Nalgonda pays tribute to its first bishop, the late Mgr Cheriankunnel
An Indian-born PIME missionary, he died in Eluru at the age of 91. Called by Paul VI to lead the new diocese in the then Andhra Pradesh, he was transferred to Kurnool in 1987. In paying tribute, Nalgonda’s current bishop, Mgr Govindu Joji, writes: “In him people could see a father and a good shepherd.”
Eluru (AsiaNews) – Bishop Emeritus Mathew Cheriankunnel of Kurnool passed away at the PIME home in Eluru at the age of 91. A PIME missionary, he served as bishop of Nalgonda in the 1970s and 1980s. Both Kurnool and Nalgonda are in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
Born in Kadayanikad (Kerala) on 23 September 1930, Bishop Cheriankunnel was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Vijayawada in 1962, and was one of the first Indian clergymen to join the Italy-based Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions (PIME).
Pope Paul VI appointed him at the age of 46 as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Nalgonda, which he created as a result of the growth of new Christian communities in the territories previously included in Warangal and Hyderabad.
In 1987 he was transferred to the Diocese of Kurnool, where he served only four years in a very difficult context. After he resigned for health reasons, he continued to carry out with simplicity his missionary ministry at the PIME house in Eluru.
Bishop Cheriankunnel’s funeral is scheduled for tomorrow, 1 April, at Eluru Cathedral; after that he will be laid to rest at the Gunadala cemetery, the Marian shrine where he was consecrated bishop.
We publish below some recollections about him written by the current bishop of Nalgonda, Mgr Govindu Joji, who can attest to how the local Catholic community, even after so many years, has not forgotten the good deeds sown by its first pastor.
The Most Rev. Mathew Cheriankunnel was consecrated on 3 May 1977 in Gunadala, Diocese of Vijayawada, and was installed as the first bishop of the Diocese of Nalgonda on 9 May 1977.
Bishop Mathew Cheriankunnel in his very first clergy meeting for the Nalgonda Diocese emphasised that evangelisation and social work go hand in hand. The bishop’s vision was revolutionary for the Diocese of Nalgonda.
In order to realize this vision, he first established the Suvartha Nilayam Pastoral Centre, a facility meant to train clergy and catechists.
As there was a great need and demand for evangelisation in the new diocese, he invited a number of religious congregations, both male and female, to collaborate in the realisation of his vision for the diocese.
In order to encourage and increase the number of vocations he set up a minor seminary cum apostolic school, the Sts John & Paul Minor Seminary in Suryapet. His zeal for evangelisation was embodied by his famous words “The Seminary is the Heart of the Diocese”.
He used to undertake regular visits to the parishes, spending a few days in the villages talking to different groups of people: elders, old and young, and small children.
He enjoyed teaching catechism to the children. He was so simple and understanding. In him people could see a father and a good shepherd. That was the charisma of Bishop Mathew.
He knew that through education, we could eradicate illiteracy and social evils. Hence, he gave much importance to education by establishing a number of schools and hostels for Catholic children with the slogan “Education for All”. A number of religious congregations aptly responded to his call by establishing a number of schools in the diocese.
Geographically, both districts of the diocese are drought prone areas and very often people were affected by famine and greatly struggled to maintain their families.
Conscious of the economic hardships of the people, he established the Nalgonda Diocese Social Service Society (NDSSS) to give a helping hand for the upliftment of the people. His concern for the poor and destitute was something that we can’t forget.
He invited the Montfort Brothers to open a home for the aged and destitute in 1979 in Suryapet and in 1981 he invited Mother Theresa to open a home for the aged and dying in Nalgonda.
In his ten-years tenure he showed a magic touch and prepared the ground for future growth in all the domains of development. For the greater good of the Catholic Church of the then Andhra Pradesh state, he accepted his transfer to Kurnool Diocese in March 1987.
Mgr Govindu Joji
Bishop of Nalgonda, India
(Nirmala Carvalho contributed to this article)
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02/03/2024 13:22
