FROM INDIA TO KENOSHA — Fr. Sebastian Arackal, associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Kenosha, greets parishioners following Mass Nov. 20. (Catholic Herald photo by Sam Lucero)

HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN — Fr. Kevin Ori, a chaplain at St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee, talks to nurses. Fr. Ori is a priest of the Diocese of Issele-Uku in Nigeria. (Catholic Herald photo by James Pearson)

POLISH PRESENCE — Fr. Andrzej Galant, pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Milwaukee, prepares to enter the church during a recent Mass. (Catholic Herald photo by James Pearson)

OPENING PROCESSION — Fr. Dominic Thomas, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Kenosha, joins in the opening procession during Mass Nov. 20. (Catholic Herald photo by Sam Lucero)

Archbishop Dolan said he was so taken with Fr. Thomas’s reverence and young enthusiasm that he wondered about bringing more priests from this order into the Milwaukee Archdiocese.

“I got in touch with his provincial and they told me that ‘God has been so good with us and we promised to share our priests,’” Archbishop Dolan said. “They also said that we in the United States shared our priests with them years ago and now they are more than willing to share their priests with us.”

The two priests join more than a dozen clergy from Poland, Nigeria, Korea and other countries who are here on long-term assignments. With the willingness of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament to lend a hand, Archbishop Dolan anticipates a third priest joining the archdiocese next year.

“And thanks be to God, we will have three young, well educated priests filled with zeal,” he said. “Those priests live in a country where they are exploding with vocations and we take them up with their gracious offer.”

Both Fr. Thomas and Fr. Arackal accept their placement with grace and devotion to their faith, and their order. Despite being so far from home, Fr. Thomas maintains a cheerful attitude.

“I just go where I am asked to go,” he said, “and I am called to bloom where I am planted.”

Life as missionary means new driver’s license

Although Fr. Arackal was a bit startled by the invitation to serve in the Milwaukee Archdiocese, he did not hesitate to comply with his bishop’s request.

“I was not nervous at all,” he said. “I am ready to go anywhere. That is our life … the life of a missionary priest.”

Few surprises awaited Fr. Arackal upon moving to Kenosha, with the exception of studying for his driver’s exam and learning to drive on the “wrong side” of the road.

“I took a couple of classes and drove some hours to practice,” he said, chuckling, “it has been slightly different. We drive on the left side and you drive on the right. We also don’t have so many intersections and lanes, so I have had to become aware of those things.”

Proudly displaying his Wisconsin driver’s license, Fr. Arackal said he was looking forward to becoming more independent, leaning only on himself to drive to his appointments.

“And I haven’t gotten lost … yet,” he said laughing.

Extra classes break down language barrier

Although Fr. Arackal is fluent in English, he attended English as a Second Language Classes at Sacred Heart School of Theology to diminish some of his heavy accent.

“Normally people don’t have a difficult time understanding me,” he said, “but I at times have trouble understanding others because sometimes they speak too fast. But then I just say I am sorry that I can’t understand, and then they slow down.”

While some international priests do not suffer any noticeable discrimination, much needs be done to eradicate biases toward them, said Fr. Robert Silva, president of the National Federations of Priests’ Councils, representing 124 councils of diocesan and religious clergy working in ministry.

“For the most part, these priests are fairly well received,” he said. “But there is much that needs to be done to overcome the prejudices, arrogance and downright racism that exist both among laity and the local clergy.”

Locally, Fr. Brian Mason, the archdiocese’s associate vicar for clergy, said most parish priests willingly accept international priests in the Milwaukee Archdiocese. Although he isn’t certain of the reaction of the laity, he said the international priests fare well in collaborating within their clusters.

“Many priests have been invited here to maintain a cultural presence, such as in the Hispanic community,” he said. “Oftentimes, they are not subjected to bias as much as someone who may be entering an unfamiliar cultural community.”

Fr. Kevin Ori, a priest of the Issele-Uku Diocese in Nigeria who serves as a chaplain at St. Francis Hospital, said he experienced a brief introduction to prejudice while studying in a United States university.

“I just didn’t take it personally,” he said. “I wanted to challenge him, but instead I chose to ignore it.”

In his third year at St. Francis, Fr. Ori believes that in spite of the cultural and language differences, people are basically alike.

“Of course, sometimes people have a problem understanding my accent,” he said, “but then they just ask me to speak slower and then they seem to understand me.”

Kindness and friendliness from parishioners helped Fr. Andrzej Galant, pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, adapt to life in the United States.

From Starachowice, Poland, Fr. Galant is a member of the Society of Christ.

“I didn’t have a difficult time adjusting to the language in the United States because I was studying English at the Wayne State University in Detroit, National Louis University in Chicago, and Berlitz University in Beverly Hills,” he said.

Bring cultural awareness

While the presence of these priests may serve as a reminder of the shortage of American-born priests and seminarians, foreign clergy sometimes provide a bonus: Many have language skills or cultural backgrounds that equip them to work with fast-growing nationalities that are swelling the Catholic population. This arrangement provides priests well suited to serve growing immigrant Catholic communities in the archdiocese.

