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