PANAJI
Fr Lino Fernandes, the oldest priest in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, passed away at the Clergy Home in Margao on Wednesday. He was 99.
Hailing from Benaulim, Fr Lino Fernandes was born in October 1921 and was ordained a priest in April 1948.
Fr Lino had served as Chaplain at Ponda, Marna-Siolim and Sucaldem-Chinchinim. He was parish priest at Camurlim de Bardez and Neura. For about ten years, he resided in Majorda Church, as a priest on the Staff, before entering the Clergy Home in Margao in 2004.
Known for his personal holiness and detachment from worldly pursuits, Fr Lino lived for a few years with the Carmelites in Margao and then with the Pilar Fathers, both in Goa and Mumbai, always in search of greater spiritual heights.
Priests from all over the archdiocese have condoled the demise of Fr Lino Fernandes.
Fr Loiola Pereira, secretary to the archbishop and hailing from Benaulim, said Fr Lino Fernandes went to his reward on the day dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary.
“People knew him as the Priest of the Beads: always with a rosary in his fingers during his free time. A man of few words, he was a great influence in my vocation to priesthood. During his yearly holiday month at home, I would see him passing by my house daily on his way to the neighbouring Holy Trinity Chapel and back after his Mass: eyes downcast, in deep recollection, alone with his God. His silent walk itself was a powerful daily sermon to everyone,” recalled Fr Pereira.
Fr Kyriel D'Souza, a senior Pilar Priest presently at Agonda, said “Fr Lino was a Confessor in Pilar for many years. He will always be remembered as an unassuming priest who carried himself as a man of God so well. I pray that his breed may grow; surely the gates of heaven must have opened wide to welcome this giant soul.”
Fr Ramiro Luis, parish priest of Vagator and hailing from Majorda, recalled late Fr Lino Fernandes as a person who was graceful in those evening walks in Majorda. "He would bless children all along the street. Children would know the exact time he would pass along their playing area and would rush to him. Holiness was the mark and the legacy he left in our minds,” said Fr Luis.
According to Fr Loiola Pereira, the Fernandes family had been blessed with three priests.
“Fr Lino was himself a Carmelite before he joined the Archdiocese, while Fr Fulgencio remained in the Carmel and was mostly out of Goa.”
“The youngest of them, Fr Joao Vicente, was always a diocesan priest and also had the habit of walking in a most dignified way, although he would also greet and smile at people on the way,” said Fr Pereira.
