Early Life and Education

Even though I was born in Eadthua, Kerala and was baptized at St.George’s Church because of which I got the name George, I have no memory of spending my early days in Edathua. My aunt has mentioned later that it was Fr.Gregory Karikampally who baptized me at St.George when he was an associate vicar there. It was funny that Fr.Karikampally would mention the fact of baptizing me to my friends when he came to visit me in the office when I was the Principal .

I was the third in the family of eight, six boys and two girls. My early memory was that of living in our family home in Thathampally, Alleppey with my parents , brothers and grandmother. I have memories of seeing huge mangoes , almost the size of coconuts,hanging in small branches of the mango tree which I think is not there any more. We don’t see such mango trees any more. They are called Njetukuzhiyans(because there was a big dip where it attaches itself to the trunk). We used to visit Edathua occasionally, but more regularly at the time of the feast of St.George at the church. All of our relatives from the mother’s side would be there and our maternal grand parents were then living. We used to sleep on big “pa”s (mats) made beautifully of grass leaves. In fact pas were the ones people used to sleep on before the modern beds came into the market. It was a happy and playful time. The older children in the family would take baths in the river nearby, although I did not.

My Father was a serious person in our eyes in those early days, with strict rules for us to observe. His greatness would become revealed to us when we grew older. We would see him always dressed impeccably in the standards of those days, with his suit coat and mundu with a neriathu folded beautifully around his shoulder.He was the manger of a bank and whenever he came at night, he would have something for us in the pockets of his coat. He would bring either a ball or oranges and sweets which would know about only the next morning. We rarely have seen him on weekday nights as he would come from his office very late, stopping on the way to do errands for the family or talk to the priests.

He had his own personal assistant called Raphael and Raphael was the rikshawallh.He would pull his rikshaw through the streets of Alleppey to any place he wanted to go just as a car would take one nowadays. O f course we can never imagine allowing any one to do that now for us. In those times, that was a sign of convenient travel, and a show of ones’ status in life.

But somehow since I did my studies well in the classes given by a teacher from the school at home, I was given a promotion to the second standard. By this time we moved to our new house at Thathampally which was at that time one of its kind. We can still hear the echoes of our sounds as we opened the different rooms. It had a terrace and we could sleep on the terrace at nights. No house in that area did have a terrace in those days. We were lucky in that sense and the house was across the street from our parish church. We used to go with our father for the masses and people would always speak appreciatively of our being with the father at the masses, most of the time, may be on our knees. In the evening, when we were in our house, we could hear the loud laughter that would come from the friendly chat between our father and the vicar of the church, Fr.Sebastian Cherussery. They became good friends and they enjoyed the company of each other.

Fr.Cherusserry was a talented priest with enormous potentials-- bringing all people together, erecting necessary buildings for the church , inspiring congregation etc. It was told that he himself carried bricks and stones for the construction of the church.He was the one who extended the church by building an additional wing, built additional buildings for the school and founded the Adoration convent. He may be considered the modern architect of the vibrant St.Michael’s parish and his contribution to the parish can in no way be minimized. In vision, planning and the cohesiveness that he brought to the community, he can in no way be rivaled by any of his successors. He was also the unquestioned leader of the Catholics of the area at that time. No voice would be raised against him. It was a sad day for the parish when he was transferred to Palai to oversee the various construction projects of the newly established diocese of Palai. He was from Palai and hence the Bishop wanted him to be there. I have never seen him after that. My father was the Convener of the farewell meeting held to bid adieu to him on the Thathampally maidan(grounds) which was packed with people. He is the first vicar of my parish about whom I have good memories.

