Sudeep 68899 at 01:35, 28 February 2024

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{{Short description|Roman-catholic archbishop}}
{{Infobox saint|name=Archbishop Joseph Attipetty|image=Joseph Attipetty.png|imagesize=200px|alt=Archbishop Joseph Attipetty|caption=Archbishop Joseph Attipetty|titles=|birth_date={{Birth date|1894|06|25|df=y}}|birth_place=[[Ochanthuruth]], [[Cochin State]] <br> now in [[Ernakulam]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]|death_date={{Death date and age|1970|01|21|1894|06|25|df=y}}|death_place=[[Ernakulam]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]|feast_day=|venerated_in=|beatified_date=|beatified_place=|beatified_by=|canonized_date=|canonized_place=|canonized_by=|major_shrine=|attributes=|patronage=|honorific_prefix=[[Servant of God]]}}

'''Joseph Attipetty''' (June 25, 1894 – January 21, 1970) was the first native bishop of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Archbishop Joseph Attipetty: Another Keralite on the path to sainthood|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/jan/05/archbishop-joseph-attipetty-another-keralite-on-the-path-to-sainthood-2085213.html|access-date=2021-06-25|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Joseph Attipetty was born on June 25, 1894, as the second of five children of Matthew and Rosa, at [[Ochanthuruth]] in the parish of Cruz Milagris, then in [[Cochin State]], now [[Ernakulam district|Ernakulam]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]. His father was a seminarian, but realizing that his vocation was not priesthood, he dropped from seminary and later married Rosa. Attipetty was fondly called "Kochu Jusei" (കൊച്ചുജ്യൂസെ).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-01|title=ദൈവദാസനായ അഭിവന്ദ്യ ആർച്ച്ബിഷപ്പ് ജോസഫ് അട്ടിപ്പേറ്റി|url=http://keralavani.com/ദൈവദാസനായ-അഭിവന്ദ്യ-ആർച്/|access-date=2021-06-25|website=official news channel of ARCHDIOCESE OF VERAPOLY|language=en-US}}</ref> He did his primary education at St. Mary's School, Ochanthuruthu and then at St. Albert's High School, Ernakulam. He was sent to St. Joseph's college in Trichy, run by the Jesuit fathers for pursuing his bachelor's degree. His association and close contact with the Jesuit clergy was instrumental in shaping his future.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Servant of God Archbishop Joseph Attipetty|url=https://keralavani.com/%e0%b4%a6%e0%b5%88%e0%b4%b5%e0%b4%a6%e0%b4%be%e0%b4%b8%e0%b4%a8%e0%b4%be%e0%b4%af-%e0%b4%85%e0%b4%ad%e0%b4%bf%e0%b4%b5%e0%b4%a8%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%a6%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%af-%e0%b4%86%e0%b5%bc%e0%b4%9a%e0%b5%8d/}}</ref>

== Vocation==
After completing his B.A degree, Attipetty returned to his native region. As his desire to become a priest grew stronger, he told his family, but had to face fierce opposition. But later, on the recommendation of several clergymen, a decision was taken in his favour. Angel Mary, the then Bishop of Verapoly, sent him to Rome for his priestly studies and formation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Archbishop Attipetty|url=https://keralavani.com/%e0%b4%a6%e0%b5%88%e0%b4%b5%e0%b4%a6%e0%b4%be%e0%b4%b8%e0%b5%bb-%e0%b4%9c%e0%b5%8b%e0%b4%b8%e0%b4%ab%e0%b5%8d-%e0%b4%85%e0%b4%9f%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%9f%e0%b4%bf%e0%b4%aa%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%aa%e0%b5%87%e0%b4%b1/|website=Keralavani}}</ref>

After seven years of study at the Propaganda Seminary in Rome, Attipetty earned a PhD in philosophy and an STD in theology. During his studies, he was director of the ‘Pia Associatio Matris Misericordiae’, a group that helps young people in their call to the priestly life, Vice President of Propaganda Theological Students and the Spiritual Head of the College's Staff. On December 18, 1926, Cardinal [[Basilio Pompili]], Vicar General of Rome, ordained Attipetty as a priest. Attipetty said his first Holy Mass on the altar of St. Peter's tomb, in St. Peter's Basilica.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Attipetty at Propaganda Seminary, Rome|url=https://keralavani.com/%e0%b4%a6%e0%b5%88%e0%b4%b5%e0%b4%a6%e0%b4%be%e0%b4%b8%e0%b5%bb-%e0%b4%9c%e0%b5%8b%e0%b4%b8%e0%b4%ab%e0%b5%8d-%e0%b4%85%e0%b4%9f%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%9f%e0%b4%bf%e0%b4%aa%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%aa%e0%b5%87-2/}}</ref>

