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CONTRIBUTION FROM OUR ARCHDIOCESE
TO OUR HOLY MOTHER CHURCH |
AD MULTOS ET FELLICISSIMOS ANNOS
The Archdiocese wishes the Cardinal on the silver Jubliee of his Cardinalate
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SIMON CARDINAL LOURDUSAMY |
A SHORT PROFILE
DATE OF BIRTH: February 05, 1924
PLACE : Kalleri , Tamil Nadu, India.
SECULAR STUDIES: St. Anne’s High school ,Tindivanam(1937-39)
St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, Cuddalore. (1939-1945)
Loyola College, Madras. (1952-1953)
ECCLESIASTICAL STUDIES AND YEARS OF FORMATION:
St.Agnes’ Minor Seminary (1939-1945)
St. Peter’s Seminary, Bangalore (1946-1951)
SACERDOTAL ORDINATION: 21st December 1951 at Tindivanam
EPISCOPAL ORDINATION: Date 22nd August 1962at Pondicherry.
CARDINAL CONSISTORY:Date 22nd August 1962at Pondicherry.
CREDENTIALS: Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome (1953-1956).
DESIGNATIONS:
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Archdiocesan Archivist (1952)
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Assistant, Atthipakkam Parish (8.3.1952 to 15-04-1952)
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Secretary to the Archbishop (May 1952 to June 1952)
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Chancellor, Secretary to the Archbishop, editor of Sarvaviabi (The Catholic Weekly Magazine run by the Archdiocese) and the Choir Master of the Cathedral. (03-12-1956 to 18-07-1962)
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Nominated Bishop Auxiliary to the Archbishop of Bangalore (02-07-1962)
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Received his Episcopal consecration on the following August 22, 1962 from Archbishop Rayappan Ambrose, with Bishops Rajarethinam Sundaram and Daniel Arulswamy serving as co-consecrators in Pondicherry.
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Attended the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).
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On November 9, 1964, he was made the Coadjutor Archbishop of Bangalore, and then succeeded Thomas Pothacamury as the Archbishop of Bangalore on January 11, 1968.
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05-03-1971 appointed Joint Secretary to the Congregation of Propagation of Faith.
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On February 26, 1973 appointed as the Secretary of the Evangelization of Peoples and Vice Chancellor of the Urbaniana University.
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His Holiness Pope John Paul II raised Archbishop Lourdusamy to the state of a Cardinal Deacon in the consistory of May 25, 1985.
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October 30, 1985 to May 24, 1991 appointed as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
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He became Cardinal Protodeacon (the senior Cardinal Deacon) on April 5, 1993, and served as a special papal legate at the funeral of Mother Teresa on September 13, 1997.
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On April 5, 1993 appointed as protodeacon. He chose to become a Cardinal Priest on January 29, 1996.
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With a sense of accomplishment our Cardinal now at 84 is residing in Rome.
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Address: 64, Via Dei Corridor ,00193 – Roma, Italia
Tel : 00390669884796, 00390669885338 Fax: 00390669882043
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AN EULOGY TO OUR CARDINAL |
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Episcopal ordination of his Eminence, Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy our late Pope John Paul II wrote:
“ Now when we look back on your life briefly and consider what you have achieved, it is not to be wondered at why you, together with us should give thanks to God”
The Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore has many singular distinctions to its credit. Our contribution to the Mother Church in the person of our Cardinal has added a precious diadem to the crown of the Catholic Church. The life of our Cardinal is a titanic epitome that speaks volumes about his supremacy in various fields. From his very childhood he has always been an outstanding cynosure of all who had the privilege of knowing and seeing him. His family bequeathed to him a deep faith, a retentive memory and an inborn intelligence. All these had yearned for him the title ‘prodigious child’.
The Eminent Personality:
The Cardinal is a unique and eminent personality in every sense of the word. He is a rare combination of sincerity coupled with simplicity, and erudition coupled with elegant grace. He is known for his calm and composed approach to the issues. For him an unresolved problem within the stipulated time is an hatch house for further magnified problems. This has yearned for him rich dividends in all his offices. He is a perfectionist with the reputation of turning the impossible, possible. One can see in our Cardinal a great linguist, educationist, speaker, writer, musician and above all a remarkable humanist. The entire gamut of this superb, eminent personality of the Cardinal is mirrored in his curriculum vitae. On the whole he is a multifaceted personality with an action filled life. He is the 4th cardinal of India and has the honour of becoming the first curial cardinal of Asia and also the first Tamilian to occupy such a high ranking portfolio in our Catholic Church.
His Intellectual Caliber:
“ This thin brother Lourdusamy will end up in Rome and become one day a Cardinal”
These words when uttered by Fr. Guillerm a French missionary and a professor at St. Peter’s Seminary, Bangalore was never thought to be prophesy until it became true on May 25, 1985. The Cardinal is gifted with matured talents of high order. He has used it with ‘summa cum laudae’ to bring his motto to a fulfillment, “Aedificare Domum Dei” – to build the house of God. His attention even to the minutest details of any affair and an unlimited capacity of hard work has slowly earned for him the Eminence. He has exceptional achievements to his credit. He strived hard to realize the statements of Vatican council –II in the indigenization and inculturation of the local churches all over the world. He has Published 13 books and many Governments and Universities have conferred and honoured him with doctorates and awards. An acquaintance with our Cardinal will make everyone acknowledge his versatility and accept that there is no field which the Cardinal has never touched and adorned. His hard and persevering work with an amalgamation of meticulous planning has promised him greater prospects in his life. He is an avant-garde to show how duty well done can elevate a man to soaring heights.
An Ebullient Philanthropist:
The Cardinal was always simple, self-effacing, considerate and cordial. The title Prince of the Church never fenced him in being a humanist. He does not stand on formalities when humanism takes the priority. His proverbial generosity could not see anyone retiring half hearted. Those who are solaced by his munificence are many. His Eminence has an open sympathetic mind that can reach out to the farthest horizons and embrace all kinds of people without any distinction. The exquisite courtesy with which he deals with the people is remarkable. A friendly smile, a kind and gentle word on his lips impress everyone. All those who wish to have an audience with our Cardinal are sure to part him with a great sense of gratitude and contentment. His humanistic concerns are edifying and remind us that we too can make our lives sublime. |
CONTRIBUTION FROM OUR ARCHDIOCESE
TO OUR HOLY MOTHER CHURCH
THE BISHOPS |
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