Founder of Vincentians on sainthood path
KCO Reporter - February 2020
Father Varkey Kattarath, the founder of the Vincentian Congregation, declared a Servant of God, the first stage in the four-phase canonization process, on February 5, 2020.
Father Sebastian Thundathikunnel, superior general of the Vincentian Congregation, said they have received the approval from the Vatican to begin the canonization process. "The Vatican gave the go-ahead following the requests made by the Vincentian Congregation, Ernakulam-Angamaly Diocese and the Syro-Malabar Synod," he told reporters on February 4.
"At a time when the word renaissance is being used by all and sundry, Father Kattarath was a true propagator of the renaissance. He might have been ordained a parish vicar but was a monk in his heart," Father Thundathikunnel explained.
The next step in the sainthood process is to declare a person Venerable, which is followed by beatification and then canonization.
Father Kattarath was born on October 31, 1851.
He led a monastic life. Along with three other diocesan priests, he formed the Vincentian Congregation on November 20, 1904, at Thottakam near Vaikom, in Ernakulam district.
Monsignor Louis Pazheparampil, the first Vicar Apostolic of Ernakulam, suggested to the four to start the congregation modelled on the Congregation of the Mission and secured for them a copy of its constitution.
In 1912 he instructed Father Kattarath to take the steps necessary for a proper community life prescribed by the "Common Rules" of St. Vincent De Paul and to increase its members. However, the pioneer fathers found it hard to lead a stable community life because of various reasons and dispersed in 1915.
However, the Vincentian Congregation at Thottakam Kovantha was revived in 1927 when Monsignor Augustine Kandathil, the first Archbishop of Ernakulam, granted as the request of Fathers George Mannara, Antony Pauvathil and George Vattamkandam to lead a religious life in the House at Thottakam following the "Common Rules" of St. Vincent de Paul.
Father Kattarath also joined the new community in the same year and became its first professed member. He died in 1931.
The congregation aims to preach the Gospel to the poor, especially to the rural people and the working classes and help them in their needs to help clerics in acquiring the knowledge and virtues necessary for their state of life and coo-operate with the diocesan clergy in pastoral works to carry on charitable educational and social works.
Its members help diocesan priests in pastoral ministries. They preach popular missions and retreats, and conduct retreat centres in various parts of India and overseas.
In 1968 the Vatican raised the congregation to the pontifical status and entrusted to it the Exarchate of 'Satna' in Madhya Pradesh. The Vatican appointed Father Abraham D Mattam, one of its members, as the first exarch. Later, he was made a bishop when the exarchate was raised to a diocese in 1977.
The congregation now has 87 houses and centres in India and in 11 countries overseas including Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. In India, the Vincentian Congregation is engaged in various apostolates in 33 dioceses in 11 different States.
The ministry of the Divine Word and charitable. Social and educational activities are the main thrust areas of the work.
The congregation was divided into three regions in 1987 which were raised as provinces in 1990 - Mary Matha Province, Angamaly, Kerala, St.Josepjh's Province, Kottayam, and St.Thomas Province, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
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