Salesian Father Joseph Chittattukalam died of a heart attack on November 27 at New Delhi airport. He was 82.
“With deep sorrow, I inform you that Fr. Joseph Chittattukalam went to his heavenly abode early this morning (27.11.2022). He died of a heart attack in the Delhi Airport. He was traveling to Kolkata,” read a message released to the Salesians in India by provincial superior Father Davis Maniparamben.
The priest was traveling to Kolkata for a meeting when the incident happened, according to provincial secretary Father P D Varghese.
Father Chittattukalam “had already boarded the flight to Kolkata when he collapsed and was rushed to the airport hospital where he was declared brought dead,” said Father Varghese.
“I am shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death of our dear Fr C.A. Joseph,” said Subrata Ganguly, one of the priest’s students.
Father Chittattukalam was one of the first Salesians of Kolkata province to complete Journalism and Communication studies from Xavier Institute of Mass Communications Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1978.
He was also the coordinator of the centenary celebration of the archdiocese of Calcutta in 1986 during the tenure of Jesuit Cardinal Lawrence Trevor Picachy.
In 1997, when New Delhi was carved out of Calcutta province, Father Chittattukalam joined the new province and served as the rector in New Delhi, Chandigarh, and Lucknow.
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