Diocese still investigating missing Zuni priest By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola Gallup Independent correspondent religion@gallupindependent.com December 13, 2014 GALLUP — The Diocese of Gallup’s investigation into the Rev. Ravi Kiran is continuing, according to a diocesan spokeswoman. Kiran, aka Ravi Kiran Dasari or Ravikiran Dasari, hastily left his assignment at St. Anthony’s Mission in the Pueblo of Zuni on Oct. 9. According to a statement read to parishioners in October, Kiran “abandoned his assignment” and returned to his native India “without notifying the diocese or requesting permission for a leave of absence.” Since Kiran’s departure, the Gallup Diocese has been conducting an audit of the Zuni mission, which includes a Catholic parish and a K-8 school. “There’s still some investigating going on,” Suzanne Hammons, the diocese’s media coordinator, said Friday. Hammons said the diocese plans to release an updated summary of the audit in the near future. She said the summary would first be released to parishioners at St. Anthony’s before being released to the media. She also promised answers to media questions about the audit. Hammons said the diocese is planning to offer a Healing Mass at 10 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 21, for current and former parishioners. Kiran’s tenure at St. Anthony’s deeply divided the mostly Native American parish. Kiran’s supporters, along with many parishioners who have remained neutral, have stayed in the church. Other parishioners who experienced conflict with Kiran regarding his administration of the mission have left the parish, with most now attending St. Patrick’s Mission in Vanderwagen. Hammons said another foreign priest, the Rev. Patrick McGuire, will be assigned to St. Anthony’s soon. McGuire, a native of Scotland, is currently working in Shiprock.

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