INDIAN CANDIDATES FOR CANONIZATION

Servant of god Father Constant Lievens sj

(April 10, 1856 – November 7, 1893)

Servant of God Father Constant Lievens is known as the apostle and founder of the Church of Chotanagpur. He was born at Moorslede in the diocese of Bruges (Belgium) on April 10, 1856. He joined the Society of Jesus at Drongen on October 21, 1878. On October 22, 1880 he made his religious profession and set out for India, where he arrived in Calcutta on December 2, 1880. He was ordained a priest at Calcutta on January 14, 1883. Later he was sent to Ranchi in Chotanagpur where he arrived in 1885. Father Lievens founded his first mission station at Torpa in November 1885. He led a very austere and ascetic life. Aware of the vicious exploitation of tribals by Jagirdars, Zamindars, Thikedars and moneylenders, he studied the customary laws of the tribals and the laws of the British government. With the help of reliable and people friendly lawyers, Father Lievens took up the defence of the tribals in the courts. This led to an ever-increasing flow of people towards the Church. He worked himself to death, instructing, building school and chapels, preparing court cases, etc. On August 27, 1888, he was appointed Director of the mission and shifted to Manresa House, Ranchi from where he organized and supervised the mission work. He ruined his health by his unflagging zeal and ceaseless labours. He contracted tuberculosis and on August 26, 1892 he left Ranchi for Belgium in the hope of recovering and of returning to his dear mission. But that was not to be. He died at Louvain on November 7, 1893. On his arrival at Ranchi there were only 56 Catholics in the area where he was destined to work. By the time he left, about seven and a half years later, there were well over 70,000. “The miracle of the Church of Chotanagpur” had begun. With the consent of the government of India, his mortal remains were brought back to “his people” on November 1,1993 and, after an extensive tour throughout his old mission field, reinterred in the Ranchi Cathedral on November 7, 1993. The cause for his Beatification started in 1993, in the diocese of Bruges. The postulator is Rev. O. Denorme, who has prepared the required dossier about his life, virtues and labours. The diocesan commission was officially constituted and inaugurated on March 15, 2000. The people of Chotanagpur who consider him their “apostle and father in faith” have never forgot Father Lievens.

Address: Vice Postulator for India, Fr. F. Jonckheere sj, Manreasa House, P.B. 2,  Ranchi, Jharkhand 834 001 E-mail: frjonckheere@yahoo.com

 Venerable Agnel D’Souza

(Jan. 21, 1869 – Nov. 20, 1927)

Mystic and preacher, Father Agnel D’Souza was a member of the society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier. He was born in Anjuan, in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. He joined the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier (Pilar Fathers) on July 17, 1897. He was ordained priest on September 2, 1899. The Vatican declared him venerable on November 10, 18986.

 Address: Vice Postulator, Cause of Beatification of Venerable Agnel, Society of Pilar, Pilar, Goa, India- 403 203 Ph: 0832-218694 Fax: 0832-219460 E-mail: generall@goal.net.in 

Father Augustine Thevarparambil

(April 1, 1891 – October 16, 1973)

Everyone in Ramapuram village in Kerala considers Father Augustine Thevarparambil, popularly known as Kunjachan, as a humble priest. He was born in Ramapuram village on April 1, 1891. He was ordained priest in the diocese of  Pala, in 1921. Interestingly, during most of his priestly career, Kunjachan stayed in his own parish, the St. Augustine’s Church at Ramapuram, as one among the three assistant parish priests for more than 40 years. Junjachan died on 16^th October 1973. Soon after his death, his tomb at the St. Augustine Church became a center of pilgrimage for people from far and wide. According to parish priest Father Mathew Narivelil, the biography and the prayer for intercession of Kunjachan have been published in many Indian and European languages. After Kunjachan was declared a Servant of God, and elaborate enquiry about his life and virtues was followed by a diocesan tribunal. Father Mathoth prepared the ‘positio’ on the virutues and submitted it to the Congregation for the Cause of Saints in Rome on 12 Feb. 1997. 

