Page 169 - Bishop-Roch-Jubli-Malar

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Ordination Francis Tiburtius Roche (Episcopacy

12.6.1923 to 23.09.1953) was the first Bishop of
Francis Tiburtius Roche was ordained
the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tuticorin.
priest on 10 February 1910 at Kurseong seminary.
He was the first indigenous Bishop of Latin
On returning to Thamizh Nadu, he was
Rite in India, and also in Asia, in China and in
appointed Assistant Parish priest of the Holy
Africa.
Redeemer's Church, Trichy. In 1912, he became the
In China, the first Chinese Bishop
Parish priest, and the first Tamil priest of that
(Melchior Sun De Zhen) was consecrated in 1926,
parish.
and in Africa, the First African Bishop (Joseph
He was also the Administrator of the 10 Kiwanuka) in 1939.
elementary schools in Trichy.
In many status, Rt. Rev. Francis Tiburtius
He had been serving in the parish of the Roche, S.J. was,

Holy Redeemer's Church, Trichy, from 1911 to
1. the first Bishop of the diocese of Tuticorin,
1923, when he was named as the first Bishop of
2. the first indigenous Bishop of Latin Rite in India,
Tuticorin.
3. the first native Bishop in the Eastern region of the
Multiple Vocations in Family
Roman Catholic Church, and
Roche's younger brothers Gaspar Roche
4. also the first Indian Jesuit to be appointed
and Joseph Roche, opting for diocesan clergy,
Bishop.
became priests of the Diocese of Tuticorin.
He was the first native Indian Bishop of
Two of his sisters joined the Congregation
Latin Rite in the modern times and he was entrusted
of Our Lady of Seven Dolours.
with the first Indian Catholic diocese of Latin rite,
Consecrated Bishop Roman Catholic Diocese of Tuticorin with native
priests.
When the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Tuticorin was erected a diocese, having been In accordance with his Episcopal motto,
"Love is my Star", he built up churches, schools and
separated from the Diocese of Tiruchirapalli, in
other institutes throughout the diocese.
1923 by the Apostolic Brief "Quae Catholico
Nomini" of Pope Pius XI on 12 June 1923, Rt. Rev. The devotion to St. Theresa of Child Jesus,
Francis Tiburtius Roche, S.J., was appointed the whom he called as "Little Queen", was spread to the
first Bishop of the Diocese on the same day and was extent that on her feast day, in several parishes, the

consecrated Bishop on 23 September 1923. custom of blessing and distribution of rose petals
became prevalent.
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