Monsignor David Kandathil Passes Away

KOLLAM: Former Vicar-General of Kollam diocese and director of Jyothinikethan College Msgr David Kandathil passed away here on Sunday. The funeral will be held at the St Sebastian’s Church, Thuyyam, at 9.30 a.m. on Monday. Kandathil was born in 1936 as the son of Kurian Simon and Annamma at Thuyyam and had his seminary studies at Raphael Seminary here and St Paul Seminary, Tiruchirappally. Kandathil was ordained as a priest by former Kollam Bishop Jerome Fernandez on March 30, 1963. After serving at Pathanamthitta Mission and Sakthikulangara as an assistant priest, he went to the US to take a master’s in business administration. He had served as director of the Quilon Social Service Society, director of Cherupushpam Congregation, Umayanalloor, and spiritual guide of St Vincent De Paul society. In 2000, while serving as the parish priest of Holy Cross Parish, Thangassery, he was appointed as the director of Jyothinikethan. He was appointed Vicar-General in 2002 by Bishop Stanley Roman and later served as the director of St Raphael Seminary till March 2011. In honour of his services, Pope John Paul had bestowed upon him the title ‘Domestic Prelate’ in 2004.