Hi Everyone, It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform you all of the passing away of Fr. Anthony Saldanha of St. Peter's Parish, Bandra, Bombay last night. It was Fr. Saldanha who whipped the St. Peters' Church Altar Boys group into shape and made them an exemplary Altar Boys' Organization for all the world to emulate. During my experiences in parishes around the US, I know how much the altar boys would wish for an administrator like Fr. Anthony Saldanha.
A Goan and a Bardezkar, Fr. Saldanha was a long term resident of Bandra. His family had a quaint little cottage on St. Cyril's Road. In testy Bandra, where rivalry between the East Indians and the Goans was always at an all time high, Fr. Saldanha, who was a part of both worlds (Goan and long Term Bandra Resident) was the voice of Mediation and Moderation. He always organized the St. Peter's Altar Boys picnics in Manori, Vasai etc. (East Indian strongholds) so that we the Goan Altar Boys of St. Peters would better understand the East Indian guys. I bet many of the East Indian altar boys at St. Peters did'nt even know that Fr. Anthony Saldanha was a Goan, because of his fluency in Marathi and his non-parochial demeanor. Fr. Saldhana was also a consistent source of Soccour to the old Goans of St. Peter's Parish. They always were revved up after Sunday Home delivered Communion or meeting with Fr. Saldanha. In these days when Goan-East Indian rivalries are flourishing world wide in far flung places like Australia, Canada and the US, etc. Fr. Anthony Saldanha's life should be an example for all. I recognition of his devoted, exemplary service to altar boys, I think we should start a campaign to fast track him to sainthood as a patron saint of Altar boys the world over. There amy be a patron Saint of Altar Boys honoured by the Catholic Church, but whoever he is, he will not have done as much for Altar Boys as much as Fr. Anthony Saldanha ! Best Regards, Dr. Carmo D'Cruz, Indan Harbour Beach, Florida. _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
