A word from the out-going Provincial of the Salesian Province of Eastern Africa Rev. Fr. Joseph Pulikkal SDB
Tell me something about your family: your parents, brothers and sisters, practice of religion, what they are doing now etc.
I was born in Kochi, a beautiful harbor town in backwaters of Central Travancore, Kerala, India. My father Lazar took wonderful care of the family of 7 children – 4 boys and 3 girls through hard work. My mother Lilly would get up very early in the morning and prepare breakfast for the family before going for Mass in the nearby chapel. She would call each of us to go with her. I would go daily for Mass and serve at the altar. That probably laid the foundation for my vocation to priesthood. In order to supplement the income of the family my father set up a small shop. I was put
In- charge of the running of the shop with the assistance of my mother.
To my good fortune when I was in Primary School, Don Bosco Youth Center was established in Vaduthala. I was attracted by the opportunity to play and to pray daily. The simplicity and friendliness of the oratory assistants charmed me. I spent all the time after school hours in the Oratory. So when finally one day I decided to join the Salesian Seminary my mother jokingly said: ‘What difference will it make? You are there all the time’. She was right. Somehow the Oratory was my second home. When I decided to join the Seminary at the invitation of the Vocation Director and my confessor I was apprehensive whether my parents would allow me since I was the firstborn. To my happy surprise I found willingness and even a secret joy. That support and encouragement from my parents carried on all through my seminary years and up to their death.
My father passed away last year at the age of 93 having lived a healthy life and experienced the loving care of his children. My mother had passed away in 1989 when I was in Makalala, Tanzania. My brothers and sisters are all married and well set then in their various professions. My brother Francis is a telephone Engineer, Peter a business man, Bosco, a Computer Engineer( Bosco happens to be the Spiritual Secretary in Don Bosco Oratory Vaduthala). My sister Mary is a teacher (she has just retired as the headmistress of a very big school), Lissy has a shop, and Molly is an Accountant. They and their children are doing well in life. We are very united as brothers and sisters and visit one another very frequently.
