Richard D’Souza

Udupi, Nov 21: The 91st Death Anniversary of Fr Agnelo D’Souza at Milagres Cathedral Kallianpur on Tuesday, November 20 with devotion and gaiety.

The solemn Eucharistic Mass was concelebrated by Fr Dr Lawrence C D’Souza, rector of Milagres Cathedral, dean of Kallianpur deanery and secretary of CESU along with Fr John Bannet, superior of Pilar Fathers’ Minor Seminary, Kallianpur, Fr Henry D’Souza, parish priest of Salethur Church, Mangaluru diocese, deanery priests, guest priests and Pilar Father community priests.

In his homily Fr Henry pointed out the life of Fr Agnelo D’Souza of Goa and how he spread the light of God. He was very simple in his life and gave goodness to the faithful people. His life was not known for anything spectacular nor extraordinary, but he did ordinary things in an extraordinary way. Characteristically, he grew up manifesting qualities of gentleness, of love and purity, humility and obedience combined with strong sense of self discipline. He was not given too much talking, unlike the boys of his age, and usually preferred silence and prayer.

Fr Henry D’Souza said that Fr Agnelo had set his sights high in the service of God and aimed at cultivating assiduously all the priestly virtues. Fr Agnelo was also an impressive preacher not because of any flourish of rhetoric but because every word he spoke from the pulpit came out from the depths of his heart.

Pilar Fathers, Kallianpur celebrated the 91st death anniversary of Fr Agnelo with devotees and parents of seminarians by thanking God for His blessings and prayed for the Canonization of Fr Agnelo. As a spiritual preparation, nine-day novena prayers were held at Pilar Father’s mini seminary chapel in which good number of devotees and local ward people of Milagres Cathedral took part.

Fr Joswey Macarenhas, vocational director of Pilar Fathers, Kallianpur delivered words of gratitude at the end of the Mass. He also thanked to all priests, nuns, devotees, parents and other concerned who are part of the celebrations.

After the Eucharistic Mass celebration, the seminarians of Fr Agnel Mini Seminary brothers put up a short programme at Milagres Tri-centenary Hall. Seminarians and priests displayed their talents through playing instrumental music and singing.

The rector of Milagres Cathedral, Fr Lawrence D’Souza gave his gratitude words for valuable services of Pilar Fathers in Kallianpur to the cathedral. He wished the Pilar Fathers community on the occasion of observation of 91st death anniversary of Fr Agnelo. Fr Henry D’Souza read out the Fr Agnelo novena prayer at the end of the Mass.

Fr Valerian Mendonca, parish priest of Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi graced the prayers on the fellowship meal. Fr Agnelo devotion pamphlets and calendars were distributed to the participants.

Earlier, a welcome song was sung by the seminarians beautifully. Rohan D’Souza and Austin D’Souza, both seminarians, compered the programme. Lancy Leo Rego of Bendore gave witness and testimony on Fr Agnelo during the occasion and prayed for Fr Agnelo’s sainthood at the earliest.