By Matters India Reporter
Bangalore, March 21, 2020: Bishop Soundararaju Periyanayagam of Vellore died of a massive heart attack on March 21
The 70-year-old Salesian prelate was undergoing treatment for cardiac problems at Thomas Hospital, Chetpet, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, when the death occurred at 12:15 am.
The funeral details are awaited, says a note from Father Stephen Alathara, deputy secretary-general of Conference of Catholic Bishops’ of India (CCBI).
Father Devasagayaraj M Zacharias, former secretary to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), Office for Dalits and Backward Classes was among those who mourned the bishop’s death.
“The Church in India especially Tamil Nadu lost a great bishop who stood firm for the rights of the poor and the Dalits. He seriously implemented the CBCI education policy in his diocese, involving all the religions. May his soul rest in peace.”
Bishop Periyanayagam was born on June 6, 1949, at Kolappalur, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu.
After his school studies, he joined the Salesians and made his first profession on May 24, 1970. He was ordained a priest on June 25, 1983, at Manchester, England, United Kingdom.
He was appointed the sixth bishop of Vellore diocese on July 11, 2006. His episcopal ordination was on August 24, 2006.
He hold BA in economics from Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur, MA in economics from Loyola College, Chennai, MA in theology from Ushaw College, Durham University, UK and Doctorate in Economics St. Joseph College, Bharadhidassan University, Trichy.
He was the professor and vice-principal (1983-1988 and 1991-1994), Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur; principal (1994-2000), Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur, rector and parish priest (2001-2004), St. Lourdes’ Shrine, Perambur, Chennai, rector (2004-2006), Don Bosco, Gandhinagar, Vellore.
He was a priest for 36 years and a bishop for 13 years.