HIS EXCELLENCY MOST REV. DR. JOSEPH MAR THOMAS
Most. Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas. the veteran educationalist and economist was born in the small village of Vadaserikkara presently in the district of Pathanamthitta on 20th April 1952 to Late Mr. K.C. Thomas and Sosamma Thomas. He had his primary education in the Govt. L.P. School, Vadasserikkara and completed his schooling at Vadasserikkara High School. He then joined the St. Aloysius Seminary in June 1968. He did his Pre-degree choosing Economics, History and Political Science as his optional subjects from Mar lvanios College, Trivandrum. Thereafter, he joined the Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye for completing the Bachelor’s degree in Theology (B.Th). Later as part of his priestly studies he did his Bachelor at Philosophy (BPh) at Carmelgiri Seminary, Alwaye. He was ordained as Priest by His Grace Most. Rev. Dr. Benedict Mar Gregorios the late Archbishop of Trivandrum, on 23rd December 1978 at St. Antony’s Church, his home Parish at Vadaserikkara. After his ordination Rev. Fr Joseph Konnathu served in various parishes like Thatta. Adoor, Anandapally. Parakode, Elamannoor. Parandal and Kalayapuram etc. By 1979 he was sent to Kollam (Kadappakkada) as the First resident Vicar of the St. Thomas Malankara Catholic Church Kadappakada and Assistant Vicar of seven parishes in the neighbourhood such as Kummalloor, Kottara, Pooyappally, Paruthiyara, Maruthamonpally. Chenkulam and Poriacode. In spite of his busy mission work at Kollam he did his Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the esteemed Fathima Matha National College, Kollam and passed out in flying colours.
In June 1982, he was appointed as the Local Manager at Sarvodaya School and St. John’s High School and the Boarding Rector ol Sarvodaya. During this period he served as the Chaplain of the S.H. Convent, Nalanchira and served as Parish priest of the three missions in Trivandrum district, namely Chalai. Kallayam and Karakulam. He completed his Master's degree in Economics and Bachelor degree in Education taking English as his Optional subject and continued doing a Master's Degree in the same. During his tenure as the Rector of the Trivandrum Minor Seminary. He also served as the Senate member at the Pontifical Institute Alwaye.
He also pursued a diploma in Guidance and Counseling (Kodaikanal). During this period he rendered his service as the Vocation Promoter of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum and as member of All Kerala Vocation Promotion Council. From 1986 onwards he served as Lecturer in the faculty of Economics at Mar lvanios College, Trivandrum. After completing seven years of service in the Minor Seminary, he was appointed as the Ecclesiastical District Vicar of Trivandrum and the Vicar of the St. Mary’s Metropolitan Church, Pattom. While working as the lecturer in Economics at Mar lvanios College he started his research work in the field of “Economics of Education” in the University of Kerala and completed the same by 1997 and was awarded Doctorate Degree. Mar Thomas joined the faculty of Education at Mar Theophilos Training College, Trivandrum in 1996 and after a year he took charge as the Principal of his alma mater for a period of 10 years.
In 1998, he contested the Kerala University Senate election, as an independent candidate and became senate member, securing a huge majority of votes from the College Teacher’s constituency. In 1999, he became the member of Board of Studies of Education and Faculty Member of Education in the University of Kerala. In the year 2000 he was appointed as the member of School Curriculum Committee, headed by the Education Minister, Government of Kerala. He worked as the NCTE South Zone Expert Committee Member, Banglore, Vice President of Council for Teacher Education (CTE) Kerala chapter, Malankara Catholic Catechism Text Book Committee Chairman and the committee member of the Principal’s Council of Kerala. Moreover he served as the consultant member of the New York State Board of Education, USA
In his various capacities as Theologian, Priest , Economist, Educationalist and Professor, Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas has been writing for the Print Media. He has published several research articles on various subjects in Economics and Education in recently published books. On the 5th of Jan 2005 he was appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum and Apostolic Visitator to North America and Europe by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. And the same was announced in Trivandrum by His Beatitude Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos, the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum. His consecration ceremony was celebrated on 19th of February 2005 with the name Rt. Rev. Joseph at the St. Mary’s Cathedral Church by Moran Mor Cyril Baselios, the first Catholicos of the Malankara Catholic Church. At present he is the bishop of Bathery.
Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas has visited several countries namely Egypt, Jordan, lsrael, Palestine, Italy, UAE, Qatar, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Britain, North America, Romania, Netherlands, lreland, Malta, Mexico, Canada for pastoral ministry and attending international seminars. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas organized several National and international Seminars and attended more than 100 seminars of the same. He is a research guide of the University of Kerala and at present six students are conducting research leading to PhD under him. He is serving as educational consultant of several regional, national and international institutions. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas is a member of the CBCl, KCBC and MCBC. He is the synodal Commission Chairman of Education of the Malankara Catholic church. He is the Chairman of the Women’s Commission, Vice-Chairman of Laity Commission, Family Commission and media commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council. Again he serves as the International President of the (AlRlO) Association of international Researchers of Indian Origin (USA) and the Patron of (CTE )Council for Teacher Education, Kerala Chapter and the international Spiritual Director of Knights of St. John, USA. At present His Excellency is serving as the Youth Commission Chairman(K.C.Y.M) of the K.C.B.C ,Educational Commission Chairman of Malankara Catholic Church and Global President Of AIRIO
Eparchial Bishop - At a Glance
Name, Last Name
His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas
Hierarchical rank, Date of Election or Episcopal Nomination
Eparchial Bishop
Date of Appointment: 5-01-2005
Date of Consecration: 19- 02-2005
Date of Installation in Bathery: 13-04-2010
Place and Date of Birth
Vadasserikkara, 20-04-1952
Citizenship of Birth, Present Citizenship
Indian
Eparchy and Church Sui iuris of origin
Eparchy of Pathanamthitta, Syro - Malankara Catholic Church
Present Church Sui iuris
Syro - Malankara Catholic Church
Religious Institute
N.A
Native Language – Other Spoken Languages
Malayalam
English,Thamil, Hindi, Latin, Syriac
Extra – Eparchial Appointments
K.C.B.C. Secretary General 2019 onwards
Former Chairman, K.C.B.C Youth Commission
Chairman, Synodal Commission for Education
Chairman: AIRIO (Association of International Researchers of Indian Origin)
Awards Received
- Oiska Award – 2017 (Environmental Protection)
- Janapaksha Award – 2018 ( Social Service)
- Chanakya National Award – 2019 (Youth Ministry& Education)
- National Award for Emeritus Teacher Educator -2019 (Christ University, Bangalore)
