Br Joseph Jai Prakash was called to his eternal reward at the age of 84, having spent 62 years in the Capuchin Order, 58 of which in North Indian Capuchin Missions. St. Paulâs words can aptly be said of him, âI have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his reappearing (2 Tim 4:7-8). May good God grant him his heartâs desire.
âThe purpose of life is to live a life of purpose,â wrote Robert Byrene. Brother Joseph Jai Prakash, no doubt, lived a purpose-driven life. Br Joseph Jai Prakash proved by his life that one does not need all the skills and qualifications to be at the Lordâs work. One must only be willing and generous, and the One who calls will empower and equip all who give themselves to His call. We thank God for the wonderful person of Br Jai Prakash and the beautiful life he lived.
Originally from Marangattupally parish in the diocese of Pala, the Noorananickal family migrated to Kodancherry in north Kerala and settled down in St. John the Baptist Parish, Manjuvayal in Thamarassery diocese. Br Jai Prakash was born on May 23, 1941, to Mr John and Mrs Mariam as the eldest of three boys, baptised Joseph and grew up in his native village, Kudakkachira. Drawn by the inspiring life of St. Francis of Assisi, young Joseph entered the Capuchin Order and completed postulancy at Calvary Ashram, Thrissur, during the 1960-62 period. He made his temporary profession on November 14, 1964, after his Novitiate at Muvattupuzha and perpetual profession on October 04, 1967, at Calvary, Thrissur, having completed his Professorium course in Kollam and Kotagiri.
Soon after his perpetual profession, Br Joseph Jai Prakash chose the North Indian Capuchin missions as his âkarmabhumiâ and spent most of his life there from 1967 to 2025. In fact, Br Timothy and Br Jai Prakash were the first Indian Capuchin missionaries in the diocese of Meerut, and they constituted the first Capuchin fraternity and mission at Uday Bhavan in Bilaspur entrusted by the Italian Capuchin Province at Tuscany to its counterpart in India. Br Jai Prakash served the Mission in Bilaspur during two extended periods, the first from 1967 to 1986 and the second from 2001 to 2010, as a teacher and in charge of the Hindi Medium School at Joseph Nagar, organising catechesis and bible apostolate in village communities around.
The community in Bilaspur/Isanagar consisted entirely of Catholic faithful settled in Bilaspur by Italian Capuchin Fr Pius Tei, who assisted them through the St. Joseph Farmersâ Cooperative Society established by him. Br Jai Prakash was a constant companion to Fr Pius in organising and consolidating Catholic presence in the area. He also helped him as Vice President of the Society, laying a solid foundation for a vibrant Catholic community in the area. In 1975, a new school project headed by Jai Prakash was started in Martin Nagar village.
He survived a near-fatal accident in 1982. While driving his moped on his way to Martin Nagar, he was hit by a speeding bus from behind, leaving him unconscious on the road. After the preliminary medical care given to him by St. Ann Sisters in their hospital at Isanagar, he was taken to Clara Swain Hospital in Bareilly with a fractured skull and concussion in the brain. As his condition was very critical, he was referred to the intensive care unit at Holy Family Hospital in Delhi, where he underwent surgery a couple of times with the best neurosurgeon at his service.
Br Jai Prakash, who remained in a coma even after surgery for nearly one month, was very professionally cared for by the hospital staff and lovingly attended to by brothers PA Joseph, Jose Kurian and others, supported by intense prayers from all quarters. During the first two days, he appeared almost lifeless. Doctors gave little hope. But then, as if by a miracle, he began to show signs of revival and gradually regained consciousness. Though recovery at this stage was satisfactory, he had to be on lifetime medication for the brain injury he suffered.
The School at Martin Nagar developed gradually, and in 1989, it was handed over to the CFMSS Sisters, who had been looking after the School for the past few years. Martin Nagar was bifurcated from St. Thomas Parish, Joseph Nagar, and established a separate parish in 2021. A new parish church in Martin Nagar, under the patronage of St. Martin de Porres, was built and dedicated on November 23, 2024.
