Prof.George Sebastian

 

It was with a heavy heart that we bade farewell to Prof. George Sebastian yesterday at Chunkapara.I was requested to give the funeral eulogy at the funeral rites at home where Abp. Mar Joseph Perumthottam led the service. A few teachers and a lot of the  people from the parish were present at the funeral. Prof. George Sebastian's enthusiastic voice still rings in my ears. I saw him while he was at the ICU at Lisie Hospital. When I prayed over him and spoke to him , tears were rolling down from his eyes. He used to keep me updated about his visits to  different doctors and I thought he would overcome his illness and resume his  active life. But  God's will was different and it was time for him to go. His voice was always full of  laughter and enthusiasm. He was always particular to visit the sick teachers and was present at he funerals of retired teachers. He was very helpful to the Principals at the college and so was he to me while I was the Principal. Always present at the college for occasions when his service was requested for, For the maintenance of discipline, for the organization of various committees at the different exhibitions at the college, for the management of the new store and for every small and big events , he was available and offered his help without any reservation. He even lent financial help to the college when I was in need of funds for the college at the time of retirement. He was also very actively involved in the development of the parish. I feel sorry for his absence from our midst but feel consoled that he is with the Lord after this hectic life here. God bless him and his family.

His wife, Mariamma, children: Soji, Aby and Jogy.

Archbshop Mar Joseph Powathil

 

It was with great sadness that I received the news of the demise of Mar Joseph Powathil. I know that he was sick and that he was losing his memory. A few months ago, I visited with him and he asked me where I was working. That  meant that he was losing his memory as he used to call me whenever a new development with regard to the legal cases concerning the Church came up in the news. I did not want to bother him through visits and calls after that question because I knew he was losing his memory.

I am deeply aware of my indebtedness to him. He was the one who appointed me the Principal of the college, in spite of the tremendous pressure he  had from some other quarters to do otherwise. It was that appointment that changed the career graph of my life, giving me the prominence and authority to become deeply involved in the academic affairs of the college. He was also the one who appointed me the Secretary of the KCBC Education Commission during my time at the college as the Vice- Principal and the Principal. It was  while working there that we were able to create the Inter-Church  Council for Education whose first Secretary I became. Through the Inter-Church Council , it became possible to establish  a good relationship with the Heads of other Churches. When he appointed me the Secretary of the KCBC Commission for Education he expressed his desire that I should become as prominent as Fr.Vallamttom during the time he  was the Secretary of  the Corporate Management Association .I was glad that  with the Archbishop as the Chairman, I was able to immerse myself deeply in the educational matters of the Kerala Catholic Church. I became aware of the nuances of the Articles on Minority Rights in the Constitution and  was  adamant in enforcing the total amplitude of those Articles while dealing with the Govt. Several big meetings were held on behalf of the Inter-Church  Council , with the Archbishop as the Chairman.

Everyday during the eleven  years of my term as the Vice-Principal and the Principal , he used to call me to make me aware of  what was happening in the field of education and urged me to respond to  them. He was a great reader and asked me while I was in the States to get new books and journals published there. I met for the Inter-Church Council Mr.K.M.Mathew of the Malayala Manorama about the matter of publishing the  articles of Abp.Powathil in the Manorama. He readily agreed and asked me to contact Mr.Thomas Jacob. From that time onwards, the articles of Abp. Mar Powathil were published in the Manorama.I did draft the articles and he would approve of them with needed changes. When I sent books with my articles to him, he would send replies with his appreciation the next day. When I sent him the copies of my articles in the Stanford University Review and the IFCU publication on Asian Higher Education, his response and appreciation were prompt.

It was while he was the chairman of the Inter-Church Council, that I held the Executive Council meeting of the IFCU at S.B. College. His support and encouragement were behind the success of the meeting. 

We went together to Israel for a conference on Christian Religious Unity. Cardinal Padiyara and Cardinal Pimenta of Bombay were at the meeting. We visited the holy sites in Jerusalem in the company of Mar Padiyara.

He was the chief Guest at the  function of the Kachiramattom Educational Award and gave me the award.

