ALLEPPEY AND JESUITS
THE SERVICE OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS (THE JESUITS) IN Muthedath MISSION FROM 1570 TO 1968 AND MY REMINISCENCES OF THE LAST 60 YEARS.
Fr. Thomas Thundyil S. J
Here I try to recall to my mind some of the happy experiences and information�s, both personal and otherwise, which might be of some interest to my friends in Alleppey, Cochin and elsewhere. The Society of Jesus was working in these areas from the time of St. Francis Xavier, especially from 1 570 to 1 663 with well-established houses of Jesuit Communities in a Mission called Muthedath, the present Arathunkal, which the famous historian Fr. George Schurhammar S. J. calls Muthedath (1). Again the Jesuits came to the same mission in 1888 and worked till as late as 1968. First I shall speak briefly of Alleppey Mission of Jesuits which in those days was included in the Diocese of Cochin; then about my own reminiscences.
The first period of the Jesuit missionary activities in Muthedath Mission (Arathunkal was the Centre) lasted from 1570 till 1663, when the Dutch, in alliance with the Savoring of Calicut and the kings of Vadakancore and Thekkancore on the side of the king of Cochin, gave a crashing defeat to the Portuguese power at Cochin. The anti-catholic Dutch wrecked terrible vengeance on the Portuguese, killed most of the officers and soldiers, burned and pulled down all the Catholic churches, except the church of Assisi in Fort Cochin which they converted into a warehouse or a barrack. They expelled all the Jesuits and the Catholic priests from the territory of Cochin as well as brought all the Christians of that country under the direct Government of the Dutch. Arathunkal being not under the king of Cochin, the Dutch could do nothing against them, but to grind their teeth at them from a distance.
From the defeat and fall of the Portuguese in1663at the hands of the Dutch, never did the Portuguese flag flutter on the Indian coast, In spite of the great zeal of the king of Portugal for the spread of the Gospel in the Indies and the East, the work of evangelization came to a stand still in Cochin- 'There were not enough Indian clergy to look after even the Catholics in Cochin area; so a few native Syrian priests came to their help and did whatever they could do, even against the Dutch threats. Meanwhile some non-Portuguese Carmelites from Varapuzha also came in. This state of affairs went on for some years- Meanwhile the Dutch also relaxed a little in their anti-catholic repression-policy; a they took an indifferent attitude. The Jesuits and other priests were allowed to come back to Cochin, as a policy to placate the Christians who never showed any love or appreciation for the protestant Dutch Government; neither did many join their army, nor help in their ride, for the French and the English Traders were slowly coming into contact with the western coast,(2)
Due to want of priests, and for other reasons, Pope Gregory XVI on 24th April 1838 had to annex the ancient diocese of Cochin to Varapuzha, as a temporary arrangement, But when Varapuzha was made an archdiocese by Pope Leo XIII in 1 888, Cochin was separated from Varapuzha. Thus Cochin, Aileppey and the churches on the coastal regions near Trivandrum became a unit of its own, under a new Bishop, Don Joao Gomez Ferreira. It was he who built a school in Fort Cochin for the boys of that place In the same year and called it St-Joseph's English School. But on 1st October 8 the same year he changed the name into santa Cruz English High School. The reason for this change is unknown.
The old Jesuit Mission in Cochin rather in Alieppey District deserves a few more words. The old Mission of St- Andrew�s of Muthedath (Arathunkal) in 16th and 17th centuries extended from Cochin in the North unto Porakad (The present Purakad) in the South. In this area, the Jesuits began the Missionary activities in the year 1570 among the old St. Thomas Christians. (3) Arathunkal is more or less the Central place between Cochin and Purakad; and from there they could radiate their work even to the interior parts of the country- The Provincial lived at Vaippikotta Seminary at Cochin in the Jesuit community of Arathunkal, there lived some of the best missionaries and great Ideologists. They did great service for the spiritual and material welfare of our people of Alieppey area- Alieppeyin those days was but a Jungle-Village. It is only at the time of Raja Kesavadas Pillai say about the year 1750 that the present Alieppey began to grow into a town and port.
To mention, just about one of such men, Fr- Giocomo Fenicio, an Italian, was the first one to make two daring and dangerous explorations into the wild forests of Nilgiries to discover the Todda Tribe, the aboriginals of the place and then another place in the thick of the forest what is called 'the Kingdom of the salt. (4a) Fr. Fenicio walked all the distance from Cochin into Nilgiri forests, infested with tigers, wild elephants and ferocious bisons. He took more than two months for it, and wrote copiously on his experiences and works done among those people^ He studied their life and manners and customs long before any Indian or European tried such a systematic study of Indology-It was in the year 1609- (4b) Apart from his scholarship and heroism, he was a bold preacher of Christ in good Malayalam and that brought in a good harvest of souls into the church of Cochin of those days.
