A Glimpse into the history…

The Archdiocese of Verapoly was originally known as the Vicariate of Malabar, which was erected by Pope Alexander VII on December 3, 1659 with Rev. Fr. Joseph Sebastiani, a Carmelite, as the Vicar Apostolic and having its headquarters eventually at Verapoly.

On March 13, 1709, Pope Clement XI suppressed the Malabar Vicariate and erected the Vicariate of Verapoly in its place with Bishop Angelo Francisco as its first Vicar Apostolic.

Pope Leo III raised the Vicariate of Verapoly to the status of an Archdiocese with his famous letter “Humanae Salutis Auctor” of September 1, 1886, together with the establishment of the Hierarchy of India. His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Leonard Mellano of St. Louis O.C.D. was the first Archbishop who was the 17th in the line of the Vicars Apostolic.

When Ernakulam became the centre of Latin Catholic Population, Archbishop Bernard of Jesus Arguinzonis O.C.D. transferred the headquarters of the Archdiocese from the island of Verapoly to Ernakulam in 1904.

Until 1891, there had been no minor seminaries in the Vicariate of Verapoly. The aspirants had been initiated in the Syrian formation houses, the so-called “Malpanates”. But, Archbishop Bernadine O.C.D., the then Vicar Apostolic suppressed these Malpanates and started more systematic formation programme. Those candidates who were to join the Puthenpally Major Seminary were given training in the boarding attached to Puthenpally High School. It was only in 1896 that official minor seminary was established in the Archdiocese by Archbishop Leonard Mellano. The seminary functioned in a building near St. Philomena’s High School, Koonammavu. Rev. Fr. Bernard O.C.D., who later became the Archbishop, was the first Rector.

When St. Philomena’s High School was discontinued and St. Albert’s High School was started in Ernakulam in 1907, the seminary was also shifted to Ernakulam. In 1908 St. Joseph Petit Seminary was inaugurated in a piece of land called “Thumba-parambu”, opposite to St. Albert’s High School. The Rector of the seminary was Rev. Fr. Liguori O.C.D.

On August 10, 1911 the seminary was again shifted to the building near the present Archbishop’s House. The new building was constructed in 1913 and Rev. Fr. Syriac O.C.D. was appointed the Rector. The boys who showed some aptitude to priestly vocation were admitted to the seminary after the lower primary school.

In 1964, St. Joseph Minor Seminary was founded in Angel Mary Nagar, Kalamassery, by Archbishop Joseph Attipetty with the view to send the seminarians for pre-degree courses to the nearby St. Paul’s College after a year of Seminary Initiation course.

Rt. Rev. Msgr. George Ittikunnath was its first Rector. In 1981, an auditorium and a dormitory were built as extension by Archbishop Dr. Joseph Kelanthara, when Rev. Fr. Joseph Kuttickal was the Rector.

In 1994 SSLC was made the minimum qualification for admission into the seminary. Realizing the need of the time, the seminarians began to be sent for degree course to St. Paul’s College where they had been doing their pre-degree courses.

Later, when the pre-degree course was discontinued at St. Paul’s College, the seminarians were sent to St. Joseph’s EMHSS, Thrikkakara for their higher secondary education course. As there were six groups of students under one roof, the initiation students were accommodated in the renovated Vianney Home Minor Seminary, Kalamassery since 1998, when Very Rev. Msgr. Mathew Elanjimattam was the Rector. The building was blessed by His Grace Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil on July 12, 1998.

From the year 2007, the Higher Secondary students were accomodated at a new house, John Paul Bhavan at Attipetty Nagar, Kakkanad.

His Grace Daniel Acharuparambil for whom the minor seminary is the heart of the Archdiocese, who started Vianney Home Seminary left for his eternalreward onOctober 26, 2009.

His Excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Karikkassery, former Rector of the seminary was the administrator until His Grace Dr. Francis Kallarackal became the Metropolitan Archbishop of Verapoly. After completing six years of his archbishopric he resigned on 31st October 2016. His Gracethe Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Kalathiparambil an ardent lover of the Seminarians with his vision, became the Metropolitan Archbishop of Verapoly on 18th December 2016. He continues to inspire and guide us.

In the Academic year 2012-13, it was again decided that the seminarians would be given higher secondary education at St. Joseph’s EMHSS, Thrikkakkara. The seminarians who were to do higher secondary education were shifted to St. Joseph Minor Seminary which had been occupied previously by the degree studentsalone, when Very Rev. Dr. Vincent Variath was the Rector.

We graciously remember all our Patrons, namely Abp. Joseph Attipetty, Abp. Joseph Kelanthara, Abp. Cornelius Elanjikkal, Abp. Daniel Acharuparambil, Abp. Francis Kallarackal and Abp. Joseph Kalathiparambil; our Co-patrons Bp. Antony Thannikot and Bp. Joseph Karikkassery and and all our Rectors, namely Msgr. JosephIttikunnath, Fr. Jacob Thundathil, Fr. Joseph Kuttickal, Msgr. Cletus Parampaloth, Msgr. Joseph Thannikott, Fr. Jerome Chamminikodath, Msgr. Mathew Elanjimattam, Bp. Joseph Karikkassery, Msgr. Jose Padiyaramparambil, Fr. Joseph Panikkassery, Fr.Vincent Variath, Fr. Joseph Oliparambil, Fr.Sebastian Vattaparambil and the present rector Fr. Job Vazhakoottathil.

The year 2014-2015 witnessed the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Minor Seminary which marked a major milestone in the history of the seminary when Very Rev. Dr. Vincent Variath was the rector. The foundation stone for the new seminary ( St. Maximilian kolbe Seminary ) for the +1, +2 brothers was laid by the most Rev.Dr.Joseph kalathiparambil on February 8,2019 and the blessing of the seminary was done by him on July 12, 2021 when Rev.Dr. Joseph Oliparambil was the rector. Rev Dr. Joseph Josy Kochappilly was appointed as the first director of St. Maximilian Kolbe Seminary.