Joseph Kundukulam

Mar Joseph Kundukulam (26 September 1917 – 26 April 1998) was the first metropolitan archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur, from 1970 to 1997. Kundukulam was succeeded by Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy. Kundukulam retired as archbishop in 1997 and died at Wamba, Kenya on 26 April 1998. His corpse was taken to Kerala by a special aircraft and was buried at Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral, Thrissur on 29 April 1998.[1][2][3]

His Excellency

Mar Joseph Kundukulam
First Archbishop of Thrissur
ProvinceKerala
DioceseSyro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur
SeeSyro-Malabar Catholic Church
Term ended11 November 1996
PredecessorGeorge Alapatt
SuccessorJacob Thoomkuzhy
Orders
Ordination20 December 1942
Consecration4 June 1970
Personal details
Born(1917-09-26)26 September 1917
Parappur, Thrissur, British India (present-day Kerala, India)
Died26 April 1998(1998-04-26) (aged 80)
Wamba, Kenya
BuriedOur Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral, Thrissur
NationalityIndian
DenominationSyro-Malabar Catholic Church
Alma materMangalapuzha Seminary

Career

Kundukulam completed his ecclesiastical studies at St Mary’s Major Seminary in Trichur and at St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary in Aluva. Kundukulam was ordained priest on 20 December 1942. Kundukulam was a member of the pastoral ministry until he was nominated to become a Bishop. He also served as the director of St. Anne's Charitable Institute from 1958 to 1970. In 1967 Kundukulam founded St. Christina's Home in Pullazhy, which a rehabilitation center for Unwedded mothers.

Kundukulam had a close relationship with Congress Leader K. Karunakaran. During the visit of Pope John Paul II to India in 1986, a visit to Thrissur had not been scheduled. Mar Joseph Kundukulam sent a request to Karunakaran to bring the Pope to Thrissur and Karunakaran was able to schedule a papal visit to Thrissur. Vinod Rai was the District Collector of Thrissur that time, and the necessary arrangements were made for the papal visit. Pope visited Thrissur on February 7, 1986.

References
  1. "NRIs drop plan to take over CSB". Indian Express. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  2. "CSIL renews offer to buy CSB stake". Indian Express. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  3. "Federal Bank attempt to acquire Catholic Syrian Bank riles church". LiveMint. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
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