FR. JOSEPH MOONNANAPALLIL MCBS

Date of Birth: 21-11-1931

Joining the MCBS: 14-04-1952

Religious Profession: 16-05-1953

Priestly Ordination: 06-12-1961

Death: 16-07-2002

Joseph Moonnanapallil was born on 21st November 1931. He was the first born child of his parents, Kunjumathai and Eliyamma Moonnanapallil. He did his primary education at Little Flower L.

P. School, Chemmalamattam. He has been a bright student from the very beginning. He has been very much interested in spiritual matters since the time of his First Communion. He did his secondary education at Achamma Memorial High school, Kalaketty. After the exams he revealed to his parents his earnest desire to become a priest and serve the people.

He joined the congregation as a seminarian on 14th April 1952. He behaved like a very mature seminarian, and hence was granted permission to join the novitiate which commenced on 15th May 1952. Fr. Romulus CMI, the spiritual director of St. Alphonsa, was his novice master. Bro. Moonnapallil has been a very exemplary novice. He had his religious profession on 16th May

1953. Then he was sent to the diocesan minor seminary at Parel, Changanassery for his study and formation. After two years he got admission to pursue his major seminary studies at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore. His academic performance has been excellent; but he has had some health issues during those years. His priestly ordination was on 6th December 1961, at St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala, by Bishop Sebastian Vayalil.

Fr. Moonnanapallil’s first assignment was as a staff member at the Minor Seminary in Lisieux Ashram, Athirampuzha. He has been earnest and exemplary in fulfilling his duties, and both the students and other staff members liked his presence and service. After two years, the general council of the congregation took a decision to send Fr. Moonnanapallil for higher studies in Rome. He was the first one selected from the congregation for higher studies abroad. By the end of September 1964 he arrived in Rome and started his studies at the Pontifical Oriental Institute. He obtained his doctorate in canon Law and returned to India in 1968. After his return his first appointment was to be the spiritual director of the major seminarians at Mcbs Study House, Aluva. He used to instruct the seminarians on the need for being aware of the specific identity, role and mission of the congregation.

In December 1971 Fr. Joseph Moonnanapallil was elected as the Superior General of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Being post-Vatican II era, it had to be a time for renewal and reform. His predecessor had already started with the work of renewal and reform of the Constitution and Regulations of the Congregation in line with the documents of Vatican II. With the help of his council and the special committee constituted for it, a new text of the ‘Constitution and Regulations of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament’ was prepared and forwarded to Rome for approval. Unfortunately the text did not get the required approval from the appropriate authorities in Rome for the reason that the specific Charism, Spirit and Mission of the congregation were not properly enunciated and explained, without which the text would be a mere rule book that could be utilised by any religious community.

He envisioned the growth and development of the congregation by providing better motivation to the younger generation. He introduced the system of sending the seminarians, immediately after the novitiate, to different major seminaries, for their studies and formation. Definitely he did it with good intentions. It has been a progressive approach; it has had its positives and negatives; individuals might have achieved better growth; though unintended for, tiny seeds of individualism and divisiveness might have been sown in the community in the process.

During his administration as superior general, Fr. Moonnanapallil approved and supported the proposal to add a three storied extension to the Minor Seminary at Kaduvakulam and start admitting more seminarians. The land at Chunangamvely for the Generalate was purchased during his administration.

In 1979 Fr. Moonnanapallil was appointed as the novice master at Podimattam, Kanjirappally. He carried on that task for nine years and strived his best through his exemplary life and instructions to help the novices prepare for their religious commitment. Later on he served as spiritual director of major seminarians at Kaduvakulam, and then as confessor of the novices.

Due to certain health issues, in 2001 he was transferred to the Emmaus Provincial House for medical treatment and rest. Doctors from S. H. Medical Centre, Kottayam, examined his health issues and prescribed necessary treatment. Although they could maintain his health stable for some time by July 11, 2002 Fr. Moonnanapallil’s condition became worse. On 16th July, while the provincial has been leading a prayer service for the sick in his room, Fr. Joseph Moonnanapallil breathed his last in the Lord.

The funeral service for Fr. Moonnanapallil was in the afternoon of July 18th 2002, in which large number of priests, religious, laity, his friends and relatives attended. The service commenced with the concelebrated Holy Mass, presided over by Bishop Thomas Elevanal mcbs and assisted by many members of the congregation. Fr. Joseph Mulangattil mcbs preached the homily highlighting the specific service of Fr. Moonnanapallil. Archbishop Joseph Powathil of Changanassery presided over the final part of the funeral service.

Deep devotion to the Holy Eucharist, spirit of selfless service, love for the congregation, readiness to work hard, willingness to accept pain and sufferings, humility, simple life etc. are a few of Fr. Moonnanapallil’s virtues that are to be appreciated and emulated.

