The late Bro Abraham was born on 15th September 1932 at Velliamattam, Thodupuzha, Kerala – India and was baptised on 25th September 1932, at St. John’s church, Kurumannu – Kerala. His parents were Ittyavirah Mathew and Anna Mary who were both farmers. He did both Primary and Middle School education at St. Thomas School, Arakulam, Kerala. He later did his High School at a Salesian College in Sonada. After completing his high school, he went to the Novitiate at Yercaud, Tamil Nadu from 23rd May 1954 to 24th May 1955, and after successfully completing his Novitiate, he made his First Profession on 24th May 1955 at Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, India. After his first profession, he spent one year in Shillong and on 25th September 1956 was sent to Italy for a Diploma course in Printing at Colle Don Bosco where he Graduated on 24th September 1959. Upon his return to India, he started preparing for his perpetual vows. On 24th May 1961 he made his perpetual vows at Sonada. Later he worked in various communities in India. From 1st November 1973 to 31st January 1974, Br Abraham attended a Course for Training Executives by Central Staff Training and Research Institute in Calcutta. From 1st September 1985 to 21st May 1989 he worked in Tengra – Calcutta which was his last mission in India before coming to Africa.

Br Abraham came to Tanzania (Africa) on 21st May 1989 and his first assignment was to work in a printing press at Don Bosco- Iringa from May 1989 to 1st September 1995 and later as an administrator in the same community. Having served that community for a couple of years, Br. Abraham was assigned to the community of Don Bosco- Makuyu in the Printing Department. He worked in Makuyu from 1stSeptember, 1995 till 1st February 1997. On 1stFebruary, 1997 until 1st February 1999, Br. Abraham was transferred to Don Bosco - Moshi as the community Administrator. He served the community tirelessly and with love. Most brothers by then of which majority of them are priests now still admire his spirit of dedication. Having done well in Moshi, he was again moved to Don Bosco- Iringa; where he worked in Tanzania in the Printing Department from 1st February 1999 until 1st February 2002.

During his second assignment in Iringa, Br. Abraham went to Bangalore, India for a knee operation in September, 2000 which actually took place later in early October, 2000. Unfortunately, a day after the operation, he had a stroke that paralyzed him on the right side. Before the stroke, Br. Abraham was basically in good health except for his knee problems. He also suffered from high BP and sugar during this time. He later went to Calcutta, India for physiotherapy and recuperation in the year 2001. He returned to Nairobi in October 2001. From 1st February 2002 until 1st September 2004, Br. Abraham  stayed in the community of Don Bosco – Upper Hill, Nairobi. He was also in the company of the late Br. John Williams who was his close friend and a Salesian Brother. Br. Abraham longed for a change to another community even though his health condition could not allow him to perform tough duties as he was doing before. On 1st September 2004, he was moved to the Community of Don Bosco- Moshi where he had worked before in the late 90s. He loved the Moshi community since the Novitiate and Post- Novitiate Brothers were always at his disposal whenever he needed help. This cheered him up a great deal. During his stay in Moshi, Br. Abraham requested the Provincial to move to the Novitiate community which had just been opened by then in Kihonda, Morogoro. Irrespective of the unfamiliar environment and less comfort since part of the building was still under construction, Br. Abraham enjoyed his stay there with the community from June, 2010 until March, 2011. He later went back to Don Bosco- Moshi.

1 | 2