FR REJIN JOSEPH THOMAS ARAKKAL | KAIROS GLOBAL | DECEMBER 2022

Author: Shaji Joseph Arakkal

Intro: Karios Malayalam’s designer, Shaji Joseph recollects his fond memories of Fr Rejin Joseph Thomas Alunkal, who passed away on November 6, 2022.

It was sometime after 10.30 pm on November 6, as I was checking WhatsApp that I came across the heart-wrenching news. My dearest friend, Rejin Achan (Fr Rejin Joseph) had passed away. 

It must have been in 2008 or 2009 that I first met Rejin. A friendship that began from the various gatherings of Jesus Youth later cemented at KCBC’s (Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council) Pastoral Orientation Centre (POC). Rejin was a genius in advanced computer technology, using it to creatively teach Catechism. That was probably the reason why Rejin would always be found in the office of KCBC Bible Commission Secretary, Rev. Dr Fr Joshy Mayyattil.

In 2011, POC published an illustrated children’s Bible prepared by the renowned children’s illustrator Venki, and myself. The printing and other related matters of that book brought me in close contact with Rejin. He was an active presence in the week-long Die-Augen Art Camp and Film Festival held at POC, and in Savitha Theatre, Ernakulam in connection with the Kerala Catholic Church’s Bible Week conducted from May 27 to June 3, 2012. Eight international films were screened at that festival. From the selection of the films, obtaining good quality digital copies, getting the necessary screening permission, etc., Rejin’s help was invaluable to me.  He was also there to help organise Die-Augen artists’ camp, movie screening, and the related travel. I now wonder if that festival, whose general coordinator I was, would have taken place successfully had Rejin not been there. It is with gratitude that I remember my beloved Rejin, who selflessly and generously, despite not being a part of the festival committee, gave his time and effort and stood by me.

His interaction with priests who lived lives of witness, and his constant contact with Rev. Dr Joshy Mayyattil is what eventually led to Rejin’s own vocation to priesthood. 

Subsequent to completing his master’s in engineering, he began to work as a lecturer at Cherthala (Kerala) Government Engineering College. It was around that time that having discerned, he left everything for Jesus and entered the Kochi Diocese seminary. His priestly training was at the Papal Seminary in Pune. A sense of responsibility, hard work and a God-oriented way of life were the hallmarks of Rejin. Fr Joshy himself testifies that it was Rejin’s technological prowess that enabled him in the arduous administration of KCBC Bible Commission’s annual Logos Quiz.

In our family prayer, we always pray for the priests and seminarians we know, this especially by my children. During these spontaneous prayers when the kids would each remember and pray for the fathers and brothers by name, Rejin had a special place. Having become our family friend, he shared a deep bond with my children. Three years ago, my youngest daughter Niveditha fell in love with a non-Christian classmate, and later died in a car accident. Upon hearing this, Rejin Achan came running home and gathered all of us close to his chest and stood by us in our grief. His was a heart like Jesus – without limits or boundaries. Very rarely do we come across such people. 

From the time Rejin Achan’s body was brought to the Diocese House for the Requiem Mass to the last farewell, placed in an ambulance to be taken to his home in Chandiroor, it was touching to see His Excellency Bishop Dr Joseph Kariyil running about, managing it all beautifully like a father who had just lost his own son. I had taken a photo of the bishop there and shared it on Jesus Youth’s groups with the caption: ‘I suppose this beloved bishop must also be asking Jesus why his dear assistant and a valuable young priest of the Church was called back so soon.’ Those same words were echoed at the funeral Mass at Chandiroor church during the homily by the bishop himself. 

After his appointment as chancellor of Kochi Diocese, Rejin Achan came to my home twice, riding his scooter. Since my wife Shoba knew his eating habits, she prepared the meals accordingly. Rejin Achan never ate meat or fish – only simple food. When he visited us the last time, there was a huge bundle of books for the diocese on his scooter. Seeing that I told him, ‘This is the first time I am seeing a chancellor of the diocese travelling on a scooter.’ He immediately smiled his guileless smile and rode away on his scooter. That was a farewell.  

In a small box:

Fr Rejin Joseph Thomas Alunkal

Fr Rejin was born on August 29, 1981 to Alunkal Joseph and Thresyamma, in Chandiroor, Kerala. He completed his primary education at Pattanakkad Public School, got his degree from Chenganoor Engineering College and Masters from CUSAT. He worked as Assistant Professor at Government Engineering College, Cherthala.

Thereafter he entered in the minor seminary at Fort Cochin and completed his priestly formation at the Papal Seminary, Pune. He was ordained a priest on January 13, 2020 and was appointed assistant parish priest at Our Lady of Hope Church, Vypeen. A year later, the Bishop of Cochin appointed him Chancellor of the Diocese. He passed away on November 6, 2022.

Shaji Joseph Arakkal has been a graphic designer for 39 years. He lives in Ernakulam, India with his wife Shoba. They have three children, Niranjana, Nirmal and Niveditha. God called Niveditha back.