Venerable Aurelian of the Blessed Sacrament ocd

(June 2, 1887 – Nov. 16, 1963) 

Father Aurelian was a theologian, professor, writer and spiritual leader. He was a Spanish priest who trained over 1,500 priests and who lived in India for more than 50 years. He was born at Archunduaga, Basauri near Bilbao Province, Spain. He became a Carmelite on August 4, 1902. He was ordained priest on December 17, 1910. He reached India on October 9, 1912. Father Aurelian was spiritual director (1914-44), vice rector (1934-44) and rector (1944-56) of the St. Joseph’s Seminary, Aluva in Kerala. He was national director of Priests’ Eucharist League (1928-1945), editor of Eucharist and priest and secretary of Fifth Eucharistic Congress of India held at Goa in 1931. He was also the delegate general of the Discalced Carmelite Order in India in 1957. The Vatican declared him Servant of God on December 17, 1980. He was declared Venerable on March 26, 1999. 

Address: Rev. Dr. Antony Pinheiro ocd, Vice Postulator, Sacred Heart Philosophy College, Monastery Lane, Aluva, Kerala 683 101 Ph: 0484-2623409.

Blessed Alphonsa Muttathupadath fcc

(Aug. 19, 1910 – July 28, 1946)

Blessed Alphonsa’s life does not appear to be anything extraordinary or even remarkable. During her life she was just an ordinary nun who led an obscure and eventless life in the quiet cloisters of the Clarist convent at Bharananganam, Kerala. III-health rendered her inactive and she remained bed-ridden for long intervals of time. She had no great achievements to her credit, nor was she a person of exceptional talents or of any high intellectual acquisitions. But she is venerated today as the humble suffering handmaid of Jesus. Alphonsa was born on August 19, 1910 at Muttathupadath family of Kudamaloor, Kottayam in the Archdiocese of Changanacherry in Kerala. She lost her mother at an early age. She joined the Franciscan Clarist Congregation, Bharananganam, in 1927 and received religious habit on May 19, 1930. She took perpetual vows on August 12, 1936. Her life was full of sufferings and sickness. She got miraculous cure through the intercession of Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara in December 1936. She fell ill with double pneumonia in June 1936 and was again seriously ill in 1940. She was administered the sacrament of the sick on September 29, 1941, but recovered in July 1945 she started vomiting and died of that sickness on July 28, 1946. Diocesan Tribunal for the beatification of Sister Alphonsa was inaugurated on December 2, 1953. She was declared Venerable on July 9, 1985 and declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II on February 8, 1986 at Kottayam, Kerala. Her feast is celebrated on July 28. 

Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara

(Feb. 10, 1805 – Jan. 3, 1871)

Kuriakose Elias Chavara was born on Feb. 10, 1805 at Kainakary, Alappuzha in the Archdioceses of Changanacherry in Kerala. From the age 5 to 10, he attended the village school (Kalari) to study languages, different dialects, and elementary sciences under the guidance of a Hindu teacher (Asan). Inspired by the desire to become a priest, he began the studies under the parish priest of the church of St. Joseph. At the age of 13 in 1818 he entered the seminary at Pallipuram where Malpan Thomas Palackal was the Rector. He was ordained priest on 29^th November 1829, at Arthunkal and celebrated his First Holy Mass at Chennankari Church. Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara is one of the founding fathers and the first Superior General of C.M.I. (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate) congregation of the Catholic Church. He died on January 3^rd, 1871, in the odor of sanctity, leaving behind him the high reputation of a very holy monk. He was declared blessed on February 8, 1986 by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. Blessed Chavara was a great educational and social reformer. He was appointed official teacher (Malpan) of the Syro-Malabar seminarians on February 16, 1844 by the Archbishop of Verapoly. His cause of canonization was taken up in 1953. His feast is celebrated on January 3.

