By Matters India Reporter

Chennai, July 4, 2020: Jesuit Father Joseph L Pragasam became the first Jesuit in India to die of Covid-19.

Father Pragasam passed away on July 3 at Saravana Hospital, Madurai, about 465 km south of Chennai. He was 83 and a Jesuit for 64 years.

“Jesuits of Chennai province are mourning the loss of Jesuit Father Joseph L Pragasam who had been diagnosed COVID-19 positive,” says a note from Jesuit Father M. Devadoss, socius of Chennai province in Tamil Nadu.

“As he had been diagnosed Covid-19 positive, the local Jesuit superiors of Loyola Teacher Training Institute and St. Mary’s, Madurai, are coordinating carefully the funeral arrangements with his close relatives, the hospital and the civil authorities,” Father Devadoss added.

Father Pascal Petrus of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore was the Catholic priest to die of Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu. The 70-year-old priest died on May 30.

As many as 46 Jesuits around the world have died of Covid-19 as of June 27.

Father Pragasam was born on May 21, 1937. He joined the Madurai province of the Society of Jesus in 1956 and was ordained a priest on March 28, 1971.

He served as the director of the hostel of Teaching St. Xavier’s School, Palayamkottai during 1973-1975. After teaching in St. Xavier’s, Tuticorin (1975-1976) and St. Joseph’s School, Tiruchi (1976-1978) be became the hostel director of St. Mary’s, Madurai, in 1978 and held that post until 1981.

He then served as the assistant head master of St. Xavier’s School, Palayamkottai during 1981-1984. He took over a Jesuit school in Oriyur and in 1987 went back to St. Xavier’s, Tuticorin as a teacher for a year in 1987. He was the headmaster of St. Xavier’s School, Palayamkottai, for six years from 1988.

After a year of sabbatical in the Philippines, he was appointed socius (secretary) to the provincial.

He became a missionary to Brazil in 1986 and stayed in the Latin American country for ten years.

He returned to India to serve as the director of hostel of St. Mary’s, Madurai for a year.

He then took up spiritual ministry in various institutions until his death.