Mutholath Family Website
|
Mutholath Family Website
|
|
|
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
FR. ABRAHAM M. JACOB
INTRODUCTION
In the following pages, I am presenting my autobiography according to the chronological order of my life stages. Along with the description of these different phases of my life I will be presenting my personal, professional, and faith development.
FAMILY AND FAITH BACKGROUND
I was born in 1954 in a traditional Catholic family in the state of Kerala in India. My family belongs to Knanaya Community that has its origin in AD 345 by the migration of 72 Christian families from Mesopotamia to South India. Since I am born in that community, my parents also were careful to bring me up in our Catholic faith and traditions.
I have one brother who is mechanical engineer in Los Angeles and five sisters. Four of my sisters are now settled with their family in different parts of California. The other sister is the superior of a convent in Switzerland. My father is alive and he is now living with my brother in Los Angeles. My mother died in 1990.
SCHOOL EDUCATION
Thanks to the great contribution of Christian missionaries in Kerala, the South Western state in India, we have high literacy rate in the state. So my parents were convinced of the value of education and encouraged me to study well. My family is financially middle class and so there was no poverty in the family and my parents could afford education of all their children.
After one year pre-school education, my parents admitted me in Puliyannnoor New Government Lower Primary School in my village called Cherpunkal. After completing fourth grade in that school, my parents admitted me in Holy Cross Upper Primary School in my village. Since English Medium School was available at Kidangoor, a nearby village, my parents admitted me there to study from sixth grade to tenth grade in English Medium section of St. Mary’s High School Kidangoor.
RELIGIOUS FORMATION DURING SCHOOL YEARS
I was brought up in a good Christian atmosphere. My parents used to attend daily mass at Church and encouraged me to attend church with them almost everyday. We had morning and evening prayers everyday at home with all family members. My parents gave high priority to moral and religious values.
In school, we had religious education. Most of my teachers were Catholics. Even our Hindu teachers respected Christianity and encouraged us to practice our faith. Most of my friends were Catholics because I used to go with them to school and meet them in the church. However, there were Hindu families in the village and students were from all religions. We were trained to respect people of all religions. We had religious harmony in our village and people used to help one another regardless of religions.
We had good religious training from our parish. Students were supposed to attend catechism classes on all Sundays. Special intensive courses on religion were offered during summer holidays. I regularly attended catechism classes and received merit awards for my good performance in catechism. The parish also had pious associations for children that helped to promote vocations, community service, and leadership. I took active role in Mission League a popular pious association in our parish. That encouraged me to take interest in religion, social service, and leadership.
Priests were well-educated and respected leaders in our village. It was natural for children including me, to consider priests as their heroes and wish to become like them. At the age of 11, I started serving as an altar boy in my local parish and I continued it until I became a priest. While serving as altar boy, I began to consider becoming a priest. My involvement in various activities of the parish as member of pious association also instilled in me the desire to become a priest so that I can do good service to the community, especially the poor and the suffering. My mother had a special concern for the poor and encouraged me to help them whenever I can. Considering my nature, one of my parish priests used to tell in public that I might become a good priest.
Jesuit priests had a high reputation in my area while I was studying. So my ambition was to become a Jesuit priest. While I was in the ninth grade, a vocation promoter from the Jesuit Community came to talk to students about their ministry. I gave my name to the priest to keep in contact with me. We used to write to each other. He told me that I have to get at least 50% mark in 10th grade for admission to the Jesuit Seminary. I paid special attention in my studies so that I could get that score. During my school years, teachers were not generous in giving high scores to students. So getting 60% was considered first class (A grade). One of my teachers who heard that I had given my name for joining Jesuit Community mentioned in the class that I am a good candidate and that Jesuits are really good priests.
