Get the Spark, Be the Light
Fr. Sabu Thomas helps teachers, parents and young people live wisely in a digital age, through talks, retreats, eighteen books and hands-on AI training.
Assistant Professor of English, Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Kochi · Archdiocese of Thalassery
Meet Fr. Sabu
Fr. Sabu Thomas, also known as Fr. Joseph Kumbuckal and to many simply as Sabu Achan, is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Thalassery. Since 2013 he has taught English at Sacred Heart College, Thevara, where he also leads the National Service Scheme.
His classroom has kept growing. He has trained about one lakh teachers to use AI tools well, started a campus movement for healthier phone habits, written eighteen books and preached retreats in some ninety parishes.
He also serves as secretary of the AKM Charitable Trust in Kalamassery, which has funded about 5,000 free dialysis sessions, and started Thanal Maram, a weekly gathering at the college for the city’s poor and homeless.
- Born
- Peravoor, Kannur, Kerala, 1975
- Ordained
- 1 January 2002, Archdiocese of Thalassery
- Studied
- MA English Literature, Loyola College, Chennai · MPhil, Madras Christian College · UGC NET
- Teaches
- Department of English, Sacred Heart College, Thevara, since October 2013
- Research
- PhD scholar, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam
- Leads
- NSS at SH College · IGNITE Life Skill Academy · Digital Wellness Revolution
Sessions shaped for the people in the room
AI tools for teaching, learning and research
Hands-on workshops that start from what a teacher needs on Monday morning, not from the technology.
- Basic, advanced and research-AI tracks
- Half-day or one-day, on campus or online
- Faculty development for colleges, schools and dioceses
335+ workshops since May 2023, at Loyola, St. Xavier’s, Sophia, MCC and many more.
Plan a workshop
Raising children in a digital age
Seminars for parents at schools and parishes on screen time, sleep, reading and talking together at home.
- Digital Wellness for families
- The art of parenting the new generation
- Two-to-three-hour sessions, in Malayalam or English
More than 100 seminars for parents since 2015.
Plan a parents’ seminar
Motivation and life skills for students
Orientation days, career guidance and life-skill training through the IGNITE Life Skill Academy at SH College.
- First-day orientation for college freshers
- ALIVE: 26 programmes for 10,000+ Plus Two students (2024–25)
- Digital Wellness Ambassadors on campus
100+ programmes at colleges and 75+ one-day seminars at schools.
Plan a student session
AI and digital wellness for pastoral life
Sessions for bishops, priests, seminarians and religious on using generative AI wisely in ministry, and on healthier digital habits.
- CCBI bishops and the Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops
- Continuing formation for diocesan clergy
- Annual retreats for priests and religious
Most recently at the National Symposium 2026 in Mumbai.
Plan a session
Digital Wellness
സ്മാർട്ട് ഫോൺ യുഗത്തിൽ പുതുതലമുറയ്ക്കൊരു ഗൈഡ്
A book and a campus movement that help young people use their phones without losing their days. Published on 31 January 2026, the book reached 20 editions and 20,000 copies in five months.
Less than three hours of non-academic screen time a day
Phone away half an hour before sleep
No phones in corridors; greet people with a smile
Read one extra book every month
A short digital fast during the college day
No phone while eating
Screen Off, Life On
Screen-free outings and department-wise digital fasts
The Digital Wellness Revolution at Sacred Heart College was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Kerala on 17 July 2026.
About one lakh teachers, one workshop at a time
Since May 2023 Fr. Sabu has run 335+ hands-on workshops on AI tools, in person across India and in Doha, Melbourne and Adelaide, and online for teachers from the UK to East Africa.
First workshop: “Artificial Intelligence as a powerful tool for teachers”
25,000+ teachers in 155 workshops; Teacher Empowerment Award from the CCBI
Honoured by Loyola College, Chennai, for completing 200 workshops
AI tools for healthcare professionals, IHM Australia, Melbourne
Class on AI tools for the Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church
335+ workshops and about one lakh teachers trained
Advanced AI Tools for Educators and Researchers, Volumes 1 and 2, written with Dr. V. Pushpa Rani of Loyola College, Chennai.
335 lights, one for every workshop
Each light is an AI workshop since May 2023, in the order they happened. The bright ones have details in the published log; hover or tap one to see where it was.
Eighteen books, written for ordinary days
Spiritual reflections, life stories, a record-selling biography and guides for the digital age, in Malayalam and English.
Scroll or drag sideways to see all eighteen.
The Nightingale of the Holy Eucharist
Ajna George was a Sacred Heart College student and Jesus Youth member who met a long illness with joy and a deep love for the Eucharist. Fr. Sabu told her story with Jith George in ദിവ്യകാരുണ്യത്തിന്റെ വാനമ്പാടി, and in its English edition.
