Gabriel Lawrence Sengol

Gabriel Lawrence Sengol (18 September 1928 – 29 January 2012) was the Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tiruchirapalli in India.

Ordained in 1955, Sengol was named Bishop on 30 December 1990 and resigned in 1997. He died in 2012, aged 83.

Most Rev. Sengole Lawrence Gabriel was born on 18 September 1928 at Madhakottai, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu. He did his schooling in Thanjavur and Seminary formation at Poonamallee, Chennai. He was ordained priest on 27 April 1955.

During his pastoral ministry Fr. Gabriel served as Asst. Parish Priest at Pudukottai (1955) and at Vailankanni (1955-1964); as Parish Priest at Alangudu (1964) and at Karunganni (1964-1967); as Rector of the St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Thanjavur (1967-1982) and as Parish Priest at Vailankannni (1982-1990).

Fr. Gabriel contributed immensely to the phenomenal growth of the Shrine Basilica of Vailankanni both as Asst. Parish Priest and Parish Priest. He erected many buildings and bought a lot of land with the intention of developing Vailankanni just like Lourdes in France. In order to provide adequate safety to pilgrims, he reinforced the security personnel. It was at his time that, through the efforts of Bishop Sundaram and his own hard work, the Shrine of Our Lady of Health, Vailankanni was elevated to the status of Basilica by Pope John XXIII. He encouraged the pilgrimages from all corners of Tamil Nadu as well as from other parts of India.

In order to enhance the quality and extent of the accommodation of pilgrims, he undertook the construction of many houses/buildings/halls with other residential facilities, v.gr. a hospital for the sick pilgrims, a community hall and an open air auditorium, various cottages and lodges. He also established a new colony known as Antoniarpuram, and provided several quarters for the benefit of the staff.

Fr. Gabriel persuaded several Religious Congregations to establish their houses at the Shrine. While the Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sisters of St. Louis Gonzaga are catering to the spiritual needs of the pilgrims, the Missionaries of Charity (MC) take care of the abandoned children and the handicapped. The blessing of the extremely sick with the Blessed Sacrament on every First Saturday as in Lourdes has been a great consolation to the many sick pilgrims that come to the Shrine. He introduced the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on every First Saturday, and the exposition of the Holy Eucharist every day all through the year. Besides, he was much interested in promoting Marian devotion through literature.

In the educational field, he not only built a school for the local boys and girls at Vailankanni but even got it upgraded to the status of a Higher Secondary School. Moreover, he set up schools in many sub-stations of the Parish of Vailankanni and built/renovated some Chapels, particularly where the Christians were less in number.

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