From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jul 10: The former chancellor and PRO of Bangalore Archdiocese Fr A S Anthony Swamy, parish priest of St Theresa’s Church, Robertson, KGF, who passed away from cardiac arrest at the Sagar Apollo Hospital in Marathahalli in Bengaluru on Wednesday, was laid to rest at the Sacred Heart Church Cemetery for Priests on Friday at 2.30 pm.
Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Peter Machado has in a message, mentioned that the medical authorities have confirmed that the 61-year-old Fr Anthony Swamy, who passed away a day before his birthday, had tested coronavirus positive.
Consequently, the funeral ceremony was held following the Karnataka government’s protocols for COVID deaths.
The Archbishop will be celebrating a memorial mass for the repose of the soul of Fr Anthony Swamy at the Archdiocesan Paalanaa Bhavana in Kannada on Saturday morning at 7 am. Msgr S Jayanathan, Vicar General, will be celebrating another memorial mass in Tamil at 8 am. Both the masses will be webcast by the Archdiocesan Communication Centre.
Emeritus Archbishop Moras Recovering
It is also a great consolation to us that Archbishop Emeritus Bernard Moras, Fr Dominic Xavier, Fr Joseph Susainathan and Fr Celestine Sahaya (Precious Blood Congregation) who were tested positive and undergoing treatment at St John’s Hospital are all stable and responding well to the treatment, Archbishop Machado said.
The Archbishop has clarified that Fr John Anthony, parish priest of St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, was 'hale and hearty' and the rumours doing the round that he too has been tested positive are baseless.
Message from Archbishop Peter Machado
"I am sorry to report that the medical authorities certified that the Late Rev. Fr. A. S. Anthony Swamy died of being Coronavirus Positive. Following the Karnataka Government protocols for Covid deaths, he was buried at Sacred Heart Church Priests Cemetery at 2.30 pm today (10th July). May his soul rest in peace.
Tomorrow (Sat.11th July), I will be celebrating a Memorial Mass for the Repose of his soul at 7 am Paalanaa Bhavana in Kannada. Similarly, Msgr S. Jayanathan, our Vicar General, will celebrate Mass in Tamil at 8 am. Both these Masses, as usual, will be webcast by the Archdiocesan Communication Centre.
Further, I wish to inform you that one more Priest of our Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Joseph Susainathan too has been tested Covid-positive. He is also admitted to St, John's Medical College Hospital. There is a fake news making rounds that Fr. John Antony, Parish Priest of SFX Cathedral is also tested Covid Positive. This is not true. Thanks be to God, Fr. John Anthony is hale and hearty.
It is also a great consolation to us that Archbishop Emeritus Bernard Moras, Fr. Dominic Xavier, Fr. Joseph Susainathan and Fr Celestine Sahaya (Precious Blood Congregation) are all stable and responding well to the treatment. Let us pray for their speedy and complete recovery.’’