(31-03-1909 to 29-09-1983)
Rev. Fr. Philip Kaipanplackal OCD of the Most Holy Trinity gone to receive his reward on 29th September, 1983, at the age of 74 in 54th year of his Profession.
Joseph Kaipanplackal was born on 31st March, 1909, at Kozhuvanal, in the Changanacherry Diocese (now belongs to Palai Diocese) from a noble parents Joseph Kaipanplackal and Teresa.
Joseph joined our Order of the Discalced Carmelites in February 1927. He received the Holy Habit of the Order on 1st June, 1928 taking the new name Br. Philip Kaipanplackal OCD of the Most Holy Trinity at Carmel Hill Monastery, Thiruvananthapuram and made his Simple Profession on 3rd June, 1929. He was sent to Belgium for his Ecclesiastical studies. He had his Philosophy at Courtrai, and there he made his Solemn Profession on 11th June 1932. He was sent to Teresianum, our International College in Rome for his Theology. After his Diaconate on 12th July 1936 and he returned to India due to his ill-health. On 19th December 1936, he was ordained priest by Msgr. Vincent Dereira OCD, Bishop of Quilon, in the Seminary Chapel at Quilon.
Soon after his Ordination, Rev. Fr. Philip Kaipanplackal OCD was appointed Professor at Carmel Hill for the Philosophy students. In 1944, he was transferred to St. Teresa’s Monastery, Ernakulam, and later to St. Joseph’s Monastery, Varappuzha.
Moved by the desire to found a Religious Congregation fully adapted to the Indian culture, Fr. Philip obtained exclaustration from Rome and went to Salem, Tamil Nadu where he started a house called Siluvagiri Ashram. His brother-priest – Fr. Abraham Kaipanplackal – also joined him in the new venture. Since the Ecclesiastical authorities did not approve the proposed Indianite religious congregation, the new Foundation was put under the protection of St. Andrew’s Benedictine Abbey at Bruges (Belgium) in 1949. Fr. Philip along with five candidates went to Belgium for religious training and returned to Salem in 1952. However, Fr. Philip and his brother-priest left the Institution in1953. Fr. Philip returned to the Provincial and joined the community of Verapuzha.
Rev. Fr. Philip Kaipanplackal OCD served our communities at Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram as Director of Carmelite Fraternity and some other Cultural Association under the auspices of Carmel Hill Monastery, Thiruvananthapuram. He was the Chief Editor of ‘CARMEL’ magazine for twelve years from 1969 to 1981. It was under his editorship that ‘CARMEL’, which was a quarterly publication then, had become a monthly edition. He had also contributed many articles to other Catholic periodicals in Kerala.
Rev. Fr. Philip Kaipanplackal OCD was a well-known retreat preacher. He had given retreats to priests of many Dioceses in and out of Kerala. He had rendered his pastoral services to many religious women communities as their retreat preacher, Spiritual Director and Confessor.
He had also written few books such as Scapular Devotion, both in English and Malayalam; A Man of God – Biography of Late Archbishop Benziger OCD; Ente Christunadhan in Malayalam. A history of the Reform of Carmelite Order was written in Malayalam – Nishpaduka Karmelasabhayude Nirmathakkal etc. Fr. Philip made use of his talents in the best way on his preaching and writing.
Rev. Fr. Philip was admitted in the Sacred Heart Hospital at Muthalakodam on 5th Sept. 1983 for a minor operation. After the operation he developed convolutions along with that his diabetes became uncontrollable unexpectedly. Fortified by the Holy Sacraments of the Church Rev. Fr. Philip Kaipanplackal OCD expired on 29th Sept. 1983 at 9.00 a.m. in the hospital. His body was brought to Carmel Hill, Thiruvananthapuram and was buried in the Monastery crypt on 30th Sept. 1983.
His dedication to the Apostolate of the Word of God as preacher and writer and also for his zeal for Marian devotion were really commendable.
+ May the Lord reward His faithful Carmelite Friar!!
REQUIEM IN PACEM!!