Capuchin priest dies in accident

The priest was travelling with a child when the incident occurred.

By Jessy Joseph
New Delhi:  A Capuchin priest died when his bike collided with a truck yesterday in Kattappana, in the hilly Idukki district of Kerala.

Father Tom Kalathilkunnumpurath, 36, of St. Joseph's province of Capuchins in Kottayam was traveling with his relative’s 5-year-old child when the accident occurred.

The priest died on the spot. Police hospitalized the injured child.

The priest, Province's vocation director, was returning to Kottayam after attending a baptism and Holy Communion ceremony near Kattappana.

He was born on Dec. 27, 1977 at Olessa in Kottayam archdiocese as youngest of six children and was ordained priest on Nov, 26 2005. Of his two brothers and three sisters, one is a Visitation nun.

“We are deeply shocked, our congregation lost a very dynamic priest,” said Father Mathew Paikada, Capuchin Provincial of St. Joseph’s Province.

A people friendly and committed priest, Father Kalathilkunnumpurath was always available to people, Fr. Paikada told ucanindia.in.

Soon after the ordination, he was appointed assistant parish priest in Rajkumari for six months and then Vice-Rector at Portiuncula Capuchin Ashram Kattappana.

Before becoming vocation promoter in 2009, he was assistant parish priest in at St. Mary’s church in Dubai.

The funeral will take place Thursday at Thellakam Capuchin Vidya Bhavan at 3 p.m.