Mendem installed as leader of county's Catholic churches

Father Merianand Mendem, a native of India, is settling in as the new pastor of Jackson County’s Catholic churches – St. Dominic in Holton, St. Francis Xavier in Mayetta and Our Lady of the Snows on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation.

Although he’s been serving Jackson County Catholic churches since July, Mendem was officially installed to his post by Archbishop Joseph Naumann on Sunday.

Fr. Mendem was born to Philip and MariaRoja Mendem in 1964 at C.N. Kota, Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh, India. He has two sisters and two brothers who also live in India.

At a young age, Mendem said he knew he wanted to seek the priesthood.

“I felt called, and there were many priests and my own parents who were instrumental in sowing that seed in me,” Mendem said. “At boarding school, I was surrounded by priests who were doing a lot of wonderful things and that attracted me to the priesthood.”

Mendem was ordained a priest on Aug. 18, 1993. He served as associate pastor, dean of studies and vocation promoter at a seminary in India.

While acquiring a master’s degree in arts and education, he taught school and later served as a high school principal. He finished licentiate at St. Peter’s Seminary in Bangalore, India, before pursing a doctor of philosophy in biblical theology in Rome.

Mendem first came to the Archdiocese of Kansas City in 2002 on summer assignment during his graduate studies in Rome. From 2002 to 2006, he served several parishes in Olathe, Leawood, Horton, Purcell and Roeland Park.

From 2006 to 2015, he oversaw the parish communities in Burlington, Waverly, Westphalia and Emerald in Coffey and Anderson counties. 

“I was in my previous assignment for nine years, so leaving there and coming here was a little bit difficult,” he said. “It’s been an adjustment, but the people have been so welcoming, and slowly I’m making the transition. It’s been good.”

In October 2012, Mendem became an American citizen.

“Once I became a part of a diocese, I felt like I should become a citizen,” he said. “I wanted to go all in.”

Mendem said that more than 200 families attend services at St. Dominic in Holton, with 100 additional families at St. Francis Xavier and 25 at Our Lady of the Snows.

He can often be found walking around the Holton Square in the evenings.

“I want people to know I’m here, and I want to get to know people,” he said.

Mendem said that Pope Francis’ recent visit to the United States has had a powerful impact on many people.

“The pope’s visit to the states has touched not just Catholics alone, but people of every faith and denomination,” he said. “He truly is a people’s pope. He has inspired me personally. It’s our call to reach out to everyone looking for meaning in life. He’s a great pope.”

Once a year, Mendem takes a 24-hour flight back home to India to spend time with his family. Never did he think that someday he would become an American, much less become a pastor in a place called Kansas.

“In India, the coldest it ever got was like 60 degrees,” he said. “Maybe in the 50s. Winters are hard here.”

Mass is held at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. on Sundays and 8 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays at St. Dominic Catholic Church and at 8 a.m. on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.