Date of Birth: 21-03-1917

Joining the MCBS: 10-06-1936

Priestly Ordination: 18-03-1947

Religious Profession: 12-04-1948

Death: 14-09-1995

Mathew Kanippillil, also known as Mathunni, was born on 21st

March 1917 at Neeranthanam in Kottayam district. His parents were Varkey Stephen and Thressia Kanippillil. They have been privileged to have three of their sons receiving a vocation to priesthood. Mathew’s elder brother was a Carmelite priest; he had a younger brother who became a missionary priest. Mathunni, after completing his high school studies, joined the mcbs in June 1936 as a seminarian. Incidentally, he was the first one to join the congregation as a seminarian. He was sent to the diocesan minor seminary at Parel for his study and formation. After two years he was promoted to Mangalapuzha seminary to pursue the study of philosophy and theology and obtain necessary priestly formation. His priestly ordination was on 18th March 1947 by Bishop James Kalassery. His first appointment was to be a member of Lisieux Ashram, Athirampuzha, where he had his novitiate under Fr. Cyriac Mannanal. He made his religious profession on 12th April  

1948. With all earnestness he made his commitment to love and serve God and His people.

Fr. Mathew initiated his ministry with youthful spirit and energy. He has been a powerful preacher. He loved the mcbs congregation and always dreamt of its growth and progress. He tried his best to foster vocations to the congregation, to look out for benefactors to support the seminarians during their study and formation and to establish new houses and communities for the congregation. He has been very hard working. He loved simple life-style and his primary concern has been work for the good of the religious community.

As a priest of the mcbs Fr. Mathew Kanippillil, during the early years, engaged in helping the community of which he was a member, helping out in the parishes and preaching retreats. In 1954 he was appointed superior of Lisieux Ashram. Meantime he also served as the superior of the Franciscan Third Order, a laity association, in the dioceses of Changanassery and Palai, which helped him get acquainted with the priests and people in the parishes. In 1958 he was transferred to Chathenkottunada, in Kozhikode district, to be the founding superior of Sophia Ashram.

In 1960 he was entrusted with the task of establishing a Study House in the vicinity of Mangalapuzha Seminary in Aluva for the study and formation of the mcbs major seminarians. Funding has been assured for the project through the Oriental Congregation, Rome. But the task was not that easy. He had to identify appropriate location, purchase required land and start with the construction. He started his work by obtaining appointment from the Archbishop of Ernakulam as parish priest of Kacheripadi and Pallenthuruth parishes near N. Paravur. Thus he managed to get a place to live and engage in ministry and carry on his task. With the help of one or two of the professors at the seminary he located the required land and made an agreement with the owner paying a token advance. Unfortunately something quite unexpected happened then. Through a bank liquidation the congregation incurred considerable financial loss. In such a situation the congregation had to give up the plan to purchase the proposed land and look for another alternative. Fr. Mathew in his search came across the property at Karukunnu which has been used by Alangad  

parish for Sunday Mass and catechism for the children of catholic families in the neighbourhood. He found it a suitable location for the proposed study house. Fortunately the vicar of Alangad, Fr. Peter Paravara, had been his classmate at the seminary and he suggested to place a request to the Archbishop of Ernakulam. Archbishop Joseph Parekkattil, in consultation with his council, very generously granted permission to construct a house of the congregation on condition that the pastoral needs of the people around would be taken care of. Construction of the building was started immediately and by June 1961 the ground floor was almost complete and the Study House commenced its functioning. Fr. Mathew functioned as its Rector for five years.

In 1966 Fr. Mathew was appointed as the Novice Master of the congregation and he carried on the responsibility of imparting an integral religious formation to the young members for seven years. After that he was asked to serve as spiritual director and teacher at the minor seminary. In 1978 he was transferred to Lisieux Ashram as a member. He engaged himself by preaching retreats and helping out in the parishes. He also served as parish priest at Vazhavara in Kothamangalm diocese and Pathinalam Mile in the Archdiocese of Changanassery. In 1983 he was transferred to Mcbs Study House, Aluva, and served as parish priest at Karukunnu. In 1987 he moved to the Mcbs House at Anappara and helped out in ministry in the nearby parishes and religious communities.