He was the one who saw all  my activities at the college and all my work for the Church. He was the one who asked me to take up the post of the Vicar General of Chicago when he came to visit me at St. Patrick's Church, Washington D.C. He was waiting for my call in Rome when he went there immediately after spending a couple of days with me in D.C. to know whether the Bp. of Chicago called me and whether I accepted the offer.

I really miss him as he was the one who knew all my work at Changanacherry. When I joined he college first for my studies for MA and later as the lecturer  at S.B, he was teaching there. I joined the Dept. of English in 1970 and Fr. Powathil was made the bishop in 1972. All the priests from the college went to the Cathedral when the announcement was made.

Yesterday, I joined with others in Changanacherry to bid our final farewell to Abp.Powathil. His knowledge, his simplicity, and reading habits were very praiseworthy.

He was very generous in his dealings with me. He approved all my plans for the development of the college. When I was in need of money for the construction of the Research Centre, he gave the college one lakh of rupees for its completion. Hence I decided to name the Conference hall  of the Research Centre Mar Powathil  Sacerdotal Jubilee Memorial.

     His smile, gentleness and affection are unforgettable. May God bless him.

                             Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil

                                          Obituary Note

 

It is with a heavy heart that we received the news of the sudden passing away of Mar Joseph Powthil, the leading light of the Church and a forceful articulator of the values of the Gospel. Mar Powathil evokes all that is best and noblest in our lives.  With his passing away, there comes the end of an epoch of moral integrity and deep fidelity.

With a welcoming smile and gentle demeanor he greets everyone respectfully and cordially. Even though there is no exuberance in his approach and behavior, people have been impressed with his simplicity, gentleness and warmth. Even those who come to meet him with apprehensions and misconceptions leave with great appreciation of his personality and understanding.

An array of thoughts and emotions passes through one’s mind at his passing away.

It is no exaggeration to say that he was a towering religious personality in the last decade of the 20^th century on account of his scholarship, wide awareness of the contemporary values of the society and the indefatigable determination with which he approached the events of the day in the light of the values of the Gospel. Steeped deeply in his understanding of the secular vision of the Constitution of India which lays emphasis on the support to be given to the minority communities in order to give them equal standing with the majority, he became an ardent advocate for the preservation of the integrity of constitutional protections that were given to the minorities in the Constitution of India. With a greater understanding of the discussions that took place in the Constituent Assembly, he was aware of the mind of the Assembly in giving unchallengeable amplitude to the articles of the Constitution to safeguard the interests of the minorities. In education as well as in the field of human rights especially of the minorities and of the weaker sections of the society, he was a beacon of strength and inspiration.

The leadership he gave to the Church and to the society of Kerala was superb when he was elected the President of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, the CBCI and the Inter-Church council for Education. When the attacks on the Constitutional integrity of the Minority Rights became rampant, he felt that it was good for the Church to act in unison and hence he took the initiative of founding the Inter-Church Council for Education with the support and encouragement of the heads of other Churches in Kerala. He has intervened boldly and confidently before the Central and State Governments for the defense of the minority rights and the rights of Dalit Christians.

His relationship with other Christian Churches was one of deep respect and sensitivity and has collaborated with them to found the Nilackal Ecumenical Movement.

His interrelationship with the other communities and their leaders was one of extreme cordiality and respect. He was keeping in close contact with the leaders of the NSS, the SNDP and with local Muslim leaders. He was an ardent advocate of fellowship and harmony in his dealing with other religious communities and the leaders of these communities found in him a solid supporter and a sincere guide.

He was a man of principles and stood for them with deep convictions. The strong positions he has taken regarding the recognition of the individual Churches and their equal rights for evangelization and pastoral service are memorable and worthy of great admiration.

The decisive role he has taken for the protection of the Syro-Malabar Liturgy and other valuable traditions of the Church can never be forgotten. Similarly the leadership he gave to the struggle to preserve the educational rights of the Private Managements and to get them recognized by the Government of the State of Kerala is stupendous.

He was a leader par excellence, having had the gift of feeling the pain of the aggrieved and bringing it to the fore for the attention of the leaders of the State and of the Central Governments. With his wide reading and openness to the contemporary trends and ideologies, he was able to present his ideas cogently and coherently. His passing away creates a void in the Church of Kerala as well the Society with the absence of a voice, unwavering and eloquent ,to plead for great moral and religious values. In his life and public pronouncements, he lived out what Abraham Lincoln has said in his famous Gettysburg speech: “Charity for all, malice towards none.”

