St. Joseph's College Moolamattom had a very humble beginning. It was started as a junior college, affiliated to the University of Kerala in 1981 with just two arts batches for the pre-degree course. In the absence of a permanent building the classes were held in the parish hall of Arakulam Puthenpally . The institution owes an immense debt of gratitude to Rev. Frs. Melanius CMI and Colombiere CMI, the founding fathers of the institution and also to Fr. Clerus CMI, who in his capacity as the Education Councillor did a yeoman service in the initial stages of the institution. The institution can never forget the hospitality and generosity of Rev. Fr. Michael Kottaram, the Vicar of Arakulam Puthenpally who was gracious enough to let us use the parish hall as a makeshift college.
Rev. Dr.Thomas V. Kalarickal CMI was the first Principal of the college. Being a psychologist and a broad- minded educationalist he felt the pulses of the new born institution keenly and helped it grow lavishing on it all the care and concern it required. It stands to his credit that he was able to shift the classes to the newly constructed building at Arakulam in June 1982. The institution remembers with gratitude the services of Rev. Fr. Abraham Perikilakkad CMI who designed the beautiful college building and Rev. Fr. Lazar Thannippara CMI who completed the construction of the building.
After two years of meritorious service as Principal Rev. Dr.Thomas V. Kalarickal CMI left the institution in March 1983 to become the Principal of St. Joseph's Training College, Mannanam. Rev. Fr. Aloysius CMI was appointed his successor in March 1983. He continued to be at the helm till 1990 for seven years. It was evidently a period of consistent growth for the institution and it emerged as one of the best colleges for pre-degree result under the Mahatma Gandhi University. Fr. Aloysius CMI will be remembered for his child like innocence, honesty, cordiality and devotion to his work. He gave the needed prop to the institution during its infantile period and kept it from floundering and tottering.
