Midhun Dominic is a 28 year old seminarian from India, a resident of the Bidasoa International Ecclesiastical College (Pamplona). He was born in the municipality of Nedumkadam, in the province of Kerala into a Catholic family. He is the second of two children: his sister's name is Mintu Dominic. Midhun is one of many seminarians who receive a scholarship from CARF, thanks to the contribution of benefactors in the campaign "Let no vocation be lost." He is proud of the value of the family unit in his country, something Europe should learn from. He tells us his testimony.
"I belong to the diocese of Vijayapuram in the Kerala region of India. I am now in my third year in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Navarra and this is my second year in Bidasoa. In the first year I had some difficulties in my studies with Spanish, but now I am very happy to be here. I thank God for everything.
I like the Bidasoa Seminary very much because here I am receiving a good integral formation. I especially appreciate and am grateful for the spiritual formation that is given, because this spiritual dimension is fundamental in the life and ministry of priests. I am really inspired by the formation given here.
Ever since I was a little boy, I have always had the desire to be priest; I often went to a monastery located in my town and used to attend Holy Mass every day. Throughout my life I have encountered many kind and exemplary priests who have helped me to discover my vocation..
As soon as my vocation became clear to me, I expressed to my parents my desire to become a priest (my father's name is Dominic and my mother's name is Regeena Dominic). and they were overjoyed by the decision he had taken. But I waited until I finished my studies to enter the seminary and was accepted by the diocese of Vijayapuram. Since then, I have always felt the love of God in every moment of my formation.
God's love for all of us is incomparable, but there are those whom he looks upon with a special tenderness to serve his people as shepherds. God calls us from the first moment to life, to happiness, and then to a specific vocation for each one of us.. In the world in which we live, the voice of God continues to resound, but sometimes it seems to be overshadowed by all the noise that exists around us, and that is why to many people that voice seems imperceptible.
"I met many kind and exemplary priests who helped me discover my vocation."
Midhun Dominic is a 28 year old seminarian from India, a resident of the Bidasoa International Ecclesiastical College (Pamplona). He was born in the municipality of Nedumkadam, in the province of Kerala into a Catholic family. He is the second of two children: his sister's name is Mintu Dominic. Midhun is one of many seminarians who receive a scholarship from CARF, thanks to the contribution of benefactors in the campaign "Let no vocation be lost."
My country comes from a long Christian tradition: Christians now number 28 million and the Catholic population is 17 million. Many people believe that we have recently converted from Hinduism to Christianity, but our faith is not a Christianity. is connected with the Apostle Thomas. Before the Dutch, the Portuguese or the British came, Christianity had already taken root in our lands, although it was not in full communion with the Pope.
According to tradition, the Apostle Thomas came to my country and proclaimed the word of God to the Brahmans, who were considered people of high social class. He later suffered martyrdom at the hands of the same Brámanos.
St. Thomas did not preach in all of India, as he could only reach the provinces of Kerala and Thamilnadu. Coincidentally, these two provinces have the largest Catholic population today. In addition, we preserve our own liturgical rite that comes from St. Thomas himself and is kept alive especially in the province of Kerala. Thus, I am not a convert from another religion, but I am a Catholic thanks to the fidelity of my ancestors.
We are very religious, we do not have any problem of coexistence with other religions in our country. However, I have to say that in the northern part of India there were persecutions in past times, but now there is no inter-religious conflict; especially in the region where I live, the Catholic religion is very much rooted.
Regarding the specific circumstances in India, I could say that the main problem facing the Catholic Church in my country is the anticlericalism. Some look down on Catholic priests and others are attracted to Protestant sects.
One thing I like about my nation is that we still maintain the value of family: we don't have divorces. There are many good things in Europe that do not exist in India but I have seen with regret the spread of divorce, with the evils it brings to the children and to society in general. The value of family unity is a good thing that Europe can learn from India.
On the other hand, I am proud of what the Catholic Church in India has contributed to the universal Church: for example, there are currently three Indian cardinals in the College of Cardinals who could be elected Pope. Moreover, my country has given four great saints (the true face of the Church) to the universal Church: Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Mariam Teresa, St. Alphonsa, St. Elijah Chavara.
"The main problem facing the Catholic Church in my country is anti-clericalism.. There are people who look down on Catholic priests."
In India there are 174 Catholic dioceses: 132 of the Latin rite and the rest of the Siro Malabar and Siro Malankara rite. The Christian population is 28 million and the Catholic population is 17 million. Midhun says that many people believe that "we have recently converted from Hinduism to Christianity, but we have a long tradition that goes back to the Apostle Thomas". In his country they are very religious and have no problems living together with other religions. "We still maintain the value of the family: we have no divorces."
At present, there are 174 Catholic dioceses in India: 132 of Latin rite and the rest of Siro Malabar and Siro Malankara rite. There are many Hindu priests working in different parts of the world, especially in Italy, Germany, France, America, Africa, Great Britain and Canada. Thus, for example, There are 10 priests from my diocese working in Rome.
Also, in Great Britain there is a diocese of the Syro-Malabar rite as well as in Canada. Likewise, at the Urbaniana University in Rome, an Indian professor who is now bishop of the diocese of Mangalore has worked, and in 2016, an Indian priest was elected vice-rector of the Urbaniana University. Many Indian nuns and priests also work in the Roman Curia, as well as various nuncios.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the CARF benefactors for what they do for us, to those who support us with their prayers and donations, to continue with our formation, not only religious but also cultural, because this is the only way we can continue with our education. experience in Bidasoa allows us to know the universality of the Church. I thank God for this opportunity that He has undeservedly granted me; I am also grateful for the trust that my Bishop has placed in me.
