St. Mary’s Parishioner Named a Papal Knight

On the morning of August 8, Joseph “Jos” Puthenveetil was following his usual routine to get ready for daily Mass at the Church of St. Mary in Lake Forest, Illinois, when he heard his phone ringing. It was a video call from Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil of the Archdiocese of Verapoly, Kerala, India, who couldn’t wait to tell the Kerala native that he’d been named a Chevalier—or Knight—by the Holy See for his distinguished service to the Catholic Church and its community.

“Here I was in a t-shirt, and the Archbishop invites me to sit down so he can read the Official Proclamation from Rome,” explains Puthenveetil, who was born in Kerala in 1947 and moved to Chicago in 1972. “Then he turns the camera to reveal a large group of parish council members, priests, nuns, monsignors, and friends who were all cheering. It was a special and humbling moment.” 

A Chevalier is a title of Knighthood associated with the Order of St. Sylvester, which was established in 1841 by Pope Gregory XVI and reorganized by Pope St. Pius X in 1905 to recognize Catholics and others for exemplary service to the Church and society at large. The honor is rare, and even more so in Puthenveetil’s case because his nomination originated in the Archdiocese of Verapoly and was supported by the Archdiocese of Chicago. The rigorous process takes about one year and, after review by the Apostolic Nuncio in the originating country and the Secretariat of State in Rome, is approved by the Pope, in this case, Pope Leo XIV. 

“When Jos told me about this honor, I was so happy for him, our parish, and the Church,” says Fr. Theodore Munz, SJ, pastor of St. Mary’s. “We are thrilled to host the formal Mass and Investiture service on November 28, and we hope people of all ages from our community will come out to celebrate both Jos’s extraordinary witness and the spirit of faith-filled service that is so vibrant here at St. Mary’s.”

In a personal letter to Jos from Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, that will be read at the Investiture Mass, he writes, “It is a pleasure to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on receiving this distinguished papal honor. This recognition is a fitting tribute to your service and commitment to the Church. I join your family, friends, and the parish community in celebrating this special occasion and pray that God will continue to bless you in the years ahead.”

$7 and a Prayer

Jos’s journey from humble beginnings in India to a Knight of the Church was anything but linear. “The true constants in my life have always been faith and service,” says Puthenveetil. “My parents, Dr. Peter and Angela, were deeply Catholic and I grew up with the dream of becoming like my father, who was a town doctor and a truly generous man. My parents relentlessly focused on reading and education. This was part of my success too and now I am passing this to our children and grandchildren.”

After graduating from the University of Kerala in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, Jos was unable to gain admittance to medical school for reasons outside his control, so he researched his options and prayed. His prayers were answered when he was admitted to a community college in Chicago, Illinois. 

On April 24, 1972, Jos arrived in New York with $7 and a piece of paper with the name of a contact who was to meet him and help him get settled. The man never showed, so Jos used the little money he had to take a Greyhound bus to Chicago to meet another contact he had. 

While he was attending the school, he worked nights as a janitor at a social club for $3 an hour and as a part-time security guard so that he could take classes during the day. 

“Back then, I was fueled by my faith and the childhood memory of an elderly man who saw potential in me and used to tell me that ‘impossible’ is only a word in the dictionary,” explains Jos. 

In 1973 Jos married Tresa Malieckal, who is also from Kerala. “We were walking into the unknown without any directions,” he says. “But we had each other. We had to find our own way, and we did.”

He got a job as a laboratory technologist at a medical laboratory in Chicago and quickly excelled, working his way up over the next several years and eventually forming partnerships in two different laboratory businesses.

In 1982 he co-founded Medical World Laboratory, Inc. His big break came two years later, with one of the first independent laboratories in the country doing workplace and law-enforcement drug screening. He had the right timing but needed revenue, so he joined forces with a skilled salesman and offered him a share of the company instead of a high salary. Together, they grew the firm into a national operation that included a branch in Dallas. 

Through his network of business owners and medical offices, he was able to start several prescription pharmacies in different parts of the city, in partnership with pharmacists.

Blessings Are Meant to Be Shared

Throughout their 53 years of marriage, Jos and Tresa have valued faith, family, community, and education. “My parents taught me that being a good Christian means doing whatever you can for others,” explains Jos. “Blessings are meant to be shared.” 

Even in the leanest of times, the Puthenveetils showed their three children—Peter, Marietta, and Joseph—the importance of community and giving back.