SEMINARY TRAINING
The usual practice in India was to admit students in the seminary after 10th grade. When my 10th grade result came, I had passed the examination with 57.5% marks. My family was happy with my result. I had a hard time making a final decision on joining the seminary. I informed the vocation promoter of the Jesuit Community of my school results. He immediately sent me a letter of acceptance to the Jesuit Seminary. When I shared this information with my father, he disagreed with my intention of joining the Jesuit Community. He consulted some priests of our diocese. They agreed with my father’s idea of joining the diocesan seminary. So I was confused. I made personal consultation with some priests and religious I trusted, and finally made my own decision to join the diocesan seminary.
Seminary training was for ten years. The first year of my minor seminary course also included classes on Latin language and Spirituality. During the second and third years, seminarians were sent to a regular College in the city for Pre-degree courses, which is equal to 11th and 12th grade. After my minor seminary course, I was admitted to the Pontifical Institute of Philosophy and Theology at Alwaye in Kerala state. The course was for seven years. After the completion of three years, I received a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. At the end of the seminary course, I received another bachelor’s degree in Theology. The seminary I studied at was the largest in the world considering the number of students. Our professors included Carmelite priests from Spain, local diocesan priests, religious priests, and a few lay professors.
WRITER AND AUTHOR OF BOOKS
When I was in the first year of Philosophy Course at Alwaye, my first essay was published in a magazine. That was a great joy for me. I continued writing in the seminary annual publication and other magazines. I heard that someone had published the thesis of his Philosophy section as a book. So I thought I also should try the same way. I was interested in leadership because I was organizing the youth of my parish for various activities during my vacation time. I had approached my Sociology professor Fr. Thomas Chakiath and presented my intentions. Though we were supposed to start our thesis work in the third year, I had started to work on it in the second year so I could have an extensive study on the topic.
After my Philosophy course, I began to translate my thesis from English to Malayalam and started publishing it as a series in a magazine. Seminary authorities appointed me as an editorial board member of our seminary magazine called Preshita Keralam. Janatha Books, one of the leading Catholic publishers, came forward to publish my first titled You Too Can be a Leader. This gave me reputation in the seminary and good recognition from my professors.
My next goal was to prepare my thesis for Theology course so that I could publish that as another book. I consulted with my professor and thesis director Fr. Thomas Urumbackal who encouraged me to study the leadership of priests in Kerala Church based on readings and surveys. So I distributed survey forms to priests and lay people on priesthood and parish ministry. I later published my thesis as Priestly Leadership Today and Tomorrow.
Later I published two more books titled, Leadership Training and Bible Games. All my four books, except the one on priestly leadership, became best sellers and had two or three editions. The book on Priestly Leadership was regularly read at our bishop’s house in my presence during lunch as a spiritual reading followed by a discussion initiated by my bishop.
PARISH MINISTRY
I had developed a different and wide concept of parish ministry because of my research and wide reading on parish ministry and leadership of priests. I was enthusiastic to experiment them in my parish ministry.
My first appointment after ordination to priesthood was as assistant pastor at the biggest parish in my diocese called St. Stephen’s Forane Church, Uzhavoor. I was active in Catechism and youth ministry in the parish. Because of my specialization and practice in leadership I was good in dealing with children and youth of the parish. I was able to win the best unit trophy of the diocese for the youth organization of my parish because of my active ministry with the youth. However, because I was an associate, I had limitations to introduce original and creative ideas in the parish. I was also busy with routine works of the parish.
After fifteen months of service as associate, my bishop appointed me as pastor at Veliyanad, a parish of 250 families. This was a good opportunity for me to experiment with my concept of parish ministry. However, the parish was unique in my diocese. It had a wide boundary all over Kuttanad, a backwater and below sea-level area without any road transportation. It was difficult to visit the parishioners who were living far away from the parish. Most of the parishioners were not coming to this parish for service.
Since I had a special interest in youth ministry, I focused on organizing and training youth. Youth in the parish were happy that I could get along with them well. I have visited all houses with some youth inviting all youth of the parish to attend regular youth seminars every Sunday in my parish. That program worked out well.
