More on one of those approved for beatification the other day:

Born on 1 April 1891 in Ramapuram in the diocese of Palai, Kerala, Fr Augustinus Thevarparampil entered the seminary of Palai and was ordained priest on 17 December 1921, aged 30, by Bishop Mar Tommasi Kurialacherry.

In February 1923, he was sent as vice parish priest to St Sebastian parish in Kadanad, but sudden serious illness forced him to leave his post to return to Ramapuran. Here, he found his future field of work among the “untouchables”, the Dalits. Fr Augustinus Thevarparampil was widely known as “Kunjachan” –meaning “little priest” in the Malayalam language of India – because he was short. He sought to lead marginalized and exploited people, who were full of superstitious beliefs and practices, to the Christian faith and also encouraged them to believe in themselves.

To win over diffidence and prejudice, he would go to visit them, to listen to and comfort them, seeking to calm discord and to treat sick people. He knew and called each one by name and he was a great friend of children. His perseverance enabled him to overcome many difficulties, so much so, he personally baptized nearly 6,000 people. Fr Thevarparampil died on 16 October 1973, aged 82, after 52 years of priesthood and mission. He is buried in his parish church of Ramapuran, before the altar of St Augustine, which has now become a place of pilgrimage.