(27-03-1922 to 15-04-2001)
Rev. Fr. Cyriac Mannanal OCD of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, gave testimony of the fidelity towards Christ and to the Gospel by his long religious and priestly life spent for the formation and education of our students for the building up of our communities and for various activities for bettering the spiritual and economic stability of our Province.
Fr. Cyriac was born on 27th March 1922 at Mattakara, in the Archdiocese of Changanacherry, of pious and God-fearing parents, an illustrious family. The Mannanal family is proud of so many priests and religious men and women who are outstanding in academic and sanctity. He had his primary education at Mattakara and his High School education at Kidangoor.
Fr. Cyriac entered the Malabar Province of the Order of Discalced Carmelites as an Aspirant in Carmel Hill Monastery, Thiruvananthapuram taking the new name Br. Cyriac Mannanal OCD of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. After the study of Latin, he had his Novitiate in Thiruvananthapuram, under the guidance of a very saintly friar, Rev. Fr. Lucas Chilampacherry of Child Jesus. He made his Simple Profession on 12th June 1946 and his Solemn Profession on 12th June 1949 at Carmel Hill Monastery. He successfully completed his Philosophy and Theology studies from Carmel Hill Monastery and ordained priest on 19th November 1953 by His Excellency Rt. Rev. Vincent Dereere OCD, then Bishop of Thiruvananthapuram, Latin Diocese.
The Superiors of the Malabar Province appointed Rev. Fr. Cyriac Mannanal OCD of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Professor of Latin in our Apostolic School, due to his keen interest and mastery over Latin, with his melodious and sweet voice excelled in Gregorian Chants. He was also the Professor of Philosophy, at the Philosophy College, Carmel Hill Monastery, Thiruvananthapuram. He had a dedication and eagerness for the souls of the youth of his time, which made him the Director of the Pious Union at Thiruvananthapuram Monastery.
Rev. Fr. Cyriac held the offices of Prior in St. Teresa’s Monastery, Ernakulam; Lisieux Centre Muvattupuzha, our Missionary station; Mount Carmel Ashram, Peravoor, where he erected a beautiful church; and at Panamaram, he founded the Pushpagiri Ashram and erected a church in adherent to the Ashram. The churches he erected and the Monasteries he founded stood as the elegant expressions of the artistic and architectural feasts to the eyes and provide still now a peaceful venue for Prayer, Eucharistic Celebrations and wonderful silence added to the Carmelite brotherly Community life. He was the Superior at San Joe Ashram, Potta from where he was sent to Carmel Hill, Thiruvananthapuram. He served at our House in Murad Nagar. He was the Architect and builder of our Carmel Centre, Ernakulam with the view of increasing the economic stability of our Malabar Province. The services of Rev. Fr. Cyriac towards the Mudavanmughal Parish where he built a Shrine and founded a convent will be written in golden letters in the Annals of Thiruvananthapuram Diocese.
Alzheimer’s disease, deprived him of his consciousness that made the untold sufferings of body and mind. The Last Sacrament and the Holy Viaticum, which was given to him, received consciously two months before his death from the Prior, assisted by all the Fathers and Brothers. A week before his death, he was taken to Jubilee Memorial Hospital, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, where he slept in the Lord on Easter Sunday, 15th April 2001 at 8.30 a.m. having the rare privilege of dying on that auspicious day. His mortal remains were brought to the Monastery. People from all walks of life came to pay their respect to the dear departed beloved of God and man. His Grace Most Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios, Archbishop, Thiruvananthapuram, (Malankara) and His Excellency Rt. Rev. Soosa Pakiam, Bishop of Thiruvananthapuram, (Latin) paid their respect and prayed over him.
By midnight, mortal body of Rev. Fr. Cyriac Mannanal OCD of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, was taken to Lisieux Centre, Muvattupuzha. At 10.30 a.m. on 16th April, our Very Rev. Fr. Provincial of the Order of Discalced Carmelites officiated the Solemn Con-celebrated Requiem Holy Mass. The funeral rites of our dearest friar Rev. Fr. Cyriac was officiated by Mar George Punnakottil, Bishop of Kothamangalam. Very Rev. Fr. Bernardine Vallathara OCD, then Prior of Rev. Fr. Cyriac gave the funeral oration. A large number of priests, religious and faithful and his relatives and friends of our friar were present for the burial. His mortal remains were interred in the Ashram Crypt, where he awaits hopefully for the glorious resurrection.
Lives of great men remind us that we can also make our lives sublime and leave behind us our foot prints on the sands of time.
+ May the Lord reward His faithful Carmelite Friar!!
REQUIEM IN PACEM!!