Obituary/Necrology

They have gone before us…

Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dias Of Our Lady Of Rosary

Date of birth: 08-07-1955
Death: 20-07-2016

A “rock and refuge” for the afflicted has joined the firmament of the Heavenly Jerusalem. Fr. Gabriel Dias Gabriel (in close circles he was affectionately called “Gabbu”) saw the light of day (8th of July, 1955 was born) and entered eternal light (commended his spirit) in this very month of July, and that too on a special day 20th of July, which is the feast of St Elijah (inspirer of our Order – only our Order is privileged to celebrate a feast in his honour – an Old Testament Prophet). There are no co-incidences for God and so we can confidently say that Fr Gabriel was being prepared for his grand entry into the Order of Our Blessed Mother, by the Almighty right from his birth. He always fostered a great devotion to Our Lady and so took his religious name: of Our Lady of Holy Rosary (also because he earlier belonged to the Navelim Parish dedicated to her). While in India, he was instrumental in organizing pilgrimages (over a dozen) to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Health at Vailankanni, and took keen interest to arrange for enough priests who could attend to their spiritual needs.

Mr Celecio Ovidio Caetano Dias (who expired in 1996) and Mrs Anna Francisca Dias, the parents of Fr Gabriel must have been overjoyed at the birth of their first born son. He had three siblings: Mrs Juliana Almeida (married); Miss Rosy Dias (expired in 2005 after losing a battle to cancer) and Mr Carmo L. Dias (this name already gives us a glimpse of the family’s closeness to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, much before Gabriel joined the Carmelites). The parents and four children formed a very close knit and loving family and now continue to live in harmony with the extended members, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, the four nieces and one nephew.

Fr Gabriel, a priest from Goa, had a strong faith in God and was a messenger of good news. He completed his primary education at St Joseph’s Convent School and Loyola High School before obtaining a Diploma in Electrical Engineering. Gabriel had a desire for priesthood from childhood, but worked in Bombay to support his family. A providential meeting with Fr Felix Silva from the Carmelite Monastery sealed his decision to enter the Discalced Carmelite Order. After entering the Order in 1981, he and his companions were the first batch of novices to be formed within the Karnataka-Goa Province. They became pioneers in various fields, such as philosophy and theology, and played a significant role in the annual Seminary Day. Their performances, often doubling up as stage-managers, dancers, and musicians, have become memorable and continue to inspire others.

Fr Gabriel Dias was ordained a priest by Most Rev. Raul Gonsalves, Archbishop-Patriarch of Goa and Daman, on February 22, 1990, marking the first priestly ordination in this church. His initial priestly ministry was witness to during his first retreat at Colem, where he preached to Pilar novices. Fr Gabriel served in various capacities in India, including Vocation Promoter, Formator, Assistant Parish Priest, and Superior. He was elected III Provincial Councillor in 1993 and appointed as the Formator of the Initiation Course in Mapusa. He served in Canada from October 2008 to May 2014, serving as Assistant Pastor at St Thomas More Church Calgary and spiritually assisting the Secular Carmelites community. Despite suffering a stroke, he accepted to shoulder the total responsibility of a parish in Eastern Canada, becoming Pastor of St Elizabeth’s parish in Wainfleet, Ontario. His most fecund ministry was in Kuwait, where he served from December 1994 to June 2001. There, he sheltered some of those in distress even at great risk to his life. As a Carmelite, he introduced the regular feature of night vigils and invited good preachers from Goa and elsewhere for annual Lenten retreats. His courage and compassion have left a lasting impact on the spiritual lives of the people in Kuwait.

The late Fr Gabriel Dias, a renowned Carmelite friar, was a voracious reader and soughter of truth. His homilies and reflections were rich and insightful, reflecting his love for reading. He grew in this passion for personal growth and refining, even accepting a counselling session from Fr Lawrence D’Mello to go to Kuwait. However, after a stroke in Canada, his health declined, affecting his hearing capacity and ability to participate in community activities. Despite his efforts, he could never fully recover. An account by Fr Archibald Gonsalves, the Superior of Carmelite Monastery, Margao, provides a touching account of his last agony, lasting over seven months. On behalf of the Karnataka-Goa Province, a fraternal tribute is offered to Fr Gabriel Dias, who left a lasting impact on the history of the Carmelites in India and Kuwait and Canada.

