: “Pray to the Master of the harvest to send more laborers to His vineyard.”

Sincerely,


Fr. K.K
_______________________________________
Back to Pastor Letters Page

St Thomas Aquinas Parish       Catholic Website© 2001-2007 All Rights Reserved