Beatification

Joseph Thamby, A Franciscan Tertiary, Servant of God

11 November 1890 to 15 January 1945

Servant of God – 24 June 2007

"Servant of God": It is the title given to a deceased person of the Catholic Church whose life and works are being investigated in consideration for official recognition by the Pope and the Catholic Church as a saint in heaven. The process for canonization is under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Receiving the title Servant of God is the first of the four steps in the canonization process. The next step is being declared Venerable, upon a decree of heroicity or martyrdom by the honored. This is followed by beatification, with the title of Blessed, after the confirmation of miracles attributed to the honored. The final step is canonization, where the honored would receive the title of Saint.

Until today people of all faiths and all walks of life throng to his tomb and implore for his powerful intercession. Taking into account, the steady growth in the number of pilgrims in these years to the shrine of Br. Joseph Thamby, and the great desire of his devotees to see him raised to the veneration at the altar, Marymatha Capuchin Province (Andhra Pradesh-Odisha), with the advice and support of the local Ordinary of the diocese of Vijayawada and the encouragement of the APBC (Andhra Pradesh Bishop’s Council), has taken up the initiative to introduce the Cause of Beatification/Canonization of Br. Joseph Thamby. Hence, he is declared 'Servant of God' on 24 June 2007 by Most Rev. Prakash Mallavarapu, bishop of Vijayawada and thus Br. Joseph Thamby's Cause of the Beatification is inaugurated.

Now the diocese of Vijayawada is recording his life, works and miracles.
Bishop’s House
Ring Road, Vijayawada – 520 008
Krishna Dist., Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
Tel: (0866) 24 71 355, 24 71 093 (O), 24 84 647 (P)
Fax: (0866) 24 75 955 (O)
E-mail: bishopvja@sify.com
Father Rector
Brother Joseph Thamby Shrine
Peddavutapally, Uguntur Mandal,
Krishna Dist., PIN – 521286, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
Phone: 08676-259248

The following information is taken from the web: http://newsaints.faithweb.com/year/1945.htm

15 January in Avutapally, Andhra Pradesh (India)
JOSEPH THAMBY, layperson of the diocese of Vijayawada;
Member, Secular Franciscans
Born: 1883 in Puducherry (a.k.a. Pondicherry) (India)
Diocese of competent bishop: Vijayawada,
CCS protocol number: 2689,
Type of cause: heroic virtues
nihil obstat: 15 October 2005
Opening of diocesan inquiry: 24 June 2007
Closing of diocesan inquiry:
Decree on validity of diocesan inquiry:
Submission of Positio to CCS:
Congress of theological consultants:
Congregation of CCS cardinals and bishops:
Postulator: Fra Carlo Calloni, ofmcap
Petitioner: Br. Joseph Thamby Ashram, Pedda Avuttappally, 521 286, Krishna Dist., Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
website: josephthamby.blogspot.com