Auguste-Siméon Colas

Auguste-Siméon Colas M.E.P. (29 December 1876 – 24 October 1968) was a member of Paris Foreign Missions Society and the last missionary archbishop of Archdiocese of Pondicherry. On 29 September 1930, he succeeded Archbishop Elie-Jean-Joseph Morel when the later resigned for health reasons. He was the bishop until 28 October 1955. He was succeeded by Ambrose Rayappan.

Early life He was born on 29 December 1876 at the parish of Saint-Sulpice, Paris, France. He did his early schooling at Lycée Henri-IV for two years. Then he entered the joint minor Seminary of Notre Dame des Champs. Desiring to become an official in the French army, for his secondary education he entered Lycée privé Sainte-Geneviève under the care of Jesuits. In March 1895, he entered the Saint-Sulpice seminary at Issy-les-Moulineaux. He entered Paris Foreign Missions Society in September 1896. He was ordained priest on 24 June 1900.

As a missionary priest Prevented from going to Indochina because of unspecified serious events, he was sent to Pondicherry mission. Upon hearing this news, he exclaimed "then the society is afraid to make martyrs." He arrived at Pondicherry on 18 August 1900, and was appointed Professor in seminar-College, under the strict direction of Father Elisabeth. After three years of service there, in August 1903, he was sent to Tindivanam as assistant to Father Combes. In April 1904, he was sent to Chetpet, as vicar of Father Darras. He was parish priest of Chetpet until 1915. This post at Chetpet really was Father Colas's preferred position. During World War I French Mobilization, he had to leave for France in January 1915.

When writing the concluding words for Fr. Lafrenez's book on the history of MEP mission in Pondicherry, Archbishop Colas concluded that:

Retirement and death Tomb of Mgr. Auguste-Siméon Colas at the Cathedral Cemetery, Puducherry After the World War II, India gained its independence on 15 August 1947. Msgr. Colas was in favor of the incorporation of the French territories of Pondicherry to India. In 1955, it was made, and this event had no negative influence for the mission. At that time Msgr. Colas believed it was good to move the diocese to the Indian clergy. He therefore left it to his coadjutor, Bishop Ambrose and went to withdraw at the Pavillon St Augustin's Hospital Ste Marthe in Bangalore. He spent 13 years there. He died at Bangalore on 24 October 1968. His mortal remains were transported to Pondicherry, and the funeral mass was said by nine bishops and archbishops along with the priests of the diocese, and thousands of diocesans. He was buried in the priest's cemetery, adjacent to Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry.

Awards, honours and namesakes In 1932 he was made chevalier of the Legion of Honour. He was promoted to officer in 1954. A region called Colas Nagar in Puducherry is named after him for the services he rendered for the people of Puducherry.