Fr. Anil Kumar Kakumanu appointed to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Salt Lake City

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Fr. Anil Kumar Kakumanu

(Editor’s Note: This year, seven priests in the Diocese of Salt Lake City received new assignments as either pastor or administrator of a parish, effective Aug. 3. Profiles of the other six appeared in the July 15 “Intermountain Catholic.” Following is the profile of the other, Fr. Anil Kakumanu.)

Fr. Anil Kumar Kakumanu was born and raised in Suryapet, Telangana state, India. He joined the Sts. John and Paul Minor Seminary in his hometown. He finished his Bachelor of Philosophy at St. John’s Regional Seminary at Vijayanagaram and completed his Bachelor of Theology in Vijnananilayam Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Eluru, which is affiliated with Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome. He had previously received a Bachelor of Arts from Andhra University, at Vishakapatnam, a master’s degree from Nagarjuna University at Guntur and a Bachelor of Education from Mahatma Gandhi University at Nalgonda.

He speaks English, Spanish, Telugu and Hindi; he can also celebrate Mass in Korean.  

Fr. Kakumanu was ordained a priest on April 28, 2012, by Bishop Govindu Joji D.D. for the Nalgonda diocese in India. Following ordination, he served six years in his home diocese, first as parochial vicar, then as a pastor. In 2018 he came to the Diocese of Salt Lake City. His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. James Parish in Vernal. He then spent a few months at our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Salt Lake City, then was assigned as administrator of St. Helen Parish in Roosevelt and its associated mission. The following year he was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Orem. On Aug. 3 he became administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Salt Lake City.

What would you like your new parishioners to know about you?

I am a simple and humble priest and like to be happy with everyone. 

What are you looking forward to most about your new assignment?

I would like to be a good shepherd, to listen attentively to the voices of the sheep. 

As a priest, what has been your greatest challenge?

Bringing the lost sheep into the bosom of Jesus. 

As a priest, what has been your most satisfying experience?

 Being alter christus (another Christ).