Joseph Powathil

{{Short description|Syro-Malabar Catholic archbishop (1929–2023)}}

{{Infobox Christian leader

| honorific-prefix = Mar

| name = Joseph Powathil

| honorific-suffix =

| title = Metropolitan Archbishop of Archeparchy of Changanacherry
(1985-2007)

| image = Mar Joseph Powathil.jpg

| caption =

| province =

| diocese = Archeparchy of Changanacherry

| see =

| ended =

| predecessor = Antony Padiyara

| successor = Joseph Perumthottam

| ordination = 3 October 1962

| consecration = 13 February 1972

| other_post = former chairman, Inter-church Council of Kerala

| rank =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1930|8|14}}

| birth_place = Kurumpanadom, Travancore, British Raj

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2023|3|18|1930|8|14}}

| death_place = Changanassery, Kerala, India

| buried =

| religion =

| residence = Archbishop's House, Changanacherry

| parents = Ulahannan Joseph, Mariamma

| spouse =

| children =

| occupation =

| profession =

| alma_mater = St. Berchman's High School
St. Berchmans College
Loyola College, Chennai
Papal Seminary, Pune
University of Oxford(1 year Economics course{{cite news|author=Web desk|title=The Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus Mar Joseph Powathil|url=https://www.kanjirapallydiocese.com/bishoppowathil.html|access-date=23 March 2023|work=Madhyamam|date=25 August 2020|language=ml}}

| signature =

| motto = "Truth and Charity”

}}

Joseph Powathil (14 August 1930 – 18 March 2023)[https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/03/18/archbishop-mar-joseph-powathil-passes-away.amp.html Former Archbishop of Changanacherry Diocese Mar Joseph Powathil passes away at 92] was an Indian prelate of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. He was the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Changanassery, serving from 1985 until 2007. He was also the first bishop of Kanjirappally, having served from 1977 to 1985. He served as the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) from 1994 to 1998. Powathil was one of the youngest bishops in India, having been ordained bishop at the age of 41 and Pope Paul VI was his principal consecrator.{{Cite web|title=Archbishop Joseph Powathil|url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bpowathil.html|access-date=2023-03-22|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org|language=en}} A scholar in theology, Powathil is known for his stance in matters related to the Syro-Malabar Church's liturgy and restoration of eastern traditions. His stance on the fee structure of self-financing colleges had once become a challenge for the Kerala state government.{{Cite web|url=https://ccbi.in/archbishop-mar-joseph-powathil-passes-away/|title=Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil Passes Away|website=ccbi.in/archbishop-mar-joseph-powathil-passes-away/|access-date=2023-03-22}}

Early life

Powathil was born in the hamlet of Kurumbanadom, near Chanaganacherry, British India. He was known as Pappachan in his childhood, and was officially known as P. J. Joseph. He went to school at Holy Family LP School and St. Peter's UP School, and then at St. Berchmans’ High School in Changanacherry. He attended St. Berchmans' College, Changanacherry for a B.A. Economics and Loyola College, Chennai from which he received an M.A. in economics.{{Cite web|url=http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/bishop.php?id=36|title=Syro Malabar Church Bishop ::Mar Joseph Powathil Metropolitan Emeritus of Changanacherry ::Changanacherry Archeparchy|website=www.syromalabarchurch.in|access-date=25 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516054902/http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/bishop.php?id=36|archive-date=16 May 2020}}

Priestly ministry

Powathil did his seminary studies in St. Thomas Seminary Changanacherry and Papal Seminary, Pune. He was ordained priest on 3 October 1962.{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bpowathil.html|title=Archbishop Joseph Powathil [Catholic-Hierarchy]|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org|access-date=2020-03-25}} He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Changanacherry (Titular Bishop of Caesarea Philippi) on 29 January 1972, despite having little Episcopal experience, and was consecrated by Pope Paul VI on 13 February 1972. On 26 February 1977, a new diocese was created under the name Kanjirappally, splitting the Changanacherry archdiocese. Bishop Powathil was transferred there as the first bishop. He served the new diocese for nine years. He rose to become archbishop and returned to Changanacherry on 16 November 1985, succeeding Antony Padiyara.

Offices held

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 has been 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 in Vienna, Austria (since 1993) and member of the Scientific Commission of International Publication ‘Oasis’ in Venice, Italy.

Service

He founded the 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 project of his. As the Patron of the Changanacherry Social Service Society (CHASS), he oversaw numerous developmental schemes. Many Scholarship schemes are established for the Dalit Christians in the Archdiocese and the poor and eligible students of the professional courses.

In 1990, Powathil founded the 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. The Centre for Indian Christian Archaeological Research (CICAR) is another initiative. In order to promote reading, Powathil established the Department of Book Apostolate, which organizes the Changanacherry Pusthaka Mela every year in October.

He established the Diocesan Youth Movement called ‘Yuvadeepti’ in 1972. It eventually turned into the Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM). 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. He led CANA, the Indian Section of the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, at Thuruthy with headquarters in Rome.

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20071120082111/http://www.archbishopjosephpowathil.org/ Articles by Archbishop Joseph Powathil]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080125054957/http://www.archdiocesechanganacherry.org/changanassery.htm Archdiocese Changanacherry-Official site]
[http://www.syromalabar.com/dioceses/ Syro-Malabar Dioceses -- All 26 dioceses of the Syro-Malabar Church with photographs]
[http://www.syromalabar.com/dioceses/changanassery/ Archdiocese of Changanassery]

{{succession box

| before= None (New Diocese)

| title=Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally

| years=1977–1985

| after=Mathew Vattakuzhy

}}

{{succession box

| before= Mar Antony Padiyara

| title=Metropolitan of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery

| years=1985–2008

| after=Joseph Perumthottam

}}