Alappuzha :

Fr Paul Arackal who is credited as the first person who took steps to organize the fishermen community in the state, died of age related illness at Chethi near here on Wednesday. He was 80.

His funeral will be held at the St Antony’s church Chennaveli near here at 3pm on Friday.

His mortal remains will be kept at his family home at Chethi from 8am on Friday for the public to pay their last respects.

He was the third son of Joseph and Esther of Arackal house of Perunnoormangalam near Chethi. He was ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI in 1964.

He served as the assistant vicar and later also as the vicar of the St Andrews Basilica at Arthunkal.

He also served as the vicar at St Joseph Church at Punnapara, Arogyamatha Church at Saudi near Kochi and St Francis Xavier’s Church at Kandakadavu, and also as the chaplin at St Joseph Church, Thanki.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kozhikode / TNN / April 23rd, 2015