S. Arulappa
Encyclopedia
Archbishop Samineni Arulappa (28 August 1924 – 13 February 2005), often shortened to S Arulappa, was an India
n Roman Catholic
clergyman who served as the Archbishop of Hyderabad from December 1971 through January 2000. The youngest priest to be consecrated to such a high office, he was also the longest-serving Catholic Archbishop in India
. He was also the first Archbishop who had the honour of being consecrated by Pope Paul VI
in Rome.
"Love and Serve" was his motto.
Samineni Chinnaiah in Kilacheri in the state of Tamil Nadu
. Earlier, his ancestors migrated southward from Gandikota after the defeat of the Gandikota rulers (Pemmasani surname) along with many other kamma families of different surnames and settled in that area. Some families migrated towards Guntur side. When the state of Andhra Pradesh
was formed, Kilacheri fell under Tamil Nadu
.
He was the last born in a family of four sisters, two of whom are nuns, and two brothers. He was brought up in an atmosphere of strict discipline by his mother who wanted to see her only son become a Priest. The Archbishop reminiscences that her mother looked forward to the day when she could see him as a Priest but both his parents died before he was ordained a priest. He was since supported by his brother Samineni Anthaiah.
), Kandy
, Sri Lanka
to pursue theological studies. The Papal Seminary awarded Arulappa licentiate degrees in Philosophy and Theology (L. Ph. & L. Th.) on successfully completing his studies there. Later in 1955, the said College re-located to Pune
[the Papal Seminary / Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth is located in Ramwadi (Ahmednagar highway), Pune].
Subsequently, he studied Economics
and Education
in Loyola College
, Chennai.
.
He joined the faculty of the Madras Archdiocesan Minor & Major Seminaries in Madras and taught Latin
and Philosophy
besides being the Rector
of the Seminary.
Arulappa also served as a Parish Priest in two parishes and was also Principal of St. Joseph's Anglo-Indian Boys' High School in Madras.
He was also sent to Oxford University, the oldest university in England, for post-graduate studies in Public and Social Administration.
Later, Arulappa was appointed as the Rector of Christ Hall Seminary, a philosophate in Karumathur in Madurai and served as its Rector.
On 6 December 1971, he was appointed as the Archbishop of Hyderabad. He was consecrated principally by Pope Paul VI
and co-consecrators Cardinals Alfrink and Conway on February 13, 1972 at St. Peter's Basilica
in Rome
.
Later, he was installed as the Archbishop of Hyderabad on 19 March 1972 in the All Saints' School Grounds in Abids, Hyderabad.
Arulappa recollects that on 12 December 1971, he received a letter from the Apostolic Nunciature stating that he had been nominated as the Archbishop of Hyderabad and all that he could do was just kneel down and pray like never before.
About 85 priests were ordained in the archdiocese during his Archbishopric.
Mother Teresa
arrived in Hyderabad for the first time, the Archbishop was there to receive her and later took her to the residence of the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy
who offered a part of a hospital in new Bhoiguda in Secunderabad for establishing a home for the dying destitute.
Secunderabad hosts the Presidents of India annually. Rashtrapati Nilayam in Secunderabad is home to the Presidents during summers. The Archbishop used to call on them during the President's sojourn to Secunderabad. In the year 1982, the President Giani Zail Singh even visited the St. Mary's Church in Secunderabad on invitation by the Archbishop.
of the Ramakrishna Mission
and Swami Chidananda Saraswati
of the Divine Life Society
. On a particular occasion, he remarked that he was an Indian by nationality, a Hindu by culture and a Christian by religion.
In the year 1977, he shared dais with the global evangelist Rev. Dr. Billy Graham
and his associate Rev. Dr. Akbar Abdul Haqq during their conventions in Secunderabad.
At another convention, he proposed common Eucharist among the Catholic and Protestant Churches.
The yearly United Christmas Celebrations organised by the laymen of the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant backgrounds was the brainchild of the lay Methodists of Hyderabad. Together, they approached the three Bishop's resident in Hyderabad, namely, Archbishop S. Arulappa, Bishop Victor Premasagar (CSI
Bishop-in-Medak), and Bishop Elia Peter (Methodist Bishop of Hyderabad Regional Conference) who gave their nod and thus was born the United Christmas Celebrations, a yearly event to which either the Governor
or Chief Minister
of Andhra Pradesh are invited with participation by all the Churches of Hyderabad.
A Silver Jubilee Souvenir describing the achievements of Archbishop Arulappa was also released by the Archdiocese of Hyderabad entitled "Archbishop Arulappa completes a Quarter Century" with articles by:
and was Archbishop Emeritus.