Fr Fenicio was the Superior of the Jesuit House at Arthunkal and parish - priest from 1584 to 1602. It was the time of the synod of Udayamperoor 1599- (5) then for eighteen years he worked in Calicut. After that period he came back to Arathunkal in 1620 and worked at Purakad also till his death in 1632.
As Conversion works increased Fr, Fenicio and his companions used their influence with the kings and potentates of these places for greater propagation of the Gospel and to build churches in different parts of the missions along- the coast. Some of them are yet standing as living monuments of these Jesuit missionaries of Muthedath, Arathunkal Mission. Some of them are St- Jacob's church at Palluruthi in 1568, Holy Cross church at Puracad in 1570 (now it belongs to the Arch-Diocese of Changanacherry) St. Andrew's at Arathunkal in 1581, St- Michael's at Kattoor in 1600, St- George's at Manakodam in 1640- Besides, many other churches built by them are destroyed by war and by encroachment of sea. (6)
When the Carmelite Fathers began to come into Cochin in sufficient number from 1750 onward, the Jesuits moved to new fields to the eastern and northern parts of 'Malabar' where the Mysore army of Hyder AIL and after him his son Tippu Sultan, were doing great havoc. They were destroying all the places they passed through with fire and sword and plunder. (7) The people from North Malabar up to the river of Alwaye were forced to accept the Coran or the Sword. A few of the Jesuits laid down their life for their flock at Chennamangalam, Ambalakkad and Sam paloor.
It is gratifying to think that even after 'Coonan Kurissu Sathyam in 1653, and the defeat of the Portuguese in 1663, the Jesuits continued their mission works in Alleppey till the middle of 18th century. Only when the Society of Jesus' was sup-pressed in 1773 the last Jesuit left Alleppey for Sampaloor.
More than one hundred years of intense work in Alleppey has borne its fruits in plenty. When they left their mission, the catholic population had doubled itself by conversion along the coast, the original number they had, when they began the Muthedath Mission (7b).
Years passed and the Society of Jesus was restored to the great joy of the whole church by Pope Clement XIV on 7th August 1814 now the Society of Jesus started with great , Vigour her work-for the Church. They went back to their old places or where ever they were needed.
The Second time when the Jesuits began their mission work in Alleppey, it was almost exactly in the same place. It was at the end of 19th century. But the circumstances that led to the new arrival of the Jesuits in Alleppey were entirely different.
The political power of the Portuguese from Malabar Coast had completely disappeared, and the British flag was fluttering supreme. But the Spiritual and religious foundation which the Portuguese and other catholic European missionaries had given to the people of Cochin and Travancore remained unshaken. The Patriarch of Goa under the Portuguese Government had yet a good measure of authority over the ancient diocese of Cochin, as far as they belonged to the system called 'Padrovado', the patronage of the king of Portugal.
In Portugal troubles shot up against the Jesuits towards the end of last century again, and consequently the anti - religious Government expelled the Jesuits from Portugal and from all her territories Macao, near China, was a Portuguese pocket like Goa in India in those days. So the Jesuits had to leave Macao and go back to Europe. Cochin being no longer a territory of Portugal, the Bishop of Cochin welcomed some of the Jesuits from Macao into his Diocese in 1892. He could get only three Jesuits at that time, Fr Peres Antunes, Fr. Gil Vaz and another companion. Immediately they began missionary and educational works in Cochin. In 1895 the Bishop. Joao Gomez Ferreira entrustedthe management of Santa Cruz School to the Jesuit Fathers.
