About Founder

Mar Mathew Arackal,

Chairman Emeritus

   Mar. Mathew Arackal was born at Erumely on 10 Dec. 1944 as the youngest son of Thommen Mathai and Aleyamma. He had his schooling in St. Thomas High School, Erumely and then joined St. Thomas Minor Seminary, Changanacherry. Later, he was sent to St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor for philosophical and theological studies. Mar. Antony Padiyara ordained him priest on March 13, 1971. During 1971-1974, he served as the Assistant Vicar at Amboori Parish, Director of Samaritan Hospital, Amboori, and Estate manager of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry. He is credited with establishing the first Labour contractors Co-operative Society in Kerala. In 1974, he was appointed as Assistant Procurator of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry.

   A decisive moment in his life was when he took charge as Parish Priest of Peermade and Murinjapuzha parishes, when Diocese of Kanjirapally was formed in 1977. These areas which were underdeveloped provided him opportunities to step in to alleviate problems like poverty, exploitation, unemployment, lack of medical and transport facilities faced by the people. To work effectively for the welfare of aboriginals and marginal farmers, he founded Peermade Development Society (PDS) in 1980. Today PDS is an exemplary NGO working on the principle of integrated approach and people’s participation and is a Nodal agency for many schemes of the Central and State Governments as well as Non-Governmental schemes.

He also established the High Range Medical Centre (HRMC) at Pothupara, Idukki and Sahyadri Ayurvedic Pharmaceuticals at Kuttikanam, two major residential training centers for rural development with research wings and lab facilities in Biotechnology and Eco-farming. He initiated the establishment of Marian College, Kuttikkanam in 1995. He also promoted AKJ Memorial Rural Training Centre, Nallathanny, Peermade along with many other ventures.

The crowning moment of his life and achievement was on 19 Jan. 2001 when His Holiness Pope John Paul II appointed him as the third Bishop of Kanjirapally Diocese. He established the Amal Jyothi College of Engineering (AJCE), Kanjirappally in 2001 and the Sahyadri Co-operative credit society (SCCS) in 2004, being the the first multistate cooperative credit society with a registered office in Kerala. He has sworn in as the chairman of the society on September 25, 2004.

He also piloted various development works at Marian College, Kuttikanam, MMT Hospital, Mundakayam and various other schools, infirmaries and institutions. He also continued his work with the Malanadu Development Society (MDS), PDS, Sahyadri Organic Tea, and Organic spices Factory at Valanjankanam, AJCE, and SCCS etc.

Mar Mathew Arackal resigned from the office on 15 Jan 2020, as per the canonical age of retirement. His motto is “to have life and have it abundantly”.

Bishop Arackal held several key positions such as:

• Adviser to the Planning Commission, Govt. of India

• Chairman, KCBC Commission for Justice, Peace and Development

• Chairman, Kerala Social Service Forum (KSSF)

• Chairman, Sahyadri Co-operative Credit Society Ltd.

• Chairman, Syro-Malabar Laity Commission.

• Chairman, Jeevan Telecasting Corporation Ltd.

• Chairman, Rashtra Deepika Ltd.

• Member of CBCI Commission for Scheduled Caste, Tribes and Backward classes

• Member of Governing Body of Continuing Education cell, Kerala State

• Academic Council on General Education, Govt. of Kerala

• PIA for Rajeev Gandhi Water Mission Govt. of India

• Resource Person of CAPART, Govt. of India; Kerala State Farming Corporation, The Task Force for Participatory Planning; State Council for Education, Research and Training; Watershed Development and Management Evaluation Team.

• He is the only representative from Asia and Africa to the International Delegate Assembly of Naturland, Germany.

• Chairman of the finance council of the Syro-Malabar Church.

• He is a member of the Environmental Prize Committee for the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar (IGPP).