imported>Br Ibrahim john at 07:09, 18 August 2021

2021-08-18T07:09:39Z

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{{More footnotes|date=April 2009}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Mar Joseph Powathil <br />
| honorific-suffix =
| title = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Changanassery|Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Changanacherry]]
| image = Mar Joseph Powathil.jpg
| caption =
| province =
| diocese = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Changanassery|Catholic Archdiocese of Changanacherry]]
| see = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]
| ended =
| predecessor = [[Antony Padiyara]]
| successor = Mar [[Joseph Perumthottam]]
| ordination = 3 October 1962
| consecration = 13 February 1972
| other_post = Chairman, [[Interchurch Council]]
| rank =
| birth_name = [[Joseph (name)|Joseph]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1929|8|14}}
| birth_place = [[Kurumbanadom]], [[Travancore]], [[British India]]
| buried =
| nationality = [[India]]
| religion = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]
| residence = Archbishop's House, [[Changanacherry]]
| parents = Ulahannan Joseph, Mariamma
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation =
| profession =
| alma_mater = St. Berchman's High School
| signature =
}}
'''Mar Joseph Powathil''' {{Lang|syc| }} (born 14 August 1929) is an Indian [[prelate]] of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]. He is the Archbishop Emeritus of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery]].

==Early life==
Powathil was born in the hamlet of Kurumbanadom, near Chanaganacherry, [[Travancore]]. He was known as ''Pappachan'' in his childhood, and was officially known as P. J. Joseph. He went to school at Holy Family LP School and St. Peter’s UP School, and then at St. Berchmans’ High School in Changanacherry. He attended St. Berchmans' College, Changanacherry for a B.A. Economics and Loyola College, Chennai from which he received an M.A. in economics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/bishop.php?id=36|title=Syro Malabar Church Bishop ::Mar Joseph Powathil Metropolitan Emeritus of Changanacherry ::Changanacherry Archeparchy|website=www.syromalabarchurch.in|access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref>

== Priestly ministry ==
Powathil did his seminary studies in St. Thomas Seminary Changanacherry and [[Papal Seminary Pune]]. He was ordained priest on 3 October 1962.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bpowathil.html|title=Archbishop Joseph Powathil [Catholic-Hierarchy]|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org|access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref> He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Changanacherry ([[Titular Bishop]] of [[Caesarea Philippi]]) on 29 January 1972, despite having little Episcopal experience, and was consecrated by [[Pope Paul VI]] on 13 February 1972.<ref name=":0" /> On 26 February 1977, a new diocese was created under the name [[Diocese of Kanjirappally|Kanjirappally]], splitting the Changanacherry archdiocese. Bishop Powathil was transferred there as the first bishop. He served the new diocese for nine years. He rose to become archbishop and returned to Changanacherry on 16 November 1985, succeeding Mar [[Antony Padiyara]].

As the Archbishop of Changanacherry, Powathil pushed for the restoration of [[East Syriac Rite|East Syriac]] traditions in the Syro-Malabar Church. He fought for the complete revival of the [[Divine Liturgy]] that was latinised after the [[Synod of Diamper]]1599, although it was partially revived after [[Vatican II]]. These efforts got him several critics even among his fellow bishops, alleging that what he espoused amounted to adoption of [[Church of the East]] practices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/sep/05kerala.htm|title=Rediff On The NeT: Kerala faction war may split the Church|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref> On 22 January 2007, Powathil resigned in conformity with Canon 210 of the [[Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches]]. On the same day, it was announced that Auxiliary Bishop of Changanacherry, [[Mar Joseph Perumthottam]], would succeed Powathil in the office as the Archbishop of Changanacherry.

== Offices held ==
He served as President of Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) (1994–1998), Chairman of Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (1993–1996), and Chairman of Education Commission of the CBCI. He has been a member of the Post Asian Synodal Council in Rome, Italy since 1998, Chairman of KCBC Commission for Education (since 1986), Founder and Chairman of Inter Church Council for Education, Chairman of Inter Religious Fellowship, member of the Pro Oriente Foundation in Vienna, Austria (since 1993) and member of the Scientific Commission of International Publication ‘Oasis’ in [[Venice]], [[Italy]].

==Service==
He founded the Peerumedu Development Society (P.D.S) and the Malanadu Development Society (M. D. S) in 1977 while he was the bishop of Kanjirappaly. The Kuttanadu Vikasana Samithy (KVS) is another project of his. As the Patron of the Changanacherry Social Service Society (CHASS), he oversaw numerous developmental schemes. Many Scholarship schemes are established for the Dalit Christians in the Archdiocese and the poor and eligible students of the professional courses.

In 1990, Powathil founded the [[I. C. Chacko]] award for cultural and literary excellence and it was awarded to Prof. [[P. C. Devasia]], the author of [[Kristu Bhagavathom]] in Sanskrit language. The [[Centre for Indian Christian Archaeological Research]] (CICAR) is another initiative. In order to promote reading, Powathil established the Department of Book Apostolate, which organizes the Changanacherry Pusthaka Mela every year in October.

He established the Diocesan Youth Movement called ‘[[Yuva Deepthi]]’ in 1972. It eventually turned into the [[Kerala Catholic Youth Movement]] (KCYM). He was the first chairman of the KCBC Youth Commission. He started Apostolate for the senior citizens, apostolate for the emigrants and apostolate for the tourists in the Archdiocese. He led CANA, the Indian Section of the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, at Thuruthy with headquarters in Rome.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commonscat}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071120082111/http://www.archbishopjosephpowathil.org/ Articles by Archbishop Joseph Powathil]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080125054957/http://www.archdiocesechanganacherry.org/changanassery.htm Archdiocese Changanacherry-Official site]
*[http://www.syromalabar.com/dioceses/ Syro-Malabar Dioceses -- All 26 dioceses of the Syro-Malabar Church with photographs]
*[http://www.syromalabar.com/dioceses/changanassery/ Archdiocese of Changanassery]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box |
before= None (New Diocese) |
title=''[[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally|Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally]]'' |
years=1977–1985 |
after=Mar Mathew Vattakuzhy
}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Mar Antony Padiyara]] |
title=''[[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery|Metropolitan of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery]]'' |
years=1985–2008 |
after=[[Mar Joseph Perumthottam]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Powathil, Joseph}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Christian clergy from Kottayam]]
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholics]]
[[Category:Archbishops of Changanassery]]
[[Category:20th-century Eastern Catholic archbishops]]
[[Category:21st-century Eastern Catholic archbishops]]

Joseph Powathil - Revision history

imported>Br Ibrahim john at 07:09, 18 August 2021