The next Bishop of Cochin was Rt. Rev. Mathew De Oliveira Xavier (1898 to 1908). Fr. Antunes carried on with his work under him for ten years to their mutual satisfaction and joy. Fr. Antune's contact with Alleppey was so constant that he felt that some Jesuits must stay and work the whole time there. The Bishops, Ferreira and Oliveira, wanted these three Jesuits at Cochin to help them to stabilize some of the works of the whole diocese. Bishop Ferreira considered the importance of the future priests of the Diocese, and he sent in 1 900. Fr. Gil Vaz to Alleppey to be the Rector of the Petit Seminary and Manager of the School to run these institutions well, the Bishop wanted more Jesuits in his Diocese. This desire of the Bishop Was realized when Fr. Gil Vaz was appointed Superior of Goa-Mission in India in 1908 He brought more and more Jesuits to work in Alleppey and Cochin. Though Fr. Gil Vaz was the Superior till 1923, he had to remain in Alleppey. But when Fr. Antunes got sick, Fr. Gil Vaz was called to Cochin. Fr. Rebeiro took charge of Alleppey. In addition to the works in the episcopal curia, Fr. Gil Vaz was made the Manager of Santa Cruz High School. By this time Fr. William Arkwright an Englishman, came to Cochin and he was made the Headmaster of the School, and Fr. Gil Vaz continued to be the Superior till 1 929. When Fr. Joackim Lima S J. was appointed Superior of the Goa Mission, he sent a young and energetic Jesuit called Fr. Fructuoso to Cochin He was appointed the Head-master and superior of the Cochin House. In 1929 Rev. Fr. Lima was appointed Archbishop of Bombay, as per the new concordat signed between Rome and Portugal. This did not in any way affect the houses of Cochin and Alleppey.
Fr Gil Vaz and his other Jesuit companions did serve Alleppey to the best of their power. Though Leo XIII School was in existence from 1889, it grew up in consider-able efficiency and strength under the Management of the Jesuits. Accommodation for further development was a felt need. It was the same saintly Fr. Gil Vaz who, together with a few gentlemen like Mr. Ouseph Kaniamparambii of Thathamapally, Mr. K. J. Thomas Kannampuzha of Changanacherry. Municif Varghese Chandy, Mr. Chinnappapillai and a few others who went out to collect sufficient fund to put up a good building. Fr. Gil Vaz received some alms from Portugal and Brazil. (8) This group was invited to Kuttanad. They visited a few houses of the old boys of Leo XIII School. The present majestic High School building stands as a living monument to the memory of Rev Fr. Gil Vaz.
Among the other Jesuits who did yeomen service in the Diocese of Cochin which then included Alleppoy as well I leave out many, and mention only the names of a few, Rev. Fr Fortunato Cutinho who organised the Sodality works in Cochin and brought it up to al-most perfection about the year 1932. Men and women from far and near used to crowd his confessional. That he was a man after the Heart of Christ is a common saying in Cochin and Alleppey.
From the commencement of the 20th century, in the political, social moral and religious views and attitudes of the people all over the world, changes were taking place more rapidly than ever. Kerala and Portugal were no exception to it. In Portugal and in her territories, the Jesuits were allowed to come back from their exile, the missionary activities were encouraged. So in Goa the Jesuits began to establish their houses and educational institutions. Naturally more men were needed. It is now that the Portuguese mission finally decided to remain in India, and they began to admit freely Indian candidates to the Society of Jesus.
As mentioned above, Bishop of Cochin had sent Fr. Gil Vaz to the petit Seminary of Alleppey in 1900. At his request Rev.Fr. Gil Vaz used his influence to get more Jesuits into Alleppey Community. Rev. Fr. Ozario S.J. a First class theologian and a great orator, Rev Fr.Rebeiro, a scientist and a philosopher, Rev. Fr. Mendez, a Latin Scholar of no mean merit and a scholar in Greek, Rev.Fr Rollis, a mathematician and an engineer rolled together into one, Rev Fr. D'Silva, a fine spiritual director and a propagandist of the devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, were already in the Jesuit community at Alleppey together with three Brothers. With such men, eminent in Latin, Philosophy, Theology, and other allied subjects, the time came to raise the petit Seminary to a major Seminary where priests for Cochin, Alleppey and the Padrovado churches on the coasts near Trivandrum could be trained by the Jesuits under the immediate supervision of the zealous Bishop Rt. Rev. Bento Martin Rebeiro (1903-1931). The Petit Seminary became a major Seminary in 1927. It is very gratifying to say that the Society of Jesus could render the signal Service of training most of the priests of Alleppey. Cochin and the Padrovado churches near Trivandrum, either fully or at least partly in the Semi-nary at Alleppey. The Jesuit Fathers encouraged and asked the Bishop, even before the Major Seminary was opened to send the promising young clerics of our Seminary to Kandy and to Rome so that they could take ecclesiastical Degrees and come back to Alleppey Seminary to be professors there, or work in the Curia or in, parishes more efficiently, and finally to hand over the Seminary to the secular clergy.
Some of those who distinguished themselves in Kandy Papal Seminary came back after their studies, at least for some time to Alleppey Seminary to be professors in various subjects. As far as I remember, some of them are Rev. Fr. Laurence Puliyanath, Fr. Trinidad, and Monsgr. Figureido. Later on came Fr. Daniel Kurisinkal, Msgr. Joseph Thekkepalakal, and Msgr. Michael Kadaviparampil, They all did work at different times along with the Jesuit Fathers in the Seminary.
