From India to Edgewood, pastor celebrates 25 years of priesthood

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Twenty-five years ago, Father Baiju Kidaagen was ordained in his home country of India. This year, he celebrates this jubilee in Kentucky — with St. Pius X Parish, Edgewood, where he’s served as missionary and pastor for the majority of his priesthood.

Originally from the Indian state of Kerala, vocations to the priesthood and religious life are a “very common thing” in the region, according to Father Kidaagen — with Kerala being the region where it’s believed St. Thomas the Apostle arrived in India almost 2,000 years ago.

“We are encouraged from our childhood,” Father Kidaagen told the <<Messenger>> in an interview commemorating his jubilee, “or we grew up in a very faithful family background.” Even in Father Kidaagen’s own extended family, he mentioned a “presence” of religious life — including several aunts who are religious sisters.

His vocation was something he’d known since his childhood and, with the support of his family, Father Baiju entered seminary and eventually became a priest of the Order of St. Vincent de Paul.

In January 2007, the Diocese of Covington agreed to receive two Vincentian priests — one of these priests was Father Kidaagen, who was assigned to St. Pius X Parish, Edgewood, and has been a part of that community ever since.

This community is very important to Father Kidaagen, who, besides administering the sacraments, said that his favorite part of the priesthood is “celebrating Mass every day with people — people who go through all kinds of problems in their personal lives — seeing them all coming to the Church and gathering around the altar, because I know them personally.”

“When I stand at the altar, I know each of them personally, and I know what they are going through,” Father Kidaagen said. “Joining them and celebrating Mass has always been a joy, and that’s my favorite thing.”

In his past 20 years in the Diocese of Covington, Father Baiju said that there “are so many beautiful memories … I came originally for five years, to 10, to 15 — now I am 20 years here. My favorite memory, if you ask me, I wouldn’t say is one memory — but since I have been here for this long, I have baptized children … and it’s just knowing these people who have been little children and now young adults and seeing them becoming somebody in their life … it’s a great, great feeling.”

“When I am celebrating my 25th, I want to be thankful,” Father Baiju concluded in his interview. “I’m grateful to the Diocese of Covington, and to the parish of St. Pius. … Ever since I came to this parish, I have experienced wholehearted support and love from my people here.

He continued, saying, “I have experienced that wholehearted and supportive love, and that is why I am able to do what I’m able to do in a foreign country … that always encourages me, that always inspires me, to do better in my ministry.”