|
 Rev.
Fr. Mathai V. Puthukkunnathu, S/O late Mr. Chacko Varkey
Puthukkunnathu and Mrs. Mariam
Varkey who are originally from Nagancherry, Thrikariyoor
Village, Kothamangalam, was born on October 02, 1961 in
Uppumannu, of Kizhakkencherry village, Palakkad District, Kerala
State, India. After completing high school education at
C.V. M. High School,
Vandazhy, Palakkad, he joined
the Syrian Orthodox Theological
Seminary at Malelcruz Dayara, Puthencruz. After successfully
completing the required courses and theological studies, he was
ordained a Deacon on
the 13th of March 1980 by the
late lamented His Grace
Gheevarghese Mor Gregorios Metropolitan (Perumpilly Thirumeni)
of the Diocese of Cochin. From there Fr. Mathai moved on to
secular studies in a private college in Muvattupuzha for Pre
Degree, in Maharaja's College, Ernakulam for Bachelor of Arts
(B.A.) and in Union
Christian College, Alwaye for
Master of Arts (M.A.), both in
English Language and Literature.
During his educational period,
Fr. Mathai served as the Sunday School Headmaster (Mor Stephen
Sunday School, Valakom, (Muvattupuzha)
Sunday School District
Inspector, (Ernakulam), English
Literature Association Secretary (Maharaja's College, Ernakulam)
and Post Graduate Representative (Union
Christian College,
Alwaye).
On
the 14th of September 1987, Fr.
Mathai was married to
Julie, daughter of Rev. Fr.
Geevarghese Koorppillil and late Mrs. Ealiamma Geevarghese of
Kothamangalam and came to the
United States in the
same year. On the 7th of
December, 1989,
Fr. Mathai was ordained a Priest, by
his Spiritual Mentor, the Late
Lamented His Beatitude Baselios Paulose II, Catholicose of the
East. During his past years of spiritual service, Fr. Mathai
served as Vicar at St. Peter's S.O. Church, Great Neck, NY, St.
John's S.O. Church, Staten Island, NY (2 terms), St. Mary's S.O.
Church, Thalacode, St. George S.O. Chapel, Mudakkuzha (Both in
Angamaly Diocese - from 1996 - 1999), St. Mary's S.O. Church,
Lynbrook, NY, St. Mary's S. O. Church, Bergenfield, N.J., & St.
Mary's SOC Houston.
Fr. Mathai V. Puthukkunnathu
was one of the four
Archdiocesan Delegates,
appointed by the Late Lamented Archbishop Mor Athanasius Yeshue
Samuel, to have an audience with the Patriarch of Antioch and
All the East Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, in Damascus,
Syria, in connection with the formation of the Malankara
Archdiocese in North America and the consecration of an
Archbishop in 1993. He also served the Malanakara Archdiocese as
Sunday School Director, Council Member, Malankara Archdiocesan
Constitution Committee member, Executive Committee (both
appointed by the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East),
Malankara Deepam Chief Editor, Clergy Secretary and now serving
as the Vice President of the Sunday School Association.
Fr. Mathai Puthukkunnathu and
Julie have two children,
Mary and Basil. Currently, he
serves as Vicar of St. Ignatious Elias III parish in the Atlanta
area. |
