SAD DEMISE OF REV. FR. FRANCIS MENDONCA S.J.

Rev. Fr. Francis Mendonca S.J. left for his heavenly reward yesterday 28th December. His funeral was today on 29th December at 11.00 a.m. at Rosary Cathedral, Vadodara.

Arch Bishop Stanlislaus Fernandes (Arch Bishop of Gandhinagar), Bishop Godfrey de Rosario (Bishop of Baroda), Bishop Thomas Macwan (Bishop of Ahmedabad), Fr. Jose Changa. (Jesuits Provincial) Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, Seminarians, Sisters and the Faithful gathered together in large numbers to bid adieu to our Beloved and Loving "Dada Father" as he was lovingly called by many.

Fr. P.D. Mathew S.J. Superior of Rosary community to which Fr. Mendonca belonged gave a short description of the life and work of Fr. Mendonca. All throughout the Eucharistic celebration one could feel the deep sorrow at the thought of losing a "Father" who brought joy in the life of everyone, great and small. Bishop Godfrey in his soul rendering sermon expressed his own feelings of being totally shattered by the death of Fr. Mendonca. He assured the congregation that we still cling on to the hope of being cared for and loved by a Heavenly Father inspite of our nothingness. He recomended the soul of Fr. Mendonca in the hands of this loving Father whom Fr. Mendonca served all his life. Arch Bishop Stanislaus too expressed his deep felt sorrow at the death of Fr. Mendonca who for him was a person who was always happy and brought happiness in the lives of people and a person who was always obedient to the will of his superiors. Bishop Thomas Macwan while conducting the final rites thanked Fr. Mendonca for his ministry in Anand as a Parish Priest for 10 years and he said that he was trully a person of Faith. He said that he gave Christ to his people and indeed loved all tenderly.

After the Eucharistic Celebration the Final commendation and Farewell rite was done by Rev. Bishop Thomas Macwan. The Arch Bishop, Bishop's and Fr. Provincial then blessed and incensed the body of Fr. Mendonca and then the body was taken to the Cemetry for burial service.

Rev. Fr. Provincial conducted the final rites at the graveyard. The body of our beloved Father was then laid to rest while all through out the people prayed and sang gujarati bhajans asking the Good Lord to grant him eternal rest.

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Fr. Pablo Gil S.J. shares his views on Fr. Mendonca

With the unexpected demise  of Fr. Francis Mendonca we have lost a great missionary. If we can use the word polifacetic with all propriety it is if we apply it to Fr. Mendonca. He belonged to a distinguished Goan family, but  he was born and brought up in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. He was fluent in  four Indian languages, Konkani, Gujarati, English, Hindi and he could handle Latin with ease. He joined the Society of Jesus in Vinayalaya, Mumbai and did his philosophy in Spain where he acquired a good command of the Spanish language, which he liked to practise whenever he  met Spanish tourists.  Apart from licentiates in Philosophy and Theology he got a Masters in History, which he taught in St. Xavier's College for several years. Being by nature an extrovert and inclined to action, he left St. Xavier's College to be an active missionary. He was a man who was ready to take any job and face any emergency. He was Parish Priest in Anand, Assistant Parish Priest in Rosary Parish, Baroda, Superior of St. Xavier's High School, Gandhinagar, Director of the Pastoral Centre in Baroda.

God had been very generous with Fr. Mendoca. He possessed theatrical gifts which he used to great advantage in his eloquent speeches and homilies. As an Assistant Parish Priest in  the Rosary Parish, he excelled also as a good Confessor and effective counsellor. Baroda was the larger field of operations. No wonder so many people from Baroda turned up to say good bye to him in a solemn funeral Mass concelabrated by three Bishops, the  Gujarat Jesuit Provincial and dozens of priests.. Prominent was a variety of religious habits from the many congregation of Sisters  from North, Centre and South Gujarat. He used his long life, 80 years, for the greater Glory of God, and with his native kindness and approachability  he helped innumerable souls. He will be remembered for a longtime, for  he touched so many grateful hearts.

