Pondicherry: The archdiocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore on November 6 paid tearful farewell to its former prelate,.
Retired Archbishop Savarinathan Michael Augustine died at 9:50 am on November 4 am at “Be Well Hospital” in Pondicherry. He was 85.
Archdiocesan sources said the prelate was discharged from the same hospital only a few days ago. He was taking rest in the Archbishop’s residence. On November 4 morning he was rushed to the hospital after complained of uneasiness.
His funeral took place at 10 am at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Pondicherry. Earlier his mortal remains were kept at Escande Hall, Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School, Pondicherry.
He served as a bishop for 56, starting as the auxiliary of the Madras-Mylapore archdiocese.
Archbishop Augustine was born on June 12, 1933, at Kovilanoor, Virudhachalam in Pondicherry-Cuddalore Archdiocese.
He started his school at Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School. He joined St. Agnes Seminary in Cuddalore. He graduated from St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli. He was ordained a priest on April 15, 1961.
After ordination, he was appointed assistant director of Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School. He then went to Paris for higher studies in philosophy at l’Institut Catholique de Paris. On his return to India in 1965, he was appointed professor of Philosophy at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary at Bangalore, Karnataka state.
In 1974, Pope Paul VI appointed him the Rector of the same seminary, a post he held until his appointment as the auxiliary of Madras and Mylapore in 1978.
Three years later, Pope John II appointed him the bishop of Vellore. The same pontiff then elevated him as the Archbishop of Pondicherry-Cuddalore in 1992.
He served the archdiocese for 12 years and then resigned in 2004 upon attaining the age of superannuation.