Indian priest serving in diocese still making impact at home

WEYAUWEGA — A priest serving two parishes in the Diocese of Green Bay is bringing attention to needs in his home diocese back in India.

Fr. Xavier Santiago has two projects in the Diocesan World Mission Services Project Booklet.

Fr. Xavier Santiago, administrator of SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Weyauwega and Sacred Heart Parish in Manawa, helps raise donations for his home diocese in India. (Angie Landsverk | For the Compass)

Fr. Xavier Santiago, administrator of SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Weyauwega and Sacred Heart Parish in Manawa, helps raise donations for his home diocese in India. (Angie Landsverk | For the Compass)

World Mission Services reaches out to mission-related events in the diocese, said Cindy St. Aubin, who is its coordinator.

That includes working with international priests.

“One-hundred percent of these funds go to the missions. There are no administrative costs,” she said. “It’s a safe way for people of the diocese to donate internationally.”

When a new international priest arrives in the diocese, the priest is offered the opportunity to put a project in the Projects Booklet.

Fr. Santiago is from the Diocese of Sivagangai, in southern India.

On Sept. 19, 2015, he became the administrator of SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Weyauwega and Sacred Heart Parish in Manawa.

A few months prior to that, the bishop from his home diocese visited the Diocese of Green Bay and its World Mission Services office.

“The bishop wanted to have some projects for education,” Fr. Santiago said.

Both of the projects for his home diocese are related to education. One is a water and sanitation project, and the other is a student sponsorship project.

“Our diocese is a new diocese,” said Fr. Santiago.

The water and sanitation project will go toward the construction of wells, water tanks and latrine facilities in the diocese’s primary schools and orphanages.

“The area is dry, so it doesn’t get enough clean drinking water,” said Fr. Santiago. Water stored after the monsoon season is often polluted and contaminated, he said, and the diocese must fund the costs of the infrastructure.

If it does not have a good sanitary system, it does not receive a license for a diocesan-run school, Fr. Santiago said. People may give donations of any amount to assist with the water and sanitation effort.

Established in 1987, the Diocese of Sivagangai has a growing Catholic population. Overall, Christians are a minority in India, Fr. Santiago said, with just 2.5 percent of the country’s total population.

Fr. Santiago grew up in a small village, the son of farmers. He attended a public elementary school through third grade and then a Catholic school from fourth through eighth grades. He was inspired to become a priest when he was in eighth grade and entered the seminary at age 14.

He was ordained on April 15, 2007, and was an associate for three years at various places in his home diocese before becoming a pastor. He was a pastor there for five years before arriving here.

Fr. Santiago remembers the schools in his home diocese. “After elementary education, if you want a good education, you have to go and stay somewhere,” he said of the schools.

The diocese educates its children in this manner because of the lack of transportation in remote villages and the poverty in areas of the diocese prone to drought. During the day, the space is used for education. In the evening, it becomes a type of dormitory for the students, he explained.

“If you want to have a good education, some values-based education, you go to the (diocese’s) school,” Fr. Santiago said. “The diocese collects some money from some students but not from all.”

The student sponsorship project in the World Mission Services Project Booklet involves sponsoring the tuition of a student who attends a school in Fr. Santiago’s home diocese.

Those who live in the Diocese of Green Bay may assist with the effort by giving $30 for one student’s tuition for a month, $90 for three months of tuition, $180 for six months and $360 for a student’s tuition for one year.

“It used to be some children stayed home to help and work,” Fr. Santiago said. “Parents want their children to study (now).”

He said the diocese wants to eradicate illiteracy and provide a good education for future generations.

“Personally, I experienced these kinds of things with the people when I was there,” Fr. Santiago said. “My parents were not able to support me for my studies. Some priests supported me. Since I grew and got help from somebody, that’s why I’m here now as a priest.”

St. Aubin said there are 25 projects in the current World Mission Services Project Booklet.

Sometimes, a person has a special passion and sponsors a project, she said.

Many people use the booklet during Lent or at Christmas to give to others rather than purchasing gifts for family members.

Those who want to help with Fr. Santiago’s projects may send checks to the Catholic Foundation, ATTN: World Mission Services, P.O. Box 22128, Green Bay, WI 54305-2128.

Checks should be payable to Catholic Foundation, with “Project Book Page #12 #1 or #2” written in the memo line.

Credit card donations may be made by calling 877-500-3580, ext. 8184.

People may visit catholicfoundation gb.org\projects for information about all 25 of the projects.

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