Midhun Dominic is a priest from India who resided at the Bidasoa International Seminary in Pamplona during his formation. He was born in the township of Nedumkandam, in the state of Kerala, into a Catholic family. He is the second of two children; his sister's name is Mintu Dominic.
He is one of the many priests who were able to complete their training thanks to support provided by the members, benefactors, and friends of the CARF Foundation, which is funded through the campaign «Fill the world with priests».
. He proudly emphasizes the value of the family unit in his country, a reality that, in his opinion, Europe could rediscover. This is his testimony.
«I belong to the Diocese of Vijayapuram, in the state of Kerala, India. During my formation, I studied at the School of Theology of the University of Navarra and I lived at the Bidasoa International Seminary. At first I had some trouble with Spanish, but little by little I adapted, and I have very fond memories of those years. I am very grateful to God for everything.
I liked the Bidasoa Seminary very much because I received a solid integral formation there. I especially appreciate the spiritual formation given, since this dimension is fundamental for priestly life and ministry. The formation I received was a real source of inspiration for me.
Since I was a child, I felt the desire to become a priest. I used to go frequently to a monastery in my town and participated daily in Holy Mass. Throughout my life I have met many kind and exemplary priests who helped me to discover and strengthen my vocation».
God's voice continues to resound
«When it became clear to me that God was calling me to the priesthood, I shared my desire with my parents, Dominic and Regeena Dominic. They received the news with great joy. Still, I decided to finish my studies before entering the seminary. I was then taken in by the diocese of Vijayapuram and since then I have always felt God's love at every stage of my formation.
God's love for each person is immense, but he calls some in a particular way to serve his people as shepherds. He calls us from the first moment of our existence, he calls us to happiness and also to a concrete vocation. In today's world, the voice of God continues to resound, even if it is sometimes muffled by the noise that surrounds us. For this reason, many people find it difficult to hear it and to recognize it.
"I met many kind and exemplary priests who helped me discover my vocation."
Midhun Dominic was born in Nedumkandam, in the state of Kerala, into a Catholic family. He is the second of two children and has a sister named Mintu Dominic.
«India has a long Christian tradition. Today, the country is home to millions of Christians, a significant part of whom belong to the Catholic Church. Many people think that Christianity came to our country only recently, but our roots go back to the early centuries of the Church and are linked to the figure of the apostle saint Thomas.
According to Christian tradition, St. Thomas came to India to proclaim the Gospel and preached among different groups of society. The Christian faith took root in our lands long before the arrival of Europeans. In fact, there were consolidated Christian communities centuries before the presence of the Dutch, Portuguese or British.
Tradition also holds that the apostle suffered martyrdom in India, leaving a testimony of faith that lives on to this day and is part of the identity of many Indian Christians.».
Catholic thanks to the fidelity of his ancestors
«Christian tradition holds that St. Thomas carried out his evangelizing mission mainly in the present-day regions of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is not by chance that these areas today concentrate some of the oldest and largest Christian communities in India. In addition, we preserve a rich liturgical tradition linked to the Christians of St. Thomas, especially alive in Kerala.
Therefore, my Catholic faith is not born of a recent conversion, but is part of an inheritance handed down from generation to generation. I consider myself a Catholic thanks to the fidelity of my ancestors, who preserved and transmitted the faith over the centuries.
Religion plays an important role in the lives of many Indian families. »In my experience, daily life among people of different religions generally unfolds with respect and normality. In the state of Kerala, where I was born and raised, the Catholic Church has deep roots and is an integral part of the local history and culture.".
The value of the family
«Among the challenges facing the Catholic Church in India are the growing secularization in some environments and the expansion of various non-Catholic Christian groups. Prejudice towards the Church and the figure of the priest also persists in certain sectors of society.
One of the things I value most about my country is the importance that the family continues to hold. The family unit remains a fundamental pillar for many people and plays a decisive role in passing on faith, values, and traditions.
During my time in Europe, I have seen many positive things, but I have also witnessed how family difficulties affect so many people. I believe that a commitment to family is an asset that can contribute something valuable to any society.
I am also proud of the contribution of the Catholic Church in India to the universal Church. Our country has given great testimonies of holiness recognized by the whole Church, among them St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Alphonsa, St. Mariam Thresia Chiramel and St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara. Their lives continue to inspire millions of the faithful around the world.».
«One of the challenges facing the Catholic Church in India is the persistence of prejudice towards the Church and towards priests in some sectors of society.».
The Catholic Church in India is one of the oldest in Asia and has a rich diversity of liturgical traditions. Midhun Dominic points out that many people are unaware that Christianity has been present in the country since the first centuries and that the local Christian tradition links its origins to the preaching of the Apostle St. Thomas. He also underlines the importance that the family continues to have in Indian society and the role it plays in the transmission of the faith.
174 Catholic dioceses
«The Catholic Church in India has a great vitality and a strong missionary dimension. Many Indian priests carry out their ministry in different countries of Europe, America and Africa, collaborating with dioceses in need of vocations and pastoral care. This international presence reflects the generosity and evangelizing commitment of the Church in our country.
In addition, Indian Catholics are active in leading academic and ecclesial institutions. Priests, men and women religious have responsibilities in pontifical universities, Holy See agencies, diplomatic representations of the Church and other tasks in the service of the universal Church.
This contribution shows that the Church in India not only receives, but also offers to the universal Church priests, formators, teachers and missionaries who contribute to the evangelization and growth of Catholic communities throughout the world».
Thank you to the benefactors of the CARF Foundation.
«I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the benefactors of the CARF Foundation for their generosity and closeness. Thanks to your prayers and donations, many priests and seminarians around the world are able to receive an integral formation that prepares us to better serve the Church.
My stay in Bidasoa and my formation at the University of Navarra allowed me not only to grow academically and spiritually, but also to discover in a deeper way the universality of the Church, sharing life with people from different countries and cultures.
I thank God for this opportunity, which I consider an undeserved gift, and also my bishop for the trust he placed in me by sending me to complete my formation. I pray for all the benefactors of the CARF Foundation and I commend them to the Lord with gratitude».
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