Mathew Kavukattu
Encyclopedia
Servant of God
Mathew Kavukattu (July 17, 1904 – October 9, 1969) was the first Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Changanassery. His Cause of Canonization was begun in 1991.
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Arch Bishop Mathew Kavukattu
Mathew, son of Chummar and Tresa of Kavukattu family from Anthinadu (Pravithanam) near Palai was born on 17 July 1904. After the elementary education at Anthinadu School he joined the St. Thomas High School, Pala. There he had many companions who became renowned persons in later years. After the School final in 1923 he joined St. Berchmans College
Changanacherry for his Higher Education. After two years there he pursued his studies in Trivandrum where he graduated in 1927. The following year was spent at home engaging himself in various parish youth activities.
He joined the St. Thomas Minor Seminary at Kottayam
on 1 June 1928 and then to Aluva
for the major Seminary. He was ordained a priest on 21 December 1935 by Bishop Kalassery together with 19 others. He offered his first Mass on 24th of the same month in his home parish. For 15 years he served the church in various capacities: as pastor, teacher, Headmaster, Director of ministries etc. In between he served in Kanjirapally for a couple of years as Headmaster of St. Dominic’s H S and Asst PP of the parish.
On 9 November 1950 Fr. Mathew Kavukattu was ordained Bishop in Rome
. On 3 January 1951he assumed the post of the Bishop of Changanacherry with the motto ‘Caritate Servire’ (Service with Love). In 1956 the Diocese of Changanacherry was raised to Arch Diocese and Bishop Kavukattu became the first Arch Bishop. The following years were important in the History of Kerala
Church and the minority communities due to the peculiar political situation. The Arch Bishop played the key role in organizing the people and leading them in the liberation movement. Pope John XXIIIrd appreciated him for this great work when he visited him in 1960.
The silver Jubilee of his Priestly ordination was in 1959–1960. He requested the faithful a housing scheme for the homeless in the diocese as a Jubilee gift. The Kanjirapally St. Dominic’s parish started our school as the Jubilee memorial under the leadership of Fr. George Thachenkary.
The following years are very important in the History of the Catholic Church. The council of Vatican II
and the Eucharistic Congress of Bombay are the major events. In both these, Mar Kavukattu played a very prominent role. Though his health was deteriorating and had to undergo a major surgery in Germany
he continued his great work in the diocese specially the work for the poor and the suffering. In his words he did not want any Lazar to be crying in the portico.
He was very well taken care of by his relatives and the people of the diocese. He died in the early hours of 9 October 1969.
Servant of God
Servant of God is a title given to individuals by various religions, but in general the phrase is used to describe a person believed to be pious in his or her faith tradition. In the Catholic Church, it designates someone who is being investigated by the Church for possibly being recognized as a...
Mathew Kavukattu (July 17, 1904 – October 9, 1969) was the first Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Changanassery. His Cause of Canonization was begun in 1991.
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Arch Bishop Mathew Kavukattu
Mathew, son of Chummar and Tresa of Kavukattu family from Anthinadu (Pravithanam) near Palai was born on 17 July 1904. After the elementary education at Anthinadu School he joined the St. Thomas High School, Pala. There he had many companions who became renowned persons in later years. After the School final in 1923 he joined St. Berchmans College
St. Berchmans College
St.Berchmans' College Changanassery also known as S. B. College, is one of the most reputed Colleges in Kerala, India situated in the town of Changanassery 18 kilometers south of Kottayam. Established in 1922, the college has grown over the years into one of the leading colleges with thirteen...
Changanacherry for his Higher Education. After two years there he pursued his studies in Trivandrum where he graduated in 1927. The following year was spent at home engaging himself in various parish youth activities.
He joined the St. Thomas Minor Seminary at Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
on 1 June 1928 and then to Aluva
Aluva
Aluva , is a suburb of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Aluva is also a major industrial center of the state....
for the major Seminary. He was ordained a priest on 21 December 1935 by Bishop Kalassery together with 19 others. He offered his first Mass on 24th of the same month in his home parish. For 15 years he served the church in various capacities: as pastor, teacher, Headmaster, Director of ministries etc. In between he served in Kanjirapally for a couple of years as Headmaster of St. Dominic’s H S and Asst PP of the parish.
On 9 November 1950 Fr. Mathew Kavukattu was ordained Bishop in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. On 3 January 1951he assumed the post of the Bishop of Changanacherry with the motto ‘Caritate Servire’ (Service with Love). In 1956 the Diocese of Changanacherry was raised to Arch Diocese and Bishop Kavukattu became the first Arch Bishop. The following years were important in the History of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
Church and the minority communities due to the peculiar political situation. The Arch Bishop played the key role in organizing the people and leading them in the liberation movement. Pope John XXIIIrd appreciated him for this great work when he visited him in 1960.
The silver Jubilee of his Priestly ordination was in 1959–1960. He requested the faithful a housing scheme for the homeless in the diocese as a Jubilee gift. The Kanjirapally St. Dominic’s parish started our school as the Jubilee memorial under the leadership of Fr. George Thachenkary.
The following years are very important in the History of the Catholic Church. The council of Vatican II
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
and the Eucharistic Congress of Bombay are the major events. In both these, Mar Kavukattu played a very prominent role. Though his health was deteriorating and had to undergo a major surgery in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
he continued his great work in the diocese specially the work for the poor and the suffering. In his words he did not want any Lazar to be crying in the portico.
He was very well taken care of by his relatives and the people of the diocese. He died in the early hours of 9 October 1969.