MARGAO: There was a huge outpouring of tributes towards the late Fr Braz Faleiro, SJ, who was laid to rest on Tuesday after his funeral service at the Our Lady of Snows Church in Raia.
Fr Faleiro, who hails from Manora Raia, was lauded for his life-long achievements and his exemplary support to the underprivileged and his perusal of social justice.
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These sentiments were echoed by his niece Jessica Faleiro, who spoke during the mass that was attended by hundreds of well-wishers and a large number of priests as well.
Jessica also spoke about who Fr Faleiro was as a family man and said he had the qualities of a philosopher, lawyer, historian as well as the street smartness of someone who had fought for causes of the common man.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, was the main celebrant and he asked the congregation to join him in praying for the soul of Fr Faleiro.
While the Cardinal also touched upon the life of Fr Faleiro and what others like the Provincial of Goa Jesuit Province had to say, Fr Anthony Da Silva SJ, who delivered the homily shared various anecdotes to describe Fr Faleiro personality and why he was so popular with the people.
After the mass, many prominent persons paid tributes to Fr Faleiro who was born on December 8, 1936 and passed away on May 14, 2023.
“Fr Braz has been the guru of all social movements in Goa. The ramponkar movement and the Shirgao Mining issues were spearheaded by him. (Late) Mathany Saldanha and Christopher Fonseca were his disciples who carried on the path of social struggles in society. In the eighties of last century, the Jesuit house was the hub of social movements with Fr Braz as the soul of such movements,” said Advocate Cleofato Almeida Coutinho.
“Fr Braz ignited the social movement culture in Goa four decades back. He has the precursor of fighting against the unjust order in society and always stood by the underprivileged. With Sergio Carvalho he brought the environmental and ecology issues of Goa to the fore,” Coutinho added.
Trade union leader Christopher Fonseca who offered his condolences to the bereaved family recalled that Fr Faleiro was someone who was dedicated to the lord, his ideas and the people.
“In Fr Braz Faleiro, Goa has lost a very good priest and a warrior for social causes, be it on behalf of the fishermen, the toddy tappers, the oppressed, the agriculturalists or the tenants,” said Fonseca.
Olencio Simoes, general secretary Goenche Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) also highlighted all that Fr Faleiro had done for the ramponkars and his work dating back to the 1970s when the likes of the late Matanhy Saldanha was a youth leader. Simoes recalled how GRE had met Fr Faleiro recently to convey their appreciation for all that he had done for their community and how Fr Faleiro set the tone for all the future agitations.
“He was the one who mentored Matanhy Saldanha and guided the fishermen during all their agitations back then and advised them about how to go about fighting for their rights. He was our true inspiration and we will always be indebted to him,” said Simoes.
Camilo Souza, GRE Vice President concurred and expressed condolences on behalf of GRE to Fr Faleiros family. Souza also recalled how it was Fr Faleiro who was always there for them whenever they needed support and also taught them how to mobilise resources to sustain the protests, they used to organise those days for various causes affecting the fishing community.
Former Goa Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro also recalled the rich and long contribution of Fr Faleiro to the Goan society at large and in particular traditional communities like that of the fishermen.
Faleiro, also offered his condolences to Fr Braz’s family and said that Fr Braz will forever be remembered in Goa’s history for all that he had fought for and strived to achieve for the benefit of Goans.
Political activist Trajano D’Mello was in tears while talking about Fr Faleiro and he described him as a close family friend and one who taught his family how to be spiritually closer to God and what values they should imbibe. He also touched upon the great impact Fr Faleiro had left on him personally.
