Notes

Fr Antony Sylvester Puthussery, CMI in conversion with Dr. Joseph J, Palackal CMI

Fr. Sylvester Puthussery, CMI (d. 2016), a member of the Sacred Heart Province of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. Specialist in Syro Malabar liturgy, singer of Syriac chants.

Fr. Antony Sylvester Puthussery, CMI (d. 2016) was ordained a priest in 1957. The ordination ceremony was in Syriac as was his first Holy Qurbana. Therefore, Fr. Sylvester is a true representative of the transitional generation that lived through the change of the Syro Malabar liturgy from Syriac to Malayalam in the 1960s. Fr. Sylvester shares his concern about the gradual loss of the sensitivity toward the Syriac heritage among the younger generation of Syro Malabar bishops, priests, and laity as well. He thinks that the learning of Syriac language should be a part of the curriculum in the Seminaries and that all priests should be able to say the Institution narrative in Syriac. This interview took place a few months before Fr. Sylvester died on 5 November 2016, while he was undergoing treatment for a terminal illness. Fr. Sylvester was fully aware of his medical condition and was grateful for the borrowed time that was at his disposal. He even wrote a poem about death that he read on camera. He never lost his calm and his characteristic smile. We are grateful to Fr. Sylvester for agreeing to do this interview and share his valuable ideas.

Joseph J, Palackal
New York
27 August 2018

Video segment

• AP 102a - Fr. Sylvester Puthussery speaks about Palackal Thoma Malpan.