Long before this time, Rev. Fr. John Pereira had already taken charge of St. Antony's Orphange and Santa Cruz Printing press. He got new types and better machines and turned out more work, Though most of the orphans were studying in the school, when they found it difficult or when they finished a stage in their studies, either they were absorbed into the work in the press or through the kind office of Fr. Pereira and other Fathers they got employment in some of the European coir factories or with businessmen, according to the ability of the out going Orphans.
Kerala is a rich field for good vocations to priestly and religious life, provided the sources are well tapped. The Lord of the harvest calls His servants and followers whenever and from where ever He likes. Leo XIII School was and believes even, now, is one of such rich sources. It is Fr. Zachariah Chandy a teacher of the school who joined the Society of Jesus first, after the Jesuits have taken charge of the school. There should have been others who chose priest-hood earlier from the school. Along with Fr. Chandy there was another young man a nephew of Msgr. Naduvathumurry of Ernakulam. Both were sent to Portugal for their Noviciate and studies. But the young man died a holy death there. Fr. Chandy came back after his study of philosophy to continue the course of Theology at Kurseong. Then Fr. Joseph Koilparampil from Vattayal joined the Jesuits. Next Fr. Thomas Arakal from Chethy followed; he was sent to Portugal. Like Fr. Chandy he also came back and got ordained at Kurseong, The fifth one to join the Jesuits for Priesthood in Goa Province, was myself from Kavalam Meanwhile Br. Nicholas from Thumpoly joined as brother, and is followed by Br. Mathew Chittilapally from Trichur. After that about a dozen others from different Dioceses joined the Jesuits in Goa Province. Most of us worked in Alleppey either in the school or in the missions of Seminary Fr. Thomas Kalam joined after having been ordained at Alwaye and worked for many years in different parishes finally landing as the parish priest of Vayalar at the time when Vayalar-Punnapra revolt took place and Sir. C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer ordered to open fire against them. Thanks to Fr. Kalam the church of Vayalar and the Catholics who took refuge in the church were saved, while hundreds of others were shot dead.
Fr. Joseph Koilparampil as Rector and Headmaster of the School, did good work in the school which was taken up later on by Fr. Paul Kunnumkal, Fr. Arakal also taught in the school for some years and also worked as chaplain to the Rev. Sisters at Kalavoor. I need not expatiate on the great service which Fr. Chandy did in nurturing and developing the newly formed visitation congregation of sisters of Kattoor. He was their Novice master and guide in many things pertaining to their religious formation. I am also happy that after my formation and training I could come to my Alma Mater to teach in the school for more than ten years. During this period I had the good luck to go to many of our Alleppey and Cochin churches for various kinds of spiritual ministries, especially to Arathunkal, practically every month to help Fr. Jackson in hearing confessions and preaching. In the school a scout troop was started and brought up to a high level of standard. Altar Boys' Sodality, Apostleship of prayer as well as a good centre of K. C. S. L. were built up in our school. I am glad that I had something to do with the students of the' Seminary, which after some years as' a major Seminary, was reduced to a petit Seminary again. These students are working now as priests in Cochin, Alleppey and in Trivandrum From 1952 my service was required for the Teacher's Training College of Madura Province for many years.
During these years Rev Fr. Monteiro, a holy and zealous Goan priest was the parish priest at Mt. Carmel Church in Alleppey. He was called to Cochin to be the Vicar General He was a good friend of the Jesuits at Alleppey and made good use of them in his ministries in hearing confessions, preaching and saying Mass whenever required. He used to say that the Jesuits built the back bone of the Diocese by educating the young men in Leo XIII and Santa Cruz High school. Leo XIII High school was one of the best schools in Travancore in the words of Mr. A.N. Thampy the then D.P.I. of Travancore. For D.P.I said, to quote his own words, "It is a plea-sure for me to look up at the round, tall and white marble-like Pillars of the school which remind me of the ancient marble columns of the Arcadia in Greece and Senate House of the ancient Rome where Cicero in full throated ease poured out his mighty orations which gladened or shookthe whole of Roman Empire." Then Fr. Mon-teiro used to stroke his white flowing long beard and say that a Jesuit Priest called Rollis had much to do with this building, and the Jesuits are forming young men to be strong like these pillars to defend their country and the church. Is it not true that almost all men of some outstanding qualities and merit of our Diocese and of the neighboring parishes have gone out through the Portals of Leo XIII th.High School, at least for the last sixty five years ? Alleppey Diocese and the Jesuits can be rightly proud of it,
The Diocese of Cochin was vacant from 1931 to 1934. Bishop Abilio Augusto Vas Das Nevis was appointed in that vacancy. But his health was so poor that he had to go back to Portugal in 1939. It was during his time that Santa Cruz School was handed over to the Diocese in 1937, and the Jesuits left Cochin. They came to Alleppey. Then there was an Agreement between the Jesuits and the Diocese of Cochin by which the Seminary and Leo XIII School were handed over to the Jesuits "in perpetum." At that time Alleppey Diocese had not yet been born. Some of the Jesuits from Cochin came to Alleppey, some went to Belgium and Goa, for an option was given to each member to choose what place each one liked. There they began to concentrate on the work of evangelization. In the North they basked in the old friendship of the Patriarch, Jose Alvernas the former Bishop of Cochin (1942-1950.) Again the Bishopric of Cochin was vacant for two years.
