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Bishop Mar Mathew Arackal was
born on 10th December 1944 at
Erumely. Completing his schooling at
St. Thomas High School, Erumely, he
joined St. Thomas Minor Seminary,
Changanacherry. After his studies
there, he was sent to St. Thomas
Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor for
Philosophical and theological
Studies. On 13th March 1971 he was
ordained priest by Mar Anthony
Padiyara. He served as the assistant
vicar at Amboori Church from
1971-1974, when he was also the
Director of Samaritan Hospital,
Amboori and estate manager of the
Archeparchy of Changanassery. He is
credited with the recognition for
the establishment of the first
Labour Co-Operative Society in
Kerala. In 1974 he was appointed
assistant procurator of the
Archeparchy of Changanacherry. When
the eparchy of Kanjirapally was
erected in 1977, he was appointed
vicar of Peerumedu and Murinjapuzha.
In 1980 he started the Peerumed
Development Society which has become
one of the most outstanding NGO in
the country, serving as its Founder
and Executive Director till 2001. He
was also the parish priest at
Elappara from 1991- 2001 when he was
elected bishop. Fr. Mathew Arackal
took lead in the starting of the
Kallivayalil Pappan Memorial
Charitable Trust (KPMC Trust) with a
view of gainful employment.
Establishment of High Range Medical
Centre (HRMC), Sahyadri Ayurvedic
Pharmaceuticals with Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP), two
major residential training centers
for rural development with research
wings having lab facilities in Bio
Technology and
Eco Farming are his
other achievements. After the
resignation of Mar Mathew Vattakuzhy
he was appointed Bishop of
Kanjirapally on 23rd December 2000.
The official announcement was made
on 19th January 2001. His Episcopal
Consecration took place on 9th
February 2001 at St. Dominic’s
Cathedral, Kanjirapally and on the
same day he took charge of the
office. Bishop Arackal hold several
key positions in prestigious
institutions. Some of these are:
Chairman Kerala Social Services
Forum (KSSF), Chairman KCBC
Commission of Justice, Peace and
Development, Co-Chairman Jeevan
Telecasting Corporation Ltd., Bishop
representative of functional
Vocational Training Forum (FVTF),
Member of CBCI commission for
Scheduled Caste, Tribes and Backward
Classes, Advisor of the Planning
Commission, Govt. of India; Secretary to
the Indian Red Cross Society of Idukki District Branch, Member of
the Governing Body of Continuing
Education Cell, Kerala State; Kerala
State Farming Corporation, the Task
Force for participatory Planning,
State Council for Education,
Research and Training, Watershed
Development and Management
Evaluation Team. He is the only
Representative from Asia and Africa
to the International Delegate
Assembly of Naturland, Germany. |
