In Memorium

When Tuticorin was created a diocese, having been separated from the diocese of Tiruchirapalli, in 1923 by the Apostolic Brief "Quae CatholicoNomini" of Pope Pius XI, Rt. Rev. Francis Tiburtius Roche, sj, became its first Bishop. He is also the first Indian Bishop of the Latin Rite. He was born on 14 th April, 1879 in Tuticorin. After his ordination as a Jesuit on the 10 th of February, 1910 , he had been serving in the parish of the Holy Redeemer’s Church, Trichy, from 1911 to 1923. He was named as the first Bishop of Tuticorin in June 12 th 1923 , and was consecrated on the 23 rd of September 1923.

In accordance with his Episcopal motto, “Love is my Star”, he built up churches, schools and other institutes throughout the diocese. The devotion to St. Theresa of Child Jesus, whom he called as “Little Queen”, was spread to the extent that on her feast day, in several parishes, the custom of blessing and distribution of rose petals became prevalent. The Leprosarium, and St. Mary’s College in Tuticorin; Little Flower Seminary and Fatima Giri Ashram of the Rosarians at Vadakangulam; and St. Joseph’s Charity Institute at Adaikalapuram are some of the fruits of his endeavor. In his time, Satankulam became a vicariate. He retired in September 1953 and slept in the Lord on the 17 th of December, 1955 .