Fr. Michel Gregoire, sscc volunteered to be a missionary to a faraway country. He was sent by our Good father Joseph Coudrin in 1819 along with a Parish Missionary Society (MEP) to Pondicherry. He served in the villages Karikal, Nellatur, and the superior of the seminary in Pondicherry under the leadership of Mgr. Hebert, the Bishop. After the years of service, he passed away in 1828 and was buried beside Immaculate Conception Church, Pondicherry. His name was inscribed on a tomb stone along with other missionaries buried there. Mgr. Hebert's tomb is also in the same site.
Mr. Kamal, the manager of the archdiocesan curia office and Fr. Melchizedek, the archivist, confirmed that Fr. Michel Gregoire, sscc was buried in that place. Fr.Melchizedek said that he did not have any further information about the missionary. But he referred MEP in Paris, France where his further details can be obtained. The missionary journey of Fr. Michel Gregoire, sscc at that challenging time, needs to be honoured. He is considered to be the first SS.CC. foreign missionary.
The inscription on the tomb stone about Fr.Michel Gregoire, sscc is as follows.
1783 - The year of his birth.
1813 - The year of his ordination.
1828 - The year of his death.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Fr. Brian Guerrini, sscc for highlighting the missionary in one of his books, 'The Picpus Missionary Story.' Fr. Michael Marie Shanahan, SSCC also played an important role in exposing the presence of the missionary in Pondicherry. Thanks to Fr. Felipe Lazcano Hamilton, sscc and Fr. Eric Hernout, sscc in sharing further information about him. All these sources matched the finding ‘to assure’ the burial place.
The album is the photos of the tombs of Fr. Michel Gregoire, sscc and the Bishop Hebert beside the Immaculate Conception Church in Pondicherry, India. The photos of Our Lady of Angles’ Church nearby are also included.
-Nahshon Kulandai, sscc.
