FR. JACOB SRAMPICKAL, S. J. (61/43)

DIED IN KNITTELFELD, AUSTRIA, ON 14TH APRIL, 2012

BIO – DATA: Born: 12-12-1950 in Vettimattom, Thodupuzha, Kerala Entered: 14-08-1968 in Patna Ordained: 15-04-1982 in Patna    Final Vows: 25-03-1988 in Patna

It was an unexpected shock last year when Jacob, on a visit to Patna, suffered a stroke in Pune. He seemed to be too young for such an attack. But it was a cause of great joy when we saw how he recovered so quickly, and was able to return to his teaching work at the Gregorian in Rome. However, our relief was premature. He suffered another stroke in a place called Knittelfeld near Graz in Austria on the 3rd of April, 2012, and the brain damage was too great. He died in the hospital in Austria on 14th April, 2012. His passing away is a great loss to the Gregorian, and also to the Patna Province. He once wrote, “Patna is my first love, the Patna Jesuits are my brothers, and the people of Bihar have taught me a lot.”

Jacob followed in the footsteps of his brother Fr. Joseph, S. J., who joined the Patna Jesuits some years before Jacob. Another brother lived in Patna for some years, and was married here. So this missionary family has made a great contribution to the Church in Patna and its people. We are deeply grateful to them, and remember them in our prayers, especially now that Jacob has gone to his eternal reward.

From his earliest days in the Society, Jacob showed a keen interest in the media apostolate. He got an early start in regency at Chitrabani in Kolkata and at Ravi Bharati, our audio-visual center at Navjyoti Niketan, Patna, from 1977 to 1979. After getting his M. A. in Hindi in Mumbai, and his Ph. D. in media at Leeds, England, Jacob returned for a year of pastoral ministry at Barbigha. Then he moved to Ravi Bharati as assistant Director and director from 1984 to 1996. His services were requested by Assistancy Centre NISCORT, in Delhi and he was there from 1997 to 2003. Finally, he was called to Rome, and taught media at the Gregorian from 2003 till his death. He was the author or editor of several media books.

We thought that he had fully recovered from his stroke last year, but obviously he did not. So this sudden death after his return to Europe took us all by surprise.

(All members of Patna Province should offer one mass for the repose of his soul)