After almost fifty years of continuous, non-stop labouring as an administrator in educational institutions, mostly in Jesuit institutions, Fr. Louis Xavier moved in 2016 to BeschiIllam, Dindigul, where on 15th June 2019, he quietly surrendered his soul to his Creator.

Administrator: Fr. Louis Xavier devoted most of his life to the education of the youth in Jesuit institutions. He was an able administrator. He was Principal of St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli (1970-1972). He was a pioneer in starting institutions of Business Administration in Tiruchirapalli and Palayamkottai and gave a facelift to LIBA in Chennai as its Director. He got AICTE recognition for LIBA. He had a short stint of administration (2001 to 2004) as Correspondent of Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada, where he was also MBA Director for a year. 

Actuator: He was a Professor of English, but when need arose he was ready to shoulder the responsibility of starting management institutes. He was a good actuator. He made others work hard by goading them on with his motivational talks, and led by example. He was a member of the UGC National Curriculum Development Cell for Indian Universities. He was National Secretary of Jesuit Higher Education; Director, Jesuit Educational Research Institute; Secretary, National Jesuit Education Association (JEA); South Asian Coordinator of Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference – Office of Education and Student Chaplaincy (FABC-OESC).

Alchemist: Anything that passed through his hands gained weight and importance. His life exemplified the core theme of Paulo Coelho’s novel The Alchemist: ‘If you have a special dream, Nature itself will conspire to bend itself and accomplish the desires of your dream.’ This was verified in the life of Fr. Louis Xavier. The Madurai Province has lost a great administrator. May he rest in peace!

• A. J. Thamburaj, SJ