PARISH STAFF

Getting to know Father John Paul

Upbringing

My name is John Paul Madanu. I was born on May 16, 1981 in Hyderabad, Telengana, India. Just for fun, I’m throwing in my feast day which is October 22. I remained growing up at my birth place until I was 14 years old. I come from a close nit family. My Father, Leeno Madanu, is a painter by trade. My mother, Vijaya Rani, is a housewife and the tenderest woman I know.  I am the oldest of three siblings. I have a middle brother and a younger sister. I love my family and am grateful to God for choosing them for me. I guess my still undiscovered inclination to priesthood began with my parents always motivating me to participate in church activities.

As a young boy, I well remember enjoying play time with my friends. We didn’t require a lot to be happy. We mostly just relied on each other’s company and imagination. The possibilities were endless.

Our home was very close to the seminary, and I felt drawn to it as I watched the Brothers working and sharing and loving the community they were serving. At home, we always had the blessing of having plenty. Until, one day, my parents fell on hard times. By the grace of God and thanks to my family’s close relationship to the local Catholic church, my siblings and I were accepted at the Diocesan boarding school. We were given an education, uniforms, school supplies, and lunch. Other families in the community were not that lucky. As God always does, He provided tremendous blessings for us at the necessary time.

I continued being a very normal kid. The Brothers would do their best to encourage our vocations. God was planting the seed.

Entering the Seminary

I finished my 7th grade, I left my family and joined the boarding school and continued my high school. When I turned 17, I said goodbye to my family life and entered the seminary of the Diocese of Srikakulam in 1997. There, God prepared me for His future work by giving me one year of orientation from 1997 to 1998; two years of intermediate studies from 1998 to 2000 (this for my 11th and 12th school years) and three years of philosophy at Vijnana Nilayam Seminary College. By the grace of God, here I achieved my Bachelor’s in Arts and Philosophy from 2000 to 2003.

From 2003 to 2004, it was required that we go through a pastoral experience, or regency. Mine was going out and taking care of cultivated fields.

My theology studies were done from 2004 to 2008 at St. John’s Major Seminary in Hyderabad, Telengana, India (my hometown). A short time after, finally came the day for my ordination: April 30, 2010. This day changed me forever. I had never felt so chosen, so blessed, so loved.

Additionally, I was able to finish a Master’s degree in English from 2012 to 2013 and a Master’s in Education from 2014 to 2015 at the University of Andhra, Vishakapatnam, Andhrapradesh.

Ministerial Work in India

I had many assignments in various parts of India.

After ordination, for six months between 2008 and 2009, I served as Boarding Director at St. John’s Boys’ Boarding Home at Srikakulam.

Then I was assigned as assistant Priest of Cathedral and also teaching at St. John’s Telugu Medium School, Srikakulam.

From 2009 to 2010, I was principal and Boarding Director of Lourdhu Matha English Medium School and Boarding, Palakonda.

From 2011 to 2012, I taught at Loyola English Medium and St. John’s Telugu Medium Schools, Srikakulam.

From 2012 to 2015, I was assigned as correspondent Boarding Director and Teacher at RCM St. John’s High School, Parvathipuram.

From 2015 to 2016, I was assigned as correspondent Principal and Director of Lourdu Matha English Medium School and Boarding, Palakonda. I wore many hats on my last assignment in India as: Boarding Director, Head Master and teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes.

Ministerial Work In the USA

I arrived to United States on December 01, 2016. So far, I have had the wonderful opportunity to share our Catholic faith in two communities within the state of Texas. My first assignment was at St. Matthew’s parish in El Paso, Texas, where I served for 7 months as Parochial Vicar.

My second assignment was at St. Mary’s in Marfa, Texas starting on the first days of July 2017 as Parochial Vicar and later as Administrator, this latter is the duty that I continue to have to this day. In our current year of 2020, I am coming upon my third year at St. Mary’s and there is still much work to be done.

In these first 12 years of priestly ordination, I have been blessed with a good variety of ministerial duties. They have stretched me in more ways than I ever thought possible, and in doing so, I have learned very much beyond my wildest expectations. From all I have had tremendous life experiences and spiritual blessings that I can not begin to count. God has been very good and merciful to me. I pray one day- by the grace of God-  I will come face-to-face with our Lord and be able to present myself, in His Divine presence, with a loving bountiful of all the talents and opportunities He bestowed on me.