Rev Fr P.C. Mathew, SJ, former principal of St Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, passed away at 6.45am on Sunday, February 11, at Nightingale Nursing Home.
Mathew was admitted to the nursing home in the early hours of February 10, Saturday, after his oxygen level began to drop. A day later, he died after cardiac arrests. He was 84 years old.
After his retirement as principal of St Xavier’s College in 2009, Father Mathew was assigned to St Lawrence School Jesuit community, but from 2019 onwards, he has been living and resting at the Jesuit Infirmary in St Xavier’s College.
St Xavier's College principal Dominic Savio said Father Mathew's passing was a personal loss for each and every member of the Jesuit Community at St. Xavier’s, staff, alumni and students. "He was a visionary and action- oriented person. The college is where it is today because he pushed for autonomy. He was always encouraging and appreciative of the academic expansion of the college to cater to the needs of the marginalised. This was reflected in laying the foundation pillars of our rural campus at Raghabpur and the communication hub at EM Bypass."
Father Mathew will be remembered for his support and encouragement to the students and staff.
Firdausul Hasan, honorary secretary, St Xaviers College Calcutta Alumni Association, described Mathew as a mentor. “On behalf of all members of the alumni association, I convey our deepest condolences and express our gratitude to the deceased soul of Father P.C. Mathew for being our mentor and helping us to transform SXCCAA into the exemplary movement that it is today,” he said.
It was during Father Mathew’s tenure as principal that St Xavier’s College received autonomous status in 2006
When Sudeshna Roychowdhury, founder member, St. Xaviers College Women’s Forum, passed out of college in 1998, Mathew was the principal.
“I have seen how he ran the entire college. He was very affectionate and we all had immense respect for him. But at the same time, he was strict. He could connect so well with all of us!” said Roychowdhury, who studied economics in college. “It’s been 26 years since I passed out of college, but still I feel indebted to him personally for giving us the nod to start the Women’s Forum. In fact, he was the one who involved the spouses of the women’s forum with the thought that they should not be left behind. Now the forum has spread its wings and is successfully working under the guidance of Father Dominic Savio and our secretary Firdausul Hassan. But it was Father Mathew who gave the first green light. We are deeply saddened by his death. I was in touch with him throughout and even went to visit him a few days ago. We will really miss him. Father will always remain in our hearts.”
Funeral service for Father Mathew will be held at the St Xavier’s College grounds at 10am on February 13
For Dharmen Trivedi, vice-president, SXCCAA, Father Mathew was the man who taught him and many others how to be “men and women for others”. “The lush green fields, the wide corridors, the green benches will never forget the aura, the generosity, the warmth and leadership of Father Mathew,” the 1990 pass-out said.
Born on April 19, 1939, at Piravam in Kerala, Mathew joined the Jesuit Order in 1957 in Calcutta Jesuit Province and was ordained priest in 1969. He was the principal of St Xavier’s College for 14 years, from 1995 till 2009. It was during his tenure as principal that St Xavier’s College received autonomous status in 2006.
As president of SXCCAA, Father Mathew strengthened the college alumni and its various philanthropic activities, including holding national and international chapters of St Xavier’s College Calcutta Alumni Association.
Funeral service for Father Mathew will be held at the St Xavier’s College grounds at 10am on February 13, Tuesday. Thereafter, his remains will be taken to the Jesuit cemetery at Dhyan Ashram, Konchowki, Diamond Harbour Road, for burial and interment. Calcutta Jesuit Provincial Fr James Arjen Tete, SJ, will preside over the funeral and conduct the burial service.
