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St.Joseph Pontifical Seminary
Mangalapuzha
| Servant of God Lourdu Xavier Savarirayan was born on 18-05-1910 to his parents Savarirayan and Savariammal at KovandaKurichy, a small village in the Taluk of Lalgudi in the civil district of Thiruchirapalli, Tamilnadu, South India. He was the second child in the family. He was baptized on 18-08-1910 at Our Lady’s Church, Vadugarpet the Parish to which belonged the village, Kovandakurichy. At present Kovandakurichy is a parish by itself. He was baptized three months after his birth.Saundiriammal approached Fr. A. Xavier, for guidance and support. Under his guidance he was sent to St Joseph’s High School at Cuddalore. It was known for its discipline and knowledge. Many boys, who were to be prepared for priesthood in future, were identified by their parish priests and were sent to this school so that the students may be prepared spiritually, emotionally and intellectually before they could be selected to be sent to minor seminary for formation. His Headmaster was Rev. Fr.Virgiar; Rev. Fr. Escat and Rev. Fr. Xavier were the wardens in the Hostel. He pursued his high school studies from 1923 up to 1930. After his high school studies, Servant of God Lourdu Xavier Savarirayan was sent to St Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye, Kerala in 1932. Rev. Fr. A. Xavier was responsible for his education and seminary formation. It was he who would have instilled in him a desire to become a priest. Servant of God Lourdu Savier Savarirayan received the seminary formation from 1932 to 1938 under the rector ship of Rev. Fr. John Joseph OCD. Rev. Fr. Aurelian OCD and Fr. Zacharias OCD were his professors. He was ordained a priest on 20-12-1938 at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye, Kerala by His Grace Most Rev. Joseph Attipetty, the then Archbishop of Verapoly. Servant of God Lourdu Xavier Savarirayan after an experience of 15 years as a priest and having experienced God’s Providence all through his life from his childhood was found to be an apt person to spread the devotion of BVM from Poondi. Poondi was erected a parish on January 4, 1945 by His Excellency Most Rev Peter Francis. Servant of God Lourdu Xavier Savarirayan took charge of the parish just 10 years after its erection. As a small parish with hardly 50 Catholic families at the head quarters, it was in the midst of thickly populated Hindus. The parish had many substations; the Catholics in most of these were Dalit Christians who were looked down upon by the High Caste Hindus. He became sick and diabetic. During the last years of his life he was admitted in the Child Jesus Hospital at Trichy where he was taking treatment and rest. However he did not give up meeting his people and guiding them in their difficulties. He died on 15-04-1972 at the age of 62 and was buried under the tower in the Basilica of Our Lady of Poondi on 16-04-1972. |
