Seminarian Attributes Kerala Government Award to God and Seminary Discipline

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, March 15, 2026: A Catholic seminarian who recently received the Kerala government’s Vidyarthi Prathibha Puraskaram has described the recognition as an unexpected blessing and credited his success to God and the disciplined life of the seminary.

Brother Alex Velamkunnel, a minor seminarian of the Archdiocese of Tellicherry, received the student talent award from Kerala Education Minister R. Bindu on March 10 at a ceremony held at Government College Thiruvananthapuram.

Speaking about the moment he learnt about the award, the seminarian said he felt surprised and grateful. “I was very happy when I received this recognition from the state government. It was never expected and happened only by God’s grace,” he said in an interview with Catholic Connect.

Brother Alex said he first learnt about the honour through an email from the government informing him that he was eligible for the award. He was later asked to join a group where officials explained that he would receive a certificate and a cash prize of 100,000 rupees.

“I was clueless about what to do because it was an unexpected achievement,” he said, recalling that the first thing he did after receiving the news was call his parents to share the joy. “This recognition is given only to the top students, and being one among them was a very happy moment for me.”

The seminarian believes that his life in the seminary played a key role in his academic success. “The discipline, structured life and prayer life in the seminary gave me the strength and focus to achieve this,” he said. “If I were not in the seminary, I might not have received this recognition.”

Brother Alex comes from Kasaragod district in Kerala. He completed his schooling at St Mary's High School Chittarikkal and St Thomas Higher Secondary School Thomapuram. After completing his higher secondary education, he joined the seminary to pursue his vocation to the priesthood.

He said his faith and family prayer life strongly influenced his decision to enter the seminary. “From childhood, our family used to go to church regularly and pray together. That devotion to God inspired my desire to become a priest,” he said.

Reflecting on his academic journey, the seminarian emphasised the importance of spiritual life. He said prayer, devotion to the Rosary and trust in God helped him remain focused during his studies.

“Stay close to God and He will never leave you,” Brother Alex said. “Whatever I have achieved is by His grace, and I give all the glory to God.”

Seminarian Attributes Kerala Government Award to God and Seminary Discipline

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