Fr. Mathew V. Pamplaniyil was born in India and became a naturalized U.S. Citizen in 2004. He is the second oldest of eight children in his family, who all live in India with the exception of one sister who belongs to the Religious Congregation of St. Joseph of Cluny and works as Missionary in Haiti.
He is a missionary priest from the State of Kerala in India known as the Christian part of the country. In 1965, Father Mathew graduated from High School and entered the Seminary to pursue his university studies and priestly formation. upon successfully completing his studies and formation, he was ordained a priest on Sept. 4, 1976, for the Diocese of Mananthavady in Kerala, India.
He has served in different parishes in India as pastor before coming to the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota on Oct. 15, 1996, and the following day started the “Biggest Winter” of the last 500 plus years with nine Blizzards (most of them on weekends). He is waiting and hoping to experience one more winter of that magnitude and severity before he retires from active ministry and goes back to his home country to spend the sunset of his life.
Prior to serving in Munich, N.D., he also served various parishes in the diocese of Fargo and most recently in the parish of Oakes, N.D.
Fr. Mathew came to Munich as pastor of St. Mary’s Church (in Munich) and Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Church (in Starkweather) on June 30, 2010. He enjoys his priestly ministry in these parishes. He may be eventually completing 17 years in these two parishes, one third of his 51 years of active priestly ministry.
He is always very grateful to God for the many Blessings and Graces showered upon him in his life.
Congratulations to Father Mathew as he will be celebrating 30 years as a priest for the Diocese of Fargo and 50 years since his ordination to the priesthood in September.