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[[File:Fr.c.j.varkey.png|thumb|Fr. C. J. Varkey Kuzhikulam]]<br />
'''Mgr. C. J. Varkey, Kuzhikulam''' (1921–2009), also popularly known as "Varkeyachan" ("Father" Varkey), was an Indian priest of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]] and the founder of the [[Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate]] (MSMI) in 1962.<ref>P.V. ANNIE, Gender and Spirituality: Archaeology of Religious Life in Kerala, (thesis), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam-Kerala 2015, pg. 137.</ref> The family apostolate is its charism.<ref>J. KURAVILANGADU, കോണിപ്പടികൾ: മലബാർ കുടിയേറ്റ ചരിത്രം, (Steps of Ladder: History of Migration to Malabar), Boby Books, Calicut 1991 (Malayalam language), pg. 652.</ref> At present, the congregation has 800 professed sisters working in one hundred communities in India, United States, Germany and Italy, engaged with different apostolic activities like teaching, nursing, orphanage, leprosy center, old age homes, family apostolate, social work, pastoral care, prayer and counselling. He was one of the most admired figures in the Kerala Church and a leader of the [[charismatic renewal]] movement in the state.<ref>{{cite web<br />
| url = http://www.smcim.org/kulathuvayal/priests.htm<br />
| title = Priests from the parish<br />
| accessdate = 2008-10-19 <br />
| work = Kerala<br />
| publisher = Thamaraserry Diocese }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web<br />
| url = http://www.dioceseofthamarassery.org/homage%20to%20FRCJ.html<br />
| title = A Homage to Msgr. C. J. Varkey<br />
| accessdate = 2016-03-30<br />
| work = Kerala<br />
| publisher = Eparchy of Thamarassery<br />
| url-status = dead<br />
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110726000322/http://www.dioceseofthamarassery.org/homage%20to%20FRCJ.html<br />
| archivedate = 26 July 2011<br />
| df = dmy-all<br />
}}</ref><br />
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==Biography==<br />
Varkey born in Kuzhikulam family Valavoor,PALA and lived in [[Kulathuvayal]], 50 kilometers east of Kozhikode town. He worked within the four districts of Kerala for 58 years. He came to Kulathuvayal in 1951 when the region was an underdeveloped hill area with no roads, schools or churches. Most Christians in Malabar are migrants. Migration began during the economic Depression of the 1930s and continued for decades. He started the first school in [[Kulathuvayal]] in 1954 and encouraged other parishes in the diocese to open schools before building churches. In 1976, Monsignor Varkey started the Malabar region's first charismatic retreat center, it currently attracts thousands of people. [[Pope Benedict XVI]] gave the priest the honorary title of [[monsignor]] in 2007 in recognition of his service to the Church.<ref>{{cite web<br />
| url = http://www.catholicactionworldwide.org/index.cfm/NewsItem?ID=140344&From=Home<br />
| title = MSMI<br />
| accessdate = 2008-10-19<br />
| work = Kerala<br />
| publisher = Catholic Action Worldwide<br />
| url-status = dead<br />
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725142825/http://www.catholicactionworldwide.org/index.cfm/NewsItem?ID=140344&From=Home<br />
| archivedate = 25 July 2011<br />
| df = dmy-all<br />
}}</ref><br />
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He died on 24 June 2009, at the age of 88. The funeral services were held at the Nirmala Retreat Centre in Kulathuvayal. Retired Archbishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy of Trichur, Archbishop George Valiamattam of Tellicherry and Bishop Lawrence Mukkuzhy of Belthangady joined Bishop Chittilappilly at the services, along with hundreds of priests and nuns.<ref>{{cite web<br />
| url = http://www.ucanews.com/2009/06/30/church-mourns-death-of-malabar-monsignor/<br />
| title = Church mourns death of Malabar monsignor<br />
| accessdate = 2016-03-30<br />
| work = Kerala<br />
| publisher = UCANEWS<br />
| url-status = dead<br />
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090701135457/http://www.ucanews.com/2009/06/30/church-mourns-death-of-malabar-monsignor/<br />
| archivedate = 1 July 2009<br />
| df = dmy-all<br />
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==References==<br />
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[[Category:1921 births]]<br />
[[Category:2009 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian Roman Catholic priests]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian Roman Catholic priests]]</div>>WikiCleanerBot