Saturday, March 19, 2022

OUR DEAR ORGANIZATION – KLCA... Article by Henry John

OUR DEAR ORGANIZATION – KLCA

Our dear Orgnization – Kerala Latin Catholic Association is very fondly kept in my heart since my 
youth days. It is with much joy and pride that memories of this mighty association linger in me 
on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee. 

I am glad to note that the Association has a very able and committed leadership now. The 
efficient and learned General Secretary Adv.Sherry J.Thomas,and President Mr.Antony 
Noronho who lead the Association are our blessings. They are in fact true successors of 
eminent founder leaders like Chev.K.J.Berlieh, Dr.E.P.Antony, etc. Hearty congratulations and 
thanks for their dedicated and most powerful leadership. I salute with pride our Former 
President Mr.Shaji George also for his long committed service. Since its inception in the year 
1972, many eminent personalities headed this Association all of whom are our cause of 
admiration eg.Chev.V.C.Antony and so forth.

KLCA has proved itself its strength and pertinence especially in the Kerala history. It is the 
stronghold of our community. By its effective interventions from time to time, the Association 
has provided many salutary reliefs and rights to our community. Thanks to KLCA.

As for me, I have fond memories from my youth life. Vijayapuram did not have a diocesan unit 
in the former years of establishment of KLCA in the state level.. Still a number of youth 
members could take part in the State Annual celebrations and in the epoch-making Rally from 
Fortcochin to Palluruthy Veli in the year 1974. This was possible just because of the earnest 
efforts of eminent leaders of Vijayapuram like Mr.T.A.Paul, Cyril Rozario etc. and their 
magnanimous helps. In the various competitions that were held in Ernakulam , it was very 
astonishing that the Vijayapuram members bagged quite a number of prizes, that too without 
any preparations. I was awarded First prize for the English Essay Writing(Senior) and it was my 
first Extra-curricular certificate ever received in my life. The Certificate is dated 24 March 1974, 
and signed by Mr.K.J.Berlieh President,and Dr.E.P.Antony General Secretary and Chairman of 
Competitions Committee(name not recognizable) .My love for KLCA blooms from thereon! 

On a later date thereafter at Kottayam, a congratulatory meeting was arranged in the St.Joseph’s 
G.H.S., at which the then-Bishop of Vijayapuram Dr.Cornelius Elanjickal profusely congratulated 
the prize winners and gave away the same certificates again during that function. 

Immediately during that year itself, I got employed in the Bank and on subsequent years 
Mr.T.A.Pul Thaiparambil was very keen to take me also to Ernakulam for the State Management 
Committee Meetings usually held in the MASS HOTEL, Ernakulam North. Paul Sir would come in his car and pick me up from my house. I remember to have participated in 4 or 5 such State 
Managing Committee meetings with Mr.T.A.Paul and Mr.Cyril Rozario. Note that Vijayapuram 
had no official unit of KLCA till the year 2001. During the tenure of Bishop Cornelius Elanjickal, 
a unit named “Vijayapuram Catholic Association” was allowed to function and later in 2001 it 
was Bishop Peter Thuruthikonam who officially granted permission for the KLCA diocesan Unit. 
It was during these Managing Committee meetings that I remember to have seen Mr.Antony 
Ambatt (who was also a young representative of Verapoly then.). I feel very much proud to 
have received that privilege to take part in KLCA State Mg.Committee meetings during a time 
when Vijayapuram had no official representation. Thanks to Mr.T.A.Paul Thaiparambil whose 
desire was that young people should come forward from Vijayapuram to work in KLCA,

During the difficult times of the Association, especially for a few years from 2006, I was in the 
forefront to help our Diocesan Unit, although I had no official post in it. The dissident fraction 
headed by a handful of persons created all sorts of problems for the Bishop, the Diocese and 
the Association. I was specially targeted by these people and had to deal with even physical 
attacks, just because I loved our Association. I recollect that unfortunately, some of the 
Diocesan Leaders did not come forward to protect the association, but they kept aloof for 
their own interests. Bishop Thekethecheril was very calm and his advice to me was not to 
react to any of the provocations. (Vicar General was finally compelled to file a police complaint for which 
also I had to appear at the police station at the request of the Diocesan Director). The dissident group will 
have its own natural end , that was the Bishop’s stand. And it so happened.! I am very happy 
that I could stand with our KLCA during its most difficult times in the Diocese. 

Although I opted for not taking up official posts, I am glad that by the grace of God I could be at 
the fore-front in many of the Diocesan Association activities. To cite an instance, the three-
day State Leaders’ Meet held in Vijayapuram in February 2008 was practically in my hands in 
full, though I was not an Office-bearer. Whatever little I could do , the Almighty prompted me 
to do for the Diocesan Unit in manifold ways. The Directors and Office-bearers supported me 
indeed. ( For the moment, however, no direct involvement is there on my part for personal and official reasons).

 I conclude with offering my hearty congratulations to the Association and its leadership for the splendid contribution to the growth of our community. My humble prayers and wishes for ever more success in the days to come on the occasion of Golden Jubilee of our mighty Organization. 
I just wanted to note down my memories. God bless.

Henry John Vijayapuram 


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