By Fr Francis Rodrigues
Fr Boniface John D’Souza, a priest of the Diocese of Mangalore went to the eternal abode on the Friday, January 1, 2010 after a brief illness. He was 53.
He was born on 30th May, 1956 as the son of Maurice D’Souza and Catherine D’Mello of Punja Parish. He is the nephew of the late Bishop Raymond D’Mello and cousin of Fr Walter D’Mello, the parish priest of Milagres, Mangalore.
After his priestly formation at St Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore he was ordained priest of the Diocese of Mangalore on 16th of April, 1985.
Soon after his ordination he was appointed Assistant pastor at Belthangady and Shirva parishes. Then he served the Diocese of Mangalore as the Parish Priest of Nellikar, Sampaje and Nainadu parishes. In the year 2003 he took sick leave and helped in spiritual ministry at Manipal, Udyavar and Bela Parishes. Since 2007 he was serving as the Chaplain of Little Sisters of the Poor Convent, Bajjody.
He was a priest with simplicity, in-depth spirituality and approachability. He was interested in farming and cultivation.
His Funeral rites would be held together with Mass at 3 pm on Saturday, January 2, 2010 at the St Vincent Ferrer Church, Valencia and his mortal remains will be interred at Valencia Priests Cemetery.
There will be also a mass at 1 pm on 2nd January at Little Sisters of the Poor Convent, Bajjodi. Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza and Msgr Denis Prabhu, the Vicar General have expressed sorrow at his demise.