Gulf Pine Catholic

8 Gulf Pine Catholic • April 2, 2021 Golden jubilarian Father George Manchapilly returning to India this month BY TERRY DICKSON CLERMONT HARBOR -- Father George Manchapilly, a native of India and a priest of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, who has served in the Diocese of Biloxi since 2008, is retiring this month and returning to his homeland. Father Manchapilly, who celebrated his Golden Jubilee in January, is pastor of St. Ann Parish in Clermont Harbor and St. Joseph Chapel in Pearlington “I was born into a Catholic family,” said Father George. “We believe that St. Thomas the Apostle came to India. From that time onward we were called St. Thomas’s Christians. I belong to an Indigenous Religious Congregation called Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. We have around 2,000 members and working different parts of the world. There are 100 priests working in different Diocese in the USA from India. “I got my inspiration to become a priest from my late uncle who was a CMI priest. I have two sisters, both Franciscan nuns working in India. I can say I belong to a religious family, my two cousins are CMI and three dioc- esan priests and 13 nuns in my family.” Father George joined the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate in 1960. He completed his seminary studies at Dharam College in Bangalore, India, and was ordained on January 3, 1971, at the CMI motherhouse Mannanam. “I was asked to go to the USA for pastoral work by my superiors,” he said. “I landed here in 1982 and was assigned in a parish in Milwaukee Diocese. Two years later I was called back to help on the farm in Bangalore. “In 1991, Father George had a severe heart attack and took almost two years to rest. “In 1993 I came back to the USA and was serving the Brooklyn Diocese, meanwhile I worked two years as a hospital chaplain at St. Elizabeth Hospi- tal,” he said. “In 2008, I came to Mississippi, Diocese of Biloxi, and served at Holy Family Parish in Pass Christian, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral and finally at St. Ann Parish and St. Joseph Chapel. It is time for me to return home. I hope to spend the rest of my time in one of our monas- teries participating in the religious practices, hearing confessions and cele- brating Masses wherever I am needed.” Father George is slated to return home on April 11. “I am indebted for my whole life to God. He showered upon me His blessings all through my life until this hour. I am proud of being a priest, a religious priest. I have no regrets at any moment being a priest. At this junc- ture I have to express my gratitude first to God and all my superiors and friends and, of course my Dad and Mom, three of my brothers and two sis- ters. “I express my sincere gratitude and thank you to our late Bishop Roger Morin who assigned me as an associate. I am also grateful to Father Dennis Carver who was my pastor at Holy Family Church. Father Dennis was so good to me. We had nice times there. Then I was transferred to Cathedral of Father Manchapilly First Holy Communion 2021 FirstCommunion forSt. Joseph theWorkerParishon theSeabeeBase inGulfport was held on March 14 in the Seabee Memorial Chapel. Bishop Neal J. Buckon from the Military Archdiocese and Father Paddy Mockler concelebrated the Mass. First Communicants are, front row l-r: Sophia Gable, Gabriel Quirarte, and Delilah Gable; back row, Bishop Buckon and Father Paddy. St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Gulfport the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From there I was asked to become pastor of St. Ann and St. Joseph Chapel. Now I am saying farewell to the Diocese of Biloxi. I am remembering our present Bishop Louis Kihneman and Msgr. Dominick Fullam, Father TonyArguelles and Msgr. John McGrath. I would like to thank them all. May the good Lord bless the Diocese of Biloxi and the people.” Father George also expressed gratitude to his longtime secretary, Lesa Morgan, who died unexpectedly in February and asked everyone to pray for the repose of her soul and for the comfort of her family and loved ones.