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Date of Birth: 10/12/1927 Father’s name: George B Felix Mother’s name: Harriet Felix Born in Jamshedpur Ordained: 5/12/1954 (A Salesian)
One of the pioneers of education in Nagaland has passed away. Fr. Joseph James Felix , who was simply known as Fr. Felix to his friends, left us for his eternal reward on 15.07.2017 at 10.pm. He was leading a retired life for the past two decades. Fr. Felix was born on 10th December 1927 at Jamshedpur as the eldest son of Late Mr and Mrs George and Harriet Felix. He had 12 siblings. Fr. Felix was ordained a priest on 05.12.1954. In 1957 he worked as a catholic priest and educator in Hundung of Tangkhul area of Manipur, and came to Kohima in 1962 and ministered in the Christ King parish till 1965. These were blessed years for Nagaland. Fr. Felix realized that the Good News of Jesus Christ will become more meaningful and effective for the people of Nagaland, if they are able to get quality and affordable education at their own locality. To achieve this goal, he established 7 English medium schools in different parts of Nagaland. Holy Cross School Dimapur, St. John School Tuensang, All saints School, Peren, and Don Bosco School, Khonoma have grown into centres of excellance. Three other schools were closed down due to opposition from certain ill informed church leaders of Zunheboto, Chumukedima and Porba. Fr Felix will always be remembered as a great visionary who saw the possibility of education to mould the future of a state. He realized in his life that the Good News becomes a liberating grace only when people are redeemed from their ignorance by good education. Contributed by Fr. Chacko Karinthayil