Michael Augustine (bishop)

The Most Reverend
Savarinathan Michael Augustine
Roman Catholic Archbishop emeritus of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
See Pondicherry and Cuddalore
Installed 25 June 1992
Term ended 10 June 2004
Predecessor Venmani S. Selvanather
Successor Antony Anandarayar
Other posts Sous-Director Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School, Vice-Rector St. Peter (Major) Seminary, Rector-St. Peter (Major) Seminary, Auxiliary bishop of Madras-Mylapore, Bishop of Vellore
Orders
Ordination 15 April 1961
by Ambrose Rayappan
Consecration 29 March 1978
by Duraisamy Simon Card. Lourdusamy
Rank Archbishop
Personal details
Born (1933-06-12)12 June 1933
Kovilanoor, Tamil Nadu, India
Died 4 November 2017(2017-11-04) (aged 84)
Pondicherry, India
Buried Cathedral Cemetery, Pondicherry
Nationality Indian
Denomination Roman Catholic
Alma mater St. Agnes (Minor) Seminary
St. Peter (Major) Seminary
Motto "Fiat" means Let Lord's will be done
Coat of arms The coat of arms of Archbishop Michael Augustine

Archbishop Savarinathan Michael Augustine (12 June 1933 – 4 November 2017) is an Indian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore from 1992 to 2004.He is an Honorary Member of M.E.P. Missionaries (France). His episcopal motto is FIAT which means Let Lord's will be done. He served the Church for 39 years as a bishop and for 56 years as a priest. He died on 4 November 2017 at the age of 84.

He lived a life of sanctity and simplicity. He was a friend of the poor and thus was referred as "People's Bishop", "Bishop of the poor." He was fluent in English,French,Tamil and Latin. He was a lyricist, poet, writer, singer, magician and artist.

Early life

He started his school career at Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School, Pondicherry. He joined the minor seminary at St. Agnes Seminary, Cuddalore. He graduated from St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli and did his Philosophical and Theological studies in St.Peter's Pontifical Seminary,Bangalore. He was ordained a priest for Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore on 15 April 1961 by Monsignor Ambrose, the then Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry. After ordination in 1961, he was appointed as Sous — Director of Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School, Pondicherry. He later went to Paris for higher studies in philosophy at l'Institut Catholique de Paris, France and obtained his Licentiate in Philosophy. On his return to India in 1965, he was appointed professor of Philosophy at Saint St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary at Bangalore. Within a year, he became Vice Rector at St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary, the office he remained until he became Rector of the same seminary.

Career

Styles of
Michael Augustine
Reference style The Most Reverend
Spoken style Your Grace
Religious style Monsignor

In the year 1974, Pope Paul VI appointed him as the Rector of St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore and stayed there till 1978 when he was consecrated as the Auxiliary Bishop of Madras and Mylapore.. On 30 January 1978, A joyful news came that Pope Paul VI appointed Father Michael Augustine as the Auxiliary Bishop of Madras-Mylapore Archdiocese to assist Archbishop Arullappa and bestowed upon him the titular see of Bararus. He was consecrated a bishop by then Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy (later Cardinal) the then Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples on 29 March 1978.He was appointed as bishop of Vellore on 10 July 1981 by Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop Michael Augustine as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore on 25 June 1992.[1] He received the pallium from his predecessor Archbishop Emeritus Venmani S. Selvanather in 1992 at the Cathedral of Pondicherry Archdiocese. He voluntarily resigned as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore(India) on 10 June 2004 upon attaining the age of superannuation.[2]

Episcopal Ministry at Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore (29.3.1978–10.7.1981)

On 30 January 1978, Pope Paul VI appointed Father Michael Augustine as the Auxiliary Bishop of Madras-Mylapore Archdiocese to assist Archbishop Arullappa and bestowed upon him the titular see of Bararus. He was consecrated a bishop at the age of 45 years by then Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy (later Cardinal) the then Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples with co-consecraters Archbishop Venmani S. Selvanather of Pondicherry and Archbishop Anthony Rayappa Arulappa of Madras as on 29 March 1978, the episcopal ordination mass was attended by many bishops from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Pondicherry regions and many priests and laity attended. He chose "FIAT" as his Episcopal motto. Under the guidance of Archbishop Arullappa, Bishop Michael Augustine learnt many things and served as an auxiliary bishop for nearly 3 years.

Episcopal Ministry at Diocese of Vellore (10.7.1981–25.6.1992)

On 10 July 1981, Most. Rev. Dr. S. Michael Augustine, till then Auxiliary Bishop of Madras – Mylapore, was nominated by Roman Catholic Church as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Vellore. The Installation service took place on 24 July 1981 at 6.00 p.m. in the Cathedral Campus at Vellore.

Bishop S. Michael Augustine was the Bishop of Vellore for 10 years and 11 months. During his tenure of office, about 100 churches and chapels were built; seven new parishes were erected, six convents and dispensaries and three high schools were opened, and five elementary schools were upgraded to middle schools.

He noticed that Catholics do not hold high positions. To achieve this, He started summer coaching classes for the students who finished school. This coaching classes helped many people to go for medicine, nursing, engineering and other technical trainings. He has also established a scholarship fund for professional studies. The children should have strong foundation in their education. So he started coaching classes for High School children. The coaching classes were conducted for a month. The whole expenses were met by the projects and Diocesan contributions.

The future of the diocese depends upon the priests we get. To foster local vocations, he started a minor seminary at Pathiavaram. As the Tamil Nadu Bishops decided to have the college education as minimum qualification for major seminary admission, a seminary was started at Koviloor so that the students can attend Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur. He was transferred and promoted as Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore on 24 March 1992. He remained administrator of Vellore Diocese till 25 June 1992.