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We pray that the good Lord may listen to our prayers for our brother Fr. Mendonca, forgive whatever wrong he may have done due to human frailty and may He grant Him eternal rest.

Fr. Lawrence Louis Rodrigues

(Diocesan Commission for Social Communications - Baroda)

 

 

REQUEST FOR PRAYER

Rev. Francis Mendonca S.J. the Parish Priest of Dev Krupa Ashram, Waghodia has been admitted to the hospital due to internal bleeding caused by tear in multiple ulcers. His condition is very serious. He is admitted to Bhailal Amin Hospital, Vadodara. 

Kindly pray for his speedy recovery. 

Fr. Lawrence Rodrigues

Diocesan Commission of Social Communications - (Socom-baroda)

SAD DEMISE OF REV. FR. JOE BRAGANZA S.J.

Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints (Psalm 116,15)

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If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit that dwells in you (Romans 8,11)

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Rev. Fr. JOE BRAGANZA left for his heavenly reward at 6.00 p.m on 11th Saturday at Jeevan Darshan, Vadodara (Baroda).

Fr. Joe had  completed 90 years and was running 91. His body was taken to St. Xaviers College, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad today at 6.00 a.m. He is the brother of emeritus Bishop Francis Braganza.

The funeral Mass will be at 4.00 p.m. tomorrow (13/12/2010).

May the good Lord grant him eternal rest.

Do whisper this prayer for our beloved Fr. Joe.

Almighty Father, eternal God, hear our prayers for our brother Fr. Joe Braganza whom You have called from this life to Yourself. Grant him light, happiness, and peace. Let him pass in safety through the gates of death, and live forever with all Your saints in the light You promised to Abraham and to all his descendants in faith. Guard him from all harm and on that great day of resurrection and reward raise him up with all Your saints. Pardon his sins and give him eternal life in Your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr. Lawrence Rodrigues

(Diocesan Commission for Social Communications, Baroda)

FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF OUR LADY

The feast of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother was celebrated with great devotion by the Sisters of Religious of Mary Immaculate (RMI) and the people of Akota. The devotion began with the triduum on the 5^th – 7^th. Fr. Lawrence Rodrigues preached for all the three days. During these three days he spoke on various aspects of the life of our Blessed Mary. On the first day he spoke on the need for the devotion to our Lady. He said that the devotion to Mary was important because: 1. Her life is an inspiration;   2. In her we find the answers to life’s vital questions such as suffering, death, after life, sin, poverty, etc; 3. She is a powerful intercessor; 4. In her we see a glimpse of our future glory. In the face of tremendous suffering we find Our Blessed Mother holding on to unshakeable faith. She did not question God. She accepted it and kept it pondering in her heart. She knew that she did not understand but she was sure that God knew and that was enough for her. In and through her suffering she did not give up. She believed that God would do everything well in His time. Her endurance in times of sufferings proved her faith. 

On the second day he spoke on the famous saying of Don Bosco “Have faith in Mary and you will know what miracles are”. He said that all miracles are worked by God through Jesus Christ and Mary is the most powerful intercessor for us. Our faith is insufficient to receive the graces of God so we need Mary to intercede for us because God will never refuse her because of her life of faith and holiness. How can a Son refuse his Mother. He gave the life examples of Don Bosco who built the beautiful shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Turin with just five cents in his pocket. When the beautiful shrine was built he thanked Our Lady without whose help he would have never managed. It is our firm faith that all those who go to our Blessed Mother with faith will never be left unaided. She leads us always to Christ. It is at her word that Jesus worked his first miracle at Cana. She continues to intercede with her Son for us. Let us believe and place our full trust in her.

On the third day of the Triduum Fr. Lawrence spoke on the Magnificat. He said that in the Magnificat we understand the reason behind Mary’s beautiful life.  The Magnificat is the blueprint of her life and faith. The Magnificat shows that she trusted God fully. Her life was full of praise to God. She knew that she is nothing and that it is God who is everything. She believed that all those who are humble shall be lifted high. She knew the importance of taking care of the poor and needy. She believed that God always keeps His promise.

