Mathias was appointed to the see of Madras in 1935.
When this archdiocese was united to the former Propaganda diocese of Mylapore, Mathias became the first Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore.
He established the Poonamallee Seminary for the archdiocese and for other neighbouring dioceses.
He also established the Catholic Centre to administer the more than 150 institutions of the archdiocese.
He went on to become of the leading bishops in India.
He was a founding member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), and was given charge of Catholic Action and the Press.
Together with Archbishop Perier of Calcutta, he was the leading light of the CBCI for many years.
His was the idea of setting up the first Catholic medical school, the St. John's Medical College, Bangalore.
He was also responsible for initiating a nationwide Catholic magazine, The New Leader (earlier The Catholic Leader), and a review for the clergy in India, The Clergy Monthly, now Vidyajyoti: Journal of Theological Reflection.
J. Thekkedath calls Mathias the greatest Salesian of the 20th century in India.
Mathias was appointed to the see of Madras in 1935. When this archdiocese was united to the former Propaganda diocese of Mylapore, Mathias became the first Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore. He established the Poonamallee Seminary for the archdiocese and for other neighbouring dioceses. He also established the Catholic Centre to administer the more than 150 institutions of the archdiocese. He went on to become of the leading bishops in India. He was a founding member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), and was given charge of Catholic Action and the Press. Together with Archbishop Perier of Calcutta, he was the leading light of the CBCI for many years. His was the idea of setting up the first Catholic medical school, the St. John's Medical College, Bangalore. He was also responsible for initiating a nationwide Catholic magazine, The New Leader (earlier The Catholic Leader), and a review for the clergy in India, The Clergy Monthly, now Vidyajyoti: Journal of Theological Reflection. J. Thekkedath calls Mathias the greatest Salesian of the 20th century in India.
Louis Mathias