Charles Lavigne, S.J. was a Catholic bishop of the Latin Church from France who was appointed the first Vicar Apostolic in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Vicariate of Kottayam on 20 May 1887. After shifting the seat of Kottayam Vicariate to Changanacherry on 16 September 1890, his term ended on 28 July 1896. He later served as the first Bishop of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka from 27 August 1898 until his death at Marvejols in France on 11 July 1913. He is famous for his contributions for education with help of Catholic Church, in Travancore and Malabar region, especially St Berchmans English High School (1891).
Early life Louis Charles Lavigne was born in the Lavigne family on 6 January 1840 at Marvejols in France.Pastoral Letters, കാലം ചെയ്ത ഡോക്ടർ ലവീഞ്ഞ്, ഡോക്ടർ മാക്കീൽ എന്നീ വന്ദ്യ പിതാക്കന്മാർ തങ്ങളുടെ ഭരണകാലത്തു പ്രസിദ്ധപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ളത്. Kottayam: The Catholic Diocese of Kottayam. 1925. p. i. His father was a farmer and an employee in a weaving mill. Charles' mother Louie Gordon was a convert from Protestantism. Charles was the youngest of the 12 children in the family.Koottummel, Joseph (1998). "മാർ ചാറൽസ് ലവീഞ്ഞ്," ചങ്ങനാശേരി അതിരൂപത ഇന്നലെ, ഇന്ന്. Changanacherry: Archeparchy of Changanacherry. pp. 157. After his primary education at the school of Christian Brothers and higher education at a Jesuit college at the City of Mend in France, he joined seminary for priestly formation. Though his intention was to become a Jesuit priest, he first became a diocesan priest respecting the wishes of his parents.
Charles' priestly ordination was on 17 December 1864 at Mend by the imposition of hands by Msgr. Flockier. Charles was professor at Mend Diocesan Minor Seminary at the time of his ordination and he continued that for two more years. He joined the novitiate house of the Society of Jesus at Toulouse in France and did his religious profession on 27 December 1866. Then he served as prefect of the seminarians and teacher and prefect of studies in the minor seminary at Monbana in France for five years. Afterwards, he taught Mathematics and Physics at Kausia College.
Since Jesuits were expelled from France in 1880, he moved to Spain and worked as a science professor at Uclés College.Pastoral Letters, കാലം ചെയ്ത ഡോക്ടർ ലവീഞ്ഞ്, ഡോക്ടർ മാക്കീൽ എന്നീ വന്ദ്യ പിതാക്കന്മാർ തങ്ങളുടെ ഭരണകാലത്തു പ്രസിദ്ധപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ളത്. Kottayam: The Catholic Diocese of Kottayam. 1925. pp. i-ii He was then transferred to Rome as assistant to Fr. Buck S.J., the general secretary of the Society of Jesus. After the death of Fr. Buck, Fr. Charles returned from Rome to France.Pastoral Letters, കാലം ചെയ്ത ഡോക്ടർ ലവീഞ്ഞ്, ഡോക്ടർ മാക്കീൽ എന്നീ വന്ദ്യ പിതാക്കന്മാർ തങ്ങളുടെ ഭരണകാലത്തു പ്രസിദ്ധപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ളത്. Kottayam: The Catholic Diocese of Kottayam. 1925. pp. ii
Vicar Apostolic of Kottayam The Syrian Catholics, who were part of the Vicariate of Verapoly along with the Latin Catholics, had been writing to Vatican seeking the establishment of Syrian dioceses and appointment of eparchs from their own rite and community. Though Bishop Mercellinus OCD, the co-adjutor bishop of Verapoly, was in charge of the Syrians,Makil, Mathew (2001). കോട്ടയം മിസത്തിന്റെ സ്ഥാപന ചരിത്രം. Kottayam: Bishop Makil Foundation, p.34. majority of them believed that their development would happen only under the leadership of their own bishops.
Considering the wishes of the Syrian faithful in Kerala, Pope Leo XIII separated the Syrians from the Archdiocese of Verapoly and established the Vicariates of Kottayam and Trichur. Msgr. Adolphus Edwin Medlycott was appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Trichur and Charles Lavigne, the Vicar Apostolic of Kottayam and Titular Bishop of Milevum on 20 May 1887. Their role was to pave the way for transition from the governance of foreign hierarchs to local bishops as head of the Syrian Catholics.