Following in the footsteps of Fr Pius Capuchin, his mentor, Br Joseph Jai Prakash, went around with great missionary zeal along with Br D James, the then Joseph Nagar parish priest, to build a lively Catholic community and provide elementary education to village children at Joseph Nagar and Martin Nagar. While Br Pius is acclaimed as the Founder of the Bilaspur-Isanagar Mission, Br Jai Prakash, who closely associated himself with Br Pius in his missionary ventures during his lifetime and continued the same thereafter, may rightly be named Co-founder of the Bilaspur mission. It was a fitting tribute to them that the mortal remains of Br Pius and Jai Prakash are interred in Isanagar and Joseph Nagar parishes, respectively, thereby perpetuating their memories in the minds of the people and making these parishes blessed and a source of manifold graces.
From Bilaspur, Br Jai Prakash shifted his presence and ministry in 1986 to Jyoti Niketan, Dasna Masoori, and rendered his services until 1992. He was in charge of the Krist Raja Hindi Medium School and a member of the staff of the Jyotiniketan Minor Seminary.
Tambesra in Udaipur Diocese, among the Bhils in Rajasthan, became the next arena of his life and ministry. During his tenure here from 1996 to 2000, he assisted Br PA Joseph in starting a Hindi Medium School and Boysâ Hostel for tribal children. Br Jai Prakash was appointed the first Principal to guide the new venture. Despite a lack of requisite accommodation and facilities, the School did take off well. After the departure of Br Jai Prakash in 2000, the School was entrusted to the Holy Cross Sisters of Hazaribagh Province, who have since raised it into a full-fledged high school with hostel facilities for female students.
After briefly staying in our ashrams at Kartarpur and Dalhousie, Br Jai Prakash returned in 2001 to his beloved Hindi belt at Bilaspur for a second innings. In 2010, he had a fall in the friary chapel during one of his usual prolonged night prayer sessions. He fractured his hip bone and needed urgent surgery. After initial treatment at a Rudrapur hospital, he was shifted to St Stephenâs Delhi for Surgery. Post-surgery, he was placed in Jyotiniketan, at Dasna Masoori, for nursing care.
His recovery, though pretty slow, was delayed further by another fall, causing severe damage to the already injured hip and needing prolonged treatment, necessitating his stay in Jyotiniketan for good. He did recover to some extent. However, he increasingly struggled with his movements and body control as the years passed.
He was shifted in 2020 to the newly erected Jyoti Bhavan Infirmary attached to Jyotiniketan for better care. Here, he spent his time prayerfully in the quiet of his cell, well cared for by the brothers there. He always longed to return to his mission in Bilaspur, his first love, but could not do so. He stayed on in Jyoti Bhavan in the company of other senior friars, Celsus Paramban, Simon Kottoor, KT James, Tobias, Bhai Sradhanand and Chacko Kallamackal from 2020, till he breathed his last on January 17, 2025. Brothers Celsus Paramban and Simon Kottoor were called to their eternal reward on April 11 and November 13, 2021, respectively.
Prior to his last encounter with Sister Death, Br Jai Prakash suffered injuries to his leg and arms from minor falls. He needed a pacemaker to regulate the functioning of his heart and breathing. His bodily sodium levels dropped, his limbs grew weaker, and he could move about only with the help of a walker or wheelchair or assistance from a caregiver.
The Jyoti Bhavan staff, under the diligent supervision of Br Sinto Paulose and the direction of the Holy Cross Hospital Dasna, assisted Br Jai Prakash in making his life as comfortable and trouble-free as possible. On December 30, 2024, he sustained a fracture on his left wrist after he lost balance and fell off while trying to rise from his wheelchair in the room.
He underwent surgery in Holy Family Hospital, Delhi. Post-surgery, on January 08, he returned to Jyoti Bhavan at Dasna Masoori, still suffering from weakness in his body and had to be confined to his room, mostly bed-ridden. Even at this stage, when asked how he felt, he would reply, âgreat,â with a cheerful countenance revealing his joyful inner spirit in the face of bodily suffering. On Friday, January 17, he vomited and suffered serious breathing issues. As his condition was getting out of control, he was rushed to Holy Family Hospital in Delhi. It was to be his last journey as Br Joseph Jai Prakash passed away on the way to the hospital at 7.30 pm. Doctors attending to him confirmed his demise.
