Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church -10
Fr. Lino Maria Succol, S.J.
“This is the motivational motto of this 86-year-old missionary: ‘If I am not preaching the Gospel, I suffer!!'” Fr. Succol embodies a life filled with joy and hope, profound wisdom, dedication, and pride in his Indian citizenship. Working 18 hours a day, he keeps his office open throughout the day. His daily routine includes celebrating the Eucharist, office work, religious teaching, home visits, giving blessings, solving problems, traveling, responding to all correspondence from his fellow missionaries, managing expenses, and maintaining up-to-date records. His diet mainly consists of fruits. Thus, he enjoys his life in his ‘heaven’ in North Kerala. He strongly dislikes criticism, complaints, and conflicts. His joy comes from seeing others do good deeds.
Fr. Succol is fluent in both English and Malayalam and speaks with confidence in both languages. He has not undertaken formal efforts to learn these languages; however, he was born in Sarno, an Alpine village in Northern Italy. In Kerala’s heat, he uses a fan for comfort. For several years, he has been reckoning his age to be under a hundred. Accordingly, his current age is fourteen years.
Lino was born on February 8, 1916, as the third child of his parents. The first two siblings died in infancy. His grieving mother vowed that if her third child survived, she would dedicate him to God. The child was baptized the day after birth, named Lino Maria. He did not die but grew up as an enthusiastic and active child. His parents fulfilled their vow by admitting him to the seminary in Trent. At the age of 24, he was ordained a priest. In 1940, he was ordained along with 41 others. After three years of parish service, he joined the Society of Jesus, aiming to become a missionary. After completing his novitiate and other training at the Society of Jesus, Fr. Lino Maria Succol arrived in Kozhikode in 1948. He spent three months learning the language and worked at Christ Hall. Later, the then Metropolitan of Kozhikode, Father Patroni, appointed him as the parish priest of Chundel in Wayanad. After three years, he was transferred to the parish of Kunnamkulam. This parish had about four hundred Christian families and hundreds of acres of fertile land. His next assignment was to the Madayi mission in Chirakkal. The Chirakkal Mission was founded by the great missionaries Peter Kaironi, John Serra, and Joseph Taffarel. Fr. Lino built a church and 50 houses for the parishioners. After serving for a while in Payangadi, he returned to Chundeli, where he established a high school. In 1963, he returned to Payangadi.
Following the directives of his superiors, Fr. Succol was willing to go anywhere. However, he recognized Pattuvam, near the Payangadi river, as his divinely appointed mission field. There, he established his first mission station. With an adventurous spirit, he traveled on foot, by boat, bicycle, bus, and jeep to explore new opportunities. He set up mission stations in Kannadipparambu, Mariyapuram, Vellikkil, Arippampara, and Karakkund, which are now parishes.
In 1974, Fr. Succol moved from Pattuvam to Mariyapuram. Before his arrival, there were no Christians here. Today, there are twenty parish communities (with an average of 100 families per community). There are about twenty-five convents, and the nuns are engaged in various services, including special schools, old-age homes, and care for those with physical and mental disabilities. Fr. Succol has established 17 new parish communities and developed existing ones. He has built more than fifty churches or prayer halls, over 6,000 houses, and more than 1,700 wells. Most of these construction activities were carried out on land he himself acquired. His services have been beneficial to nearly thirty convents and associated service centers. Pattuvam is a stronghold of Marxists, RSS, and Muslims, but Fr. Succol has never faced neglect or injustice from any of these groups or government institutions.
Fr. Succol never evaded questions from television and other media. His response to such queries was, “I do not wish to cause discomfort to anyone.” He states, “I am happiest being a member of the Society of Jesus working in India. The happiest moments of my life have been the moments of giving baptism to those I have baptized and receiving the vows of those I have confirmed. Giving baptism to those who have been converted is equally joyful.”
Reflecting on his life, Fr. Succol says, “What is more significant than the results of actions according to one’s plans is that they become the subject of divine grace and the execution of duties as per the directives of superiors. However, one must endure many hardships before achieving success. These hardships are for everyone living in this world.” Fr. Succol feels distressed that while the Church and society today perform various special services, evangelization is often neglected.
Comparing his life with that of his pioneering missionary brothers and contemporaries, Fr. Succol expresses gratitude to God. He says his life has been extremely joyful. He contemplates whether he might count his life to be 125 years. His friends and collaborators, who have received abundant encouragement from his serene and abundant life, are indeed blessed by this virtuous man dedicated to service.
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