MAR PAULIUS JEERAKATH
BRIEF ACCOUNT OF MAR PAULINUS JEERAKATH CMI
FOUNDER OF DEEN BANDHU SAMAJ
Mar PaulinusJeerkakth CMI a handsome, healthy & calm child was born to a devout, pious & hardworking couple- Scaria& Mariam of Jeerakath family at Kurvanal, parish of present eparchy of Palai, Kottayam District, Kerala, on March 17th 1919. [The third generation of Jeerakath family came to be known as ‘Kalathupullatt’Though the house name had changed, his grand father wanted to give ‘Jeerakath’ as his grandson’s family name.] He was called Ouseph at home. He is known in the village in his pet name ‘Kunjautha’. He was given the name Joseph at Baptism. He has four brothers and one sister: - Michael, Thomachan (Fr. Thomas Kalattupullatt), Chacko, Pappachan&Aleykutty (Sr. Therese CMC). The good parents instilled spirit of prayer, respect for elders, prayerfulness, humility& discipline in their children. The exemplary life of the parents influenced them a lot in moulding their character. Joseph was docile and responsible child who cared his parents and the younger ones. He was a person of self-confidence and self-respect. He had a special attachment & love towards his mother. He always helped her in the household works and was kind and loving towards everyone at home.
He had his primary education in St. Michael’s school, Kuruvanal and middle school education in St. Anthony’s school Mutholy, which was run by CMI fathers. He was sent to St. Thomas high school, Palai for high school education. After two years in 1933, he joined the CMI Aspirants’ House at Mannanam and completed his high school education in St.Aprem’s school. He had his novitiate at St. Theresa’s Monastery Ambazhakkadu. He made first profession as a member of the congregation of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate on November 24th 1937 and was given the name Paulinus. He completed his seminary education at Chettipuzha, Mangalore, Kandy and Poona. He was ordained on February 18th 1946.
Soon after his ordination he was appointed at Motholi CMI Ashram as a professor. From there he was appointed in the following places: as tutor of Latin in minor seminary of St. Theresa’s Monastery, Ambazhakadu, the professor of Philosphy at SH Seminary Chettipuzha,as a professor of philosophy in the CMI scholasticate at Chethipuzha and at Dharmaram college, Bangalore, at Mannanam as Boarding rector. Though a scholar he was very calm and gentle. He taught with sincerity and clarity. He was one of the most loved professors by the students. He was highly interested in pastoral activities. He was a spiritual father and confessor to many religious during these years.
While he was a professor at Dharmaram college in 1950, he was nominated Promotor of Faith Tribunal for the Beatification of the Servant of God Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the founder of the CMI congregation. Later he was elected as the Definitor General of CMI congregation with special charge of mission. In 1972, he was elected Provincial of St. Joseph province Kottayam, Puthupally. Though he was holding high positions, calm and gentle and thus admired by all.
For several years he was the promoter of faith in the Arch-episcopal He visited many mission centers and got much knowledge about mission activities while he was a general councilor for mission. He has been elected provincial of the St.Joseph’s province, Puthuppally in 1972.
In 1972, when Paulus Cardinal Philipe was the Prefect of the Congregation, the oriental churches were made Exarchates and entrusted to CMI congregation. Accordingly, when Jagdalpur became an exarchate Fr. Paulinus was appointed Apostolic Exarch on March 23rd 1972. A team of five priests and six sisters accompanied Mar Paulinus when he came to Bastar in 1972 as the shepherd of an unknown people of an unknown land. Then there were only two mission stations with three resident Pilar fathers. The task before him was onerous and the means at his disposal amounted nothing. He was asked to erect the mansion of an eparchy out of nothing.
In 1977 Jagdalpur was elevated to Eparchy, Msgr. Paulinus became its first bishop. His Episcopal Ordination was on May 11th 1977 at Mannanamat the Mother House of the CMI congregation by Archbishop Joseph Cardinal Prekattil. Right from the beginning he did not aim at multiplying institutions for prestige sake. His concern was more on people oriented activities.
Deep in his heart he felt the need of devout prudent laborers to work in the land of Bastar. Hence he founded Deen Bandhu Samaj informally on June 3rd 1975 when he was an exarch. His main concern was the growth of Local Church rooted in Bastar in its culture, integrating its human and spiritual value systems. The first members of Deen Bandhu Samaj made their first profession on 22-06-1976. The community was officially declared a “Pious Union” on August 15th 1976.
Mar Paulinus was a zealous missionary bishop. He loved all without considering caste and creed. He was a man of intense prayer, simplicity, deep spirituality, values and an affectionate father who had an unfailing intimacy with the Lord. He was a true shepherd, an apostle of love and true son of the soil who discovered the soul of Bastar.
In 1987 the golden jubilee of his religious profession was celebrated.
In 1990, he was diagnosed with Blood Cancer. He accepted the suffering with extra ordinary courage and serenity and remained peaceful. He never complained about the illness but spoke very gently and joyfully to all those who visited him. Hence the doctors who treated him commented, ‘We have treated many people but haven’t seen such a person like him’. The doctor at TATA Cancer Institute Bombay said’ I have found a Bishop of my heart’.
