Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-113 Rev. Dr. Joseph Mattam

Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-113
Rev. Dr. Joseph Mattam

Rev. Dr. Joseph Mattam, who served as the Vicar General, played a pivotal role in the extraordinary growth and development of the Pala Diocese of the Kerala Church for nearly four decades. He has demonstrated his abilities, insight, and leadership across various fields including pastoral care, diocesan management, education, and priestly formation. As a preacher, educator, and Canon Law expert, Rev. Mattam enriched all the areas he worked in, turning them into golden milestones through his long-term vision, revolutionary outlook, maturity, and effective achievements. His ability to analyze any issue deeply and find solutions was a defining feature of his personality. His intellectual brilliance, simplicity in lifestyle, discipline in daily routines, dedication, sincerity, straightforward approach, and a sense of justice distinguished him from others. Rev. Mattam firmly believed that justice denied is injustice.

He was the only person fortunate to work with all three bishops of the Pala Diocese. He worked alongside the first bishop, the late Vayalil Father, as Chancellor, with the second bishop, Pallikkapparambil Father, and with the current bishop, Kallarangattu Father, as Vicar General.

Born to Joseph and Eli Mattam on July 5, 1930, in Kozhuvannal, he received his baptism on July 12, 1930. He completed his early education at Kozhuvannal Government LP School and Middle School at St. John’s Neppumsian’s School and St. Anthony’s School, Mutholi. After finishing high school at St. Thomas High School, Pala (1946-1949), he joined the St. Thomas Minor Seminary in Changanassery in 1949 for priestly training. He completed his major seminary studies at St. Paul’s Seminary, Thirissinappally (1949-1958), and was ordained a priest in 1958.

After his ordination, Rev. Mattam’s first task was translating the naming rituals of Alphonsamma from Malayalam to Latin. He was then appointed as the assistant priest at Katturuthy Thazhapalli. After two years, he went to Rome for further studies in 1960, joining the Lateran University. In 1964, he earned a doctorate in Canon Law and returned to Kerala. He was appointed Chancellor of the Pala Diocese and held multiple key roles including Defensor Vinculi, Promotor of Justice, and Vicar Judicial in the Diocesan Court.

In November 1968, he was appointed as the Rector of the Minor Seminary in Pala. Over the next twelve years, he trained hundreds of priests. During this time, he also carried out various other duties with excellence. He served as a judge in the diocesan court for twelve years, and as a diocesan consultant continuously from 1968 to 2005. He was also a member of the first National Advisory Council of the CBCI and contributed to academic boards of several universities, including Kerala University.

On May 17, 1980, Rev. Mattam was appointed parish priest at Ramapuram Church. During this time, he served as one of five judges in the Pontifical Commission for Alphonsamma’s canonization process and also as Chief Justice of the Tribunal for Miracles.

In April 1981, he was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Pala. Along with this, he took on the responsibility as the manager of three colleges: St. Thomas College, Alphonsa College, and B.Ed. College. His expert leadership helped navigate crises in higher education and accelerated the growth of the colleges. Rev. Mattam’s official life was filled with numerous roles: member of the Pastoral Council (1968–2005), Moderator of the Presbyterial Council (1981–2005), Secretary of the Pastoral Council (for four years), Chairman of various trusts, including the Kozhuvannal Hospitals Trust and the St. Thomas Press Trust, and more.

Rev. Mattam’s contributions to the church and society were immense. After a long and dedicated service in the diocese, he retired on January 25, 2005, and left for his residence in Kummanoor. With deep gratitude to God for guiding his path and immense personal fulfillment, Rev. Mattam stepped into his retirement, leaving behind a legacy of outstanding service to the Church.