Page 81 - Bishop-Roch-Jubli-Malar

BISHOP ROCHE,

'THE MAN'

V. Antonysamy, M. A., L. T.,

As I was thinking of Bishop Roche these solve many difficult and explosive problems which
days, I happened to read an article in the Reader's arose in this town itself let alone the rural parishes
Digest (March 1979) on Pope John Paul II, the of the diocese. He knew his flock, many of them he
Man, and the title for these brief reminiscences knew by their names. He could tackle every one
suggested itself. From a close view of and individually with an amazing knowledge of his

association with the late Bishop from 1933 to 1951, family traditions and customs, and thus making use
my most irresistible and dominant impression is of his natural psychological and sociological
that he was extremely human and humane. Often abilities, he could exercise a healthy moral

we are so carried away by the glamour of external influence over the minds and hearts of the faithful
appearance and the exalted office of a person that committed to his care, be they lay or clerical.
we fail to discern in him the distinctive human
Today after Vatican II they speak of the age
qualities that not only add grandeur and nobility to
of laymen. But this pre-Vatican Bishop had a
his words and actions, but also endear him most
profound respect for and boundless confidence in
effectively to his fellow human beings. This could
laymen. He was largely instrumental in getting the
never happen in the case of Bishop Roche, because
educated laity together in forum of the Assumption
he was so transparently human in all that he was and
Sodality founded in 1933. How meaningfully he
that he did, and his episcopal dignity simply
described it as 'The Gentlemen Sodality', 'the apple
enhanced the value and potency of his richly
of my eye' and 'my right hand'. Whenever
endowed human nature.
necessary, unfailingly on the New Year Day he
The moment you went to him, he would put loved to meet us and have a dialogue with us on
you at ease with many a cordial enquiry about your important matters relating to the welfare of the

welfare and also of all the members of your family. country and the Christian community. We should
With visible fatherly affection, he used to evince a remember he had to be the leader and spokesman of
genuine concern in the health and happiness of the Catholic community at the most critical
myself and my wife, calling her by her name and juncture in the history of our country, which saw the

trying to elicit information about her parents, whom end of British rule and the birth of freedom under
he knew so well. This human approach of this the inspiring leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. On
Bishop stood him in good stead when he had to the day when Mahatma Gandhi died, all Tuticorin

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