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Born of Shri John Powathil and
Marykutty on 14 August, 1930 P.J.
Joseph (Pappachan) had his primary
education in Holy Family L.P. School
and St. Peter’s U.P. School
Kurumpanadom and High School
Education in St. Berchmans’ High
School Changanassery. He had his
higher studies in S.B. College
Changanassery and Loyola College,
Madras, from where he took his M.A.
Degree in Economics. He did his
seminary studies in St. Thomas Petit
Seminary, Parel and Papal Seminary
Pune. After Ordination on 3rd
October 1962 at Pune he was
appointed lecturer in Economics and
Warden of St. Joseph’s Hostel, St. Berchmans’ College, Changanassery.
He was in the campus ministry for
one decade (1962 – 1972). During
this period he had the advantage of
taking a one-year course in
Developmental Economics at the
prestigious Oxford University. That
was in 1969. He took keen interest
also in the study of the ancient
patrimony of the Syro-Malabar Church
and for its restoration in
accordance with the directives of
Vatican II. He served as member of
the Central Liturgy Committee of the
Church. He was actively involved in
the various apostolate of the
Archdiocese and was secretary of the
Pastoral council for a short period.
On 29 January, 1972 he was nominated
Auxiliary Bishop of Changanassery
and was ordained bishop by Pope Paul
VI on 13th February-1972 in Rome.
During the five years of his service
as Auxiliary bishop and Vicar
General (ex officio) he introduced
many reforms in the Archdiocese in
close collaboration with the
Archbishop Mar Antony Padiyara.
Realizing the importance of youth
apostolate he took the initiative in
establishing a Diocesan youth
movement called “Yuvadeepti”. In
course of time it spread to all the
Dioceses in Kerala leading to the
formation of Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM). He was at the
forefront in the struggle for
educational freedom. He helped the
Archbishop in establishing several
institution for the under privileged
such as homes for the mentally
retarded and the physically
handicapped. During the next 9 years
he was entrusted with the task of
nurturing the new born diocese of
Kanjirapally to which he was
appointed bishop on 26 February,
1977 and assumed charge on May 12th
1977. Bishop Powathil was appointed
Archbishop of
Changanacherry on 5th
November, 1985 and he assumed charge
on January 17 the next year. True to
his motto, the ministry of Mar
Joseph Powathil as bishop and
Archbishop has been one of
dedication and commitment to ‘Truth
and Charity’. Mar Powathil’s
ministry transcends the bounds of
the Archdiocese and the people
entrusted to his care. He served as
President of CBCI (1994 – 98)
Chairman of KCBC (1993 – 96), and
Chairman of Education commission of
CBCI. He is at present a Member of
Post Synodal commission of Asia
(1998) and chairman of KCBC
commission for Education and founder
Chairman of
Inter-Church
Council. Sensing the need of the
time he introduced several new self
financing courses in the two
colleges. Consequent on the
delinking of pre-degree form
colleges, several higher secondary
schools have been started. A new
college for communication - St.
Joseph’s – has been got sanctioned.
He patronized Lourdes Matha College
of Engineering at Trivandrum and
sponsored St. John the Baptist
College of Education at Nedumkunnan
and St. Thomas College of Nursing at
Chethipuzha. The Syro-Malabar Church
in which he was born and brought up
was always close to his heart. He
was always as devoted son of this
church, and therefore always on the
forefront in the struggles for the
restoration of its legitimate rights
and its identity as an individual
Church. He did a great deal to
promote formation based on this
identity to priests, religious and
the laity (Oriental Study forum, Dukrana, Christian Orient,
missionary Orientation Centre (MOC),
Amala Theological college, Marthoma
Vidyanikethan, Zion Retreat House,
etc.). He also founded an Eastern
Monastic Congregation – Sisters of
St. Thomas (SST). The new priests’
home stands out as symbol of his
care and concern for the elderly and
sickly priests. Archbishop Mar Powathil has been a staunch defender
of the teachings of the Magisterium.
His concern for the poor, the
underprivileged and the marginalized
was such that he initiated a number
of schemes for their development.
The Malanad Development Society in
Kanjirapally diocese and the various
projects of the Changanassery Social
Service Society (CHASS) bear ample
testimony to this. Worthy of special
mention also are the foundation of
Bl. Alphonsa Sneha Nivas for street
children and Bl. Alphonsa Centre for
the terminally ill. Mar Powathil’s
pastoral outlook is broad and
encompasses the non-Catholics and
even the non-Christians. He is well
known in the Ecumenical Movement
(Inter-Church Council, Nilackal
Ecumenical Trust) and the Church’s
fellowship with followers of other religions (Religious Fellowship
Foundation). New centres/parishes
have been established in the
extended territory (Home Mission)
viz., at Chengannoor, Mavelikara,
Adoor, Kollam, Niranam, Pathanapuram,
Kottarakara and
Karavaloor. The
source of Mar Joseph Powathil’s
sense of mission and dedication
is undoubtedly his commitment to Truth
and Charity, enriched by his solid
faith and life in the Spirit.
The resignation of Mar Joseph
Powathil from office as the
Metropolitan Archbishop of
Changanacherry submitted to the
Major Archbishop on reaching 75
years of age became effective on 19
March 2007 when Mar Joseph
Perumthottam was enthroned as the
new Metropolitan Archbishop of
Changanacherry. |