On his retirement, the Archdiocese of Hyderabad released a book "Love and Serve", a brief memoir
authored by Archbishop Arulappa himself.
Fr. Dr. John Wijngaards
, MHM, L.S.S. (Rome
), D. Th. (Rome
) served as a Lecturer in St. John's Regional Seminary, Hyderabad from 1964-1976 during the archbishopric of Arulappa. He espoused the cause of women priests.
Although Archbishop Arulappa expressed his respect for women, he remained faithful to the stance taken by Rome
regarding women's ordination. Speaking at the plenary of the Association of Theologically Trained Women of India
(ATTWI), held at the Auditorium of Stanley Girls High School, Chapel Road, Hyderabad in the year 1999, he said that women in the Catholic Church were even given duties like Bible reading, offering communion, etc. and were also holding independent positions in religious orders and managing institutions.
Once, while addressing the Catholic Family Movement, he jocularly remarked that "God created man and rested. He created woman and neither God or man rested. That is the problem of all married people." On another occasion, he remarked that "Women are only asking for equality. I am one of those who say that women are actually superior to men !". Were the Archbishop remarks veiled references to his upbringing in a family of four sisters and a mother ?
on 14 February 2005.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
clergyman who served as the Archbishop of Hyderabad from December 1971 through January 2000. The youngest priest to be consecrated to such a high office, he was also the longest-serving Catholic Archbishop in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was also the first Archbishop who had the honour of being consecrated by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
in Rome.
"Love and Serve" was his motto.
Early years
Arulappa was born on 28 August 1924 to Smt. Rajamma and SriSri
Sri , also transliterated as Shri or Shree or shre is a word of Sanskrit origin, used in the Indian subcontinent as polite form of address equivalent to the English "Mr." in written and spoken language, or as a title of veneration for deities .-Etymology:Sri has the root meaning of radiance, or...
Samineni Chinnaiah in Kilacheri in the state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. Earlier, his ancestors migrated southward from Gandikota after the defeat of the Gandikota rulers (Pemmasani surname) along with many other kamma families of different surnames and settled in that area. Some families migrated towards Guntur side. When the state of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
was formed, Kilacheri fell under Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
.
He was the last born in a family of four sisters, two of whom are nuns, and two brothers. He was brought up in an atmosphere of strict discipline by his mother who wanted to see her only son become a Priest. The Archbishop reminiscences that her mother looked forward to the day when she could see him as a Priest but both his parents died before he was ordained a priest. He was since supported by his brother Samineni Anthaiah.
Seminary Studies
Arulappa also evinced keen interest in pursuing the vocation of priesthood and also assisted the Priests as an altar boy during his childhood. He was sent to the Kandy Pontifical College (Known as the Papal Seminary, it was built in 1893 by Pope Leo XIIIPope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
), Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
to pursue theological studies. The Papal Seminary awarded Arulappa licentiate degrees in Philosophy and Theology (L. Ph. & L. Th.) on successfully completing his studies there. Later in 1955, the said College re-located to Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
[the Papal Seminary / Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth is located in Ramwadi (Ahmednagar highway), Pune].
Subsequently, he studied Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
and Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
in Loyola College
Loyola College, Chennai
Loyola College is a Jesuit institution in Chennai, India. The college admits undergraduates and post-graduates and offers degrees in the liberal arts, sciences and commerce. It is an autonomous institution affiliated with the University of Madras.-History:...
, Chennai.
Ordination & Professorship
Arulappa was ordained as a priest on 6 May 1950 by Bishop Ignatius Glennie, s.j. the then Bishop of TrincomaleeTrincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
.
He joined the faculty of the Madras Archdiocesan Minor & Major Seminaries in Madras and taught Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
besides being the Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Seminary.
Arulappa also served as a Parish Priest in two parishes and was also Principal of St. Joseph's Anglo-Indian Boys' High School in Madras.
He was also sent to Oxford University, the oldest university in England, for post-graduate studies in Public and Social Administration.
Later, Arulappa was appointed as the Rector of Christ Hall Seminary, a philosophate in Karumathur in Madurai and served as its Rector.
Background
G. Joseph Mark was the fifth Bishop of Hyderabad and later became Archbishop when the diocese of Hyderabad was elevated to an archdiocese on 19 September 1953. With his death on 28 February 1971, the office of the Archbishop fell vacant.Appointment
Fr. S. Arulappa of the archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore was brought-in and nominated to the archbishopric of Hyderabad.On 6 December 1971, he was appointed as the Archbishop of Hyderabad. He was consecrated principally by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
and co-consecrators Cardinals Alfrink and Conway on February 13, 1972 at St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Later, he was installed as the Archbishop of Hyderabad on 19 March 1972 in the All Saints' School Grounds in Abids, Hyderabad.
