Home > Godspeed > Priest Life > Part 9

FATHER MATHEW C. GEORGE
MY LIFE AS A PRIEST

My parishioners were not as excited about my journey to the United States as I was. I tried to philosophize my departure from them by telling them that we are not permanently anywhere, especially here on earth. Our stay here is for a short time and the more we get attached to people, places and things, the more difficult it becomes for us to leave. Once we realize the transitoriness of our life, it is easy for us to let things go. My homilies on this subject didn't help them very much since they wanted me to stay there.

There was a convention of the Malankara Catholics (Catholics from our area who immigrated to the United States) going on in Philadelphia at the end of July 2000. My Archbishop was travelling from Trivandrum to attend this gathering. He told me to book my flight on the same flight as his, since I was flying to the United States for the first time. I booked a flight to New York on Kuwait Airlines. There was another senior priest who came along with us who was also going to the United States to see his friends and family.

We had a short flight from Trivandrum to Kuwait. I spent five hours listening to the priest who was sitting in the next seat. He talked non-stop about the adventures he had in his life as a priest, and he wanted me to try some of those adventures in my life, too. Since there was a generation gap between us, I wanted to tell him that he was testing my patience; and since he was not my mother, I didn't want to listen to him that intently or patiently!

We arrived at the Kuwait Airport that evening and were transported to a nearby hotel where we were to stay that night. I was a little relieved when the priest turned his attention to the Archbishop. We had dinner together at the airport hotel and then went to sleep. I slept in the same room as my priest friend, and the Archbishop was in another room. My friend kept talking on the phone to all his friends in Kuwait as they were apparently insisting that he stay with them on his journey back. I believe he agreed to their request.

We had another stop in the Frankfurt Airport, but it was a short stay. Our flight ended in our final destination at JFK airport in the evening. I enjoyed my view of New York City from the plane, as it was completely lit up. There were a few priests, nuns, and lay faithful from our community at the Airport to receive the Archbishop. The immigration agent asked me several questions, as if I was there to steal something! I wanted to tell him “ I am a more important person than you think!” but if I told him something like that the St. Thomas a‘Becket parishioners may not have had the opportunity to meet me. I didn't want to deny you that opportunity!

In New York, I was just like a kid in the candy store - there was so much to do and see that I didn't know what to do first or how to get there. I instantly felt handicapped trying to find my way around in New York. If I didn't know how to get around in New York , how would it be possible for me to lead people to heaven!? Fortunately there were people there who took care of us. I was taken to an Indian house and stayed with another priest friend of mine. This was just the beginning of my adventurous life in the United States.

Read part 10 of Fr. Mathew's priest life
or return to the outline