Obituary of Fr Thomas Aquinas

In Loving Memory of Fr. Thomas Aquinas SVD 1956 - 2014 Date of Birth : 24/10/1956 Joined SVD : 03/06/1973 Trichy First Vows : 12/06/1979 Khurda Final Vows : 12/06/1984 Pune Ordained : 07/05/1985 Tuticorin Died : 01/04/2014 Indore Appointments: 1986 - 1990 Assistant Parish Priest, Dahod 1990 - 1995 Parish Priest & Principal, Dahod 1995 - 1996 Staff Member, Snehalay, Indore 1996 - 1997 Staff Member, Pradeepti, Khandwa 1997 - 1999 Manager & Parish Priest, Vijaynagar 1999 - 2009 Trustee & Principal, Godhra 2009 - 2011 Spiritual Director, KPRP, Bhopal 2011 - 2012 Manager & Treasurer, Meghnagar 2012 - 2014 Counsellor, St. Arnold’s School, Vijaynagar, Indore Lord, You have granted Fr. Thomas Aquinas SVD, your servant, an ardent love for your Kingdom. May he rejoice for ever in the glory of your Kingdom in the fellowship of your saints. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. R.I.P. Obituary Fr. Thomas Aquinas SVD “I thank God for having chosen me as the Divine Word Missionary”. 24/10/1956 - 01/04/2014 Fr. Thomas Aquinas SVD passed away on April 1, 2014 at 1.45 pm at Roberts Nursing Home, Indore, due to a massive cardiac arrest. He was brought to Roberts Nursing Home, Indore on Tuesday after his arrival from Godhra by Shanti Express. His condition became worse in the afternoon. He breathed his last in the presence of a number of confreres including Provincial Superior, Rev. Fr. Nicholas Martis SVD as well as Provincial Elect, Rev. Fr. Xavier Thirukudumbam SVD. Fr. Thomas Aquinas SVD was born on October 24, 1956 to late Mr. M. Gnanpragasam and Mrs. Theresa at Tuticorin. He has four brothers and two sisters. He joined St. Charles' Seminary, Trichy on June 3, 1973. After Palda course, he graduated from PMB Gujarati 56 78 79 84 85 Science College, Indore together with his classmate, Most Rev. A. A. S. Durairaj SVD. He took his first vows on June 12, 1979 and pronounced his final vows on June 12, 1984. He was ordained a Priest on May 7, 1985 by Most Rev. Amalanather, Bishop of Tuticorin. His first appointment was at Dahod as an Assistant Parish Priest, later on as Parish Priest and Principal of St. Stephen's School from 1990-1995. He worked at Snehalay, Indore and Pradeepti, Khandwa for a year. In 1997 he was appointed as the first Parish Priest of St. Arnold's Church, and Manager of St. Arnold's School, Vijaynagar, Indore. From then he served 10 long years as Principal of St. Arnold's English Medium School, Godhra. He served as Spiritual Director at Khrist Premalaya Regional Philosophate, Bhopal for two years and later for a year he was appointed as the Manager and Tresurer at St. Arnold's School, Meghnagar, Jhabua. From there he was appointed as the Counsellor at St. Arnold's Higher Secondary School, Vijaynagar, Indore. During his Regency in St. Stephen's School, Dahod from 1981–1982, he proved himself to be an excellent teacher of Maths and Science. He also expressed his desire to take up teaching-ministry after his Ordination. Accordingly, soon after his pastoral experience he was sent for B.Ed. in Bhopal from 1985 – 1986. Immediately after his studies, he was appointed as a permanent teacher in the Grant- in- Aid section of St. Stephen's High School, Dahod, 1986. He took over the reign from Fr. Ignatius Thottappilly in 1990, as Principal, Parish Priest and Trustee of the Church Trust in Dahod. He discharged his duties meticulously and responsibly in Dahod from 1986 – 1995. After a Sabbatical Year, he was ready again to work in St. Arnold's School, Godhra as Principal and Trustee from 1999 – 2009. He spent most of his life as a Teacher / Principal / Manager / Counsellor in Dahod, Godhra, Bhopal, Meghnagar and Vijaynagar. He has served the Society in many capacities especially as an educationist and that too for long time at Dahod and Godhra. He was a fun loving and community minded person. Many times one would hear from him saying 'I thank God for having chosen me as the Divine Word Missionary.' During the difficult times in the school ministry, he was courageous and stood for principles. With his death, INC Province has lost an able educationist. It is during this academic year his relatives visited him in the places where he worked especially Indore and he spent time with them taking them toAgra and Delhi. The Lord's ways are mysterious and we cannot comprehend why he left us all of a sudden. Few days ago, he frantically looked to book his tickets to go for his holidays in summer. He was complaining that he is in the waiting list and he has not got the reservation. In God's Kingdom, there is no reservation or booking in 'Tatkal' because He always welcomes you. We are in Lenten season which reminds us that death is only a passage to new life. He has entered that new life before us. He was laid to rest at the Garden of Resurrection, Catholic Ashram Palda, Indore on April 3, 2014 after a solemn Eucharistic Celebration held at Holy Spirit Church, Palda, officiated by Most Rev. Leo Cornelio SVD, Most Rev. Chacko Thottumarickal SVD, Most Rev.A.A. S. Durairaj SVD and many Priests, Brothers, religious and relatives paying their loving tribute to the departed confrere. May he rest in Peace! INC Provincial Office, Indore. In Loving Memory of Fr. Thomas Aquinas SVD 1956 - 2014 Burial at Garden of Resurrection, Catholic Ashram Palda, Indore..

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