Lawrence Trevor Picachy (7 August 1916 – 30 November 1992), was an Indian Jesuit priest, spiritual guide of Mother Teresa, and later Archbishop of Calcutta (1969 to 1992). He was elevated to the cardinalate in 1976.


Lawrence Trevor Cardinal Picachy

Cardinal
Archbishop Emeritus of Calcutta
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseArchdiocese of Calcutta
ProvinceCalcutta
MetropolisCalcutta
SeeCalcutta (emeritus)
Installed5 April 1986
Term ended29 November 1992
PredecessorAlbert Vincent D'Souza
SuccessorHenry Sebastian D'Souza
Other post(s)Cardinal-Priest of Sacro Cuore di Maria.(1976-1992)
Previous post(s)Bishop of Jamshedpur.(1962-1969)
Apostolic Administrator of Jamshedpur.(1969-1970)
Metropolitan Archbishop of Calcutta .(1969-1986)
President of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India.(1976-1982)
Cardinal-Priest of S. Cuore di Maria.(1976-19902)
Orders
Ordination21 November 1947
Consecration9 September 1962
by Archbishop James Robert Knox
Created cardinal24 May 1976
by Pope Paul VI
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born
Lawrence Trevor Picachy

(1916-08-07)7 August 1916
Died29 November 1992(1992-11-29) (aged 76)
Calcutta, India
BuriedJesuit Dhyanashram Cemetery, Thakurpukur.
22°27′42″N 88°18′22″E / 22.4616°N 88.3062°E / 22.4616; 88.3062
NationalityIndian
DenominationRoman Catholic
ResidenceCalcutta, West Bengal
ParentsEdwin Pieaehy (Father)
May McCue Pieaehy(Mother)
Alma materSt.Joseph College, Dajeerling.
MottoAdveniat Regnum Tuum(Latin) Thy Kingdom Come(English)
Styles of
Lawrence Trevor Picachy
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeCalcutta (Emeritus)
Ordination history of
Lawrence Picachy
History
Priestly ordination
Date21 November 1947
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorArchbishop James Robert Knox
Co-consecratorsArchbishop Pius Kerketta,
Bishop Augustine Francis Wildermuth.
Date9 September 1962
Cardinalate
Elevated byPope Paul VI
Date24 May 1976
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Lawrence Picachy as principal consecrator
Bishop Denzil Reginald D’Souza23 November 1969
Bishop James Anthony Toppo17 October 1961
Bishop Matthew Baroi, S.D.B15 December 1973
Bishop Linus Nirmal Gomes19 November 1977
Bishop Philip Ekka S.J.26 February 1978
Archbishop Benedict John Osta, S.J.21 June 1980
Bishop John Baptist Thakur, S.J.24 June 1940

Biography

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Cardinal Pichachy was born in Darjeeling of Irish Catholic parents who had immigrated to India in 1911. After completing the Higher Secondary Cambridge course at St. Joseph's School in Darjeeling, Picachy entered the Society of Jesus, more commonly known as the Jesuits, in 1934. Novitiate training in St. Stanislaus College (Jharkhand), was followed by Philosophical studies at Sacred Heart College in Shembaganur. After a stint as a teacher in St. Xavier's Collegiate School, Calcutta, he spent four years at St. Mary College (Kurseong) for the Theological studies preparing for the priesthood. Picachy was ordained to the priesthood on 21 November 1947, and served as a professor and rector of St Xavier's (school and college), in Calcutta, from 1950 to 1960, whence he began pastoral work in Basanti.

On 12 July 1962, Picachy was appointed the first Bishop of Jamshedpur by Pope John XXIII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following 9 September from Archbishop James Knox, with Archbishop Pius Kerketta, S.J., and Bishop Augustine Wildermuth, S.J., serving as co-consecrators. Picachy attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965, and was promoted to Archbishop of Calcutta on 29 May 1969. He was later named President of the Indian Episcopal Conference in 1976.

Pope Paul VI created him Cardinal Priest of Sacro Cuore di Maria in the consistory of 24 May 1976. Picachy was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the conclaves of August and October 1978, which selected Popes John Paul I and John Paul II respectively. He resigned his post as Archbishop on 5 April 1986, after sixteen years of service.

The Cardinal died in Calcutta, at age 76. He is buried at the Jesuit Dhyanashram cemetery in Thakurpukur, Calcutta.

Writings

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  • (in English) (as Trevor Picachy) A Great Achievement: Episcopal Silver Jubilee Souvenir of His Grace, Dr. Ferdinand Perier, S.J., D.D., Archbishop of Calcutta, December 21, 1921—December 21, 1946 (Calcutta: Catholic Association of Bengal, 1946)
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
none
1st Bishop of Jamshedpur
1962–1969
Succeeded by
Preceded by 6th Archbishop of Calcutta
1969–1986
Succeeded by