Rev. Dr. John Padipurackal Varghese

Rev. Dr. John Padipurackal Varghese

Spiritual Director - 05.01.2011 - 12.12.2015

Birth Date :  14 November 1954
Ordination Date :  27 December 1980
Feast Day :  8 May
Joined V.O.K :  5 January 2011
Left V.O.K :  12 December 2015

 

Born on 14th November 1954 at Chengannur, Kerala, Fr. John Padipurackal had his school studies in his native town. After his seminary training in St. Aloysius Seminary, Trivandrum and St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Aluva, Kerala, he was ordained on 27 December 1980 in Kottayam, Kerala.

He did his Pre-degree Studies in Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum, Kerala and obtained a B.A. degree in Sociology from the Kerala University. He obtained his Master of Theology degree in Comparative Religion from Dharamaram Vidyakshetram, Bangalore, Karnataka. He was awarded a Doctorate in Moral Theology (STD) from the Gregorian University, Rome and a Diploma in Social Teachings of the Church and Social Work from Angelicum, Rome.

He served in several parishes in the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum. He also rendered his ministry as chaplain of the Malankara Catholic faithful in Bangalore from 1984-86. He held assignments as secretary to Most Reverend Benedict Mar Gregorios, Archbishop of Trivandrum, Vice-Rector of St. Aloysius Minor Seminary, Trivandrum, Member of College of Eparchial Consultors and member of Presbyteral Council (Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum). Since the erection of the Diocese of Mavelikara in 2007 he served it as its Vicar General and continued it till joining the Vicariate of Kuwait.

Besides being Professor of Moral Theology and Philosophical Ethics, he rendered his ministry also as Procurator, Librarian and Dean of Studies in the St. Mary's Malankara Seminary, Trivandrum from 1987-8 and 1993-2006. As visiting professor he offered his service in St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Aluva, Dharmaram Vidyakshetram, Bangalore and Pope John Paul II Institute of Marriage and Family, Changanassery, Kerala. He has been taking classes in the Marriage Preparation Course of the various Catholic Dioceses of Kerala and formation houses of the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ (SIC) and the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary (DM).

He worked as the consultor and member of various commissions of the CBCI, KCBC and the Holy Synod of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church. He was Member of the Editorial Board/Sectional Editor of Jeevadhara (Kottayam) Aikyasameeksha (Trivandrum), Indian Journal of Family Studies (Changanassery), Mathavum Chinthayum (Aluva) and Christhavakahalam (Trivandrum).

He has published three books: Deivakalpanakal (Ten Commandments); Navashasrabdathilekku (Social Teachings of the Church) and Noorumeni (Homilies according to the Malankara Lectionary). He has contributed articles to Theological and Philosophical Journals both in English and Malayalam. An article on the Malankara Catholic Church is published in the New Catholic Encyclopedia in his name. Besides he has produced a CD (Aham Smarami) on (Late) Most Reverend Benedict Mar Gregorios, Archbishop of Trivandrum.

Fr. John Padipurackal joined the Vicariate of Kuwait on 5th January 2011. He has been assigned to St. Daniel Comboni Parish, Jleeb Al Shuyoukh.

The Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church convoked from 5-8 March, 2012 has appointed Rev. Dr. John Padipurackal the Ecclesiastical Coordinator of the Extraterritorial Region in Middle East. He has to oversee the pastoral engagement of the Syro-Malankara Priests and coordinate the pastoral activities of common interest in the Gulf Region. The appointment of Rev. Dr. John Padipurackal is approved by His Excellency Rt. Rev. Camillo Ballin mccj, the Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia and His Excellency Rt. Rev. Paul Hinder OFM Cap, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia.

The fourth book ADYALANGALUDE PATHAYILUDE YESUVINTE UYARPPILEKKU by Rev.Dr. John Padipurackal was published on 20 September 2013 during the Reunion Anniversary Celebration at Mavelikara. His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis blessed the author and the endeavor and gave a copy His Grace Geevarghese Mar Divannasios.

Fr. John left the Vicariate of Kuwait on 12th Decemebr 2015. We wish him God's abundant blessings in his priestly ministry.