Kerala Catholic priest declared Servant of God

(June 11, 2009) Father Antony Thachuparambil, popularly known as ‘Missionary of Chelakkara’, was declared Servant of God by the Vatican, June 9. Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Thrissur made the announcement at St. Mary’s Forane Church at Chelakkara, June 9 morning. The papal bull in this regard was read out by senior Vicar General Father Raphael Thattil during a concelebrated high Mass led by Thazhath and retired Archbishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy, amid a large gathering of faithful. The Servant of God status is the first step towards sainthood — followed by declarations of Venerable and Blessed — under the Roman Catholic Church. The work of the Tribunal for the canonisation of Thachuparambil would be initiated by Postulator Father Paul Pulicken. Born in 1894 at Chalakudy, Thachuparambil had served about three decades since 1930 in Chelakkara, an extremely backward forest area. He had made immense contribution for the overall development of Chelakkara, serving all sections of society irrespective of caste, colour and religion. The priest had established a school, Balabhavan, for orphans and a church in the 1930s. He died on June 9, 1963.