Thrissur: Bishop James Pazhayattil, the first bishop of Irinjalakuda diocese in Kerala, died July 10 following internal hemorrhage. He would have turned 83 on July 26.
The funeral rites is schedule at 2 pm on July 13 at the Cathedral Church in Irinjalakuda.
The death occurred at 10:50 pm at Jubilee Mission Hospital in Thrissur where he was undergoing treatment.
Bishop Pazhayattil was born at Puthenchira in Thrissur district. After matriculation at his native village he joined St. Mary’s Minor Seminary at Thope, Thrissur, in 1952. He had his major seminary studies in Kandy, Sri Lanka, and Pune, western India. He scored high ranks at the licentiate level both in Philosophy and Theology.
Cardinal Valerian Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, ordained a priest on October 3, 1961. He then secured his master degree in English literature from St. Thomas College Thrissur.
He served as a lecturer and hostel warden in St. Thomas College. He was made the first bishop Irinjalakuda on June 22, 1978. He also served as the assistant to the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church from June 7, 1995 to January 18, 1997.
He was substitute member in the permanent synod of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church and chairman of the Oriental Church’s Commission for Clergy and Institutes of Consecrated Life. He resigned as bishop on April 18, 2010 when he turned 75. He was succeeded by Bishop Pauly Kannookadan as the Irinjalakuda prelate.
Bharat Jyoti (light of India) and Rashtriya Ratna (Indian jewel) are among numerous awards Bishop Pazhayattil received for serving the Syro Malabar Church in Kerala.
Bishop Kannookadan has asked all churches in the diocese to conduct special prayers for the departed soul.