Priests from India serve in Carroll

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
January 15, 2004

For several years the Diocese of Sioux City has had strong ties with Opus Spiritus Sancti, a religious community also known as the Holy Spirit Community. That bond became even stronger in June of 2001 when two priests from India - Father Sunny Dominic and Father Siby Punnoose - members of Opus Spiritus Sancti, began to serve as associate pastors at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll.

The priests acknowledged that many adjustments were involved in their coming to America.

"It was a big change for me in every aspect - culture, food, language and the lifestyle of people," noted Father Dominic. "English is not a common language in India. Everything was new for me."

The same was true for Father Punnoose, except he added another factor for adjustment - the cold weather and snow.

While they came here knowing there would be many challenges and adjustments at first, both priests not only wanted to be obedient to their superior's request but also looked forward to the new experience. They added that it was possible for them to come to the United States because the number of priests in India is sufficient.

"In the two years I have learned a lot," said Father Dominic, who also has chaplain duties at St. Anthony's Hospital in Carroll. Last July, ministry to St. Mary Church in Willey was added to their duties.

Along with the two religious order priests serving here, there are several Holy Spirit sisters from both India and Africa working in the diocese. In addition, Father Jim McCormick, pastor at Holy Spirit Church, served as the international rector of Opus Spiritus Sancti, headquartered in Germany, for a number of years and currently diocesan priest Father Tom Flanagan serves in this capacity.

The diocese has even further connections with the Holy Spirit Community as several of the diocesan priests are affiliated with the community as well as lay men and women belonging to Holy Spirit's lay apostalate.

Both of the Indian priests see a difference in priestly ministry here verses in India.

"Here the people are much more educated. The lay participation is much greater, active and alive here. There, the priest has to do everything," noted Father Dominic, who explained that in India there are no Eucharistic ministers or anything like that. "I think the participation of the laity plays a major role in the deepening of the faith."

Father Punnoose pointed out that the lay involvement is slowly growing in India, but there are so many priests in India so it is not as needed.

At the same time, the priests credit Catholic families of India with extremely strong prayer-filled lives.

"It is a religious country. Religion is a part of our life - praying together as a family. Every evening we pray together for 45 minutes," said Father Punnoose, who added that religion is truly the center of their lives. "There is only 3 percent Christianity in India. Eighty percent of the people are Hindu and 10 to 12 percent are Muslim."

In his particular state, there happens to be a higher percentage of Catholics than any other religion. Most of the priests and sisters are from this same state.

While there are differences in priestly functions, they said that the sacramental ministry of priests is the same everywhere.

The priests credited large families and a strong devotion to the faith for the many religious vocations.

"The population is really high there, where here the population is going down," said Father Punnoose, who was ordained to the priesthood in 1998. "People are living an independent and materialistic life here so they can work and do their own things. The lifestyle is different in India."

Father Dominic pointed out that he became a priest through the encouragement of his family, especially his mother. There are six children in his family and Father Dominic is fifth. He was ordained on April 12, 1994.

"I really enjoy this ministry as a priest. I get a lot of satisfaction by being a priest, administering the sacraments and visiting people," he said. "By giving of my time and presence - visiting the people in the hospital and nursing home - I gain a lot."

Father Punnoose, the seventh of eight children, explained that after schooling through the 10th grade he helped his father on the farm. A year later, he went to school to learn more about farming. After five months, he questioned if this is what he wanted out of life. At that point, he investigated the priesthood and was welcomed into seminary studies.

"My seminary studies took 11 years," he said.

He found his parents and siblings to be very supportive of this vocation.

They noted that living and serving with Father McCormick made it an easier transition for service in the United States. The people of the Carroll area have also been very good to them.

Both of the priests have a five-year visa with a possibility of extension.