Diocese of Covington - Messenger at 402 E. 21st Street, Covington, KY 41015 US - Silver jubilarian finds delight as a 'soul thirsting for the Lord'

Father George Panthananickal, CMI, likens his calling to the priesthood to the Old Testament story of the Prophet Samuel. Three times Samuel heard the Lord calling him and three times he went to his teacher Eli asking, “Lord, did you call me?” Finally, due to the persistence of the call, Eli realizes that it is God calling the young man and instructs Samuel to respond, “Here I am Lord, speak, your servant is listening.”

Father George first heard God’s call in the seventh-grade, so he told his pastor that he wanted to become a priest and a missionary. His pastor’s response, “Okay, fine. You come next year.” So he did, and his pastor’s response was the same, in his eighth-grade and ninth-grade year. “Still, my soul was thirsting for the Lord,” said Father George.

Finally after tenth-grade, realizing the persistence of the call, Father George’s pastor “delighted and warmly welcomed me and asked my choice — whether I prefer priestly life, religious life or missionary life. I conveyed my choice and joined the Carmelite order in the year 1967,” he said. He was ordained a priest in 1983 at the age of 33.

Father George is one of three priests celebrating a silver jubilee in the Diocese of Covington this year. Father Richard Bolte and Msgr. William Neuhaus, both diocesan priests, are also celebrating 25 years of priestly life.

“Father George is certainly to be congratulated on his 25 years of fruitful ministry in the name of the Lord, both in his native country and now in the Diocese of Covington,” said Bishop Roger Foys. “He has distinguished himself for many years as an educator and missionary. I offer him my personal gratitude for his service to our diocese and wish him many more years in the service of the Lord and his people.”

Father George was born in 1951 in the state of Kerala, India. In India he worked as teacher and principal for 25 years in Catholic schools operated by his Carmelite order. While he found those years most rewarding and enjoyable, in his heart he always wanted to be missionary. So in 1999-2000 he was assigned to work with Cardinal Sin in the Archdiocese of Manila, Phillippines. There he was a full-time chaplain at the UDMC (United Doctors Medical Center) Hospital, Quezone City. Since September 2005 he has been working in the Diocese of Covington and is the parochial vicar at Blessed Sacrament Church, Ft. Mitchell. Many Indian priests are working in the United States as missionaries because of the shortage of priests here.

Father George loves to play basketball. He plays every day, hitting the court at 5:45 a.m. in the gym at Blessed Sacrament School. He credits the game, in part, for helping bring the Holy Spirit to the several thousands of students he has taught — the young and not so young — in his years as educator in India. Several of his former students attended his jubilee Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church, May 18.

“Now they [his students] are working in India, as well as in other countries of the world, keeping aloft in glory the priceless legacy of our Catholic schools in India,” Father George said.

Father George learned the grace of complete abandonment to God’s will and trust in the God early on during his formation years in the seminary. In a letter from his father he received word that his entire family — father, mother, sisters and brothers — had become ill, to the point where they couldn’t even buy medicine. As the oldest son, he felt this might be a sign that he should leave the seminary. His spiritual director advised otherwise.

Father George shares his story: “He was a solid man of God, listened to my problem patiently and looked at my face with love and compassion and told me, ‘My son, you forget it, forget the letter from your father and no need of replying to it also.’ He directed me to attend sincerely the usual meditation, prayer, and the Mass with the community that day and the next, with trust in God and surrendering to his will. He said, ‘With these, you will be fine.’ I obeyed him literally. After a couple of weeks, I received another letter from my Dad stating that at home all are fine, and they are all praying for the noble cause of my vocation.”

Father George speaks appreciatively about Bishop Roger Foys and the people of the diocese, especially about the parishioners at Blessed Sacrament Church. He relishes the opportunity to learn more about American culture and explore the United States. Recently, he said, he took a trip to see Niagara Falls, a natural wonder he talked for years about to his students. “It was amazing to see it,” he said.

He received word recently that his Green Card has been renewed. His plans, God willing, are to stay and work in the Diocese of Covington for the next two years.

(Back)