By Stanislaus Alla
New Delhi, March 30, 2022: The Church in the undivided Andhra Pradesh on March 30 mourned the death of Bishop Mathew Cheriankunnel, who had sacrificed his life for Telugu people.
The first bishop of Nalgonda diocese died in the afternoon of March 30 in the regional house of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh. He was 91.
After retirement, except for some spells when he worked in the missions, Bishop Cheriankunnel had been staying at the PIME regional house.
A requiem Mass will be offered at Eluru on April 1 and the bishop’s body will be buried at Gunadala, a popular Marian shrine at Vijayawada, says a message from the regional house.
Vijayawada is some 60 km southwest of Eluru.
Bishop Cheriankunnel had served the Church in the land of the Telugus for six decades, beginning as a priest of Vijayawada diocese.
He was born September 15, 1930, in Kerala. He was ordained a priest on April 28, 1962, for Vijayawada. While working with the Italian PIME priests, he joined them: “The lives of these veteran missionaries encouraged me to join the PIME,” he had explained the reason for becoming a religious.
He was ordained a bishop on May 3, 1977, at Gunadala Marian shrine. He was the first Indian PIME missionary to become a bishop.
After serving Nalgonda for ten years, in 1987 Bishop Cheriankunnel was transferred to the diocese of Kurnool in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. He worked there for four years before stepping down because of health issues in 1991.
Bishop Cheriankunnel used to credit PIME missionaries with nurturing the faith of the people in Nalgonda area.
Known for administrative gifts, the bishop is remembered for his holiness and humility, charity and simplicity both in Nalgonda and Kurnool. He founded parishes and invited the Religious to open missions.
A message from the PIME house says Bishop Cheriankunnel “tirelessly worked for the poor” while promoting evangelization. He sacrificed his life for the Telugu people, and the Lord he served generously and faithfully. The Gospel would describe him as a ‘Good and Faithful servant,’ the message adds.
Bishop Cheriankunnel had endeared himself to Catholics in Nalgonda and Kurnool dioceses and people recall him leading a holy and humble life.