rev. Fr. Xavier Khan Vattayil
Fr. Xavier Khan Vattayil (Vattayilachan), born in the Pulapatta Parish of the Palakkad Diocese, is the sixth child among the seven children of Varghese and Tresya. From his youthhood, he did not find any happiness in worldly achievements, powers, or positions. Rather, he desired to renounce the world to possess God. The Holy Spirit gave him the grace and enthusiasm to take on struggles and sufferings to gain souls. During his seminary formation time, Fr. Vattayil, who had a heart burning with the love of God and a personality full of zeal, took the Bible, the biographies of the saints, and other spiritual publications to different parishes and carried them door-to-door and tried to bring the souls back to Jesus. Fr. Vattayil’s effort to live with his eyes fixed on the Crucifix was evident from his seminary days itself.
Realizing his inner call for penance and atonement along with the salvation of souls, during his philosophy studies, he used to go to the forest with some of the brothers to pray. He shared his inner call with the the authorities of the major seminary and His Excellency Bishop Mar Joseph Irimpan who was the Bishop of the diocese during his studies in theology. When Mar Irimpan heard of this, he replied, “All these will be fulfilled when you do your priestly ministry”. Fr. Vattayil, who saw the voice of the authorities as God’s will, accepted it and surrendered to the will of God.
He was ordained priest in the Diocese of Palakkad on 28 April 1994.
When he started Sehion Retreat Center on 28 April 1998, as its first director, he again realized that his inner call was to ignite the entire world with the fire of the Holy Spirit.
In 2009, when Sehion began the Retreat for Priests, Fr. Vattayil desired to give up everything he had and come down for the salvation of souls and world evangelization, and to start priestly consecrated communities. He expressed his desire to His Excellency Bishop Mar Jacob Manathodath, the Bishop of Palghat. He was ordained priest in the Diocese of Palakkad on 28 April 1994.
When he started Sehion Retreat Center on 28 April 1998, as its first director, he again realized that his inner call was to ignite the entire world with the fire of the Holy Spirit.
In 2009, when Sehion began the Retreat for Priests, Fr. Vattayil desired to give up everything he had and come down for the salvation of souls and world evangelization, and to start priestly consecrated communities. He expressed his desire to His Excellency Bishop Mar Jacob Manathodath, the Bishop of Palghat.