He has departed for his heavenly reward in the company of saints and angels to live forever in the abode of Eternal Love. The Lord who has guided his life through thick and thin is waiting with His hands outstretched to receive this great servant who was eloquent in his silence, eminent in his humility and noble in his simplicity.

May Mar Joseph Powathil guide and lead the Church in the years to come through the magnificent example of faithfulness and integrity he has given through his life.

 

Cardinal George Alencherry

The Major Archbishop of

The Syro-Malabar Church.

Pope Benedict XVl

It was with great sadness that I received the news of the demise of Pope Benedict XVl on Dec.31st while I was  attending the burial of Prof.K.K.Mathew at the Cathedral Cemetery at Chy. It was at a funeral earlier, eight years ago ,that we received the news of his resignation. Deepika issued a souvenir on that occasion where my article on the Pope was also included. Pope Benedict was a great theologian and his  explanations of the doctrines of the Church and the dogmas of the Faith are  very clear. He was really an intellectual with immense depth of knowledge. He is undoubtedly one of the great theologians of our time. The interviews he has  given to Peter Seewald were really  reappraisals of the doctrines of the faith as  applied to concrete situations.

The following are a few quotes from his book, Eschatology, on the Last Judgment.:

"The truth which has emerged as the fundamental orientation of man's existence in all the pathways of his life(is the judgment on on his life.).

Judgment is the truth of a man which has emerged as the fundamental orientation of his existence.

In terms of the sum total of decisions from out of which an entire life is constructed, the final direction  may be , in the end, a fumbling after readiness for God, valid no matter what wrong turnings  have been taken by and by.

God knows the shadows of our freedom better than we do ourselves." 

Prof.K.K.Mathew

 

                                                Prof.K.K.Mathew

          (Vachaparampil(Mangalapally)Koothappally –88 yrs old)

·        A teacher who was a gentleman to the core. Well-mannered and well dressed,

·        Respectful, considerate and gentlemanly in his dealings with his colleagues and students.

·        Soft spoken and courteous.

·        Never speaks a word out of place and never speaks ill of others.

·        Brief and pithy were his comments

·        Companionable and this was evident in his close and abiding friendship with Prof.K.T.Sebastian.

·        Those who met him were amazed at his affability and respectfulness.

·        A lover of the Church and was devoted to the Church.

·        A great father to his children, a loving husband and a caring and affectionate brother to his brothers and sisters.

·        Carried the great tradition of family values, of faith and of scholarship handed over to him by his forefathers especially by his father, Prof. M.T.Kurian , the Head of the Dept. of Mathematics at S.B.college.

·        One of the last of the great teachers belonging to the old guard. With his passing, S.B. has lost a devoted son and a strong admirer.

·        “A teacher affects eternity”(Henry Adams). His legacy will continue on influencing the generations of students who passed through the portals of this college.

·        (Wife: Lisamma Mathew, Chidren: Mini Mathew and Anu Louis)

It was with great sadness that I went to attend the funeral. The feeling was very strong in me about his absence from my life knowing that I will never see him and that his voice won't be heard any more. We used to meet every year during my return from the US in the company of Profs KTS, PJD,KVS, PCJ, KAG,AJF. His presence made the gathering always very pleasant and memorable. He was a man of  few words but was always present on important occasion at the college. He used to come in the company of Prof.K.T.S. Now we have lost those two great professors from our life. He always received us with great affection and warmth. The funeral took place on Dec.31,2022.I gave a short homily at the funeral. May God grant him eternal rest.

