Br. Xavier S. Arockiasamy (92), the oldest member of the Jesuit Community of St. Joseph’s College, Trichy, was his usual self at supper on 2 December 2023. However, the next morning, the cook who went to his room with a cup of coffee, found him lying on the floor. Immediately, he was rushed to the Child Jesus Hospital, where it was confirmed that he must have passed away before 6.00 a.m. due to cardiac arrest. He passed away on the feast of his patron, St. Francis Xavier.

The Funeral Mass was celebrated on the same day in the evening by Bishop M. Devadoss Ambrose, D.D., nephew of Br. Xavier, and Fr. Thomas Amirtham, Provincial. After the Mass, the mortal remains of Br. Xavier were interred in the crypt below the College Church of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Br. Xavier entered the Society as a Brother in 1955 and pronounced his Final Vows in 1965. As he was efficient in shouldering the work given to him in the Province, he was asked to work in the Roman Curia for 11 years. After returning from Rome in 1983, he served for 30 years as the Bursar at both Loyola College, Chennai, and St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchi. He was known and appreciated for his simplicity, cheerfulness, calm demeanour, extraordinary memory and his warm and deep appreciation for any kindness received. To the joyful surprise of anyone, his reasoning was superb, his eyesight and hearing were intact, and his ability to adapt to the changing times was amazing. He was a model to the community members; he was normally the first one in the domestic chapel for the daily Eucharist. May he now rest in peace!

– Emmanuel Arockiam, SJ