Address: Vice Postulator, Chavara Office, St. Joseph’s Monastery, Mannanam, Kottayam, Kerala, India 686 561 Ph: 0481-2598150 E-mail: Vice-postulator@blessedchavara.org  Web Site: www.blessedchavara.org

Blessed Maria Teresa Chiramel

(April 26, 1876 – June 8, 1926)

Blessed Maria Theresa Chiramel, was born in Puttencheria near Thrissur, Kerala, on April 26, 1876. Although she had no formal education, Blessed Maria, however, emerged as a great educationist and social reformer. She always worked for the poor and the sick and especially the downtrodden in society. In 1913, she set up a prayer house at Puttencheria where she founded her Holy Family Congregation on May 14, 1914. She died at Kuzhikattussery, Thrissur on June 8, 1926. The cause of her beatification was taken up in 1982 and she was declared beatified on April 9, 2000 by Pope John Paul II. Her feast day is on June 8. Blessed Maria Teresa is the founder of the Holy Family Congregation.  

Blessed Joseph Vaz

(April 21, 1651 – Jan. 1711)

Blessed Joseph Vaz was born on April 21, 1651 at Benaulim, Goa. He was ordained priest in 1676 after which he traveled extensively on foot along the western coast and into Sri Lanka. He died in Kandy, Sri Lanka on January 7, 1711. Father Vaz was declared blessed by Pope John Paul II on July 6, 1997. His feast day is on January 7. He is today remembered as one of the outstanding missionaries in India.  

Address: Vice Postulator, Sanctuary of Blessed Joseph Vaz, 413, Blessed Joseph Vaz Road, Sancoale P.O., Cortalim, Goa, Inida 403 710 Ph: 0834-2550263

Archbishop Mathew Kavukatt

(July 14, 1905 – Oct. 5, 1969)

Mar Mathew Kavukatt, the former Archbishop of Changanacherry was an eminent educationist and administrator. He was born at Pravithanam, now in the Pala diocese, Kerala. He was ordained priest of December 1, 1935. Father Kavukatt was appointed as Bishop of Changanacherry in 1950. He was elevated as Archbishop in 1956. Archbishop Kavukatta was the founder of Assumption College at Changanacherry, B.K. College at Amalagiri, St. Aloysius College at Edathua and many other educational institutions in the Archdiocese. His cause of canonization was taken up by the Archdiocese and he was declared Servant of God on Oct. 25, 1996. 

Address: Vice Postulator for the Cause of Archbishop Kavukatt, Archbishop’s House, Changanacherry, Kottayam Dist., Kerala, India Ph: 0481-2421162 Fax: 2422540

Father Mathew Kadalikkattil

(April 25, 1872 – May 23, 1935)

Father Mathew Kadalikkattil is the founder of Sacred Heart Congregation for women. He was born at Edapady, Meenachil, Palai diocese, Kerala. He was ordained priest on February 17, 1901. He served as parish priest at Lalam (Old & New), Karoor and Kannadiyurumbu in the Palai diocese. Confessional and pulpit were the two chief venues of his pastoral ministry. His mortal remains were interred at S.H. Convent Chapel, Palai on Sept. 6, 1937. His cause of canonization was taken up in 1987 and he was declared Servant of God in 1989. 

Address: Vice Postulator, S.H. Provincial House, Palai, Kottayam Dist., Kerala, India 686 575 Ph: 0482-2212225, 2215221

Mother Euprasia

(Oct. 17, 1877 – Aug. 29, 1952)

Evangelist, social worker and novice mistress, Mother Euprasia was born at Edathuruthy, Thrissur diocese in Kerala. She was a member of the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel from May 24, 1990. She lived a typical Carmelite life of prayer combined with penance and in need; so much so that she was known among people as the ‘praying mother’. She was buried at St. Mary’s Convent Chapelollur in Thrissur. Her cause for canonization was taken up in 1986 and she was declared Servant of God in 1988. 

Address: Vice Postulator, Cause of Mother Euprasia, Mount Carmel Generalate, Thaikkattukara, Aluva, Kerala, India 683 106 Ph: 0484-2621307 

Address: Vice Postulator, St. Mary’s Convent, Ollu, Thrissur, Kerala, India 680 306 Ph: 0487-2352345

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

(Aug. 10, 1910 – Sept. 5, 1997)

