By Matters India Reporter
Ernakulum, September 19, 2020: The body of Apostolic Nuncio to Japan Archbishop Joseph Chennoth is scheduled to arrive in Kerala, southern India on September 21.
The 75-year-old Indian prelate died September 7 in Tokyo following a heart attack.
The prelate’s body will reach at 9.40 am at Kochi International Airport. From there, it will be taken to a hospital to be kept in a mortuary, said Father Darwin Idassery, an official of Ernakulam Angamaly Archdiocesan media.
the public viewing of the body will be held at the hospital chapel and St Mary’s Basilica Cathedral Church until 9.30 am on September 22, the priest added.
After that at 11:30 am, the body will be taken for a public visitation at the parental house in Kokkamangalam. It will be brought to St. Thomas Church, Kokkamangalam, the local parish.
The funeral service will begin at 2.30 pm with Mass.
Several Church leaders, including Archbishop Antony Kariyil of Ernakulam-Angamaly and Bishop Jacob Manathodath of Palghat, besides Cardinal George Alencherry are expected at the funeral service.
The Archdiocese YouTube channel ‘Ernakulam Angamaly Major Archdiocese’ will telecast the funeral service live.
Archbishop Chennoth was reportedly recuperating after a stroke some time back. He was apostolic nuncio to Japan from 2011.
He was born on October 13, 1943, as one of the six sons and two daughters of Joseph and Mariakutty of Kokkamangalam Chennoth family in Cherthala, Alapuzha district.