BIRTH AND GENERATION:

Rev. A. Reginald Joseph MA. BD was born on 29/08/1947 at Chanamkottavilai in Oothukuli village, Kallukootam taluk, Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu to Mr. Abraham and Mrs. Gnanathangam. Mr. Abraham is the son of Mr. Joseph and Mr. Joseph is the son of Mr. Issac.

The father of Rev. A. Reginald Joseph, Mr. Abraham was working in C.S.I Christian Hospital Neyyoor as Assistant Nursing superindendent. He got transferred to C.S.I Hospital Kundarai which is in Kerala is a branch hospital of C.S.I Hospital Neyyoor. So he moved to Kundarai with his family and settled there. At that time Reginald Joseph was a four years old child.

Reginald Joseph had two younger brothers (Mr. A. Ronald Isac and Mr. A. Roslin Gnanakumar) and also one younger sister (A. Lovely Rani). He is the eldest among them.

EDUCATION:

Rev. A. Reginald Joseph started his schooling in Kundarai in Malayalam medium and studied up to seventh standard there. Due to the separation of Kanyakumari district from Kerala state to Tamil Nadu state his father Mr. Abraham was called back to C.S.I Hospital Neyyoor. So he moved back to Neyyoor. Reginald Joseph continued his schooling again from the seventh standard in Tamil Medium at Hacker C.S.I High school, Neyyoor. He studied in Hacker C.S.I High school, Neyyoor up to eight standard. Then he studied in government High school, Eranial near to Neyyoor from ninth standard to eleventh standard.

Then, he studied PUC in Scott Christian College, Nagercoil with science as his major subject. After that he did B.A in Economics in the same college. Later he did BD at Madurai Theological College and M.A in English as correspondence course.

REGINALD JOSEPH AS PRESBYTER:

The parents of Rev. A. Reginald Joseph had no kids for five years after their marriage. So they were frustrated and worried a lot. So they pray to God with the Promise to God Saying “If we are blessed with children’s, we will give the first male child to serve God”. God blessed them with male child after five years. They named the child as A. Reginald Joseph. Again god blessed them with two male and one female child.

Reginald’s parents didn’t tell this promise with their childrens and kept it as secret. Unlike the other children’s they grew him very carefully so that he won’t learn bad thing. Unlike the other children’s his father put lot of concentration to send him to school and pick him from the school in the evening even when he was studying higher standards. Also they protect him from bad friends and they won’t allow him to attend any functions even marriage. But his brothers and sister use to go anywhere they wish. Reginald Joseph will spend all his free time only at his home. His parents will ask him to pray and worship god at his free time and he will lead the family prayer at his home. I will promise you I had never heard any bad remarks about him from his parents, brothers and friends yet, because he was nourished by his parents in a remarkable way.

Reginald Joseph was smart and brilliant in his studies. So Reginald Joseph’s uncle wanted, to make him a doctor and he was ready to take the expenses for his studies and he planned to give his daughter as his life partner. Reginald’s uncle told these to his parents. But Reginald’s parents refused it, because of their promise to God. But Reginald’s uncle was not willing to give his daughter to a presbyter. Reginald Joseph and others in his family comes to know, the above things after a long time.

Once he completed his B.A degree in Economics his parents told to him “Do not search for a job because we promised God that you will serve god”. Reginald Joseph was not willing to go as presbyter; he was frustrated. But his parents told him to assist the presbyter in their communitarian C.S.I church which is in Lakshmipuram. So that he will be practice to lead a worship and loss stage fear. He half heartedly accepted his parent’s decision after certain period of time and he did so. He is a member of Lakshmipuram C.S.I Church. His father Mr. Abraham was a Deccan and one among the founder of C.S.I Church Lakshmipuram.

PROFESSION:

Reginald Joseph was appointed as a Church Worker in C.S.I Kanyakumari diocese on 01/01/1970. He started his profession at C.S.I Church Challenkonam. He was serving in C.S.I churches located in Challenkonam, Mandaikadu and Angalipuram as Church Worker and then he served in Arutpanikal Ministry of kanyakumari diocese as an assistant to Director of that department. After that he went to Madurai Theological College to do BD. He completed his BD degree course in the year 1974. After completion of his bachelor degree in theological, he was serving in Muthalakuruchi, Anparpuram as church worker. He was ordinate presbyter on 09/11/1975. After ordination he was serving in Kunagkadu, Anathanadarkudi, Nagercoil Home Church, Palliady C.S.I Christcoil Church and Punnaiyadi as Pastor (Presbyter). He was promoted as District Chairman and served in Kanjikuzhli, Devicode, Muzhucode and Kallukootam as District Chairman.

REGINALD JOSEPH AS WRITER:

Reginald Joseph had calm character. He will speak very less, not only in public also in his residence. But he was a good pulpit speaker and a good writer too. He will speak less time with more points. As per my knowledge he started to write books from 1975. “SERMON ON THE PULPIT” could be his first book. It has ten sermons, eight sermons in Tamil and two in English. Earlier he was publishing his thoughts in C.S.I Kanyakumari Diocese magazines also as small paper prints. He felt it will be very useful to many peoples, if it was published as book. So he started to publish his thoughts as books. I am very sure, his writings and pulpit speeches helped many peoples in many ways in their life. I hope his writings and pulpit speeches will helpful to you too. So I just want to publish those for you. Most of his writings were about the last living periods of Christ life in the world. Reginald Joseph wrote the following books.

• - Sermon on the Pulpit
• - Korundhiyar nerubam
• - Pudhu volvu (New life)
• - Namakaga Cinthapatta Erathum (Blood laid for us)
• - Seluvailerundhu Yeallu Varthaikal, Seluvaiyai Nooki Yeallu Varthaikal (Seven words from the cross, On the way to the cross)
• - Kartharin Pandhilva Sakodhara (Come to the Lord’s Table o brother)
• - Seluvai Mollikal
• - Seluvaein Padhayeil
• - Seluvai Mollikalum, Yooerthaludhal Theyanamum
• - Lendhukaala Theaanam (Lentan Devotion)
• - Parisutha Vaaram (Holy Week)

DEATH:

When he was serving in Kallukootam C.S.I Church (Also his birth place) as District Chairman he was invited bless a one year old child on his Birthday party. He blessed the child and finished his prayer and seated in his seat. After that he was not taking to anyone. He was sweating and his assistant presbyter was listening this and asked him... Do you need any help? Many people are watching these instances. He was palpitating,tried to tell him something but he can’t. Then he was taken to C.S.I Hospital Neyyoor immediately. He was admitted in the hospital for 5 days. He was expired on 15/06/2010 morning nearly 8 AM.

His death was a big loss for us. Though he was my father I will say “I am not worthy even to clean his foot wears”. He had a high attitude and holiness in his life. I didn’t felt his death when I saw his body on the bed. It seems like looking at me. His eyes will not close completely even when he sleeps. I saw the same that day too. Every Life has an end no one abide the rules of Life…