Father Minj celebrates silver jubilee

As he celebrates 25 years of his priesthood, Father Nutan Minj IMS feels healthy, energetic and joyful in serving Christ and his people.

“Thanks and praises to God for his mercies and graces,” said Father Minj, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge. 

OLOM will celebrate his silver jubilee anniversary on March 27.

Father Minj was born Dec. 9, 1964 in Konpala Bera Toli in the Simdega District of Jharkhand, India. Born and raised in a Catholic family, Father Minj is the middle of nine siblings, with six brothers and two sisters.

He attended Catholic schools from first through 10th grade. The parish and schools were run by Jesuit priests, who influenced his call to the priesthood at an early age.

“The parish priests and nuns used to come to my house and village for home visits,” said Father Minj. “Looking at their lives and works, I was inspired and desired to become a priest. Thereafter, I loved to be an altar server every Sunday. As a young boy, I participated in the holy Eucharist, prayed and actively participated in various youth programs.”

In high school Father Minj met several priests who were recruiting for their orders or congregation. As he heard their talks he strongly felt God’s call to become a missionary priest and save the souls of many. 

He was particularly interested in becoming a Indian Missionary Society priest after hearing a priest talk about their congregation and missionary works. The IMS is an indigenous missionary congregation of priests and evangelist brothers founded by Father Gasper A. Pinto in 1941 in Varanasi, India, which the Hindu religion recognizes as one of seven holy cities.  

“After listening to their talks, I was inspired and so excited to become a missionary priest and to work among non-Christians and Catholics, to spread the Gospel to those who have not heard about Christ yet,” said Father Minj, who entered the seminary after finishing high school.

He was ordained May 3, 1997 at St. Anthony’s Church Rengarih in the Diocese of Simdega by Bishop Charles Soreng SJ, then bishop of Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

Father Minj arrived in the Diocese of Baton Rouge on Aug. 22, 2010. He has previously served at St. John the Evangelist Church in Prairieville; St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Livonia, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Maringouin and St. Joseph Church in Grosse Tete; and St. George Church in Baton Rouge.

“During these years of my religious priestly life, I enjoyed serving the Lord and his people,” said Father Minj, who has served the IMS congregation in different capacities in the Baton Rouge diocese as well as dioceses in India and abroad.

“There have always been challenges and blessings to my duties and responsibilities. And I was so fortunate to get help, support and encouragement from the authorities and people of God,” he said.

One of the opportunities Father Minj had was to work with the seminarians in major and minor seminaries.

“That was a great challenge to be a role model to them, but today I am happy and thankful to God that many of them have become priests and doing wonderful ministries,” Father Minj said.

In his pastoral ministries, Father Minj enjoys the sacrament works: celebrating Mass, including in the nursing homes; hearing confessions; baptizing; and visiting the sick in the hospitals.

“We have so many Masses and confession every day at Our Lady of Mercy,” noted Father Minj. “As a priest I always enjoy offering Mass and hearing confession. In the (OLOM) school community, what I always like to do is play with the kids, say Mass and hear confessions.”

Besides his priestly duties, Father Minj loves to cook Indian food and watch the LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints football games.

“I like to hang out with friends and families, so home visits are my favorite,” said Father Minj.

“I am so thankful and grateful to God for sending so many people into my life to make my life beautiful and meaningful,” said Father Minj. “I have gone through joyful and sorrowful moments, but the people of God are so loving, caring, praying, supporting and encouraging to me.”