Eluru diocese bids farewell to late Bishop John Mulagada

(August 20, 2009) Over 20,000 people bade farewell to late Bishop John Mulagada of Eluru at a funeral service in southern India’s Andhra Pradesh state. India’s first Dalit bishop who led the diocese of Eluru for 32 years died last Sunday at the age of 71. His funeral was held on Tuesday at St. Xavier’s Grounds in Eluru in the presence of more than 700 priests and about 1,500 nuns as well as 20,000 people who wanted to pay their last respects to the endearing man of the Church. Archbishop Marampudi Joji of Hyderabad who delivered the homily at the funeral mass regarded the death of Bishop Mulagada as a “big loss for the poor and the marginalised.” Ordinary people remember the late prelate’s commitment to social action, in particular as chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Social Service Society. In that capacity he got schools built to help the poor get a good education, and helped out people living on the coastline who lost their homes to typhoons and monsoon rains. Bishop Mulagada was known as the “people’s prelate” because he was very approachable and could speak the local Telegu language. He was also known as the “bishop of shrines” because of the role he played in getting several Marian shrines built in the state.