Pope declares Fr Canisius 'Servant of God'

Father Canisius of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) had been declared as Servant of God by Pope Francis, the preliminary step towards canonisation.
Convener of the process, Fr Paulson Paliakara said the Diocesan (Irinjalakuda) Tribunal for the purpose would be constituted at Saint Teresa's Monastery at Amphazhakad near Mala in the district.
The rituals in connection with the establishment of the Tibunal would be held by the Irinjalakuda Bishop Mar Poly Kannookadan on March 29 at the Monastery, he said.
The second phase of the canonization process under the Roman Catholic Church would be to declare Canisius as Venerable, then Blessed and finally Saint, he added.

Canisius was born in 1914 and ordained as priest in 1942. He passed away on January 29, 1998, Paliakkara said.
As a noted theologian and Biblical scholar of repute, he had served CMI as Vicar General and its chief as Prior General.
He is the second person to be elevated to the position of SoG from CMI after the Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara, who founded the CMI in 186l, Paliakkara said.
Chavara was beatified about three decades ago and the process of his canonisation was in the final stages, he said.