By Matters India Reporter

Patna: Father Joy Karayampuram, the former Jesuit provincial of Patna, died of Covid-19 on April 29. He was 65.

Father Joy, as he was popularly known, died at 10:23 am in Ruben Memorial Hospital, Pataliputra, a Patna suburb. He was laid to rest at the Jesuit cemetery y in the same evening. The funeral was held in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines.

After he tested Covid19 positive, he was on April 22 admitted in Holy Family Hospital in Patna. He was on oxygen for days and as his condition deteriorated he was shifted to the Patalipura hospital on April 28, according to a statement from the province headquarters.

Father Joy was the rector of St Xavier’s College at Digha in Patna at the time of his death. He was earlier the superior of the Indian Social Institute in New Delhi. He had also headed the institute’s legal aid cell.

Father Joy was among more than 40 Catholic priests claimed by Covid-19 in April in India.

Father Joy was born in Kerala on September 22, 1955. He joined the Patna province of the Society of Jesus in 1979 and was ordained a priest on December 31, 1991. He took over as the St Xavier’s College rector on November 8, 2020.