- John Kuzhinapurath
Father John Kuzhinapurath, OIC, (1904–1994) was the first priest who reunited with the
Catholic Church along with ArchbishopMar Ivanios on September 20, 1930 in the process of the formation of theSyro-Malankara Catholic Church .Fr. John was born on Midhunam 23, 1078 of
Malayalam Era atOmallur nearPathanamthitta ,Kerala ,India . He was the youngest child of Pakalomattom Kuzhinapurath Eapen and Kocheetha. He had his primary education in Government Middle School atPathanamthitta . He was ordained deacon by the OrthodoxCatholicos Mar Baselios in 1919. Then he studied for priesthood at M.D. Seminary,Kottayam ,Kerala . Deacon John continued his secular studies at St. Thomas High School, Pala, Kerala. He completed his Inermediate education in C.M.S College, Kottayam.Dn. John joined the
Bethany Ashram , the monastic order founded by ArchbishopMar Ivanios . He made his first monastic profession and Mar Ivanios ordained him priest in 1929. Fr. John followed Mar Ivanios and reunited with the Catholic Church on September 20, 1930.He had a monastic formation of one year in the Carmelite Monastery at Trivandrum. He served the
Bethany Ashram as novice master andSuprior General . He worked in several mission centers atThiruvalla andTrivandrum . He journied several kilometers by cycle every day for doing missionary and charitable works. He started the prayer centre at the T. B. Sanitorium at Pulayanarkotta, Trivandrum.He authored the book "Sahana Yanjgam" (Sacrificial Suffering).
Fr. John passed away on January 28, 1994.
The Bethany Ashram published a special issue of "Bethany Sabdam", a compilation of memories about Fr. John Kuzhinapurath in 1995. [See, John Elavinakkuzhiyil, "Bethany Sabdam", 1995.]
Being inspired by the life of Fr. John Kuzhinapurath, OIC, several young members of his family became priests and nuns. Now there are 7 priests and 8 sisters from the family of Fr. John.
See also
*
Fr. Thomas Kuzhinapurath
*Kuzhinapurath Family Source
Fr. Thomas Inchaykkalodi, "Archbishop Mar Ivanios", Vol. 1, Bethany Publications, Kottayam, 2006.
References
External links
* [http://www.catholicate.net Syro-Malankara Catholic Church]
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