From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore

Former Director of National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC) Fr Paul Puthanangady, SDB, died in Don Bosco Senior Salesians’ Home in Aluva, Kerala, on November 14.

He died in the golden jubilee year of his ordination at the age of 79.

Fr Paul Puthanangady was born on April 26, 1934 in a small village of Puthenpally, Ernakulam in Kerala as the first of seven children of Mathew and Mary.

In 1950, after finishing his high school in his home town at St Mary`s English School, Aluva he entered the Salesian Aspirantate in Shillong, where he completed his Higher Secondary schooling and pre-novitiate  formation.

Having completed his novitiate in Shillong, he made his first profession on April 16, 1953. He studied philosophy at Salesian College, Sonada in West Bengal from 1953 to 1955.

In the subsequent years, Fr Puthanangady did his graduate studies. He was sent to Italy for his studies in Theology which he completed in 1967, first in Turin and then in Rome. He was ordained a priest on February 9, 1964 in Turin, Italy.

He obtained his Doctorate in theology with specialization in Liturgy from the Pontificio Ateneo S Anselmo, Rome.

After his return to India in 1967, Fr Puthanangady first taught theology at Mount Don Bosco, Kotagiri in Tamil Nadu and then at Kristu Jyoti College, Bangalore till the end of August this year.

During the decades he spent at Kristu Jyoti College, he served also as its Rector for a period of five years from 1993-1999. He also served as the director of Visvadeep, institute of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry. 

In 1984, Fr Puthanangady succeeded Fr Amalorpavadas as the director of National Biblical, Catechetical, and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC) Bangalore, and remained in office till 1991.

In 2007, Fr Puthanangady was nominated the Episcopal vicar of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, a portfolio he relinquished a few months ago, due to his fast deteriorating health conditions.

“Of all the responsibilities Fr Puthanangady shouldered, the most impressive ones were his tenure as the Director of NBCLC, and as the secretary of the National Central Committee for the Jubilee Year (Yesu Kristu Jayanti) 2000 and National Secretary of SCC Core Team,” described Archbishop of Bangalore Most Rev Dr Bernard Moras in a condolence message.

“We shall continue to pray for the repose of his soul, and gratefully remember his services as a Episcopal Vicar of Archdiocese,” the Archbishop said offering his heartfelt sympathies to all Salesians, his family, relatives and friends, adding: ``May the Lord grant them the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”

The funeral service will take place on Saturday, November 16 at St. Anthony’s Church, TC Palaya, Bangalore, at 9.30 am and the mortal remains will be interned after the Holy Mass in the Salesian Cemetery, KJC.