Diocesan priest from India attends the U

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Alex J. Vellappally receives the gifts during Mass at Saint Catherine of Siena/Newman Center Nov. 13. IC photo/Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — Father Alex Joseph Vellappally from the Diocese of Kanjirapally, India, is enrolled in an alcohol and substance abuse treatment and training program at the University of Utah. He will soon begin teaching at the university and visiting agencies that treat individuals with addictions.

He is living with the priests of Saint Catherine of Siena/Newman Center and also taking a statistics class and English as a Second Language course.

"It is good to have him available to help cover sacramental ministry, especially when one of the priests is away, but his primary focus is studying and teaching at the University of Utah," said Dominican Father Peter Do, St. Catherine of Siena/Newman Center associate pastor. "We’ve been very happy to have him live with us and participate in our prayer life and meals and share with us, his Indian culture and roots," he said.

Fr. Alex is a priest of the Syro Malabar Rite, which is East Syrian Rite in India in full communion with the Catholic Church.

"We are hoping that he will be able to celebrate that rite for us one day at the Newman Center," Fr. Do said.

Because Fr. Alex comes from a different tradition, he spent two months learning the Roman Rite so he could celebrate Mass at the Newman Center, Fr. Do said.

Fr. Alex has a master’s degree in social work from Marian College in Kuttikkanam, India. Marian College, founded by the Kanjirapally Diocese in 1995, "has a special working relationship with the University of Utah," Fr. Alex said, which is why he chose to come to Utah. "I asked if I could stay in a Catholic institution to maintain my prayer life, and they put me in touch with the Newman Center. I am really enjoying my stay here. The students at the Newman Center are keeping me entertained and have taken me hiking."

Fr. Alex came to Utah as the administrator of the DARE Center, a substance abuse treatment center in the Diocese of Kanjirapally. "It is located in the calmness of the remote village of Peermade in the Indukki District of Kerala State," Fr. Alex said. "There we offered healing and a new beginning through psycho-spiritual programs with a special emphasis in spiritual counseling and psychotherapy."

Fr. Alex is happy with his life as a priest. "I feel very blessed and content with my life," said Fr. Alex. "I have experienced the grace of God leading me through so many unique experiences and in a special way they have really touched my life."

Fr. Alex discerned his calling when he was a boy. "From childhood onward, I had an appreciation and longing for a priestly life," he said. "I was inspired by the priests as an altar boy. I applied for the priesthood after I graduated from high school and studied at Mary Matha Minor Seminary in Kanjirapally and in St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary in Aluva."

After becoming a priest he was appointed in pastoral ministry for six years in the Kerala State in the Diocese of Kanjirapally, and enjoyed his ministry as a parish priest. "The bishop was happy with my work and moved me to Marian College, and that is when I received my master’s degree," he said. "I began teaching at Marian College and also working as a counselor at the DARE Center. I was really busy working in the two ministries."

Fr. Alex will stay in Utah until August, and has applied to attend the College of Social Work to study for his doctorate degree. "If I am accepted in the doctorate program, I must receive permission from my bishop and renew the status of my visa before I can continue here in Utah," he said.