Bishop Emeritus Edward Francis of Sivagangai passes away

Retired Indian Bishop S. Edward Francis of Sivagangai, in Tamil Nadu state, passed away on Wednesday, 11 April.   He was 86.  His funeral Mass was scheduled for Wednesday, 12 April, in St Justin’s Higher Sec School campus, Sivagangai and his mortal remains will be laid to rest in St. Alangara Annai Cathedral, Sivagangai. 

Bishop Edward Francis was born on 3 June 1930 at Sendamaram, Tamil Nadu. He was ordained priest on 25 March 1957.  When St. Pope John Paul II created the Diocese of Sivagangai on 3 July, 1987, he appointed Bishop Francis its first bishop.  He was consecrated bishop on 30 August, 1987.  When he stepped down from office on 1 September 2005 after reaching the retirement age of 75, Coadjutor Bishop Jebamalai Susaimanickam succeeded him.  Bishop Edward Francis was a priest for 60 years and a Bishop for 29 years.   Sivagangai is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Madurai.