Renowned Scholar Fr. Herbert Kalathil Passes Away at 74

Kochi, Kerala, Sept. 4, 2025: Fr. Herbert Kalathil OCD, a distinguished priest, educator, and member of the Manjummel Province of the Discalced Carmelites, passed away on September 3, 2025, at the age of 74 in Kerala. His funeral will be held on Friday, September 5, at 2:30 PM at the Immaculate Conception Church in Manjummel, Kochi. Known for his decades-long service in priestly formation and liturgical scholarship, Fr. Herbert was a respected figure at seminaries and philosophy colleges across India.

Born on September 21, 1951, in Gothuruth, Kerala, to K.V. John and Mary of the Kalathil family, Fr. Herbert entered the Carmelite order in 1968 at the age of 17. He made his first profession in 1971 and was ordained a priest in 1978. After completing advanced studies in Rome, he returned to India and served as Professor of Liturgy at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary in Mangalapuzha, Aluva, and other institutions for nearly three decades.

Fr. Herbert was widely respected for his deep scholarship, engaging teaching style, and pastoral commitment. He authored notable works such as "Welcome to Liturgy" (2020) and "The Catholic Church and the Calendar" (2022), contributing significantly to liturgical studies. Former students and colleagues remember him as a teacher who imparted wisdom with humility, humour, and faith, making his classroom a place of intellectual and spiritual formation.

He is survived by his brothers Jolly K.J., Jimson K.J., and Fr. Josily K.J. IMS. The Carmelite community and faithful across Kerala mourn his passing, recalling his life as a beacon of simplicity, joy, and devotion.

By Fr. Prasad Theruvathu OCD

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