Ferdinand Bonnel

Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Bonnel, S.J., born on 31 August 1865 in Roubaix, France, and died on 7 May 1945 in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, was a French Jesuit priest.

Ferdinand Bonnel
Statue of Fr. Bonnel in front of St. Michael's College National School, Batticaloa
Born
Ferdinand Bonnel

(1865-08-31)31 August 1865
Roubaix, France
Died7 May 1945(1945-05-07) (aged 79)
Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
OccupationJesuit priest
EmployerJesuits
Known forEducator

Biography

Bonnel was trained as novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Gemert, Netherlands, commencing 7 September 1888. His training continued with the study of philosophy (1891–1893) and theology (1897–1900) at the seminary of the Jesuits in Enghien, Belgium, with a break for a few years of apostolic experience in Reims between 1893 and 1897. He was ordained priest in Enghien in August 1899.

In 1902 he joined his brother Fr Charles Bonnel (also a Jesuit priest) as a missionary in Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka). Bonnel spent a year studying the Tamil language (1902–1903)[1] before he was appointed director of St. Michael's College National School. A position in which he remained for over forty years.[2] He is one of the architects of St. Michael's College and founder of the school.[3][4][5]

Twice he combined his duties as director with the Regional Superior of the Jesuits in the region of Trincomalee (from 1917 to 1930 and again from 1932 to 1944), after the unexpected death of his successor, Maurice Boutry. Bonnel was also for a time the vicar general of the diocese of Trincomalee.

Bonnel died in Batticaloa on 7 May 1945. Bonnel is considered as a renowned educator, who has been honored by issuing a Sri Lankan postage stamp with his image in 1988.[6]

References
  1. "Batticaloa Diocese" (PDF). Roman Catholic Diocese of Batticaloa. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  2. "Modern Era Contributors to Meteorology (post World War I)". CIRA. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  3. "College Second to None". Student of St. Michael's College National School. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  4. "School Profile". Student of St. Michael's College National School. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  5. "History of St. Michael's College". St.Michael's College, Alumni Association. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  6. "Father Ferdinand Bonnel, SJ (1869–1945) Founder of St. Michael's College". Manresa: Spirituality & Retreat Center. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
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