“The zeal for Christ and to follow him is the inspiration for my ministerial efforts,” states Father Thomas Philip, the fourth international missionary priest from India who arrived in September in the Diocese of Gaylord to serve the greater Cheboygan parishes.
Father Thomas’s priestly aspirations were harvested at a young age and were nourished by his family, which includes his parents, M.T. Philip and Marykutty Philip, and younger sister, Tissa Philip, who is a nurse in India.
“During my 10th-grade academic year, a priest from the religious order of Heralds of Good News came to my Sunday catechism class and spoke about the order,” shared Father Thomas as he reflected on his vocational discernment and journey to ordination.
“I was inspired by the missionary efforts of the order, which promotes priestly vocations, prepares seminarians for ordination and ministry and supplies zealous and hardworking missionaries to India and abroad,” remarks Father Thomas.
On May 16, 2017, Father Thomas was ordained a religious order cleric from the Order of Heralds of Good News, a Missionary Society of Apostolic Life, founded by Father Jose Kaimlett in the Diocese of Eluru, India.
“A Catholic cleric in the Indian church has to be a man of God. He has to be at the service of all in the church and the wider community. Moreover, he must serve the people as a social worker because Catholics in India are very poor; they need help with education and proper health care,” Father Thomas informs.
He continues, “There is a large percentage of Indians who practice Hinduism. There are many other religions in India, including Islam, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.”
“As Christians, we live in harmony with others. We always try to promote unity among all religions — despite caste, creed and religion, I work for the betterment of all. We have an educational ministry, health care and other social works to unite all people.”
This is the first time Father Thomas is ministering in America. He was asked to come to the Diocese of Gaylord by his Provincial Superior, the Very Reverend Father Roy George, who received a request from Bishop Walsh.
Father Thomas is serving the diocesan faithful as a parochial vicar at St. Mary-St. Charles in Cheboygan, Sacred Heart in Riggsville, St. Clement in Pellston and St. Mary in Burt Lake along with Father Duane Wachowiak, pastor, and Deacon Curtis Chambers.
“The people are very good and so loving and caring,” he says.
May God continue to bless Father Thomas’ ministerial efforts to the faithful of the Diocese of Gaylord and the wider faith communities.
