Fr. Sebastian Mathew Kuricheal, Provincial
Rector Major, His Eminence CARD. ÁNGEL FERNÁNDEZ ARTIME, on 14 December 2023 n ominated Rev. Fr Sebastian Mathew Kuricheal SDB As The Provincial Designate Of The Mary Help Of Christians Province, Guwahati (ING). Fr Kuricheal will be succeeding Fr Januarius Sangma since May 2018. The Salesian of Guwahati is a diverse, lively and vibrant missionary province with 251 confreres belonging to different ethnic background. The Province comprises of parts of the states of Assam and Meghalaya.
Fr Sebastian Mathew Kuricheal was born on 01 March 1959 to Joseph Mathew and Anna Mathew at Kozha – Kottayam in the diocese of Palai, Kerala. He came to North East India as a young boy and joined the aspirantate at Savio Juniorate, Shillong in the year 1975. He made his first profession on 28 May 1977 and his perpetual profession on 11 February 1984. He was ordained a priest on 27 December 1986 at Kuravilangad in Kerala.
He has served the province of Guwahati in various capacities with a diverse experience holding very responsible positions. His first assignment was as an assistant Parish Priest of Mawlai Parish Shillong from the 1987 to 1990 and of Jrikyndeng from 1990 to 1992. Following which, he was appointed the Parish Priest of Jrikyndeng from 1992 to 2001. From Jrikyndeng, he was sent to Haflong as as assistant Parish Priest from 2001 to 2004 and later he was made the Parish Priest and Principal of Don Bosco, Haflong which he held from 2004 to 2010. From 2010 to 2012 he was made incharge of Haflong community and continued as the Principal of Don Bosco School, Haflong. In 2012, he was appointed administrator and Vice Principal of Don Bosco School, Guwahati. He was made the Rector and Principal of Don Bosco School, Guwahati in 2014. Later as he was appointed as Provincial Council members in … and continued to serve in that capacity till date.
Fr Kuricheal will be installed as the Provincial on 23 May 2024 and then he will take charge as the 13th Provincial of the Province of Guwahati, since its inception in the 1959.