Mangalore: Thousands bid adieu to Fr J P Tauro at Valencia Church
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal / Nikhil Studio
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)
Mangalore, Feb 12: Fr Joseph Peter Tauro was laid to rest at St Vincent Ferrar Church, Valencia on Tuesday February 12 amidst a large gathering of thousands of mourners.
Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore diocese celebrated the funeral mass. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi diocese and Fr Denis Moras Prabhu, vicar general of Mangalore diocese were the concelebrants.
Fr Victor Machado, parish priest of Bejai Church, Bendore in his homily said, "Through death god takes us to eternal life. When we are in this world, god wants us to love each other and all the things which he created."
"A priestly life is to share god’s love with the laity by being a mediator and that is what Fr J P Tauro did in his entire life, by preaching the word of god and helping others," said Fr Machado.
"We should work sincerely and lead a good life through which we can prepare ourselves for death," he said, asking people to follow in the path of Jesus.
Fr Vincent Monteiro, director of Mangalore diocesan pastoral institute offered condolence to the departed soul of Fr J P Tauro.
Fr J P Tauro’s Life
Fr J P Tauro was born in Gurpur parish on March 4, 1939. He was among the three children to Casmira Tauro and Ignatius Lobo.
He joined Jeppu seminary on June 6, 1956 and was ordained priest on December 2, 1956.
Fr J P Tauro in his 48 years of service as a priest served as assistant parish priest of Attur and Valencia parishes for 4 years. He was the Chaplain of Mukka parish for 11 years. Later he was the parish priest of Udupi for 8 years, Pangala for 7 years, Bendore for 8 years and Bejai for 7 years.
Fr J P retired from priestly ministry in 2010 and was rendering his service at Little Sisters of Poor, Home for the Aged at Bajjodi. As his health deteriorated, he moved on to Vianney home in 2011.
"For his immense service he was known as a people-oriented priest and was a true role model to all the priests," said Fr Vincent Monteiro while offering condolence.
After the funeral mass, the mortal remains of Fr J P Tauro was taken in a procession by other priests to the cemetry at Valencia where the last rites were held.
Fr Joseph Martis, rector of St Joseph Seminary, Fr Joseph Lobo, director of St Joseph Engineering College, Fr Patrick Rodrigues, director of FMMI, Fr William Menezes, PRO of Mangalore diocese, Fr Maxim Noronha, Fr Henry Sequeira, Fr Valerian D’Souza, Fr Ronald D’Souza, Fr GW Vas, Fr Francis Gomes, Fr Francis Rodrigues, Fr Vijay Victor Lobo among others were present.
More than 2,000 people were present to bid final adieu to Fr J P Tauro.
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