Michael Arattukulam

Bishop Dr. Michael Arattukulam (17 April 1910 – 20 March 1995) was the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alleppey and an Advocate of the Rotae Romanae.

His parents Andrew and Rosamma Arattukulam were members of the congregation of St. Antony's church, Perunnermangalam, Chennaveli. He was ordained on 29 August 1937.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Alleppey belongs to the Latin rite and was created on 19 June 1952 by the division of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin. Arattukulam was consecrated as the Bishop of Alleppey on 7 December of that year. Bishop Michael Arattukulam actively participated at the four sessions in the second Ecumenical Council of Vatican held at St.Peter's Basilica Rome during the period 1962- 1965.[1] He was the first Bishop to publicly criticize the "Indianization" of the Church's liturgy, although some Catholic groups have protested against the use of Hindu elements in the Mass.[2] Bishop Arattukulam identified the Sanctity of Sr. Fernanda Riva's life,asked that her Cause for Canonisation be introduced.[3] Arattukulam founded colleges,schools,hospitals and other social service organizations and published two books on Catholic topics. Birth Centenary was celebrated at St.Antony's church perunnermanagalam, along with St.Antony's feast in the month of June 2010.