Mar Mathew Kavukattu (1904 – 1969)
Servant of God & First Archbishop of Changanassery
Mar Mathew Kavukattu, the first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Changanassery, was born on July 17, 1904, in Pravithanam. After earning his B.A. degree in 1927, he began his career as a teacher at Pravithanam Middle School. Soon after, he responded to the divine call and joined the seminary.
Following his ordination, he served as a professor at St. Berchmans College, Changanassery. On August 15, 1950, he was appointed Bishop of Changanassery. When the diocese was elevated to the status of an archdiocese in 1956, he became its first Archbishop.
Fondly remembered as the “Father of the Poor,” Mar Mathew Kavukattu passed away on October 9, 1969. In 1994, he was declared a “Servant of God.” His ancestral home in Pravithanam remains a place of prayerful pilgrimage for many faithful.
Monsignor Joseph Kuzhinjalil (1903 – 1983)
Founder of the Mary Matha Congregation & Pioneer of Re-union Mission
A tireless advocate for the cause of Christian unity, Monsignor Joseph Kuzhinjalil was born in Pravithanam Parish on May 24, 1903. He was ordained a priest on December 17, 1933, for the Archdiocese of Changanassery. Answering the invitation of Archbishop Mar Ivanios, he joined the Malankara Church in the newly established Archdiocese of Trivandrum.
Though offered several prestigious positions within the Church, the young Fr. Joseph humbly declined them all, instead requesting to be sent as a missionary.
He began his service in the remote and neglected southernmost regions of India, among communities plagued by poverty, disease, and superstition. With deep faith and compassion, he preached the Gospel and stood as a beacon of truth, justice, and human dignity. He founded the Mary Matha Congregation for women on May 8, 1938.
Fr. Kuzhinjalil went on to establish numerous schools, hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the elderly. During deadly outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and smallpox in Marthandam and nearby areas, he worked fearlessly alongside the sisters of his congregation, offering healing and comfort.
He also initiated vocational training centers and micro-finance programmes to uplift the underprivileged. In recognition of his extraordinary service, Pope Paul VI conferred upon him the title of ‘Monsignor ‘ on January 27, 1978.
Monsignor Joseph Kuzhinjalil, a treasured gift of Pravithanam Parish to the Malankara Church, passed away on August 23, 1983.
Mahakavi Pravithanam P.M. Devasia (1902 – 1996)
Renowned Poet & Literary Luminary
Mahakavi P.M. Devasya, a literary luminary who left an indelible mark on Malayalam poetry, was born on January 3, 1902, in Pravithanam. His monumental contributions to literature include five epic poems—Israelvamsham (1952), Mahaprasthanam (1966), Rajakkanmar (1982), Kristugeetha (1983), and Thobith (1989)—along with numerous other narrative poems, dramas, and shorter poetic works.He received numerous accolades including the Papal Honor Bene Merenti, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, KCBC Award, AKCC Award, and the Sahitya Tharam Award. A beloved teacher at St. Michael’s Higher Secondary School in Pravithanam for many years, the great poet passed away on December 22, 1996.