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 modeled 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 it, 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 in accordance with 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’s aim is 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 centers 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 centers 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. MattersIndia
