Devna Bose / The Meridian StarRev. Augustine Palimattam, originally from India, is in his second week as pastor of the Meridian Catholic Community, which includes St. Patrick and St. Joseph Catholic churches. 

Rev. Augustine Palimattam doesn’t meet a stranger.

He is friends with everyone, young and old, and last week, Father “A,” as he is so affectionately called, made the move from Philadelphia to make new friends in Meridian as pastor of the Catholic Community of Meridian.

The transition is bittersweet for Palimattam, as it is for his parishioners at Holy Cross and Sacred Heart Churches in Philadelphia, because it was his first church as a priest.

Palimattam came to the deep South from India about six years ago, and not only had to adjust to his new post, but also a different country.

“I was really nervous. I had trouble with my accent,” he recalled. “I had never had any kind of internship or anything. One week I was in Jackson, the next week I was in Meridian, and the third week I am the pastor. Basically, I had to learn everything.”

But he is careful to emphasize that he didn’t do it alone – in fact, Palimattam says that he “never felt alone.”

“They were my family,” he said. “I came with anxiety about how things were going to be, and both Holy Cross and Sacred Heart, both communities guided me. They were with me, and they supported me.”

The difficulty of that transition for Palimattam was not lost on the congregation. Lifetime member of Holy Cross Lee Ann Fulton was personally impacted after seeing him make the big move.

“The mere fact that Father A would move from India to the United States is an example of a man who follows the call of God,” she said. “It did not take long to see that he loved and adored his family and that the separation was very painful for him, but he was doing what he felt God led him to do. That spoke volumes to me.”

Warm welcome

The open-door policy in the community is one of the things Palimattam appreciated most about his first few months as priest, something that continued during his entire placement.

“They accepted me. It was the best thing – I had a lot of welcoming, open houses. I could just walk into any house. I did not have to make any previous appointment,” he said. “I had good friends, and I have good friends still.”

This mutual understanding between Palimattam and his new congregation was that they would learn from him and he would learn from them, whether it was in language, culture or humanity.

“They understood me as I am and accepted me as I am,” he said. “In the same way, I was ready to accept and change and was willing to learn.”

Over the course of six years, Palimattam’s accent and sermons improved, along with his jokes, according to David LeBlanc, the parish council president and 19-year member of Holy Cross.

“His jokes got better,” LeBlanc said with a laugh. “But in all seriousness, just like with any new job, you have to learn what to do and how to do it. I certainly saw that growth in his ministry of when he first got there – learning language and culture and how to do his job. Six years later, he’s learned how to do it well.”

Growth and impact 

Growth is the word LeBlanc would use to describe Palimattam’s impact on the church and the community in Philadelphia.

“Our parish grew incredibly during his time – that was directly attributed to his personality, his faith, his example,” LeBlanc said. “I just think the community fed off it. I think he impacted the entire community. He wasn’t just an example on Sundays – he lived that example no matter where he was.”

Lee McCall, whose family has been members of Holy Cross for four years since they moved to Philadelphia, agreed that Palimattam made the church not only grow in numbers but in faith.

“He has true love for all of us and desire to see everyone grow in their relationship with Christ,” McCall said. “It only takes a short time to realize how special he is, and everybody is special to him.”

Though Palimattam has grown as a person over the course of his ministry at Holy Cross, LeBlanc said he feels the same way now that he did the first day he met him.

“You can see his faith when you meet him. You can see the love and the light of Christ shine through him,” LeBlanc said. “His smile lights up the room. His personality is so vibrant. I think it’s because he’s reflecting the light of Christ. That’s something that’s always been in him.”

Love without borders

Palimattam’s first sermon at his new post in Meridian last weekend was about listening to the word of God, taking it into heart, and putting it into practice, which is fitting for a man who many describe as “a man of God.”

While in Philadelphia, the young priest visited the elderly and sick, no matter their denomination, and played racquetball with priests from every church in town.

“Unlimited love – that describes his greatest impact,” Fulton said. “He helped the broader community see Catholics in a different way.”

Palimattam said he sees love without borders.

“We serve one God,” he said. “If there are any kind of barriers, we can forgo those in the name of love and friendship. Different denominations should not be an obstacle to serve our God.” 

A new home

And even though he misses Philadelphia, Palimattam is looking forward to the days ahead in Meridian. He hopes to make himself available to every single member of the congregation, which includes St. Patrick and St. Joseph Catholic churches.

“I just want to thank them for supporting me and making me the person I am now. I miss so many of my good friends, from babies to 103 years old,” he said. “I am sure, though, I am going to be who I am.”

Palimattam is already finding a home here in a Meridian, a place that he describes as “friendly, welcoming and warm.”

Parishioners in Meridian describe his presence as a “blessing” and already recognize him as a positive, energetic person.

“We love his positive outlook and enthusiasm,” adult Faith Formation Director Mary Billups said. “He’s really excited about helping all of us grow in our faith in different ways.”

In Philadelphia, LeBlanc said that while he’s sad to see Palimattam leave, he knows he’ll succeed in the Queen City. 

“He’s going to have a huge impact in Meridian, and I’m excited for him,” LeBlanc said. “People just gravitate towards him because of his personality. He’s going to accomplish anything he sets out to because he has the light of Christ in him.”