Another priest I remember well was Fr.Joseph Valiaveettil who was the associate with Fr.Cherusseril. Fr. Valiaveetil was in charge of the altar boys and he did a marvelous job if organizing them. He was a good writer andtransalted many good works from Englsih inot Malayalam for the Book a Month club which was in existence then. He created in us a sense of pride and elegance. He got new robes made for altar servers and also enrolled us into the Tarcisian league. We saw our group picture published in one American religious weekly. When I was studying in the fifth standard I gave my name for a speech competition. I hadn't made any speech before that. I approached Fr.Joseph for help and he wrote out a speech in Malayalam for me .I delivered that speech and I got the first prize along with a friend of mine C.P.Joseph who became a priest later. I don’t know whether the sisters knew that the speech was written by the associate pastor. That prize gave me a tremendous sense of satisfaction and pride . I think I got a book in English as the prize which I could not read or understand at that time.

Fr.Joseph took us on several trips and only those who could afford the fare joined those trips. We remember one memorable trip that we took to Changanacherry when the two new bishops Mar Matthew Kavukattu and Mar Vayalil who were consecrated for Changanacherry and Palai were staying at the time at the Bishop’s House in Changancherry. We met the bishops and the Bishops gave all of us pictures as a memento of our visit. When we came down we met Msgr.Kallarackal, who was the Apostolic Administrator during the interim period after the death of Mar James Kalacherry. Msgr. Kallarackal was in his old age , looking almost like a Christmas Pappa. He played a trick on us. He stretched out his hand asked all of us to give back the pictures given by the Bishops. He scared us by saying that if we didn’t give the pictures the boat by which we came to Changancherry from Alleppey would capsize. All of us gave our pictures to him. Now we realize that he was senile and out of his senses at that time. Otherwise who would ask kids to give back some thing that they cared for deeply?

Fr.Joseph Valiaveetil later went from the parish for higher studies in Malayalam Literature at the University college. It was while he was there that he was given a prestigious award in Malayalam debates. He took his M.A. through private study. He joined the Dept. of Malayalam at St. Berchmans’ college. Then he thought of a monastic vocation and joined the Franciscan order. He didn’t remain there long. He returned to the diocese and to the college. He was lovingly called “Ouseppachan “ in the college campus. Surpsingly when I joined the college as a member of the Dept. Of English, Fr. Joseph was there. He always kept a fatherly affection for me. I was there for all the important events in his life: to speak when he was given a farewell by the Adoration Convent, Vazahappally, at the celebration of his birthday at the convent etc. He was acting as their chaplain after his retirement from the college. He wanted to see me before he died. But the message did not reach me in time. I didn’t know he was hospitalized. When I went to see him, he was in coma. Somehow it happened, I was designated to speak at his funeral and I felt really blessed in my heart to speak at his funeral. That is only the funeral of a priest that I had preached in my life.

I completed my primary and middle school education at St. Michael’s school, Thathampally . Some of the teachers that stand out in my mind are Mr.George who taught us Hindi, Sr.Espirit, Sr.Mary Kuracherry and Sr.Antonisaamma Kattampally. I had the happiness of taking communion to Sr.Antonissammma when she was admitted in the Medical college Hospital , Alleppey.

Antonissamma was my primary school teacher. In those days since the convent didn’t have any newspapers,she would ask me to bring the paper from our house for her to read as our house was just a couple of yards away from the school. She would then write in my book all the meanings of words that I missed in my note book in her own beautiful handwriting.I had some good friends in the primary school in Mr. V.T. Joseph, K.M. Mathew, Jacob etc. We moved from St.Michael's to Leo Xlll for our high school studies. We have to walk four or five miles every day back and forth to go to school. Very few had bicycles and hence most of us walked all the way. All of us coming from Thathampally had a good habit. Before entering the school compound, we would stop at the nearby Church (now it is the Cathedral of Alleppey diocese) and spent a few minutes in prayers. All of us did, even those who were mischievous and undunruly. It was an unwritten rule to visit the Blessed Sacrament , passed from generation to generation.

The atmosphere at Leo X111 was very different. The atmosphere was more mature and there was a mixing of students and teachers from different parts of the town. This is the same school where my father and my elder brothers studied. In fact there was a teacher Mr. John from Kattoor who taught my father. There was an interesting incident. When my friend Chandy and myself were passing by his class room, he called us both inside and asked more details about us. When he found that I was Mr. M.P. Joseph’s son, he let me go by saying that he had taught my father, Mr.Joseph. He gave Chandy a good spanking with the cane in his hand. I still feel sad for Chandy!

