Dibrugarh – MSFS

Dibrugarh
Province

Provincial Superior

FR. TOMSON AERATHEDATHU

Rev. Fr. Tomson Aerathedathu, was born on 08-04-1961, son of Mr. Michael and Mrs. Clara, at Anakkallu, from the diocese of Kanjintrappally. He made his first Religious Profession on 10-06-1980, Salesianum, Visakhapatnam, AP. He completed his philosophical studies in Morning Star, Calcutta in 1983. After the completion of his philosophical studies he did his practical training at SFS Church, Jonai. He completed his theology at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore 1989. He was ordained deacon by Rt. Rev. Mathew Cheriankunnel, Bishop of Kurnool, Vinayalaya, Bangalore on 04-06-1988. Later on 08-04-1989 he was ordained priest at St. Antony’s Church, Anakkallu, by Rt. Rev. Mathew Vattakuzhy.

He holds the following designations after his ordination:

After his ordination he was appointed as the asst. parish priest of Sacred Heart Church, Bhandari in 1989. Later in the year he became the asst. parish priest of SFS Church, Jonai, Assam from 1989 to 1993. Then he was selected for the higher studies and had gone to the state for his doctorate. After completion he came back to India and was appointed as the Vice-Rector of MSFS Study House, Mawroh-Mawlai, Shillong, from June 1999 to August 1999. And then from September 1999 he was appointed the Rector of MSFS Study House, Mawroh-Mawlai, Shillong until he went to Brazil for his pastoral ministry in the year 2009.

He served as the provincial of Brazil Province from the year 2013- 2019. He came back to India in the year 2020 and was elected as the provincial admonitor and councilor in charge of formation of Dibrugarh Province. He was appointed the Provicial of Dibrugarh province on 15th September 2022. He is also serving as the visiting professor to Oriens Theological College, Shillong.

Offices Held in Service of the Congregation

1 Provincial Councillor Jan. 2002 – 2005

2 Provincial of Brazil Province 2014-2020

3 Provincial Admonitor and Councilor for Formation 2020- Sept 2022

4 Provincial Superior of Dibrugarh Province 15 sept 2022-

Province History

In answer to the reasonable yearning, relentless prayers and repeated requests, the directives of the joint-meeting of General Curia and Provincial Curia at MSFS Provincialate, Guwahati, on Oct. 13-14, 2014, guided the Provincial Administration to initiate the process of creating an administrative unit (Delegation/Region) in Northeast India Province. After having consulted all the members of the Province through both ‘Consultation Paper’ and ‘Apostolic Community Meetings’, with the consent of the Provincial Council, and in accordance with the Constitutions of the Congregation, Fr George Panthanmackel, the Provincial, requested Rev Fr Abraham Vettuvelil, the Superior General, to erect a Region in Northeast India Province comprising of Arunachal Pradesh, Upper Assam, Nagaland and Manipur on June 28, 2015. In his letter to the Superior General, Fr Provincial stated that the establishment of a distinct Region was for the purpose of strengthening religious commitment as MSFS, facilitating effective administration, encouraging closer community living, properly nurturing and utilizing talents and gifts, and consolidating and expanding missionary activities. The formal establishement of a new Region in North East India Province took place on January 20, 2016, with Fr Emmanuel Mappilaparambil taking charge as its Regional Superior.