PANAJI
The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman has mourned the demise of Archbishop Emeritus Raul Gonsalves (95), who passed away on Friday morning.
Expressing sadness over the demise of Archbishop Gonsalves, a number of priests in the archdiocese extolled the virtues and contributions of Archbishop Gonsalves, who was a bishop for 55 years and had dedicated 37 years of his active episcopal service to the Archdiocese.
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Archbishop Raul Gonsalves was a visionary Father and Shepherd suited for his time. His Grace took over the reins of the Archdiocese post liberation and when the winds of change brought about by the Vatican Council II had just begun to blow.
During this crucial period of transition, as a brave and bold leader he put our Archdiocese on a firm footing, the fruits of which we’re happily reaping today. With pastoral far-sightedness and administrative acumen, His Grace steered the Church wisely during the post Vatican period, by setting up various structures and mechanism that till today work in collaboration and co-ordination with the Archdiocesan Bishop.
He was a Father figure not only to the lay faithful but also and most importantly to his close co-workers, his beloved priests. One of the most cherished contributions of Archbishop Raul is the Archdiocesan Synod 2002 followed by the Diocesan Pastoral Plan 2002 which gave an added thrust and renewed vision to the process of renewal begun in our Archdiocese.
We thank the Lord for the gift of Archbishop Raul and for his shepherding leadership exercised like unto the heart of Jesus- the Good Shepherd and pray that He grant Archbishop Raul the reward of his labours carried out in His vineyard with love, faithfulness and renewal-focussed vision.
Fr Tomas Lobo
Parish Priest
Aldona
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The Church in Goa will remain indebted to Archbishop Raul Gonsalves. He leadership gave us three important milestones, the fruits of the Council of Vatican II, the financial reorganisation of our Archdiocese and social activism that joined the struggles of the masses in Goa. May the Lord be his eternal reward.
Fr Victor Ferrao
Parish Priest
Borim
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Archbishop Raul Gonsalves shouldered the responsibilities of the Archdiocese at a very young age of 47 when he was appointed the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese. It was a very crucial time for the life in the Church because the reforms and renewal brought in the universal Church by the Ecumenical Council Vatican II had to be implemented.
Archbishop Raul responded to this challenge with foresight, grit, and deep faith in the Lord and brought about renewal in the Church in Goa at a steady pace.
His mastery in the Law of the Church was his greatest asset with which he could with ease solve many problems of inserting new wine in old wineskins. The new wine of the teachings of Vatican II required new structures and as a wonderful administrator he introduced the same.
Fr Kyriel D’Souza
Senior Pilar Priest
Agonda Church
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Archbishop Raul Gonsalves was a great legendary figure in our renowned Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. In our liberated Goa, he, from Apostolic Administrator to the first Archbishop-Patriarch of Goan Origin, ruled the Archdiocese as its shepherd with great diligence, courage, determination and prudence.
He steered the Archdiocese in the most challenging times, especially after post liberation period and in an era of the immense change from the Council of Trent to the Council of Vatican II. He was a person of valour and great insight.
During his tenure many of our diocesan priests started primary and high Schools under his guidance. To lead the Archdiocese in the new vision of Vatican II, he established many important Centres, through which he systematically governed the Archdiocese.
He has created history in the Archdiocese with his personal impression as he knew well to deal with priests especially in channelising their energy for the good of the Archdiocese. Though he appeared tough in his administrative work yet he gave personal attention to those priests who sought his intervention. He will go in the annals of history as a great Pastor and Administrator. May God grant him eternal bliss!
Fr Socorro Mendes
Parish Priest
Siolim
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Archbishop Raul Gonsalves was a deeply spiritual man and pastoral minded. He expressed his mind openly if something lacked a pastoral sense. I remember once we were having our Catechetical Day celebrations in Canacona and he was presiding over the day-long function. For the evening programme, not many parishioners were present except the catechists from other parishes who came for the celebration. The reason for the absence of the parishioners was that they were attending the SCC meetings at ward level.
At the concluding address, referring to the absence of parishioners, he said Catechetical Day celebration should be Family Centered, the whole family must get involved in it. Based on his suggestion, we changed the whole modality of the Catechetical Day and integrated the family from the beginning to the end.
His pastoral zeal and his courage to surge ahead marked his uniqueness.
May God grant him the eternal reward.
Canon Alfred Vas
President, Cathedral Chapter
Old Goa
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"No end nor term is fixed to a life well lived". This is true of the Archbishop emeritus, Raul Gonsalves, who passed away at the ripe old age of 95 years.
No doubt, his death cast a gloom not only over the faithful but also over so many others he came in contact with during his three and plus decades as a Head of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.
He took over the reins of pastoral governance soon after Goa's Liberation. Everyone indeed takes pride in his being the first Goan Archbishop after the erstwhile Portuguese Patriarch-Archbishop, Dom Jose Vieira Alvernaz.
He lived upto his episcopal motto "non ministrari sed ministrare", (not to be served but to serve).
His contribution is immense which will be remembered down the ages. He steered the Church of Goa in tune with the teachings of the Vatican Council II. Thus, he laid down a strong base for future growth and expansion of God's kingdom.
It goes to his credit, inter alia, the establishment of parish pastoral councils, and the convoking of Diocesan Synod 2002 that brought about reformation and renewal in the Church. He ably and minutely handled the arrangements of the papal visit of the Holy Father, St. John Paul II in 1986.
On a personal note, when I visited him along with my parishioner last year, I told him: Bishop, I am praying for your health. He retorted: Pray that I may do, till my last, God's will.
Certainly, he must have heard the words of Jesus: "Come, my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord".
Fr Walter de Sa
Parish Priest
Panaji
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I had heard as a young seminarian that Archbishop Emeritus Raul Gonsalves was a humane person but all I saw was a very strict. Incidentally, i had a very personal experience of his humaneness.
A month and half before my ordination I met with a near fatal accident. Providentially, i was saved and kept the same date of my ordination. I was however in a cast due to the fractures of my hand and stitches all over my body. I was hassled about how i would prostrate at my ordination mass. To my utter surprise, I received a call, on the previous day from Fr. Cristovao Caldeira, the then Rector, informing that Archbishop has instructed me not to prostrate at mass but to kneel instead. I was immensely touched by his concern even without any request for it.
Fr Maverick Fernandes
Director
Caritas Goa
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