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cast, and Rome dispensed Bro. Eugenius from his vows. Providentially he walked into
the Canadian Embassy in Rome on January 18, 1967, where he submitted his application
to immigrate, was granted visa on January 26, 1967, on the same day that he obtained his
indult from his vows. He had been corresponding with a select number of confidants
about his plans. One of his friends, Mathai Kunnakattu, who had left the Brothers a few
years earlier, had been able to get Joseph appointed as Principal of a School in Simla.
When Canada beckoned, he informed Simla about his change of plans, and chose
Canada. On January 31, 1967, Joseph reached the airport in Dorval, Montreal, ready to
face whatever awaited him.

Nothing in his entire life had prepared him for the cold of Montreal or the prospect of
cooking and catering for himself. But Joseph was lucky to obtain a permanent teaching
position with the Montreal Catholic Schools Commission soon after he landed in the
country. His father was devastated at the news of his leaving the Brothers, and he wrote
him so in no uncertain terms. Mathai Kunnakattu suggested that Joseph should
correspond with his sister Josephine who was then an army nurse. In spite of initial
opposition from Joseph’s family, they decided to marry. Josephine arrived in Montreal in
August 1967. The marriage- a simple ceremony, presided over by Fr. Chettiath, and
attended by a few friends- took place on August 26, 1967.

Josephine (Josie) was a nurse. She had very little difficulty to obtain license to practice
her profession in Quebec. On December 24, 1968, she gave birth to Frank. They
sponsored Mathai Kunnakattu and Mathaikunju, the younger brother of Joseph, and his
family, to Canada. They arrived in Montreal in the summer of 1969. Eventually they
obtained teaching jobs in the same school board.

For the next twentythree years Joseph and his family lived in Montreal. They bought their
first house in Dollard des Ormeaux in 1969. Through the shrewdness of Josie and
enterprising spirit of Joseph, they did well for themselves. On June 8, 1971 another son
was born to them. They named him Vincent. Both names – Francis and Vincent- were
names after the heart of Abraham, as he was a great devotee of St. Francis of Assisi and
Vincent de Paul.

Joseph took courses in the evenings and on weekends to complete a Master’s Degree in
English Language and Literature and another in M.A. in The History and Philosophy of
Religion. In addition, he took courses to improve his mind. He enjoyed subjects such as
Sociology, Psychology, Psychoanalysis, History, Law and so on. In 1972, the
Government of Quebec brought in laws down-grading the degrees of people from certain
countries such as India and Pakistan. Joseph spearheaded a protest against such unfair
and unilateral declassification. The Government compromised to the satisfaction of most.
His years in Montreal were mostly confined to the classrooms. However he was faculty
chairperson and consultant in teaching of English. Creative Writing was a specialty of
his.

In 1974, Daniel, the son of his elder brother Lukose came from Brazil. Joseph and his
brother and their families, along with invaluable help from Thomas Manimala, arranged

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