Giving due consideration to his three-decade-long association with and his presence and services to the Capuchin Mission Bilaspur, the Superiors decided to have him laid to rest in Joseph Nagar, Bilaspur, at 3.00 pm on Sunday, January 19, 2025. The funeral services were presided over by Br Jai Prakashâs nephew, Br Girish Scaria Noorananickal, assisted by the Provincial Minister and his Councillors and a large gathering of Capuchin confreres, diocesan and religious priests. Faithful from Joseph Nagar, Isanagar, Martin Nagar, and religious women from the neighbourhood turned up in large numbers to bid their beloved brother Jai Prakash a prayerful farewell. The presence of his two younger brothers, Scaria and Joy, Joyâs wife Anice, nephews Manoj, Suresh, Jimmy and Prakash and nieces Reeja and Shaija and their prayerful participation along with the Capuchin Confreres, the faithful and the religious in the last rites of their dearest loving âAchachanâ to pray for him and to be blessed by his prayers shows their most profound reverence, love and regards for their dearest Achachan.
We salute our Br Joseph Jai Prakash, who touched many lives through his selfless services, loving and gentle demeanour, and concern for the common good of the people he journeyed with. He made a substantial contribution in the area by preaching the Word of God to people, leading people in prayer, rendering pastoral care, faith formation, catechesis, community service, and educating village children.
As part of his preparation for a purpose-driven life as a missionary in North Indian villages, he underwent specialised training in first aid, home nursing, natural family planning, community health, crop and seed production, food and nutrition, catechesis, mass media, biblical apostolate and Hindi language studies. No surprise then that All India Radio Rampur chose him seven times to deliver Christmas messages. The diocese of Meerut appointed him a Commission for Christian Doctrine and Vocation Promotion member. The life and example of our simple friar, Br Jai Prakash, who always served the Capuchin Order and the church with great devotion and dedication, will remain etched in the minds of people for a long time and inspire younger missionaries.
He held his family close to his heart, always accompanying them with prayerful support, and kept them in regular contact through his well-scripted letters. He offered each family member daily to the Lord in prayer and has been a source of their spiritual strength. He is the one who named all the children in the family, interestingly with Indian names. His family attributes all their blessings to their beloved Achachanâs prayers.
During his home visits, he would, with great pride and joy, share his experiences and show his album containing black-and-white photos of the people and the mission he was serving. He was regular on home visits. The family considered it a blessing to have him on holiday. His last home visit was in 2023. His nephews assisted him on his journey home and back and took him around in a wheelchair as he had grown too weak to commute by himself.
Br Joseph Jaiprakash will be long remembered for his missionary commitment, simplicity of life, concern for hygiene and cleanliness, spirit of obedience and service, prayerfulness, compassionate and loving approach to the faithful and especially to children and the needy, moral uprightness and accountability, discipline, regularity and devotion to his religious and fraternal obligations, zeal for preaching the word of God and in instructing the faithful in the ways of God. He never spoke ill of others nor gave in to backbiting and slander; he accepted corrections and criticisms with a spirit of obedience. Humbly did he accept his limitations but graciously acknowledged services rendered to him and, in return, offered to pray for them.
Eucharist was the source of his strength, and he never missed participating in Holy Mass and communion, whether in the missions or at home on holidays. Priests from neighbouring parishes vouch for his regularity and faithfulness to the sacrament of confession. He would not give an easy go to his bible and spiritual reading, daily devotions and the Prayer of the Church. Padre Pio was his spiritual guru to whom he was greatly devoted, and from him, he learned the art of intercessory prayers. He considered praying and interceding for others an obligation and would find time to fulfil it without fail, offering one by one by name to the Lord all who asked for his prayers and spiritual offerings.
Even in his advanced age and illness, he believed he had much to offer and live for. He would resist being branded an old man or considered retired. He was eloquent in asserting that one is considered old after he attains 80 years of age and that such persons should not be called âoldâ but an âelderâ or âsenior citizenâ with the respect they deserve. He diligently maintained his personal journal, photo album and diary, wherein he jotted down useful information and historical data. He kept his table and bookshelf well-arranged. The Bible, the Prayer of the Church, the book of devotions, a rosary, the Provinceâs directory, a personal diary and a journal occupied pride of place and sacredness on his table. He truly has been a guiding and enlightening star to all who came across him. There is much to learn from this simple Capuchin brother, Joseph Jai Prakash Ji, dear to one and all. May God be glorified in his Saints.
Br. Dominic Thirunilath