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Father Anil Kumar Kakumanu

On Aug. 1, three priests in the Diocese of Salt Lake City will begin their assignments as pastor or administrator of a new parish. The Intermountain Catholic asked each priest four questions to introduce them to their new parishioners. Father Anil Kumar Kakumanu's answers follow.

Father Anil Kumar Kakumanu was born and raised in Suryapet, Telangana state, India. He attended Sts. John and Paul Minor Seminary in his hometown. He earned a Bachelor of Philosophy from St. John’s Regional Seminary at Vijayanagaram and a Bachelor of Theology from Vijnananilayam Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Eluru, which is affiliated with Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Andhra University, at Vishakapatnam, a master’s degree from Nagarjuna University at Guntur and a Bachelor of Education from Mahatma Gandhi University at Nalgonda.

He speaks English, Spanish, Telugu and Hindi; he can also celebrate Mass in Korean.  

Fr. Kakumanu was ordained a priest on April 28, 2012 by Bishop Govindu Joji D.D. for the Diocese of Nalgonda in India. Following ordination, he served six years in his home diocese, first as parochial vicar, then as a pastor. In 2018 he came to the Diocese of Salt Lake City, where he has served at the parishes of St. James in Vernal, Our Lady of Lourdes in Salt Lake City, St. Helen in Roosevelt and its associated mission in Ft. Duchesne, and St. Francis of Assisi in Orem. He currently serves as administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Salt Lake City; on Aug. 1 he will undertake his new assignment as administrator of Christ the King Parish in Cedar City.

What would you like your new parishioners to know about you?

I am Fr. Anil Kumar Kakumanu or Fr. KK. I am really looking forward to the new assignment. I am from India and have been in the diocese since 2018. I do speak English, Spanish, a little bit of Korean and two Indian languages. I am an optimist and love to be happy and smiling. I believe SMILE is one important gift that God has given to human beings, but all the more and most importantly is trust in God.

What are you looking forward to most about your new assignment?

I hope it will be a learning experience in faith and love of Christ the King. Let God’s will be done and live in his kingdom.

As a priest, what has been your greatest challenge?

The biggest challenge for a priest is to convince and satisfy all the faithful.

As a priest, what has been your most satisfying experience?

I have said this many times: “I am a proud and happy priest.”

I am a proud priest because I am privileged to celebrate and administer the sacraments. I am a happy priest because of the gift of priesthood.