Bro.Joseph Thamby Declared “Servant of God”

 

Bro.Joseph Thamby Declared

“Servant of God”

 

Bro. Joseph Thamby, popularly known as "Bro. eph Thamby of Avutapally", was declared Servant of God" by the Vatican on 24 June, 2007. Most. Rev. Mallavarapu Prakash the Bishop of Vijayawada amidst a solemn Holy Mass made the announcement at the Sacred Heart Church, in "Peddavutapally on 24th June 2007 morning. This is the first step in the process of making Bro. Joseph Thamby a saint of the Catholic Church.

 

The Reason

 

Bro. Joseph Thamby, a perpetual Franciscan Tertiary, born in Pondicherry to Savarymuthu and Annamalle, made his home at Peddavutapally in 1939 and was instrumental in bringing many families to Christ including several caste Hindus. He was a legend in his life time. His simplicity and piety was so outstanding that he attracted much attention. He seemed to have possessed the power of healing and extraordinary gifts of bi-location and the Stigmata. Since his death in 1945 his veneration has been growing and Lakhs come to pray at his tomb.

 

Taking into account the steady growth in the number of pilgrims in these years to the shrine of Brother Joseph Thamby and the great desire of his devotees to see him raised to the veneration at the altar, the Mary Matha Capuchin Province, with the advice and support of the Local Ordinary of Vijayawada and the encouragement of the APBC, has taken up the initiative to introduce the Cause of Beatification/Canonization of Brother Joseph Thamby. His Excellency Rt. Rev. Bishop Prakash Mallavarapu has sought and obtained the “Nihil Obstat” for initiating the Diocesan process of Beatification/Canonization of Brother Joseph Thamby from the Roman Congregation for the Cause of Saints.