RICH TRIBUTES TO VARAPUZHA ARCHBISHOP DANIEL ACHARUPARAMBI

RICH TRIBUTES TO
VARAPUZHA ARCHBISHOP
DANIEL ACHARUPARAMBIL

Dr Daniel Acharumparambil who passed away on Monday 26th October,2009. He was 70. He was admitted to the hospital three days ago with high fever. Doctors who attended to him said he had suffered multiple organ failure. The mortal remains of the Archbishop would be brought to St. Francis Assisi Cathedral at am on Tuesday 27th October for the public to pay their respects.
The funeral rities will begin at the St. Alberts School grounds at 3.30 pm on Wednesday 29th October 2009. He delved deep in to Hindu spirituality and wrote several books on the subject including Hindu mysticism and spirituality. Though deeply involved in the day to day administration of the Varapuzha Archdiocese of the catholic church, he found time to vigorously explore the world of spirituality in the context of his life's experience and its cultural surroundings. He was a thoroughly transparent man, his face reflecting his thoughts.
Born in to a traditional catholic family, in 1939, he entered the seminary in 1956, against the wishes of his father who wanted him to become an engineer. He was ordained as priest in march 1966 and went on to obtain a licentiate in philosophy and complete a masters degree from Banaras Hindu University.
Dr Acharuparambil's intervention in social issues would be remembered for long and that his death was a personal loss for Indian community The people of Kerala would remember the Archbishop for his contribution to the growth of secular values in the state.
Dr Acharu parambil was a unique spiritual leader, who while firmly believing in his religion, expressed great regard for other Indian religions. Dr Acharuparambil was personality who dominated education and socio-cultural fields over and above his role as a spiritual leader. The minister visited the hospital on Monday to pay their respects to the late Archbishop.
Archbishop Daniel Acharuparampil who died on wednesday 28th October,2009 with full state honours at Francis Assisi Cathedral, Varapuzha, along side his three predecessors.
the burial was preceded by a solemn high mass led by Archbishop of Mumbai Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of the syro Malabar church, more than 50 bishops from the three rites of the Catholic church in the country. Around 1000 priests, hundrerds of nuns belonging to various religions orders and at least 50,000 people from different walks of life attended the funeral.
the body was brought to the St. Alberts High School grounds at 8 a.m on wednesday. Thousands of people paid their last respects to the Archbishop there. The funeral procession winding its way through Banerjee Road and High court junction, took more than an hour to the reach the catheedral, people gathered on either side of the road.
Archbishop of Thiruvanandapuram Susaipakiam delivered the funeral oration. A condolence message from pope Benedict xvi was read out at the end of the mass
Prof John Kurakar