Biographical Note for Fr. Giltus Mathias, C.P.
Fr. Giltus Mathias, was born on March 3, 1981, in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. This state is the southern tip of India, where three great bodies of water overlap (the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea). His father is a daily wage laborer, his mother a housewife. He has an older brother and older sister, and he is followed by a younger sister. His older brother is married and works in the Gulf; his older sister is married and works as a civil engineer. His younger sister is engaged to be married, and works as a teacher of physical education. Giltus attended his local parish school through the tenth grade.
Fr. Giltus talks about his becoming a Passionist “by accident”. After his 10th grade exams, he told his parish priest of his desire to become a priest. His pastor asked him to decide on a seminary. Not having any idea about seminaries, he asked a friend for help, and his friend gave him the address of the Passionist vocation director, Fr. Paul Cherukudoth. In less than a week, Fr. Paul was at his parish, looking for him. Giltus says: “I was attracted by his smile and the Passionist Sign [badge] that he wore; I so much wanted to wear that Sign myself. After an interview he asked me to join the seminary by mid June and the rest is history.”
At the seminary, Giltus studied English and Hindi in the first year. That was followed by an associate degree, followed by 3 years of Philosophy and his Bachelor of Arts degree. At this point his seminary studies were interrupted by his year's novitiate in preparation for his profession of vows as a Passionist seminarian. Following novitiate, he undertook three and a half years of Theology and completed his work for a Masters Degree in Christian Studies. Prior to ordination he spent a year in pastoral experience in the northern part of India among a group of indigenous (tribal) people, which he considers one of the most enriching experiences of his life: this pastoral experience “taught me what it means to be a Passionist.”
Following his pastoral year, he was ordained to the diaconate and spent the next six months in a parish in Tamil Nadu, followed by hs ordination to priesthood on May 7, 2009. His first assignment as a priest was to the minor seminary, as assistant director of students for a year. He was also in charge of the construction of the St.Gabriel Chapel at the seminary. Then he moved to the Passionist Retreat Center in Bangalore where he continued his studies for a B.A. in Education. The retreat house setting also allowed him to gain experience in preaching some retreats for religious men and women, and priests.
Fr. Giltus feels the power of the Passionist Spirit in his life because of “my own experiences as a child, student, seminarian and priest.” During his formation for religious life and priesthood, he was exposed to many experiences that would shape his appreciation of the Passionist vocation. “During my training, I served in old age homes, a palliative care center for cancer patients; a home for abused children; another for mentally challenged persons; among youth and young adults in colleges and parishes; and in other more challenging missions.”
Fr. Giltus sums up his vocation this way: “I have taken the words of St.Paul the Apostle for my motto as a Passionist Priest ‘to proclaim Christ Crucified’. Although my vocation as a Passionist seemed accidental, my being a Passionist is phenomenal. I would term this the biggest blessing ever; and I want this blessing to be shared and experienced by everyone I meet in life.”