Lawrence Picachy
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Trevor Picachy, (7 August 1916, Lebong
, Darjeeling (India
) - 30 November 1992, Calcutta, India
) was an India
n Jesuit priest, spiritual guide of Mother Teresa
, and later Archbishop of Calcutta
(1969 to 1992). He was elevated to the cardinalate
in 1976.
Catholic
parents who had immigarted to India in 1911. After completing the Higher Secondary Cambridge course at St. Joseph College
in Darjeeling, Picachy entered the Society of Jesus
, more commonly known as the Jesuits, in 1934. Novitiate training in St. Stanislaus College (Jharkhand
), was followed by Philosophical studies at the Sacred Heart College
in Shembaganur. After a stint as a teacher in St. Francis Xavier College, Calcutta
, he spent four years at St. Mary College
(Kurseong
) for the Theological
studies preparing for the priesthood. Picachy was ordained
to the priesthood
on November 21, 1947, and served as a professor
and rector
of Saint Xavier College, in Calcutta, from 1950 to 1960, whence he began pastoral
work in Basanti.
On July 12, 1962, Picachy was appointed the first Bishop of Jamshedpur by Pope John XXIII
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following September 9 from Archbishop James Knox
, with Archbishop Pius Kerketta, SJ, and Bishop Augustine Wildermuth, SJ, serving as co-consecrators
. Picachy attended the Second Vatican Council
from 1962 to 1965, and was promoted to Archbishop of Calcutta
on May 29, 1969. He was later named President
of the Indian Episcopal Conference
in 1976.
Pope Paul VI
created him Cardinal Priest
of Sacro Cuore di Maria
in the consistory
of May 24, 1976. Picachy was one of the cardinal electors
who participated in the conclaves
of August and October 1978, which selected Popes John Paul I
and John Paul II
respectively. He resigned his post as Archbishop on April 5, 1986, after sixteen years of service.
The Cardinal died in Calcutta, at age 76. He is buried at the Jesuit Dhyanashram cemetery in Thakurpukur, Calcutta.
Lebong
Lebong is a valley about below Darjeeling town, West Bengal, India. It is about 8 km from the Mall, the central location of Darjeeling. The valley is noted for its race course. The Lebong race course is visible from the town of Darjeeling. Lebong is also the place where initial tea plantation...
, Darjeeling (India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) - 30 November 1992, Calcutta, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) was an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Jesuit priest, spiritual guide of Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
, and later Archbishop of Calcutta
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Calcutta is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in India. It was erected as the Apostolic Vicariate of Bengal in 1834 by Pope Gregory XVI, and renamed as the Apostolic Vicariate of Western Bengal in 1850 by Gregory's...
(1969 to 1992). He was elevated to the cardinalate
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
in 1976.
Biography
Cardinal Pichachy was born in Darjeeling of IrishIrish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
parents who had immigarted to India in 1911. After completing the Higher Secondary Cambridge course at St. Joseph College
St Joseph's College, Darjeeling
St Joseph's College is a government-aided, Christian minority, co-educational college in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. The college campus is located about 3 km north from downtown Darjeeling. The college was established in 1888 along with the School Department and was affiliated to Calcutta...
in Darjeeling, Picachy entered the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, more commonly known as the Jesuits, in 1934. Novitiate training in St. Stanislaus College (Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
), was followed by Philosophical studies at the Sacred Heart College
Sacred Heart College
There are a number of colleges with the name Sacred Heart:-Australia:*Sacred Heart College, Kyneton, a Catholic co-ed Secondary School run by the Sisters of Mercy*Sacred Heart College, Geelong, a Catholic school for girls in Victoria...
in Shembaganur. After a stint as a teacher in St. Francis Xavier College, Calcutta
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, he spent four years at St. Mary College
Vidyajyoti College of Theology
Vidyajyoti College of Theology , Delhi, India, is a institute and faculty of theology run by the Jesuits. It was started in 1879 in Asansol, West Bengal, as a modest 'Saint Joseph’s Seminary'. From 1889 to 1971 it developed in the mountains of Kurseong, near Darjeeling, where it was renamed Saint...
(Kurseong
Kurseong
Kurseong is a hill station situated in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India.Located at an altitude of 1458 metres , Kurseong is just 30 km from Darjeeling...
) for the Theological
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
studies preparing for the priesthood. Picachy was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on November 21, 1947, and served as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Saint Xavier College, in Calcutta, from 1950 to 1960, whence he began pastoral
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
work in Basanti.
On July 12, 1962, Picachy was appointed the first Bishop of Jamshedpur by Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following September 9 from Archbishop James Knox
James Knox
James Robert Knox was a Roman Catholic cardinal and former Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments....
, with Archbishop Pius Kerketta, SJ, and Bishop Augustine Wildermuth, SJ, serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. Picachy attended the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
from 1962 to 1965, and was promoted to Archbishop of Calcutta
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Calcutta is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in India. It was erected as the Apostolic Vicariate of Bengal in 1834 by Pope Gregory XVI, and renamed as the Apostolic Vicariate of Western Bengal in 1850 by Gregory's...
on May 29, 1969. He was later named President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Indian Episcopal Conference
Catholic Bishops' Conference of India
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India is the episcopal conference of the Catholic bishops of India. It was first convened in September 1944, in Madras . Currently the CBCI has 212 members and 38 honorary members, and is headquartered in New Delhi, the capital of India...
in 1976.
Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
created him Cardinal Priest
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
of Sacro Cuore di Maria
Sacro Cuore di Maria
Sacro Cuore Immacolato di Maria , is a titular church in Piazza Euclide, Rome. It was built by the architect Armando Brasini...
in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of May 24, 1976. Picachy was one of the cardinal electors
Cardinal electors in Papal conclaves, August and October 1978
The following were the cardinal electors in the papal conclaves of August and October 1978. Arranged by region , and within each alphabetically .Because there was such a brief period between the two conclaves, the lists of electors...
who participated in the conclaves
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
of August and October 1978, which selected Popes John Paul I
Pope John Paul I
John Paul I , born Albino Luciani, , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and as Sovereign of Vatican City from 26 August 1978 until his death 33 days later. His reign is among the shortest in papal history, resulting in the most recent Year of Three Popes...
and John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
respectively. He resigned his post as Archbishop on April 5, 1986, after sixteen years of service.
The Cardinal died in Calcutta, at age 76. He is buried at the Jesuit Dhyanashram cemetery in Thakurpukur, Calcutta.