KOCHI: Dr. Joseph Attypeti, the first local bishop of the Archdiocese of Verapoly, will be announced as a servant of God on January 21. The funeral will be held at St. Francis Assisi Cathedral Church, Ernakulam at 5 pm. The Vatican’s sanction for the naming of saints will be read at the event.
The first part of the nomination process for the Holy Communion is announced on the occasion of the 50th death anniversary of the Holy See. Bishop of Kottapuram Dr. Joseph Karikasery will deliver the speech. Dr. Joseph Attypeti, who has made immense contributions to the field of spirituality as well as in the social and cultural sphere, initiated many projects of the Archdiocese of Verapuzha.
Joseph was born on June 25, 1894 in Ochanturuthu Cruz Milagris Parish, the second of five children of Matthew and Rosa. After completing his primary education at St. Mary’s School, Ochanduruthu, he attended St. Albert’s High School, Ernakulam and St. Joseph’s College, Trichinopoly.
After his college education, he joined the Archdiocese of Verapoly. Brother Joseph was fortunate enough to conduct a major seminary in Rome immediately after his first years at the seminary. After receiving a PhD in philosophy from Rome and a BD in theology, Cardinal Most Rev. Dr. Pomfili was ordained priest on December 18, 1926; He was ordained Archbishop of Varappuzha on 29 November 1932 as the Vicar Rev. When Father Joseph Atty was appointed, it was the first indigenous bishop of the Latin Catholic Church in India.
On June 11, 1933, Father Joseph Attipatti consecrated his father as Pope Pius XI in Rome, the first local bishop of the Archdiocese of Verapoly. On December 21, 1934, Father Joseph Attipetty assumed the office of Archbishop of Verapoly. He made a decisive effort to intensify the unity and solidarity of the Archdiocese by visiting all the families of the then Archdiocese of Kottarapuram.
The Shankamukham road in Ernakulam today has become a reality by the use of the influence of his friendship with his father. It was during the time of Joseph Attipetty’s father that St. Albert’s College, Ernakulam, St. Paul’s College, Kalamassery, and Little Flower Engineering Institute were established. In spite of his busy career, his father spends many hours every day in worship, prayer, meditation, personal prayer, and chanting.
In January 1970, when the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India was held in Ernakulam, Joseph Attiyett hosted the Fathers of the Archdiocese of Verapoly. He became a parishioner on January 21, 1970. As the postulator of the naming process, Fr. Andrews Alexander is appointed OFF.
