Father Xavier Vadakkekara, former editor of India’s leading church weekly, “Indian Currents,” dies at 72

Indian Capuchin Xavier Vadakkekara, a multifaceted priest, dedicated pastor, journalist, and editor, died on March 16, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of countless individuals. He was 72.

The death happened at 11:35 pm at Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi. He was undergoing treatment for acute respiratory insufficiency.

The funeral services will take place at 3:30 pm on March 18 at Khrist Raja Church in Dasna, Masuri, in Uttar Pradesh. Thereafter, his body will be handed over to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, as per his will.

In his long span of life as a media personality, he injected new life into India’s leading church weekly, “Indian Currents,” and mentored many young journalists, despite his partial blindness in later years.

Fr. Xavier was born on January 25, 1952, in Neeloor, near Thodupuzha in the southern Indian state of Kerala, and his family later migrated to Vadakkancherry in Palakkad.

He had nine siblings, only two of whom became householders; the rest chose a life of priesthood or religious service. Few families would have contributed as much human capital to the Church as his. Each of them demonstrated excellence in their respective roles.

Fr. Xavier pursued his priestly training in various parts of Kerala. He was ordained a priest on April 19, 1980, and began his ministry with zeal and dedication. After his ordination, he worked with Assisi magazine (Malayalam), a publication promoting Christian values and Catholic teachings.

In pursuit of higher education, Fr. Xavier traveled to the Philippines, where he earned his doctoral degree. He later returned to India and worked as a professor of communication at Vijnananilayam, Janampet, in Andhra Pradesh. His expertise in communication and journalism inspired a new generation of students.

In 1993, Fr. Xavier moved to North India, where he established Media House, a publishing house that aimed to promote education and communal harmony. He was also instrumental in setting up Shramik Vidya Peeth, later known as Jan Shikshan Sansthan, an institution for adult and skilled education. This facility was the first Shramik Vidya Peeth granted to the Catholic Church by the Government of India.

Fr. Xavier's vision for education and social empowerment led him to establish MITT (Media Institute of Training and Technology) at Surya Nagar in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, primarily for computer education, in the 1990s.

He also played a key role in establishing the Assisi Institute of Training and Technology in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, which offered master's programs in communication and journalism, affiliated with Hisar University, Haryana.

Fr. Xavier's commitment to social welfare was evident in his initiatives, such as CHILD (Children's Help in Life Development), a project aimed at educating street and slum children in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, in collaboration with Caritas India, the social service wing of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCP).

In 1998, Fr. Xavier took over Indian Currents weekly from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) with the support of the Capuchin Mission of Krist Jyoti, led by Fr. Dominic Thirunilath.

The CBCI was planning to close the weekly due to financial struggles, but Fr. Xavier and his team breathed new life into the publication. He served as the editor of Indian Currents weekly from 1998 to 2006.

Under Fr. Xavier's guidance, Jyoti Press, a printing unit, was established in Noida in 2002. His leadership and vision helped to promote social awareness, education, and empowerment through various initiatives.

Fr. Xavier Vadakkekara was pivotal in establishing the Surya Nagar parish in Ghaziabad.

When he was appointed to serve in Surya Nagar in mid-1995, he catered to the Catholics of the border area of Uttar Pradesh—Delhi, later establishing a Mass center, which eventually paved the way for the parish's establishment.

It demonstrates Fr. Xavier's dedication to spreading faith and serving the community.

In his final days, Xavier was in Kerala, where he spent time with his brother, Fr. Benedict Vadakkekara, at a Capuchin ashram in Kattappana. He returned to Delhi in February but fell ill by the end of the month. Fr. Xavier passed away on March 16, 2025, following a three-week battle in Holy Family Hospital, Delhi.

Xavier’s legacy will be remembered for his tireless efforts to promote objective journalism, education, social justice, and human rights. His vision, leadership, and dedication continue to inspire countless individuals, and his memory will be cherished by all who knew him.

Several people, journalists, and others have mourned the death of Father Xavier.

Bishop Henry D’Souza of Bellary, chairman of the Office of Social Communication under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, grieved Fr Xavier’s death.

“He was a keen intellect and a committed media person. He was people-friendly and compassionate. In his death, the church in India has lost an excellent media person with Christian values, D’Souza said.

Capuchin Father Suresh Mathew, Xavier’s successor as editor of Indian Currents, lauded Xavier as “a trailblazing Capuchin priest, journalist, and media leader who left an indelible mark on the Catholic media landscape in India.”

Fr Xavier’s “visionary leadership, intellectual curiosity, and passion for social justice inspired a generation of Catholic journalists, writers, and thinkers, according to Mathew.

John Dayal, a stalwart journalist and human rights activist, said, “Will regret forever that I could not see Fr. Xavier in his last days. As the years pass, it becomes increasingly challenging to visit close friends and relatives who are engaged in life-threatening struggles.

Dayal worked closely with Father Xavier on the Capuchins’ Indian Currents and other publishing and printing projects over the last two decades and more.

A.J. Philip, another senior journalist, hailed Father Xavier as “a close friend who persuaded me to start a weekly column in the Indian Currents over three decades ago.”

Fr Xavier was “a scholar, activist, and true man of faith; he touched countless lives across religions and professions. His perseverance, even in adversity, remains an inspiration,” added Philip.

Anto Akkara, a journalist and author, said that he had numerous encounters with Fr. Xavier, who strived hard to make Indian Currents magazine a voice of the voiceless.