Life of Late Fr. Mathew Kochupura, S.J. Jesuit from Gujarat

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Life of Late Fr. Mathew Kochupura, S.J. Jesuit from Gujarat

Fr. Mathew Kochupura, fondly known as Fr. Kochu was born on 3rd March 1954 in Pottenkad , which is in ldikki district of Kerala state.  His parents were farmers and he was the eldest of five members in the family.  He did his studies up to higher secondary in Kerala and left for Gujarat in the year 1973. He joined in the pre-novitiate of Gujarat Jesuit Province in Ahmedabad.  After completing graduation, he joined the Jesuit novitiate in August 1976 at Premal Jyoti, Navarangpura, Ahmedabad. Since he was gifted with technical talents the authorities asked him to go for diploma in Mechanical Engineering in Ahmedabad.  At the end of the course he came out with flying colours. He was sent for Philosophy studies in Satya Nilayam - Chennai.

For regency he was sent to Xavier Technical Institue - Sevasi near Baroda to look after hostel and to teach in the institute. For two years he did a good job under the guidance of late Fr. Hererro. He joined for the theology studies in Premal Jyoti, Ahmedabad.  During his studies he helped Fr.Cyprian to run the Nadiad Loyola Technical. He was ordained as a priest on 15th May 1989.  After his ordination he was appointed to Ankleshwar parish as assistant parish priest. Those days he helped out late Fr. Hererro SJ to set up a technical institute in Ankleshwar . After six months, his services were needed in Umarpada parish and there he worked in the villages for the remaining time of the year .In the year 1990 he was appointed in Nadiad Technical Centre as its director. He worked there till 1995.

During his tenure in Nadiad, he got permission from Central Government to run ITI patterned courses and began the courses over there. Due to his efforts we got permission for ITI courses in Ankleshwar Xavier Technical Institute too. He was also instrumental in beginning the hostel for boys, new residence, workshops and class rooms. During his time he began training in computer hard ware and soft ware.  In 1995 he went for tertian ship. After the tertian ship he was appointed to Xavier Technical Institute - Sevasi as its director in 1996. There he worked till 2004 and did a lot of development to the institute and began many courses too. He introduced C.N.C (Computer Numeric Control) course for the first time in Gujarat. This course has a lot of demand for the modern industries. The number of students who are studying increased around 600 and practically all of them were placed for jobs in good industries in India and in abroad.

From the year 2004 he was appointed to Mandali, a mission centre near Mahesana, to begin a new technical institute to cater mainly the students of North Gujarat. Since the building was not ready for the technical courses, he began computer course at parish school building in Mahesana. He had planned to develop a training centre in solar energy and the province too supported his new venture.  The new property was bought at Linch village near Mahesana and all the plans for the building and courses are approved by the province. He has begun the building work so that he could shift the computer class from Mahesana in next academic year. He also wanted to start new courses in June 2012. Province is interested to start at least two Diploma Engineering programs over there in near future.  He was planning to execute the same.

But, the Lord called him for the eternal reward on 11^th December 2011 at the age of 57 years and 35 years as a Jesuit.  The Society of Jesus and the Church in Gujarat have lost a precious priest. May his soul rest in peace!

News By Rev. Fr. K.P.Vincent SJ (Nadiad Loyola ITI )