Bishop Sebastianappan Singaroyan, who resigned as the head of Salem diocese for health reasons, has moved to a parish to work as an assistant pastor.

Pope Francis on March 9 accepted the resignation of the 68-year-old bishop and appointed a diocesan administrator.

Bishop Singaroyan, who resigned seven years before the statutory age of retirement for a bishop, says he wants to serve his people as an assistant pastor.

He left the bishop’s house on March 11 after 19 years as the prelate of the diocese in Tamil Nadu State. He now lives in Karpur Annai Velankanni substation church on the outskirts of Salem city. He went there riding his motorbike.

“The staff at Bishop’s House gave him farewell with tears,” says a Facebook post.

Bishop Singaroyan was known for his simple ways. When he was the bishop he used to travel by bicycle to nearby communities and by motorbike to far distances.