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ECCL. ADVISER : Most Rev. Arulappan Amalraj, Bishop of Ootacamund
CNUA is Compiled, edited and mailed by Mr. K. M. Selvaraj, Founder Editor

INDIA : THE SACERDOTAL DIAMOND JUBILEE OF CARDINAL D. SIMON LOURDUSAMY (Fr. Sandou Cyril, Archdiocese of Pondicherry & Cuddalore via CNUA) The Sacerdotal Diamond Jubilee was celebrated at 11 a.m. on 21-12-2011 in the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Pondicherry with Archbishop Antony Anandarayar of Pondicherry & Cuddalore, Archbishop Chinnappa Malayappa of Madras – Mylapore (President of T.N.B.C.), Emeritus Archbishop S. Michael Augustine, Bishop Antony Devotta, Trichirappalli and Bishop Neethinathan of Chengalpet and fifty Priests.

Cardinal Lourdusamy sang the Jubilee Mass in Tamil. Abp. Anandarayar in his homily recalled the 320 years of Grace filled history of Pondicherry. The Christian presence was in Pondicherry since 1691. The magnificent Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Pondicherry was built 220 years ago and consecrated on 20th June 1791. This was erected as an archdiocese on 1-9-1886. This Archdiocese has provided several candidates for the episcopate. Cardinal Simon Lourdusamy is one of the eminent Bishops of this Archdiocese. He also elucidated how the almighty God has worked wonders in the life of the Cardinal. He also stressed how the Cardinal according to his motto "to build the House of the Lord" did his best to build the church in India and abroad in universal church. In the name of the prelates, priests religious and the faithful he also wished him Gods special Grace to have good health.

In the name of the Archdiocese the Vicar General Fr. Arulanandam garlanded him with "Ponadai" and the Procurator Fr. Joseph Arumaiselvam gave the bouquet. Then Archbishop Chinnappa Malayappa, President of TNBC garlanded him. Then all the bishops present honored him. Fr. M. Peter, the senior most priest of the Archdiocese felicitated him. The representatives of the religious congregations greeted him. The celebration came to a close with the blessing of the Cardinal.

Consecration of the altar - In memory of the Cardinal’s priestly Diamond Jubilee, the church of Our Lady of Victories in his native parish Kallery was renovated and the altar was consecrated by His Eminence Cardinal Lourdusamy, in the Pontifical Mass with by Abp. Anandarayar on 23-12-2011.

Cardinal Lourdusamy was born of a pious parents Mr. Simon Duraisamy and Mrs Annamary alias Matharasi on 5-2-1924 as the seventh child in the village of Kallery in the Archdiocese of Pondicherry – Cuddalore. Mr. Simon Duraisamy was a just man and the villagers used to get his guidance to settle their disputes.

Cardinal Simon Lourdusamy as a boy did his studies first under the famous Educationist Fr. Gavan Duffy M.E.P., in Tindivanam. Then he joined the St. Agnes Minor Seminary in Cuddalore and finished his high school studies in St. Joseph Higher School Cuddalore.
After completing his studies in philosophy and theology in an excellent way under erudite French professors in St. Peter’s Seminary, Bangalore he was ordained a priest in the church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Tindivanam by Mgr. A. Colas (Late) Archbishop of Pondicherry on 21-12-1951. After his ordination he was serving as the archivist of the Archdiocese. Then he was sent to do his secular higher studies in Loyola College, Chennai in 1952. In 1953 he was sent to do his doctorate in Cannon Law in the famous Urban University in Rome. In all the three years he secured centum marks in all the subjects and passed with great distinction.

On his return to his home diocese, he was appointed as the secretary of the Archbishop Mgr. R. Ambrose. He was also serving as the editor of the Archdiocesan Tamil weekly paper Sarva Viabi for six years. He was consecrated on 22-8-1962 in Petit Seminaire Higher Sec. School campus Pondicherry by his Grace R. Ambrose and was appointed as the auxiliary Bishop of Bangalore. After Archbishop Thomas Pothacomary, he reigned the Archdiocese of Bangalore as Archbishop for nine years.

Holy Father Paul VI appointed him as the joint Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for Evangelization of People in 1970 and on 25th May 1985 His Holiness John Paul II raised him as a Cardinal and appointed him the prefect and of the Congregation for Oriental rites. He got retired at the age of 80. by email: archdioceseofpondicherry@gmail.com,