SILENT TRIBUTE: A huge crowd of mourners proceed to the cemetery at Quepem, where the body of departed Chicalim parish priest Fr Bolmax Pereira was laid to rest.
PANAJI
Thousands of people cutting across communities and from all over the State bade a tearful adieu to Chicalim Parish Priest Fr Bolmax Pereira, who was laid to rest on Thursday.
Masses were celebrated for the departed priest, who united faith, ecology, education and public action, at the St Francis Xavier Church at Chicalim at 10 am, followed by the funeral Mass at the Holy Cross Church at Quepem at 3.30 pm.
The body of the departed priest was first taken from the GMC hospital to the Chicalim Church at 7 am. People got to pay their last respects to their beloved parish priest, who passed away at the age of 50 following a heart attack early Tuesday morning, days after collapsing at Vasco railway station while preparing to travel with parishioners on the morning of May 23.
Bishop of Sindhudurg Agnelo Pinheiro then presided over a Mass which was celebrated at 10 am, with Bishop Emeritus of Sindhudurg Alwyn Barreto and several other priests as concelebrants.
In his address to the congregation, Bishop Pinheiro said people had gathered to celebrate the beautiful life of Fr Bolmax and his 21 years of priesthood.
Stating that Fr Bolmax had strived to spread the love of Jesus among others with faith, courage and love, Bishop Pinheiro hoped that his life would be an inspiration to everyone.
After Mass at the Chicalim Church, the mortal remains were taken to Fr Bolmax Pereira’s residence at Quepem. The funeral cortege later proceeded to Holy Cross Church at Quepem for the funeral Mass and final rites.
The Mass was presided over by Auxiliary Bishop of Goa Simiao Fernandes and concelebrated by several other priests.
In his address to the congregation, Bishop Fernandes acknowledged that people were pained by the death of Fr Bolmax and found it difficult to accept that he is no more.
“Fr Bolmax had spread goodness among all people and had lived up to his priesthood with love, enthusiasm, and responsibility,” he said.
Bishop Fernandes recalled that when he was given the responsibility as chairperson of the CCBI Western Region Commission for Ecology, he had made an earnest request to Fr Bolmax to be secretary of the commission.
“With his creative and innovative initiatives, he contributed significantly to this commission,” said Bishop Fernandes.
On behalf of Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, who is presently in Rome, Bishop Fernandes conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family and relatives.
Earlier in his homily at Mass, Fr Santana D'Souza, Parish Priest of Macasana and a batchmate of Fr Bolmax in the seminary, said a group of nine of them had been ordained as priests in 2004.
Fr Santana said Fr Bolmax had strived to protect and preserve greenery, the fields and the environment, and while much had been written about his life, virtues and work, there were three aspects in the life of Fr Bolmax that he wished to share.
“Firstly, Fr Bolmax was a priest filled with love for everyone, his family, his parishioners, and all those who interacted with him. Secondly, he was a priest filled with knowledge who wanted share this knowledge with others, and thirdly, he was a priest filled with courage who never feared any adversity,” said Fr D’Souza.
“Even at the GMC hospital, Fr Bolmax’s sister recalled his last words on earth: "I am not afraid to die; Jesus have mercy on me."
After Mass, the body of the departed priest was then taken to the cemetery and was laid to rest.
Elaborate arrangements were made by volunteers on account of the large turnout of people who arrived from different parts of the State.
Given the immense popularity of Fr Bolmax Pereira as a priest, environmental campaigner and social activist, Goans across the world watched the proceedings, which were live-streamed both at Chicalim and Quepem.
