the goan I network
VASCO
Hundreds of people from various parishes from across the State converged at the residence of late Fr Mascarenhas (58) and at Our Lady of Candelaria Church, Baina, to pay their last respects to the departed soul.
Priests from various parishes, besides nuns and other religious groups, attended the funeral.
The funeral mass was celebrated by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, who said the sudden demise of Fr Mascarenhas has shocked the entire diocese.
“Fr Mascarenhas always used to reach to the poor and the needy and extended his helping hand to them. He worked with full devotion and enthusiasm to proclaim the word of God and was involved in consoling people in times of difficulties,” said the Archbishop.
The Archbishop said Fr Mascarenhas lived his priestly life in loving, caring, preaching good word of god and consoling others. “Though Fr Mascarenhas has left us and gone for his heavenly abode, we are sure that he will pray for us to our Lord God and Lord Jesus Christ,” added the Archbishop.
The people who thronged for the funeral were seen venerating his body by kissing it at the time of taking it for burial.
Our Lady of Candelaria Church parish priest Fr Vital Miranda and deacon Myron Dias helped to celebrate the farewell service, while members of Parish Pastoral Council, the Confraria and the youth helped in managing the traffic with the help of Vasco traffic police and the town police.
Fr Mascarenhas was ordained a priest in 1988 and served in various parts of the archdiocese. During his priestly ministry, Fr Mascarenhas served as assistant parish priest of Cansaulim and Parra, Chaplain of Vancio-Guirim, headmaster at the Seminary of Our Lady High School, Saligao-Pilerne, parish priest of Sao Bras (Ilhas) and Pilerne, rector of the Church of “Cruz dos Milagres” Old Goa and spiritual director of the Pastoral Institute St. Pius X, Old Goa. Fr Mascarenhas was a well-known Charismatic Retreat preacher and used to conduct weekly Intercessory Healing Prayer services during the past two decades.
He was getting ready to take charge of the new Divine Mercy Retreat Centre at Banda in Sawantwadi, for which the Bishop of Sindhudurg Allwyn Barreto had sought the required permission of the Archbishop of Goa.
