The Paris Foreign Mission, MEP, Bangalore, India


RAUTUREAU Pierre

Born on February 27,1849.in Vendée, France.

Joined the M.E.P. Society on September 24,1872.

Ordained priest on May 30,1874.

Left for Mysore on July 15,1874.

Expired on June 12,1928 in Mysore.

In the various places he exercised his ministry, he was appreciated for his practical sense. His ardent and enlightened zeal, compensated somehow his limited command of local languages.

During his first years he was appointed in Christian communities distant from Bangalore such as Winaad and the Coorg.

Then, he was sent to Arsikere where he revealed his taste and gifts for architecture. He built a small church by the side of the railway line. It was a modest beginning which prepared him for the construction of the Sacred Heart Church in Bangalore. When he began this construction he had just been appointed parish priest of Blackpally where he remained for 33 years.

When taking charge of this Parish, he found that much had been done but still more remained to do. He succeeded in running a Parish of 8030 souls and to make it self-supporting.

His popularity became apparent at his funeral presided by the Bishop. It was particularly noticed that the male attendance was half the congregation.

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Mgr BRIGOT

First Bishop of the Malabar Mission.

In Memorial de La Société des Missions Etrangères par Adrien LAUNAY.

Pierre BRIGOT was born in France September1,1713

He joined the MEP Seminary and was destined to the mission of Siam in 1741.

He worked first in a place called "Mergui". He came back to bangkok on January 22,1755 aand was apppointed bishop of TABRACA and Coajutor of Siam.

Mgr de Solière died beforze the episcopal ordination, therefore Fr Brigot had to go to Manilla where he was consecrated Bishop on August 24, 1757.

On January 31, 1768 he ordained a successor and left for Pondicherry in 1769 or 1770. He took along with him the manuscript of " History of the kingdom of Siam and of the revolutions that have caused the overthrow of the empire, up to A.D.1770."

On September 30, 1776, he was apppointed Superior of the "Malabar Mission" by Pope PIUS VI. After the suppression of the Jesuit order, the mission was given to the MEP Society. He devoted himself to the reunion of the Jesuits and MEP missionaries and encouraged them to work together.

In 1785, he chose Fr. CHAMPENOIS as coajutor and consecrated him on November 5,1786 and soon, because of old age and sickness, he entrusted the administration to his coadjutor. He died in Pondicherry onj November 8,1791.

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Mgr Nicolas CHAMPENOIS

Born on April 1734 in the diocese of Reims, in France, where he exercised some pastoral ministry before joining the MEP Society on July 13, 1776.

He left France for the Malabar mission on January 13, 1777. He was ordained Bishop at Pondicherry on November 13, 1786.

He opened a minor seminary (Petit Séminaire) near the cathedral of Pondicherry as well as a college. He finished the cathedral and consecrated it on June 20, 1791.

He had to face difficulties with the French Governement as well as with the British who had a deep diffidence of the French priests. They refused him permission to go to Patna and to Madras where Rome wanted him to go to solve some local difficulties.He health keeping deteriorating, he ordained Mgr Hebert as his successor. He died in Pondicherry on October 30, 1811.

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Louis Charles Auguste HEBERT

He was born in France around 1763.

He left for the Malabar Mission on January 29, 1792.

In 1806 he was nominated Bishop of Halicarnasse and coadjutor to Mgr Champenois who, pretexting his poor health, refused to ordained him bishop. When after 5 years he consented to do so, it was Fr. Hebert who refused to be consecrated pretexting that nobody was available to replace him in his parishes as well as procurator of the mission.

Mgr Champenois died and finally Fr Hebert had to go to Verapoly to be ordained Bishop on March 2, 1811.

Because of the French Revolution and subsequently the Napoleonian wars, the Malabar mission was in a very critical situation. Priests and financial resources were scarce. Only after 1819 was it possible to send young missionaries and only 6 local priests were ordained between 1814 and 1823.

During the epidemy of cholera in 1829, the Bishop distributed as much help as he was able to. He even has to melt the sacred vessesl and sell them to make some money to help the victims of the famine. Mgr Hebert obtained from Rome the title of Vicar Apostolic but died on October 3, 1836 before the Brief reaches him.

Under his administration, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny came to Pondicherry to open an orphanage for girls. In 1828, he chose Father Bonnand as his coadjutor and consecrated him on 1833.

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Mgr Clément BONNAND

The short biogrphy of Mgr Hebert ends with the following note:" Selecting Mgr BONNAND as his successor may be considered as the greatest service he rendered to the mission."

Clément BONNAND was one of the most remarkable Vicar Apostolic of the MEP Society and the missions in India where he played an important role for more than 20 years.

Born on May 20, 1796 in France, he was ordained priest on June 17, 1821. He served for some time as an assistant in a parish of his own diocese. He joined the MEP Seminary on November 14, 1823.