The teachers who stand out in my memory are: Fr.Paul Kunnumkal , our headmaster, Fr.John Meemepellikavil S.J. Fr. M.C.Joseph and Fr.Scaria ( who left priesthood later), Mr.C.X. John, C.X. Lawrence,T.L.Issac, Mr. Jacob Kattezham, and Mr. Kuncheria. The three years we spent there were some of the best years of formation. Fr.Scaria would invite us personally from our holidays to show us the corrections in our English papers. Fr. M.C. Joseph was a source of great inspiration in the spiritual formation of the students. On First Fridays, we would come to the school chapel early in the morning . Fr. M.C. Joseph would lead the stations of the cross for us and we could hear his sobbing words as he would come to the sections dealing with the fall and crucifixion of Jesus. He was also instrumental in starting a very good basket ball team for the school.

My journey to the Minor Seminary,1956

I was going by boat from Alleppey to Changanacherry on a sunny day in 1956.I was happy in making the journey because even though the boat ride was more than four hours , it was worth making as it gave a spectacular view of the lakes, rivers and paddy fields stretching for miles .It was if a green carpet was spread on the banks of the vast lakes. The boat made a few stops in between for the passengers to get in and get out at their designated jetties. The ride gave an inkling into the life in Kuttanad as the boat slowly chugged through the winding lakes and rivers.

As I was enjoying this magnificent vision of the scenes around the lakes, a Hindu gentleman who identified himself as a lawyer, sitting beside me, asked in English : “Where are you going?”. He saw the S.S.L.C book in my hand and wanted to know about my plans. As he saw that I had been placed in the first class, he asked again:” What are you going to do?” I told him that I was going to join the seminary to become a priest. It jolted him to think that one who was placed in the first class was going to join the seminary. In those days, students placed in the first class were very few. The Jesuit-run LeoXlll School,Alleppey, where I studied had only four students who were placed in the first class in that year. He asked again: “Why do you want to become a priest?” That question still rings in my years. Then and now, my answer has been the same: “ I want to serve My Lord.”

I was not drawn by any priest or any special event to priesthood other than by the love I had for Jesus. It was a strong desire in my heart to work for Jesus. I have to mention specially Fr.Joseph Valiaveettil, an associate priest at the Thathampally church who started the association for the altar servers and made us all join the group. He taught us how to serve at the mass and took us on trips.

The role of my parents in nurturing and fostering my faith was immense, beyond words to describe. The love, kindness and the compassion of my mother and the ardent and intense attachment of my Father to the Eucharist are to be mentioned as great formative influences. Nobody ever mentioned at any time in my life about the vocation to priesthood nor have I attended any special camps or retreats for vocations. Those were not in existence in those days. It was the Christian life lived at home that made my relationship with Jesus very intense and warm. I am sure the same is true of other seminarians too in those days.

I have to mention specially the role of my father when I have to speak about my vocation to priesthood. My father was the manager of a bank in Alleppey which was known as the State-aided Bank of Travancore, the only bank under the control of the State of Travancore. He was one of the very few in Alleppey at that time with a college degree. He went to the American College in Madurai, staffed by American missionary professors. It was a Protestant college as at that time no Catholic college was in existence in Travancore. It was a custom for him to take us always to the Sunday masses along with him. He would attend masses daily before he went to the office. If there were two masses, he would participate in both .Eucharist was every thing for him. The participation in the daily masses by an educated man like him and a manager of the Bank, a rare job in those days, was a source of inspiration not only to us, his children, but also to many in the parish.

In those days when nobody in our place had heard about the works of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, he would buy the works of Sheen and read them in his spare time at home, especially on Sundays He had a collection of all the works of Sheen. He would ask me sometimes to read the books while he was relaxing in his reclining chair. I remember reading the “Peace of Soul”, a great work of Sheen of which I could not make head or tail in those days. The matter and the language of the book were beyond the comprehension of a high school student. Sheen was refuting all the current theories of Psychology and Psycho-analysis in that book. I still feel aghast at the fact that I could read aloud such books.

