PILAR: If we live as people of staunch faith and bear witness to the mercy of God, then our desire to see Fr Agnelo as a saint will be fulfilled soon, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Rt Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao said. He was speaking as the main celebrant at the 89th death anniversary of Ven Agnelo observed at Pilar on Saturday.
Delivering the homily, Ferrao stated that through the sacrament of baptism, Christians are called to be saints and have received the vocation to sainthood. He said that Fr Agnelo is a powerful means and inspiration to attain sainthood.
Reflecting on four aspects in Fr Agnelo’s life, the Archbishop said that Fr Agnelo was a humble man from childhood to priesthood. He cited examples wherein Fr Agnelo adopted a humble life at home, in the seminary and as a priest.
Focusing on the theme ‘Inspired by Venerable Fr Agnelo, let us witness to the mercy of God’, Ferrao also mentioned that Fr Agnelo was an ardent lover of the word of God, besides being a compassionate pastor. “He experienced God’s mercy and compassion and the same reflected during confessions. During priestly ministry, he was merciful to the poor and the rejected. If we follow the path of mercy, then we too can be followers of Fr Agnelo to attain sainthood,” he added.
“Fr Agnelo was a staunch devotee of Mother Mary,” Ferrao stated, “and he tried to spread devotion of Mary as a child, seminarian and priest.”
The Archbishop reminded the congregation that Fr Agnelo drew strength from God and he always sought the will of God in every path of life. “Through prayer, he got the required strength and grace to carry his mission on earth,” he said.
Following in the footsteps of Fr Agnelo, Ferrao said that if we tread the path of sainthood through faith and mercy towards others, then the day to have another saint in Fr Agnelo will not be far away.
The Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Ven Fr Agnelo, Fr Hillary Fernandes appealed to the congregation to storm heaven for the early sainthood of Fr Agnelo. He thanked the Archbishop for dedicating this liturgical year for the sainthood of Fr Agnelo.
