The Second Bishop of the Diocese of Jamshedpur, Monsignor Joseph Robert Rodericks SJ., was born in Bandra, Bombay, India, on June 7, 1927, and entered the Society of Jesus on June 28, 1943. He made his novitiate and Juniorate at Vinayalaya, Andheri, Mumbai, and later underwent studies in philosophy, theology and regency at San Cugat, Spain, St. Xavier's High School, Mumbai, and at the De Nobili College, Pane.
Ordained to the priesthood at 30 years of age on March 24, 1958, he took his final vows on February 2, 1961. Sent to Rome for further studies, he was well versed in the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and English languages.
Appointed prefect of studies at the Archdiocesan Seminary of St. Pius X in Goregaon in 1966, Rodericks became its first Indian rector in 1969. As professor at the Seminary, his clear grasp of his subject and his ability to put across difficult notions in a refreshingly new way endeared him to the Seminarians, many of whom remember his lectures to this day. The then Cardinal Archbishop of Bombay complimented him on several occasions and praised him for his intense dedication to the Seminary and his sincere desire to give off his best.
At 43 years of age, Rodericks was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Jamshedpur by Pope Paul VI, on June 25, 1970, succeeding Msgr. Lawrence Trevor Picachy SJ., who was transferred to the Archbishopric See of Calcutta on May 29, 1969.
Msgr. Rodericks received his episcopal consecration at St. Peter's church in Bandra, on January 9, 1971, from Cardinal Valerian Gracias, assisted by the named Archbishop Picachy, and Archbishop Pius Kerketta SJ. He made his ingression at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker on the following January 26.
Resigning from office on January 9, 1996, after twenty five years of meritorious service at the age of 69, he was succeeded by Fr. Felix Toppo SJ.
Appointed to several high profile committees, he was always noted for the clarity of his thinking and his sincerity.
Bishop Joseph Rodericks succumbed to a virulent attack of cancer on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, aged 83. at 2.30 am. During his last four months, his condition deteriorated by the day. The Bishop was deeply appreciative of the round-the-clock care he received from the Sisters and the nursing staff at Mercy Hospital, Baridih.
The Bishop spent some weeks recuperating at Tome Jesuit Residence, XL since Easter Monday. The Bishop was hale and hearty despite feeling weak - had a healthy appetite - was able to walk in the corridors and do things for himself with assistance from his male attendant and from Fr. Jerry Kujur, the Province infirmarian.
However, in early July, the condition of Bishop Joe deteriorated to the point of no return. The end was just round the corner. Members of his family arrived in Bombay, including his sister, Sr. Margaret SCN, from the United States. He passed away in Bombay and, as per his written instructions, his body was embalmed and taken to Ranchi from Bombay by flight. From Ranchi it was brought to the Bishop's House and later to the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker for interment. His funeral Mass, celebrated on Tuesday, 20 July, at 10.00 am., saw the participation of Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo, 16 bishops, and innumerable priests and nuns.
Bishop Rodericks was laid to rest in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Golmuri, at the altar of the Tabernacle.
Ordained to the priesthood at 30 years of age on March 24, 1958, he took his final vows on February 2, 1961. Sent to Rome for further studies, he was well versed in the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and English languages.
Appointed prefect of studies at the Archdiocesan Seminary of St. Pius X in Goregaon in 1966, Rodericks became its first Indian rector in 1969. As professor at the Seminary, his clear grasp of his subject and his ability to put across difficult notions in a refreshingly new way endeared him to the Seminarians, many of whom remember his lectures to this day. The then Cardinal Archbishop of Bombay complimented him on several occasions and praised him for his intense dedication to the Seminary and his sincere desire to give off his best.
At 43 years of age, Rodericks was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Jamshedpur by Pope Paul VI, on June 25, 1970, succeeding Msgr. Lawrence Trevor Picachy SJ., who was transferred to the Archbishopric See of Calcutta on May 29, 1969.
Msgr. Rodericks received his episcopal consecration at St. Peter's church in Bandra, on January 9, 1971, from Cardinal Valerian Gracias, assisted by the named Archbishop Picachy, and Archbishop Pius Kerketta SJ. He made his ingression at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker on the following January 26.
Resigning from office on January 9, 1996, after twenty five years of meritorious service at the age of 69, he was succeeded by Fr. Felix Toppo SJ.
Appointed to several high profile committees, he was always noted for the clarity of his thinking and his sincerity.
Bishop Joseph Rodericks succumbed to a virulent attack of cancer on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, aged 83. at 2.30 am. During his last four months, his condition deteriorated by the day. The Bishop was deeply appreciative of the round-the-clock care he received from the Sisters and the nursing staff at Mercy Hospital, Baridih.
The Bishop spent some weeks recuperating at Tome Jesuit Residence, XL since Easter Monday. The Bishop was hale and hearty despite feeling weak - had a healthy appetite - was able to walk in the corridors and do things for himself with assistance from his male attendant and from Fr. Jerry Kujur, the Province infirmarian.
However, in early July, the condition of Bishop Joe deteriorated to the point of no return. The end was just round the corner. Members of his family arrived in Bombay, including his sister, Sr. Margaret SCN, from the United States. He passed away in Bombay and, as per his written instructions, his body was embalmed and taken to Ranchi from Bombay by flight. From Ranchi it was brought to the Bishop's House and later to the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker for interment. His funeral Mass, celebrated on Tuesday, 20 July, at 10.00 am., saw the participation of Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo, 16 bishops, and innumerable priests and nuns.
Bishop Rodericks was laid to rest in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Golmuri, at the altar of the Tabernacle.
