Father Peter’s love of Mary, healing ministry, hallmarks of service

Father Peter Akkanath Chakkunny
Celebrating 25 years

Carmelite Father Peter Akkanath Chakkunny was born and raised in Kidangoor, Kerala, South India. Today, as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of his ordination, his community wrote in its newsletter, “He is in the USA doing a wonderful healing ministry in the hospital, especially to the terminally ill patients for the last eight years with miraculous results, especially during the COVID-19 time.”

Father Peter’s journey to the priesthood began in his childhood with his desire to become a priest. He credits the example of his parents’ strong faith which they passed on to their children, and the inspiration of his parish priests, nuns, and teachers, as making him strong in his desire.

After completing Infant Jesus elementary school in his hometown, Father Peter entered St. Joseph High School, also in Kidangoor. It was there that a Carmelite priest spoke to the students and introduced them to his congregation. “Inspired by his talk, I decided (after high school) to attend their Vocation Camp and joined this religious community as an aspirant,” recalled Father Peter. He chose to serve in the Carmelites’ Mission Region and went to Bhopal for further seminary studies.

Besides the Carmelite father’s talk, Father Peter said his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which also began in childhood, helped him to choose the Carmelites. He noted that as a youngster every Saturday he attended a novena to the Mother of Perpetual Help in the parish. He added that in his elementary school there was a small Chapel dedicated to the Mother of Perpetual Help which he would visit to pray during school intervals. “It was there I experienced the protection of Blessed Mary,” he stated.

Before becoming a priest, Father Peter spent 14 years in seminary studies. It included a year as an aspirant, two years in higher secondary school studies, two years in the novitiate, two years of philosophy, a year of regency, three years of college and three years of theological studies.

On Jan. 8, 1998, in his Kidangoor home parish, Father Peter was ordained as a Carmelite priest for the Bhopal Province. His first assignments included helping in the formation of aspirants, serving for three months as Rector of the scholastics in Carmel Niketan, Jabalpur, as well as being Vocation Promoter for the Carmelites, a position he held for two years. In 2000, he began post-graduate studies in psychology. Two years later, he received a Master’s degree in psychology from Calicut University, India.

From 2002 to 2005, Father Peter worked as Director of Vikas Mytri Kendra, a center for Rural Development Service Society, Silwani Bhopal. Afterwards, he completed a two-year fellowship in Clinical Psychology at Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai, India. For the next five years he served Sacred Heart Mental Hospital, Painkulam, India as a clinical psychologist. It was said that the patients appreciated his counseling and the way he handled their mental problems.

In 2012, Father Peter came to the United States to further his studies and to be the chaplain for the nuns at the Carmelite Monastery in Flemington. While there he was actively engaged in the pastoral activities of the Syro-Malabar community, including preaching, administering sacraments, and even giving ongoing formation for adults.

Father Peter’s last assignment came in 2015 when he was appointed as the Catholic Chaplain to Penn Medicine Princeton Health, Plainsboro. He continues to serve there, especially the terminally ill patients. Since July 4, 2021, he resides at St. James the Less Parish, Jamesburg.

Asked what advice he would give to a man considering a vocation to the priesthood, Father Peter said, “Discerning a vocation to the priesthood takes time, prayer, reflection, patience and attentiveness to God’s action. It also takes courage to respond to the interior movements of the Holy Spirit. Fear or resistance is a very common response among young men who are searching, and it does not mean you are not called to be a priest. If Jesus has placed a desire in your heart for priesthood, ‘perfect love casts out all fear’ (1John 4:18). Don’t let fear paralyze you. Instead ask a priest you trust to help with your concern.”

Reflecting on his 25 years of service, Father Peter said, “I rejoice in the Lord for the opportunity of being His faithful servant by the constant intercession of the Blessed Mother.” I have been blessed by everyone who walked along with a helping hand. I ask you to pray for me, that God will continue to grant me his grace to be his faithful servant.”