BELAGAVI
Noted Jesuit Fr Augustine Fernandes (55) who was serving with the Goa Province of the Jesuits died on Tuesday evening due to a massive cardiac arrest at the Jesuit residence in Gadhinglaj, about 60 km from Belagavi.
The Funeral Mass will take place at Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral, Belagavi, on Wednesday at 3.30 pm, followed by burial at the Christian cemetery near Club Road.
Hailing from Sangargalli village in Khanapur taluka and a Gauncar of Thivim, Fr Augustine was ordained in December 2002 and had served at Khanapur, Gadhinglaj, and Baga.
He was instrumental in the construction of Our Lady of Milagres Church (Khanapur), St Anthony Church (Gadhinglaj) and the newly constructed Retreat House (Baga). Apart from this, he also constructed or renovated many chapels in the villages of Belagavi and Sindhudurg dioceses.
Provincial of the Goa Jesuits Fr Roland Coelho, who was at Gadhinglaj at the time of Fr Augustine’s demise, has expressed shock over the untimely and sudden death of a dynamic priest, who was popular among people wherever he served.
