Date of Birth: 11-01-1950

Joining the MCBS: 03-06-1967

Religious Profession: 17-05-1970

Priestly Ordination: 15-03-1977

Death: 20-12-2017

George Kuttickel was born on 11th January 1950 at Purakkad in Alappuzha District. His parents were Joseph and Thressiamma Kuttickel, and they belonged to the Holly Cross Parish, Purakkad, in the Archdiocese of Changanassery. He had two brothers and four sisters. Sr. Ann Jose is member of the Holy Family Congregation. Early on George had the desire to be a missionary, and after the completion of high school studies he joined the Mission Home seminary in Pala, which has been helping young men to make a right choice of their vocation. After one year George felt that his vocation was to be a religious, and sought admission to join the MCBS. He was granted admission and joined the MCBS on 3rd June 1967. He had his first year minor seminary at Lisieux Ashram and second year at the Mother House, Kaduvakulam. He had his novitiate from 16th May 1969 to 17th May 1970. Fr. Mathew Kanippilil has been his novice master. He made his first religious profession on 17th May 1970.

Fr. George Kuttickel’s major seminary formation was at MCBS Study House, Aluva. He did his Philosophy and Theology courses at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva. He wasordained as priest on 15th March 1977 by Bishop Sebastian Mankuzhikary of Ernakulam Archdiocese. As a priest his first appointment was as assistant parish priest at St. Raphael’s Cathedral, Palakkad. Later he served as assistant parish priest at Mattam and Puthukkad in the Archdiocese of Thrissur. After those years of pastoral ministry, he was appointed as procurator at MCBS Study House, Aluva. During those years he happened to get involved in the charismatic movement and stared preaching retreats. Later he turned out to be a fulltime preacher in the Eucharistic Retreat Team of the congregation. First as resident at the MCBS Generalate and then at Sannidhana Ashram, Fr. George Kuttickel travelled all over India preaching retreats. During his journeys his attention turned to a specific group of people that are all over India, the wandering beggars. He noticed that the group included people of every age group, the elderly, the juvenile and children, both male and female, with no home to stay. Their horrible living conditions pained his heart and he earnestly wanted to do something for betterment of their life.

During one of his journeys, Fr. Kuttickel happened to visit a Bird Sanctuary maintained by the famous Bird Watcher, Salim Alley. That visit inspired him to initiate a movement, named Friends of the Birds of the Air (FBA), to work for the betterment and rehabilitation of the abandoned, the destitute and the wandering poor. Aiming at establishing a Centre for the purpose, a suitable plot of land was procured at Chennaippara, and the foundation stone was laid by St. Mother Teresa, on 18th January 1994. Later he was instrumental to start similar centres at Nellippara and Naikuutippara in Kanjangad, at Kanakamala near Kodakara. Then he worked on extending the ministry to Delhi, Andrapradesh and Jammu Kashmir. He was able to inspire families and individuals to start similar centres and render service to the destitute. He was also instrumental for establishing Mar Valah Ashram, Malayattoor, from where he has been coordinating the ministries.

Fr. Kuttickel’s health was deteriorating as he has been suffering from liver disease. Early December 2017 he was admitted in the speciality hospital in Ernakulam. By 19th December his condition became worse. He was administered the sacrament of anointing. On 20th December 2017, at 1:50 a.m. Fr. George Kuttickel breathed his last in the Lord. The body was brought to Mar Valah Ashram Malayattoor in the evening of 21st December. A number of bishops, priests, sisters and laity visited, paid tribute to and prayed for Fr. Kuttickel. In the afternoon of 22nd December, after a prayer service, officiated by the Provincial Soupier, the body was brought in procession to the Emmaus Provincial House, Kaduvakulam.

The funeral service for Fr. George Kuttickel was on 23rd December 2017 at the Emmaus Provincial House. Archbishop Joseph Perumthottam of Changanassery officiated the first part of the service. This was followed by the concelebrated Holy Mass, officiated by Bishop Thomas Elevenal MCBS, assisted by the superior general, provincial superiors and many priests, and attended by many religious sisters, laity, friends and relatives of Fr. Kuttickel. Bishop Jose Pulickel of Kanjirappally preached a very touching homily. There has been the presence of the members of the Eucharistic Covenant Community, founded by Fr. Kuttickel, and of the FBA members from all over India.

Zealous devotion to the Holy Eucharist, missionary zeal, love for the poor and downtrodden, ingenuity, creativity and firm dependence on divine providence etc. are a few of Fr. George Kuttickel’s virtues that are to be appreciated and emulated.

Fr. Cyriac Kottayarikil MCBS