Based on the posting on FB on 18 March 2023

Mar Joseph Powathil, Archbishop Emeritus, who passed away on March 18, 2023, left an indelible mark on the history of St. Berchmans College, where he held various roles such as a student, lecturer, hostel warden, manager, and patron. Born as P.J. Joseph, he pursued his B.A. in Economics at S.B. College from 1948 to 1951. In 1963, a year after his ordination as a priest, he assumed the position of lecturer in the Department of Economics and became the warden of the college hostel.

In 1972, he was consecrated as the auxiliary bishop of the Changanacherry Archdiocese and concurrently appointed as the Manager of the College. Consequently, Mar Joseph Powathil played a pivotal role as the signatory to the direct payment agreement between the state of Kerala and the college in 1972, leading to government grants for the private college staff.

In 1977, he was appointed the bishop of the newly formed diocese of Kanjirappally. In 1985, HG Mar Joseph Powathil returned to Changanacherry, assuming the role of Archbishop and consequently becoming the patron of the college until his retirement. The date of his retirement, March 19, 2007, is firmly imprinted in my memory.  The new Archbishop, Mar Joseph Perumthottam, took office during a ceremony held at 3 p.m.

On that very day, as the Vice Principal of S B College, I was traveling back from a conference in Bangalore by train. In the morning, I received a call from the Manager, Msgr Jos P Kottaram, instructing me to meet HG Mar Joseph Powathil as soon as I return. My train reached Changanacherry station around 12:30 noon, and I hurried to the Archbishop’s house to meet HG Mar Joseph Powathil. During our meeting, His Grace conveyed to me that a decision had been reached to designate me as the forthcoming Principal of St. Berchmans College, effective from April 1, 2007. Overwhelmed, I knelt before him and received his blessing. The subsequent appointment order stated, “This is a historic decision… It is the first time a layman is appointed as Principal of S.B. College.” Undoubtedly, this was the last decision conveyed by HG as the Archbishop to the concerned individual.

I can genuinely say, that I was appointed the fourteenth Principal of the College, “Not by my merit, but by His Grace.”

I humbly acknowledge HG’s generosity and benevolence.

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