Thus, comes to an end the earthly pilgrimage of Fr Gabriel Dias:
– 61 eventful years, gifted by God of which
– 34 years as a Carmelite Friar
– 26 years as a Priest

BAPTISMAL NAME: Gabriel Dias

RELIGIOUS NAME: Fr Gabriel Dias of Our Lady of Rosary
NATIVE: Aquem Alto, Near Forest Dept. Margao Goa 403 601
PARISH: St Sebastian’s Church, Aquem Alto, Margao (earlier: Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Navelim)
ARCHDIOCESE: Goa and Daman
STATE: Goa (India)
FATHER’S NAME: Late Mr Celecio Ovidio Caetano Dias
MOTHER’S NAME: Mrs Anna Francisca Dias
BROTHERS’ NAME: Mr Carmo L. Dias
SISTERS’ NAME: (1) Mrs Juliana Almeida (2) Late Miss Rosy Dias
DATE OF BIRTH: 8 July 1955 (Bombay)
DATE OF BAPTISM: 24 July 1955
ENTERED CARMEL: 1 August 1981
SIMPLE PROFESSION: 15 October 1982 (Carmelite Monastery, Aquem, Margao)
PRIESTLY ORDINATION: 22 February 1990

CONVENTUAL:
1) Carmelite Monastery, Margao and Carmel Nivas, Londa (February 1990 – May 1990)
2) Avila Jyothi, Mapusa (June 1990 – December 1991)
3) St Joseph’s Church, Mira Road, Mumbai (January 1992 – June 1993)
4) Avila Jyothi, Mapusa (July 1993 – December 1994)
5) Kuwait (December 1994 – June 2001)
6) Avila Jyothi, Mapusa (July 2001 – June 2005)
7) Emmaus Counselling Centre, Mapusa (July 2005 – June 2008)
8) Canada (October 2008 – May 2014)
9) Carmelite Monastery Margao (June 2014 – July 2016)

OFFICES HELD:
Local Procurator, Mapusa ;
Vocation Promoter, Goa;
Asst. Parish Priest (St Joseph’s Church, Mira Road, Mumbai, Kuwait, St Thomas More Calgary, Canada),
Director of Initiation Course, Mapusa;
III Provincial Councillor for Apostolate;
Chaplain, Salmiya Chapel, Kuwait;
Superior, Mapusa, Goa;
Director of Emmaus Counselling Centre, Mapusa;
Pastor, St Elizabeth’s Parish, Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada.
EXPIRED: 20th of July, 2016

Rev. Fr. Antony Silva OCD

Date of birth : 05-12-1912
Death: 13-08-2003

Fr. Antonio Silva was born on December 5, 1912, in Remanso House, Mapusa, to Jeronimo Silva and Ana Blanca Soares. He studied at the Escola Primario De Margao and later took private Latin tuitions. Despite being shy in public speaking, he found purpose in the Seminario de Rachol. He was ordained a priest in 1944 for the Archdiocese of Goa and excelled as a diocesan priest. He was the first chaplain of the Rosay Chapel, Fatorda, and was attracted to the Carmelites’ prayer life. After his mother’s death, he joined the Carmelite Order at Margao and became a professed member in 1951. He served in the community at Margao for many years, eventually becoming a superior of the same house at Carmel Hill in 1975 ’78. He was continuously at Margao until his death in 2003.Fr. Anthony Silva was a dedicated priest and Carmelite who lived a life of service to the sick and the elderly. He was known for his kindness and respect for people of different faiths, even riding a moped. On December 5, 2002, he thanked the Lord for his 90 years of life, and his health was good enough. He gave up driving and continued his ministry to the sick and the old.

On August 13, 2003, Fr. Anthony Silva passed away at the age of 83. He left behind a legacy of holiness, a rich heritage of virtues, and a legacy of a meaningful committed life as a priest and Carmelite. His funeral was held on August 15, with a steady flow of people paying their respects. The funeral Mass was attended by over 100 diocesan priests and Carmelites, including pre-philosophers from Xellim, theology students from Mangalore, and friars from various communities. The funeral included a vigil, libera me domine, and a solo sung in Paradisum.

