From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Oct 4: Fr Lazar D’Souza (91), the senior-most priest of the Bangalore Archdiocese, died at St John’s Medical College Hospital, Bangalore on Monday.

The nonagerian priest, who was born in Miyar of Karkal taluk of coastal Dakshina Kannada district (the present Udupi district) on April 25, 1920, had served the Bangalore Archdiocese in various capacities for 62 years.

''With profound grief, I condole the death of our beloved   Fr Lazar D’Souza,” said Bangalore Archbishop   Dr Bernard Moras, in a condolencve message.

''He was a simple and jovial person. He was a priest for all. He was a very prayerful man, always with his Rosary and B iary. He remained very sincere to his priestly ministry till he died. He strongly believed in the joy of giving rather than receiving,” the Arachbishop said.

''Though he was ailing from few days, I never expected his end to be so soon. He died as he lived. He was a lover of the poor who even approached him in their needs, difficulties never went back with empty hands. He never ever believed glamour or publicity. He always tried to serve by remaining incognito. He always stood for the Church, the truth and the justice. He has carved himself a niche in the parishes as also in the hearts of the faithful whe er he has served,” said the Archbishop.

''In the death of Fr Lazar D’Souza, we have lost a very senior priest of our Archdiocese. We shall continue to pray for the repose of his soul in gratitude for all the services that he had rendered for all of us in the Archdiocese,” the Archbishop said, adding: ''On behalf of all my Priests and the Faithful, I avail myself of this occasion to express my heartfelt sympathies to his relatives and friends. May the Lord grant them the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”

Fr Lazar D’Souza, who has the distinction of serving as the Secretary of Inter-Nunciature in New Delhi, did his priestly studies at St Mary’s Minor Seminary, Bangalore and Major Seminary studies at St Paul’s Major Seminary, Trichy and served the Bangalore Archdiocese as a priest after being ordained at St Mary’s Cathedral, Triruchirapalli, on March 25, 1950.

He had served as Assistant Parish Priest at St Joseph’s Church, Briand Square, Bangalore; Assistant Parish Priest, St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Cleveland Town, Secretary, Inter-Nunciature, New Delhi, Parish Priest, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ramanagara; Director, St Mary’s Industrial Institute cum Orphanage, Parish Priest at Chitradurga, Davanagere, Channapatna, Chikballapur, Kammanahalli, Siluvepura and Nagasandra Churches and spent his life at the Clergy Home, Banglaore after retirement on May 30, 2006.

The funeral service will take place on Tuesday, October 4, at 10.30 am, at Sacred Heart Church, Richmond Road, after the mortal remains being kept for public homage at the church.

The Archbishop has asked all the priests of the Archdiocese of Bangalore to offer three Masses for the repose of the soul of   Fr Lazar D’Souza.