Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SHP)

Panaji, Mar 16: In tragic news, two parish priests serving in two parishes in North Goa passed away in separate incidents on Sunday evening.

In the first case, Fr Daniel Alphonso (58) parish priest at the Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Valpoi, passed away after being severely injured in a hit-and-run road mishap in Sattari taluka on Sunday evening.

Following his death, the health minister Vishwajit Rane ordered strict action against the accused. Reports state that the incident took place at Kumbarkand-Valpoi at about 6.30 pm while Fr Alphonso was proceeding on his scooter from Valpoi to Vante. After he was hit by a vehicle, he was immediately transported on an ambulance to the Valpoi Community Health Centre. He was then referred to the GMC hospital at Bambolim, where he died of injuries while undergoing treatment.

Hailing from Panarim-Aldona he was a member of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales (MSFS) and had been parish priest of Valpoi since the last seven years and this was his second stint as a parish priest in Valpoi. He had also served as manager of Our Lady of Lourdes High School and Higher Secondary, Valpoi.

The death of the parish priest sent shockwaves in the Valpoi community. The Valpoi police detained a man from Colvale in connection with the hit-and-run mishap and took him to the police station.

Many admired Fr Alphonso for actively contributing to various religious, social, cultural, educational and development activities in and around Valpoi.

In the second case, Fr Arun D'Souza (3o), parish priest of Camurlim-Bardez, passed away after suffering a brief illness on Sunday evening.

According to reports, Fr D'Souza, SMM, was a member of the Montfort Fathers and was posted in the Santa Rita de Cascia Church in Camurlim barely two years ago. Following a critical condition, Fr D'Souza was admitted in a private hospital in Dona Paula about a week ago. The social media was flooded with messages seeking prayers for his recovery.

Fr D'Souza hailed from Kakkeri village near Khanapur in Belagavi district and is the nephew of Fr Cajetan D'Souza, a senior priest with the Diocese of Belgaum.

Incidentally, Fr Daniel Afonso, who died in an accident in Sattari, had also served in the Kakkeri Parish in the past. The untimely deaths of the two priests have left the community in shock.