Team Herald
RAIA: A pall of gloom descended on Raia when a young and dynamic priest of Diocesan Society and on-the-staff at Our Lady of Snow’s Church, Raia, Fr Clifton Fernandes passed away following a massive heart attack on Saturday. He was 47.
Hailing from Panzorconi-Cuncolim, Fr Clifton was best described as a dynamic and a very prayerful person, who was loving, affectionate and who would go out of his way to serve the community wherever he served. He was ordained priest on October 22, 2003.
Fr Clifton was posted as Assistant Parish Priest at Our Lady of Snow’s Church, Raia. He had also served across the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman as Assistant Parish Priest of St Joseph Church, Sao Jose de Areal; St Andrew’s Church, Vasco; Holy Trinity Church, Benaulim and Chaplain of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel, Curtorim.
Fr Clifton will be laid to rest on February 8 at his native village — Our Lady of Piety Chapel, Panzorconi-Cuncolim at 3.30 pm where His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao will be the main celebrant. The mortal remains of Fr Clifton will be kept in the Chapel for the people to pay their last respects and the funeral cortege will leave his residence at 2.30 pm, informed family members.
Fr Clifton was the son of Apociano and late Teodomira Fernandes.
Villagers and parishioners said that Fr Clifton was a dedicated priest in pastoral service and reached out to anyone in need in spite of his frail health.
Raia Parish Priest Fr Januario D’Costa, Assistant Parish Priest Fr Rony Fernandes, Associations and Executive Committees of the Church Fabrica da Igreja de Raia, Parish Pastoral Council, Confraria do SSMO Sacramento da Igreja de Raia, Catechetical Association of Raia, Padr Minguel confraria, Parish Youth Association and others have condoled the untimely death of Fr Clifton.
Fr George Ratos, parish priest of Our Lady of immaculate Conception Church, Paroda, said that Fr Clifton was a torch-bearer of youth and organised many tournaments for youth.
