Associate Pastor's Letter July 13, 2008

The Diocese of Toledo requested a priest from my Archdiocese and my Major Archbishop sent me over here from India last September. I have been for the last 10 months at St. Patrick’s Old Historic Church, Down Town. They welcomed me, provided me everything required, and trained me well to work in this diocese. I am grateful to all of them. Last month, on a Friday evening, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Billian called and told me over phone “you will be an associate to Fr. Bill Rose at Christ the King Church from July 1st and onwards.” I was so happy to hear such good news. I enjoy being here with you and helping Fr. Bill Rose, my young Pastor. I belong to a different Rite; MALANKARA CATHOLIC CHURCH which is one among the 22 individual eastern churches in the Catholic Church. Our ancestors received the gospel from St. Thomas the Apostle, in 1st century, AD. I am from the Archdiocese of Trivandrum, which is in the State of Kerala, India. It was after coming over here I started learning how to do the Liturgy in the Latin Rite. Little by little I am getting thorough with this.

My father, Mr. Simon, was a Thahsildar (Revenue Officer) under State Government. Since retirement he is working for the Archdiocese to take care of its landed properties. He is seventy-three now. My mother, Mrs. Victoria Simon, was a school teacher. She is retired and she is sixty eight now. I have one elder brother and two younger sisters. Philip, my elder brother is thirty seven. He is not married. My sisters are Betzy, Vimala and Mini. Vimala is married to Mr. Saji and Jesna is their two year old daughter. My brother-in-law is a government servant in the Road Transport Corporation of the State. Two of my sisters are yet to be married.

I am thirty five. It has been eight years since my ordination. My first appointment was with a Pastor having nine parishes. On the next year I was assigned to help a Pastor having eight parishes and two big schools. I had to travel a lot to say Holy Mass and for other spiritual requirements. After that, since 2002, for five years I served as a Pastor of three parishes and was at the same time in charge of two schools. During that time I worked also as the Director of Sunday School, Youth and Holy Childhood at District level. All those pastoral services provided me with sufficient and thrilling missionary experience. I never had off days while I was in India.

Here, God gives me an opportunity to work with a young, efficient, energetic and successful Pastor in a good and big Parish; an opportunity to discover and enjoy your goodness and serve you in the name of the Lord. I am sure that in the coming days my mind will be filled with joy because of your love and all the activities here.

GOD BLESS YOU,
FR. DOMINIC SAVYO,
Associate Pastor