Six questions must be answered for us to pass the entrance examination to the kingdom of God. Unlike many examinations, heaven’s entrance exam questions are already out (Matthew 25:35-36). Three pastors who welcomed me to the Diocese of Columbus have passed their exam level one.
When I reached the Columbus Greyhound bus station one afternoon, a senior priest, too tall for his small car, Father Peter M. Gideon, came to welcome me to the parish at Sugar Grove.
At the Columbus airport on another afternoon, yet another priest, who always had gum in his mouth, Father Ted Machnik, welcomed me to the parish in Circleville.
On yet another afternoon, at another Greyhound bus station in Columbus, another priest in his blue T-shirt signalled me to his car as I was hunting for my pickup. Father Steve Krile was waiting in the car for me.
All three American priests were total strangers to me, waiting for a missionary priest from India to be taken to their parishes for a mission cooperation program. I never had to make an effort to break the ice and begin a conversation; they were all so friendly that I felt comfortable in their company.
The exchange of greetings led to beautiful conversations while driving to each parish. I stepped out of the car at the residences of these wonderful priests, no longer as a stranger but as a person they had known for years.
How wonderful it was to feel at home in a distant land, all because of the hospitality that had been extended to a priest from another continent. The level of comfort I experienced in dealing with the fathers was profound, and they were the ones who made me feel that way.
These priests introduced me to their parish residences and gave me the freedom to use them as my own. Isn’t that wonderful? They also introduced me to the parish community, who not only accepted a Catholic priest but also a person of color with so much love and appreciation.
These priests and parishioners had genuine appreciation for the missionary work in India, especially in Delhi. Everyone I met had many questions about India, the missionary work, the faith of the people and the atrocities they heard about in the news. Their assurance and prayer support for furthering the mission were greatly appreciated.
Staying with these extraordinary men of God was such an enriching experience. Each one had unique interests and hobbies, which was exciting for me. Father Gideon had bee farming as his hobby and a means of collecting donations for mission activities. He would share theories of beekeeping and talk about his friends in Sugar Grove and Lancaster who collaborated with him in these efforts.
Father Machnik in Circleville had a collection of Lionel trains, and he enjoyed cycling to watch the trains while sitting by the track and reciting his rosary. I was surprised to see his three-speed bike, a 1965 British-made Raleigh, still in great condition. He always had gum in his mouth while discussing the beauty of train journeys.
Walking into the rectory at Logan with Father Krile, you could wonder, “How could Christmas be here in September?” There were Nativity scenes from across the globe, starting with 30-year-old olive wood figurines from Jerusalem.
I couldn’t stop exploring each unique piece. The willow wood collections, which took almost 10 years to complete, were fascinating. The Peanuts comic strip series Nativity scenes were also beautiful and unique. Father Krile had meticulously arranged these scenes, and each had a story to tell.
I realized that these exceptional hobbies of these priests would have been great companions, providing comfort and solace for them during the pandemic.
Such was my wonderful journey of mission appeal to the parishes of the Diocese of Columbus. These wonderful pastors not only introduced me to unique hobby collections but also displayed their welcoming attitude toward strangers and missionaries. I came to Columbus as a stranger, but I am returning to India as a member of the family, carrying unique experiences and insights.
I am sure that these contributed to their passing their entrance examinations for the Pearl Gate. Maybe I, too, might find a place there because of the prayers of these priests and their parishioners.
Father Stanley A. Kozhichira is a priest in the Archdiocese of Delhi, India.