The Archbishop Patriarch of Goa, Most Rev. Raul Gonsalves, presided over the funeral of Fr. Anthony Anton, a revered priest and Carmelite. The funeral was attended by various dignitaries, including the Carmel Choir, the Carmel youth, and Fr. George Santhumayor. Fr. Anton’s humble living room showcased his wealth of human life, including handwritten sermon notes, old diocesan bulletins, and a 17th-century Portuguese life of Bl. Fr. Joseph Vaz. His punctuality and discipline were evident in his possessions, such as a breviary and spiritual reading book. Fr. Anton was a dedicated Carmelite, devoted to prayer and meditation, and was known for his unwavering dedication to his duties. His life, spanning 59 years as a priest, 52 silent years as a Carmelite, and 90 years as a believer in Christ, was a gift to the Church. His vibrant ministry of the word of God, love for the Eucharist, and contemplative life made him a son of St. Teresa and a beloved disciple of Jesus.

Fr. Silva was a passionate and dedicated preacher who served people in various ways, even despite doctors’ advice to slow down his ministry. His first sermon at the feast of the Ascension at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Margao, moved everyone present, including his brother. His love for the Word of God led him to arrange Bible classes at Margao monastery for many years. His last words were “Jesus is with you, give Him to others.” His last words were “Jesus Loved us so much that he has chosen us to be His disciples. We must proclaim Him to all peoples.”

RELIGIOUS NAME: Fr. Anthony of Jesus
SECULAR NAME: Domingo Antonio Geravdo de Piedade da Silva
NATIVE: Mapusa
DIOCESE: Goa
STATE: Goa
FATHER: Jeronimo de’ Silva
MOTHER: Ana Blanca Soares e Silva
DOB: 5 December 1912
PRIESTHOOD: 16 April 1944
SIMPLE PROFESSION: 2 July 1951
SOLEMN PROFESSION: 15 October 1954
CONVENTUAL: Margao, Mangaluru, Alwaye, Mysuru
OBITUS: 13 August 2003

Rev. Fr. John Of The Cross OCD

Date of birth: 19-11-1925
Death: 23-09-2003

Fr. John of the Cross, born Firmino Gracias in 1925, was a passionate priest who served the people in various ways. He was a fervent member of the Marian Movement of Priests and was a great devotee of St. Joseph. Despite his poor health, he was always ready to help in the celebration of Holy Mass and other chaplaincies the monastery served. He advised his penitents to wear the Scapular, a sign of Our Mother’s protection.

Despite his illness, he was a man of simplicity and love, radiating a high quality of life. He took his cross in an exemplary way and died peacefully after suffering physical disabilities due to a fall. His 56 years of religious life, with 48 spent in Margao, made him a unique person.

Fr. Silva’s first sermon was delivered at the feast of the Ascension at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Margao, and his words are still stored deep down in those who revere him. He arranged Bible classes for the people at Margao monastery, and his last words were “I am going, Jesus is with you, give Him to others.” His last words were “Jesus Loved us so much that he has chosen us to be His disciples. We must proclaim Him to all peoples.” Fr. John, a departed friar, was celebrating his Golden Jubilee when he was suddenly killed during meals. He died on the death anniversary of Br. Louis Pillay and was laid to rest in Margao monastery cemetery. His funeral was attended by many people, showcasing his simple life and joy. Fr. John was content with the essential elements of Carmelite life, avoiding social status and relying on others’ help. His deep admiration and cult of St. Joseph may have contributed to his simple life and death on the eve of a Wednesday, September 23rd. The funeral was attended by the Archbishop Patriarch, Fr. Mariano Proenca, Fr. George, and Fr. Provincial.

RELIGIOUS NAME: Fr. John of the Cross
SECULAR NAME: Firmin Marcelino Gracias
NATIVE: Margao
DIOCESE: Goa
STATE: Goa
FATHER: Joachim Inacio Gracias
MOTHER: Maria Marcelina Quiteria
DATE OF BIRTH: 19 November1925
PRIESTLY ORDINATION:12 July 1953
SIMPLE PROFESSION:1 August 1947
SOLEMN PROFESSION: 24 November 1952
CONVENTUALITY: Belgium, Margao
OBITUS: 23 September 2003

Rev. Fr. Anastasio Gomez OCD

The other Fr. Anastasio Gomez, a renowned theologian and professor of Ecclesiology, fundamental theology, and Mariology at the Pontifical Institute at Aluva, Kerala, passed away on December 23, 2004. Born in 1923 to an economically poor working-class family, he was known for his lofty erudition and theological acumen. He wrote a doctoral thesis in dogmatic theology on St. Gregory the great in elegant Latin and was a studious companion of Mons. Lucio Vega de Cutinho.

