Archbishop Emeritus S. Michael Augustine of Pondicherry Cuddalore Passed Away
News on 4 Nov, 2017
Emeritus Archbishop S. Michael Augustine (85) Pondicherry Cuddalore has returned to the Heavenly Father at 9.50 am on 4th November 2017. He was admitted in the “Be Well Hospital”, Pudducherry. After being discharged, he was taking rest in the Archbishop’s House. After he complained of uneasiness he was rushed to the hospital where he passed away. His mortal remains are kept at Escande Hall, Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School, Pondicherry. His funeral will take place at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry on Monday 6th November 2017, 10.00 a.m.
He was born on 12 June 1933. He served the Church for 39 years as a bishop and for 56 years as a priest. He started his school career at Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School, Pondicherry. He joined the minor seminary at St. Agnes Seminary, Cuddalore. He graduated from St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli. He was ordained a priest on 15 April 1961. After ordination in 1961, he was appointed as Sous — Director of Petit Seminary Higher Secondary School, Pondicherry. He later went to Paris for higher studies in philosophy at l’Institut Catholique de Paris, France and obtained his Licentiate in Philosophy. On his return to India in 1965, he was appointed professor of Philosophy at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary at Bangalore.
In the year 1974, Pope Paul VI appointed him as the Rector of St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore and stayed there till 1978. On 30 January 1978, Pope Paul VI appointed Father Michael Augustine as the Auxiliary Bishop of Madras-Mylapore Archdiocese to assist Archbishop Arullappa and bestowed upon him the titular see of Bararus. He was consecrated a bishop by then Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy (later Cardinal) the then Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples on 29 March 1978.He was appointed as bishop of Vellore on 10 July 1981 by Pope John Paul II. Bishop S. Michael Augustine was the Bishop of Vellore for 10 years and 11 months. During his tenure of office, about 100 churches and chapels were built; seven new parishes were erected, six convents and dispensaries and three high schools were opened, and five elementary schools were upgraded to middle schools.
Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop Michael Augustine as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore on 25 June 1992 and served the Archdiocese for 12 years