Arulappa recollects that on 12 December 1971, he received a letter from the Apostolic Nunciature stating that he had been nominated as the Archbishop of Hyderabad and all that he could do was just kneel down and pray like never before.
Parishes
When the Archbishop took over the reins of the archdiocese, there were 18 parishes At the time of his retirement, there were 60 parishes which speaks about the work he undertook.About 85 priests were ordained in the archdiocese during his Archbishopric.
Arrival of the Religious Congregations
Altogether, 37 religious congregations were invited to work in the archdiocese.Educational institutions
Apart from the formation of the Hyderabad Archdiocese Education Society (HAES), 35 high schools and 14 junior and degree colleges were opened.Structures
- Arulappa was instrumental in founding the Hyderabad Archdiocese Social Service Society (HASSS) in 1973 which is involved in diverse developmental activities cutting across religious lines.
- Pastoral Centre
- Hyderabad Archdiocese Education Society (HAES)
- Amruthavani communications centre
- Andhra Pradesh Social Service Society
Missionaries of Charity
In the year 1974, the Archbishop visited Calcutta for a CBCI meeting and proceeded to invite Blessed Mother Teresa to work in the archdiocese of Hyderabad. It was only in 1978 that the missionaries of charity started arriving in Secunderabad. On 15 August 1978, the work of the Missionaries of Charity was inaugurated. Later in January 1979, when BlessedBeatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
arrived in Hyderabad for the first time, the Archbishop was there to receive her and later took her to the residence of the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy
Marri Chenna Reddy
Marri Channa Reddy was an Indian politician active in several states. He was the governor of Uttar Pradesh , governor of Punjab , governor of Rajasthan from February 1992 to May 1993, and governor of Tamil Nadu from 1993 until his death. He was a leader of Indian National Congress Party...
who offered a part of a hospital in new Bhoiguda in Secunderabad for establishing a home for the dying destitute.
Erection of new dioceses
During the archbishopric of Arulappa, the region of Andhra Pradesh saw the erection of five new dioceses.Relations with the Government
Archbishop Arulappa did maintain good relations with the Government. But when it came to laxity on the part of the Government, he used to take them to task through the media.Secunderabad hosts the Presidents of India annually. Rashtrapati Nilayam in Secunderabad is home to the Presidents during summers. The Archbishop used to call on them during the President's sojourn to Secunderabad. In the year 1982, the President Giani Zail Singh even visited the St. Mary's Church in Secunderabad on invitation by the Archbishop.
on Secularism
The Archbishop was known for his secular outlook. He remarked that one should have respect for other religions and used to maintain cordial relations with leaders of other religious affiliations and was even invited to various fora. He spoke at spiritual conferences organised by Swami RanganathanandaSwami Ranganathananda
Swami Ranganathananda born Shankaran Kutty was a Hindu monk of the Ramakrishna Math order. He served as the 13th president of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission.- Biography :...
of the Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement. The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Ramakrishna's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda on...
and Swami Chidananda Saraswati
Swami Chidananda Saraswati
Swami Chidananda Saraswati was President of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, India. He is well-known in India as a yogi, jnani and spiritual leader. He succeeded as President of the Divine Life Society in 1963, after the death of his predecessor, Swami Sivananda, who founded the Society.Swami...
of the Divine Life Society
Divine Life Society
The Divine Life Society is a religious organization and an ashram, founded by Swami Sivananda Saraswati in 1936, at Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh, India...
. On a particular occasion, he remarked that he was an Indian by nationality, a Hindu by culture and a Christian by religion.
on Ecumenism & unity of the Church
The Archbishop never used to turn down any invitation extended by the different Church societies belonging to either Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant backgrounds. He considered himself as a Father to all.In the year 1977, he shared dais with the global evangelist Rev. Dr. Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
and his associate Rev. Dr. Akbar Abdul Haqq during their conventions in Secunderabad.
At another convention, he proposed common Eucharist among the Catholic and Protestant Churches.
The yearly United Christmas Celebrations organised by the laymen of the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant backgrounds was the brainchild of the lay Methodists of Hyderabad. Together, they approached the three Bishop's resident in Hyderabad, namely, Archbishop S. Arulappa, Bishop Victor Premasagar (CSI
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
Bishop-in-Medak), and Bishop Elia Peter (Methodist Bishop of Hyderabad Regional Conference) who gave their nod and thus was born the United Christmas Celebrations, a yearly event to which either the Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
or Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
of Andhra Pradesh are invited with participation by all the Churches of Hyderabad.
