Death of retired Bishop of Ujjain

(June 18.06.2011) We regret to announce the death at the age of 90 of the retired bishop of Ujjain, in central India’s Madhya Pradesh state, on Saturday morning at. the Pushpa Mission Hospital, Ujjain, 30 kms from Ernakulam. He was of the Syro Malabar rite and the first director of the Mission of St Thomas the Apostle (MSTA) and the first bishop of the newly erected diocese of Ujjain. Bishop Perumattam was born on 3^rd November 1921 in Kakkoor of the Palai Eparchy to a devout ancient Syrian Catholic family. Ordained priest on 11 March 1951 he had been elected Bishop on 26^th February 1977 and consecrated on 15^th May the same year. He retired in 1998 and was succeeded by Bishop Sebastian Vadakel MSTA.  

Bishop Perumattam’s funeral will be celebrated on Tuesday 21^st June at Ujjain Cathedral. 

Bio-Graphy : Mar John Perumattam had his school education at Kakkoor and his priestly formation at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye. He was ordained a priest of the Eparchy of Palai on March 11, 1951 by late Mar Sebastian Vayalil, the first bishop of Palai. He was then appointed assistant priest at Vadakara and later at Koodalloor parish. He was sent for higher studies to Rome and secured doctorate in Utrisque Juris from St. John Lateran University. He was appointed vice-Rector and later Rector of Good Shepherd Minor Seminary, Palai. During this period, he was appointed the first Director General of the newly formed Missionary Society of St. Thomas the Apostle of which he is one of the founder members. While he was the Director General of the Society he was nominated the Apostolic Exarch of the Exarchate of Ujjain on July 29, 1968. He was formally installed on January 14, 1969. Msgr. John Perumattam was appointed Bishop of Ujjain on February 26, 1977 and consecrated on May 15, 1977. He is a member of the Missionary Society of St. Thomas the Apostle. He retired from his office on 8th September 1998 as Mar Sebastian Vadakel was installed to the office.