Though I was not experienced in construction work, I had to take up leadership in some construction works in the parish. The former pastor had taken the initiative to start a convent for the parish. I had to continue raising money for it and monitor the construction work. The parishioners wanted to have a bell tower because the old one had collapsed. I convinced a parishioner to donate the full amount for it and I designed the beautiful tower and supervised the construction work. The parishioners also insisted on starting a lower-primary school. The parishioners were poor and the land available was under water level. So it was a difficult task and I was not enthusiastic about starting it. Because people insisted, I gave leadership to that also.
I also focused on spiritual matters of the parish. I focused on catechism and my parish received trophies for the best religious education school and for the best youth organization in the diocese. I also organized charismatic retreats in three batches to cover all parishioners in spiritual renewal. Since parishioners were scattered, I had organized them as seven “Basic Christian Communities” and had prayer meetings, discussions, and entertainments once every month for each group. My concept was that while people keep coming to church, the church in turn has to go to people. People well appreciated this program which was a new concept in my diocese.
Another achievement was the establishment of YMCA Veliyanad to coordinate all Christian denominations in my parish boundary. I was selected as the founding president of the association. This was a great ecumenical movement in the area and I won the love and support of all Christian denominations in the area because of this initiative.
My concept is that a pastor is also responsible to serve the non-parishioners in his parish boundary to which most of my brother priests disagreed. I did social service activities for all poor people in my parish area and used to visit the houses of people of all religions during a death or accident. I used to invite Hindu leaders to my parish to teach youth on Hinduism and to address meetings on religious harmony when there was a severe clash in the area between Christians and Hindus. So different Hindu leaders liked me and they also invited me to their temples to address their congregation on spirituality and cultural matters.
After almost three years of my service in that parish, my bishop transferred me to take charge of the media department of the diocese while serving in a small parish having 130 families. I did similar works in that parish also. However, I had to focus on my media work.
PRESS AND JOURNALISM
Because I had written books and since I was writing articles on current periodicals, my bishop thought I might be good as the editor of the diocesan periodicals (Apna Des, a fortnightly and Sacred Heart Monthly) and manager of Diocesan Book Store and Printing Press. Since I had no professional training in these fields, I bought books on these topics and consulted experienced professionals in the field for my learning and experimenting.
These periodicals and institutions had been running at a loss causing financial burden to the diocese. My bishop had requested me to make them self-sufficient. I worked hard and achieved this goal. These institutions are still self-sufficient since my reformations. Because of my good service to the diocese, my bishop allowed me to go to the United States for my higher studies in the media.
STUDIES IN THE US
I came to Los Angeles in November 1987 for my studies in Communication and Fine Arts. I stayed at St. Jerome Parish in Los Angeles and studied at CSU Dominguez Hills and Loyola Marymount University (LMU). I had completed a certificate program in TV production along with some courses in Journalism before I started my graduate program at LMU. I have completed my M.A. at LMU in 1992. During this time, I used to help at Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in Inglewood as chaplain during the off days of their priest chaplain. After completing my M.A. in TV Production, I returned to India for mission work.
Since I give high priority to education, I have joined DePaul University for MPS (Master of Science in Public Services) which I believe would help in my priestly ministry. Along with other responsibilities as hospital chaplain and vicar general, I am doing part-time studies. I enjoy my studies and wish I would do that throughout my life.
MEDIA AND YOUTH MINISTRY
When I returned to India in 1992, my bishop appointed me as the diocesan director of youth ministry, director of communication media, and contact person for people from my community living outside the boundary of the diocese and scattered all over the world. I wrote a screenplay in 1993 for a Malayalam film titled Dollar, that was released in the theaters in India and was exhibited in some theaters of the United States for the people from India. The movie is dealing with the issues of Indian immigrants in the United States. I also directed some TV programs on social evils.