He left for the Malabar Mission on February 4, 1824 and served first at Phirangipuram in Anbdhra Pradesh.

He was selected as Coadjutor by Mgr HEBERT in 1831, he was consecrated on November 8, 1833 because he hesitated a long time before accepting this charge.

The Salient point of his tenure as Vicar Apostolic, was "The Synod of Pondicherr". It took place from January 18 to February 13, 1844. It was to have a very great influence not only in India but in all the Far East.

After the Synod, Father LUQUET wa sent to Rome to plead for the creation of local catholic hierarchy in India, but the request was too much ahead of the time.

On March 16, 1845, the Vicariate Apostolic of Pondicherry was divided into three missions. Namely: Pon,dicherry, Coimbatore and Mysore. On April 3, 1850, by the Brief "Pastorale Minsisterium" Mysore and Coimbatore too, were elevated indo Vicariate apostolic.

In 1849, Mgr Bonnadheld a secoind synod that completed the work of the Synod of 1844.

On August 13, 1859 Mgr Bonnand was appointed by Pope Pius IX, Visitor Apostolic for all the missions in India. He left Pondicherry never to return on November 29, 1859. He died in Benares on March 21, 1861.

More About Mgr Bonnand:

CATHOLIC REVIVAL IN INDIA IN THE 19TH CENTURY.

Role of Mgr Clément Bonnand ( 1796 -1861)

Volume 1: Up to the General Division of the Indian Mission ( 1845)

By Father Thomas ANCHUKANDAM, SDB

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About the Synod of Pondicherry:

THE FIRST SYNOD OF PONDICHERRY 1844.

A study based on Archival Sources.

By Thomas ANCHUKANDAM.


Jean - Antoine DUBOIS

Father DUBOIS is well known for his book " Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies".. To this day it is reprinted again and again. It has been published in French, English and Spanish languages.

Jean-Antoine DUBOISQ WAS BORN ON January 10, 1776. He joined the MEP Society and was ordained priest on 1791. He left France for the Malabar Mission on January 29, 1792.

In October 1799 his Superiors sent him to Mysore to try and bring back to the Catholic fold Chistians who had been forcefully converted to Islam by Tippu Sultan.

He very earnestly encourage Indians to be vaccined against small-pox with so much success that the Government granted him an annual pension of two thousand Francs. Fr. Dubois was held in high esteem by the British. He obtained from them a plot of land at Hosur to build a church, an allowance for the church of Srirangapatnam and another for the church of Dharmapuri.

Still his ministry was handicapped by his lack of confidence in Indian Christians and the degree of perfection he demanded from them.

In 1813, the Seminary of Pondicherry being in great financial difficulties, he took charge and maintained it with his own resources.

In 1819, he was called back to Paris as a representative of the Malabar Mission.

Before his departure, the British opened a subscription to paint his portrait. It was done and deposited at the Academy of Madras.

Fr. Dubois finished his life at the Service of the MEP Society in France and England where he published " Letters on the State of Christianity in India". He expired at Paris on February 17, 1848.

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François JARRIGE

François JARRIGE was born on September 8, 1796. He joined the MEP Society on February 23, 1818 and was ordained priest on December 18, 1819. He left for Pondicherry on December 30, 1819. From 1826 till 1830, he administered the Mysore mission and then was transferred back to Pondicherry.

In 1848, he was appointed Pro-vicar Apostolic by Mgr Charbonnaux and given the recently founded parish of St Francis Xavier at Bangalore. He kept this charge for 20 years.

On April 13, 1860, during an interim (Mgr Charbonnaux was in France) he wrote a circular about the use of funds sent by the Holy Childhood. It was addressed to the three headquarters of the time Nandidurg, Ashtagram, and Kadur. These were ecclesiastic divisions without corresponding civil districts. At this time and to help the formation of the Sisters of Saint Anne, he compounded a treaty "On the Vocation, Noviciate, vows, merits of religious women teachers".

In 1873, he retired but remained Pro-Vicar till 1880. He expired on September 12, 1889, aged 93.

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Etienne - Louis CHARBONNAUX

The life story of Mgr Charbonnaux has been written by Father Jaunet, Mysore, in his short history of the Mysore Mission. The Diskette could be duplicated and obtained from Mr Dassan at Shukrodaya, Mysore.

See also the book in French of Father Francis AUDIAU:

DANS LES REGIONS TORRIDES DU SUD DE L'INDE.

Un évêque Missionnaire: Mgr Etienne-Louis Charbonnaux.

To these should be added the various books composed by Mgr Charbonnaux as mentioned in the Memorial. Namely:

1) Viyakarana Kannada Latin (grammar Kannada-Latin)

2) Divya Matrouke ( the divine Model)

3) Pourvika Matada Vyakyana (Explanation of the old religion)

4) Shiloube Haadi.

