Michael Xavier Leo AROKIARAJ
Early Life and Education
Msgr. Michael Xavier Leo AROKIARAJ was born to Roman Catholic parents, namely Mr. Micheal and Mrs. Santiago Ammal as the fourth child at Mettupatti in Dindigul district, Tamilnadu, India, on the 8th September 1958. He was named Arokiaraj as a gratitude to Our Lady of Good Health of Vailankanni, for having answered the assiduous prayer of the devout couple for a male child. From the very beginning of his childhood, his parents paid attention to his both spiritual and academic formations.[1] He started his primary education in St. Philomena's Primary School, Mettupatti and then continued his middle school education in St. Mary’s High School, Dindigul.[2]
Formation and Sacerdotal Ordination
After his middle school education, he expressed his desire and willingness to become a priest. Being hesitant to allow the son who was born after many years of prayers, the parents wanted him to be with them, but could not refuse when they heard from their son, saying “it is better that the son who was born through the intercession of Mother Mary serves her Son as a priest.” He was recruited for the diocese of Trichy and began his formation in St. Augustine’s Minor Seminary in 1971 and continued his high school education in Roman Catholic High School and the pre-university course in St. Joseph’s College, Trichy. On seeing his academic performance and the life of faith, the then bishop of the diocese of Trichy, Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Fernando, paid a special interest on his future formation. As per the guidance of the bishop, he was sent to Christ Hall Seminary for his philosophical studies and he graduated himself as a bachelor of philosophy in Arul Anandar College, Karumathur. He was sent to Rome to pursue his theological studies in Pontificia Università Urbaniana. During his studies in Urbaniana, he accepted the responsibility of Tamil broadcast in Vatican Radio. After his theological studies, he was ordained deacon on the 18th October 1983 and priest on 25th April 1984.[3]
Higher Studies and Ministry
After the priestly ordination, he was appointed as the assistant parish priest in St. Joseph’s church, Golden Rock, Trichy in 1984 and then was transferred to Holy Redeemer’s Basilica, Trichy, wherein he served as the assistant parish priest and pursued a bachelor degree in law in Government Law College, Trichy, and registered himself as a member of the Bar Council of Chennai High Court. To gain pastoral experience, he was appointed as the parish priest of N.Poolampatti, a poor and undeveloped parish with 8 mission stations and 6 schools. His ardent pastoral and development mission in this parish is still now remembered. At the request of his bishop, he was sent to the Archdiocese of Chieti, Italy, to minister the people in Filetto, Bolognano, and Piano d’Orta for two years. Then he pursued his licentiate and doctorate in Pontificia Università Urbaniana, defending his thesis under the title “The administrative recourse in the context of the communion in the Church” in 1996. In 1998, he was appointed a lawyer in the Roman Rota and the ecclesiastical honorary title ‘Monsignor’ was accredited to him in 1999 by Saint Pope John Paul II, acknowledging his valuable service to the Catholic Church. On 4th March 2000, he was appointed as the Head of the Chancellery of the Roman Rota[4] and on 25th April 2007, he was appointed Prelate Auditor of the Roman Rota by Pope Benedict XVI.[5] He is the first one from Tamil Nadu, from India and from the Far East to be raised to this prestigious office of the Holy See. He was also nominated, by Pope Francis, member of the Law Commission for the study of the Reform of the Matrimonial Process in Canon Law.[6] He is currently also a professor of jurisprudence in the Rotal Law College.
References[edit]
- ↑ Kavitha Albert, “Iraiyatchipaniyil Christuvin Paniyalarkal” (Jebamalini Publications: Marutham Parai, 2010) p.240.
- ↑ Kavitha Albert, “Iraiyatchipaniyil Christuvin Paniyalarkal” (Jebamalini Publications: Marutham Parai, 2010 ) p.244.
- ↑ Kavitha Albert, “Iraiyatchipaniyil Christuvin Paniyalarkal” (Jebamalini Publications: Marutham Parai, 2010) pp.245-250.
- ↑ http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/20 07/aprile%202007 .pdf, p. 310.
- ↑ http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/2007/ maggio%202007.pdf, p 400.
- ↑ http://www.gcatholic.org/hierarchy/data/officials-A.htm#46405 and https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/pope-creates-vatican-commission-study-marriage-process.
Michael Xavier Leo AROKIARAJ[edit]
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