Fr. Michael Panimegam was born on 1st June 1949, in Ariyandipuram in Sivgangai Diocese of Tamilnadu. He joined the Society of Jesus on 5th January 1968, at Dindigul, for Madurai Province, and took his first vows on 11th January 1970. Fr Michael felt the call to go to the missions in North India and so joined the Santal Region after his Philosophy. He was ordained Priest on 13th April 1980, and took his final vows on 22nd April 1986.
Fr. Michael was greatly interested in education work. He was assigned as Headmaster of St. John Berchmans Middle School in 1981. In 1985, he was appointed as Assistant Headmaster of the High School at Mundli, and after a few months he was appointed Headmaster of the High School. He remained there till 1997. He worked for a year in Kohima in 1999. In 2000, he was appointed Headmaster of DeBono Middle School, and Hostel prefect for the boys at Chilimpur. From 2012 to 2014, he was in-charge of the mission at Karon. When the need arose for Headmaster at Nichitpur in North Dinajpur District of West Bengal, Fr Michael willingly took up that responsibility of the Bengali School there. On 20th December 2019, he had a stroke and after his initial treatment at Kolkata, he was convalescing in the Province infirmary at Kalidanga. Fr Michael surrendered himself to his Master and Lord on 3rd January 2022, and passed into eternity peacefully. Fr Michael was a man of strong faith, open, humorous, friendly, sociable, efficient, serviceable and an outgoing personality. He was entrusted with responsibilities such as Headmaster, Superior, Province Coordinator for Education, and Province Consultor. He carried out his responsibilities with full trust in the Lord and to the best of his ability. May God grant Fr Michael Panimegam Eternal Rest!
Paul Aquilina, SJ
