Ven. Fr. Agnelo hailed from Anjuna, a beautiful village of Goa, in Bardez taluka. The sons of St. Francis of Assisi brought the Catholic faith to this people. And it as from this saint that Fr. Agnelo learnt love of nature and perfect detachment from all worldly passions and honours.
He was born on 21 January 1869 at 7 pm and was given name of Agnelo which means little lamb. Out of nine children of Senhor Minguel de Souza and Dona Maria Sinforosa Mergulhao, Agnelo was the 6th child with baptism name Agnelo Gustavo Adolfo de Souza. What is said of him is narrated as follows: The parents of the children in the village of Anjuna used to say “Look at him, what a good boy he is, humble and peace loving! Try to imitate him.” One of his colleagues Fr. Luis Filife de Ataide said, “He was very different from the other students, speaking only when it was absolutely necessary to do so, devoting all his time in reading books of study and devotion. Whoever saw him would say at once that he was Angel in human flesh.”
One of his students in the Calangute school recalls his beloved teacher: “He would never be annoyed by their mischief; he was always a friend to them, as if they were his own children.” Fr. Antonio Pereira wrote in his biography, “As most Christians were poor, his pockets were always open to them and if he could not give them flowers of his charity, he at least gave them a few petals. Simple sermons were like sparks of fire which always rang true because he practiced what he preached. His parish visits were those of a messenger of peace and love. Fr Alcuino da Costa, a Diocesan priest has described him at Sanvordem Parish as a Saintly Priest. His obedience to the Superior was admirable. Dom Mateus de Oliveira Xavier, Patriarch of Goa used to compare Fr. Agnelo to a ‘Walking Corpse’ who spent 20 long years in the ministry of preaching.
The kitchen staff and other servants would say, “If ever they were living saints in this world, Fr. Agnelo was the first among them. When the Patriarchs Dom Mateus de Oliveira Xavier, while on the dining table found Fr. Agnelo eating so little, he would put some more food in the plate and say, “Seat Saint, Agnelo eat.”
When death knocked at the door of Fr. Agnelo, he was prepared to meet it. His death was the apotheosis of his Saintly life. In 1927, his weak health seemed to be breaking down. ‘The Beast of Burden’ as he used to call his body could not stand the strain of his ceaseless labour, austerities and vigils any longer
He had already expressed a desire to die on the Feast day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Good Lord heard his prayer, calling him from his pulpit to his eternal home, Heaven.
Mgr. Lucio Vaz, the superior of the Society of Pilar was marked by deep emotion. It was heart rending to witness the high church dignitary weeping aloud like a child, “Meu Agnelo, Meu Agnelo (My Agnelo, My Agnelo).
The Parish Priest of Rachol Church Fr. Manuel Albuquerque who conducted the last rites declared after the funeral, “I have just laid down a Saint to rest.” While the coffin was being lowered into the grave, Mgr. Lucio Vaz, his superior wept bitterly and loudly. Fr Manuel embraced and consoled him saying, “Mgr. Lucio, Fr Agnelo is already in heaven.”
