Bishop Emeritus Jerome Dhas Varuvel of the Diocese of Kuzhithurai passed away on March 24 at the age of 74. He died at 1:30 am at the Care Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Chennai.
The bishop had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease and Dementia and was under treatment at Kauvery Hospital in Chennai in recent months.
His funeral was scheduled for March 25 at the Most Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kuzhithurai, located in Kanyakumari district.
Born on October 21, 1951, in Paduvoor in the Kottar diocese, Bishop Varuvel began his early education in Nagercoil. He later joined the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1976 and made his perpetual profession in 1981.
He pursued higher studies in Rome and was ordained a priest on June 2, 1985, by Pope John Paul II. Over the years, he served in various roles, including rector, teacher, and administrator in different Salesian institutions.
In 2014, the Diocese of Kuzhithurai was established, and he became its first bishop in 2015. He led the diocese until his resignation in 2020 due to ill health.
The region has a deep Christian history linked to Saint Thomas the Apostle and Saint Francis Xavier.
Bishop Varuvel is remembered for his dedicated service, simple life, and pastoral care.
