Rev. Father Canisius of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) has been declared Servant of God by Pope Francis, the preliminary step towards canonization.The rituals in connection with the establishment of the Tribunal will be held by the Bishop of Irinjalakuda, Rt. Rev. Dr. Poly Kannookadan, on March 29 at St. Theresa’s Monastery, Ampazhakkad, Kerala, India.
Rev Fr Canisius Thekkekara CMI, the first Indian to have the degree of Doctor in Sacred Scripture (DSS) from the prestigious Biblical Institute, Rome in 1952, was a committed religious who led a Christ Centred life in the service of the Word of God in the Church for the Glory of God and well being of all.
Fr. Canisius was born in 1914 and was ordained priest in 1942. He passed away on January 29, 1998. As a noted theologian and biblical scholar of repute, he had served CMI Congregation as the Vicar General and the Prior General.
He is the second person to be elevated to the position of Servant of God from the CMI Congregation after the Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara, who founded the CMI Congregation in 186l. Blessed Chavara was beatified about three decades ago and the process of his canonization has reached the final stages.
Born
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12 May 1914
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Died
| 29 Jan 1998 |
Servent of GOD
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29 March 2014
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