Former International YCW chaplain Fr RV Mathias died at 2.30a.m. in Trichy, India, following a massive heart attack.

"We are shocked and saddened to hear of Fr Mathias' passing," CCI President Stefan Gigacz said in a statement.

"During his term as IYCW international chaplain, he worked tirelessly to maintain the unityof the movement. For this, we will be forever grateful."

Fr Mathias was born in Edangani, Tamil Nadu on November 11, 1938.

He entered the seminary in 1953 andstudied at St Paul's Seminary, India, from 1958-60. From 1960-64 he was a guest at the Pontifical Urban College in Rome followed by catechetical and liturgical studies at the Catholic Institute of Paris from 1964-66.

He was ordained as a priest in Rome on 21 December 1963.

Among the many positions he held, Fr Mathias was parish priest, diocesan, national and international chaplain of the YCW as well as chaplain of the diocesan youth and workers  for the diocese of Trichy.

He was also Director of the Diocesan Pastoral Center, Executive Secretary of the CBCI Commission for Labor (Delhi), Vicar general of the diocese of Trichy.

In 2002 he was appointed as Executive Secretary of the CBCI Commission for the laity.

He taught at Karumathur Jesuit Theological College near Madurai, India until recently.

After taking sabbatical leave, he was named  >spiritual father at St Paul's Seminary, Tiruchirapalli in April 2011.

Fr Mathias also collaborated actively with the Centre Lebret-IRFED network.

The funeral will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Paul's Seminary, Trichy.

Read more at the CCI India website: Fr RV Mathias is no more

[caption id="attachment_165" align="alignnone" width="465" caption="L to R: Fr RV Mathias, Fr Thomas Joseph, CCI Convenor MJ Ruben"][/caption]

CCI International Convenor M. J. Ruben and CCI Asia-Pacific Coordination member from India Ms Glynis Joseph met Fr. R. V. Mathias, former International Chaplain of the IYCW on Thursday, March 31 in Chennai, India.

This interaction is part of the initiative of the Cardijn Community International (CCI) to reach out to as many former animators and leaders of Cardijn movements in order consolidate their experiences.

Fr. Thomas Joseph (92 yrs), YCW/CWM Chaplain in India from 1950 was also present during this meeting.

Recalling his days as International Chaplain, R. V. Mathias narrated his encounter with the Sisters of Charity (Mother Theresa’s order) in Egypt who lived along with and served the workers’ community who did scavenging jobs in gutters amidst piles of garbage dump. It is impossible for any ordinary person to stand that stench even for a minute, he said

“Pure love combined with dedication was the motivation for those sisters”, Mathias continued, “Which is very much needed in all spheres of life today”.

Expressing his deep anguish at the competition, greed and false values promoted among the people, particularly the youth, R. V. Mathias stressed the need to work with real commitment based on love as the driving force in whatever field we are placed.

Fr. Mathias appreciated the efforts of CCI to promote Cardijn’s spirituality, vision and methodology.

Fr. Thomas Joseph agreed with Fr. Mathias on the need to re-orient the formation of the clergy in seminaries by offering them real life challenges just as the lay people.

Fr. Mathias offered his services as a resource person for any training sessions CCI would organise for animators. After his services at the Arul Anandhar Theological College at Karumathur, Madurai in south India, Mathias is on a sabbatical for a year now and is engaged in research besides conducting awakening retreat sessions for seminarians.

CCI International Convenor M. J. Ruben briefed Mathias about the forthcoming General Assembly in Bangkok in July and the CCI initiative to float a global forum to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of Vatican II. Ruben requested R. V. Mathias to document his experiences as his testimony which he agreed to do.

M. J. Ruben

CCI International Convenor,
Chennai, India
March 31, 2011