By Purushottam Nayak

Surada, Oct 3, 2022: The Catholic Church in the eastern Indian state of Odisha has honored to its first native priest on completing 60 years of priesthood.

More than 500 people October 3 joined Father Anselm Francis Biswal in the thanksgiving Mass October 3 at at Sacred Heart Church of Surada, Ganjam, under the diocese of Berhampur.

“Eucharist is one of the best way of thanking God for the constant accompaniment in 60 years of priesthood of Father Anselm to contribute in different way to the Odisha Church,” said Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur, the main celebrant in his introduction to the Mass.

“Father Anselm was able to unite people irrespective of caste, creed and color. He was behind the Monday marketing day in Bamunigam of Kandhamal where people come from different panchayat,” continued the prelate, who was a regent of Father Biswal.

Bishop Aplinar Senapati of Rayagada hailed Father Biswal for contributing to the Odisha Church in his sixty years of priestly ministry with commitment and dedication, virtues of simplicity and honesty and wisdom.

Father Mathew Nayak, Vincentian provincial of Northern Indian province, said Father Biswal has “become a model to many of us for selfless priestly service to Odisha Church. His determination and will power could make him intelligent, successful in social, educational, and priestly vocation.”

According to Pradeep Singh, a social worker who worked closely with Father Bishwal for 10 years, acknowledges the priest’s contribution to village development through canal irrigation, watershed management, agriculture and environmental preservation.

Lilima Singh, a member of the Surada Parish Council, said the priest is always available for the confession, Mass for the spiritual nourishment of the parishioners.

Father Augustine Singh, psychologist and another regent of Father Biswal, said the jubilarian priest is a familiar patriarchal figure in the Odisha Christian society.

“Besides being an ideal priest, he has impressed all with his erudition, humour, sharp wit and above all his scholarly pursuits. He is sociable, outspoken and ever smiling,” Father Singh added.

Father Biswal, in his response, said he was proud of his 20 students who have become priests and four who are doing their regency now. “One of them is a bishop,” the 87-year-old priest said.

Father Pradeep Behera, one of the 20 student priests, recalled being sent home from the hostel he was in the tenth grade, “but it was Father (Biswal) who readmitted in Rushimal Hostel Bamunigam to continue my studies. “Today I am a priest for 25 years,” he added.

Surada parish priest Father Joseph Valiakulam said the occasion was “a proud moment for Surada as well as for the entire Odisha state.”

Father Biswal was born on November 6, 1935, at Dantoling, a village in Ganjam district, as fourth of six children of Siprian Franchis and Elizabeth Biswal. His father was a mission school teacher. After father was transferred to Surada Biswal joined Surada Mission School for primary education. After the fifth grade he joined in Rosalkunda St. Peter’s School in 1947. He joined Upendrabhanja School from the sixth grade and passed the eleventh grade in 1953.

He learnt Latin language staying another two years in the apostolic school. He did his Philosophy in St. Albert College, Ranchi, and theology in Papal Seminary, Pune, in 1959. He was ordained as priest October 3, 1962.

After ordination he was appointed the assistant of Puri parish and was transferred to Balasore after three years. He completed graduation in Fakirmohan University, Balasore. He was the assistant at Cathedral Parish, Cuttack in 1966. After two years he was made the general manager of schools and secretary of Bijay High School, Raikia. He built Bishop’s Tobar Hostel and helped set up St. Catherine’s Girls’ High School, Raikia.

He also served as the parish priest of Cuttack Cathedral.

He has authored five books “That Little Mustard Seed (History of French Missionaries work in Odisha), Catholic Social Teaching, A Story of Journey by boat (A Brief story of World Catholics), What are you searching ( Spiritually in search of God ), 100 years of History of Vincentians entry to India,

He has written eight plays both in English and Odia on social as well as religious themes: