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John, The Reverend Paul March 26, 1950 - February 23, 2021

Reverend Father Paul John entered eternal life on Feb 23, 2021, at the age of 70, due to complications from Covid-19. He was serving as the Parochial Vicar at The Church of St. Joseph in Bronxville, New York.

He was born on March 26, 1950 in Pondicherry, India to the late John Savarimuthu and Marie Therese. He was ordained on May 9, 1978 in India.

He spent the early part of his priestly life in India in the Archdiocese of Pondicherry. He served as the Principal of Petit Seminaire Higher Secondary School, Pondicherry for 17 years. He came to the USA in 1997 to pursue his Ph.D. in Administration and Supervision of Catholic Schools in the Fordham University, New York. During this time, he served at the Church of St. Gregory the Great, Harrison, New York as the Parochial Vicar. He moved back to India to serve as the Principal of Pope John Paul II College of Education in Pondicherry, India for 10 years, a college he had started. He returned to the USA in 2015 to serve as the Parochial Vicar, Director of CCD and Chairperson of the Vicariate at St. Barnabas Church, Bronx, New York. He started his service at the Church of St. Joseph, Bronxville, New York in 2019.

Fr. Paul also held multiple posts in education during his tenure in India, including serving as the Secretary of Education for his Archdiocese for 21 years, and the President of All India Association of Catholic Schools, a National Organization, for 4 years, and 15 years as an executive member. He worked hard to expand and grow the school and the college, where he served.

All who met Fr. Paul loved him. He was humble, kind, generous, wise and brought cheer and happiness to everyone around him. He was also a dedicated teacher, an inspiring leader, and a guiding light to thousands of students, throughout his service in the school and the college. He was always helpful, extremely generous and never failed to offer his support, wishes and help to anyone in the time of happiness and sorrow. He loved to laugh heartily, relished his parochial life and loved to spend time with family, friends and parishioners. Aside from these he was a progressive thinker, avid traveler and enjoyed trying different cuisines.

Beyond his vocational life, he was a spiritual pillar for his family, officiated their weddings and baptized most of the children in the family. All of them loved him beyond measure and was happy to call him their beloved brother, uncle, grand-uncle, teacher and friend.

He was preceded in death by his sisters Mary Angel and Justine. He is survived by his brothers S.J. Peter and S.J. Rheeman, his sisters Sarala and Vimala, the families of his siblings, and his nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, grand-nieces and cousins. His congregations, his parish communities and his students everywhere.

He will be watching over all of us from Heaven. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

Calling Hours: 2 to 6 pm, Sunday, February 28, 2021

Live Stream of the Calling Hours: Please Click Here

Those Joining us Virtually Please sign in under the Condolence tab so the family knows you were thinking of Fr. Paul

Mass: 10:30 am, Monday, March 1, 2021 at St. Joseph's Church, Bronxville

Live Stream The Mass: Please Click Here

Condolences(43)

  1. REPLY
    Neil Burke says

    Thank you Father for your visits and for always speaking from your heart. I wish you eternal rest and everlasting peace.

  2. REPLY
    margaret oconnell says

    Dear Fr Paul, I wish you Rest and Peace in Heaven. Your kindness will always be remembered.

    • REPLY
      John bosco says

      Dear fr
      You have been a source of inspiration toany. U were the one who brought pride to the school . May your soul rest in peace. prayers

    • REPLY
      Selva says

      Thanks to you father today i m an engineer and Danceur choreographer. It’s you who found my hidden talent by organizing talent search competition. I am so grateful to you. May your souls Rest In Peace and my sincere condolences .

  3. REPLY
    Justin says

    We all miss you FrPaul, a great leader, a wonderful servant of God, you enlightened thousands and thousands of young minds both intellectually and spiritually. A great pillar and loving member of the family, you’ll be missed greatly not only by the family members but by all your loving students who live in different parts of the world only to find eternal peace in the presence of the Almighty! May your soul rest in peace Father !!

  4. REPLY
    ARULRAJU says

    RIP

  5. REPLY
    Rev. Antony Joseph Jayanth RAYAN says

    Dear Rev. Fr. Paul. The Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore missing you a lot. You are so kind and caring. I always cherish your words of appreciation and encouragement. I miss you a lot dear fr. May your soul rest in peace.

    • REPLY
      Benno Raj says

      Dear Fr. Paul
      Your kind heart & gentle smile…..will be remembered for ever in our hearts and mind. Will pray that you have a great place in heaven with Jesus.

  6. REPLY
    Ranga rajan says

    Dear Father, I am one of your students from Petit Seminar Higher Sec school in Pondicherry, India. You were our school’s Principal, a great teacher and a dynamic person. I always remember you as an active person around the school with an energetic voice. The discipline you had ingrained in all of us helped us reach a higher level. I will cherish those school days with great value and fond memories. Its very sad to note that you will be no more. My batchmates and many other students around the world deeply mourn your loss. May your soul rest in peace, Father!.

