Bishop Jos Tharakan, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho, Boise, Idaho was born and brought up in a traditional and devout Roman Catholic Eastern Rite home in Kerala, India. His parents and four siblings grew up in a poor but religiously diverse and rich place, among Hindus and Muslims. After completing High School, at the age of 15, he joined the Religious Order of Friars Minor Capuchins, First Order Franciscans. He was ordained on December 30th in 1994, and served in the North Indian Missions of the Capuchins. While in Delhi, he served as priest and chaplain to the Missionaries of Charity of St. Mother Theresa and was blessed to know and work with her. Besides being the Assistant Director of the Media House Publication Center, he was an itinerant preacher, music composer, Spiritual Director, Theology Professor, and interim High School Principal for St. Paul’s and Holy Angels in Uttar Pradesh, India.
At the invitation of Bishop Andrew J McDonald, Bp. Jos came to the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, and he served as associate priest at the Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith and St. Leo’s in Hartford, AR. Receiving a ‘call within a call’ he came out of the Roman church on the day of Pentecost in 2001 and moved into a small town of 98 people in Chester, AR. There he lived a simple life and worked on a cattle farm, caring for 900 cows. After completing eight units of Clinical Pastoral Education in San Antonio and Pine Bluff from 2001 to 2003, he returned to Chester. He started a successful business – USLinx – providing internet access to poor and rural communities. In 2004, Jos was accepted into the Episcopal Church and eventually served at Christ Church, a small Episcopal mission in Mena, and All Saints Episcopal Church in Russellville, AR.
During these years, he presented popular teleconferences on Pastoral Care and Complementary Healing through the University of Texas and taught the same in hospitals and the CASA in Scottsdale, AZ. In 2004 he received a certificate of recognition for his innovative Healing Ministry presentation for Chaplains at the International Conference of the National Association of the Catholic Chaplains in Kansas City, MO. His workshops were also approved for continuing education credits for chaplains and healthcare workers. His CAMPaM Network was officially approved through the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education. In 2015, five years before the projected date, he achieved his CREDO BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) when he founded the House Of Blessings Foundation, a non-profit renewal center for clergy and laity to grow spiritually. Being technology-savvy, Jos designed several websites and church apps. Jos is also a nationally commissioned Centering Prayer Facilitator through Contemplative Outreach and a member of Spiritual Directors International.
In 2001, Jos was elected the 14th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho. He was consecrated on June 25th, 2002, at the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise. As the bishop of the diocese, he serves 27 congregations and a camp. You can read more about his ministry and work in the diocese on the Diocesan Website.
Bp. Jos is married to Kimby, a preschool teacher and a children’s minister. Combined, they have six children and four grandchildren. They also have a dog named Mia and Bunny FuFu, a cat.
Bishop Jos is a published author. His books can be found on Amazon. He enjoys writing music and producing them. They are on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and other music distribution sites. His music and compositions are widely available on all streaming platforms.
His motto in ministry is “Passionate personal Love for Jesus and His people.”