An Indian Jesuit priest, an ardent promoter of alternative medicine, died on February 3, at Dindigul Beschi Illam, Tamil Nadu, south India. He was 77.
Father M. Joseph John Britto from Madurai Jesuit Province learned acupuncture from Chinese doctors in Malaysia.
He held a Diploma in Siddha Medicine from Madurai (Tamil Nadu) and Diplomas in Naturopathy-Homeopathy for Medicina Alteraniva, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) of West Bengal.
Father Joseph worked in the healing ministry in Jesuit-run De Nobili seminary at Pune, Maharashtra, from 1977 to 1979.
His mission was to make people aware of the efficacy of Naturopathy and Homeopathy. To this end, he ran several courses in Bombay, India’s financial center, and its suburbs.
The priest also worked in Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Goa as well in Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Chicago and California (USA), and Toronto (Canada).
From 2019 to 2022, he continued his healing ministry in Beschi Illam, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.
The three “Turn to Nature” series of books that he authored are “collectibles,” with Volume 1 focusing on the digestive system, volume 2 on emergencies, first aid, and homeopathy, and volume 3 being a compilation of his lectures on naturopathy.
“Compassion for the sick and their care is what really set him apart from the rest. He would go to any length to alleviate their pain and suffering. He maintained a perfect balance between his priestly duties and service to the people. Inspired by him, a number of his students started health care centers in various parishes,” Clara Correia, one of the admirers of Father Joseph.
The Thane Centre in Maharashtra, western India, was his first success, where 12 women came together to begin a health care center for the poor and the marginalized. He lovingly called them his 12 disciples, she added.
Father Joseph was born on March 11, 1944. He entered the Society of Jesus in May 1963. In 1977, he was ordained for the Jesuit Madurai Mission.
He served in the medical field for more than 42 years in different places with various people.
He was inspired by his mother, Theresammal Manuel Pillai, who took up the work of natural healing, which she practiced by herself.
Besides his formation studies like philosophy and theology, he spent a lot of time by himself to improve his knowledge of indigenous medicines and home remedies and practice the art of therapeutic massage, which he learned from his mother.
From 1979 to 1980, Father Joseph served as a teacher and conducted retreats for priests and nuns in Jesuit-run Beschi Illa, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.
He continued his healing ministry at the Holy Family Hospital in Patna, Bihar, North India, from 1980 to 1987.
He also served at Holy Family Hospital in Delhi from 1987 to 1989.
From 1989 to 1995, he served in St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, Loyola Technical Institute at Madurai, and Satyodayam at Hyderabad.
He also trained dozens of lay people in alternate medicine and lifestyle and wrote several books on this medical field, said Jesuit Father George, Loyola Technical Institute, Madurai.
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