PASTORAL AND SOCIAL WORK
Our diocese opened a new pastoral center in 1993. My bishop appointed me as the director of the center along with the other responsibilities I already had. So I shifted my office to the new center. The pastoral center coordinates pastoral offices and activities of the diocese.
One major activity of our pastoral center is social work for people of all religions. In 1994 the then director of social work left the office and my bishop appointed me as the diocesan director of social work. Because of my heavy workload, my bishop relieved me from the youth ministry in 1999. My assignment as the diocesan director of social work gave me the opportunity to study the development concept and reform the social service activities of the diocese. I took initiative to organize 565 self-help groups of the weaker sections of the community and to introduce community-based rehabilitation for the physically and mentally disabled and for the aged. I had an office staff of seven and 109 field staff as well as hundreds of volunteers for my social work in the diocese.
The diocese started a new hospital called Caritas Ayurvedic Hospital to promote the traditional Indian System of medicine. I was the first director of this hospital until I left for the United States again in December 2000. Since I am a resident alien (green card holder) in the US and since my brother, sisters, and their families live in California; I used to come to Los Angeles almost every year. During those occasions, I used to work as chaplain at Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in Inglewood. My experience as chaplain gave me incentive to become a full time hospital chaplain.
My bishop gave me permission to work in the United States and hence I came to the United States again on December 8, 2000. I started living again at St. Jerome Catholic Church on December 9, 2000 and I joined Robert F. Kennedy Medical Center as full time chaplain on December 11, 2000.
While serving as chaplain at Robert F. Kennedy Medical Center in Hawthorne, Los Angeles, I also attended Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Residency Program at UCLA Medical Center from September 2001 to August 2002 and have completed the required four units of CPE. During my CPE training at UCLA, I could facilitate in establishing a mutual understanding between my bishop in India and UCLA Pastoral Care Department to send a priest from my diocese every year for CPE Residency training. The second priest is now studying at UCLA and third one will join UCLA in September 2003.
I also took initiative in the establishment of Visitation Convent by bringing four sisters from Visitation Congregation at Kottayam in India to serve at Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in Inglewood, Los Angeles. I have also helped in the establishment of St. Joseph’s Convent in West Covina, Los Angeles, by bringing five sisters of St. Joseph's Congregation from Kottayam in India to serve at a hospital in West Covina.
VICAR GENERAL
His Excellency Dr. Jacob Angadiath, the bishop of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago appointed me on October 3, 2001 as the Syncellus (Vicar General) of the Eparchy. At the request of the bishop I have moved from Los Angeles to Chicago. I have reached Chicago on February 16, 2003 and started living as priest in residence at Our Lady of Victory Parish at 5212 West Agatite Ave, Chicago, IL 60630 and started serving as chaplain at Our Lady of Resurrection Hospital in Chicago on February 24, 2003. My hobby is website designing. I am currently webmaster of the following websites: www.kottayamdiocese.com, www.knanayacatholics.com, www.mutholath.com, www.agapemovement.org, www.blisusa.com and www.olvchicago.org.
CONCLUSION
I believe that my faith and moral values have their basis in my early training at my traditional home, parish, and school. My seminary training helped in developing my religious values and personality. My service as part time chaplain at Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital has helped me to develop an enthusiasm to work for the sick in hospitals. The team spirit of the chaplains in that hospital was attractive to me.
My appointment as the diocesan director of social work in my diocese has highly influenced and changed my vision and values. I wanted to be a good follower of Jesus who had been loving and compassionate to the oppressed and suffering. From the many training programs I attended and the books I read, I became a committed social worker in India. I have also established Agape Movement, a non-profit tax-exempt corporation, in the U.S. for social service.
My CPE training program again has influenced my way of thinking. I can very well relate to what I had learned from social work. I began to enjoy working with those who are sick and suffering with physical, emotional, and spiritual issues. However, I have also changed in my dealings with people by listening to them, offering my compassionate presence, facilitating them to express their concerns, and encouraging them to arrive at their own decisions whenever needed.
-oOo-
|
|
