Father James Chitteth reflects on ‘unity in mission’

Father James Chitteth, pastor of St. Bonaventure in Bloomington, shared reflections on missionary life as part of a series celebrating the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday. Born and raised in southern India, Father Chitteth entered the Sons of the Immaculate Conception, a Rome-based missionary congregation, in 1975.

After studying philosophy in India and completing theological training at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Father Chitteth was ordained a priest in 1986 by Pope St. John Paul II. His 40 years of priesthood have included service in rural Italy and Canada. He said missionary religious go wherever there is a need rather than choosing their own work locations.

The series, a collaboration between The Catholic Spirit and the Center for Mission, highlights priests and religious from other countries serving in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.