Deacon Joel’s Tirupatta reception will be held live on May 28 at Shalom
Chicago: The Syro-Malabar Church in the United States is preparing to receive the sixth priest of the Atlanta St. Alphonsa Parish, Deacon Joel Pius. The Diocese of St. Thomas in Chicago, the first Syro – Malabar Diocese outside India, is proud to have gifted six new priests to the Church in a short period of time, to be precise, in the four years from 2018.
It is also worth noting that all six are from the American-born generation. When it is known that nine members of the diocese are in various stages of seminary training and some are preparing for admission to the seminary, a new adjective can be given to the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago – The Call of God in the Pravasa Malayalee Church!
Deacon Joel Pius will receive a priestly reception at St. Alphonsa Forona Church in Atlanta on May 28 at 9:00 AM (EST). The service will be officiated by the Syro-Malabar Bishop of Chicago, Mar Jacob Angadiyam. Auxiliary Bishop Mar Joy Alappat will share the message. Fr. Paul Chalissery will be the Archdeacon.
Diocesan Chancellor Fr. George Danaveli, Finance Officer Fr. Kurian Neduvelichalungal, Fr. Mathew Elayidathumath MSFS, Fr. Vinod Mathathiparambil, Fr. Paulson Velliannoor and the CMF will be joined by five other clergymen. The first Mass will be celebrated at 09.00 (EST) May 29 at St. Alphonsa Forona Church in Atlanta.
Deacon Joel is the son of Muvattupuzha Veliannoor Pius and Sally, who immigrated to the U.S. from Muvattupuzha three decades ago. Born in New York. Joel, who has valued the life of faith since childhood, realized God’s will for himself during his Plus Two studies. In 2014, at the age of 17, Joel entered St. Joseph’s College Seminary in Chicago. He completed his training at Loyola University and the Mandalay Seminary in Chicago and was ordained a deacon in 2021.
He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in theology at Mandalay Seminary. Family members Fr. Paulson Veliannoor, Fr. Joseph Njarakattil and Sister Marina Njarkattil (SABS Pala Provincial) have been instrumental in receiving Joel’s priestly call. Similarly, the former parish vicar Fr. Rev. Fr. Mathew Elayidathumath, Director, Diocesan Vocation; Vinod Mathathiparambil, the current Vocation Director, Fr. Deacon Joel told ‘Sunday Shalom’ that the encouragement and support of Paul Chalissery was a great blessing during his seminary training. Lisa Pius is the only sister of Deacon Joel.
In 2018, Fr. Kevin Mundakkal, Fr. The diocese first received priests through Rajiv Valiyaveettil. Fr. Melvin Paul (May 2020), Fr. Thomas Pulikkal (June 2020), Fr. The other priests from the diocese are Joby Joseph (May 2021).
St. Alphonsa Parish Community preparing to receive the new priest, Vicar Fr. Preparations have been completed under the leadership of Vinod Mathathiparambil. Priestly reception services will be broadcast live on the ‘Shalom America’ channel. Also, Shalom Media Facebook, YouTube Also available on the channel.