Attipetty returned to Ernakulam and offered his first Mass in his native place at the Church of [[National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam|Our Lady of Ransom]], [[Vallarpadam|Vallarpadom]]. He was appointed as the assistant vicar of Mount Carmel Church, Chathiath and he served there for two years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Archbishop Attipetty|url=https://keralavani.com/%e0%b4%a6%e0%b5%88%e0%b4%b5%e0%b4%a6%e0%b4%be%e0%b4%b8%e0%b5%bb-%e0%b4%9c%e0%b5%8b%e0%b4%b8%e0%b4%ab%e0%b5%8d-%e0%b4%85%e0%b4%9f%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%9f%e0%b4%bf%e0%b4%aa%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%aa%e0%b5%87-3/}}</ref> Thereafter, on January 30, 1929, he was appointed as the Secretary to Angel Mary and Chancellor of the archdiocese.

Rome decided to appoint an auxiliary bishop as part of giving autonomy for Verapoly archdiocese and Attippetty's name was suggested. In 1933, the Holy Father scheduled to officiate at the anointing of the ordained Bishop in Rome.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Pallath, OCD|first=Fr. John|title=Yugaprabhavanaya Dr. Joseph Attipetty Metrapolitha|journal=Kerala Times Press, 1996}}</ref> After the resignation of Angel Mary, Attipetty assumed the reigns of administration on December 21, 1934 as the first indigenous Archbishop of Verapoly archdiocese. His Pallium Investiture took place on July 25, 1935.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Lineage of Bishops – Archdiocese of Verapoly|url=http://archdiocese.verapoly.in/about-us__trashed/lineage-of-bishops/|access-date=2021-06-25|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Death and recognition of holiness ==
Attipetty served the diocese and its people for 37 years. He died on January 21, 1970.<ref name="auto"/> Many faithful visit his tomb at the "Smrithimandhiram" at St. Francis Assisi Cathedral, Ernakulam. The process of beatification and canonization was officially inaugurated in the diocese by declaring him a [[Servant of God]] on 21 January 2020, the 50th anniversary of his death at St. Francis Assisi Cathedral, Ernakulam by [[Joseph Kalathiparambil|Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil]].<ref>{{Cite web|agency=TNN|date=Jan 22, 2020|title=Archbishop Joseph Attipetty declared Servant of God {{!}} Kochi News – Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/archbishop-joseph-attipetty-declared-servant-of-god/articleshow/73499619.cms|access-date=2021-06-25|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
During Attipetty’s tenure of office, [[St. Albert's College]], Ernakulam, House of Providence for the aged, [[St. Paul's College, Kalamassery|St. Paul's College, Kalamassey]], Lourde's hospital, Pachalam and Little Flower Institute, Kalamassery came into being.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ആർച്ച്ബിഷപ്പ് ഡോ. ജോസഫ് അട്ടിപ്പേറ്റി ദൈവദാസൻ|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2020/01/21/archbishop-joseph-attipetty-proclaimed-servant-of-god.html|access-date=2021-06-25|website=ManoramaOnline|language=ml}}</ref>

Attipetty was firmly with the conservative side at the Second Vatican Council and argued for equal validity of scripture and tradition.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Council Daybook: Vatican II, Session 3 (Sept. 14 to Nov. 21, 1964)|url=https://archive.org/stream/VCIIDaybook3/Council%20Daybook%2C%20Third%20Session_djvu.txt|page=90}}</ref>

== References ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Attipetty, Joseph}}
[[Category:1894 births]]
[[Category:1970 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Servants of God]]
[[Category:Indian Roman Catholic bishops]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in India]]

Joseph Attipetty - Revision history

Sudeep 68899 at 01:35, 28 February 2024