Rev. Dr. Fr. Patrick Mathias, SDB
Principal
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From the Salesian Province of Chennai (INM), Age 49, Priest for 19 years and Doctorate in
Biblical Theology
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NAME: FR. PATRICK MATHIAS SDB
EMAIL ID: patmrick@gmail.com
CELL PHONE NUMBERS: 6374198224 (official) / 9566975122 (personal)
DATE OF BIRTH: 29. 10. 1976 (49 YEARS)
PLACE OF BIRTH: VANIYAMBADI, VELLORE DT, TAMIL NADU
PARENTS: MR. G. MATHIAS AND MRS. FATHIMA MARY
CONGREGATION: SALESIANS OF DON BOSCO (SDB)
NAME OF THE PROVINCE: SALESIAN PROVINCE OF CHENNAI (INM)
NAME OF THE PROVINCIAL: REV. FR. DON BOSCO LOURDHUSAMY SDB (CELL - 9884045674)
PROVINCIAL EMAIL ID: inmprovincial@inmsdb.com
FIRST PROFESSION: 24 MAY 1996
DATE OF ORDINATION: 26. 12. 2006
DIOCESE: DIOCESE OF VELLORE, TAMIL NADU, INDIA
PROVINCE: SALESIAN PROVINCE OF CHENNAI – INM (DEDICATED TO ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE)
PERMANENT ADDRESS: DON BOSCO PROVINCIAL HOUSE
THE CITADEL, P. B. NO. 1158, 45, LANDONS ROAD, KILPAUK, CHENNAI – 600 010, TN, INDIA.
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1. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
1986-1989: 5-7th std – Don Bosco High school, Jolarpet, Vellore Dt, TN
1989 -1994: 8-12th Std – Don Bosco Mat, Hr. Sec. Sch, Tirupattur, Vellore Dt (Aspirantate)
1994-1995- Pre-novitiate, Coimbatore, TN.
1995-1996- Idaya Deepam Novitiate, First profession- Yellagiri Hills, Tirupattur Dt, TN
1996-1998- Philosophy, B.ph Degree, - Jnanodaya, Salessian College, The Retreat, Yercaud, Salem Dt- TN.
1998-1999- Regency, 1st Year- Pre-Novitiate: Don Bosco Perambur, Chennai.
1999-2002- B.A DEGREE IN PHILOSOPHY, Vivekananda College, Mylapore, Chennai (Gold Medal)
2002- 2003- Regency, 2nd Year – Jnanodaya, Salessian College (philosophy), The Retreat Yercaud, Salem, DT, TN (Assistant to the Brothers and professor of Philosophy)
2003-2006- Theological Studies, KJC, Bangalore.
2006- December 26th, Ordination- St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Broadway, Chennai, TN.
2007-2009 – M.A in PHILOSOPHY from Madurai Kamarajar University, TN.
2012- 2016- Licentiate in SACRED SCRIPTURE- “PONTIFICAL BIBLICAL INSTITUTE (BIBLICUM)”, ROME, ITALY.
2018-2023 - Doctorate in Biblical Theology, Angelicum University, ROME, ITALY.
2. PLACES OF MINISTRY
2007- Jan- May- Principal, Don Bosco Mat. School, Gandhi Nagar, Katpadi, Vellore, TN.
2007 May -2009 -Professor of Philosophy, The Retreat, Yercaud, Salem Dt.
2009-2010- Professor of Philosophy, Don Bosco Philosophical College, Aluva, Kerala
2010-2011- Professor of Theology on probation and Administrator, DBTC- Kavarapettai.
2011-2012 -Professor of Philosophy, Sacred Heart Seminary, Poonamallee, Chennai, TN and Administrator at St. Paul’s Bible Institute, Poonamallee, Chennai, TN.
2016-2017 – At Don Bosco Ennore, Chennai and a Visiting Professor of Sacred Scripture at DBTC, Kavarapettai, Chennai, TN.
2017-2018- Professor of Sacred Scripture and Administrator, DBTC- Kavarapettai, Chennai, TN.
2023 -2025- Vice Rector & Professor of Sacred Scripture, DBTC, Kavarapettai, Chennai, TN.
3. Edited Books
1. In 2015, edited a theological series book titled ‘Family and Marriage at the Crossroads’
2. Editing another volume Now, titled “The Journey of Hope: Illuminated by the Word of God,” inspired by the Jubilee Year 2025 theme, “Pilgrims of Hope.”
- 3 more books are in the process of publication.
-A regular contributor to New Leader and the Salesian Bulletin.
4. Retreat Preacher
Besides preaching retreats to various congregations and to the Seminarians of Poonamallee (2011-2012), during the last academic year (2023-2024) preached 5 Retreats: Salesians of Bangalore Province (INK), the Salesian Sisters- FMA, Chennai Province, and three retreats for the Pondy Blues.
3-10 May, 2025- Retreat preached to Salesian Sisters -FMA- Trichy Province.
Online Retreat for the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore: During the COVID-19 lockdown, he preached an online retreat for the priests of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore from Rome in 2021.
5. Member in the Following Associations
1-He is a member of the National CBAI (Catholic Biblical Association of India) and attended its annual meeting last year at JDV, Pune, and this year in Hyderabad.
2-He is also a member of the TN Bible Professors’ Association (TNBPA) and presented the synopsis of the Doctoral dissertation at the annual meeting on 20.02.2025 at TNBCLC at Tindivanam, TN.
3-Additionally, he is a member of the International Salesian Biblical Association (ABS – Associazione Biblica Salesiana) and participated in its 8th International Convention in Jerusalem in August, 2023.
4. Participated in the CCBI’s All India Bible Congress Held at the Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni – 21-23 January 2025.
6. Personal Blog for weekly Sermon (Penniless Preacher): He has a personal blog, named, “Penniless Preacher” where he publishes weekly sermons/homilies in English (published sometime also in Tamil).
7. Extras: During the last academic year (2024-2025), conducted training sessions for the lay faithful and for Catholic teachers from our Don Bosco Schools on how to teach Sacred Scripture in schools and how to teach catechism to Catholic children in parish settings.
-In 2011–2012, he conducted a two-days animation program for TN-Pondicherry CRI on the theme “Formation and Psychology.”
8. Other Responsibilities
Currently serves as the President of CRI Minjur-Manali Vicariate 2023-2025 (Chennai Region).
9. Languages Known
Tamil, English, Italian, Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, Arabic, German, French and Latin.
10. Languages Spoken Fluently
Tamil, English and Italian.