Meet Fr. Tom Puthusseril, M.S.

Fr. Tom Puthusseril, M.S., Director of the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, Attleboro, MA

What is your family background? 

I was born in Kerala, in the southwestern part of India, on the Malabar Coast. My father’s name is Chacko Puthusseril, and my mother is Mary Kutty, both from Kerala. My older brother’s name is Benny Chacko Matthew. My father worked both in the Rubber industry and farming as well. My mother was a housewife. In my household, "Mother Mary" (Our Lady) was a significant presence in my life, through daily family morning and evening prayers and devotions and daily Mass.

Through my parents and their sharing stories of saints and the challenging life of missionaries with both myself and my brother, I felt called to some special mission for my life. I was a regular altar server and I constantly spoke with the parish priests about my own and other’s questions about our Catholic faith. This education and experience helped concretize my desire to serve the Church and God’s people.

How did you come in contact with the La Salette Missionaries?

I began my seminary life with the Diocese of Kanjirapplly. During my regency, a period of immersion in ministry, I was assigned to a Rehabilitation Center for Prisoners, funded limitedly and quite poor. I saw a calendar on a wall that invited young men to consider a vocation with the La Salette Missionaries. I responded to that invitation by phoning the contact person, Fr. Andrews Kollanoor, M.S. I went to meet with him later and we discussed what my procedure should be for my life and studies.

After almost one year, I entered the La Salette Bhavan (house) in Parakkadavu, about three hours travel from my home. After my preparatory studies, I was ordained to the Priesthood on Feb. 22, 2003 in St. Mary’s Church in Elamgulam, my home parish church.

How does La Salette spirituality influence your own ministry?

Interior of the Parackadavu Chapel, India

I feel that Mary’s words concerning prayer have influenced me considerably. However her words about prayer extend to praying not only for ourselves and our own family but also praying for the world and especially the most needy. Her words about daily prayer encourage me to take the time to speak to God in prayer.

Also I concentrate on her words about the gift of reconciliation, reconciling humanity with God. For example, she was concerned about Maximin’s father, who was anxious about feeding his family. Once he heard that Mary had spoken about him specifically in her message, he turned back to God – an event of “reconciliation in action”.

Mary’s title as Reconciler of Sinners gives me hope in a forgiving God, One who welcomes all sinners back to God’s loving care. I am taking seriously her words to “make this message (of reconciliation) known to all my people.”

What words of the message of La Salette affect your ministry directly?

My interest in “extended prayer” or a time of retreat (preaching to others) is, in fact, supported by Mary’s words about prayer. My ministry as a priest has been considerably involved with retreats for youth and adults.

Indian depiction of Our Lady of La Salette

In my vacation time as a theologian, I preached to different school children and found a welcoming audience. Then I extended my efforts in preaching to local parishes and was received with open arms. In one very special situation, I was involved in a retreat team of about 100 people who together led a retreat for about 25,000 adults in Karala! I was very surprised since I was expecting only 5,000 people. Initially I was a bit overwhelmed with the sheer number of people asking for guidance in this retreat. I spoke about Eucharistic Adoration to this vast throng of people and they listened very well.

I was also privileged to be involved with a local Catholic TV Station “Night Vigil” – that lasted through the evening until morning – and was beamed to over 300,000 people.

As my preaching ministry continued, I spoke especially with my own native Indian-speaking people and have travelled extensively in Karala as well as in the United States, speaking to groups of 100-800 people. I really enjoy this ministry.

Presently as Director of the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, I feel the support of many people and realize the bright future we have a place of prayer, reflection, and reconciliation. We have here truly “holy ground”.

As a native of Karala, India, my own participation in this Shrine ministry is itself a living reflection of Mary’s words, “make this message known to all my people.”

Some of the members of the Salette Matha Province, India