Rev.Fr.Augustine John Ukken was a Syrian Catholic priest from the Indian state of Kerala in Trissur and the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity (CSC).
Rev.Fr.Augustine John Ukken was born in Parappur in Thrissur district on 19 December 1880 as the second son of PunnaparambilUkkenAnthappan and ChalakalAnnamma. He was ordained Priest on 21 December 1907 by Dr. Clements Pagany, the Canty Bishop.
He worked as the Assistant Manager of the St.Thomas College, Thrissur from 1908 – 1909 and later became the Manager of the St.ThomasCollege, Thrissur from 1921 – 1925. He was the rector of minor Seminary, Thrissur from 1910 – 1917 and the secretary to Mar John Menachery, Archbishop of Thrissur from 1913 – 1917. He also worked as Parish Priest in various parishes.
On 21 November 1944, he Started Congregation of the Sisters of Charity (CSC) with the approval of Mar. George Alapatt, Metropolitan Archbishop of Thrissur, This Congregation is having near about 1000 Religious Sisters who extend their service full of compassionate love in Indian and abroad. From childhood itself Fr.John had an extraordinary vitality and mentality to help and uplift an unquenched thirst to serve the poorly stricken people. He advised, “There should not be anyone around us who are unknown to us”. He inspired the sisters to indulge in their service even in the bitter cold and blistering heat around the globe.
His canonization process was started on 30 November 2007 Metropolitan Archbishop of Thrissur Mar Andrews Thazhath declared him as Servant of God on 24 August 2008 and venerable on 26th December 2018 at St.Thomas Church Chowannur, Thrissur.