“Some of our religious-worker priests are from religious communities such as the Pallottines,” Fr. Mason said, “They have a province here and because there are so few American members, they have invited the Indian province to come here and maintain a presence, which helps in our growing Indian population. Generally, a province will make an offer to help, but we need to ensure that they are able speak enough English to minister in a variety of situations and not just within their own cultural group.”

If Fr. Mason cites a single shortfall, it is in the overall preparation for clergy and parishioners on receiving international priests into their parishes.

“This is something I am working on, and something Fr. Bill Kohler, the previous associate vicar for clergy, worked hard on,” he said. “I want to learn from parishes that have accepted international priests and learn how I can do a better job in preparing another parish to receive an international priest in their area.”

Nationally, foreign-based priests represent about 16 percent of the approximately 27,000 priests active in parish and diocesan ministry, according to a 2004 survey by Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, which studies the Catholic Church.

Not a new phenomenon

Although on the increase, stories about international priests may be more common than modern Catholics may realize. From the earliest days of the United States into the early 20th century, American bishops often relied upon clergy born and trained overseas to serve the immigrants who came to the United States. Non-native priests often were assigned to serve their own ethnic community wherever it settled.

“In this way, the church acts as a bridge in the process of migration,” said Fr. Silva. “Because these immigrant communities are often treated as aliens by local populations, it is important that they have their faith communities to provide a base for them. Consequently, they bring priests who are able to minister to them in their language and in their culture.”

More offers than can be handled

Even though foreign priests go a long way in easing the shortage, not all requests to help can be accommodated. According to Fr. Mason, the archdiocese receives numerous letters with offers to send priests to assist in southeastern Wisconsin. Strict criteria prevent them from allowing a large number of priests to serve in the archdiocese.

“In addition to requiring the knowledge of our language, they need to pass a rigid screening process before they are considered,” he said. “We also have to have a specific placement for them. We don’t just invite them here and have a pool of priests, and provide them a place to live. Once they arrive, the archdiocese holds a religious worker visa and is responsible for paying them. We can’t just tell them to hang around here for six months and find them a place.”

The archdiocese is careful to follow an in-depth policy and procedure handbook that govern the ministry of international priests in the Milwaukee Archdiocese.

International priests are classified in four different categories, which parallel the United States immigration laws: visitors (tourist visa); students (F-1 visa status); priests with an archdiocesan appointment (religious worker R-1 status); and priests who are incardinated into or will be incardinated into the archdiocese (permanent resident status).

The religious worker-priests may minister up to five years and then must return to their diocese or religious house. Exceptions can be made in certain circumstances on a case-by-case basis.

Incardinated priests may have an R-1 or “Green card” visa status. They are allowed to minister in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for their lifetime.

Stringent background checks done

Among the many procedures required to allow priests to minister within the diocese are stringent background checks.

“Their superiors need to complete a testimonial of their suitability for ministry and in that it states that they have not had any criminal charges against them,” Fr. Mason said.

“They need to be suitable and sign off on all things listed as part of the Dallas Charter (the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” adopted by the U.S. bishops in June 2002). We want to make sure we are not getting someone with a hidden past.”

Following acceptance into the archdiocese, officials begin to integrate the priests into local culture.

“We take them to ball games, fish fries, larger cities like Chicago and various museums,” said Fr. Mason. “Things that are common to us are not common for them, so we want them to feel comfortable here.”

Priests called to serve

Frs. Thomas, Arackal, Galant and Ori accept their role as Catholic priests with awe, gratitude and love of the faith and serious responsibility for those entrusted to their care.

“The most important goal for me is not only to lead, but also to go with,” said Galant, “and I have entrusted my pastoral care for God’s people the way God has called us.”

Probably at their most vulnerable time, Fr. Ori ministers to the sick and dying at St. Francis Hospital.

“I see a different side of people,” he said, “They are sick and needing help, I try to show them that God is beyond a doctor and beyond medications. Once you are sick, you are vulnerable — it doesn’t matter if you are a governor, drug pusher, teacher or a priest, you are a patient and that is what your name is. Faith is so important. When you talk the talk, you uphold your dignity and you are a child of God. If you don’t have your faith, I am sorry for you.”

‘Spiritual center’

One of the major differences noted by most international priests is the reverence, as well as the empty pews at daily and Sunday Masses.

“In Poland, people really believe in Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist,” said Fr. Galant. “They who are Catholics go to church every Sunday and quite often on weekdays. They regularly receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.”

Catholics in Kerala, India consider church to be a holy and reverent place and 80 percent of Catholics attend Sunday Mass.

“Most churches have a notice on the door that reminds us of what God said to Moses in Exodus,” said Fr. Arackal, “‘Do not come any closer,’ God said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’”

For Fr. Thomas, promoting eucharistic adoration, rosary hours, and healing Masses are ways he plans to encourage a renewal within his parish.

“I want to make this a spiritual center, rather than just a church,” he said, “My goal is to reach out to all members of the parish and the homebound to bring them communion and the sacraments.”