Bishop F. Antonisamy of Kumbakonam has declared Capuchin Father John Peter Savarinayagam of Tamil Nadu as a ‘Servant of God’ at Amalashram, Trichy. The prelate on December 3 opened the diocesan process for Father Peter’s beatification and canonization. The bishop, the vice-postulator of this cause, and the members of the diocesan inquiry took the oath of secrecy. Around 5.000 Catholics from different parts of Tamil Nadu attended the program. Capuchin Father A Thainis, the vice-postulator, organized the event. Devasahayam Pillai, a lay martyr, is the first Catholic from Tamil Nadu to be beatified.