Rev Fr. Jis Jose Kizhakel CST, becomes the First Priest from Syro Malabar Church to be commissioned as Naib Subedar (Religious Teacher) on 5th, May 2019. Naib Subedar acts as an advisor to the commanding officer in the religious affairs of the Army.
Fr. Jose Kizhakel joined Navy as a Junior commissioned officer. After undertaking rigorous training for 18 months, he had the passing out parade from the Pune National Integration Institute. He will be serving as a Religious teacher for the Army and will be rendering service in various regiments in different parts of India for a period of 15 years. Fr. Jose Kizhakel belongs to CST Congregation from St Joseph’s Province, Aluva and is a member of Kalloorkkad parish in Kothamangalam Diocese. He was ordained as a priest on 3rd January 2015 at Kalloorkkad parish, Bp. Mar Chacko Thottumarickal, Bishop of Indore. He had his first posting after ordination in JPM college, Kanchiyar Idukki as an Asst. Manager and a Vice Principal.
“ I came to know about the space in the Army, work stress, tensions, depressions faced by soldiers. By this job I can be a priest and soldier at the same time ie service for the nation and God at the same time” says Fr. Jose Kizhakel about his new role as a religious teacher in the Army. He stated that he had the plan to do something different after ordination and he came across the post of religious teacher at UPSC site which is the only job given by the central government to the priests to do the duties of a priest. After discussing with the friends in the Indian Army and getting permission from the CST Superior, Fr. Jose applied for the post.