In October 2026 Pope Leo XIV spoke of Ajna George and her Eucharistic faith.
Short talks to watch, longer days to share
He shares Malayalam talks on his YouTube channel, SabX Talks, and preaches annual retreats in parishes, seminaries and religious houses.
Retreats & gatherings
since 2014- Annual parish retreats, 4–5 days
90+ given, from Ettupara and Cherupuzha to Borivali in Mumbai and Hulimavu in Bangalore.
79 parishes named in the record
- Ettupara
- Randamkadavu
- Manjora
- Vazhappilly
- Changamkary
- Pulikkurumba
- Kalichanadukkam
- Kottody
- Madathil
- Manippara
- Edappuzha
- Palathumkadavu
- Modayaranji
- Velimanam
- Edathotty
- Vattyara
- Vaniyappara
- Keezhpally
- Chandanakkampara
- Panathoor
- Vilamana
- Nirmalagiri
- Adampara
- Ulikkal
- Nellikkampoyil
- Anara
- Mattara
- Chempilavu
- Balussery
- Thamarassery
- Charal
- Devagiri, Belthangady
- Velloonny
- Kelakam
- Kalyan Cathedral
- Neeleswaram
- Naduvil
- Kunnoth
- Mattannur
- Cherupuzha
- Vilakkannoor
- Karthikapuram
- Thaliparamba
- Karyappally
- Pariyaram
- Kottoorvayal
- Sreekrishnapuram
- Kanichar
- Kalewadi, Pune
- Borivali, Mumbai
- Mathikere, Bangalore
- Kathikkudam
- Keezhoor
- Lourdes Forane, Kottayam
- Konthuruthy
- Kandanad
- Mambra
- Christ the King, Ettumanoor
- St. Mary’s, Koratty
- Social Church, Kalamassery
- Thirumudikkunnu
- Kumbalam Kappela
- Edakkochi
- Thevakkal
- Kumbalam
- Hulimavu, Bangalore
- Malankara Church, Thiruvalla
- Kochara
- Nettoor
- South Paravur
- Elamkulam
- Thirumeni
- Ezhupunna
- St. Antony’s Kappela, Nettoor
- Pushpagiri, Thellakam
- Chanjodi
- Josgiri, Kannur
- Alakode
- Athirampuzha
- Seminaries
Five-day retreats at the Mananthavady and Trivandrum minor seminaries; six days at Kunnoth Major Seminary.
- Mananthavady Minor Seminary · 5 days
- Trivandrum Minor Seminary · 5 days
- Irikkoor Seminary (CST) · 4 days
- Kunnoth Major Seminary · 6 days, November 2020
- Priests
The annual retreat for priests of Faridabad diocese, and a monthly retreat for priests of Kalyan diocese.
- Faridabad diocese · annual retreat for priests
- Kalyan diocese · monthly retreat, May 2020
- Archdiocese of Thalassery · seminar for priests on AI
- Religious sisters
Renewal programs and retreats for SABS, CMC and FCC sisters.
- SABS Generalate, Aluva · two-day retreat for junior sisters, December 2018
- CMC sisters, Thamarassery · two-day retreat, August 2021
- CMC superiors, Trichur · three-day program
- SABS sisters, Kanjirappally · three-day renewal
- FCC sisters, Kannur · renewal program
- Youth and conventions
700 young people at the KCYM meet in Alakode; Easter and Christmas conventions at Asirbhavan.
- KCYM Thalassery, Alakode · 700 young people
- Edakkochi · three-day youth retreat, 2019
- Vimal Jyothi Engineering College, Chemperi · two-day retreat, September 2018
- Asirbhavan · Easter and Christmas conventions
- Gagultha Retreat Centre · one-day convention
- Malappuram · youth training, 120 young people
- Catechists and families
1,500 catechism teachers of Palakkad diocese in a single day, and family unit leaders in Maradu.
- Palakkad diocese · 1,500 catechism teachers, October 2017
- Mullankolly Forane, Wayanad · 220 catechism teachers, November 2023
- St. Gianna Church, Maradu · family unit leaders, June 2018
Awards and honours
Teacher Empowerment Award
Education Apostolate, Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, for training 25,000+ teachers in AI tools
Honoured by Loyola College
Loyola College, Chennai, for completing 200 workshops on AI tools for teachers
Vocational Excellence Award
Rotary Club, for contributions to education, training and outreach
Student Services Award
Sacred Heart College, Thevara, for outstanding service to students
Invite Fr. Sabu
For workshops, seminars, orientation days and retreats, write with your institution, the audience, preferred dates and whether you would like it online or in person.