Archbishop Emeritus S. Michael Augustine of South India passes away

Archbishop Emeritus S. Michael Augustine of  Pondicherry-Cuddalore diocese of India passed away this morning at 9.50 in a local hospital. He served for 39 years as a Bishop and 56 years as a priest till God called him to Himself at the age of  85.

Earlier he was admitted in  “Be Well Hospital”, Puddocherry but was later  discharged and was taking rest in the Archbishop’s House. On Nov 4 morning  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.

Archbishop Michael Augustine was born on 12 June 1933 in Kovilanoor, Virudhachalam fo Pondicherry-Cuddalore Archdiocese. 

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 by Monsignor Ambrose, the then Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. After ordination in 1961, he was appointed as Sous — Director of Petit Seminaire 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 Saint St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary at Bangalore.

In the year 1974, Pope Paul VI appointed him the Rector of St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore and was there till 1978 when he was consecrated  the Auxiliary Bishop of Madras and Mylapore.  He was appointed as bishop of Vellore on 10 July 1981 by Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul II appointed the Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore on 25 June 1992.  He received the pallium from his predecessor Archbishop Emeritus Venmani S. Selvanather in 1992 at the Cathedral of Pondicherry Archdiocese. He resigned as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore(India) on 10 June 2004 upon attaining the age of superannuation.