Episcopal Ministry at Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (25.6.1992–10.6.2004)

Pope John Paul II elevated Bishop Michael Augustine of Vellore as Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore on 25 March 1992 and he was installed as Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore on 25 June 1992.Before he took charge as Archbishop, there were many problems in the Archdiocese he solved all the problems and various other issues, he served as an abled administrator.During his 12 years of episcopacy the Archdiocese saw newer heights. He laid foundations for 2 new vicariates, 14 new parishes and invited 13 new religious congregations to work in the Archdiocese.He was true to the dignity of his office and always felt happy and cheerful to serve his flock.He submitted his resignation upon medical grounds and Pope John Paul II accepted his resignation from the Metropolitan See of Pondicherry and Cuddalore after 12 years of pastoral care in Pondicherry as its Shepherd.

Post Retirement(11.6.2004-04.11.2017)

After his retirement as Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, Archbishop Michael Augustine stayed in his retirement home which is behind Holy Family Church, Keezhputhupattu in the outskirts of Pondicherry near Kalapet. During these years, Fr.A.J.C Lawrence (his nephew and clergy of Pondicherry) also helped him. He was assisted during his last year's by Mr.Thomas who was sent from Vellore Diocese.

He composed 2 books of Psalms during this period namely "The Psalm of a Priest" and "The Psalm of a Bishop."

Derrick Augustin, C.Ss.R.(his grand nephew) attributes that Archbishop Michael Augustine's life is one of the major forces that made him realize his vocation as a priest and thus chose the Redemptorist vocation.

Final Days and Death

In September 2017, he was admitted in “Be Well Hospital”, Pondicherry but was later discharged and was taking rest in the Archbishop’s House. On Nov 4, 2017 morning after he complained of uneasiness to his helper,he was rushed to the hospital where he passed away at 9.50 a.m. when Archbishop Anandarayar completed the prayer by making the sign of the Cross in the presence of Fr.A.J.C.Lawrence and Mr. Thomas, his helper.

Final Homage and Funeral

His mortal remains was immediately embalmed in PIMS, Pondicherry and was taken first to his retirement home where Eucharist was celebrated following which his remains were brought to the Archbishop's House in Pondicherry and was kept there till 6 p.m. His mortal remains were then transferred to Escande Hall in Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School,Pondicherry at 6.30 p.m. for public veneration. Massive crowds poured in to pay tribute and last respects to their beloved Archbishop. Archbishop George Antonysamy of Madras,Bishop Peter Abir of Sulthanpet, Bishop Antony Devotta of Trichy, Bishop Emeritus Peter Remigius of Kottar visited, prayed and paid their last respects. His mortal remains remained there until 9.50 a.m. on 6 December 2017. Several Archbishops, Bishop's, Priests, Religious, laity and people of other faith attended his funeral. The funeral procession began from Petit Seminaire School and ended in the Cathedral of Pondicherry. The Requiem mass was presided by Archbishop Anandarayar of Pondicherry. Several Bishop's concelebrated namely Archbishop Emeritus Chinnappa of Madras, Archbishop Antony Pappusamy of Madurai, Bishop Yuvon Ambrose of Tuticorin, Bishop Singaroyan of Salem, Bishop Soundarajan of Vellore, Bishop Thomas Aquinas of Coimbatore, Bishop Amalraj of Ooty, Bishop Lawrence Pius of Dharmapuri, Bishop Neethinathan of Chengalpet, Bishop Devadass Ambrose of Thanjavur, Bishop Antonysamy of Kumbakonnam, Bishop Paulsamy of Dindigul, Bishop Jude Paulraj of Palayamkottai, Bishop Susaimaanikam of Sivagangai. The Cathedral as such was flocked with priests, religious and people. During Funeral Mass, Bishop Singaroyan (student of Archbishop Michael Augustine at St.Peter's Pontifical Seminary,Bangalore) preached a fitting sermon on the sanctity, sincerity and love of Archbishop Michael Augustine and on his life of FIAT (Let God's will be done). After the funeral mass, Archbishop Chinnappa sung in Latin the final rites inside the Cathedral. Eulogy was read by Archbishop Antony Pappusamy, Bishop Soundarajan, Archbishop Anandarayar, CRI President of Pondicherry, Fr. Rayappa of St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary and by the Vicar General of Madras-Mylapore Archdiocese. His mortal remains was then carried to the clergy cemetery in cathedral where his nephew Fr. A.J.C. Lawrence blessed the new cemetery and finally blessed the mortal remains of his uncle, Archbishop Michael Augustine. He was then laid to rest there.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "A concise history of the Archidiosese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore". Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  2. ↑ "Apostolic Nunciature India". 18 March 2009. Archived from the original on 18 May 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
Catholic Church titles
Vacant
Title last held by
John Aelen MHM
in 1901		 Auxiliary Bishop of Madras and Mylapore
30 January 1978 – 19 June 1981		 Vacant
Title next held by
Lawrence Pius Dorairaj
in 1998
Preceded by
Damián Nicolau Roig		 — TITULAR —
Bishop of Bararus
30 January 1978 – 19 June 1981		 Succeeded by
Nelson Antonio Martinez Rust
Preceded by
Royappan Antony Muthu		 Bishop of Vellore
19 June 1981 – 18 February 1992		 Succeeded by
Malayappan Chinnappa
Preceded by
Venmani S. Selvanather		 Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
18 February 1992 – 10 June 2004		 Succeeded by
Antony Anandarayar

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