Fr. Anastasio’s death marked the end of a glorious era of theological reflection in the church that led to the II Vatican Council and subsequent reform in the Church. He was a formidable voice of the voiceless in the Indian church that wanted sanity and prudence in the post-Vatican rush for ‘Indianization’. Many bishops admired him for his clarity of doctrine and courage to think in tune with the official church and its Magisterium.

Fr. John lived a unique life of childlike simplicity and freedom from fear, never complaining about anyone, even when he had to depend on everything on the help of others. His deep admiration and cult of St. Joseph may have earned him the grace to live a simple life and die a good death on the eve of a Wednesday, the 23rd of September.

Fr. Anastasio was a spiritual master and guide for priests, religious, and laity until his death. He was a strong believer in private spiritual experiences and messages, and spent his later years propagating Marian messages to priests. He was a great inspiration of heroism, disciplined, and fidelity to his priestly and religious commitment. He was a joyful religious with a polished wit and elegant command of language, not afraid of death or demon. Fr. Anastasio was a prolific writer, voracious reader, anointed preacher, and man of prayer, but his greatness was his deep humility. His life was a monumental inspiration for young seminarians and will be missed in times to come.

RELIGIOUS NAME: Fr. Anastasius of St. Joseph
SECULAR NAME: Anastasio Bartolomeu Lorenco Santana Gomes
NATIVE: Nachinola, Goa
DIOCESE: Goa
STATE: Goa
FATHER: Camilo Mathias Gomes
MOTHER: Claudina de Souza
DATE OF BIRTH: 11 May 1923
PRIESTLY ORDINATION: 19 October 1947
SIMPLE PROFESSION: 15 August 1949
SOLEMN PROFESSION: 8 December 1952
CONVENTUAL: Margao, Brugges Belgium, Alwaye seminary 23.5.1957 – 31.01.1984. Mangaluru, Mapusa;
OBITUS: 23 December 2004

Rev. Fr. Boniface Barracho OCD

Date of birth: 15- 01-1915.
Death: 25- 09-1985

Rev. Fr. Boniface of Jesus and Mary, born in 1915, was a diocesan seminarian in Rachol, Goa. He joined the Carmelites to pursue his ecclesiastical studies better and was named Boniface in memory of Belgian Provincial Fr. Boniface. After his Profession, he studied theology in Trivandrum of Malabar Semi province and was ordained priest there. He spent most of his time as Carmelite priest in Mangalore, where he was the right hand of the late Fr. Constantine. He was responsible for building Mangalore monastery, cutting laterite rocks, filling them with earth, and cultivating the compound. Fr. Boniface was a successful vocation promoter and helped establish Mangalore Monastery. He also contributed to the purchase and foundation of Mysore monastery, which belonged to the Maharani of Mysore. When the province was formed in 1981, he was popular in Mangalore and had many friends, including lay Catholic families and priests. He was a person who loved workers, the poor, and the community, and spent his later years between his cell, garden, and chapel.

Fr. Boniface was a prominent Goan priest who was a cofounder of Mangalore and the founder of Pushpashrama Monastery in Mysore. He was a Carmelite priest who spent most of his time in Mangalore, working on the construction of the monastery. He was the right hand of the late Fr. Constantine and was responsible for the purchase and foundation of Mysore monastery.

Fr. Boniface was a successful vocation promoter and had many friends, especially among Mangalore lay Catholic families and priests. He was a warm and friendly person who loved workers, the poor, and the community. He passed away in Goa after a stroke while on a night bus. His remains are interred in Carmel Hill Cemetery.

Fr. Boniface was a beloved figure in the history of the province, having spent his life in Mangalore and Mysore, where he was a popular figure and a beloved figure among the locals.

RELIGIOUS NAME: Fr. Boniface of Jesus and Mary
SECULAR NAME: Joachim Inacio Barracho
FATHER: Jose Vincent Barracho
MOTHER: Anna Maria Melo Tavares
NATIVE PARISH: Raia Salcette
DIOCESE: Goa
DOB: 15 Jan 1916
SIMPLE PROFESSION: 1 August 1947
SOLEMN PROFESSION: 1 August 1950
ORDAINED PRIEST: 21 April 1951
OBITUS: 25 September 1985

Fr. Fulgence Fernandes