FR. GEORGE MANNARA

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FR. GEORGE MANNARA

He was born on July 20, 1891 at Thaikkattussery. He completed his school studies from St. Mary’s High School, Alwaye and joined the Minor Seminary at Ernakulam. He completed his Major Seminary formation at Puthenpally and was ordained priest in 1920. He worked as assistant parish priest at Njarackal and as parish priest at Kunnumpuram and Kavil. He actively took part in the missionary activities among the local people conducted under the leadership of Fr. Joseph Panjikkaran while he was the parish priest of the above Churches. His efforts to revive the Vincentian Congregation and becoming a member of it, provide further proof of his missionary zeal.

Fr. George Mannara was the leader of the revivers. He was a born leader and his personality and presence could earn respect and fear to some extent from anybody. At the same he was man of a loving heart and had a special soft corner for the poor. He stood tall in any gathering by physical appearance and by his ability to preach and sing liturgical and other devotional hymns. He was known as a good actor and able speaker even from his seminary days. He could make use of these abilities in his pastoral work and turned out to be a very effective preacher of the Word of God. He was always an optimist and proved to be a gentleman in the best sense of the word. His obedience and respect for the authorities was exemplary. He was a model for simple life, gentleness and prayerfulness. In devotion to the Holy Eucharist he excelled everybody. He successfully led the Congregation from the difficult days of childhood to adolescence as superior and the Superior General. Fr. George Mannara became familiar to the faithful of Kerala as a retreat preacher, organiser and social worker and as the spiritual advisor to Kerala Catholic Congress. His towering personality commanded respect from both the faithful and from the society at large. He suffered a heart attack and departed from this world on December 15, 1957

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