AGASSAIM: Fr Lourenco Mascarenhas, rector of the Church of Cruz dos Milagres, Old Goa, passed away in the wee hours Wednesday, after a massive heart attack.
Fr Lourenco Paulo Mascarenhas, originally from Carona, Aldona, but at present residing in Baina, Vasco, was a priest of the diocese of Goa and Daman. He was born on August 10, 1959 and ordained a priest on May 7, 1988.
Fr Mascarenhas (58), served in various parishes in Goa, before he was appointed the Rector of Cruz dos Milagres church at Old Goa in 2012. He served as the director of the St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Centre, Old Goa for some time and used to conduct retreats regularly. He also took up the responsibility of building a retreat centre at Sherle, Banda in Sindhudurg district, known as Divine Mercy Intercessory Retreat Centre. Its inauguration was scheduled for April 23, on Divine Mercy Sunday, but due to untimely demise of Fr Mascarenhas, it has now been postponed.
Fr Henry Falcao, the Director of St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre at Old Goa, was closely associated with Fr Mascarenhas as they resided in the same complex.
Speaking about Fr Mascarenhas, Fr Falcao said that he was a down-to-earth and humble priest. “Blessed with the charisma of healing, he never considered himself privileged or boasted about it, but always used it for the service of the church,” he mentioned.
“As a true pastor,” Fr Falcao said, “he took no rest, but would give himself for others. “He touched the hearts and minds of so many people and was always accessible 24 hours. He would receive continuous calls day and night, seeking prayers and counselling and he would do it with joy in his heart and unite people,” he added.
On return from Rome after his studies in Liturgy, Fr Afonso Mendonca, who is presently the Assistant Director of the St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre at Old Goa, said that Fr Mascarenhas was an energetic missionary of Christ, always willing to do something more. “He was a very humble and simple soul, yet totally committed to his priestly duties at the centre. In view of the construction of the retreat centre at Banda,” he said, “he was always on the move to different states. But however, he would always be there in the church at 6.30 am for the daily Adoration. That reflects his dedication towards his priestly duties.”
As Fr Mascarenhas was an amiable person, most welcome to changes at the centre, “the Goa diocese will miss a very good and holy priest,” Fr Mendonca said.
After overseeing proximate preparation of the imminent inauguration of the Centre at Banda, he returned to his room around 10.30 pm. It is learnt that around 1 am on Wednesday, Fr Mascarenhas experienced some uneasiness and he rushed, knocking the convent door, a little away from his room on the first floor. Sr Antonette Lopes, Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King, who was in her room, heard him exclaiming, “I’m dying, I’m dying. Lord have mercy on me.”
Sr Lopes said that Fr Mascarenhas pleaded and was restless. “A little later, he lay down on the sofa and passed away peacefully,” she said.
Meanwhile, Fr Santan Carvalho, another priest of the diocese of Goa and Daman, passed away after a prolonged illness. After serving on the staff at Mandrem, he was recuperating at Lar Santa Margarida, Home for the Aged, at Divar since October 1, 2016.
The mortal remains of Fr Lourenco were kept at the St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre, Old Goa, till 4 pm on Wednesday. People from all over Goa thronged to get a last glimpse of the priest who had healed so many people due to the gift of healing he received from God.
His mortal remains will be kept open on Saturday (April 15) from 8 am onwards. A thanksgiving Holy Eucharist will be offered at Cruz dos Milagres Church, Old Goa, on April 16, (Easter Sunday), at 10 am. On the same day, the funeral Mass will take place at Our Lady of Candelaria Church, Baina, Vasco, at 4 pm followed by burial.
