March 18, 1973, remains etched in my memory as a turning point in the history of Malabar. I was then a first-year student at St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Thalassery, and the academic year was drawing to a close. Just as we were preparing to return home after our examinations, an announcement came that changed the course of many lives. Around three in the afternoon, the Vice-Rector informed us that Bishop Sebastian Valloppilly of Thalassery had arrived at the cathedral next to the seminary with a “special message.”
As the pulsator of the seminary, I was asked to ring the cathedral bell once the Bishop had finished reading his announcement. When Bishop Valloppilly unfolded the paper in his hand, it was a proclamation from the Holy See: the Diocese of Mananthavady was established, and our Rector, Father Jacob Thoomkuzhy, was to become its first shepherd.
On May 1, 1973, we witnessed the episcopal consecration of Father Thoomkuzhy at Kalkandikunnu, Mananthavady, where the Bishop’s House now stands. For us seminarians, the event was an unforgettable spiritual experience. For many of us who had never traveled beyond the pass, the journey into the lush hills of Wayanad was itself a new adventure.
After completing my initial formation, I was sent to Carmelgiri Seminary, Aluva, to study philosophy. Two years later, I received a personal letter from Bishop Thoomkuzhy inviting me to continue my priestly formation in the newly formed Diocese of Mananthavady. With Bishop Valloppilly’s consent, I joined, and it was Bishop Thoomkuzhy himself who later sent me to Rome for theological studies and eventually ordained me a priest in my own parish at Maloth.
From 1973 until his transfer from Mananthavady in 1996, I had the privilege of working closely with him. His life was deeply marked by prayer, which became the foundation of his every decision and action. His demeanor was one of constant gentleness. I never once saw him lose his temper in harshness; even when displeased, his correction carried grace. Another hallmark of his leadership was the freedom he gave to his collaborators. Once he entrusted someone with a responsibility, he refrained from unnecessary interference, instead placing trust in their ability. This cultivated in us a deeper sense of accountability and growth.
Bishop Thoomkuzhy also displayed rare courage in initiating new practices. He introduced the Regency program for seminarians long before it was common in Kerala. He was also unafraid to send clerical students to study abroad at institutions like the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, a decision that opened doors for many of us, including myself.
Today, much of the Diocese of Mananthavady’s infrastructure and institutions stand as a testimony to his foresight. Later generations, myself included, could only build upon the strong foundations he laid. His pioneering spirit and pastoral care shaped the faith life of countless migrant families who braved hardships in Wayanad’s hills and forests.
When I last met him about a month ago at Jubilee Mission Medical College, Thrissur, he could no longer speak, yet he welcomed me with his trademark smile. That smile, even in silence, spoke volumes of his enduring warmth and grace.
Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy has now gone to his eternal rest, leaving behind nearly a century of tireless service to the Church. For the faithful of Mananthavady, he will forever remain their founding shepherd a father in faith whose memory continues to inspire.
Bishop Jose Porunnedom
Bishop of the Diocese of Mananthavady