He would also read the Bible when all of us children are together and explain to us how the words of Jesus were guiding his life. When priests and other prominent visitors visit our house, there would be long discussions on matters of faith with them by my father.

Some of the rules he made us practice are still vivid in my mind. He would remind us to keep a respectable distance from priests as too much familiarity would make us lose reverence for priests. We could hear from our house which was across the road from the church his boisterous and friendly laughter and conversations with the parish priest of that time, Fr.Sebastian Cherussery ,on his return from the office at night.

That faith-filed atmosphere at home has definitely created in all of us a great attachment to our faith. Six of us ,boys , were growing up together but no discussion of priesthood ever came in our family life.

I was fortunate to get good teachers at Primary and High School levels. The Jesuit fathers at the High School and the sisters and the lay teachers at the Primary School were also responsible in molding our Christian faith .I have to mention my headmaster, Fr.Paul Kunnumkal, Fr.Joh Meempallikavil, Fr.M.C. Joseph etc as some of the great teachers at our High Scool. I remember very fondly the love and affection of Sr.Anonissamma and Sr.Espirit of the Adoration convent. Sr. Espirit taught a prayer that I have never forgotten. She told me to say a prayer :”Blessed Virgin Mary , pray for me”, whenever I passed before the grotto in front of the school play grounds.. In my life, thousands of times, I had to pass by the grotto and in all those occasions and even now if I pass by it, I say that prayer. Another prayer, also taught by one of my teachers at the Primary School, remains fresh in my mind even now. He told me and my friends that, before writing the answers in exams, to say a prayer to the Little Flower: “ Little Flower in this hour, show thy power.” I have said that prayer years later at my doctoral exams (Comprehensives) here in the U.S.

So, there in a nutshell is the story of my vocation. All those good and dedicated teachers and my parents were responsible in creating in me an ardent love for Jesus. It is that love that took me to the portals of a seminary.

After my results were known, I told my parents the desire to join the seminary. Even the parish priests had no idea that I would be joining the seminary. I had to make another decision whether to join the diocesan seminary or to the Society of Jesus to which all my priest- teachers belonged. I got the Rule Book of the Minor Seminary of Changanacherry and read everything in it. It was a small hard bound book, written in English. I got it from one of the seminarians in our parish. I decided after carefully reading the Rule book to join the diocesan seminary and went with one of the seminarians, now a priest(Fr.Matthew Mepreth) to meet the Bishop of Changancherry , Mar Mathew Kavukatt. He was surprised to see that I got very good marks in English and the congratulatory remarks that he made at that time still echo in my years.

I am thankful to the Lord for calling me to serve him and I am very happy to say that He was always present in my life. At every decisive moment in my academic and administrative life, he was there holding my hands and guiding me. What a joy it is to know the Lord and to feel His presence in one’s life. All the sacrifices and burdens of life appear nothing before the overwhelming mercy and compassion of the Lord. What prompted St. Paul to say : “ When Christ is with us, who can be against us”, is my feeling and I am sure the feelings of every one who commits himself to Christ.

The human dimension of love and companionship that one misses in priestly life is compensated by the love and affection of the people that they serve. In my life, because I was a teacher and an administrator, I was compensated by the love and affection of my students and colleagues.

The words of Thomas Merton, who is one of my very favorite authors and whose seminal work “The Seven Storey Mountain” that I read before joining the Major Seminary, are my own words at this fag end , when I see before me the evening sky splashed with the crimson radiance of the fading sun of my career and life:

“Let this be my only consolation, that wherever I am, You ,my Lord, are loved and praised. The trees indeed love you without knowing you. The tiger lilies and corn flowers are there, proclaiming that they love You, without being aware of Your presence. The beautiful dark clouds ride slowly across the sky musing on you like children who do not know what they are dreaming of, as they play. But in the midst of them all, I know You, and I know Your presence…..Only one thing I ask: that the memory of them should not make me afraid to receive into my heart the gift of love which you have placed in me.”