In 1984, in the basement of their home, the Puthenveetils and a group of Kerala Latin Catholics in the area founded the Kerala Latin Catholic League to gather others like them who now called Chicago home. It grew into a monthly gathering at Old St. Patrick's Church in the West Loop — a natural home, since priests visiting from India had long stayed there and many of St. Pat's associate pastors were Indian. Today, the group gathers monthly for Mass and community at Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Elmhurst.

To help those in need back home, Jos also delivered mission appeals at parishes throughout Chicago and as far as St. Louis. “One of the parishes we were asked to present at was entirely Spanish speaking,” recalls Jos. “So, our youngest son, Joseph who had taken Spanish when he was at Georgetown, offered to handle the appeal. The parishioners were so delighted to see a young Indian man speaking in Spanish to raise money for worthy causes.”

To expand their charitable reach, Jos co-founded the Care and Share Foundation and Care and Share International. Together, these organizations have helped regions throughout India, especially those hit by earthquakes and floods, to rebuild and to have access to food and medical supplies. Jos also serves as secretary of Mission India International to raise funds that support efforts led by the Archbishop of Verapoly to build homes for those in dire need. 

 Jos and Tresa also have worked diligently to address large and complex issues ranging from public health such as HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention to leading independent delegations to broker peace between India and Pakistan.  

In 2003, Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Jos to the board of the Chicago–Delhi Sister City Committee. Jos was honored to accompany Mayor Daley and Fr. Jack Wall, the longtime pastor of Old St. Patrick's, to India during the inauguration of the Chicago-Delhi Sister City and then to take them nearly 700 miles south to Kerala, where their host was the late Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil. “It was a very special trip for all of us, and for the people of Kerala,” he says.

Paying it Forward

In addition to these powerful examples of local and international service that formed the case for Jos to be named a Chevalier of the Church, he and Tresa continue to help others in a wide variety of ways. They have also passed along the gifts of faith, education, and service to their three children and their six grandchildren. 

In a presentation for one of his classes at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, Jos’s grandson reflected on the lesson he has learned: “My grandfather’s story is a testament to the power of hard work and determination. His honesty built trust, his perseverance helped him push through obstacles, and his focus ensured he stayed on course. He has taught me that education is truly something that no one can take away from you, and it’s something that is truly a gift that will lead you to success.”

“Jos is a great example to his grandchildren and young people everywhere about the importance of faith and helping others,” says Fr. Munz. “He comes to daily Mass and supports the parish in many quiet ways, and I’m glad we’re all getting a chance to know more about him and his impact. I know there are many others like Jos at our parish, and I look forward to many more celebrations and opportunities to tell our story, especially to inspire young people.”

From T-Shirt to Knight’s Uniform

On November 28, the Church of St. Mary will host the Investiture Mass for Jos, who will wear the Uniform of a Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Pope St. Sylvester. A far cry from the t-shirt he was wearing when he got the video call informing him of the Papal Honor, his formal Attire carries even deeper meaning for Jos because it was hand-crafted in Kochi.

Because the honor originated in Kerala rather than Chicago, it would be customary for the Investiture Ceremony to be held at the Basilica of Our Lady of Vallarpadam in Kochi. But Jos asked that the ceremony be held at St. Mary’s, which has been the Puthenveetils’ home parish since they moved from Oak Brook to Lake Forest in 2021 to be closer to their family. 

Archbishop Kalathiparambil is unable to make the trip, so he offered to ship the Knight’s Cross and official Vatican Certificate. But Jos had a better idea— “Tresa and I will come to you,” he said. “I want to receive these items from your hand.” In early September, Jos and Tresa flew to Kerala to celebrate with the local community. At a special ceremony at the basilica, he knelt before the Archbishop, received his blessing along with the Cross and Certificate, and thanked him for letting the official ceremony be held in Chicago.

For the November 28 ceremony at St. Mary’s, Archbishop Varghese Chakkalakal of Calicut will travel from India to celebrate the Ancient Rite. Fr. Theodore Munz, SJ, pastor of St. Mary’s, will concelebrate along with Fr. Andre Beltran, associate pastor.

At Tresa’s suggestion, the entrance hymn will be sung in Malayalam language by family members.

The Investiture of Jos Puthenveetil as a Papal Chevalier will take place at the Church of St. Mary in Lake Forest on Saturday, November 28, at 11 a.m. All are welcome.