Reception and setup Within a few months after Charles returned from Rome to France, he was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Kottayam, in Kerala state, India on 23 August 1887.Pallath, Paul & George Kanjirakkatt. Origin of the Southist Vicariate of Kottayam, Acts and Facts. Vadavathoor, Kottayam: Oriental Institute of Religious Studies India. , p. 30. His episcopal ordination as Titular Bishop of Milevum was on 13 November 1887 by Cardinal Borse.Mutholath, Fr. Abraham (Ed.) Dr. Charles Lavigne S.J. (1986). The Diocese of Kottayam Platinum Souvenir 1911-1986. Kottayam: Jyothi Book House. pp. 79. He started his journey to Kerala on 15 March 1888. He reached Trichy on 5 April 1888.Koottummel, Joseph (1998). "മാർ ചാറൽസ് ലവീഞ്ഞ്," ചങ്ങനാശേരി അതിരൂപത ഇന്നലെ, ഇന്ന്. Changanacherry: Archeparchy of Changanacherry. pp. 124-125. At the request of Apostolic Delegate Msgr. Andrew Aiuti, Fr. Mani Nidhiri, Fr. Louis Pazheparambil, and Fr. Alexander T. OCD went to receive the bishop at Trichy. They, along with the bishop, went to Ootty to meet the Apostolic Delegate. Then they proceeded to Ernakulam which was also part of Kottayam Vicariate. After the reception at Ernakulam on 1 May 1888, Bishop Charles travelled to Mannanam via Vaikam by waterway. The reception at Mannanam on 9 May 1888 was a grant one.Koottummel, Joseph (1998). "മാർ ചാറൽസ് ലവീഞ്ഞ്," ചങ്ങനാശേരി അതിരൂപത ഇന്നലെ, ഇന്ന്. Changanacherry: Archeparchy of Changanacherry. pp. 125. Bishop Lavinge took charge reading his papal bull at St. George Church Edacat on 10 May 1888. That church became the first Cathedral of Vicariate of Kottayam.Koottummel, Joseph (1998). "മാർ ചാറൽസ് ലവീഞ്ഞ്," ചങ്ങനാശേരി അതിരൂപത ഇന്നലെ, ഇന്ന്. Changanacherry: Archeparchy of Changanacherry. pp. 126.
Honoring the instruction from Rome, Bishop Charles appointed four Syrian priests as his consultors. Fr. Mani Nidhirikkal, Fr. Alexander Kattakkayath, Fr. Louis Pazheparambil were the consultors from the Northists and Fr. Joseph Tharayil was from the Southists. Bishop first lived at Mannanam Carmelite House and later moved to Kottayam town.Koottummel, Joseph (1998). "മാർ ചാറൽസ് ലവീഞ്ഞ്," ചങ്ങനാശേരി അതിരൂപത ഇന്നലെ, ഇന്ന്. Changanacherry: Archeparchy of Changanacherry. pp. 128-129. According to the letter from the Apostolic Delegate on 6 May 1889 from Ootty, Bishop Charles appointed Fr. Mani Nidhiriakkal as Vicar General in charge of the Northists and Fr. Mathew Makil as Vicar General for Southists on 8 September 1889. These Vicar Generals from the local priests had some privileges including dressing like a bishop, right to offer Pontifical Mass, administer the Sacrament of Confirmation, and giving minor orders for seminarians.Pastoral Letters, കാലം ചെയ്ത ഡോക്ടർ ലവീഞ്ഞ്, ഡോക്ടർ മാക്കീൽ എന്നീ വന്ദ്യ പിതാക്കന്മാർ തങ്ങളുടെ ഭരണകാലത്തു പ്രസിദ്ധപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ളത്. Kottayam: The Catholic Diocese of Kottayam. 1925. pp. iii-iv.
Though Charles made attempts to construct his residence and an educational institution in Kottayam town, he could not do them because of the ongoing disagreements with non-Catholics during that time. So, with the permission from ecclesiastical authorities, he moved his seat to Changanacherry that had a bigger church than Edacat and had a higher Catholic population.Koottummel, Joseph (1998). "മാർ ചാറൽസ് ലവീഞ്ഞ്," ചങ്ങനാശേരി അതിരൂപത ഇന്നലെ, ഇന്ന്. Changanacherry: Archeparchy of Changanacherry. pp. 134-136. While maintaining the name, Vicariate of Kottayam, he moved to Changanacherry after two years on 16 September 1890.