To those who aspire to follow Jesus , I have this message to convey: Fall in love with him and He will lead you to make the right step.

70th Birthday

What I can remember

When I look back over the past years of my life in this 70^th year , I have only feelings of gratitude to my Lord who has led me so peacefully and beautifully through the various phases of my life in joy and peace. I am very happy that I could spend my whole life for Jesus. I have no regrets. Although I worked full time in teaching, I am glad that there was never any moment in my life that I had lost sight of the Person to whom I dedicated my life. It was my passionate attachment to Him that helped me to meet all the hurdles and challenges in my life.

What a joy it was to spend my time in studies and teaching! I had such good friends in my life as teachers and colleagues. I had a great galaxy of teachers and friends on my side as I walked through the different walks of life. The only words that come to my mind at this time are: “Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord, I am not worthy of the blessings you have showered upon me.”

I am not a pious person in the traditional sense nor did I behave like one in my life. I like to associate with people with who read and who have ideas to share. I feel happy in their company. I like to read a lot and share thoughts with people of that nature. It was difficult at times to meet people of such mind-sets. I never found myself happy in the company of people who gossip and indulge in derisive comments about others. In fact one of the promises I made to myself while I joined the seminary was never to use any abusive or contemptuous word to comment on others. I am glad that I kept that promise until now even though I had to deal with several people who were real trouble makers.

But I enjoyed my time with people who are poor and dispossessed.. The mess servants, the menial workers at the college, and the daily wage earners who worked on the campus were my good friends. I am happy that I could be of help to them at different times in their lives.

I have enjoyed my time with my students whose lives in some way I have been fortunate to mould. I wanted them to grow up and develop as the best ones in the country. Now I realize that the time I spent for my students were worth the effort when I see them occupying very important positions in different parts of the country. Often, when I was the warden of the hostels of the college, I thought to myself why I was wasting my time for them as it always involved a lot of stress and tension. Most of the days, my time was spent in enforcing the discipline and dealing with those who violated the rules of the hostel. But it all turned out for the good from what I had seen in the lives of the students. I saw that my efforts had borne fruit from the positive reactions and responses from the former students. On one Christmas day, I received a card from one of my former students who is now working as a doctor thanking me for the care and consideration I had given him while he was a student at the hostel and making me aware that my sympathetic dealings with him has made him a better doctor.

The teachers of S. B. College were some of my closest friends in my life. They were very gracious and inspiring in their dealings with me. Whenever I get time during my vacation, I made it a point to meet with them. The teachers of the English Department from Prof. K.T..Seabstian on wards were persons of great benevolence and goodness. I have no words to describe the joy that I get when I spend time with them. I could regain the happiness of the former times whenever I was with them.

I was also fortunate to get very good teachers at the Catholic University, Washington D.C. Also the priests at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, and at St.Patrick’s church in Washington D.C. were great friends and sources of inspiration and encouragement. Recently some of those great priests of the Archdiocese of Washington passed away. I feel very sad at their demise as they were very close to me and always would be at my disposal whenever I needed their help. Msgr. Farina of St.Patrick’s Church, Msgr. Bernard Gerhardt and Msgr. Louis Quinn are some of those priests whom I can never forget. The years I spent with them were the greatest years of priestly joy and serenity. I have found in their company a lot of encouragement and support.

I can also never forget the some of the former principals of the college who were very good to me. Fr.P.C. Mathew and Rev.Dr.Anotny Kurialchery are some of the great Principals I hold in great esteem.

