Senior priest of Nagaland Catholic Church dies at 72

Funeral service at St. Joseph’s Church, Chumukedima on Sept 21 at 4:00 pm  

Dimapur, September 20 (MExN): Fr. Mathew Keemattam, one of the senior priests of Nagaland Catholic Church passed away on September 20 at Bethel Hospital, Kohima after a brief Illness. He was 72 years old. His funeral service will be held at St. Joseph’s Church Chumukedima on September 21, 2017 at 4.00 pm.  

As a missionary and educator for the past 44 years of service in Nagaland, he has been a guiding light for thousands of persons who have come in contact with him as a pastor friend educator and guide.  

His contribution to the development of present Kiphire district is pioneering education in the region. For 7 years, with no transport and communication facilities, he nurtured the Loyola School. In 1980 he took charge of St. John’s School Tuensang. Queen Mary School Mokokchung had him as the principal in 1984, and in 1985 he became the principal and parish priest of Holy Cross Dimapur and the rector of Good Shepherd Seminary. He established the St. Joseph’s HS School, Chumukedima in 1997. Later he served as the Vicar General of the diocese of Kohima and the rector of St. Joseph’s College Jakhama, the pairsh priest of St. Xavier’s Parish, Meluri. He was serving as the Parish Priest of Dominic Savio church Chiephobozou, when the Lord called him to his eternal reward.  

The Diocese of Kohima has expressed sadness at the demise of Rev. Fr. Mathew Keemattam, former Vicar General and Parish Priest of Chiephobzou, who left for the Heavenly Abode on September 20.  

Diocese of Kohima in a condolence message said that Fr. Mathew has served the people of Nagaland with zeal and fortitude till he breathed his last. He loved the Nagas, their culture and their customs. Nagaland has become his home. He looked forward to the future with hope. “He will continue to pray to God for his people. May God continue to bless the people of Nagaland through his prayers in heaven,” the message added.