Bangalore 11 July 2022 (CCBI): Most Rev. Joseph Mittathany (91) Archbishop Emeritus of Imphal passed away on Monday 11 July, 2022 at 9.55am. Funeral will be held on Thursday 14 July, 2022 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral Imphal.
Archbishop Joseph Mittathany was born on 12 July, 1931 at Kalikavu, Kottayam, Kerala. He spent his seminary days in Sacred Heart Seminary, Poonamallee, Chennai and was ordained Priest on 23 April 1959. After ten years as a priest, he was ordained Bishop of Tezpur, Assam on 27 September, 1969. He was transferred from Tezpur as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Imphal on 21 April 1980 and took charge on 29 June 1980.
The diocese of Imphal was elevated to the Archdiocese on 10 July 1995 and he became the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Imphal. He served as the President of the North-East Bishops Council from 1996 till his retirement on 12 July 2006.
During his illustrious tenure as the head of the Diocese of Imphal he opened as many as 27 Parishes and Mission Centres. His contribution to the education sector of the State of Manipur is immense with the establishment of several schools during his reign as the head of the Church in Manipur. He built the needed infrastructural edifice of the Diocese in his time. After his retirement, he made his home in St. Joseph’s Cathedral Parish, the Cathedral he was instrumental in building. He is a priest for 63 years and a Bishop for 52 years.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara
Deputy Secretary General, CCBI