Father Jose Maniyangat was born on July 16, 1949 in Kerala, India to his parents, Joseph and Theresa. He is the eldest of seven children: Jose, Mary, Theresa, Lissama, Zachariah, Valsa and Tom.
At the age of fourteen, he entered the minor seminary to begin studies for the priesthood. He was ordained as a priest on January 1, 1975 and served as a missionary in the Diocese of Thiruvalla.
While teaching at the minor seminary of St. Thomas in Bathery in 1978, he became a charismatic and began conducting charismatic retreats and conferences.