The Feast Day began with the girls of the hostel acting out the five joyful mysteries around the campus. People from the neighbourhood, Fathers, sister and Seminarian joined to say the Rosary. After the Rosary the Eucharistic Celebration began. Most Rev. Bishop Godfrey de Rosario S.J. was the main celebrant. The Mass began with an entrance dance by the hostel girls. Bishop Godfrey in his homily gave an inspiring sermon saying that Mary lived a holy life inspite of being surrounded by sin. He said that the Sin of Adam and Eve could not touch Mary because of the goodness of her Son. God prepared a perfect body for His Son, freed from the corruption of sin. Our tainted Nature’s Solitary boast. He invited all present to live in the way Mary lived, totally committed to God and her family of Jesus and Joseph.

There was a special offertory procession. Mr. Kiritbhai along with his team sang hymns so melodiously that the whole congregation present was led to participate fully and actively. At the end Sr. Ramila on behalf of the Superior, Sr. Rose and Community thanked the Bishop, Fr. Lawrence, Choir and the people for joining in their joy on the Feast of Our Blessed Mother and prayed that God shower His abundant blessings on all.

After the Eucharistic celebration the people were served snacks and the Fathers, Sister, Seminarians joined for the solemn breakfast.

May Our Blessed Mother intercede for us all.

FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER

AT XAVIER NAGAR, NAVAYARD, BARODA



The faithful of Xavier Nagar, Navayard celebrated the Feast of the Patron Saint of their Nagar. The celebration began with a triduum in honour of their patron Saint. Fr. Lawrence Rodrigues was the main celebrant on Decemeber 1st. He began the triduum with a brief history of St. Francis Xavier and spoke at lenght on the three striking qualities of St. Francis which need to be part of the life of the faithful at Navayard namely: 1. Reading and living the Word of God. 2. Need of putting God before any material things in our lives. It was based on the transforming words from the bible "What does it profit a man if he wins the whole world but suffers the loss of his soul". 3. To cling and live by the Faith brought to us by St. Francis Xaveir. Never to abandon Holy Mother the Church (Roman Catholic Church) and run behind other sects and other Gods.     

 

The main celebrant for the second day of the triduum was Rev. Fr. Patrick S.J. from St. Joseph's Church. 

The Main celebrant for the Feast Day celebration was Rev. Bishop Godfrey de Rosario, Bishop of Baroda.

                                      

The celebration began with a procession that began at the residence of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary Sisters and concluded at the venue specially prepared for the occasion i.e. the grotto of St. Francis Xavier. The children with white and looking like Angels led the procession. They danced and showered flowers as they moved. The Bishop gave an inspiring homily on the life and works of St. Francis Xavier. He invited all to imitate this great Saint who laboured zealously and whose heart burned with love of Jesus, for the missions and especially the people of India. He was flanked by Rev. Fr. Jayant Rathod, the Parish Priest of St. Joseph's Church and Rev. Fr. Vincent, the Secretary of His Lordship.    

The choir sang melodiously during all the three days in honour of St. Francis Xavier. The feast brought together all the people of Xavier Nagar, Navayard together to celebrate the feast of their Patron. All the people were served delicious meals on the Feast Day.  

A hearty congratulations to all those who took pains to organize this feast of St. Francis Xavier. Thank You Mr. Shreyas for the Photographs.

May St. Francis Xavier bless us all.

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SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER

St. Francis Xavier is our father in the faith for he laboured and toiled to plant the Christian faith in our land. God our loving Father accorded to India the priviledge of being evangelized by St. Francis Xavier and keeping his mortal remains as a pledge of His Blessings. May St. Francis stir in our hearts the zeal that inflamed his, and give to all of us his missionary spirit.

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER PRAY FOR US

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