Prof.Scaria Zacharia

 It was with a great shock that I received the news of the demise of Prof. Scaria Zacharia. I met him a few months ago at his  house and I knew that he was getting weaker. But we did manage to spend some time together and he gave me copies of his recent books and signed it addressing me. I spoke at a reception a few weeks ago honoring him at SB college and I spoke of his great contributions to the college , calling him as  one of the precious jewels on the crown of SB. I remember and cherish my conversations with him during the time he was teaching at the college. He was a live presence on the college campus and we missed him very much when he left the college for Kalady University. I remember him showing his appointment written  on a casual piece of paper by the new and acting VC of the University and broaching the news of his departure . He once asked me why I did not object to his leaving. I did not say anything at that time because I thought then that for him a University appointment would be very  beneficial to him personally. But still it was a great loss for the college. His leadership, inspiring words and marvelous eloquence are unforgettable. We have  had very close associations when we were were planning the different Exhibitions and Arts Festivals at the college. We also had several  occasions to go together  to meet some people in order to smooth out problems. I cannot forget his beautiful and eloquent introductory commentary that echoed through the corridors and the campus of the college before the arrival of President Zail Singh. He took the leadership of arranging the various literary conferences in connection with the two jubilee celebrations that were held during the times of Fr.Maroor and myself. His fast ascent to literary eminence that happened on account of his work on Gundert is unparalleled. He brought very eminent scholars, Indian and foreign to the college campus. When we published one of the first stories of O.V Vijayan in the college magazine, I asked Prof. Scaria to write an introduction to it, explaining its background. I am very proud of his  varied contributions and feel saddened at his early sickness and demise. God bless him and keep him in His eternal presence.

My trip to the U.S, on Oct.2-Nov.2nd

 It was with some anxiety that I left for the States on Oct.2 because of the Covid and also because of my health. But everything went smoothly as  I could use the wheel chair assistance. Hence I didn't  have to stand in long ques. Also the use of the lounges in Kochi, Delhi was also helpful in lessening the burden of the travel. Jogy came to the Newark airport to pick me up when I reached the airport in the morning. The stay was comfortable, although the weather was turning cool. Since I carried a blazer with me, it turned out to be OK. The primary purpose of the visit  was to go to Florida to bless the new homes bought by Jogy and Sajan. We decided to go to New Hampshire  to see the color change of the foliage. It was beautiful being  there  before they they all turned dry. We could capture the beauty of the color change at Nashua. We stayed at a hotel there and walked around the place the next day , seeing the places where the color change was prominent. 

The Florida stay was very enjoyable as the weather was perfect. We could go to  the nearby church early in the morning and have breakfast outside. After staying there  for around three days , I left for Washington DC. My travels by domestic flights went without any hassle as I used the wheel chair assistance. Stayed at Ittyrachan's house. He  took a few days off so that we could spend time together. We went for sky line drive the day after my drive. the next day , went to the Shrine and participated in the noon mass there. the time spent in the crypt church and the penitence room was very spiritually uplifting. Had a few pictures taken outside the Shrine beside  the CU's Stone marker.From DC went back to NJ for a few days more and left from JFK airport to Delhi. 

Birth day,Synod Sessions,2022

 

Tomorrow is my birth day as I will be completing 82 years of my life. I do marvel at myself that I am alive at this age of my life. I have viewed with awe people who have passed their 80s and I am now at this stage. I have to thank the Lord for this gift of life. I will have to spend my time , praising the Lord and thanking Him continuously. I have to recover the former way of my intellectual pursuits and do more readings and writings. I don't have to feel abashed at what I have not got in life. I have to be happy about what I have got: my faith in the Lord, my life, health and the education I received and the experience of teaching many  people in the blossoming phase of their lives. Lord, thank you for this gift.

I have to pass on this joy of life(joie de vivere) to others so that they may too thank the Lord and praise him. In today's Bible reading, I came across the words of advice given to Joshua in 1 Joshua to be bold and courageous. I have to be bold and courageous for Jesus Christ. Nothing should make me ashamed. I should use all my gifts for the Lord. Lord, how great you are. Ps.148: "Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him the heights; Praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted."

The Synod is going on but the pain of the separation among different groups is still felt. I hope wiser counsels will prevail and people will gather together to praise the Lord. Through our wanton actions, the name of the Lord should not be tarnished.

I have received the duplicate of my pension book yesterday from the Treasury. Biju, my driver, went to Chy and got it from the Treasury. This is needed for the revision of the pension according to One Rank-One Pension. Thank you, Lord, for this great act of kindness. I offer my prayers for all those who worked behind the process to get it for me as it is difficult to get a document like this from the Govt in time.