KOTTAYAM: He is a priest as well as a magician who conducts Holy Mass in the church and mesmerises audiences at different places. Father Michael Ouseparampil, parish priest of Chettuthodu Fathima Matha Church, performs magic for charitable purposes. He was interested in magic while studying at St Joseph's seminary, Aluva, and learnt the basic lessons from magician Andrew master and illusions from magicians Sethu Madhavan of Nilambur and Abdulla Nilambur. He recollects that he was inspired by a priest who came to the St Michael's high school at Privithanam, when he was a fourth standard student there.
Father Michael, who has been a priest for the last 16 years, uses a portion of the income generated from the magic show conducted by his troupe, 'Vachana Vismayam,' for social purpose. The remaining amount he gives to the Pala communications under which his troupe comes and as remuneration for the members of his troupe. At least 24 members from the various parishes he worked are in the team. He got special permission for conducting the magic programmes from the diocese for charitable purposes. The magic shows lasting for about two hours are based on Bible stories. "The stories are taken from the Genesis to Revelation. However, my first concern is administering my duties as a priest. Magic shows will be performed only in limited numbers at night," he told DC.
He conducts some 35 shows in a year. Through magic, he is able to spread the word of the Lord in a different and unique way, he said. He began as an assistant vicar at the Rathnagiri church, Ettumanur, where he showed magic tricks to the Sunday school students for the first time. "The vicar of the church asked me to do it outside which was the beginning of my career as a magician," he added. Father Michael, who is the youngest of a family of nine siblings, took post- graduation in philosophy from UC College, Aluva.