Contributions in Kerala Considering the ardent desire of the Syrian Christians, Bishop Charles worked hard for the development of his vicariate. He trained the clergy for their future pastoral leadership.Mutholath, Fr. Abraham (Ed.) Dr. Charles Lavigne S.J. (1986). The Diocese of Kottayam Platinum Souvenir 1911-1986. Kottayam: Jyothi Book House. pp. 80. He appointed vicar generals from Northists and Southists of his diocese and administered the vicariate through them. Instead of the traditional system of training candidates for priesthood by individual priests, Lavigne sent seminarians from his vicariate to seminaries in Verapoly, Mangalapuram, Papal Seminary in Kandy, and Propaganda Seminary in Rome.Pastoral Letters, കാലം ചെയ്ത ഡോക്ടർ ലവീഞ്ഞ്, ഡോക്ടർ മാക്കീൽ എന്നീ വന്ദ്യ പിതാക്കന്മാർ തങ്ങളുടെ ഭരണകാലത്തു പ്രസിദ്ധപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ളത്. Kottayam: The Catholic Diocese of Kottayam. 1925. pp. v-vi.
Lavinge held a Synod at the Church in Changanacherry from 18 to 20 December 1888 to discuss and decide on the details of pastoral arrangements in his vicarate. Vicars of parishes, superiors of religious congregations, and rectors of seminaries attended in the Changanacherry synod that made several pastoral decisions.Koottummel, Joseph (1998). "മാർ ചാറൽസ് ലവീഞ്ഞ്," ചങ്ങനാശേരി അതിരൂപത ഇന്നലെ, ഇന്ന്. Changanacherry: Archeparchy of Changanacherry. pp. 129-130.
Bishop Lavigne established new churches. He elevated eight parishes of the Northists and two parishes of Southists as foranes on 10 October 1891.Moolakkatt, Archbishop Mathew (2006), "കോട്ടയം അതിരൂപത: ഉത്ഭവവും വളർച്ചയും" സുവർണ്ണസ്മൃതി, Golden Jubilee Souvenir, Changanacherry: Archeparchy of Changanacherry, pp. 390. He codified regulations for church administration, introduced catechism classes in parishes and schools, and showed his interest in administering first Holy Communion to children. He promoted the use of scapular and devotion to the souls in purgatory.Pastoral Letters, കാലം ചെയ്ത ഡോക്ടർ ലവീഞ്ഞ്, ഡോക്ടർ മാക്കീൽ എന്നീ വന്ദ്യ പിതാക്കന്മാർ തങ്ങളുടെ ഭരണകാലത്തു പ്രസിദ്ധപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ളത്. Kottayam: The Catholic Diocese of Kottayam. 1925. pp. vi. He gave importance to evangelization among the low castes and established churches for the new converts.Pastoral Letters, കാലം ചെയ്ത ഡോക്ടർ ലവീഞ്ഞ്, ഡോക്ടർ മാക്കീൽ എന്നീ വന്ദ്യ പിതാക്കന്മാർ തങ്ങളുടെ ഭരണകാലത്തു പ്രസിദ്ധപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ളത്. Kottayam: The Catholic Diocese of Kottayam. 1925. pp. vii. He, along with Fr. Mani Nidhirikkal, promoted reunion of Jacobites to Catholic faith.Koottummel, Joseph (1998). "മാർ ചാറൽസ് ലവീഞ്ഞ്," ചങ്ങനാശേരി അതിരൂപത ഇന്നലെ, ഇന്ന്. Changanacherry: Archeparchy of Changanacherry. pp. 130.
There were schisms against Catholic faith in the community. Lavigne tried to convince their leaders and followers to keep up the Catholic doctrines. He could win some of them.Koottummel, Joseph (1998). "മാർ ചാറൽസ് ലവീഞ്ഞ്," ചങ്ങനാശേരി അതിരൂപത ഇന്നലെ, ഇന്ന്. Changanacherry: Archeparchy of Changanacherry. pp. 153.
Lavigne was the pioneer in establishing English educational institutions for the Syrians. The first school he established was St. Berchmans English High School in Changanacherry. He also started schools in other places including BrahmamangalamPastoral Letters, കാലം ചെയ്ത ഡോക്ടർ ലവീഞ്ഞ്, ഡോക്ടർ മാക്കീൽ എന്നീ വന്ദ്യ പിതാക്കന്മാർ തങ്ങളുടെ ഭരണകാലത്തു പ്രസിദ്ധപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ളത്. Kottayam: The Catholic Diocese of Kottayam. 1925. pp. iv. for the Southists, and supported school at Mannanam established by Carmelite priests. He established Girls Schools at Mutholy, Changanacherry, and Alappuzha. Along with convents, Bishop Charles started Job training centers for women.Koottummel, Joseph (1998). "മാർ ചാറൽസ് ലവീഞ്ഞ്," ചങ്ങനാശേരി അതിരൂപത ഇന്നലെ, ഇന്ന്. Changanacherry: Archeparchy of Changanacherry. pp. 151.