    • REPLY
      Capt. Charlotte says

      I had the opportunity of meeting you a couple of times, at the MOC home Reddiarpalayam, Pondicherry…
      Such a dynamic person, always with a smile…
      Heartfelt condolences to the family members…
      Rest in eternal peace dear Fr. Paul…??

  7. REPLY
    Mary Ellen Sanchez says

    Father Paul,
    I will miss your kindness, your wisdom, your calm demeanor and your support. You have influenced many lives, including mine. I miss you very much.
    Please continue to intercede for the children, families, faculty and staff of SJS.
    Mary Ellen Sanchez,
    Principal, SJS

  8. REPLY
    Mary Ellen Sanchez, Principal, SJS, says

    Father Paul,
    We lost a treasure.
    I miss your holiness, your kindness, your wisdom, your calm demeanor and your support. You have influenced many lives, including mine. I miss you very much.
    Please continue to intercede for the children, families, faculty and staff of SJS.

  9. REPLY
    FR.SANDOU CYRIL says

    Dear and Rev. Fr. Paul, No words can express your loss for the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and personally for me. You are a model to everyone of us. Thank you for all that you have been to me especially for baptising me and guiding me in the crucial moments of my priesthood. Rest in Peace dear Fr. Miss u a lot.

  10. REPLY
    Christine Brown says

    Fr Paul
    You were a true inspiration and gem of a person. The years I taught at Petit Seminaire with you at the helm were some of the best years of my teaching career. You were loved and will be missed by all the lives you touched. Rest safely in the arms of Jesus.
    Christine Brown

  11. REPLY
    Karthikeyan Apparssamy says

    Dear Father Paul,
    Am at loss of words and still couldnt believe you are not with us anymore. you have enlightened the life of many students and am one of them from Petit Seminaire (1996 batch). Its hard to find a educational legend and a great mentor like you. I cherish every moment and thank god for the opportunity to meet you in 2015. Your support for students and teachers has been phenomenal. Petit Seminaire reached great heights under your powerful administration. We miss you a lot and feel proud to be your student. Our batch students will cherish the 25th year reunion happened in 2019 in Pondicherry. Pray to lord almighty to give the strength to your family members ! you blessinsg are always with us .May your soul rest in peace.

    With Tears,
    Karthikeyan.A

  12. REPLY
    Manee says

    Respected Rev. Fr. J. Paul.. you are our superhero.. our mentor.. I’m one of the thousands of students to be fortunate to be groomed, guided..

    we owe you a lot.. we are what we are because of you.. please be our guiding Angel.. please be back in this earth in another form, make it beautiful.. thank you we love you love you..

    • REPLY
      Patrick says

      Dear Father still couldn’t believe you are no more.
      You were our mentor , our spiritual leader , our role model and the key to disciplined life. Every student under your leadership had the chance to have the best education in life and we owe you what we are today. You’ve served the Lord till your last breath and thus entered the eternal life to be with Him forever. You’ll be missed …

  13. REPLY
    Srinivassan Ramalingam says

    Dear and Rev. Fr. Paul, am one of your student from petit, You are Hero to many of us ! Miss you…
    May GOD rest your soul in peace…You will.be living for ever in our heart’s

  14. REPLY
    Theresa Frawley says

    Father Paul.
    You will be missed by many people. Especially By me and Charlie. You were a great Holy Priest who always showed compassion. Your friendship was golden and we will miss you.
    Love Theresa Frawley and Charles deCiutiis.

  15. REPLY
    Aravind Ananthachari says

    A towering personality Fr. Paul had shaped the lives and personalities of innumerable students including mine. He was the principal of our school during the most defining period of my school life. He has had a deep impact on me in so many ways as he has had in so many of his students. He will forever be cherised and he is an inseparable part of my life. My deepest condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace. ?????

  16. REPLY
    Rositta and Prabu Fernando says

    Fr.Paul was truly a great friend?Mentor and was always there for us and our family. He will forever be missed…. May his beautiful soul rest in Peace

  17. REPLY
    Charlotte Ramesh says

    Fr.Paul you will be missed by me and by family. Your such a tender, polite , kind and very happy person to be around at any hive time. Always has so much of wisdom in you and learned a lot from you demonstrating a lot of patience and humbleness in your words.You were a gem of an individual. Time to rest in peace for all you work and service that you had rendered to humanity while your stay on this earth.
    May your soul Rest in Peace.

  18. REPLY
    Marimouttou Coumarassamy says

    Dear Rev Fr Paul,
    I’m one of your students in Petit Seminaire. Fr Paul was an inspiration to many like me. He will me missed by many students like me and their parents. Petit reached greatest height under your leadership. You left a great legacy. May your soul rest in peace.

