Death of Fr. Romeus
Born: 29/06/1929
Temporary Profession: 17/05/1955
Solemn Profession: 16/05/1958
Ordination: 19/03/1962
Died: 09/08/2018
Rev. Fr. Romeus of the Sacred Heart was born on 29th June, 1929 at Pazhangad in Ernakulam. He was baptized in the same year at St. George’s Church Pazhangad in the diocese of Kochi. He was one of the seven children of late. Mr. Anthappan and late Mrs. Rosamma. He has five sisters and one brother as siblings. Discerning his vocation to religious life he joined St. Pius X Province, Manjummel of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites as a candidate. At the end of his initial formation at St. Joseph’s Novitiate House, Pothannoor he made his temporary profession on 17th May, 1955 in the Manjummel Province. Years of his stay with the Discalced Carmelites and his individual efforts to deepen his vocation confirmed his intention of making solemn profession in the Order and thus he made his solemn profession on 16th May, 1958 in the same Province. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at Mangalapuzha Seminary at Aluva and was ordained a priest on 19th March, 1962.
He served the province of Manjummel for a long time in different capacities. A few years after the formulation of the Varapuzha Unit (present South Kerala Province) he joined the unit to extend his priestly ministry. He spent many years in Mount Carmel Ashram, Kottarakka as a conventual of the community as well as the parish priest of Mount Carmel Church, Perumkulam. He also served as parish priest at St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Attuvasserry, Kottarakkara. He was a regular confessor of many convents in the locality for long years. Sisters of different congregations still remember him with gratitude specially his committed service at the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Holy Mass. Since 2006 he was a conventual at St. Joseph’s Ashram, Ambalpuzha except for a triennium (2008-2011) he served the Community of St. Peter’s Monastery, Bethsaida, Trivandrum. The community members always found him as a person emitting the ‘Teresian joy’ and punctual and regular for community activities. He was never found excusing himself from the community activities unless he was severely ill.
For the last five months he was bedridden due to a fall. The community at St. Joseph’s Ashram Ambalapuzha took good care of him. Four months ago he was transferred to St. Joseph’s Provincial house for further treatment. Everyone appreciates his mental strength and physical courage to undergo painful treatment. Nobody found him loosing temper or shedding tears at the times of excruciating pain. Completing his race here on earth he rested in the Lord on 09th August, 2018 by 1 a.m. His life reminds us of St. Paul’s words: ..we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
The funeral service of Fr. Romeus ocd will take place in our Chapel at St. Joseph’s Provincial House, Kottiyam, on Friday August 10, 2018 at 3.00 pm., followed by internment at our Provincial House Cemetery. We request your valuable presence and prayers during the funeral service. We have loved him in life, let us not forget him after death.
