Nov. 23, 2016

By Deacon Kevin Mastellon
Staff writer

Watertown – The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have had a presence in the North Country since Father Jean-Baptiste Chappel, MSC, was assigned to St. Mary's Parish in Watertown in December 1875. Since St. Mary's did not have a rectory, he took up residence at the "vast house" on Thompson Street.

Father Chappel also became pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Evans Mills and MSC priests eventually served missions in Chaumont, Belleville, Lorraine, LaFargeville, Rosiere, Felts Mills, Redwood and Rutland.
Today the Watertown community of the Missionaries is responsible for Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Watertown where Father Jonas Tandayu is pastor and the Catholic Community of Cape Vincent, Chaumont and Rosiere where Father Pierre Aubin is pastor.

Father Vincent Freeh and Father David Deluca are retired Missionaries and live in Watertown. They provide assistance to parishes throughout Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Deaneries. MSC Brother Jean-Paul Paradis also lives in the MSC house.

The most recent occupant of the "vast house" on Thompson Street is Father Pushpadhason Santhanthony. 
When he arrived last summer to begin ministry as a parochial vicar for St. Patrick's and St. Anthony's parishes in Watertown, he was quick to tell any new acquaintance, "just call me Fr. Das." 

Pushpadhason Santhanthony was born May 20, 1974, the fourth of five children of Santhanthony and Annammal.  He had five years of education in a Catholic school with the balance, before seminary, in a public school environment in his home State of Tamil Nadu in southern India.

"I was always around the church," Father Das said.  "I was not an altar boy but I was in the choir, I read; something drew me to the church." 

Indeed his home parish of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus in Kandanvilai drew many young men and women to "the Church".  There have been 25 vocations to the priesthood and over 100 to consecrated religious life from St. Therese. 

As a boy Pushpadhason was often in the company of five other boys of approximately the same age.  Five of the six are now priests.

Father Das did not hear his vocational call immediately after his schooling.  "But there was something missing in my life,” he said. “I talked to my friends about it.  They encouraged me to explore the priesthood." 
Eventually his search brought him to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart 

Following ordination in 2006, Father Das taught in the order's House of Formation, worked in several parishes and then was asked to take a position in the United States at Holy Family Parish in Nazareth Pennsylvania.  He was in Nazareth less than two years when his Provincial asked him to transfer to Watertown.  Another MSC, Father Joseph Christy had completed two years as Parochial Vicar at St. Anthony's and St. Patrick's and was returning to India.  Fr. Das accepted.

"I like parish ministry; I like being with people," Fr. Das said.  He was nervous about moving to a new parish and admitted his experience at first in Pennsylvania was difficult. "It is hard to meet new people in a new country," he said, "but here it was different.  The people here are very gentle, very friendly."

There are challenges to living in community with his congregation, praying with them and taking meals with them while also honoring responsibilities to the parishes he works in. "The times for a meeting in a parish and prayer with my community can sometimes conflict," Father said, "but they understand at the house."
And Father Das candidly admits he misses his family and friends in India, particularly after a three week visit home recently.  That is understandable he said, admitting to a bit of homesickness. "It lasted a day or two; I got over it.  What's a little suffering? What I am doing here is for Jesus."