Fr Augustine Lobo of Karvar Diocese passed away on Sunday August 3rd 2014 at Bannur Puttur in his home town.
He was born on 52 . He hails from Kemmai, St. Antony’s Church Bannur near Puttur. He is the 5th son of Late Baptist Lobo and Asses Pinto.
He was ordained in the year May 2nd 1990 at Mai De Deus Church Puttur, and worked in Karvar Diocese as Parish Priest in Ahamadhahalli , Sirsi and Manaki. He was suffering from Motor Neuro decease from past 3 years. He has a brother Priest Fr. Gilbert Lobo working at Shimoga Diocese and two religious sisters. Sr. Philomena Lobo Bridgettine and Sr. Agnes Lobo SRA. He is the nephew of Bishop Emeritus Ignatius Pinto.
Rt Rev Derek Fernandes
Bishop of Karwar
Fr. Augustine Lobo passed away on Aug 3, 2014 at around 12.55 p.m. He complained of difficulty in breathing and chest pain and was rushed to the hospital where he went to the Lord a short while later. The end was peaceful.
Augustine Pius Lobo was born at Bannur, Puttur on August 28, 1962 to Baptist Lobo and Asses Pinto. Having joined the diocese of Karwar as a seminarian, after his formation at St. Michael’s Seminary, Machhe, Belgaum, he was sent to St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary for philosophical and theological studies in the year 1982. During these studies in the year 1985 he also graduated in Arts from Bangalore University. Having been ordained a deacon on April 20, 1989, was promoted to priesthood on May 2, 1990- ordained by his maternal uncle, His Grace, now emeritus, Most Rev. Ignatius Pinto in his home town, Puttur. He served in the following places:
• Assistant at St. Frnacis Xavier Church, Amdalli from June 1, 1990 to May17, 1991.
• Assistant at St. Anthony’s Church, Sirsi from May18, 1991 to February, 1993
• On February 11, 1993 seeing his caliber and administrative abilities he was appointed Administrator of the newly formed parish of St. Joseph at Manaki, where he started by staying in a rented house. His hard work and determination saw the completion of the Church and the parish house in May, 1998
• In 1999 he was deputed and sent to Leuven for higher studies in Biblical theology, where he first did some courses to learn languages and successfully completed his licentiate (STL) and then was conferred Doctorate in Biblical Theology (STD) on May 12, 2006. He defended his thesis entitled, “Son of God in Mk 1:1-15. A study of its origin and meaning in the light of modern scholarly discussion”.
• During his studies at Leuven he also served as an elected representative of the doctoral students in the department of Biblical studies (English Section) at the faculty of theology.
• After his return from his studies he was appointed Parish Priest of the Most Holy Redeemer Church, Angadi and took over the administration of the parish on June 11, 2006.
• He was appointed Dean of the Karwar deanery on June 10, 2008.
On April 1, 2009 he met with a road accident near Kota and, after initial treatment in one of the nursing homes close by, was rushed to Fr. Muller’s Hospital for treatment where he miraculously recovered and returned to the parish to serve his people. Towards the end of 2011 he was suspected of having a rare disease called MND, affecting the nervous system, which was confirmed through various tests around the beginning of February, 2012. Ever since he was at his home near Putter until he breathed his last.
It was edifying to see Fr. Augustine in good spirit whenever someone known persons visited him. Even in his suffering and the knowledge of the imminent end of his life on this earth, he could laugh and enjoy with his friends. The diocese of Karwar has lost a great soul. May his soul rest in peace.
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