By C M Paul
Kolkata, Jan 29, 2025: A Salesian priest who played a key role as a lay brother for three decades in the northeastern India mission, died January 29 in Kolkata, eastern India. He was 90.
Father Abraham Panackachaly, who was popularly known as Brother PJ Abraham, died due to Acute Coronary Syndrome at 1:25 am at Park Clinic, Kolkata where he was admitted ten days ago.
He was scheduled for discharge January 28, but developed breathing difficulties and was moved to the ICU, where he was put on a ventilator.
A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 7 pm on January 29 in the Provincial House. The funeral will be held at 1 pm on February 1 at Bandel Basilica, about 40 km north of Kolkata, says a statement of Kolkata Salesian provincial Father Joseph Pauria.
Father Panackachaly was born June on June 13, 1934, and made his first profession at Salesian novitiate Sunnyside, Upper Shillong on May 24, 1956, as a Brother. He took his final profession on May 23, 1962.
As a young Brother, he worked at the Salesian-managed Catholic Orphan Press which was adjacent to the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary in Calcutta. It was closed down in 1972 after 44 years of service.
As Mission Procurator based at the Salesian Provincial House Calcutta, Brother Panackachaly contributed for the Northeast India missions. He procured aid for bishops and missionaries of the Assam missions and supported the expanding the Catholic Church and Salesian missions in the region.
He was instrumental in the overseas travel arrangements for the missionaries, as well as facilitating customs clearance both at Calcutta International Airport as well as Kidderpore docks.
He helped Bishop Stephen Ferrando and Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario of Shillong, besides Bishops Orestes Marengo of Tura, Abraham Alangimattathil of Kohima, Bishop Robert Kerketta of Dibrugarh and Tezpur, Joseph Mittathany of Imphal.
After his priestly ordination on April 10, 1997, at the age of 67, Father Panackachaly served as a confessor.