PANAJI
F
r Francisco Xavier Kyriel De Souza (67), a senior priest from the Pilar Society who served in various positions in the Archdiocese and across the country, passed away in the GMC hospital on Friday.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Mission Seminary Chapel, Pilar, on March 25 (Saturday) at 4.00 pm.
“Fr Kyriel was a great orator and preacher. He was a very known and highly sought preacher in Goa and outside. He was equally versatile in dealing with parish problems and he was often invited for such discussions. Besides, his involvement and contribution to the Archdiocese of Goa was immense, in many ways,” stated Pilar Society Superior General Fr. Nazareth Fernandes, sfx.
Hailing from Bastora, Fr Kyriel was born on December 3, 1955 and entered the seminary in 1966. He was ordained a priest on October 18, 1981.
Soon after his ordination, he served as Assistant Parish Priest in Agharma in Gumla Diocese (1981-1984) and as assistant parish priest in Campbell Bay, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (1984-1985).
Fr Kyriel was then appointed Editor of the Konkani weekly publication ‘Vauraddeancho Ixtt’ in Pilar (1985-1989) and later served as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima Church at Ambernath (1989-1992).
In 1993, Fr Kyriel was appointed as Professor of Missiology at the Mission Seminary in Pilar. He was elected General Councillor of the Society in 1992 and was also appointed Superior of Generalate and Re-Animation Centre, Pilar (1993-1997).
From 1998 to 2000, he was deputed for studies to do Master's Degree in Catechetics and Pastoral Theology at Brussels-Belgium. Upon his return, he was appointed Professor of Pastoral Theology in Pilar Theological College from 2000 till date.
Fr Kyriel was appointed Episcopal Vicar for Religious in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman (2001-2004) and again re-appointed from 2004 to 2010.
He was appointed Parish Priest of Our Lady of Penha De Franca, Britona (2006-2009). After due consultations, Fr Kyriel was appointed Provincial Superior of the Goa Province (2009-2012) and re-appointed again from 2012 to 2015.
Fr Kyriel was the Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of Rosary Church, Rivona, Manager of Our Lady of Fatima High School, and Our Lady of Rosary Primary School, Rivona from 2015 to 2016. From 2016, he was appointed the Local Delegate Superior of the Rivona Community,
Due to someone who are health care health issues, he was attached to the Subham Jinn Community, Agacaim (2016-2018). He was posted in Agonda and served as Assistant Parish Priest of St Anne's Church (2018-2022).
He took ill three years ago and sought treatment at different hospitals in Vashi, Mumbai and Dona Paula. He was brought to St Joseph's Home, Pilar, in July 2022 and continued his treatment at GMC hospital, till he breathed his last on Friday.