Certain health issues evolved due to his advanced diabetes and he was asked to move to Mcbs Generalate in 1991 for rest and medical treatment. He received medical treatment at Samaritan Hospital, Pazhanganad, Carmel Hospital, Ashokapuram and PVS Hospital, Ernakulam. By June 30, 1995 his condition became serious and he was taken to the Samaritan hospital. Despite long hospitalisation his condition continued to be very serious and the superior general administered the sacrament of anointing on 5th September. Fr. Mathew Kanippillil breathed his last in the Lord at 5:30 am, on 14th September, the feast of the Holy Cross, 1995.

Funeral service for Fr. Mathew Kanippillil was at the Mcbs Generalate, in the afternoon of September 15, 1995. The service commenced with the concelebrated Holy Mass presided over by

the superior general and participated by many priests, religious sisters, laity, friends and relatives. Fr. Thomas Edayal Mcbs delivered a very touching eulogy. The concluding part of the funeral service was officiated by Bishop Jacob Manathodeth of Ernakulam.

Fr. Mathew Kanippillil’s simple lifestyle, earnestness in prayer life and spirituality, love for the congregation and sincere hard work for its growth and development, sincere dedication in the ministry etc. are a few of his virtues to be appreciated and imitated.

Fr. Cyriac Kottayarikil MCBS

ബഹു. കണിപ്പിള്ളി മാത്തുണ്ണിയച്ചൻ

ഇല്ലായ്മകളിലൂടെ സഭയെ വളർത്തി ഏത് ഇല്ലായ്മകളിലും പുഞ്ചിരിക്കാൻ പഠിപ്പിച്ച, ദിവ്യകാരുണ്യ മിഷനറി സഭയുടെ കനിഷ്ഠ പുത്രൻ.

ജീവിത രേഖ

ജനനം : 21- 03 – 1917
ഇടവക : നീറന്താനം
പൗരോഹിത്യ സ്വീകരണം :18- 03- 1947
പ്രഥമ വ്രതവാഗ്ദാനം : 12-04- 1948

സ്വർഗ്ഗീയ പ്രവേശനം: 14-09- 1995

ദിവ്യകാരുണ്യ മിഷനറി സഭ നേരിട്ടിരുന്ന ബാല്യകാലരിഷ്ടത കൂട്ടാക്കാതെ സഭയുടെ ആദ്യ വൈദികനാകാൻ സന്നദ്ധത പ്രകടിപ്പിച്ച വ്യക്തി.

ചെമ്പേരിയിലെ പയസ് മൗണ്ട് ആശ്രമവും ചാത്തൻ കോട്ടുനടയിലെ സോഫിയ ആശ്രമവും, ആലുവാ എം സി.ബി. എസ്സ് സ്റ്റഡി ഹൗസും സ്ഥാപിക്കുന്നതിൽ നിർണായക പങ്കു വഹിച്ച വൈദീക ശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ

ചാത്തൻ കോട്ടുനട സോഫിയാ ആശ്രമത്തിലെ സ്ഥാപക സുപ്പീരിയർ (1958)

എം സി ബി എസ് സ്റ്റഡി ഹൗസിന്റെ ആദ്യ റെക്ടർ (1961-1966)

1955 മുതൽ 1960 വരെ ചങ്ങനാശ്ശേരി പാലാ രൂപതകളിലെ ഫ്രാൻസിസ്ക്കൻ മൂന്നാം സഭയുടെ സുപ്പീരിയർ

നവ സന്യാസ ഗുരു

വിവിധ ആശ്രമങ്ങളിൽ സുപ്പീരിയർ

അദ്ധ്യാത്മിക പിതാവ്

ഇടവക വികാരി
എന്നി നിലകളിൽ ശുശ്രൂഷ നിർവ്വഹിച്ചു.

ദിവ്യകാരുണ്യ ഭക്തി

അധികാരികളോടുള്ള വിധേയത്വം

സഭയുടെ പൊതു താൽപര്യങ്ങൾക്കായുള്ള നിസ്വാർത്ഥമായ സമർപ്പണം

ലളിത ജീവിതം

ദാരിദ്രത്തോടുള്ള സ്നേഹം

സമൂഹത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ലഭിക്കുന്ന സൗകര്യങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ട് തൃപ്തിപ്പെട്ടുള്ള ജീവിതം

തപസ ചൈതന്യം
ഇവയെല്ലാം ആ വൈദീക ശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ്റെ വ്യക്തിത്വത്തിൻ്റെ സവിശേഷതകളായിരുന്നു.

വിവരങ്ങൾക്ക് കടപ്പാട്: ദിവ്യകാരുണ്യ ആരാമത്തിലെ വാടാമലരുകൾ
ഫാ. സിറിയക് തെക്കെക്കുറ്റ് mcbs