Former Thrissur Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy Passes Away at 95
Thrissur: Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy, the former Archbishop of the Thrissur Archdiocese, passed away today at the age of 95. He breathed his last at 2:50 PM. For the past few days, he had been receiving treatment at Jubilee Mission Medical College Hospital in Thrissur due to his deteriorating health.
Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy rendered distinguished service as the Archbishop of Thrissur Archdiocese, the first Bishop of Mananthavady Diocese, and the Bishop of Thamarassery Diocese. Since January 2007, he had been leading a life of retirement at the Minor Seminary in Kachery.
Born on December 13, 1930, in the Vylakkumadam parish of the Pala Diocese, Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy’s family now resides in the Sacred Heart Church parish in Thiruvambady, under the Thamarassery Diocese. His priestly studies were conducted at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary in Aluva and the Urban College in Rome. He was ordained a priest in Rome on December 22, 1956. Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome, earning a doctorate in Canon and Civil Law from the Lateran University.
After his studies, he was appointed as the secretary and chancellor to Mar Sebastian Valloopilly, who was then the Bishop of Thalassery. He later served as the Rector of the diocesan minor seminary in Thalassery. A few years thereafter, he obtained a Master’s degree in English Literature from Fordham University in New York.
Upon his return from America, he was once again appointed as the Rector of the diocesan minor seminary in Thalassery. He continued in this position until 1973 when he was elected as the first Bishop of the newly established Mananthavady Diocese. On May 1, 1973, he was consecrated as Bishop with the assistance of Mar Joseph Cardinal Parecattil, Mar Sebastian Vayalil, and Sebastian Valloopilly. On the same day, he assumed charge of the Mananthavady Diocese, leading it for 22 years.
On June 7, 1995, he was appointed Bishop of Thamarassery and took charge on July 28 of the same year. He was subsequently transferred to the Thrissur Archdiocese as Archbishop on December 18, 1996, and his enthronement took place on February 15, 1997.
Upon reaching the age of 75, he expressed his willingness to retire from the position of Metropolitan Archbishop of Thrissur Archdiocese. His resignation came into effect on March 18, 2007, when Mar Andrews Thazhath assumed office as the new Metropolitan Archbishop.