The funeral mass was presided by His Grace Most. Rev. Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh of the Shillong Arcdiocese in the presence of Fr Richard Majaw the VG of the Archdiocese, Father Paul O Lyngkot and Father Januarius Sangma the Salesian provincials of Shillong and Guwahati respectively. Sr Mabel Dhar Mother General of the VSDB Sisters, FMA Sisters, MSMHC sisters, Salesian coadjutors and other Salesian Family members were also present in large number to participate in the serive. The funeral service was also solemnized with the participation of more than 50 priests including former provincials, vice provincials and economers who had worked with the deceased in the past years.
Born to Scaria Vazhamplackal and Anna Thuruthippallil on 09.07.1935 in Kanjirapalli Mundaka Yam – Kerala, Br Vazhamplackal Mathew sdb or loving known as Br VS Mathew entered Salesian aspirantate at Bandel in 1953 and few years later came to Don Bosco Technical School Shillong. In 1958 he made his first Profession after one year of Novitiate at Sunny Side Upper Shillong. He returned to Don Bosco Technical School for his Practical Training from 1958 to 1963 as Administrator. He was sent to Colle Don Bosco to specialize in Printing Press and related technology; he completed the course on ‘Rotten Press Printing’ in 1965. While in Colle Don Bosco he made his perpetual Profession in 1964. In later year of 1993, he went for updating course to Manila Philippines on Project Planning.
Brother VS is much loved by all because of his simplicity yet firm in his religious life. On his funeral oration, the Provincial listed out so many good qualities. So too, the Provincial of Guwahati thanked the deceased for the numerous contributions he had made to the Province. Father George Maliekal, INS former provincial gave the homily and narrated the missionary zeal of the later Brother Vs. Coadjutor Brother MA Abraham sdb, the nephew of Brother VS Mathew who represented the family members was present.
The late Brother VS Mathew was Provincial Economer of Guwahati Province from 1990 to 1999. He was member of the Provincial Council twice from 1990-1999 and from 2002 to 2005. He was administrator to various institutions (DBTS 1987-1990, DB Lawngtlai 1999-2003, DB Silchar 2003-2004, Bosco Mount Tura 2004-2006, Mathias Institute 2006, St. Xavier Pathaliaghat 2006-2011, Mathias Institute 2013-2016. He was also in-charge of DB Thenzawl from 2011-2013. In 2016-2017, he was sent as teacher to the Prenovitiate at Bosco Home Herma. He came back to the Provincial House as community member from 2017 to 2019. He was community member of the aspirantate at Don Bosco Nonglakhiat from 2019 to 2023. He was transferred to Don Bosco Technical School as community member from 2022 to 2023. Due to his sickness and to have better follow up on his health, on 7th May 2023, he returned to the Provincial House, before completing one month of his treatment in the Provincial House on the 1st of June he was taken to Nazareth Hospital and on the early morning at 6:30am of the 3rd of June 2023, he breathed his last at the Nazareth Hospital.
