Kohima, April 3 (MExN): The first president of Angami Catholic Union (ACU) Suosahie Philip Dzüvichü passed away on April 1, 2016 after a prolonged illness. He leaves behind his wife Alhou-ü Albina, four sons, five daughters, 26 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
He was laid in honour at the Christ King Parish Hall for people to pay their last respects and a high Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Bishop of Kohima Dr. James Thoppil and 25 priests from different parishes of Nagaland and finally laid to rest in the Christ King Church Cemetery.
Suosahie Philip Dzüvichü, the youngest son of late Vichalie Dzüvichü and late Rheilhou-ü Dzüvichü, was born on March 10, 1932 in Lhisemia Khel, Kohima Village. After his studies, he entered government service. He became a Catholic and received baptism on December 24, 1954 from Fr. Marochino SDB at Naga Hospital Kohima. He married Alhou-ü Albina of Kohima Village on October 24, 1954.
Deeply impressed with the Catholic faith and its practices, he decided to dedicate himself to the service of the Church. Thus, in 1955, at the age of 23 years, he was appointed as the first Catechist of Christ King Church, Kohima Village. He was awarded the prestigious Papal Medal - the Vatican state’s highest civil award and a citation of Apostolic blessing from His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee as Catechist in the year 2005.
Suosahie Philip Dzüvichü, since the inception of the Church, has been actively involved in spreading the Gospel and the Catholic faith to different areas and different districts, particularly Kohima, Zhamai, Zelume, Thizami, Phek, Lazami, Tesophenyu, Tseminyu and Peren. His contribution to the Tenyidie language has been in the form of translation. He has translated Prayer books, Hymn books, seven books of the Old Testament and other religious books. The Ura Academy had awarded him the BA degree in Tenyidie. He served as the first President of the Angami Catholic Union which was formed in 1988.
In 1964, he led a team of Naga Catholics to attend the International Eucharistic Congress in Mumbai and during which they could meet His Holiness Pope John Paul VI. In 1975, he participated in the World Encounter of Catechists in Rome, Italy and France and also made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Egypt in the year 2012.
The various institutions that had started with his initiative - Little Flower School Convent in 1969, Don Bosco School in 1970, Christ King School, Bethany Sisters Convent, Medical Mission Sisters Centre in 1972 and Mount Tabor retreat house in 1980, are now flourishing significantly in the region.
He worked with numerous Parish Priests with whom he served and cared for the Catholic communities since his appointment in 1955. As a Catechist, he also worked with various Bishops namely.
