Dears,
Mystery surrounds the death of Fr.Eusebio Ferrao, who was found suffocated
to death this morning at the St. Francis Xavier's Church, Macasana ,
Salcete, Goa. the church is just a few kilometres away from Maina-Curtorim,
the home of the Speaker of Goa's Legislative Assembly, Francisco Sardinha.
Perhaps, Mr.Sardinha will bring his influence to bear on the Goa Police to
solve the crime. Otherwise, the Goa Police will add this crime to the long
list of church break-ins and vandalisation of crosses that remain as much a
mystery today as they were a year ago, much to the consternation of the
parishioners.
The BJP, through the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Manohar Parrikar, have
served notice that it will raise the issue of unsolved church break-ins and
vandalisation of crosses in the Legislative Assembly which will have a short
session from Monday, 20 march 2006. "Sarkaran kotten nak buddovpachem" (
"The government should dip its nose in a coconut shell" [filled with water
and kill itself] , as the Konkani saying goes) is the headline on page 1 of
the SUNAPARANT of 18 March that carries the report on his Press Conference.
And one thought that the catholics were safe during Congress rule in Goa and
at the centre ;-(
The killing of Fr.Eusebio Ferrao leaves no place for cheer.
Miguel
----- Original Message -----
From: Nacimen
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2006 8:18 PM
Subject: Obituary
OBITUARY.
FR. EUSEBIO AGNELO FERRAO(
1944-2006).
With grief and sadness we mourn the untimely death of our beloved
companion Fr. Eusebio A. Ferrao. At the time of his unfortunate death on
17th March, 2006, Fr. Eusebio was 61 years old and the Parish Priest of
St. Francis Xavier's Church, Macasana , Salcete, Goa. Fr. Eusebio's death
has robbed us of a friend, a writer,a lively, yet simple priest and an able
administrator. While his death leaves us with huge void, we rejoice in our
colleague's life and thank God for his gift to our Archdiocese of Goa and
Daman.
Fr. Eusebio Agnelo Ferrao was born on August 14, 1944 and did his primary
education in Portuguese in his native Chinchinim, Salcet taluka. He joined
the Seminary of Our Lady at Saligao-Pilerne during the Academic Year
1956-57 and successfully completed his course in Humanity. Thereafter, he
sought admission in the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol in 1962 and having
completed his philosophical and theological courses was ordained priest
along with his other twelve companions at St. Andrew's Church, Vasco da
Gama, on 26th April, 1970. St.Andrew's Church was celebrating 400 years of
its establishment [1570-1970] and the ordination was held here in this
honour.
Thereafter, Fr.Eusebio joined the Pastoral Institute St. Pius X, Old Goa
and was appointed in 1971 ' On deputation to the Liturgical Commission at
Pastoral Institute, Old Goa'. His task was to translate into Konkani the "
Ritual" of the Catholic Church and also some books of the New Testament of
the Bible including the Acts of the Apostles and the Letters of St. Paul to
the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philomen, Letter to the Hebrews,
Letter of James and the Letter of Jude, published by the Archdiocese as the
"Povitr Pustok: Novo Korar" in 1974. This was necessitated by the post
Vatican Council-II directive to have the Church services in the 'language of
the people' from 1969, instead of the convention of Latin used universally
until then.This translation in Konkani was in the Roman script and serves as
referece material and Sunday readings for mass/service in Konkani throughout
Goa to this day.
Fr.Eusebio's next appointment was at scenic church of Our Lady of Piedade
at Divar in 1975 as Assistant to the Parish Priest. Still later he was
posted as a Chaplain at Ambelim Chapel at Assolna and in 1988 he was
promoted and appointed Parish Priest of Carambolim, Ilhas, famous the world
over for the migratory birds. He was given the additional responsibility of
the Joint-Secretary of the Diocesan Commission for Liturgy in 1993. In the
same year, he was appointed Parish Priest of St.Lawrence Church, Agassaim
and also Dean if Goa-Velha Deanery and fimally the Parish Priest of
Macassana. He was also elected member of the Council of priest in 1992 and
1998 . He contributed numerous articles to the local konkani news-papers,
reviews, and magazines om various topics and lately wrote on social issues
in the V. Ixtt. In the Liturgical Review " Amcho Sevadhorm" of the
Archdiocese he was a regular contibutor .
Fr. Eusebio was kind, unassuming, loving and a sympathetic pastor, who was
always approachable and available to his parishioners and others alike. For
Fr. Eusebio, his parish was the window through which he viewed God. He was
one with his parishioners, knowing their joys and their sorrows, their
trials and their pain. He knew the difficulties of his parishioners to raise
children, what it is to fear losing a job or face an addiction. He preached
about these things so that he could bring the good news [gospel] to their
everyday lives. He knew to pray in their voice, the voice of the Church. For
36 years we, his companions ordained together, met annually on the day of
our ordination at some such residence of the church and shared our anxities
and hopes in our priestly ministry.Fr. Eusebio Ferrao will be missed but his
memories will linger on in our hearts. May he rest in peace.
Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas.
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