ONE on ONE Fr. Anthony
ONE on ONE Fr. Anthony Kathawa: Striving for holiness Anthony Kathawa, 25, became the Chaldean community’s newest priest when he was ordained on May 22. He recently sat down with Chaldean News Co-Publisher Mike Sarafa to talk about his new life. CN: You’re the second American-born Chaldean priest and the only one in the Eastern Diocese. Why have there been so few in the past and why are more joining the seminary today? FA: In the old days, priests from the Old Country had a hard time filling the needs of American-born young people. They had a harder time adapting to the culture and the language. Oftentimes, there was a generation gap and big age differences. Now with Fr. Frank, Fr. Wissam, Fr. Andy and me, there are more priests for young people to identify with. We have a chance to have a greater impact on the youth. More recently, the older priests have also adapted well to communicating better with the younger generation. Everyone recognizes the importance of this for the future of our church. CN: What are your plans to bring the youth back to the Chaldean Church, not necessarily non-churchgoers, but those who attend the Latin Rite? FA: The Chaldean Church has a rich liturgy, tradition and history. Even Rome encourages the Eastern Rite people to remain loyal to their churches. The Latin Church in America has done a good job in attracting youth and building strong parishes. So has the Chaldean Church. We need to do a better job of educating people on the beauty and historical significance of the Fr. Anthony with Mar Ibrahim Ibrahim, his grandfather Gorgis Kathawa (far right) and his great uncle Salim Kathawa (far left). Chaldean Mass. And young people have to step forward and give the Chaldean Church a chance. They have to meet us halfway. We can cater to their needs without throwing away our traditions. Chaldeans shouldn’t go to the Latin Rite just for convenience — if it’s closer, or the Mass schedule is better for them, or the dress code is more lax. CN: You can go to a Latin Church in shorts and sandals but not the Chaldean Church. You have to dress up. FA: People should be respectful of God, themselves and others. How you dress is more a statement about community pressure than about the Church. But if the Bishop invited you to dinner at his house, you would dress appropriately. Church is God’s house and should be treated as such. God deserves the best. CN: How do you feel about being assigned to Mother of God? FA: Even though St. Joseph is my home parish, I was very excited. It’s our Cathedral and the heart of the Church. To be working near the Bishop is a blessing. I have a lot to learn and he is a great mentor. From Mother of God, I can attract from all areas for retreats, Bible study and pilgrimages. It is a central location. And I plan on using the Chaldean Camp. It is a wonderful investment for our faith and spiritual growth — a place to get away from our busy lives and spend time with God. Last year I did three retreats there with 65 people each time. There will be more to come. CN: What do you think of E.C.R.C. and their mission? FA: They do great work. The KAI- ROS retreats change people’s lives. They teach dozens of classes and their students become catechists and teachers. They will grow larger and there is much work to be done among the youth and refugees. CN: What are your thoughts about materialism as it relates to weddings, communions and other religious events? FA: Our community is very hard working and we have had much success. Our parties can be wonderful celebrations. Money is not the problem. Everyone likes nice things but we can’t let it control us. The challenge is how we focus our attention. The focus should be spiritual, not worldly. The importance of these events is the blessings and graces of the sacraments. We have things here that our forefathers in Iraq could not even imagine. But these things are perishable and short lived. God is everlasting love and happiness. CN: You, like me, don’t speak fluent Chaldean. Will that hinder your work? FA: What makes a good priest is holiness, which is what I strive for. I have much to learn including more about theology, Chaldean language, history and traditions. The more I learn, the better able I will be to serve. CN: How did your family play a role in your becoming a priest? FA: There’s no way I’d be a priest without the support of my family. My parents made God a priority in our house, which planted the seeds of priesthood. We prayed together every night and my dad made us go to Church every week when I was little. As I got older, this chore became a desire. When I told my Mom and Dad I was going to join the seminary, it was difficult news for them to accept. 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