OLD GOA
Archbishop-Emeritus Raul Nicolau Gonsalves was laid to rest at the Se Cathedral, with a large number of priests, nuns, religious and laity attending his funeral on Monday.
Before the Funeral Mass took place, the mortal remains of the Bishop were first kept for public to pay their respect at the Bishop’s House in Altinho-Panaji in the morning and were later taken for the Funeral Service at the Se Cathedral.
People from all walks of life , including bureaucrats, political leaders and other personalities paid homage to the departed prelate.
After the people paid their respect, Archbishop Felipe Neri Ferrao celebrated the Eucharistic Celebration, before the mortal remains of Archbishop Gonsalves were laid to rest inside the Se Cathedral in a grave dug on the right side of the main altar.
In his homily, Archbishop Ferrao described Archbishop Gonsalves as a man of God, rooted in Christ with a filial devotion to Our Lady.
“He became Bishop during difficult and challenging times but faced them with faith in God and led Goa’s church with vision.”
“Bishop Raul was a man of passion committed to the service in the renewal of the church whom he loved so loyally. He took many steps in the transition of the church by formation of many committees, centres, diocesan council of priests, diocesan pastoral council, diocesan pastoral plans, diocesan synod, etc.”
Bishop Ferrao further stated that Bishop Raul was a loving and courageous person ever ready to embrace the cross of Christ.
“He looked rather strict and firm on the outside but on the inside, he was simple, loving and affectionate person. He would help anybody in need and those facing difficult times, was ever ready to pardon anybody asking for forgiveness.”
The other bishops present for the funeral included Archbishop of Delhi Anil Couto, Bishop Emeritus of Port Blair Bishop Alex Dias, Bishop of Belgaum and Apostolic Administrator of Karwar Derrick Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi Theodore Mascarenhas, Sindhudurg Bishop Alwyn Barretto, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Bombay Fr Neil Santos, Monsignor Simon Teles and others.
Among the politicians present included MLAs Venzy Viegas, Rajesh Faldessai, Viresh Borkar and Adv Carlos Ferreira.
After the Eucharist, the mortal remains were carried to the tomb dedicated to Bishops in the Se Catedral itself and laid to rest there.
Such tombs are present in different old Churches of Goa, But Se cathedral is especially marked for the Archbishop of Goa and Daman as it is the Seat of the Archbishop of Goa and the Mother Church of the Archdiocese.
