Mar Jacob Angadiath, Bishop of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, was born on October 26, 1945 at Periappuram in Elanji Panchayat of Ernakulam District, in the State of Kerala, India. His parents were Ulahannan and Mariam Angadiath.
His home parish is St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Periappuram, in the diocese of Palai. He has two brothers, A. Andrews Angadiath and A.U. Joseph Angadiath who are at Periappuram and one sister, Mrs. Aleykutty Augusthy Champamalayil at Matholapuram. His father died in 1948 and thereafter his mother and immediate family raised him.
St. Antony’s L.P. School, Kalluvettamada, Mulakulam was his first school were he received formal education for two years. Then he was transferred to Namakuzhy Government High School where he completed his high School in 1962. He was very active in literary practices of the school and catechism and Mission League activities of his parish.
He joined the Good Shepherd Minor Seminary, Palai to study for priesthood. He attended St. Thomas College, Palai, for Pre-university course and completed his Minor Seminary Program and joined the St. Thomas the Apostolic Seminary Vadavathoor. Kottayam, for his Philosophy and Theology courses in 1965. He had his Major Seminary formation under Very Rev. Msgr. Kurian Vanchipurackal, the First Rector and then under His Excellency Mar Joseph Pallikaparampil, the Second Rector. His spiritual director was very Rev. Msgr. Mathew Mankuzhikary, the well-known Spiritual guide.