Mechernich – The 31-year-old Indian priest Jaimson Mathew bid farewell to the Communio in Christo in Mechernich on Monday with a Holy Mass and dinner. The member of the Syro-Malankar Catholic Church, which is united with Rome, had been living with the Mechernich community for almost two years. He is going to Switzerland as a priest.
 
There, the priest, who was ordained in Trivandrum (Kerala) in India on 13 April 2021, will take over the parish of Herzogenbuchsee/Oberaargau in the diocese of Basel. The 31-year-old intends to maintain his connection to the Ordo Communionis in Christo with its motherhouse in Mechernich and Superior General Jaison Thazhathil. Jaimson Mathew was already the fifth priest to be assigned to the Ordo Communionis in Christo by Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Katholicos.

Father Jaison Thazhathil, the current Superior General, was the first in 2008, Father Mathew Charthakuzhil, the third, now works in the diocese of Chur in Switzerland, Father Sabu Purayidathil in the diocese of St. Gallen. Father Thomson Pazhayachirapeedikayil, Jaimson Mathew's predecessor, who also deepened his pastoral practice and German language skills in Mechernich, is now a priest in the diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart.
 
Father Jaimson, who already had the desire to become a priest as a child, thanked the Mechernich community and each of its members individually, including the Indian Samaritan Sisters who live with the community and work in its care facilities, in a detailed speech. Jaimson said that he would never forget the sisters and brothers for what they had done for him and made possible for him.

"Like a second family"

Although he was called to be a so-called ‘world priest’ and not to live in a monastic community, he very much appreciated the shelter and community that the community of the Ordo Communionis in Christo in Mechernich had given him. For him, ‘a new life and new hope’ are now beginning, but the community in Mechernich will remain like a family to him.

The 31-year-old theologian will only fly back to India for the first time after Christmas to see his parents, his brother, who is nine years younger than him, and his other relatives. He is always following the wishes of his bishop, Cardinal Cleemis, who sent him to the community in Mechernich and now to his new place of work in Switzerland.

Superior General Jaison Thazhathil has been his support during all this time. He is bringing Father Jaimson Mathew to Herzogenbuchsee at the beginning of next week together with his secretary Tilj Puthenveettil. Before then, all three will visit Father Thomson in Dietingen between the Black Forest and the Swabian Alb.

Superior General Jaison Thazhathil told the departing confrere that the Communio in Christo had done everything it could to support him. Conversely, the young chaplain had been a spiritual support to the community. And: ‘It was a pleasure to accompany you on your journey. If it gets too cold for you in Switzerland, you will always find an open door here.’

Father Jaimson Mathew celebrated his farewell service himself, assisted by Deputy Superior General Deacon Manfred Lang. Concelebrants were guest priest Peter Omenyi from Nigeria and his compatriot Father Dr Innocent Dim, who had worked in the community of St Barbara Mechernich for five years and is currently on a visit to his old place of work with Father Erik Pühringer.

pp/Agentur ProfiPress