The Vicar Apostolic of Verapoly, Leonard Mellano of St. Louis, OCD, ordained him as priest on 30 May 1874 at the age of 23.

Mathew Makil's first assignment was to teach Syriac language for two years in the same seminary where he had studied.

Co-adjutor Bishop of Verapoly Marcelinus Berarthi OCD, who was his former seminary rector assigned him as his secretary in 1885.

[4] He continued his service until the establishment of the Vicariate of Kottayam with Charles Lavigne as the Vicar Apostolic.

Mathew Makil as the Latin professor at a seminary with school he established at Brhmamangalam for the Southists.

[6] According to the instruction from the Vatican through the Apostolic Delegate on 6 May 1889, Bishop Charles Lavigne appointed Fr.

Mathew Makil as Vicar General for the Southists on 8 September 1889, on the feast of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

He had some privileges including dressing like a bishop, right to offer Pontifical Mass, administer the Sacrament of Confirmation, and giving minor orders for seminarians.

Mathew offered his first Pontifical Mass at Kaduthuruthy church during the Three Day Fast observance in January 1890.

Mathew Makil received his appointment order as Vicar Apostolic of Changanacherry on 21 September 1896, on the feast day of his patron saint.

[13] The Knanaya Catholics were disappointed that their community at Chumkom (Thodupuzha), Karimkunnam, Diamper, Brahmamangalam and Varappetty[14] with three churches[15] were under the Vicariate of Ernakulam.

On the other hand, the Northists in the Vicariate of Changanacherry were not content with the pastoral governance of an eparch from the minority community.

When Mar Makil took charge In 1896 as the Vicar Apostolic of Changanacherry, the Northists were 100 to 109 thousand with 133 parishes and 256 priests.

The three bishops of the Syrian Vicariates Mathew Makil (Changanacherry), Louis Pazheparambil (Ernakulam), and John Menacheril (Trichur) signed the petition on 1 March 1911 requesting to appoint separate vicariates and bishops for Southist and Northists.

[22] On the way Mar Makil and team visited the Holy Land and famous cities in Italy including Naples, Pompeii, Geneva, and Turin.

On their return trip to Kerala, they visited Switzerland, Bavaria, Germany, Belgium, and France.

Alexander Choolaparambil visited Propaganda Fide on 5 May 1911 to clarify the petitions signed by the three Syrian bishops.

[26] This important decision of Vatican helped to resolve 15 year old desire of the Northists and Southists to have their own vicariate and bishop.

On his return from Rome, Mar Makil instead of going to Changanacherry, arrived at Edacat (Kottayam) on 7 October 1911.

Mar Makil read the bull from Pope Pius X reestablishing the Kottayam Vicariate for the Southists and appointing him as its head on 23 November 1911 at Edacat church.

Mar Makil lived in a small house in Kottayam town near present BCM College.

They include codifying church laws, promoting education, systematizing catechism, promulgating spiritual devotions, and establishing religious congregations.

Catechism: However along with secular education, Mar Makil insisted on the importance of religion classes.

He promulgated that through his circulars, decrees, and his own model of teaching students during his pastoral visits to the parishes for confirmation.

He also introduced catechism examination as a requirement for Catholic marriage to make sure that those who enter into married life know the prayers and the basic teachings of the church.

His burial was done at Edacat church on the next day, 27 January 1914[41] in the presence of many priests and lay people.

Wladyslaw Michael Zaleski, and Divan of Travancore Sir P. Rajagopala Achariyar send condolence messages.