Bangalore 17 February, 2021 (CCBI): Most Rev. Joseph Pastor Neelankavil, C.M.I. (90) Bishop Emeritus of Sagar Syro Malabar diocese in Madhya Pradesh passed away on Wednesday 17 February, 2021 at 6.45 am at Yesu Bhavan, Kuttoor in Trichur district. Kerala. Funeral details are awaited.
He was born at Aranatattukara in Thrissur district on 19 March 1930. He received the religious habit in the Chapel of St. Theresa’s Monastery, at Ampazhakad on 15 October 1950 and assumed the new name ‘Pastor’. On 15 October 1951 he made his First Profession. He had his ecclesiastical studies of humanities in Mannanam, Kunammavu and Chethipuzha. He studied Philosophy in the Papal Atheneum at Pune, where he obtained Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy. From 1957 to 1960 he studied theology at Dharmaram College, Bangalore.
On 17 May 1960 he was ordained priest in the Dharmaram Chapel by Joseph Cardinal Parekkattil. His first assignment after ordination was as Assistant Director of Social Apostolate in the present Archdiocese of Thrissur. He was also the Director of Catholic Labour Association. In 1963, he was sent to Rome by his superiors for higher studies in pastoral Sociology and Canon Law. He has a diploma in Pastoral Sociology from the Institute of Sociology, Rome and Doctorate in Canon Law from the Lateran University.
While he was the General Mission Councillor, he was appointed by Pope St. John Paul II as the second Bishop of Sagar in Madhya Pradesh on 22 December 1986. He was ordained Bishop on 22 February 1987. He served the diocese for nineteen years. After his retirement he went to live in Yesu Bhavan, Sagar Mission Home, Kuttoor, Trichur district, Kerala. He is a priest for 60 years and bishop for 33 years.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara
Deputy Secretary General, CCBI