A Catholic priest in Kerala has offered one of his kidneys to save a Hindu man who is a stranger to him.

Father Davis Chiramel, who pledged to donate his kidney, is the priest of St. Francis Xavier Church of Vadanappally parish in Trichur archdiocese. He is also the secretary-general of Accident Care and Transport Services of Thrissur.

A few months ago, the volunteers of the organization had met in the priest’s church to share about their work. One of them spoke about Gopinath, father of two, who suffering from chronic kidney insufficiency, and undergoing regular dialysis.

The volunteers were looking for ways to collect some 1 million rupees ($21,000) needed to buy a kidney for the Hindu man.

The priest decided to donate his kidney when he realized the volunteers were planning raise the funds, even illegally.

The priest told Asia News that although he had agreed to donate the organ in February he could realize its full implication only on June 19.

“That day the pope opened the Year for Priests, and I was in the hospital for one of the analyses,” he explained. “I immediately realized that I also had been given the grace of offering my body to save a man.”

Father Chiramel and Gopinath would meet on Sept. 30, the day scheduled for the transplant.

Father Chiramel explained: “Christ gives himself for the salvation of the world and, every day in the Mass, priests offer the sacrifice of his Body and Blood. However, they do so without sharing the pains and sufferings of our Lord.”

“For me, the possibility of donating an organ to an unknown person has become a unique and privileged occasion to participate in Christ’s sufferings,” he added.

SOURCE:
Priest Lives Vocation Through Organ Donation (Zenit)

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