St. Vincent’s Seminary, Arch Diocese of Trivandrum
After my Masters in Economics, I started teaching Economics for the priests-students for 14 years. Though it was part-time, but i gradually became organically part of the Seminary. One reason was the intimacy of relationship with the then Rector Dr. Rev.Soosapakiam (who became the Bishop and then the Arch Bishop of Trivandrum Arch Diocese) and the Prefect Dr. Rev.Selvister Ponnumuthan, who later became the Bishop of Punalur Diocese.
Of the collection of photos on the past, i have only a faded photo of the then Batch of students, Bishop, priests and faculties (the ex-students may post other photos..):
I m sitting second from left, then Prof.Joshwa, Prof.Lawrence Lopez, Dr.Rev.Selvister Ponnumuthan (Rector, then later as Bishop, Msg. Mark Netto, then Rector, H.E.Dr. Jacob Acharuparampil (then Bishop), Rev.Dr.Gonzalvez, ?, Rev. Moses, Dr.Rev.Ayyaneth….
Every year I used to organize Economic Exhibitions with the my students. We could visualize economic terms, concepts, theories and Indian Economy, Kerala Economy, Global Economy, etc. Some 200 such exhibits were developed and presented. Students from the nearby schools and colleges, public from the nearby villages used to come and see the exhibition. In year, Dr.I.S.Gulati, the famous Economist and the then Kerala Planning Board Vice Chairman inaugurated. The photo below is the only that i have in my collection. That year, it was inaugurated by the then Kerala Assembly Speaker.
Economic Exhibition inaugurated by the then Kerala Assembly Speaker Shri. Varkkala Radhakrishnan (Second from left), Prof;Nabeezath Beevi, former Principal of the University College and the then MLA (far left), Msgr. James Amado, the then Rector…
My ex-students may help me to enlist all the names in the top-photo, other batches and photos…some of them are now holding responsible positions: one ex-student became the Bishop, others as Directors of various Ministries and Organizations, Parish Priests (I feel blessed that the last 3 or 4 Parish Priests in my own birth-parish Poonthura were my honored ex-students)
The perceptions, visions, ideological under-pinnings on various issues, …..my strong positions on certain issues naturally might contradict theirs, even conflictual, but neither me nor my ex-students never compromised the intimacy that we cherished from the Seminary days onwards. Similar has been the relationship with the then Rector, now Arch Bishop Dr.Soosapakiam and the then Prefect, now Bishop Dr.Selvister Poonnumuthan. Bishop Selvister also visited my mom in bed and prayed. Also, on many other family occassions. Arch Bishop Dr Soosapakiam and Bishop Selvister, Msg Wilfred (Rector of the Seminary in later period), Fr Pankrtius, Fr Santhappan, … to name and many other priests had also attended the funeral of my mother and other prayer days. I always feel guilt that I couldnt reciprocate!
I also worked as the Research Officer in TSSS (Trivandrum Social Service Society) of the Arch Diocese, teaming up with the then Director Rev. Eugene Pereira, the present Vicar General. I also rendered my service in the 3 member Panel to monitor, facilitate and coordinate the Diocese Ministries. During the ‘Living-in-Together’ of the Priests, Nuns, Lay leaders (once in 10 years), I served in the organiziing team and as one of the Moderators of the Sessions. That Living-in-Together brought out the document on ‘the theology of the local-church’…
Both Bishops granted me the letters of introduction and appreciation, while i came to USA.
