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Archbishop-Patriarch Felipe Neri Ferrao presided over the Mass at the St Thomas Church in Aldona, while the 70-odd priests who concelebrated in the services included Vicar General Fr Jose Remedios, Episcopal Vicar Fr Denis Fernandes and Fr Loiola Pereira, secretary to the bishop. Among the large congregation at the funeral services included Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo.
While paying an eloquent tribute to late Fr Carvalho in his inaugural address, Archbishop Ferrao said God had gifted Fr Santana with 71 years of life, of which 46 years he lived his life as a priest in various capacities and at various parts of the diocese.
“For major part of his priestly life, he worked at the diocesan minor seminary as a prefect, both at Saligao and at Seminary Nivas, Duler, and as a spiritual director at the minor seminary, Saligao as well as the Patriarchal seminary of Rachol. Fr Carvalho was a person of simple words, of a loving nature always having a smile on his face. And goodness was part and parcel of his life,” Archbishop Ferrao said.
Delivering his homily at the Mass, Spiritual Director at Saligao Seminary Fr Ashley Alphonso, who also hails from Carona, highlighted three key hallmarks of Fr Carvalho by describing him as a person of prayer, being a good shepherd to his flock and being united in his sufferings to the Lord.
“Just like Jesus, Fr Carvalho began his day with prayer and ended with prayer. He spent hours before the Blessed Sacrament. He was faithful to his Rosary, the prayer of the Church (Brevery) and he celebrated his mass with great love,” recalled Fr Alphonso.
“Also like Jesus, Fr Carvalho embraced everyone equally with a smile on his face. He had a patient ear to listen to the troubles and sorrows of others.
Above all, one could experience the presence of Christ in him.” “Though Fr Carvalho suffered physically, he was very strong spiritually thus uniting his sufferings to the Lord. During his last stages of sickness, he failed to recognise people but he never failed to recognise the Lord.”
“Fr Carvalho inspired priests and the faithful to live a life of prayer, a life of generous service and to be united to the Lord in our difficult moments,” added Fr Alphonso, who recalled Fr Carvalho as his spiritual director when he was at Saligao Seminary as well as at the Rachol Seminary.
Towards the end of service, Archbishop Ferrao said the Archdiocese of Goa had lost two priests, Fr Santana Carvalho and Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas, on April 12. Both were, in fact, neighbours from the same ward in Carona,” the bishop added.
The mortal remains of late Carvalho were later laid to rest at the cemetery of the St Thomas church.
