Joseph Powathil

Mar Joseph Powathil (born 14 August 1930) is an Indian prelate of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. He is the Archbishop Emeritus of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery.

Mar Joseph Powathil
Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Changanacherry
DioceseCatholic Archdiocese of Changanacherry
SeeSyro-Malabar Catholic Church
PredecessorAntony Padiyara
SuccessorMar Joseph Perumthottam
Other postsChairman, Interchurch Council
Orders
Ordination3 October 1962
Consecration13 February 1972
Personal details
Birth nameJoseph
Born (1930-08-14) 14 August 1930
Kurumbanadom, Travancore, British India
NationalityIndia
DenominationSyro-Malabar Catholic Church
ResidenceArchbishop's House, Changanacherry
ParentsUlahannan Joseph, Mariamma
Alma materSt. Berchman's High School

Early life

Powathil was born in the hamlet of Kurumbanadom, near Chanaganacherry, Travancore. 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.[1]

Priestly ministry

Powathil did his seminary studies in St. Thomas Seminary Changanacherry and Papal Seminary Pune. He was ordained priest on 3 October 1962.[2] 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.[2] 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 Mar Antony Padiyara.

As the Archbishop of Changanacherry, Powathil pushed for the restoration of East Syriac traditions in the Syro-Malabar Church. He fought for the complete revival of the Divine Liturgy that was latinised after the Synod of Diamper1599, although it was partially revived after Vatican II. These efforts got him several critics even among his fellow bishops, alleging that what he espoused amounted to adoption of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church practices.[3] On 22 January 2007, Powathil resigned in conformity with Canon 210 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. On the same day, it was announced that Auxiliary Bishop of Changanacherry, Mar Joseph Perumthottam, would succeed Powathil in the office as the Archbishop of Changanacherry.

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 ‘Yuva Deepthi’ 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
  1. "Syro Malabar Church Bishop ::Mar Joseph Powathil Metropolitan Emeritus of Changanacherry ::Changanacherry Archeparchy". www.syromalabarchurch.in. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  2. "Archbishop Joseph Powathil [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  3. "Rediff On The NeT: Kerala faction war may split the Church". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
Preceded by
None (New Diocese)		 Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally
1977–1985		 Succeeded by
Mar Mathew Vattakuzhy
Preceded by
Mar Antony Padiyara		 Metropolitan of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery
1985–2008		 Succeeded by
Mar Joseph Perumthottam
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