From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Feb 5: Emeritus Archbishop Dr Alphonsus Mathias on Sunday celebrated the golden jubilee of his Episcopal ordination.
The tall and amiable, Emeritus Archbishop, who has settled himself in the St John’s National Academy of Medical Sciences campus comprising a string a institutions including the famed hospital and medical college bearing name, celebrated the golden jubilee of his Episcopal ordination at the institution so dear to him.
Archbishop Mathias offered a thanks-giving mass at the St John’s Hospital chapel and was later felicitated by Director Rev Dr Lawrence D’Souza and Fr Glen Mascarenhas, Associate Director- Finance, and lauded for yeomen service to the Church and the Academy right from its inception.
In his brief reply, Archbishop Mathias said the St John’s institutions were like a second love for him after the Diocese and the faithful that he had served over the past 50 years. ''This is the reason why I preferred to stay at St John’s after my retirement and enjoy my stay and the walks that I take around the complex,” he said.
He recalled Dr Lawrence D’Souza’s frequent remarks at any opportunity that he and St John’s were blessed with the privilege of celebrating the jubilee in the same year.
The Archbishop, who was born in Innanje in Pangala Parish on June 22, 1928, was ordained a priest on August 24, 1954 at Candy in Sri Lanka. His first appointment as a priest was in St Joseph’s Parish at Bajpe in Mangalore Diocese, from where he proceed to Rome for his Doctoral studies in Canon Law. Upon his return to India, he served the Mangalore Diocese in different parishes from 1959 to 1963.
He was appointed as the first Bishop of Chikmagalur Diocese on February 5, 1964, exactly 50 years ago. When he was ordained Bishop at the age of 35, he was one of the youngest Bishops in India. He was appointed Archbishop of Bangalore Archdiocese on September 12, 1986 and retired on March 24, 1998 on turning 70.
Archbishop Mathias had the privilege of participating the Second Vatican Council.