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Archbishop Joseph Powathil
The Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church) 

A profile of Ministry in 'Truth and Charity'

Born on 14 August 1930 Joseph Powathil 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 Master Degree in Economics.

He did his seminary studies in St. Thomas Petit Seminary, Parel and Papal seminary at Pune. After ordination on 3 October 1962 at Pune he was appointed lecturer in Economics and Warden of St. Joseph’s Hostel in S. B. College, Changanassery. He was in the campus ministry for one decade. During this period he had the advantage of taking a one-year course in Developmental Economics at the prestigious Oxford University.

On 29 January 1972 he was nominated Auxiliary Bishop of Changanassery and was ordained bishop by Pope Paul VI on 13 February 1972 at Rome. After five years on 26 February 1977 he was appointed the bishop of newborn diocese of Kanjirappally. Later on 16 November 1985 he was appointed as the archbishop of Changanassery.

He served as President of Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) (1994-1998), Chairman of Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (1993-1996), and Chairman of Education Commission of the CBCI. He is at present a member of the Post Asian Synodal Council in Rome, Italy (since 1998), Chairman of KCBC Commission for Education (since 1986), Founder and Chairman of Inter Church Council for Education, Chairman of Inter Religious Fellowship, member of the Pro Oriente Foundation at Vienna, Austria (since 1993) and member of the Scientific Commission of International Publication ‘Oasis’ from Venice, Italy.

His leadership as an educationist starts in early 1970’s when he was the auxiliary bishop of Changanassery. It was then the youth wing of a certain political party came out against the private colleges in Kerala. Following the footsteps of his predecessor, Bishop James Kalacherry, who challenged the unjust educational policies of the famous Sir C.P. Rama Swamy Iyyer, he was at the leadership to defend the educational rights of the minority communities and led the agitation for freedom. In Changanassery, he personally led a large manifestation against the government through the streets. His vision of education is rather liberal and liberating. He joined hands with the other Christian Churches to defend the constitutional rights of the minority communities.

St. John the Baptist Training College at Nedumkunnam, St. Thomas College of Nursing at Chethipuzha, St. Thomas College of Allied Health Sciences at Chethipuzha and St. Joseph’s College of Communication at Kurisummoodu are founded by him in the Archdiocese of Changanassery during the last decade.

His special care and concern for the margininalised, especially for the mentally challenged children is manifested in nineteen special schools for the mentally challenged in the Archdiocese itself and four schools for the physically handicapped. The first school for the mentally challenged in the central travancore region was opened by his initiative in 1972 (Asha Bhavan) at Ithithanam near Changanassery. Now it is the largest residential school with hundred students and twenty-five teaching and non-teaching staff. Besides he is the inspiration behind 16 mental health care centres and four houses for the terminally ill in the Archdiocese.

Social Development was one of his major concerns. He founded the famous and prestigious Peerumedu Development Society (P.D.S) and the Malanadu Development Society (M. D. S) in 1977 while he was the bishop of Kanjirappaly. The Kuttanadu Vikasana Samithy (KVS) is another brainchild of Archbishop Powathil for the integral development of the place and people of Kuttanadu. Besides, as the Patron of the Changanassery Social Service Society (CHASS) he is the inspiration of numerous developmental schemes. During the last seven years itself the society has built 2000 new houses - with the support of the local people - for those who don’t have proper shelter. Many Scholarship schemes are established for the Dalit Christians in the Archdiocese and the poor and eligible students of the professional courses.

In 1990, Archbishop Powathil founded the prestigious I. C. Chacko award for cultural and literary excellence and it was awarded to Prof. P. C. Devasia, the author of Kristu Bhagavathom in Sanskrit language. Centre for Indian Christian Archaeological Research (CICAR) promoting research is another unique initiative of the Archbishop. Rev. Dr. Joseph Vazhuthanappally is the head of this centre promoting scientific research. Promoting reading habit among the people Archbishop Powathil established the Department of Book Apostolate and they organize the Changanassery Pusthaka Mela in the month of October every year. This Mela is considered as the cultural fest of Changanassery attracting many thousands of people every day. Besides he started family library scheme, school library scheme, Pusthaka Mela in every school etc.

Realizing the importance of the Youth Apostolate he took the initiative in establishing a Diocesan Youth Movement called ‘Yuva Deepthi’ in 1972. In course of time it spread to all the dioceses in Kerala leading to the formation of Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM) and he was the first chairman of the KCBC Youth Commission. He started Apostolate for the senior citizens, apostolate for the emigrants and apostolate for the tourists in the Archdiocese. CANA, the Indian Section of the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, at Thuruthy with head quarters in Rome is another achievement of him.

The Syro Malabar Church in which he was born and brought up was always close to his heart. He was always a 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 - periodical, Christian Orient - periodical, Missionary Orientation Centre (MOC, recognized by the Congregation for Catholic Education, Rome), Amala Theological College for the novices, Mar Thoma Vidya Nikethan for Laity (Master Degree in Religious Sciences: recognized by the Congregation for Catholic Education, Rome) etc. are the means used for the same. He also founded an Eastern Monastic Congregation – Sisters of St. Thomas.