TRIBUTE TO REV DR R V MATHIAS

REV Dr R V MATHIAS
11th Nov 1938 to 17th Nov 2011
International YCW chaplain Fr RV Mathias died at 2.30a.m. in Trichy, India, following a massive heart attack. Fr Mathias was born in Edangani, Tamil Nadu on November 11, 1938.
He entered the seminary in 1953 andstudied at St Paul’s Seminary, India, from 1958-60. From 1960-64 he was a guest at the Pontifical Urban College in Rome followed by catechetical and liturgical studies at the Catholic Institute of Paris from 1964-66. He was ordained as a priest in Rome on 21 December 1963. Among the many positions he held, Fr Mathias was parish priest, diocesan, national and international chaplain of the YCW as well as chaplain of the diocesan youth and workers for the diocese of Trichy.
He was also Director of the Diocesan Pastoral Center, Executive Secretary of the CBCI Commission for Labor (Delhi), Vicar general of the diocese of Trichy. In 2002 he was appointed as Executive Secretary of the CBCI Commission for the laity. He taught at Karumathur Jesuit Theological College near Madurai, India until recently. After taking sabbatical leave, he was named spiritual father at St Paul’s Seminary, Tiruchirapalli in April 2011. Fr Mathias also collaborated actively with the Centre Lebret-IRFED network. The funeral will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Paul’s Seminary, Trichy.
Tribute from CCI President
“We are shocked and saddened to hear of Fr Mathias’ passing,” said Stefan Gigacz “During his term as IYCW international chaplain, he worked tirelessly to maintain the unityof the movement. For this, we will be forever grateful.”
Tribute to a Progressive Priest !
I grew up in Ponmalai (Golden Rock) the Southern Railway workshop Town of Trichy where our neighbour in the railway quarters was late Sandanasamy elder brother of late Most Rev S T Amalanathar former Catholic Bishop of Tuticorin Tamil Nadu. Further late Mrs Kitheriammal spouse of late Sandanasamy was my mother late J D Savariammal’s (1929-2000) schoolmate at the St Philomena’s High School, Melapudur, Trichy. So it was natural for us to grow in the company of frequent visits by priests and nuns. Thus RV M was known to me. Little did I realize that after four decades later I would get an opportunity to collaborate with him to compile and publish “Impact of Globalization on the Working People” for the CWM regional Workshop in 2004.
A few months back I had met with him at the St Paul’s Theological College, Trichy during the Silver Jubilee of the Tamil Theological Association. At that time too he was rather looked famished and tired probably due to the hernia surgery he had undergone.
His death news really shocked me as he was only 73 years old. Most of his contribution was to the YCW at the Parish, Diocesan, National and international level. He was the chaplain who knew the ins and outs of the movement. He was very progressive among back in his diocese and had to incur the wrath of his orthodox ecclesial authorities for his non-conformist views on many issues. Even at the international level also he worked hard to prevent the ugly chasm developed in the movement between IYCW and YCWI. He commanded high respect from his contemporaries and admiration from his ex-YCW stalwarts and other progressive thinking religious and laity. His loss is irreparable to the Diocese, the Church and the thousands of his admirers.
True to his life of selfless service to the laity and the working class, he left a death wish – that he be buried as a commoner in a cemetery for laity and NOT in the cemetery for religious- a very rare death wish indeed to remain fresh in the minds of his followers, admirers and well wishers.
We thank the Lord for giving RV M to us the Tamil Catholic Church to be the Salt, light and beacon. Let’s thank the lord for the life and mission of RV M. Let us rededicate ourselves to the lofty ideals he left behind for us to follow. May his soul rest in peace and the eternal light shine upon him. We shall meet him on the beautiful shores one day in the presence of our savior and Lord Jesus.
I make the following appeal to the Bishop of Trichy, Rector St Paul’s Theological College, Trichy, the National YCW , the IYCW Brussels, Belgium and the CCI.
Let’s publish within a short period a souvenir for the life and times of RV M comprising his contributions to the Church, YCW, reminiscences from his childhood friends, relatives, siblings, bishops both local and international , religious, lay leaders and the people from every walk of life.