In this image released to the media, priest, Sisters and Brothers pay tribute to Late Czech missionary Fr. John Med who was interred at Salesian College cemetery on January 28.
Dimapur, January 28 (MExN): The mortal remains of the Czech missionary Fr. John Med was interred at Salesian College cemetery, on January 28.
Most Rev. Dominic Lumon, Archbishop of Imphal who presided over the Requiem Eucharist described Fr. John Med as a committed religious and missionary in his introduction. His departure leaves a great vacuum in the hearts and minds of many, he said. Assisting him were Most Rev. Dominic Jala, Archbishop of Shillong and Rt. Rev. Joseph Aind, Bishop of Dibrugarh. Other import personalities present were Fr. James Poonthuruthil, Salesian Provincial of Dimapur, Fr. Nestor Guria, Vice Provincial, Fr. Jose Palely, Economer, Fr. Carolus N, Vicar General of Kohima and around 100 priests and an equal number of Sisters, Brothers, and 500 faithful joined the funeral function.
Others who attended the ceremony were former Provincials – Fr. Belarmine Fernando of Chennai, Fr. Vincent Durairaj of Chennai, Fr. Mathew Pulingathil of Guwahati and Dimapur, Fr. M.P. Thomas of Dimapur.
Fr. James Poonthuruthil, during the homily gave a brief life sketch of Fr. John Med and enumerated his qualities of head and heart. He said that Fr. John Med will be Fr. John Med will be remembered as a great Salesian and priest for several reasons. He will be remembered for a long time to come for his multi-faceted personality and the many God given qualities of nature and grace. His 68 years of priestly was dedicatedly lived. When it was question of saving souls, Fr. Med spared no energy. In his 76 years of stay in India led him only once to see his family members in his country. He was also a prolific writer and publisher. He loved music and compiled the popular hymnbook All You Hills. His interest in education and literacy is shown by opening of colleges and institutes of education of various levels and kinds. Fr. Med was an educator par excellence. He knew that the secret of development is education.
After the Holy Eucharist, condolence messages were given by Fr. C.C Jose, Rector of Don Bosco School, Imphal, spoke on behalf of the community; Archbishop Dominic Jala, conveyed the condolences of the Archdiocese of Shillong; Former Provincial of Chennai; Fr. Vincent Durairaj, conveyed the condolences of all the southern provinces. Representing the first batch of aspirants at Tirupattur, Fr. Mathew Pulingathil, spoke on behalf of his batch and other batches that passed through the hands of Fr. John Med. Vice Chancellor of Don Bosco University, Guwahati, spoke on behalf of the Novices of Fr. Med. Fr. PX Francis and Fr. Nestor Guria, proposed words of thanks to all those who were close to Fr. Med, and looked after him.
Meanwhile, on January 27 evening people from all the Catholic Churches and institutions of Kohima paid their homage to Lt. Fr. John Med SDB at TCP Gate Kohima. Fr. C. J. Jaison in a press release said that a large number of people from Christ King Church Kohima Village, SFS Church Kohima Town and St. Mary’s Cathedral Kohima gathered in tears and prayers to pay their last respect to the missionary who sacrificed his all life for the people. On the occasion Parish Priest Fr. Jerom of CKC, Kohima village led the people into prayer. All the Catholic Associations of Nagaland together with the parish communities of Kohima area placed the wreath and bid farewell to the mortal remains of Lt.Fr.John Med.
Most Rev. Dominic Lumon, Archbishop of Imphal who presided over the Requiem Eucharist described Fr. John Med as a committed religious and missionary in his introduction. His departure leaves a great vacuum in the hearts and minds of many, he said. Assisting him were Most Rev. Dominic Jala, Archbishop of Shillong and Rt. Rev. Joseph Aind, Bishop of Dibrugarh. Other import personalities present were Fr. James Poonthuruthil, Salesian Provincial of Dimapur, Fr. Nestor Guria, Vice Provincial, Fr. Jose Palely, Economer, Fr. Carolus N, Vicar General of Kohima and around 100 priests and an equal number of Sisters, Brothers, and 500 faithful joined the funeral function.