His health improved and he was back to Jagdalpur to resume his pastoral duties. On 18th march 1990, the cathedral, Jagdalpur was consecrated. He blessed the chapel at Deen Bandhu Kuteer on 10th April 1990.
He expired on August 6th 1990.
Most. Rev.Mar Paulinus our source of inspiration
“It is miraculous to experience the love of god which is manifested to us through Jesus. We are gratley privileged to be the recipients of this love. Our entire life is a response to this love through our service to His poor”. (Bp. Paulinus)
Bishop Paulinus met the people of Bastar his mission area and he found them poor, illiterate, superstitious, downtrodden and exploited. His compassionate heart wanted to uplift them these situations. He said, “The role of a Christian is to mitigate the elements of a loveless world through sharing the real Christian love. Jagdalpur diocese wants to make the people Bastar feel that they are loved, wanted, and cared for.
He got a strong conviction in his mind that there should be an indigenous congregation of women religious born in the soil itself who could be constantly with the people to realize and fulfill the aims and visions of the diocese. Thus on 22nd June 1978 he founded the congregation called Deen Bandhu Samaj which means the society of the friends of the poor or sisters of Jesus the Deen Banadhu. The Bishop’s vision was to present Jesus as the friend of the poor and the afflicted.
Under the guidance of the founder our pioneers manifested their courage, missionary zeal by dedicating themselves totally to the cause of the poor and afflicted. He insisted that we should live a simple and humble life, which would be a clear witness to the poor, Jesus the Deen Bandhu. They had to face a lot of inconvenience and hardships, which we took as a challenge in our way to discipleship. He said, “Bastar were we are happened to start our community is a place of poor people: a weak section of mankind, hence we are not their friends we have no friends.”
His was an exemplary lie to all of us. It was based on the word of god and was built with the bricks of prayer. He roofed it with love for god and people. It was illuminated with the holiness, mercy and compassion. He had a serene appearance. He was soft spoken, looked deep and spoke less. He was a zealous missionary. He had a compassionate love for the poor. He had a firm conviction that we can love God only by loving the poor.
He was a man of humility and simplicity and had a firm trust in the divine providence. He came to the mission not trusting in his own strength and ability, but in God. All our sufferings come from God was his conviction. He had a silent and recollected mind. He kept a gentle and calm composure. He also had a listening heart which resulted on sound advice and discernment needed. He was very approachable. We could rely on him for his love, support, encouragement and prayers. He was a loving and caring father, our guru and guide. He has given us
A dream to live upto….
A path to walk on….
A mission to achieve…….
Bishop Paulinus manured and watered the D.B.S congregation every now and then with occasional advice , instructions and prayers and above all with his ideal life. Following are some of his valuable thoughts and instructions.
· Bishop Paulinus Believed that the role of a Christan is to mitigate the ailments of a loveless world through sharing real Christian love.
· Man is saved if he can really love. The trouble with the world is that man has not learnt to love as he rarely experience real love so. One is surprised to find the expression of unselfish love and often suspects some selfish motive in it
· Jagdalpur diocese wants to make the people of Bastar feel that they are loved, wanted and cared for.
· Every work is valuable and good and it has its own dignity. If the leg or any other organ of our body take a strike , what will be the condition of our body’ In the same way , If the daily paid workers take strike or fail to do their work .everything will collapse. So every work, no matter how small it is ,is important . So everyone of us should perform one’s duty honestly and lovingly.
· Use your God given talents for the good of the community and develop it .
· There can be mistakes , but as a little infant learns to walk try again and again . It may cause injuries , criticism and pain .
· Find out whether there is any truth in the criticism. If there is , try to mend it and if not leave it in the hands of God. He will handle it in the best possible away .
· Be honest in small things.
· Be punctual , sincere and caring .
· When people come for aid , don’t delay unnecessarily. Attend even at prayer and resting time.
· Rule is for man , man is not for rule .
· We should grow in love ,sharing , understanding , helping and be sensitive to the needs of other .
Keep peace with one another in the community and don’t be hostile or take revenge on anyone for the wrong that they have committed. We may quarrel at times but let it not be continued for hours and days.
· Respect and love other unconditionally
· Never forget that as you need others they need you too.
· Count the graces that you received instead of complaining .
· Openness to the community is its success.
· Justice is to give the due thing to the due person in due time .
· Find the better side of others and don’t exaggerate their short comings or degrade them.
· Keep smiling even in suffering.
· Don’t postpone to do good things.
· A good missionary is some one who doesn’t complain on anything but is happy and contented in all circumstances.
· We should not make ourselves a burden in the community .
· Life should be model – it is the most effective evangelization .
· The weakness/short comings of other should make us mend our own shortcomings and strengthen others with our prayers.
· Let our answers be always Yes or No.
· A mother is running with her child in her hand to escape the attack of an elephant . But the child is smiling as it is safe in the hands of its mother. In the same way we should believe in the divine providence of God.
· Through prayer we attain inner peace and purity.