Alphonsus Mathias, Archbishop Emeritus of Bangalore Archdiocese, passed away on July 10, 2024, at 5.20 p.m. at St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, south India. He was 96 years old.
For the last few months, he has been under treatment for old age-related ailments. Funeral details are awaited.
He was the Bishop of Chikmagalur (1964–1986) and the Archbishop of Bangalore (1986–1998). He was the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) for two terms in 1989 and 1993. He attended the Second Vatican Council as Council Father.
Mathias was born on June 22, 1928, as the fourth child of Diego Mathias, and Philomena D’Souza at Pangala in the South Canara district of Karnataka.
He joined St. Joseph Seminary, Jeppu, Mangalore, in June 1945. Observing his brilliance, his superiors sent him within two and a half years of his Mangaluru seminary life to the Pontifical Seminary in Candy, Sri Lanka, for further studies in philosophy and theology.
On August 24, 1954, he received his priestly ordination at Candy. He offered his first solemn mass at Pangala Church after his return to the native country at the end of the year.
Fr. Alphonsus was appointed as an assistant parish priest at St. Joseph's Parish, Bajpe. In 1955, following a year of service at St Joseph's Parish, Bajpe, he embarked on higher studies in Canon Law and International Civil Law in Rome. There he undertook doctoral studies in Canon Law and International Civil Law from Urbanian University and Lateran University and obtained degrees DD, JUD, PhL. Fr. Mathias returned to the Mangalore diocese in 1959, serving as secretary to Bishop Raymond D’Mello and as chancellor of the diocese.
Pope St. Paul VI appointed him as the first bishop of the newly established diocese of Chikmagalur at the age of 35 on November 16, 1963, and ordained him on February 5, 1964, at St. Joseph's Cathedral, Chikmagalur.
Bishop Mathias toiled throughout his 23 years of service, and he was successful in his mission. He served as Council Father at the Second Vatican Council.
On September 12, 1986, he was appointed Archbishop of Bangalore, and on December 3, 1986, he took charge as Metropolitan Archbishop.
He sent his resignation to Rome on March 24, 1998, at 69, still six years away from retirement, citing poor health.
He won two terms as president of the CBCI, in 1989 and 1993. He was the Chairman of St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore (1974–1982) and was greatly responsible for upgrading St. John’s. He was the Chairman of the Commission for Social Communications of the Federation of the Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC); President of Radio Veritas Asia, Manila; and a member of the Pontifical Commission for Social Communications and the Council for Justice and Peace, Vatican.
He also improved the condition of St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore (1986–1998). - With input from Stephen Alathara
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