Angel of the Gutters’ and ‘Mother of the Poor’, Mother Teresa was a living testimony of Christian charity; whose services are acclaimed worldwide. Mother Teresa was born at Skopje in Albania on August 10, 1910 as Agnes Gonzha Bojazhiu. She joined Loretto convent in Ireland in 1928 and reached India in the same year. She took perpetual vows on May 27, 1937. For a few years she was a teacher at Calcutta. In 1946 she got a special inspiration to work for the poorest of the poor and got permission to leave the congregation, In 1950 she founded the missionaries of Charity congregation for women devoted to the care of the sick, destitute and the neglected. In 1963 the brothers’ section of the congregation was started. In 1965 the congregation was raised to the status of pontifical rank. Mother Teresa work was widely acclaimed and recognized world over. She was the recipient of the Noble Peace Prize (1979), the Templeton Prize( 1973) and numerous other international awards. The Government of India recognized her services by according her the highest civilian honour of Bharat Ratna in 1980. Mother Teresa died on Sept. 5, 1997 at Calcutta. Cause of her canonization was taken up by the Archdiocese of Calcutta in 1999 and she was declared Servant of God on June 12, 1999. Pope John Paul II waived the customary five-year period for the sainthood process for Mother Teresa to begin and declared her ‘beatified’ in 2003 within six years of her death. 

Address: Vice Postulator, Headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, Mother House, 54/A, Lower Ciruclar Road, Calcutta 16, West Bengal, India.

Bishop Thomas Kurialacherry

( Jan. 14, 1873 – June 2, 1925 )

Bishop Thomas Kurialacherry was the former Bishop of the Diocese of Changanacherry. He was an eminent educationist and social worker. He founded the Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (S.A.B.S.) in 1908. Bishop Kurialacherry was born at Champakulam, Changanacherry Archdiocese in Kerala. He was ordained priest on May 27, 1899. He served as parish priest at Chennankary, Kavalam, Edathua and Champakulam in the Archdiocese. He was appointed as the first Bishop of Changanacherry on Dec. 3, 1911. He founded the St. Berchman’s  College, Changanacherry in 1922. He died in Rome and was buried there. His mortal remains were brought to Changanacherry on July 251 1934 and was interred at the Cathedral. His cause of canonization was taken up in 1983  and he was declared Servant of God on Dec. 13, 1991. 

Mother Veronica of the Passion

(Oct. 1, 1823 – Nov. 16, 1906)

Mother Veronica is the foundress of Apostolic Carmel, a religious congregation for women. She was born of English parents in Constantinople. She became Catholic at the age of 27 in Malta, Cyprus. She went to France and joined the Congregation of St. Joseph of the Apparition in 1851. On receiving an inspiration to start an Apostolic Carmel she came to India in 1862 and spent two years at Mangalore and Kozhikode. Later she left for France and joined the Cloistered Carmel of Pau in 1867. She prepared a group of sisters of the Carmelite Third Order Regular as ‘Carmel for Missions’ congregation at Bayonne, France, on July 16, 1868. Through them she founded the Apostolic Carmel in Mangalore, Karnataka, in 1868. Later she rejoined Carmel of Pau. Mother Veronica died and was buried in Pau in 1906. Her cause of canonization was taken up by the sisters of the Apostolic Carmel in 1997. 

Address: Vice Postulator, Apostolic Carmel Generalate, P.B. 4107, Jai Nagar, T-Block, Bangalore, Karnataka, India 560 041 Ph: 080-2663371, 26341393

Father Zacharias ocd

(Nov. 5, 1887 – May 23, 1957)

Father Zacharias was a theologian, philosopher, missionary, preacher and historian. He was a Spanish Carmelite who spent almost five decades in India. He was born at Abadiano, in Spain’s Bilbao Diocese. Professed as Carmelite on Sept. 12, 1904, he was ordained priest on July 11, 1911 and opted to work in India. Father Zacharias arrived at Ernakulam, Kerala on Oct. 9, 1912. He was professor at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Aluva for 44 years. He was declared Servant of God on Jan. 14, 1984. 

Address: Vice Postulator, Sacred Heart Philosophy College, Monastery Lane, Aluva, Kerala, India 683 101 Ph: 0484-2623409

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CATHOLIC CHURCH IN INDIA

(Statistics)

 The data given below was compiled from information sent in by (Arch) dioceses, various Congregations and by the CRI