8 foreign priests receive ‘acculturation’
Posted on by Admin
From left are Father Matthew Thayil, Father Richard Tule, Deacon Dr. Paul Duckro, Ernie Nedder, Father Arnold Aurillo, Kathy Rhinehart, Father Alex Tigga, Father Victor (Lawrence) Lugo, Father Ambrosius Changwoo and Father Paul Utser. Not pictured is Father Jaya Bhaskar Reddy Gade.
Eight foreign priests have completed a months-long “acculturation” program to help them become acclimated to the Diocese of Tucson and to society here in general.
The eight are among 37 foreign priests who have joined the diocese since 2003. Ten are from Nigeria, five from the Philippines, two from India, and one each from Vietnam, Slovakia, South Korea, Ghana, Ecuador, Argentina, Great Britain and Austria, while 12 are from Mexico.
The acculturation program is operated by the Chancellor’s Office and the Office of Child, Adolescent and Adult Protection (OCAAP) and it incorporates materials provided by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
“It helps to build relationships,” said Ernie Nedder, recently retired Chancellor, who led the latest class with Deacon Dr. Paul Duckro, director of OCAAP.
Nedder and Duckro met with the new priests starting in February, showing videos and providing information about what is expected of priests in the diocese and about life in Tucson, Arizona and the U.S. The priests outlined their own backgrounds and explained how their home dioceses function.
Among the topics covered by various experts were “the business of ministry,” including personnel issues, personal finance, security, parish finance, potential for conflict and more, as well as social support systems and spirituality.
The eight who took part in the eight sessions that concluded in August were:
Father Richard Tule of Nigeria, St. Luke/Immaculate Conception, Douglas; Father Matthew Thayil, MSFS of India, Sts. Peter and Paul, Tucson; Father Arnold Aurillo of the Philippines, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament/Holy Angels, Miami and Globe; Father Alex Tigga, MSFS of India, St. Thomas the Apostle, Tucson.
Also, Father Victor Lugo, AM, of the Philippines, St. Joseph, Tucson; Father Ambrosius Changwoo Yoo of South Korea, Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Tucson; Father Paul Utser of Nigeria, Sts. Peter and Paul; Father Jaya Bhaskar Reddy Gade, MSFS, of India, Our Lady of Fatima, Tucson.