I
remember Fr. Joseph Muttumana, who had a knack with children. He got along very
well with them and had a way of making them do their different duties without
any hesitation. The next Vicar, Rev. Fr. Joseph Peechanat belonged to our
parish. Rev. Fr. Joseph Kulathinal (Palai), the next Vicar, was also an
affectionate priest. He knew each and every child by name. The old sacristan,
Paily, was very pious and dutiful in all the church matters. The ‘Jemador’, one who convenes; Kuriako the
‘Jenmador’ used to collect the
offerings also during the holy mass without fail. In church services extensive
use was made of music; the intoning of the services by the priest and responses
chanted in unison by a choir led by P.P. John Master, Jose Palathingal and
Thomas Chemnadi.
St.
Joseph Convent was established in 1957. The
sisters of the convent, Sr. Karithas, Sr. Rubeena and their Mother Agasamma,
(sister of Paily Master, Tirunilath-Thayamkeril), joined the hymns in unison and
fervently participated in the Holy Mass daily. Iyyo Powathil, an old man, who
had an attractive, loud and clear voice, led the Rosary, the way of the Cross
and other initial prayers regularly. Kuttamma Ouseph Ameparampil was another
noted lady who led the prayers. Antony Master of Purakkat used to keep the true
and correct accounts of the income and expenses of the church regularly without
any audit objections.
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While
the mothers were busy with all these serious discussions we indulged in our own
interests. We used to run around the place beneath the huge ‘Payal’ and another ordinary mango tree;
sitting on the four coconut trees which had germinated from a single seedling,
an attraction of children. We too had our own topics for discussion enjoying
the cool breeze and spectacular view of the ‘Kayal’.
Geochan Kallarackal, Antony Kallarackal, Unni and Antony Kareethra, Abraham
Edangarupilly, Bastin Mathepilly Pidiyamcheril, Dominic and Jose Thirunilath
too joined us in all the fun.
I
remember T.J. Paul (Paulettan) Thirunilath-Thayamkeril, Xavier Edangarupally,
Joy, Xavy, Andrew, Jolly of Mathepilly Pidiyancheril, Jose Polaparampil,
(Bombay) Jose and M.R. Joy, Joy Thayamkeril (East), Cherian Makkaruparampil
(Bank of Cochin), Ravi Thekkedath, Sasi Maraveettil and Mohanan Vathuveettil,
an older group watched us play and used to mock at us; much later they joined
us to form one group. Our meetings and our interactions were so fragrant that
it broached us closer, blossomed and bloomed into an enduring friendship.
Xavier Master and his contemporaries recognized this peer group. Rev. Fr.
Antony Oorakadan and Shri. Cyriac Tirunilath –Thayamkeril were the two senior
fellows, who enjoyed our company.
At
times, Paul ‘Valliappan’, Thirunilath-Thayamkeril, and his wife Rosy ‘Valliamma’ used to come to their ancestral house on the island.
They used to reside in Ernakulam for the convenience of commuting for his work.
They were an elegant couple who had four children. I still remember their
elegantly dressed daughters, Leela (Sr. Mithesa now in France), Lissy and Daisy
and their one and only son Jollychettan, (T.P. Poulose) wearing a full sleeve
shirt smartly tucked into his shorts He is now a retired Government Doctor. He
is a very endearing person. Over the
years we have become close to each other. He is an ace tennis player and used
to be an office bearer of Rama Varma Club at Ernakulam.
Excerpts from
MEMOIRS
An autobiography
by
Joseph J. Thayamkeril
Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.
josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com
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