Others who attended the ceremony were former Provincials – Fr. Belarmine Fernando of Chennai, Fr. Vincent Durairaj of Chennai, Fr. Mathew Pulingathil of Guwahati and Dimapur, Fr. M.P. Thomas of Dimapur.
Fr. James Poonthuruthil, during the homily gave a brief life sketch of Fr. John Med and enumerated his qualities of head and heart. He said that Fr. John Med will be Fr. John Med will be remembered as a great Salesian and priest for several reasons. He will be remembered for a long time to come for his multi-faceted personality and the many God given qualities of nature and grace. His 68 years of priestly was dedicatedly lived. When it was question of saving souls, Fr. Med spared no energy. In his 76 years of stay in India led him only once to see his family members in his country. He was also a prolific writer and publisher. He loved music and compiled the popular hymnbook All You Hills. His interest in education and literacy is shown by opening of colleges and institutes of education of various levels and kinds. Fr. Med was an educator par excellence. He knew that the secret of development is education.
After the Holy Eucharist, condolence messages were given by Fr. C.C Jose, Rector of Don Bosco School, Imphal, spoke on behalf of the community; Archbishop Dominic Jala, conveyed the condolences of the Archdiocese of Shillong; Former Provincial of Chennai; Fr. Vincent Durairaj, conveyed the condolences of all the southern provinces. Representing the first batch of aspirants at Tirupattur, Fr. Mathew Pulingathil, spoke on behalf of his batch and other batches that passed through the hands of Fr. John Med. Vice Chancellor of Don Bosco University, Guwahati, spoke on behalf of the Novices of Fr. Med. Fr. PX Francis and Fr. Nestor Guria, proposed words of thanks to all those who were close to Fr. Med, and looked after him.
Meanwhile, on January 27 evening people from all the Catholic Churches and institutions of Kohima paid their homage to Lt. Fr. John Med SDB at TCP Gate Kohima. Fr. C. J. Jaison in a press release said that a large number of people from Christ King Church Kohima Village, SFS Church Kohima Town and St. Mary’s Cathedral Kohima gathered in tears and prayers to pay their last respect to the missionary who sacrificed his all life for the people. On the occasion Parish Priest Fr. Jerom of CKC, Kohima village led the people into prayer. All the Catholic Associations of Nagaland together with the parish communities of Kohima area placed the wreath and bid farewell to the mortal remains of Lt.Fr.John Med.
About Fr. John Med
Born on 13th April, 1916, in the Czech Republic, Fr. John Med, joined the Novitiate in 1933. In 1935 he was asked to go to India as a missionary though he desired very much to go to China. In 1939, he went to Sacred Heart Th. College Shillong for completion of his priestly studies. Fr Med was ordained priest on 1st July 1943 at the age of 28. In 1948, the whole family of Fr. John Med was put in prison by the Nazi Government. In 1950 he was appointed the first principal of Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur. In 1958, he was appointed Provincial of the South Province of India consisting of Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra , Goa, Karnataka, Sri Lanka and Kerala. In 1964 Fr. John Med starts Kristu Jyoti College, Bangalore. In 1964 Fr Med goes to Shillong as Novice Master. In 1970 he became Asst. Parish Priest of Christ King parish, Kohima. In 1971, he became Asst. Parish Priest of Imphal & Incharge of Khoupum. In 1976, he was made Asst. Parish Priest at Punnanamai. In 1977 he took charge of the Parish in Senapati and worked there 14 years. In 1992, he was transferred to Imphal, where he remained till his death.
It may be noted that Rev. Fr. John Med passed away on January 25, 2011 at 10.15 am ending one and a half years of intense suffering. Fr. Med who, in spite of his advanced age, was enjoying relatively good health till one and a half years ago, had an accidental fall in the Parish Church of Chingmeirong on July 13, 2009 which resulted in the fracture of his hip bone. Ever since, he had been in and out of hospital several times with several moments of crisis and emergency. Fr. John Med passed away peacefully with a simple sigh ending 96 years of grace-filled life.
