The Hindu

• Elevated to the ranks of the `blessed' 

Rampuram, May 1: Augustine Thevarparambil, popularly known as Thevarparambil Kunjachan, was elevated to the ranks of the `blessed' at a solemn ceremony, witnessed by thousands of devotees, at St. Augstine's Forane Church at Ramapuram, near here, on Sunday.

He is the fourth from the Syro-Malabar Church to be elevated to one order preceding sainthood. The others so elevated were Alphonsa of Pala, Kuriakose Elias Chavara of Mannanam and Mariam Teresia of Ollur.

Fr. Augustine was born on April 1, 1891, and had worked as a Catholic priest among Dalits till his death on October 16, 1973. The process of beatification and canonisation began on August 11, 1987, when he was declared a servant of God. It was on June 22, 2004, that he was declared venerable by the then Pope, John Paul II. The way was opened for his beatification when the findings of the miraculous cure of the clubfoot of a boy from Idukki district, through the mediation of Kunjachan, was approved by Pope Benedict XVI.

The special ceremonies, led by Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil, on Sunday began with the welcome speech by Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Pala, at a specially erected pandal on the church premises. This was followed by the Holy Mass. Nearly 70 bishops, led by Telesphore Cardinal Toppo, president of the Catholic Bishop's Council of India, along with more than 500 priests, concelebrated the solemn Eucharistic Liturgy during which the Papal decree elevating Kunjachan as blessed was read out. Following this, a portrait of Kunjachan was unveiled and his relics were placed for obeisance.

Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, Papal Nuncio to India, preached the homily. Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil and Bishop Joseph Pallickaparabil also spoke.

Also present on the occasion was Gilson from Adimali, whose clubfoot was miraculously cured and scores of Dalits who were served by the priest during his lifetime.