Meanwhile Calicut and north Malabar, so far under the Italian Mangalore mission were joined to Madura Vice-Province of the Jesuits, as a "Region" to be developed into a Kerala Province. In that arrangement, Alleppey Jesuit-House also came under Madura Province. To Alleppey Kerala Jesuits were sent to maintain the name and prestige of the School and Seminary and to help the Bishop wherever he needed. Thank God, by this time Cochin Diocese had sufficient Indian priests just for the essential needs of the Diocese.
The great and legitimate desire and appeal of the people of Alleppey was engaging the seri-ous attention of Rome to erect a separate Diocese in Alleppey. The happy decision was made in Rome on 18th June 1952 when Rt. Rev. Michael Arrattukulam D.D and Rt. Rev. Alexander Edezhath D.D were elected Bishops of Alleppey and Cochin respectively.
A new agreement was signed between the Society of Jesus and the Diocese of Alleppey in 1957 that enabled us to hand over the school and Seminary joyfully and boldly into the hands of the energetic first Bishop of Alleppey and an old student of our own institution. The few Jesuits who were yet in Alleppey were free to find pastures new, fresh and green where they were in great demand.
On 16th May 1968 when the Jesuits left the school there were 1983 pupils of which 1346 were Catholics with 64 apostolic students who were being train-ed to take up mission work in any part of India' according to their choice- The new diocese, we knew, was strong enough to take up and improve these various works of the Jesuits to perfection for the greater glory of God. So we, the Jesuits who had sweated for our Leader and Master, Jesus Christ from 1570 to 1968, with a short period of unavoidable interruption in Muthedath (Arathunkal) Mission which comprised the whole of the present Diocese of Alleppey. can look back with pride, joy and satisfaction that our work has not been in vain, but is bearing ample fruits now and will bear much more in the days to come EXCELSIOR.
(1) Cf. Life of Francis Xavier by Fr. George Schurhammar S.J. and a letter
(2) To his to me dated 20th June 1955 from Rome about Muthedath Mission, now known as Alleppey.
(2) a. Kerala Charitram by A. Sreedharamenon Ch. 15 pp 277 to 294
b, Travancore State Manual by Nagam Ayer and also
c. Malabar State Manual by Mr. Nogan. 2
(3) "Jesuits in Malabar' Vol. I B. 252 and 459; Vol. II: also
"Jesuits in Mysore" by Fr. Ferroli S. J.(4b) cf. Livro de seita dos Indios Orientals (Carpentier) and also see"
Jornada, of D'Souza.
(5) Giocomo Fenicio who knew the St.Thomas Christians sufficiently well and their orthodoxy did not take part in the synod of Udayamperoor In 1599.
(6) Cf. I. Jesuit letters and Reports to Goa and Europe, during 16th and 17th centuries (from 1552 to 1675) ii. oriente conquestado.
(7) Cf. Jesuits in Mysore "by Fr. Ferroli, S. J. From Mangalore more than 20,000 catholics were taken captives and carried to Sreerangapattam, killed or circumcised. Fra Paolione's "India orientalis Christiana" says that Tippu killed 30,000 from Malabar both Hindus and Christians,
(7 b) Jesuits in Malabar by Fr. Ferroli S. J.The management of Santa Cruz
I think I was a boy of ten years old at that time when Fr. Gil Vaz and party came home, I was so much awed and impressed with his tall winning personality and smile and holy words that I think that the first seed of my Vocation to the Society of Jesus fell on the soil of my soul in that day and it never faded away.