Our New Priest —Amit Toppo

May 18, 2025, was a momentous day for the India-Great Britain-Ireland Province of the Society of St Paul, as Deacon Amit Toppo was ordained priest by His Excellency, Bishop Anand Jojo, D.D., of the Diocese of Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. The Sacred Rite of Ordination commenced at 8:30 a.m. at St Anthony’s Church in Noatoli, Chainpur, Gumla—the home parish of Fr Amit Toppo. Along with him Deacon Bushan Lakhra (of the Diocese of Hazaribagh), belonging to the same parish, too was ordained a priest.

Fr Amit Toppo was born and raised in a devout Catholic family. He is the sixth child of Mr Prakash and Mrs Pushpa Toppo. His uncle, Br Vijay Toppo, serves as a religious brother in the congregation of the Missionaries of Charity (MC), while his aunt, Sr Cecilia Toppo, is a nun in the congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate (MSI). Their unwavering dedication to faith and service profoundly inspired him to join the Society of St Paul.

It was a profoundly moving moment as his parents presented him to the ordaining bishop for the service of the Church. With heartfelt gratitude, the bishop accepted their humble offering, expressed his appreciation, and bestowed his blessings upon them and their family.

In his brief yet thought-provoking homily, Bishop Anand Jojo exhorted, “The kind of love that Jesus commands in the Gospel is not always easy. Jesus calls us to ‘love one another just as I have loved you.’ These words were spoken just after Jesus washed the feet of all his disciples, including Judas, his betrayer. In this act, Jesus demonstrated a love that did not discriminate between the deserving and the undeserving—a servant love that embraced all, both the faithful and the unfaithful.” He further asserted, “God has chosen these priests to continue the ministry of Jesus,”emphasizing the profound responsibility of service in their vocation.

The ordination ceremony was graced by the presence of Rev. Fr Emmanuel Kujur, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Gumla; the Provincial Superior, Fr Joby Mathew; the Director of Formation, Fr Prithviraj Philip, and as many as 20 Paulines and a few members of the Pauline Family. Over 60 concelebrating priests, many religious sisters and nearly two thousand Catholics actively participated in the sacred celebration.

Dances hold deep significance in many tribal cultures, often embodying their symbolism and beliefs. During the Holy Eucharist, various groups presented meaningful tribal dances, accompanied by devotional songs, enriching the spiritual experience of the gathering.

After the ordination ceremony, Fr Amit Toppo fondly expressed his gratitude to his parents, siblings, relatives, teachers, formators, and the members of the Society of St Paul for their unwavering support and guidance throughout his vocation journey. Immediately following the ordination, the parish community and the members of the Society of St Paul gathered to felicitate the newly ordained priest.

The next day, Fr Amit Toppo celebrated his first Thanksgiving Holy Eucharist in his village, Siphri, Chainpur, Gumla.