Kanjirappally: Retired Bishop Mathew Vattakuzhy of Kanjirappally died on November 22. He was 86.

The end came around 3 pm at Caritas Hospital in Kottayam, a major town in Kerala, southern India.

He was lliving at Kanjirappally bishop’s house since his retirement in 2001. In 2005, the bishop had celebrated his golden jubilee of priesthood.

He was ordained Kanjirappally bishop on February 26, 1987.

Born  on February 20, 1930 in Vazhoor in Kottayam district, he joined the minor seminary at Parel, Changanacherry in 1947. He completed his studies in major seminary in Pune and Kandy in Sri Lanka. In 1956 he was ordained a priest by Bishop Mathew Kavukattu of Changanacherry.

During the early years of priesthood, he served as assistant vicar at St. Thomas, Erumely and St.Mary’s  church in Changanacherry. In 1959 he was appointed secretary to Bishop Mathew Kavukattu.

The former prelate had also obtained a doctorate in canon law from Rome.   Bishop Vattakuzhy was the chancellor of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry during 1964-1973, before serving in the United States for a year.

Bishop Vattakuzhy was the first Vicar General of Kanjirappally diocese when it was established in  1977.  During the tenure of Bishop Joseph Powathil as Archbishop of Changanacherry, he also served as the administrator of Kanjirappallly.