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Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy
was born at Vilakumadam in the Eparchy of Palai on 13th December, 1930. At
present his family belongs to Sacred
Heart parish, Thiruvambady in the
Eparchy of Thamarassery. He had his
priestly studies at St. Joseph’s
Pontifical seminary, Aluva and Urban
College, Rome. He was ordained
priest on 22nd December 1956 in
Rome. After the ordination he
continued his studies there and took
Doctorate in Canon and Civil laws
from the Lateran University, Rome.
On coming back he was appointed
secretary of Mar Sebastian
Vallopilly, the then Bishop of
Thalassery, and chancellor of the
Eparchy. Later he was appointed
Rector of the Eparchial Minor
Seminary at Thalassery. After a few
years he resumed his studies at
Fordham university New York from
where he holds a Master’s degree in
English Literature. Soon after his
return from the States he was again
appointed Rector of the Eparchial
Minor Seminary, Thalassery and
worked there till his nomination as
the first Bishop of the newly
erected Eparchy of Manathavady in
1973. He was consecrated on 1st May,
1973 by the late mar Joseph Cardinal
Parekattil assisted by the late Mar Sebastian Vayalil and Sebastian
Vallopilly. He took charge of the
Eparchy on the same day. He served the
Eparchy of Manathavady for 22 years.
On 7th June, 1995 he was transferred
as the Bishop of Thamarassery and
took charge of his office on 28th
July 1995. On 18th December 1996 he
was again transferred as the
Archbishop of Trichur and installed
on 15th February 1997. Marymatha
Major Seminary, Jeeven T.V., Jyothi
Engineering College, Mahajubilee
Training College (B.Ed. College), Jubilee Mission Medical
College and Teachers
Training Institute, Etc. are some of
his pioneering contribution to the
Catholic Church and Society.
He is the first President of CBCI. His motto is “Until Christ is
formed in you”. The resignation of
Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy from office as
the Metropolitan Archbishop of
Trichur submitted to the Major
Archbishop on reaching 75 years of
age became effective on 18 March
2007 when Mar Andrews Thazhath was
enthroned as the new Metropolitan
Archbishop of Trichur. |
