Nagpur, Apr 19: Archbishop of Nagpur diocese of the
Catholic church, AbrahamViruthakulangara, passed away on Thursday morning after
a major cardiac arrest.
The 74-year-old, who had worked among Gond tribals, died in
his sleep at the headquarters of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India in
New Delhi.
He was in New Delhi for the meeting of all the Hindi speaking Bishops at the CBCI centre.
The funeral will take place in Nagpur on April 23 at 1530 hours.
Born in Kerala on June 5, 1943, he joined the Seminary in Indore in 1960 after high school studies. Viruthakulangara was ordained a priest in 1969 after his studies at St Charles Seminary, Nagpur. He later worked among Gond tribals for eight years. Observing his simplicity and missionary zeal, the Pope chose him to head the new and predominantly tribal diocese of Khandwa.
When appointed in 1977 as bishop of the newly created Diocese of Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh, Viruthakulangara was just 34 and the youngest prelate in India. He also became the 100th Catholic Bishop since the establishment in 1886 of the Indian hierarchy.
During his two-decade-long service in Khandwa,he helped the local Christians to bond with their Hindu and Muslim neighbours. During one of her visits to Khandwa, St Mother Teresa commended the young
and dynamic prelate for his proficiency in language that helped him reach out to thousands and transform
their lives.
After serving in Khandwa for 21 years, he was promoted in 1998 as the metropolitan Archbishop of Nagpur. Viruthakulangara began his mission in Nagpur Archdiocese with the motto ' Radiating Christ's Light.'
Nagpur Archdiocese saw dramatic changes in its service to local people during his tenure. In the past 40 years as a bishop and Archbishop, Viruthakulangara also served in 1986 as the first chairman of the youth commission of the CBCI. From 1998 to 2004, he was the chairman of the Western Region Bishops ' council (comprising Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat).
He was a member of the governing board of St. John's Academy of Health Science (Medical college and Hospital), Bengaluru, and the Ecclesiastical adviser of Jesus Youth (International Organisation
for youth).
In all these posts, he proved to be an effective leader, inspirer, educationist, visionary and above all, a man of God. UNI
He was in New Delhi for the meeting of all the Hindi speaking Bishops at the CBCI centre.
The funeral will take place in Nagpur on April 23 at 1530 hours.
Born in Kerala on June 5, 1943, he joined the Seminary in Indore in 1960 after high school studies. Viruthakulangara was ordained a priest in 1969 after his studies at St Charles Seminary, Nagpur. He later worked among Gond tribals for eight years. Observing his simplicity and missionary zeal, the Pope chose him to head the new and predominantly tribal diocese of Khandwa.
When appointed in 1977 as bishop of the newly created Diocese of Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh, Viruthakulangara was just 34 and the youngest prelate in India. He also became the 100th Catholic Bishop since the establishment in 1886 of the Indian hierarchy.
During his two-decade-long service in Khandwa,he helped the local Christians to bond with their Hindu and Muslim neighbours. During one of her visits to Khandwa, St Mother Teresa commended the young
and dynamic prelate for his proficiency in language that helped him reach out to thousands and transform
their lives.
After serving in Khandwa for 21 years, he was promoted in 1998 as the metropolitan Archbishop of Nagpur. Viruthakulangara began his mission in Nagpur Archdiocese with the motto ' Radiating Christ's Light.'
Nagpur Archdiocese saw dramatic changes in its service to local people during his tenure. In the past 40 years as a bishop and Archbishop, Viruthakulangara also served in 1986 as the first chairman of the youth commission of the CBCI. From 1998 to 2004, he was the chairman of the Western Region Bishops ' council (comprising Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat).
He was a member of the governing board of St. John's Academy of Health Science (Medical college and Hospital), Bengaluru, and the Ecclesiastical adviser of Jesus Youth (International Organisation
for youth).
In all these posts, he proved to be an effective leader, inspirer, educationist, visionary and above all, a man of God. UNI
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