  19. REPLY
    Jessie says

    Dear Annan, You have always been the glue between our families. You will missed! May your soul rest in eternal peace!

  20. REPLY
    Sharmilee(PJP student and Sr.Britto’s niece) Peter, Patrick(you used to call him as Denise) and Patricia says

    Dear Fr. Paul, You will be missed!!!

  21. REPLY
    Sharmi (PJP Student) says

    Dear Fr. Paul, You will be missed by our family! May your soul rest in peace.

  22. REPLY
    Sylvia says

    Dear Rev Fr Paul,
    He was an inspiration to many people. Wish Father eternal peace and forever in Gods care.

  23. REPLY
    Santhosh Kanna Tumadin says

    Dear Rev Fr Paul,
    you have tuned our life and now we are having fruits of your work.
    But i know you will be always alive in our life .
    Never had a chance to say THANKS
    But i know you had done a miracle in many lives.
    Thanks

  24. REPLY
    Bob Shannon says

    Fr. Paul, thank you for the years you spent at St. Gregory’s. You were a true inspiration to me and my family. Your kind words, contagious smile, and wonderful homilies will never be forgotten. Rest In Peace and eternal life to you. We will never forget you and you will always be in our prayers.

  25. REPLY
    Diane Dempsey says

    Fr Paul was a dear friend to me and all of us at St. Gregory’s. He will be missed and will always be in my prayers.

  26. REPLY
    Christine says

    Fr. Paul, may you rest in peace, as you make your journey to the Lord. You were so a Holy Priest and a true man of God. You are a role model for many priests. May God Bless you and save you. You are still remembered at St. Barnabas Church for your wonderful preaching.

  27. REPLY
    Mariann Amann says

    Father Paul:
    Thank you so much for your kind and gentle manner always. Noon mass will not be the same without your presence. You had such a calming effect on everyone. My prayers are with you always.

  28. REPLY
    Maria Sushmita Isidore says

    Dear Rev Fr Paul,
    You were an inspiration to our family and others in Pondicherry and we will miss you dearly! May you have eternal peace in God’s care.

  29. REPLY
    Ambalavanan says

    We miss you Fr. Am a student of Petit school. I always admired your dynamic voice and management skill. You are my super hero in school days. RIP father.

  30. REPLY
    Sheritha Krish says

    May your soul rest in peace, you will always be fondly remembered by all who had shared their lives with you. You will be missed greatly. Love u!

  31. REPLY
    Iris DeVisser (Florence Rozario ) Melbourne says

    My heartfelt condolence to the family of Rev Fr Paul. I was a teacher at Petite Seminaire and had the honour of working with him. His dedication and commitment to the community has been evident in the messages of condolences. Rest in the arms of Jesus Fr Paul. Your name will live on in the hearts of your staff and students.

  32. REPLY
    Alboni says

    Our heartfelt condolences to the family

    • REPLY
      Usha Parthasarathy says

      Dear Father
      You have been my beloved mentor and inspiration for everyone who has been acquainted with you.We miss you very badly.You are the gift from Pondicherry to the world. Your service and sacrifices will be remembered for ever

  33. REPLY
    Jayaraj.G says

    My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of Rev.Fr.John Paul. I am a retired teacher of Petit Semininaire. He is my mentor, saviour and role model. Let his soul rest in peace!

  34. REPLY
    GABRIEL LOURDES MARTIN SANDANADASS NATHAN NATHAN says

    Let his soul rest in peace.

  35. REPLY
    Nick and Kim Santilli says

    It is with great sadness that I share the news of Fr Paul John’s death. He died on the evening of Feb 24, another victim of COVID.

    Fr Paul was a great friend and spiritual guide. He was a priest with a great intellect and a profound humility. He was a devotee of Jesus of Divine Mercy, and and encouraged us to simply pray “O Merciful Jesus, I trust in You.”

    Fr Paul was one of those rare persons that had a great impact on two parts of the world, his beloved native India and his adopted home, America. He was a wonderful friend and we are going to miss our dinners and conversations togheter.

    We will never forget Fr Paul. He is certainly in heaven with the Lord and may he pray for us.

    Requiescat in pacem Fr Paul

  36. REPLY
    Maria Gaudelli says

    May your soul Rest In Peace Father Paul. You were a wonderful role model here at the parish of Saint Gregory the Great.

    Maria Gaudellli

  37. REPLY
    E. Carney says

    Father Paul was an outstanding man of God, a faithful and inspiring priest, holy, learned, joyful. His death is a tragic death for our parish but we know he is in Our Lord’s hands who loves him more than any of us. Pray for our parish from heaven, dear Father Paul. Thank you and may God hold you forever in Heaven in the Hollow of His Hand.

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