Rev. Mgr. Joseph C Panjikaran was born on 10th September, 1888 in Uzhuva, Shertalley Ernakulam District. He was the first to obtain a M.A degree from among Syrian Christians, in 1913 from St. Joseph’s College Trichy, after which he joined the diocesan seminary at Candy (Sri Lanka) and became an ordained priest in the year 1918.
As a zealous missionary, Mgr. Joseph Panjikaran devoted his entire life for the upliftment of the poor and marginalized, specially the untouchables - the Ezhawas and lower castes. His ineffable works in the fields of evangelization and social justice earned him the titles of ‘Bene Merendi’ and ‘Papal Chamberlaine’. He was the pioneer to start a Christian Hospital ( Dharmagiri Hospital,Kothamangalam in Kerala )and was the founder of a religious congregation, the Medical Sisters of St. Joseph, solely dedicated to the care of the sick. The Servant of God, Mgr. Joseph C. Panjikaran died on 4th November 1949 and his mortal remains in the cemetery attached to Dharmagiri, Kothamangalam, the Mother House of the congregation of Medical Sisters of St. Joseph.
The cause of Mgr. Joseph C. Panjikaran, the founder of the Congregation of the Medical Sisters of St. Joseph (Dharmagiri) has officially taken up for canonization by the diocese of Kothamangalam, Kerala. The official announcement to this effect was made on 18th July, 2010 by Mar George Punnakottil, the Bishop of the diocese of Kothamangalam
Founder of the Dharmagiri Hospital and the Congregation of the Medical Sisters of St. Joseph (Dharmagiri sisters)
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Born
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1888 September 10, Cherthala, Kerala
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Died
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1949 November 4
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Servant of GOD
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2010
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Our dear Founder Father,
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