Archbishop Kavukatt who admitted me to the seminary with great words of encouragement and who later ordained me and sent me for higher studies is a person whose memeory will always be cherished in the depths of my heart. It was he who sent me to the college for teaching and even suggested the subject I should select for my Master’s degree. Abp. Antony Padiyara who sent me for higher studies in the US. and Abp. Joseph Powathil who appointed me the Principal of the college and who appointed me to various leadership roles are the archbishops I can never forget in my life .I am also deeply grateful to Fr.Joseph Karimpalil, the Vicar General who put great confidence in me when decided to appoint me as the Vice Principal at a very critical time of the development of the college. It gave me a wonderful opportunity to work along with Fr. Maroor who was a great friend of mine for starting new ventures for the college .It was that daring and strong move on the part of Fr.Karimpalil that made my career burst forth in full bloom in the academic world.

I have so many people to mention in my life who were kind and gracious to me. I know it is not possible to mention all of them.

But let me mention a few priests, teachers and friends. If I have left any, it is not because I love them less but because of the shortness of space.

Fr.Joseph Valiaveetil, Fr.Joseph Olassa, Fr.Seabstian Cherussery, Fr. Joseph Ithiparampil, Fr.Joseph Thaiparampil, Fr..Thevary, Fr.Geregory Karikampally,Fr.James Valiaparmapil, Fr.Mathew Mepreth , Fr.Joseph Alummootil are some of the priests who have left us for their eternal reward but who are remembered with great love in my heart.

Some of the teachers who are alive are Sr.Espirit,Fr.M.C. joseph S.J. Prof.K.T.Sebastian, Prof.K.K.Matthew,Prof.P.J.Devasia, Prof.K.V.Joseph.Prof.P.C.James.Prof.A.J.Francis,Dr.Joseph Sendry etc.are rememebered with great gratitude.

I know it has been sometimes difficult to live with priests in a community as some have different traits and attitudes. But I was happy in our college community. In many years of my life at the college, I lived in a community of more than 14 priests and the time I spent with them from the moment I joined the college as a young priest were happy and enjoyable. One touching moment in my life was when I received a tape from the college a few months after my arrival in the U.S. for higher studies in 1976 where all the priests right from Rev. Dr.Antony Kurialacherry giving their advice and fond recollections of my time at the college. That tape left tears in my eyes.

Now I live with a few priests at the Bishop’s residence of Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago. Bishop Jacob Angadiath who never knew me personally before I came to live with him offered the post of the Vicar General of the diocese when I was working in Washington D.C. I accepted it because of the fact that I could do some input in the formation of this new diocese. Abp. Powathil also asked me to accept the offer. I am very thankful to Mar Jacob Angadiath for the graciousness he has shown towards me.

I have always felt confident and happy in my life as a priest. I have accepted my vocation as a priest consciously and it was my strong feeling that whatever might be my personal failures I would never fail the Lord and Savior of my life, Jesus Christ. In His presence I have always felt the greatest happiness in my life.

Prime Minister V.P.Singh

Meeting Prime Minister V.P. Singh at the Ernakulam guest house with Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil when I was the Principal as well as the Secretary of the Inter-Church Council for Education in 1993.

Pope John Paul ll in 1979 in Washington D.C.

Greeting the Holy Father Pope John Paul ll in 1979 on his first visit to the United States. I am standing on the steps of the rectory and the Holy Father is seen in white cassock on his way to the White House.

Pentecost,Detroit,May 22,10

I am here in Detroit today. Have been coming here in the past several weekends to say mass at the Syro-Malabar church here.
Yesterday watched the webcast of the graduation ceremony of Jogy from the Marist college.
Tomorrow is the feast of the Pentecost. Have to pray to the Holy Spirit for hope and confidence in life.

Detroit,May 22,10

I am in Detroit today to say mass tomorrow here at St.Thomas Syro-Malabar church,Detroit.As the Pastor here has been transferred to Texas,I have been coming here on weekends to say masses here at the Church.I am alone in the rectory.A few from the community were here during the day first for the morning mass and alter for cleaning the church and its surroundings. Some dedicated young men and women are the strength of the church.
Yesterday ,watched Jogy's graduation on the Marist College webcast.The whole program was webcast very clearly and beautifully.
Tomorrow is the Feast of the Pentecost.We have to pray to the Holy Spirit for the gifts of confidence and hope.