Archbishop Benziger
Archbishop Benziger, who pave the way
The great adventure of evangelizing Punalur, Kattanam and Neyyatinkara fall in the first place, to the decision of the Archbishop Maria Aloysiums Benziger. His organizational talents coupled with his apostolic zeal and austere life makes him one of the greatest prelates of India. Extra ordinary communication with his priests makes him excellent administrator. It is said that each day he writes more than 40 letters per day to mission stations by his own hand.
He was focused for mission activities in the stations and keen to use and accountable for every single Paise. So he could buy 1000 acres of land in the Quilon Diocese Every corner of the vast mission field entrusted to him was permeated by his presence. Waves of divine benediction seemed to radiate from him through out the diocese (Victor Sanmiguel).
Among the notable achievements was his delicate role in the return of the church of two Jacobite Bishops, Mar Ivanios and Mar Theophilos in the summer of 1930 and establishment of the Syro –Malankara hierarchy. It is also to his credit that the division of the Quilon diocese into Kottar and Trivandrum was effected.
It is estimated that he made over 150000 converts which ranks him as one of the greatest of the missionaries in Inida. He did not concentrate in conversion only, he founded minor seminary and a major seminary, many schools and churchestaking full advantage of the aid sent by his wealthy family and other fries and benefactors both in Europe and America. At the request of His highness the Maharaja of Travancore brought down from Switzerland the Sisters of the Holy Cross, to serve as nurses in the hospitals.
Bishop Benziger was real pioneer in respect that he could foresee the future of mission centers Punalur, Kattanam and Neyyattinkara. Bishop Benziger was also a great reconciler. It was the fruit of his saintly and tremendous influence that resulted in many Jacobite conversions in and around the places of Kattanam and Charummoodu in the beginning of the reunion movement.