- December 20, 2025
Father Jose Panthaplamthottiyil preaches at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on Dec. 17, 2025. Photo by Brian McMillan
Sylvia Reyes. Photo by Brian McMillan
Roof repairs are underway at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Photo by Brian McMillan
Luz and Jess Socrates. Photo by Brian McMillan
Father Jose Panthaplamthottiyil embraced dozens of parishioners after his Golden Jubilee Mass on Dec. 17, 2025. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ramon Marrero, Greg Gully, Joseph Paul and Father Jose Panthaplamthottiyil. Photo by Brian McMillan
The Devotional Candlestand, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Photo by Brian McMillan
Robert Snyder, with Sylvia Reyes. Photo by Brian McMillan
Father Jose Panthaplamthottiyil, on the day of his 50th anniversary of entering the priesthood: Dec. 17, 2025. Photo by Brian McMillan
Father Jose Panthaplamthottiyil. Photo by Brian McMillan
Father Rob Trujillo. Photo by Brian McMillan
When Father Jose Panthaplamthottiyil was first named the lead pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, in 2019, he asked his parishioners what were the most important problems to solve. One problem stood out to Pamela Cowles: having only 15 minutes available for confession per week, for the whole parish.
“I said, ‘If it's not important for the priests, then it won't be important for the parishioners to come,’” Cowles recalled. “And you know, he almost immediately turned it around. Now, he does a half hour before every Mass.”
With six Masses every week, that’s three hours of confession with multiple priests, or about 12 times as much access as there used to be.
Attendance at confession, he said later, is one of the most important signs of spiritual strength.
“People need to be reconciled to God,” Father Jose, as everyone calls him, said to me. “We need to provide the opportunity to do that. When priests are available, people come. We don’t have any free time, relaxing.”
Cowles explained why confession is so important for her personally: “We know we have our loving father, and we know that we have a relationship — that he forgives us — but it's the graces. The graces that we receive through the sacrament strengthens us to be better people and not commit the same sins over and over again. The confession strengthens you.”
AT MASS
Father Jose was celebrated on Dec. 17, with a Golden Jubilee Mass, representing his 50th year in the priesthood.
Over 1,100 people attended the noon Mass, on Dec. 17, at the church at 4600 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast. Sunlight began to filter through the stained glass windows, depicting saints, high on the walls. A larger-than-life statue of the resurrected Jesus, arms outstretched, is suspended about 20 feet above the ornate altar.
Near that alter, Father Jose was presented with a robe with gold print, called a chasuble, to remind him of his first day at the altar, as a symbol of the love of his parish.
Father Jose accepted the gift and said: “For this day of joy, my heart is deeply grateful as I stand before you to celebrate 50 years of priesthood. When I look back on my journey, I see only God’s mercy, guiding me. Every assignment, every person and every moment of these 50 years has been his gift to me.”
Many other Catholic church leaders were in attendance, as well as family members who traveled from around the country.
“Your presence today is one of the greatest blessings I could receive,” Father Jose said. “I rejoice because I am sharing this moment with all of you. … Let us remember that every step of our journey depends entirely on the mercy of God. With humble hearts, let us now ask God to forgive us our sins and prepare us to celebrate his holy mysteries.”
The Mass proceeded, with Joshua Shanty, a grandnephew of Father Jose; and Rooha Shanty, his grandniece; reading from the Bible. Deacon Mike McKenna presented the gospel proclamation, followed by the homily, or sermon, delivered by Rev. Timothy Lindenfelser.
“The Lord is near,” he said. “And we can sense his presence in many different ways in our life. But in no small way, we sense that the Lord is near in our beloved brother and pastor, Father Jose. Father Jose, just in his presence, his mannerisms, exudes the love of Christ. He exudes that welcomeness.”
Lindenfelser said Father Jose’s goal is to build “communities of love” and to help others know they are children of God and are therefore always loved.
He praised Father Jose’s work as a writer. In addition to writing 23 books, Father Jose also was a newspaper editor and has written a weekly inspirational column, published in a daily newspaper in India called Deepika, for 40 years. Father Jose also received degrees in India, as well as Notre Dame and the University of Illinois.
“In all his years as a journalist, he sought to give and reinforce us to know that the Lord is working, that indeed God is forgiving sins, miracles are happening,” Lindenfelser said. “Miracles are happening. … They don't make the news, they're not on television, they don't often make it on social media, but God is working.”
Father Jose spoke during the Mass as well, reflecting on his call to the priesthood, as a young man. He entered the seminary at the unusually young age of 14.
“[God] chose me long before I was aware of his call,” Father Jose said. “... The Lord chose me to proclaim not my word, but his word. To offer not my wisdom, but his truth. … And to do all this not by my strength, but by the unfailing power of the Lord’s grace. … All the glory belongs to God. … I trust completely in his mercy."
He expressed gratitude “to God, who called me, sustained me, forgave me, carried me, and continues to lead me.”
AFTER MASS
Pamela Cowles’ husband, Ron, is the head greeter at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. He converted to the faith in 1985, after his wife praying for him for 15 years.
In his view, Father Jose’s impact is felt in the greeting ministry — not because there are more people involved, but because they are taught to be more welcoming. For Father Jose, author of “A Welcoming and Inviting Parish,” a people who want to spread the gospel must be friendly.
And greeting is just one of the many ministries that have started or expanded since Father Jose came to town. The bulletin lists 36 prayer and devotional groups, 33 service groups, and seven support groups — including support groups led by Pamela Cowles, for bereavement and Alzheimer’s caregivers (email her at [email protected]).
After the Mass, as I was talking to the Cowles, Father Jose was busy embracing one parishioner after another, posing for photos, and looking directly into the eyes of everyone who wanted to speak with him.
I stopped him for a moment to congratulate him and thank him for inviting me. He asked that we pose for a photo, and then asked that I attend the lunch celebration afterward, where the entire congregation was served lunch, across the parking lot in the hall and in overflow areas.
Among the speeches and praise for Father Jose at the lunch were comments offered by Robert Snyder, Sylvia Reyes, Jess and Luz Socrates. Knights of Columbus leaders Greg Gully, Joseph Paul and Ramon Marrero recognized Father Jose’s impact in strengthening the parish, and his kindness and friendship.
Finally, Father Rob Trujillo, who lives with Father Jose, said Father Jose’s favorite scripture is, “I can do all things in Christ, who strengthens me.”
“We know Jesus has strengthened him,” Trujillo said. “... Tonight, we do not simply mark the passage of time, we celebrate God’s … mercy, God’s providence, made visible through the ministry of Father Jose. … As Father Jose reminds us, a priesthood jubilee is not about personal accomplishment, but about gratitude.”
Then Trujillo noted that Father Jose wasn’t even in the room to hear the speech.
“I hope he’s listening; I spent time on this thing,” he joked.
In fact, Father Jose was moving in and out of the hall, visiting the crowds in the overflow areas before being brought back in to receive a gift delivered by Trujillo: a congratulatory framed photo of Pope Leo IV, sent from the Pope.
After his own remarks, Father Jose was back to his parishioners, one on one, shaking hands and embracing them — Father Jose, the diminutive man with a broad toothy smile, the leader and writer with decades of education and leadership experience in India as well as the United States, who is seemingly able to make time for everyone.
