Kerala Vincentians founder on path to sainthood: Fr. Varkey Kattarath is a Servant of God
This morning the ceremony in the general house of the Congregation, in Kerala. The members of the congregation carry out charitable apostolate in the educational and social fields, they help the poor in their integral development. The Vincentians charism is to become part of the spirit of Christ.
New Delhi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Kerala has a new son on the path to sainthood: Fr. Varkey Kattarath, founder of the Vincentian Congregation, society of apostolic life of the Syro-Malabar Church. He was declared Servant of God today during a ceremony in the congregation's general house in Edappally, on the outskirts of Kochi.
Fr. Sebastian Thundathikunnel, current superior general, reports that 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.
Fr. Kattarath was born in Poonjar, in the district of Kottayam, in 1851. In 1904 Msgr. Mar Louis Pazheparampil, first apostolic vicar of Ernakulam, asked the monk and three diocesan priests - to found a society of apostolic life on the model of the Congregation of the mission of Saint Vincent de Paul. The company, after a period of inactivity in the years of the First World War, the community was reconstituted in 1927 in Thottakam Kovantha. In 1938 it became official with the name "Vincentian Congregation", a few years after the death of the founder in 1931.
The charism of the Vincentians is to be part of the spirit of Christ, active in the works of the Church, to live and invite to an intimate and personal love with the Father, to accept the will of Divine Providence, and to love the poorest in an ardent and compassionate way.
The charism of society is realized by preaching the Word of God, through missionary works among the faithful of every creed. The members of the congregation carry out charitable apostolate in the educational and social fields, they help the poor in their integral development. In 1968 the Vatican granted the recognition of pontifical right.
Today the Vincentians are over 600 ordained and novices. In India there are 87 houses and pastoral centers in 33 dioceses. There are 11 countries worldwide, including Australia, Tanzania, New Zealand, Italy, Switzerland and the United States.
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