Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-79
Abraham Kuriyip Ilanjickal
Abraham Kuriyip, who gained international recognition through Vincent DePaul’s social work, was born into the Ilanjickal family in Kothamangalam on February 17, 1928. His father, Ilanjickal Kuriyack Abraham, and his mother, Kunjan, were from Thrissur Kanjirappally. After completing primary education, he graduated from Thevara Sacred Heart College and then from Madras Law College. Following that, he obtained a law degree from Madras Law College. Although he passed the Bar Council examination in 1954, he did not continue in legal practice. Instead, he focused on family matters and settled in Kothamangalam.
In 1953, he married Leela, the daughter of Mathew Kalliyath, the son of former Chief Justice of the Kochi High Court, Rao Sahib Shevi C.V. Antony. With the special interest of the late Kothamangalam Metropolitan Mar Mathew Pothanamooshed, he became the president of the Vincent DePaul Society in the Kothamangalam diocese in 1969. Subsequently, he held various responsibilities at both the national and international levels within the society.
In January 1970, when General Henry Jacob, the international president of the society, visited India for the first time, Kuriyack went to Bombay and participated in several conferences, personally meeting with him. The society’s international conference, held once every six years, took place in Dublin, Ireland, in 1973, where Kuriyack was part of the two-member delegation from India. He had the opportunity to speak at the conference attended by numerous foreign representatives and to meet several prominent figures. After the conference, everyone traveled together from Dublin to Paris, participating in meetings and various programs at the society’s international headquarters.
Following that, he was able to witness and study the society’s work in various European countries. In 1973, he visited Pope Paul VI in the Vatican with special permission. In 1974, he was elected as the chairman of the joint committee that included all the Santal councils in Kerala, and he successfully served in this role until 1942. In a meeting held in Goa in 1974, Kuriyack was appointed as the vice-chairman of the Indian National Council, a position he held continuously for 24 years until 1998.In 1977, Abraham Kuriyack was the keynote speaker at the New South Wales State Congress held in Sydney, Australia. During his travels, he visited Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, observing and studying the society’s activities in those regions. He was able to speak at various society meetings. He effectively fulfilled his responsibilities at the Sydney conference and spent the following one and a half months visiting key locations across different states in Australia.
The main discussion topic at the International General Assembly held in Paris in 1979 was development and adoption. Two years prior, he was appointed as chairman by President General Kuriyack. A continental four-member committee was selected by him for this purpose. Thanks to the invaluable support he received from various sectors, he was able to fulfill this mission commendably. After detailed discussions at the conference, it was announced that the recommendations passed would remain effective globally until the year 2000. Kuriyack received praise from everyone, including the president general. After the conference, he and his wife, Leela, had the opportunity to meet Pope John Paul II in the Vatican.
In 1980, he was invited as a speaker at the international executive committee meeting held at the Council General Office in Paris, where he presented a paper on the topics of sanctity and adoption, which was accepted by the assembly.
In 1982, Kuriyack was elected as the national president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, becoming the first president from outside Bombay. He served in this position for five years. When the 150th anniversary of the founding of the St. Vincent de Paul Society was celebrated in Paris in 1983, he participated in it as the president of the Indian National Council and spoke at the conference. After the meeting, he returned to the Vatican to visit Pope John Paul II. In 1985, Kuriyack participated in a special meeting at the Council General Office in Paris and, on his return trip, officially visited several European countries.In 1986, Abraham Kuriyack led the Indian delegation as the national president at the International General Assembly held in Montreal, Canada. His wife accompanied him on this trip. On the return journey, he visited the United States, France, and Germany. He took advantage of the foreign travel opportunities to visit sacred sites and renowned shrines, including Lourdes and Jerusalem, as well as various archaeological sites.
During his time in Kotamangalam, he hosted several Vincentian brothers and sisters from various countries, including international generals Joseph Ruasse, Amine Terrassi, and César Vian.
In 1998, he served as the chairman of the committee responsible for electing the new national president. Beyond his involvement in society activities, he has served in various capacities, including as a member of the diocesan pastoral council, executive committee of the pastoral council, and member of the teacher selection committee. He was also the treasurer of the welcoming committee for the Pope’s visit in 1986. Kuriyack has served as the president of the Kotamangalam Lions Club and as a member of the Lions Club cabinet committee. Additionally, he was the first president of the Ilanjickal family association.
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