Fr. Cyriac Kottayarikil MCBS

🌷 മൂന്നാനപ്പള്ളിൽ ജോസഫച്ചൻ 🌷

ജനനം 21-11-1931
സഭാപ്രവേശനം. 14-04-1952
പ്രഥമ വ്രതവാഗ്ദാനം : 16- 05- 1953
പൗരോഹിത്യ സ്വീകരണം : 06-12- 1961
മരണം : 16-07- 2002

👉 പാലാ രൂപതാ ചെമ്മലമറ്റം സ്വദേശി

👉 1961 സിസംബർ ആറാം തീയതി അഭിവന്ദ്യ സെബാസ്റ്റ്യൻ വയലിൽ പിതാവിൽ നിന്നു പൗരോഹിത്യം സ്വീകരിച്ചു.

👉 ദിവ്യകാരുണ്യ മിഷനറി സഭയിൽ നിന്നും ആദ്യമായി വിദേശത്ത് ഉപരി പഠനത്തിനായി (1964 ) റോമിലേക്കു അയക്കപ്പെട്ട വ്യക്തി.

👉 1968 റോമിലെ പൊന്തിഫിക്കൽ ഓറിയൻ്റൽ ഇൻസ്റ്റിറ്റ്യൂട്ടിൽ നിന്നു സഭാ നിയമത്തിൽ ഡോക്ടറൽ ബിരുദം (DCL) കരസ്ഥമാക്കി തിരികെയെത്തി.

👉 1971 ൽ സഭയുടെ സുപ്പീരയർ ജനറലായി നിയമിതനായി

👉 തിരുസഭയോടെപ്പം ചിന്തിക്കാനും നവ്യമായ കാഴ്ചപ്പാടുകൾ സ്വീകരിച്ച് വളരാനും സഭാംഗങ്ങളെ ഉണർത്തിയ വൈദീകൻ

👉 സഭയുടെ മിഷനറി ദൗത്യം പരിഗണിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് മിഷൻ രംഗങ്ങളിലേക്ക് അംഗങ്ങളെ നിയോഗിച്ചയ്ക്കാൻ തയ്യാറായ ദീർഘദർശി

👉 വിദ്യാസമ്പന്നരും പണ്ഡിതരും ബിരുധ ദാരികളുമൊക്കെ സഭയ്ക്കുണ്ടായിരിക്കുക ആവശ്യമാണെന്നു വിഭാവനം ചെയ്ത അധികാരി

👉 പിതാവിൻ്റെയും മാതാവിൻ്റെയും ഭാവങ്ങൾ നിറഞ്ഞു എല്ലാവരെയും സ്നേഹിക്കുകയും സമാശ്വസിപ്പിക്കുകയും വളർത്തുകയും ചെയ്ത വ്യക്തി

👉 ദിവ്യകാരുണ്യ സഭ തേജസ്സണിഞ്ഞു വളർന്ന ആറു വർഷക്കാലത്തെ സാരഥി

👉 ഒൻപതു വർഷക്കാലം നവസന്യാസ ഗുരുവായിരുന്നു കൊണ്ട് ഒരു കാലഘട്ടത്തിലെ ദിവ്യകാരുണ്യ മിഷനറി സഭാംഗങ്ങളെ രൂപപ്പെടുത്തിയ പുണ്യശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ.

📖 സ്വാധീനിച്ചിരുന്ന തിരുവചനങ്ങൾ 📖

“എന്റെ കര്‍ത്താവായ യേശുക്രിസ്‌തുവിനെപ്പറ്റിയുള്ള ജ്‌ഞാനം കൂടുതല്‍ വിലയുള്ളതാകയാല്‍, സര്‍വവും നഷ്‌ടമായിത്തന്നെ ഞാന്‍ പരിഗണിക്കുന്നു. അവനെപ്രതി ഞാന്‍ സക ലവും നഷ്‌ടപ്പെടുത്തുകയും ഉച്‌ഛിഷ്‌ടംപോലെ കരുതുകയുമാണ്‌.
ഇത്‌ ക്രിസ്‌തുവിനെ നേടുന്നതിനും അവനോടുകൂടെ ഒന്നായി കാണപ്പെടുന്നതിനും വേണ്ടിയത്ര.
ഫിലിപ്പി 3 : 8 – 9

” ക്രിസ്‌തു നിങ്ങളുടെ ഹൃദയങ്ങളില്‍ വസിക്കണമെന്നും, നിങ്ങള്‍ സ്‌നേഹത്തില്‍ വേരുപാകി അടിയുറയ്‌ക്കണമെന്നും ഞാന്‍ പ്രാര്‍ഥിക്കുന്നു.” (എഫേസോസ്‌ 3 : 17 )

❤️ വിളങ്ങിയിരുന്ന സുകൃതങ്ങൾ ❤️

ദിവ്യകാരുണ്യ ഭക്തി
നിസ്വാർത്ഥ ശുശ്രൂഷ
സഭാ സ്നേഹം
കഠിനാധ്വാനം
സഹന സന്നദ്ധത
വിനയം
ലാളിത്യം

കടപ്പാട്: ഫാ. സിറിയക് തെക്കെക്കുറ്റ് mcbs
ദിവ്യകാരുണ്യാരാമത്തിലെ വാടാമലരുകൾ 🌻