Fr. Rosario Krishnaraj passes away in Chennai Mumbai, Nov. 14. With deep sorrow, the Salesian Province of Chennai announces the death of Rev. Fr. Rosario Krishnaraj SDB passed away at 9.56 a.m. today 14th November at the Frontier Lifeline Hospital, Chennai. He was 84 years old. The body will lie in state at the Provincial House (The Citadel) from 7.00 a.m. on Sunday 15th November for public homage. The funeral Mass will begin at 3.30 p.m. at the Refuge (St. Gabriel's), Broadway. The final Mass and burial service will start at 10.30 a.m. on Monday 16th November at Don Bosco, Tirupattur.
Born on 10 August 1931 in a pious Hindu family, Krishnaraj came in contact with the Salesians when he entered St. Gabriel's School, Broadway in 1944. At the same time he joined the Don Bosco Oratory, Broadway, where he came under the influence of the charismatic missionary Fr. Francis Schlooz SDB. It was there that he felt attracted to Jesus Christ and received baptism on 7th October 1949. Four years later he joined the Salesian novitiate and professed as a Salesian on 24 May 1954 at Yercaud. He was ordained a priest on 1st May 1963 by Archbishop Louis Mathias at St. Mary's Co-Cathedral, Chennai. From 1963 to 1966 he did his higher studies in Pedagogy at the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome.