5) Agnatavasada Dyana. ( Exercises of Saint Ignatius)

6) Veda Bodakara krama. ( rules for the catechis)

7) Gnana darpana. ( the spirituam mirror)

8) Satyavedada parikshe. (Examination of the true religion)

9) Loka Maduve Prastada Kramavu. ( about marriage ceremonies)

10)Japada Dodda Pustakavu. (Book of Prayer)

11)Japada Chikka Pustakavu.

12)Divya Parikshe.

13)Patitara marga. ( The way of the heretics)

14)Kannada - Latin Agaradi. (Dictionnarium Latinum Kannada)

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Joseph - Auguste CHEVALIER

Joseph-Aguste Chevalier was born on March 16, 1814 and ordained priest in his own diocese of Besançon on September 3, 1837. He joined the MEP Society on October 13, 1837 and left for the Malabar Mission on September 3, 1838. He was sent to the Mysore mission.

In 1844, he took part in the Synod of Pondicherry.

In 1845, Mysore having become a separate mission, he was given the responsibility to open a new seminary in Bangalore to recruit local vocations. He was given also the charge of the Christians of the town.

In 1852 he was appointed military chaplain. He kept this function for 20 years. He published several opuscules for the soldiers. As chaplain, he received an allowance to build the Nagar and seminary chapels as well as St Francis Xavier's church.

In 1859 he started with his own resources "The Institute of the Brothers of St Joseph" for the education of the youth

In 1869, he was selected as Pro-Vicar by Mgr Charbonnaux.

In 1873, he was appointed Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of Mysore. He was consecrated on March 1, 1874 at Bangalore.

During the great famines of 1876 - 1878, he multiplied his alms, increased the number of orphanages, bought land to settle destitute families, and started one farming colony.

Exhausted by his pastoral tours, he had an attack of pleurisy on March 18, 1880 and expired the 25 of the same month at Bangalore. He is buried in the Sanctuary of the cathedral, at the foot of St Patrick's altar.

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Joseph BIGOT - BEAUCLAIR

Born on July 21, 1804, he joined the MEP Society o August 17, 1829. He left for Pondicherry on August 16, 1830 when still Deacon only. He was ordained priest at Pondicherry on May 28, 1831.

In 1833, he was given charge of Srirangapatnam. He built several chapels including Harihar, and Anekal. He repaired churches of ?lahalli, Settihalli and built a presbytery at Hosur. He ban a church at Mysore.

In 1845, he built at Shoolay, in Bangalore what was destined to be a seminary but ultimately became a school for girls.

He prepared a blue-print for a seminary in Bangalore. He 1851, 1852, he constructed St Joseph's church. When he was given charge of the parish of Saint Mary, at Blackpalli, he founded there in 1853 or 1854 an orphanage for boys.

He died in Bangalore on July 15, 1858.

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JEAN - Marie Auguste BOUTELOUP

He was born on May 31, 1820 and probably ordained priest on December 1843 for the Diocese of Le Mans, in France. For a short time, he joined the Jesuit noviciate but soon returned to his diocese.

He joined the MEP Society on June 29, 1849 and was destined to the mission of Mysore. In 1851 he was given the direction of the seminary in Bangalore which he reconstructed in 1854. In 1858, he went to Europe. His Bishop, Mgr Charbonnaux, wanted English Brothers for the schools of the Missions. He returned in 1859 without having been able to find anybody.

He was then sent to Chikbalapur. He built oratories at Kanpally and Manchanahally.

He composed in Kannada, English and Latin, several books on catholic teaching, apologetic treaties against proptestant errors and of pedagogy. Relentless worker, having a good command of the language, he published several books in a short time.

He was appointed to the printing press of Bangalore. He sent to the universal exhibition of Paris in 1867 several books printed at his press.

In 1872, he left the MEP Society to join the Carmelites at Verapoly. He died near this town, in the Convent of Magnumel on May 21, 1892. He is buried in the Convent Chapel.

Books written by father BOUTELOUP.

1) Latinu Kannada Agaradi. Dictionnarium Canarense latinul ad usum Maïsurensis catholici seminarii.

2) England shimeya charitre.

3) Bhoogula Shaastra.

4) Ganitada Pustaka.

5) Adityawaarada Pustaka.

6) Tirusabeya Charitreyou.

7) Philosophiae Indicae Expositio ad usum scholarum.

8) Elementa Prodiae Canarensis.

9) Gnana Bhodaka. Translation from a book in Tamil by Fr. Beschi.

10)Hanna Sangyagala Vyakyanavu.

11)Kannada Gnanopadeshavu.

12)Archashistara Charitreyou. (Translated from Tamil)

13)Patitara Khandaneyou. (Refutation of Protestantism)

14)Tirusabeya Lakshnagalu.

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Thought for the Day:" Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, Fon in the manner their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did they fathers to the false prophets." Holy Bible: Luke 6:20-26

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