Membership
ex-officio- Catholic Bishop's Conference of India
- Andhra Pradesh Bishop's Council
- Chairman of the CBCI Commission of Education
Episcopal silver jubilee
On 8 February 1997, the Archbishop celebrated his episcopal silver jubilee in the grounds of St. Mary's High School in Secunderabad. About eight regional Bishop's were also present. The book "Want to be a Hero" authored by the Archbishop was also released.A Silver Jubilee Souvenir describing the achievements of Archbishop Arulappa was also released by the Archdiocese of Hyderabad entitled "Archbishop Arulappa completes a Quarter Century" with articles by:
- Msgr. B. Julian
- Rev.The ReverendThe Reverend is a style most often used as a prefix to the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. The Reverend is correctly called a style but is often and in some dictionaries called a...
Fr. J. Studen - Dr. B. F. Showrayya
- SriSriSri , also transliterated as Shri or Shree or shre is a word of Sanskrit origin, used in the Indian subcontinent as polite form of address equivalent to the English "Mr." in written and spoken language, or as a title of veneration for deities .-Etymology:Sri has the root meaning of radiance, or...
B. S. Innaiah - Smt. Evonne Maria
- Kum. Corinne Campos
- Smt. Christina Andrews
- Smt. Nirmala Nair
Retirement
On 29 January 2000, Arulappa retired from his position as the Archbishop on reaching 75 years of age but continued to live in the Archbishop's House at SecunderabadSecunderabad
Secunderabad popularly known as the twin city of Hyderabad is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh north of Hyderabad. Named after Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Secunderabad was founded in 1806 AD as a British cantonment...
and was Archbishop Emeritus.
On his retirement, the Archdiocese of Hyderabad released a book "Love and Serve", a brief memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
authored by Archbishop Arulappa himself.
Appraisal
- Dr. J. A. Oliver of the Andhra Pradesh Council of Churches:
- Sri L. K. Advani, Past Deputy Prime Minister of India:
- Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara ReddyY. S. Rajasekhara ReddyY.S. Rajasekhara Reddy , popularly known as YSR, was a two-time Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He is seen as the most popular chief minister of Andhra pradesh. His popularity is often attributed to various welfare schemes and development programs he championed for the...
, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh:
- Sri K. R. Suresh Reddy, Speaker of the Legislature of Andhra Pradesh:
- Martin Michael and James Sylvester of the Catholic Association of Hyderabad
Writings
- Want to be a Hero - Anecdotes with a message, 1999, Amruthavani Publications, Secunderabad.
- The Ethics of Religious Conversions, (with Dr. David Frawley), Pragna Bharathi, Hyderabad.
- Quoted in B. K. Kiran's Education in Human Values for the Twenty-first Century, a NCERT publication
Ordination of women
It is interesting to note that the eminent Catholic scholar and theologian, Rev.The Reverend
The Reverend is a style most often used as a prefix to the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. The Reverend is correctly called a style but is often and in some dictionaries called a...
Fr. Dr. John Wijngaards
John Wijngaards
Johannes Nicolaas Maria Wijngaards is a spiritual author and controversial Catholic theologian. Since 1977 he has been associated with public but loyal opposition to the authorities of the Catholic Church for their refusal to confer holy orders on women...
, MHM, L.S.S. (Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
), D. Th. (Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
) served as a Lecturer in St. John's Regional Seminary, Hyderabad from 1964-1976 during the archbishopric of Arulappa. He espoused the cause of women priests.
Although Archbishop Arulappa expressed his respect for women, he remained faithful to the stance taken by Rome
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
regarding women's ordination. Speaking at the plenary of the Association of Theologically Trained Women of India
Association of Theologically Trained Women of India
The Association of Theologically Trained Women of India is an association of Indian women theologians which was constituted in 1979 in Chennai.It is an ecumenical organisation with more than 500 members.-History:...
(ATTWI), held at the Auditorium of Stanley Girls High School, Chapel Road, Hyderabad in the year 1999, he said that women in the Catholic Church were even given duties like Bible reading, offering communion, etc. and were also holding independent positions in religious orders and managing institutions.
Once, while addressing the Catholic Family Movement, he jocularly remarked that "God created man and rested. He created woman and neither God or man rested. That is the problem of all married people." On another occasion, he remarked that "Women are only asking for equality. I am one of those who say that women are actually superior to men !". Were the Archbishop remarks veiled references to his upbringing in a family of four sisters and a mother ?
Death
Archbishop Arulappa died in Hyderabad at the age of 80. In accordance to his wishes stated in a will, he was laid to rest in the altar in St. Mary's Church, SecunderabadSecunderabad
Secunderabad popularly known as the twin city of Hyderabad is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh north of Hyderabad. Named after Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Secunderabad was founded in 1806 AD as a British cantonment...
on 14 February 2005.