Rev. Fr. A. J. Philomin Doss was born on April 5, 1960, in the village of Nangathur to a devout Catholic family. His parents, Mr. V. Antony and Mrs. N. Utharia Mary, nurtured him in the faith from an early age. He was baptized just three days after his birth, on April 8, 1960, at Nangathur, marking the beginning of a life dedicated to God and the Church.
Fr. A. J. Philomin Doss received his early education at the R.C. School in Thiruvathikunnam, a strong foundation that prepared him for further studies. He continued his education at Wycoff High School in Muttathur and later at St. Joseph’s in Cuddalore, where he completed his studies up to the 11th standard. He then pursued Pre-University Courses (P.U.C.) at the Government Arts College in Cuddalore.
Fr. A. J. Philomin Doss’s journey towards priesthood began when he joined St. Agnes’ Seminary in Cuddalore while still in the 9th standard. His desire to serve God was further nurtured during his formation in the seminary. He studied Philosophy at the prestigious St. Peter’s Seminary in Bangalore, where he deepened his understanding of theology and the teachings of the Church. Following this, he underwent Regency at Thurinjicollai, where he gained practical pastoral experience.
For his theological studies, he attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Poonamallee, Madras. His seminary years were a time of spiritual growth and academic preparation, which culminated in his Diaconate and his eventual ordination into the priesthood.
He was ordained on May 20, 1986, at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Pondicherry. The ordination was administered by the Most Rev. Dr. V. S. Selvanather, a pivotal moment in his life, marking the beginning of his dedicated ministry as a priest.
He began his pastoral journey as a Temporary Assistant Parish Priest at the Cathedral in Pondicherry on June 13, 1986. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Assistant Parish Priest at Sacred Heart Church, Pondicherry, serving from July 6, 1986, until May 1987. His first taste of pastoral leadership came as an Assistant Parish Priest at Atthipakkam, where he served from June 1987 to October 1989.
In October 1989, he took up the noble and challenging role of a missionary, serving in the Diocese of Natttithangou in Benin, Africa. For nearly four years, from 1989 to 1993, he immersed himself in this mission, bringing spiritual guidance, sacramental support, and the love of Christ to the people in this region. His time as a missionary in Africa was a significant chapter of his life, reflecting his commitment to spreading the gospel beyond borders.
Upon returning to India, he was appointed Parish Priest of Irundai on August 2, 1993, a position he held until December 1994. He then served as Parish Priest of Mugaiyur from December 1994 to June 1996. His leadership capabilities and pastoral care were evident as he was entrusted with larger parishes over time.
One of the major highlights of his priestly career was his long tenure as the Parish Priest of Villianur, from June 25, 1996, to July 26, 2002. During these six years, he played a vital role in the spiritual life of the community, fostering faith and strengthening the bonds among parishioners.
In July 2002, he took on a new administrative role as the Manager of the D.O.S. (Diocesan Organization for Social Service) in Cuddalore, a position that allowed him to contribute to the broader community through social services. His administrative acumen was further recognized when he was appointed the Financial Administrator in June 2023, overseeing the financial affairs of the diocese.
In addition to his administrative responsibilities, he continued his pastoral work, serving as Parish Priest of Christ the King Church in Villupuram and the Vicariate Forane (VF) of the Villupuram Vicariate from July 14, 2006, to June 14, 2013. During this period, he not only guided the faithful in Villupuram but also played a supervisory role for the entire vicariate, fostering unity and collaboration among the parishes.
From June 2013 to May 2016, he served as the Parish Priest of Uppalam, further extending his ministry to new communities. In parallel, he served as the Director of St. Xavier’s Pastoral Centre in Uppalam from June 2013 to June 2023. Under his leadership, the pastoral center flourished as a hub for spiritual renewal, pastoral training, and community development.
As of June 17, 2023, Fr. A. J. Philomin Doss has been serving as the Financial Administrator, a role in which he manages the financial health of the diocese. His vast experience in pastoral care, mission work, and administration has uniquely positioned him to take on this crucial role, ensuring the Church’s resources are utilized for the growth of the community and the spread of the gospel.
The Finance Department of the Archdiocese is functioning under the administration of the Financial Administrator. Our mission is to keep accurate the financial data for the Curia, parishes, schools, colleges, estates,project funds and the assets of the Archdiocese. Our ministry is to provide accounting and financial expertise for our Clergy, parishes, institutions and other associated Catholic entities of our Archdiocese. We create standardized operating policies and procedures to enable parishes and institutions to effectively manage their resources and provide at the end of the fiscal year the accounting of activities. We Prepare and submit the annual audited financial statements to the Income Tax department, Registrar of Societies and Ministry of Home Affairs and Foreign Contribution. A consolidated annual financial statement of the Archdiocese is also sent to the Holy See.
