M. T. Joseph - Marriage

Marriage

Pennamma was the daughter of Mammen Mammen of Manakkalayil (Pulikkakuzhiyil branch of the Ezhumali Kudumbam) Kumbanad and Mariamma (D/o Pullad Pazhampallil Padijattunkara Chacko) Mammen was a social worker. He was one of the members of the delegation that met the Diwan of Travancore to get permission for the establishment of the Salem Mar Thoma Church and cemetery in Kumbanad. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mammen were God fearing and dedicated Christians. The training and discipline that Pennamma received from her devoted parents in childhood laid a firm foundation for her future Missionary Work.

Pennamma did her primary education at a local school in Kumbanad, after which she attended St. John’s School, Eraviperoor, S.V. School, Pullad and Malayalam School, Vennikulam. She did a teacher’s training course at Peringara School near Tiruvalla. After that, she taught in many schools including Arrangatu School, Pullad, Perumbara School near Charal Mount; Kanjeettukara and Nedumbrayar. She was very active in her home parish activities. She had the privilege to be trained by the CMS Missionary, Miss Kellaway of Vanitha Mandiram. Miss Kellaway was from Australia and served the Vanitha Madiram for nearly twenty years till 1946. Pennamma was greatly influenced through the life and testimony of Miss Kellaway.

She got an earnest desire to do missionary work in Karnataka. Her parents were very happy with her desire for mission work, but they did not agree to send her unmarried to an unknown land as it was not the custom among Saint Thomas Christians. Her desire was fulfilled after her marriage to M.T. Joseph, who had the call to go to Karnataka during the Maramon Convention of 1947. Obedience to the heavenly call, made it easy for her to resign from her teacher’s job, with a permanent income, and go toward an uncertain future.