The Second Bishop of the Diocese of Jamshedpur, Monsignor Joseph Robert Rodericks SJ., was born in Bandra, Bombay, India, on June 7, 1927, and entered the Society of Jesus on June 28, 1943. He made his novitiate and Juniorate at Vinayalaya, Andheri, Mumbai, and later underwent studies in philosophy, theology and regency at San Cugat, Spain, St. Xavier's High School, Mumbai, and at the De Nobili College, Pane.
Ordained to the priesthood at 30 years of age on March 24, 1958, he took his final vows on February 2, 1961. Sent to Rome for further studies, he was well versed in the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and English languages.
Appointed prefect of studies at the Archdiocesan Seminary of St. Pius X in Goregaon in 1966, Rodericks became its first Indian rector in 1969. As professor at the Seminary, his clear grasp of his subject and his ability to put across difficult notions in a refreshingly new way endeared him to the Seminarians, many of whom remember his lectures to this day. The then Cardinal Archbishop of Bombay complimented him on several occasions and praised him for his intense dedication to the Seminary and his sincere desire to give off his best.
At 43 years of age, Rodericks was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Jamshedpur by Pope Paul VI, on June 25, 1970, succeeding Msgr. Lawrence Trevor Picachy SJ., who was transferred to the Archbishopric See of Calcutta on May 29, 1969.
Msgr. Rodericks received his episcopal consecration at St. Peter's church in Bandra, on January 9, 1971, from Cardinal Valerian Gracias, assisted by the named Archbishop Picachy, and Archbishop Pius Kerketta SJ. He made his ingression at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker on the following January 26.
Resigning from office on January 9, 1996, after twenty five years of meritorious service at the age of 69, he was succeeded by Fr. Felix Toppo SJ.
Appointed to several high profile committees, he was always noted for the clarity of his thinking and his sincerity.
Bishop Joseph Rodericks succumbed to a virulent attack of cancer on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, aged 83. at 2.30 am. During his last four months, his condition deteriorated by the day. The Bishop was deeply appreciative of the round-the-clock care he received from the Sisters and the nursing staff at Mercy Hospital, Baridih.
The Bishop spent some weeks recuperating at Tome Jesuit Residence, XL since Easter Monday. The Bishop was hale and hearty despite feeling weak - had a healthy appetite - was able to walk in the corridors and do things for himself with assistance from his male attendant and from Fr. Jerry Kujur, the Province infirmarian.
However, in early July, the condition of Bishop Joe deteriorated to the point of no return. The end was just round the corner. Members of his family arrived in Bombay, including his sister, Sr. Margaret SCN, from the United States. He passed away in Bombay and, as per his written instructions, his body was embalmed and taken to Ranchi from Bombay by flight. From Ranchi it was brought to the Bishop's House and later to the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker for interment. His funeral Mass, celebrated on Tuesday, 20 July, at 10.00 am., saw the participation of Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo, 16 bishops, and innumerable priests and nuns.
Bishop Rodericks was laid to rest in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Golmuri, at the altar of the Tabernacle.
Ordained to the priesthood at 30 years of age on March 24, 1958, he took his final vows on February 2, 1961. Sent to Rome for further studies, he was well versed in the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and English languages.
Appointed prefect of studies at the Archdiocesan Seminary of St. Pius X in Goregaon in 1966, Rodericks became its first Indian rector in 1969. As professor at the Seminary, his clear grasp of his subject and his ability to put across difficult notions in a refreshingly new way endeared him to the Seminarians, many of whom remember his lectures to this day. The then Cardinal Archbishop of Bombay complimented him on several occasions and praised him for his intense dedication to the Seminary and his sincere desire to give off his best.
At 43 years of age, Rodericks was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Jamshedpur by Pope Paul VI, on June 25, 1970, succeeding Msgr. Lawrence Trevor Picachy SJ., who was transferred to the Archbishopric See of Calcutta on May 29, 1969.
Msgr. Rodericks received his episcopal consecration at St. Peter's church in Bandra, on January 9, 1971, from Cardinal Valerian Gracias, assisted by the named Archbishop Picachy, and Archbishop Pius Kerketta SJ. He made his ingression at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker on the following January 26.
Resigning from office on January 9, 1996, after twenty five years of meritorious service at the age of 69, he was succeeded by Fr. Felix Toppo SJ.
Appointed to several high profile committees, he was always noted for the clarity of his thinking and his sincerity.
Bishop Joseph Rodericks succumbed to a virulent attack of cancer on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, aged 83. at 2.30 am. During his last four months, his condition deteriorated by the day. The Bishop was deeply appreciative of the round-the-clock care he received from the Sisters and the nursing staff at Mercy Hospital, Baridih.
The Bishop spent some weeks recuperating at Tome Jesuit Residence, XL since Easter Monday. The Bishop was hale and hearty despite feeling weak - had a healthy appetite - was able to walk in the corridors and do things for himself with assistance from his male attendant and from Fr. Jerry Kujur, the Province infirmarian.
However, in early July, the condition of Bishop Joe deteriorated to the point of no return. The end was just round the corner. Members of his family arrived in Bombay, including his sister, Sr. Margaret SCN, from the United States. He passed away in Bombay and, as per his written instructions, his body was embalmed and taken to Ranchi from Bombay by flight. From Ranchi it was brought to the Bishop's House and later to the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker for interment. His funeral Mass, celebrated on Tuesday, 20 July, at 10.00 am., saw the participation of Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo, 16 bishops, and innumerable priests and nuns.
Bishop Rodericks was laid to rest in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Golmuri, at the altar of the Tabernacle.
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