Deceased Members-Fr. Abraham Valiakandathil

Fr. Abraham Valiakandathil CMF was the fourth one among the nine children of his parents. He was sent to Claret Bhavan, Karumathur as econome of the community in 1979. We found him very friendly, jovial, care-free and active. He used to be generous in spending for the community members. One of his qualities very deeply etched in our memories is his zealous hospitality. At any time, day or night, rain or Sun shine he was willing to go to the railway stations, bus stands or airports to pick up anybody, not only Claretians but others also including friends and relatives of other Claretians. He showed interest in taking them around and treating them with love and care. He was also voracious reader and notes takers which were used for his teaching and preaching. He showed interest in obtaining secular degrees and started taking classes also in Arul Anandar College, Karumathur. As formator, he took care to be with the students during manual work and games. His favourite game was ball- badminton. He picked up Tamil quite fast and started celebrating Holy Mass and preaching in Tamil. He also showed interest in vocation promotion and visited many places in Tamil Nadu and brought many vocations to the province.

He was also a person very much open for any service to the congregation. When he was asked to go the Barrackpore, Kolkata in the year 1985 as Superior and Formator for the Theology students at Claret Nivas, Barrackpore, he was ready and willing. As formator he used to be very kind and generous to the students. He also taught history in the Philosophy department of the nearby Morning Star College and he is remembered as a good professor who used to keep the class alive. Then, when there was a need for a priest with B.Ed qualification to serve as the head master of St. Claret School at Barrackpore, he joyfully and cheerfully said an unconditional “yes” and took it up. He was incardinated to Province of Chennai in 2012 and served in this school from 2012 – 2015 first as Head Master and then as its Secretary. He was insisting that a Claretian School should be different in its approach. He was firm that even very weak students should be admitted, and all poor families should be helped with concession in fees. Addition to it he was convinced that all the families of the children should be visited by the priests working in the school at least once in a year. He was regularly out in the evenings for such visits.

He was very convinced that this relationship with the families will have very great missionary impact on the students and the family members. He had special concern for the poor and helped many poor families in different ways and they all remember him as a very loving priest. In the community he was a friendly presence to all. All fellow priests and students respected him as a senior priest and an elder brother. He was suffering from high diabetic condition and it deteriorated badly towards 2015 and therefore he had to be taken to the South India for better medical treatment, and he succumbed to it. He underwent medical treatment happily in Tamil Nadu. As a happy missionary, he was spending his last days in Claret Illam, Kumbakonam. The fine morning on 8th March, 2019, he gave up his last breath peacefully. He will be remembered as a very friendly, happy and generous missionary for ever.

1979 – 1985	:	Econome Claret Bhavan, Karumathur and Asst. Professor in History Department at Arul Anandar Collage, Karumathur, Madurai
1985 – 1992	:	Superior & Formator at Claret Nivas and History Professor at Morning Star Seminary, Barrackpore, Kolkata.
1992 – 1993	:	Study at AVP, Carmelaram.
1993 – 1996	:	In-charge of Don Bosco School (Guwahati Misssion), Claret Villa, Shillong.
1996 – 1997	:	Priest In-charge, Correspondent & Administrator of School, Borjhar Guwahati.
1997 – 1998	:	At the service of Shimoga diocese.
1998 – 1999	:	Staff, Claretian Ashram, Wardha.
1999 – 2000	:	Vicar and staff, Claretian Ashram, Wardha.
2000 – 2001	:	Consulter, Claret Sadan, Vythiri.
2001	:	Priest in Charge Mary Matha Church Vijaynagar.
2003	:	Claretian Ashram, Wardha.
2007	:	Christu Nilaya, Vettampara.
2010 – 2012	:	Principal at St. Claret School, Barrackpore.
2012 – 2013	:	Secretary at St. Claret School, Barrackpore.
2013 – 2014	:	Principal and Secretary at St. Claret School, Barrackpore, Kolkata.
2014 – 2015	:	Secretary at St. Claret School, Barrackpore
2015 – 2016	:	Vicar and Preaching Mission at Casa Claret, Kanyakumari.
2016 – 2017	:	Member at Claret Bhavan, Karumathur.
9th January, 2018	:	Member at Claret Nilayam, Vettampara, Kerala.
07th July, 2018	:	Member at Claret Amaithiaham, Erachakulam, Kanyakumari.
17th November, 2018 – 2019	:	Member of Claret Illam, Kumbakonam.