Fr. Xavier Thazhupil of the Little Flower
Birthday: 24-06-1937
Place: Aroor
Profession: 19-03-1960
Ordination: 18-12-1967
Death: 01-10-2023
Rev. Fr. Xavier Thazhuppil OCD (1973-2023)
“This boy is pious and good natured having a strong aspiration for Priesthood”
“Fr. Joseph J. Chakalakal, the Parish Priest of St. Augustine’s Church Aroor, wrote on 28th May 1957
Rev. Fr. Xavier Thazhuppil of Little Flower was born on 24th June 1937 at Aroor, Cochin. Being born to parents Job and Catherine. Following the divine call, he joined the Discalced Carmelites of St. Pius X Manjummel Province in the year 1957. He belongs to the Parish of St. Augustine’s at Aroor in the diocese of Cochin. With a burning desire to serve the Lord, he made his first profession at St. Joseph’s Novitiate, Podanur on 19-03-1960. He wanted to be humble and simple all through his life. Making his Solemn Profession on 19-03-1963, and after his theology studies in the year 1968 December 18 he was ordained priest.
After his Ordination he served in Kerala for 10 years as formator of the Aspirants at Holy Family Monastery, Ernakulum. Parish Priest of Kanthalloor Parish and simultaneously served at Pius Nagar. From 1975 to 1978 he served in our Kolayad Mission and took care of the Boys’ Home at Kolayad. He kept contact with his Boys Home children till recently and many of them achieved success in life due to the sheer help of Fr. Xavier Thazhuppil.
In the year 1978 the then Provincial Fr. Paulinus Maloth sent Fr. Xavier Thazhuppil to Andhra Pradesh. On 10th June 1978 he started his life as missionary in Andhra Pradesh, he worked there tirelessly among the poor people to uplift them from their miserable way of life first he gave them education through a Programme called CEC he was totally committed to this call of God to work among the backward people and thus preaching, teaching and gave a living witness of God to the people over there and he did live this way of life in the mission for 41 long years.
During his life in Andhra from 1993 to 1996 he served the mission as the First Councilor, and in the year 2010 Fr. Xavier made a definite choice to work in the Andhra Mission and was incardinated into Andhra Province. He began his missionary activities from Tirur and continues in various parts of Andhra Pradesh Mission especially in Ghambalakudam, Vijayavada, Hyderabad, Thallada, Sathupally, Nthuruthi, Ranasthalam and Thenali. His life was prayerful, virtuous, simple, fruitful, loving, joyful, missionary,edifying, fatherly, compassionate and all the more he was a good confessor and a best spiritual guide for the people in Andhra Mission.
In 2018 he had a fall that handicaped him and he was partially paralyzed. But with strong will power and trust in God he regained his health. That is the context in which he decided to return to the Mother Province.
From 2019 onwards he began his life of silent service at our Sacred Heart Monastery, Aluva, after having decided to return to the Mother Province. During his life in the Monastery, he was pleasant with every friar who went to meet him on his sick bed. He too loved very much St. Therese of Child Jesus and it was on the feast of his patron saint on 1st October he was accompanied to receive his reward from our Heavenly Father for his 55 years of faithful missionary life as Carmelite Religious Priest on earth.
Fr Xavier Thazhuppil will be ever known as a zealous missionary who spent most of his energy working for the Andhra Mission. On 1st October 2023 he breathed his last, many Bishops and Priests paid homage to him. The funeral was on 2nd October 2023, presided over by His Excellency James Anaparambil in the presence of many priests, religious and faithful.
May his soul rest in Peace.