Page 9 - Microsoft Word - My story of Pathyil Kalluvelil as told by Joseph Pathyil

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suddenly after the glorious sunset. One can hear the chatter of prayers, loud reading of
homework by the children, scolding of mothers to recalcitrant children from every
household. The day is done, its hours have run, and people are taking count of all.

Soon will come the harvest season. Workers are milling around the premises, reaping,
thrashing, drying and heaping of hay, storing the paddy, fighting for recognition, ...and all
in a hurry to beat the rains. Stomping the harvested sheaves under feet, making sure every
grain is accounted for, they work night and day. Indeed most stay back to work a few
hours by lantern to speed up and store the harvest. Glorious time for the children to walk
the newly harvested fields, gleaning what is left by the workers, flying kites, romping in
the hay, and generally making a nuisance of themselves to the workers and their
supervisors. The jackfruit and mangoes are ripe for picking. The cashew apples shine
temptingly overhanging the fields. Not a day goes by but the delicious mangoes are
picked or gathered as they fall, and eaten at any time of the day or night. And the children
gorge on jack fruit till they get sick.

Seasons determine the lives of the folks in Kaipuzha. Home and school and church
revolve around these seasons. Marriages and festivals are in accordance with the
seasons. Kaipuzha is quintessentially a place in tune with nature.

St. George’s Roman Catholic Church is the focal point of religious and social activities of
the Christians. It has been in existence since 1813. Though the church has been rebuilt
twice, it has remained a beacon for all through the years. The Knanaya Christians of
Kaipuzha have always been a devout community. Whenever the pastor needed the
people, he only needed to ask. Indeed from the very inception of the Church, the Pathyils
have played an integral part in the wellbeing of the parish.. The latest reconstruction of
the Church in 1983 was undertaken under the tireless leadership of Thomas Kalluvelil.
More about him and others later.

The history of the Visitation Convent founded by Bishop Makil in 1892 is intertwined
with our family history. The Convent ran a Malayalam Language School for girls as well
as a primary school for boys and girls. The boarding that was attached to the school
attracted students from all over central Travancore. Almost all our girls and many of our
boys had their early education in the school. From the inception of the Convent, several
of our women have dedicated themselves to the service of God and His people, taking the
vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in the Congregation. Today, Sr. Innocent, the
Mother General of the Society, is one of our own.

IN 1928 Fr. Thomas Poothathil founded St. Joseph’s Congregation originally for
handicapped women. Subsequently the congregation flourished, and today it has branches
all over Kottayam, several parts of India, and in Africa and Europe. The sisters run
schools, orphanages, hospitals and other social service activities.

St. George’s English Middle School (later to become a High School) was started in 1926
through the vision and endeavor of Abraham Pathyil. Ever since its inception all our
children have had their education in that school. The story of that school is as much the

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