Mysore/Mysuru: Rev. Msgr. J.B. Xavier (82), Vicar General of Mysore Diocese, passed away on Dec. 29 evening in city following heart attack.

His mortal remains was kept at St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, opposite LIC Building at Millennium Circle in city for the public to pay their last respects and the cortege was moved to St. Joseph’s Cathedral on Dec. 30 morning, where a solemn Requiem Mass was conducted by Bishop of Mysuru Most Rev. Dr K.A. William.

The mortal remains was later taken to Our Lady of Rosary Church at Shettihalli in Hassan district, his birth place, to inter at 3.30 pm on the same day.

 Rev. Msgr. J.B. Xavier was the Vicar General of the Diocese of Mysore and was a Professor of Liturgy and Church History at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bengaluru. He also served there as Rector for three years and as the Registrar of St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute. He was also the Director of Organisation for Development of People (ODP), Parish Priest at Ganjam, Kollegal and Yadavagiri. 

As the Secretary for Karnataka Regional Commission for Liturgy for a number of years, he has done extensive work in translating liturgical books to Kannada. 

He was also a member of the Ecumenical Bible Translation Committee and has translated the New Roman Missal, book of blessings in Kannada and prepared the Kannada Lectionary. 

He was working on the project of translating Catholic Version of the Bible and book of Gospels and Sacramental Rituals to Kannada.