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knanayaregion.us
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REV. FR. DOMINIC MADATHILKALATHIL Director of Knanaya Syro-Malabar Mission, San Jose
Fr. Dominic Joseph was born in July 1961 at Payattupakka, Kuttanad, Alleppy district. His family name is Madathil Kalathil. Till 1975 his family was in Veliyanad Parish. In 1975 the family moved to Chingavanam. His primary school was at St. Anthony’s Primary School Chennamgary (diocese of Changanasery) and at S.N.D.P. School Cherukara, Kuttanad. During this period his spiritual and sacramental nourishment was from the Kainady Parish of Changanassery diocese. Later, requested by Fr. Kuriakose Tharepattakal, he was sent to Maria Giri Eng. School Peermade, a school that is managed by Kottayam Diocese. He is the second batch of the school. His batch started the unbreakable 100% SSLC passing tradition of Maria Giri School. For Pre-degree he went to C.M.S. College Kottayam.
During his degree course he joined Wallem Ship Management, Hong Kong (Merchant Navy) as cadet officer. Later he was made navigating third officer. As navigating officer he traveled all over the world and had seen more than 50 countries. He came to USA, Canada, and the whole of Latin American countries in 1979. In the year 1983 he went to Bombay for his second officers study and Exams at Lal Bahadur nautical and Engineering College, Ray Road, Bombay. While staying at King Circle going for his studies at Ray Road Bombay he saw the poor living condition of the children living in slum area. That moved his heart to work for the poor.
He quit the Job and the ambition of making money, went to Culcutta, and joined the Jesuit order. He was one year at Kalna and Burdwan with poor Adivasi Santals. Later he did his novitiate at Dhyan Ashram, Culcutta. He finished his two years of Novitiate and left the order and joined Kottayam diocese in order to be a priest for the diocese. When he joined the diocese, first he did seven months of service at Kottayam Social Service Society with Fr. Joseph Meledom and Sr. Leesa. He was helping the projects and later the Save A Family Plan.
In June 1988, Bishop of Kottayam sent him to Papal Seminary for his Philosophical and Theological studies. He was ordained by the laying of hands of Mar Kuriakose Kunnachery at Chirst the King Cathedral in Kottayam on 27th December 1993.
His first assignment was as assistant secretary of Malabar Social Service Society, Kannur with Fr. Stephen Jairaj, from January 15th 1994 to January 15th 1995. During that time he was given two poor parishes near Madampom, called Pannyal and Kottoorvayal. In January 15th 1994 he was relieved from the Malabar Social Service Society and became the first resident parish priest of Pannyal and Kottoorvayal.
Bishop send Fr. Dominic to Switzerland in 1996 to 1998 for his licentiate in Dogmatic Theology. After completing his studies at Switzerland, Bishop sent him to Santuario di Montenero, Livorno, Italy, in 1998-99 for one year to work as confessor. While he was there at Livorno with Fr. Mathew Moolakkatt, Fr. Moolakkatt was made auxiliary bishop of Kottayam. Fr. Dominic was in Rome for the Episcopal Consecration of Bishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt by the Pope on January 6th 1999.
Bishop appointed Fr. Dominic in 1999 as vicar at St. Stephen’s Church Thettamala, the first Knanaya Catholic church of Wayand. On 1st July 2000 Fr. Dominic Joseph became the first director of the Knanaya Catholic Mission of San Jose. He is also serving the diocese of San Jose as Parochial vicar of St. Frances Cabrini Church.
Fr. Dominic’s Special Ministry
Fr. Dominic’s motivation to become a priest was by seeing the poor condition of children at the slum areas of Bombay. God led him for this purpose. In 1991, he called all old students who were with him at Maria Giri School, Peermade for a gathering at Chaithanya Kottayam. He also invited his former teachers at the school, Fr. Lucas Pathiyil and Fr. Mathew Elappanickal. Old students came with their family. That gathering gave way to a good cause of helping the poor children for their education.
While he was a seminary student, Fr. Dominic started helping two poor girls at St. Marcelna’s School. The first girl of 6th grade was a Hindu and second child, of 7th grade, was a Marthoma Christian. When his old students association joined with him for his good cause, he started helping more poor students of all religions. They registered the association in 1996 as Maria Giri Charitable Society, Kottayam after the name of their school Maria Giri. Fr. Dominic Joseph is the president, Fr. Mathew Elappanickal is the vice-president, Mathew Alex (Bapuji) Vellapally is the secretary and Thankachan Viruthakulangara is the Treasurer of the Charitable Society. Each year the number of assisted children increased. At present, the society, under the leadership of Fr. Dominic, helps 134 poor children. He spent all his money, he gets it in any source, for this poor children in India. God brought him to USA so that with his salary and money he gets he could give Rs. 5 lakhs every year for his poor children.
Fr. Dominic believes that educational help for a poor child will help the child, as well as the family of that child, to come up in life. He says, “I usually never ask money from anyone but from God and he provides me with it when I am in need. I trust in God and in his providence for the economical support of these children. I believe that it is because of this same trust and providence in God that God leads me to the places, circumstances and situations were I get money without asking anyone. I believe that God is working miracle through me. Thus my trust in God and in Catholic faith is becoming more and stronger.”
Fr. Dominic Joseph has five Knanaya adopted daughters who lost their biological father 16 years ago. They are from Piravom. Older daughter is married and she is in London, working as nurse. The second daughter is getting married in January 2004. She is also nurse and preparing to go to U.K. The 3rd and 4th are twins and are nurses. One is in London and the other is in Bangalore. Younger daughter is in 12th grade at St. Stephen’s School Uzhavoor. Thus Fr. Dominic gets the fulfillment of being a ‘father’ in both the sense, a priest as well as a father of five children. |
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Please send feedback to Fr. Abraham Mutholath at mutholath2000@yahoo.comCopyright © 2003
Knanaya Region US
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