Roman Catholic Cardinal. Kindagoor born Joseph Parecattil entered the Minor Seminary of Ernakulam and later the Major Seminary of Kandy, obtaining a doctorate in theology, attending successively the University of Madras where he specialized in economics. Ordained priest on August 24, 1939, he performed pastoral work in the archdiocese of Ernakulam, serving as assistant pastor at Narakal and North Paravur and as pastor at Chunangamvely. Editor of the weekly "Sathyadeepam" (Light of Truth), at forty one years of age, he was appointed auxiliary for the Syro-Malabar see of Ernakulam by Pope Pius XII, receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Arethusa dei Siri on November 30, 1953 from Cardinal Eugène Tisserant. Following the demise of Archbishop Augustine Kandathil on January 10, 1956, Parecattil was named his successor as archbishop of Ernakulam on July 20 of that year. President of the Syro-Malabar Episcopal Conference, of the Kerala Catholic Episcopal Conference and of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, Pope Paul VI created him cardinal priest of Nostra Signora Regina Pacis a Monte Verde in the consistory of April 30, 1969. President of the Pontifical Commission for the Revision of the Code of Oriental Canon Law from 1972 till 1987, after an eighteen-year-long tenure he resigned the pastoral government of his see due to health reasons on January 30, 1984 and was succeeded by Mar Varkey Vithayathil. The Cardinal died of cardiac related complications while recovering in a hospital in Cochin. His remains are found interred inside St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of Ernakulam, Kerala.
Roman Catholic Cardinal. Kindagoor born Joseph Parecattil entered the Minor Seminary of Ernakulam and later the Major Seminary of Kandy, obtaining a doctorate in theology, attending successively the University of Madras where he specialized in economics. Ordained priest on August 24, 1939, he performed pastoral work in the archdiocese of Ernakulam, serving as assistant pastor at Narakal and North Paravur and as pastor at Chunangamvely. Editor of the weekly "Sathyadeepam" (Light of Truth), at forty one years of age, he was appointed auxiliary for the Syro-Malabar see of Ernakulam by Pope Pius XII, receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Arethusa dei Siri on November 30, 1953 from Cardinal Eugène Tisserant. Following the demise of Archbishop Augustine Kandathil on January 10, 1956, Parecattil was named his successor as archbishop of Ernakulam on July 20 of that year. President of the Syro-Malabar Episcopal Conference, of the Kerala Catholic Episcopal Conference and of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, Pope Paul VI created him cardinal priest of Nostra Signora Regina Pacis a Monte Verde in the consistory of April 30, 1969. President of the Pontifical Commission for the Revision of the Code of Oriental Canon Law from 1972 till 1987, after an eighteen-year-long tenure he resigned the pastoral government of his see due to health reasons on January 30, 1984 and was succeeded by Mar Varkey Vithayathil. The Cardinal died of cardiac related complications while recovering in a hospital in Cochin. His remains are found interred inside St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of Ernakulam, Kerala.
Bio by: Eman Bonnici
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