Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Feb 8: Fr Conceicao D'Silva, a charismatic preacher and Konkani supporter passed away early Sunday morning February 7, after a massive heart attack. He was 65.

His body will be kept at Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia till 3 pm on Monday and then moved to Orlim - his place for birth, parish priest of Raia Fr Pedro Costa said.

Fr Conceicao was popularly known for his Friday retreat services he had started in Ambelin for nearly three decades. He was ordained in 1983 and served in various parishes Carabolim, Taleigao, Raia, Calangute, Verna Tilamol (Quepem) etc.

He was an ardent supporter of Konkani, particularly in the Roman script and of the Goan identity. "He believed Konkani in the Roman script should be preserved and given equal status along with Devanagiri in the official language act," Tomazinho Cardoza said.

Fr D'Silva also served as the vice president of Konkani Dalgado Konkani Akademi and supported the academy financially between 2003 to 2008 until the government started giving grants.