I am Fr. John Kolencherry, a Franciscan Capuchin Priest from India, and now working as a pastor (since July 2024) at St. Theresa Perry and St. Aloysius Meriden parishes.  I have been a priest for the last 28 years and as Franciscan Capuchin for the last 38 years.  I am so grateful to the Lord for His graces and blessings on my personal life and upon my family as well. 

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After 68 years of my parents' married life, my mom had called for her eternal bliss on Easter Sunday 2021 at the age of 88, and just after 9 months my dad (93) also followed mom for his eternal life.  I have 4 siblings which includes 3 sisters and a brother.  All of them are married and have children, grandchildren.  My brother’s son also is a Franciscan Capuchin.  Thus, we have two Capuchins in the family.  My parents left behind them 36 family members right now and in many ways, God has blessed my family in a wonderful way.  We are all grateful to God for whatever He has been to us all. 

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Immediately after my Ordination I was sent to Africa – Malawi as a missionary and I had been working there for 17 years in various capacities such as an accountant of the mission, Pastor, Administrator, Mission Director, project manager etc. are some of them. 

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While I was in that new mission which is in the northern part of Malawi, a place called Mzuzu, I had been attacked by 6 thieves and they made damages on personals and on the properties.  At one point three-gunmen pointed their guns at my head.  However, I am still alive to be seen by you all.  It’s all God’s grace I feel.   February 18th 2005 was the day.  The 3 of us were in the house and one brother was cut on his head, I was beaten at gunpoint, they had stolen everything that was in the house including my pick-up truck etc. I must tell you my real faith journey has begun on that Day.   Police came and took the wounded brother to the hospital; investigation began and police left the property by early morning 3 O’clock. 

 

We had a chapel in the friary, (in fact every friary we used to have a chapel) I was sitting there before the Tabernacle without praying, without crying, and without sleeping.  I heard a voice telling, “Without My Knowledge Nothing Has Happened to you.”   This voice is too strong within me even now.  I stayed in the same friary, same room and the same mission for next 7 more years.  Within those 7 years period all the development projects came into the mission, without any planning or funding.   You won’t believe this, but it happened.   A church was built in which around one thousand people can be accommodated, a big parish hall, Carpentry training center, Hospital, High school, boys’ and girls’ hostels, staff houses, maize (corn) mill, oil mill, roads, electricity, bore wells were some of the developments projects to the mission.  All these developments came after the theft incident.  Whatever project I began I used to discuss verbally with Jesus and one after another it came to be established.   It’s all the grace of God and I always give Glory to Him.  I strongly believe that God was behind all those developments in the mission and in my entire life.  My faith is that “Without My Knowledge Nothing Has Happened to you”.

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After completing those years in the mission, I was sent to Capuchin Mid-American province in Denver.  I was a confessor, Chaplain at Catholic Charities, Hospital chaplain and together with a pastor for Indian Community in Denver for more than 7 years.  After these years of services in Denver, (8 years) I was sent to Lawrence KS as an associate pastor at St. John the Evangelist parish and now since July 2024 I have been assigned here in Perry and Meriden parishes as pastor.  

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I am happy and peaceful to be with you all and serve you in any capacity as your pastor.  I do not have any plan for you except that I wanted to be a Blessing to each and everyone.  I need your prayers as I do for you daily.

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Thank you for accepting me as your pastor.